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Abstract

Disclosed and claimed are isolated nucleic acid molecules, such as DNA encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA, vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules, and methods for diagnosing Borrelia burgdorferi infection employing such nucleic acid molecules. The isolated nucleic acid molecule can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding the 31 kD OspA protein of New York strain B31. The isolated nucleic acid molecule also can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA and a signal peptide which contains an amino acid recognition sequence. The recognition sequence can be L-z-z-C, where each z independently designates a small, neutral amino acid, such as isoleucine or alanine. The recognition sequence can also be L-I-x-C where x is a non-charged amino acid residue, such as alanine. Further, the isolated nucleic acid molecule can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA and which includes a 5'-flanking region containing at least one promoter sequence for expression of the OspA. And additionally, the isolated nucleic acid molecule can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA as a fusion polypeptide containing the OspA.

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First Claim