Colorimetric solid-phase capture hybridization assay for detection of amplified Borrelia burgdorferi DNA.

To simplify detection procedures of DNA fragments resulting from PCR, we developed a colorimetric microplate hybridization assay. This format was used for the identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causal agent of Lyme disease. The system relied on the use of a specific capture probe covalently linked to polystyrene plates and a specific polybiotinylated detection probe.

Simultaneous presence of different Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies in biological fluids of Lyme disease patients.

Oligonucleotide primers based on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato ospA gene sequences have been designed for use in the PCR to type all (SL primers) or each (GI to GIII primers) of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies involved in Lyme disease. These genospecies-specific primers were then used in the PCR on 24 biological fluids collected from 18 neuroborreliosis patients.