Borrelia burgdorferi CRASP-2

Borrelia burgdorferi CRASP-2 is another complement regulator-acquiring surface protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, belonging to the CRASP family like CRASP-1 but differing in amino acid sequence and complement factor binding specificity. Its core function is also aiding the bacterium in evading the host's complement system. However, it has different binding affinity and efficiency for complement regulators compared to CRASP-1. Their synergy enhances the bacterium's immune escape ability, enabling long-term survival and spread in the host, leading to chronic Lyme disease symptoms (e.g., arthritis, neurological damage). It is an important research object for Lyme disease prevention and treatment, as targeting it may disrupt bacterial immune escape.