Evolution of Borrelia Bacteria

Lyme disease is one of the most frequent zoonoses in the Northern Hemisphere. It is caused by bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex transmitted form host to host by tick vectors. Understanding the evolution of Borrelia bacteria in the context of their adaptation to their different hosts is crucial for the understanding of the geographical spread of the disease as well as their adaptation to the human immune system.In collaboration with Dr. G. Margos and Dr. V. Fingerle from the Bavarian Food and Health Safety Authority, I have developed a project focusing on the evolution of Borrelia from different species and on their adaptation to their hosts. The methods used are mainly those of population genomics.