What mechanism does Lyme disease use to affect tissues in the body?

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, utilizes surface protein localization as a key mechanism to interact with and affect tissues in the body. This bacterium is adept at evading the host's immune response by altering the expression of its surface proteins. The outer surface proteins (OSPs) are critical for its ability to attach to host tissues and evade immune detection.

By changing these surface proteins, Borrelia burgdorferi can manipulate the host's immune response and adhere to different cell types, facilitating its spread through various tissues. This localization strategy is instrumental in establishing infection and contributing to the characteristic symptoms of Lyme disease, including inflammatory responses in joints, skin, and the nervous system.

The mechanisms involved in Lyme disease are primarily centered on this ability to manipulate surface proteins rather than through antigen presentation or direct invasion, as the bacterium does not invade cells in the same way a virus would. Additionally, while an excessive immune response can occur as a result of the infection, it is not the primary mechanism through which Lyme disease affects tissues.