Please cite this article in press as: Ebady et al., Biomechanics of Borrelia burgdorferi Vascular Interactions, Cell Reports (2016), http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013 Cell Reports Article Biomechanics of Borrelia burgdorferi Vascular Interactions Rhodaba Ebady,1 Alexandra F. Niddam,1 Anna E. Boczula,1 Yae Ram Kim,1 Nupur Gupta,1 Tian Tian Tang,1 Tanya Odisho,1 Hui Zhi,4 Craig A. Simmons,1,3 Jon T. Skare,4 and Tara J. Moriarty1,2,5,* 1Matrix Dynamics Group, Faculty of Dentistry 2Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto, 150 College Street, #241 Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada 3Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, 14th floor, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada 4Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 8447 State Highway 47, MREB #3107, Bryan, TX 77807, USA 5Lead Contact *Correspondence:
[email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013 SUMMARY blood flow, which subjects adhesin-receptor complexes to tension, a form of mechanical load (Persat et al., 2015; Sokur- Systemic dissemination of microbes is critical for enko et al., 2008). The initial braking steps of vascular interac- progression of many infectious diseases and is asso- tions are critical because they permit microbes to reduce veloc- ciated with most mortality due to bacterial infection. ity and move along vessel walls until extravasation sites are The physical mechanisms mediating a key dissemi- reached. nation step, bacterial association with vascular Cell association with endothelial surfaces is especially difficult endothelia in blood vessels, remain unknown.