PDLIM7 and infection: Therefore, while lmp1 is variably expressed in diverse tissue environments and carries a predominant role in spirochete persistence in the heart, a basal level of lmp1 expression is noted throughout the murine infection which, based on our in vitro data (Figure 5C), might contribute to the protection of B. burgdorferi against host-acquired immune responses, as was recently proposed for B. burgdorferi OspA in feeding ticks [44].