Evaluation of the C6 peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for individuals vaccinated with the recombinant OspA vaccine.

The C6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on a peptide (C6) that reproduces the sequence of invariable region 6 of VlsE, the antigenic variation protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, has been shown to be a sensitive and specific test for the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease. We now report that none of 29 uninfected individuals vaccinated with the recombinant OspA vaccine had an antibody response to the C6 peptide. The C6 peptide ELISA can be used to diagnose Lyme disease in patients who have received the OspA vaccine.