{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7222794679","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","title":"Asymmetric flagellar filaments shape Borreliella burgdorferi morphology and motility","display_name":"Asymmetric flagellar filaments shape Borreliella burgdorferi morphology and motility","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-10-16","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7222794679","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","pdf_url":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/10/16/2026.10.15.759423.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402567","display_name":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I2750212522","host_organization_name":"Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2750212522"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"bioRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"volume":null,"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/10/16/2026.10.15.759423.full.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100365378","display_name":"Jiaqi Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-8949","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-8949"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I32971472","display_name":"Yale University","ror":"https://ror.org/03v76x132","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jiaqi Wang","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-8949","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5158965866","display_name":"Kai Zhang","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I184840846","display_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","ror":"https://ror.org/02nkdxk79","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Kai Zhang","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5031597192","display_name":"Wangbiao Guo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5398-4910","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5398-4910"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I32971472","display_name":"Yale University","ror":"https://ror.org/03v76x132","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Wangbiao Guo","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5398-4910","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5090372918","display_name":"Syed Zafar Sultan","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I186335123","display_name":"East Carolina University","ror":"https://ror.org/01vx35703","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I186335123"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Syed Z. Sultan","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I186335123"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5158793400","display_name":"Aaron Ye","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I32971472","display_name":"Yale University","ror":"https://ror.org/03v76x132","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Aaron Ye","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA","Westview High School, San Diego, CA 92129, USA"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Westview High School, San Diego, CA 92129, USA","institution_ids":[]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5158984528","display_name":"Anthony Low","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Anthony Low","raw_affiliation_strings":["Greens Farms Academy, Westport, CT 06880, USA"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Greens Farms Academy, Westport, CT 06880, USA","institution_ids":[]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5019467489","display_name":"Md A. Motaleb","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2761-5104","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2761-5104"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I186335123","display_name":"East Carolina University","ror":"https://ror.org/01vx35703","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I186335123"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Md A. Motaleb","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2761-5104","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I186335123"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5124737049","display_name":"Chunhao Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1872-4870","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1872-4870"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I184840846","display_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","ror":"https://ror.org/02nkdxk79","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Chunhao Li","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I184840846"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100362078","display_name":"Jun Liu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3108-6735","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3108-6735"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I32971472","display_name":"Yale University","ror":"https://ror.org/03v76x132","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Jun Liu","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA","Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA","Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3108-6735","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06536, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5100362078"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I32971472"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10857","display_name":"Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications","score":0.3537999987602234,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1315","display_name":"Structural Biology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/13","display_name":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10857","display_name":"Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications","score":0.3537999987602234,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1315","display_name":"Structural Biology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/13","display_name":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10120","display_name":"Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology","score":0.2694999873638153,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1311","display_name":"Genetics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/13","display_name":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10296","display_name":"Vector-borne infectious diseases","score":0.12189999967813492,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2405","display_name":"Parasitology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/24","display_name":"Immunology and Microbiology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/borrelia-burgdorferi","display_name":"Borrelia burgdorferi","score":0.9620000123977661},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/periplasmic-flagella","display_name":"periplasmic flagella","score":0.8849999904632568},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/flaa","display_name":"flaA","score":0.6700000166893005},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/flab","display_name":"flaB","score":0.9419999718666077},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/spirochete-motility","display_name":"spirochete motility","score":0.8420000076293945},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/spirochete-morphology","display_name":"spirochete morphology","score":0.8519999980926514},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/bacterial-flagellar-motor","display_name":"flagellar motor","score":0.640999972820282}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C115811362","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189998","display_name":"Flagellum","level":3,"score":0.9390000104904175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C201663137","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198990","display_name":"Periplasmic space","level":4,"score":0.8217999935150146},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C14228908","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2920483","display_name":"Protein filament","level":2,"score":0.7439000010490417},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C58207958","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33596","display_name":"Motility","level":2,"score":0.628600001335144},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95444343","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7141","display_name":"Cell biology","level":1,"score":0.5789999961853027},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C499950583","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183252","display_name":"Morphology (biology)","level":2,"score":0.5055000185966492},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.4846000075340271},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C12554922","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7100","display_name":"Biophysics","level":1,"score":0.4562999904155731},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779159148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2723634","display_name":"Borrelia burgdorferi","level":3,"score":0.4499000012874603},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C185592680","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2329","display_name":"Chemistry","level":0,"score":0.42969998717308044},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C38117629","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24788421","display_name":"Flagellin","level":3,"score":0.3774999976158142},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C20702342","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5190506","display_name":"Cryo-electron microscopy","level":2,"score":0.3197000026702881},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C125705527","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q185269","display_name":"Actin","level":2,"score":0.298799991607666},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C47701112","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q735188","display_name":"Protein structure","level":2,"score":0.26429998874664307}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","pdf_url":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/10/16/2026.10.15.759423.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402567","display_name":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I2750212522","host_organization_name":"Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2750212522"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"bioRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759423","pdf_url":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/10/16/2026.10.15.759423.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402567","display_name":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I2750212522","host_organization_name":"Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2750212522"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"bioRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7222794679.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7222794679.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":2,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W4396721167","https://openalex.org/W7165182616"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W7128056415","https://openalex.org/W2112125190","https://openalex.org/W4249694515","https://openalex.org/W4406164594","https://openalex.org/W7165182616","https://openalex.org/W7138341764","https://openalex.org/W4214926734","https://openalex.org/W2139066483","https://openalex.org/W3216537380","https://openalex.org/W4241079892"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Abstract":[0],"The":[1,202],"Lyme":[2,203],"disease":[3,204],"spirochete":[4,205],"Borreliella":[5,206],"burgdorferi":[6,207],"possesses":[7,138],"bipolar":[8],"periplasmic":[9,52,210],"flagella":[10,29,211],"that":[11,65,100,134,235],"are":[12,144],"essential":[13],"for":[14,122,192,212,272],"its":[15,169,213],"distinctive":[16,195,214,310],"flat-wave":[17],"morphology,":[18],"motility,":[19,217],"and":[20,34,55,61,116,129,141,166,197,216,279,312],"infectivity.":[21],"However,":[22],"how":[23,219,302],"the":[24,66,75,79,89,94,104,135,163,194,236,245,251,285,289,297,309],"molecular":[25,190,264],"architecture":[26,221],"of":[27,50,78,199,260,288,314],"these":[28,123,224,273],"contributes":[30,222,307],"to":[31,88,103,223,256,308],"spirochetal":[32],"morphology":[33,128,196,215,278,311],"motility":[35,117,198,313],"remains":[36,226],"poorly":[37],"understood.":[38],"Here,":[39],"using":[40],"in":[41,125,156,229,275],"situ":[42,230],"single-particle":[43],"cryo-electron":[44,231],"microscopy,":[45,232],"we":[46,233],"determine":[47],"near-atomic":[48],"structures":[49],"native":[51],"flagellar":[53,95,186],"filaments":[54],"reveal":[56,99,133,234,269,301],"two":[57,111],"distinct":[58,120,270],"architectures:":[59],"half-sheathed":[60],"unsheathed.":[62],"We":[63],"show":[64],"spirochete-specific":[67,237],"protein":[68,238],"FlaA":[69,101,149,159,239,254,282],"forms":[70,240],"an":[71,241],"asymmetric":[72,148,182,242,304],"sheath":[73,85,160,183,243,305],"along":[74],"convex":[76],"surface":[77,258],"conserved":[80],"FlaB":[81,105,136,246,261,290],"filament":[82,91,165,220,247,294],"core,":[83,291],"with":[84,110],"assembly":[86,161,184,283,306],"restricted":[87],"proximal":[90,164],"region":[92],"near":[93,250,296],"motor.":[96,298],"Atomic":[97],"models":[98],"anchors":[102,255],"core":[106,137,248],"through":[107,262],"specific":[108,263],"interactions":[109],"surface-exposed":[112],"loops,":[113],"while":[114,266],"genetic":[115,267],"analyses":[118,268],"demonstrate":[119],"roles":[121,271],"loops":[124,259,274],"maintaining":[126,276],"cell":[127,252,277],"motility.":[130,280],"Structural":[131],"comparisons":[132],"intrinsic":[139,286],"curvature":[140],"supercoiling,":[142,187],"which":[143,157,181],"substantially":[145],"amplified":[146],"by":[147,180],"assembly.":[150],"These":[151,299],"findings":[152,300],"support":[153],"a":[154,176,189],"model":[155],"localized":[158],"reinforces":[162],"potentially":[167,292],"modulates":[168],"mechanical":[170],"properties.":[171],"Together,":[172],"our":[173],"results":[174],"uncover":[175],"previously":[177],"unrecognized":[178],"mechanism":[179],"enhances":[185],"providing":[188],"basis":[191],"understanding":[193],"spirochetes.":[200,315],"Significance":[201],"relies":[208],"on":[209],"but":[218],"properties":[225],"unclear.":[227],"Using":[228],"around":[244],"exclusively":[249],"poles.":[253],"flexible":[257],"interactions,":[265],"Asymmetric":[281],"amplifies":[284],"supercoiling":[287],"modifying":[293],"mechanics":[295],"localized,":[303]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-04T10:54:05.112534","created_date":"2026-10-18T00:00:00"}