Borrelia burgdorferi transcriptome of sRNA mutant SR0736

Lyme disease causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, expresses a plethora of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). The sRNAs can potentially be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of the transcripts they bind to by modulating translation and mRNA stability. In this work, we have performed RNA-seq of the sRNA SR0736 mutant and the parent in B31 derivative strains. RNA-seq of the strains grown in vitro at conditions that mimic the mammalian host, determined transcript differences between the strains and identified potential mRNA targets of SR0736. The sRNA SR0736 is required for the optimal infection and dissemination in the mammalian host.