The important and diverse roles of antibodies in the host response to Borrelia infections.

Antibodies are of critical importance in the host response to tick-borne Borrelia species that cause relapsing fever and Lyme disease. Recent studies on the role of various B cell subsets in the host response to Borrelia, complement-independent, bactericidal antibodies, and diagnostics led to this review that focuses on the array of functions that antibodies to Borrelia can perform.