TprK sequence diversity accumulates during infection of rabbits with Treponema pallidum subsp pallidum Nichols straint

The tprK gene in Treponema pallidum undergoes antigenic variation. In all T. pallidum isolates examined to date, except the Nichols type strain, heterogeneous tprK sequences have been identified. This heterogeneity is localized to seven variable (V) regions, and tprK sequence diversity accumulates with serial passage in naive rabbits. The T. pallidum Nichols genome described a single tprK sequence, and after decades of independent passage, only minor tprK sequence diversity is seen among the Nichols strains from different laboratories. We hypothesized that T. pallidum Nichols is capable of only limited tprK diversification. To address this hypothesis, we passaged the T. pallidum Nichols strain in naive rabbits at the peak of infection (rapid passage) or after the adaptive immune response had cleared most organisms in vivo (slow passage). After 22 rapid passages (9- to 10-day intervals), no tprK V region sequence changes were observed. In contrast, after two slow passages (30- to 35-day intervals), three V regions had sequences that were completely different from that of the original inoculum. New sequences were observed in all seven V regions by the fifth slow passage. In contrast to the rapid-passaged Nichols strain, rapid-passaged Chicago C, a clonal strain isolated from the highly diverse parent Chicago strain, developed significant tprK diversification. These findings suggest that tprK variation can occur, but at a lower rate, in Nichols and that immune pressure may be required for accumulation of bacteria with diverse tprK sequences. Adaptation to growth in rabbits may explain the limited repertoire of V region sequences seen in the Nichols strain.