Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi proteins reactive with antibodies in synovial fluid of a patient with Lyme arthritis.

Four Borrelia burgdorferi proteins reactive with antibodies in the synovial fluid of a patient with Lyme arthritis were characterized. Homology between amino acid sequences of immunoreactive spirochetal proteins and human proteins, including members of the Escherichia coli GroEL protein family, suggests that antigenic mimicry may play a role in the pathogenesis of Lyme arthritis.