Four strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, designated KK-1, KK-2, KW-3 and KM-4 respectively, were isolated in Choongbuk and Kangwon province, Korea, in 1992. Recently, we isolated fifteen more borrelial strains. For the purpose of identifying
genospecies,
eight monoclonal antibodies were made with Korean isolates and screened the reactivities with the isolates, The nineteen isolates were also studied by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE) for protein profiles,
and
polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification. These studies demonstrate that the eleven Korean isolates belonged to Borrelia garinii. The seven isolates were identified as Borrelia afzelii. One isolate, KW-3, as well as B, burgdorferi IP89 showed
different protein profiles and reactivity with monoclonal antibodies from other isolates, which suggests that this isolate is distinct from the American and European isolates.
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