About the Authors

Franc Strle

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Gary P. Wormser

gary_wormser@nymc.edu

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Paul Mead

Affiliation National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Kanthi Dhaduvai

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Michael V. Longo

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Omosalewa Adenikinju

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Sandeep Soman

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Yodit Tefera

Affiliation Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

Vera Maraspin

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Stanka Lotrič-Furlan

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Katarina Ogrinc

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Jože Cimperman

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Eva Ružić-Sabljić

Affiliation Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Daša Stupica

Affiliation Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Competing Interests

GPW received research grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Immunetics, Inc., BioRad, DiaSorin, Inc., and BioMerieux. GPW has equity in Abbott and is an expert witness in malpractice cases involving Lyme disease. GPW is also an unpaid board member American Lyme Disease Foundation, and GPW is an expert witness regarding Lyme disease in a disciplinary action for the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. FS is a consultant to Baxter for Lyme vaccine development. GPW is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: GPW FS PM KD MVL OA SS YT. Performed the experiments: FS VM SLF KO JC ERS DS. Analyzed the data: GPW PM FS KD MVL OA SS YT SLF KO DS. Wrote the paper: GPW PM KD MVL OA SS YT VM SLF KO JC ERS DS FS. Final approval of the version to be published: FS GPW PM KD MVL OA SS YT VM SLF KO JC ERS DS.