Our article among the Top 50 in Nature Communications in the field of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
The editorial team of the prestigious journal Nature Communications has included our paper “Targeted volume imaging reveals early vascular interactions of Lyme disease pathogen in skin” among the Top 50 recently published articles in the field of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
The selection was made by editor Hayleah Pickford as part of the Editors’ Highlights series, which showcases the most interesting and impactful research recently published in Nature Communications.
The collection is featured on the Nature Communications homepage and on the dedicated Editors’ Highlights page.
Strnad M., Týč J., Kitzberger F., Kopecká J., Rego R.O.M., Vancová M. 2025: Targeted volume imaging reveals early vascular interactions of Lyme disease pathogen in skin. Nature Communications 16: 9330. [IF = 15.7] DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64326-w
Abstract
Although the contours of the dissemination pathways of human pathogenic spirochetes in the vertebrate hosts are known, detailed high-resolution information on these processes remain lacking. In this study, we establish an efficient serial block-face scanning electron microscopy workflow incorporating semi-automatic AI-driven segmentation to investigate the architecture of early events following the deposition of Borrelia burgdorferi at the tick bite site in mice. We capture evidence of Borrelia penetrating the lymphatic endothelium via both transcellular and paracellular routes and observe its early presence within the lumen of the lymphatic vessel. The multistep process of transcellular migration is documented in detail, showing sequential invagination and encasement of shorter Borrelia segments by the lymphatic endothelial cells during intravasation. Our findings reveal that the first contact of B. burgdorferi and blood vessels is not random but involves close interactions with pericytes. We also capture the infiltration of immune cells in the skin and their interactions with invading bacteria. Altogether, these observations suggest that Borrelia strategically targets vascular regions with lower mechanical resistance to breach the endothelial barrier, thereby enhancing its dissemination.
Introduction
Robust dissemination and barrier traversal are essential capabilities for pathogenic spirochetes, enabling them to invade and spread throughout the body of a host1,2. Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi (Bb) is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD) and is transmitted to humans by Ixodes spp. ticks3. To establish a disseminated infection, these spirochetes must overcome a multitude of physical obstacles, including entry into and exit from the blood and lymphatic circulatory systems4,5. The vascular barrier is primarily composed of endothelial cells (ECs) but is functionally supported and mechanically stabilized by a complex microenvironment that includes pericytes (PCs), basement membrane (BM), smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and mast cells6.
