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Kozisek F, Cenovic J, Armendariz S, Muthukrishnan S, Park Y, Thomas VC, Chaudhari SS. An optimized artificial blood feeding assay to study tick cuticle biology. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 168:104113. [PMID: 38527710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Ticks, ectoparasitic arachnids, are prominent disease vectors impacting both humans and animals. Their unique blood-feeding phase involves significant abdominal cuticle expansion, sharing certain similarities with insects. However, vital aspects, including the mechanisms of cuticle expansion, changes in cuticular protein composition, chitin synthesis, and cuticle function, remain poorly understood. Given that the cuticle expansion is crucial for complete engorgement of the ticks, addressing these knowledge gaps is essential. Traditional tick research involving live animal hosts has inherent limitations, such as ethical concerns and host response variability. Artificial membrane feeding systems provide an alternative approach, offering controlled experimental conditions and reduced ethical dilemmas. These systems enable precise monitoring of tick attachment, feeding parameters, and pathogen acquisition. Despite the existence of various methodologies for artificial tick-feeding systems, there is a pressing need to enhance their reproducibility and effectiveness. In this context, we introduce an improved tick-feeding system that incorporates adjustments related to factors like humidity, temperature, and blood-feeding duration. These refinements markedly boost tick engorgement rates, presenting a valuable tool for in-depth investigations into tick cuticle biology and facilitating studies on molting. This refined system allows for collecting feeding ticks at specific stages, supporting research on tick cuticle biology, and evaluating chemical agents' efficacy in the engorgement process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Kozisek
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Jonathon Cenovic
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Savannah Armendariz
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States
| | - Yoonseong Park
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States
| | - Vinai C Thomas
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Sujata S Chaudhari
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States.
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Olajiga OM, Jameson SB, Carter BH, Wesson DM, Mitzel D, Londono-Renteria B. Artificial Feeding Systems for Vector-Borne Disease Studies. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:188. [PMID: 38534457 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
This review examines the advancements and methodologies of artificial feeding systems for the study of vector-borne diseases, offering a critical assessment of their development, advantages, and limitations relative to traditional live host models. It underscores the ethical considerations and practical benefits of such systems, including minimizing the use of live animals and enhancing experimental consistency. Various artificial feeding techniques are detailed, including membrane feeding, capillary feeding, and the utilization of engineered biocompatible materials, with their respective applications, efficacy, and the challenges encountered with their use also being outlined. This review also forecasts the integration of cutting-edge technologies like biomimicry, microfluidics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence to refine and expand the capabilities of artificial feeding systems. These innovations aim to more accurately simulate natural feeding conditions, thereby improving the reliability of studies on the transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases. This comprehensive review serves as a foundational reference for researchers in the field, proposing a forward-looking perspective on the potential of artificial feeding systems to revolutionize vector-borne disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olayinka M Olajiga
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Samuel B Jameson
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Brendan H Carter
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Dawn M Wesson
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Dana Mitzel
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Berlin Londono-Renteria
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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3
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Rochlin I, Chu D, Gmelin M, Le J, Furie MB, Thanassi DG, Kim HK. Optimization of artificial membrane feeding system for lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), and experimental infection with Rickettsia amblyommatis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:442-453. [PMID: 38104248 PMCID: PMC10936164 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
With the introduction of siliconized artificial membranes, various artificial feeding systems (AFS) for hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been developed over the last decades. Most AFS utilize similar core components but employ diverse approaches, materials, and experimental conditions. Published work describes different combinations of the core components without experimental optimizations for the artificial feeding of different tick species. Amblyomma americanum L., (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick) is a known vector and reservoir for diverse tick-borne pathogens, such as Rickettsia amblyommatis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Ongoing environmental changes have supported the expansion of A. americanum into new habitats, contributing to increased tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in A. americanum interactions with tick-borne pathogens. Here, we performed a systematic analysis and developed an optimized AFS for nymphal lone star ticks. Our results demonstrate that Goldbeater's membranes, rabbit hair, hair extract, and adult lone star ticks significantly improved the attachment rate of nymphal ticks, whereas tick frass and frass extract did not. With the optimized conditions, we achieved an attachment rate of 46 ± 3% and a success rate of 100% (i.e., one or more attached ticks) in each feeding experiment for nymphal lone star ticks. When fed on sheep blood spiked with R. amblyommatis, both nymphal and adult lone star ticks acquired and maintained R. amblyommatis, demonstrating the feasibility of studying A. americanum-pathogen interactions using AFS. Our study can serve as a roadmap to optimize and improve AFS for other medically relevant tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Dennis Chu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Gmelin
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Justin Le
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martha B Furie
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - David G Thanassi
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Adegoke A, Ribeiro JMC, Smith R, Karim S. Tick innate immune responses to hematophagy and Ehrlichia infection at single-cell resolution. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1305976. [PMID: 38274813 PMCID: PMC10808623 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1305976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ticks rely on robust cellular and humoral responses to control microbial infection. However, several aspects of the tick's innate immune system remain uncharacterized, most notably that of the immune cells (called hemocytes), which are known to play a significant role in cellular and humoral responses. Despite the importance of hemocytes in regulating microbial infection, our understanding of their basic biology and molecular mechanisms remains limited. Therefore, we believe that a more detailed understanding of the role of hemocytes in the interactions between ticks and tick-borne microbes is crucial to illuminating their function in vector competence and to help identify novel targets for developing new strategies to block tick-borne pathogen transmission. Methods This study examined hemocytes from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) at the transcriptomic level using the 10X genomics single-cell RNA sequencing platform to analyze hemocyte populations from unfed, partially blood-fed, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis-infected ticks. The functional role of differentially expressed hemocyte markers in hemocyte proliferation and Ehrlichia dissemination was determined using an RNA interference approach. Results and discussion Our data exhibit the identification of fourteen distinct hemocyte populations. Our results uncover seven distinct lineages present in uninfected and Ehrlichia-infected hemocyte clusters. The functional characterization of hemocytin, cystatin, fibronectin, and lipocalin demonstrate their role in hemocyte population changes, proliferation, and Ehrlichia dissemination. Conclusion Our results uncover the tick immune responses to Ehrlichia infection and hematophagy at a single-cell resolution. This work opens a new field of tick innate immunobiology to understand the role of hemocytes, particularly in response to prolonged blood-feeding (hematophagy), and tick-microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulsalam Adegoke
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Jose M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Shahid Karim
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
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Garcia Guizzo M, Meneses C, Amado Cecilio P, Hessab Alvarenga P, Sonenshine D, Ribeiro JM. Optimizing tick artificial membrane feeding for Ixodes scapularis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16170. [PMID: 37758795 PMCID: PMC10533868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43200-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial membrane feeding (AMF) is a powerful and versatile technique with a wide range of applications in the study of disease vectors species. Since its first description, AMF has been under constant optimization and standardization for different tick species and life stages. In the USA, Ixodes scapularis is the main vector of tick-borne zoonoses including the pathogens causing Lyme disease in humans and animals. Seeking to improve the overall fitness of I. scapularis adult females fed artificially, here, we have optimized the AMF technique, considerably enhancing attachment rate, engorgement success, egg laying, and egg hatching compared to those described in previous studies. Parameters such as the membrane thickness and the light/dark cycle to which the ticks were exposed were refined to more closely reflect the tick's natural behavior and life cycle. Additionally, ticks were fed on blood only, blood + ATP or blood + ATP + gentamicin. The artificial feeding of ticks on blood only was successful and generated a progeny capable of feeding naturally on a host, i.e., mice. Adding ATP as a feeding stimulant did not improve tick attachment or engorgement. Notably, the administration of gentamicin, an antibiotic commonly used in tick AMF to prevent microbial contamination, negatively impacted Rickettsia buchneri endosymbiont levels in the progeny of artificially fed ticks. In addition, gentamicin-fed ticks showed a reduction in oviposition success compared to ticks artificially fed on blood only, discouraging the use of antibiotics in AMF. Overall, our data suggest that the AMF of adult females on blood only, in association with the natural feeding of their progeny on mice, might be used as an integrated approach in tick rearing, eliminating the use of protected species under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Of note, although optimized for I. scapularis adult ticks, I. scapularis nymphs, other tick species, and sand flies could also be fed using the membrane described in this study, indicating that it might be a suitable alternative for the artificial feeding of a variety of hematophagous species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Garcia Guizzo
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Claudio Meneses
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Pedro Amado Cecilio
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Patricia Hessab Alvarenga
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Sonenshine
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jose M Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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Sebastian PS, Król N, Novoa MB, Nijhof AM, Pfeffer M, Nava S, Obiegala A. Preliminary Study on Artificial versus Animal-Based Feeding Systems for Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Microorganisms 2023; 11:1107. [PMID: 37317081 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks pose a threat to animal and human health. Active life stages need to feed on a vertebrate host in order to complete their life cycle. To study processes such as tick-pathogen interactions or drug efficacy and pharmacokinetics, it is necessary to maintain tick colonies under defined laboratory conditions, typically using laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to test a membrane-based artificial feeding system (AFS) applicable for Amblyomma ticks using Amblyomma tonelliae as a biological model. Adult ticks from a laboratory colony were fed in a membrane-based AFS. For comparison, other A. tonelliae adults were fed on calf and rabbit. The proportions of attached (AFS: 76%; calf/rabbit: 100%) and engorged females (AFS: 47.4%; calf/rabbit: 100%) in the AFS were significantly lower compared to animal-based feeding (p = 0.0265). The engorgement weight of in vitro fed ticks (x¯ = 658 mg; SD ± 259.80) did not significantly differ from that of ticks fed on animals (p = 0.3272, respectively 0.0947). The proportion of females that oviposited was 100% for all three feeding methods. However, the incubation period of eggs (x¯ = 54 days; SD ± 7) was longer in the AFS compared to conventional animal-based feeding (p = 0.0014); x¯ = 45 days; SD ± 2 in the rabbit and (p = 0.0144). x¯ = 48 days; SD ± 2 in the calf). Egg cluster hatching (x¯ = 41%; SD ± 44.82) was lower in the AFS than in the other feeding methods (rabbit: x¯ = 74%; SD ± 20; p = 0.0529; calf: x¯ = 81%; SD ± 22; p = 0.0256). Although the attachment, development, and the hatching of AFS ticks were below those from animal-based feeding, the method may be useful in future experiments. Nevertheless, further experiments with a higher number of tick specimens (including immature life stages) and different attractant stimuli are required to confirm the preliminary results of this study and to evaluate the applicability of AFS for Amblyomma ticks as an alternative to animal-based feeding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - María Belén Novoa
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Ard Menzo Nijhof
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Mulenga A, Radulovic Z, Porter L, Britten TH, Kim TK, Tirloni L, Gaithuma AK, Adeniyi-Ipadeola GO, Dietrich JK, Moresco JJ, Yates JR. Identification and characterization of proteins that form the inner core Ixodes scapularis tick attachment cement layer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21300. [PMID: 36494396 PMCID: PMC9734129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24881-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis long-term blood feeding behavior is facilitated by a tick secreted bio adhesive (tick cement) that attaches tick mouthparts to skin tissue and prevents the host from dislodging the attached tick. Understanding tick cement formation is highly sought after as its disruption will prevent tick feeding. This study describes proteins that form the inner core layer of I. scapularis tick cement as disrupting these proteins will likely stop formation of the outer cortical layer. The inner core cement layer completes formation by 24 h of tick attachment. Thus, we used laser-capture microdissection to isolate cement from cryosections of 6 h and 24 h tick attachment sites and to distinguish between early and late inner core cement proteins. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 138 tick cement proteins (TCPs) of which 37 and 35 were unique in cement of 6 and 24 h attached ticks respectively. We grouped TCPs in 14 functional categories: cuticular protein (16%), tick specific proteins of unknown function, cytoskeletal proteins, and enzymes (13% each), enzymes (10%), antioxidant, glycine rich, scaffolding, heat shock, histone, histamine binding, proteases and protease inhibitors, and miscellaneous (3-6% each). Gene ontology analysis confirm that TCPs are enriched for bio adhesive properties. Our data offer insights into tick cement bonding patterns and set the foundation for understanding the molecular basis of I. scapularis tick cement formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Zeljko Radulovic
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, USA
| | - Lindsay Porter
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, USA
| | - Taylor Hollman Britten
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Alex Kiarie Gaithuma
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Grace O Adeniyi-Ipadeola
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jolene K Dietrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - James J Moresco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Genetics of Host Defense, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Lynn GE, Černý J, Kurokawa C, Diktaş H, Matias J, Sajid A, Arora G, DePonte K, Narasimhan S, Fikrig E. Immunization of guinea pigs with cement extract induces resistance against Ixodes scapularis ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102017. [PMID: 35963188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As hematophagous parasites, many tick species are important vectors of medical and veterinary disease agents. Proteins found in tick saliva and midgut have been used with some success in immunizations of animal hosts against feeding ticks, and whole saliva has been used effectively in this capacity against Ixodes scapularis, the primary vector of tickborne pathogens in the United States. Tick saliva is a complex substance containing hundreds of proteins, and the identification of specific protective antigens is ongoing. We performed a series of experiments immunizing guinea pigs with extracts prepared from midgut or attachment cement collected from adult female I. scapularis followed by challenge with nymphs of the same species. Midgut extract did not induce protective immunity, while immunization with cement extract resulted in partial protection of hosts as evidenced by premature tick detachment and 34-41% reduction in tick engorgement weights. Proteomic characterization of I. scapularis cement was performed, demonstrating that the cement extract was compositionally different from tick saliva, and vitellogenin-like lipoproteins were the most abundant proteins in cement extract (>40%). Cement was also heavily enriched with lysozymes and defensins, including those originating from both the mammalian host as well as ticks. These results demonstrate that I. scapularis cement contains immunogenic components capable of stimulating host resistance against tick feeding. Because the cement is present at the tick-host interface for an extended period of time during the feeding process, these antigens present auspicious candidates for further evaluation and potential inclusion in an anti-tick vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E Lynn
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States.
| | - Jiří Černý
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Praha-Suchdol, CZ 16500, Czechia
| | - Cheyne Kurokawa
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Hüsrev Diktaş
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Jaqueline Matias
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Andaleeb Sajid
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Gunjan Arora
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Kathleen DePonte
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Sukanya Narasimhan
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06420, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States
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9
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Schön MP. The tick and I: Parasite-host interactions between ticks and humans. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2022; 20:818-853. [PMID: 35674196 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ticks, particularly hard ticks (Ixodidae), which are among the most important vectors of dangerous infectious agents, feed on their hosts for extended periods of time. With this lifestyle, numerous adaptations have evolved in ticks and their hosts, the pharmacological importance of which is increasingly being recognized. Many bioactive substances in tick saliva are being considered as the basis of new drugs. For example, components of tick cement can be developed into tissue adhesives or wound closures. Analgesic and antipruritic salivary components inhibit histamine or bradykinin, while other tick-derived molecules bind opioid or cannabinoid receptors. Tick saliva inhibits the extrinsic, intrinsic, or common pathway of blood coagulation with implications for the treatment of thromboembolic diseases. It contains vasodilating substances and affects wound healing. The broad spectrum of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects of tick saliva, such as inhibition of chemokines or cellular immune responses, allows development of drugs against inflammation in autoimmune diseases and/or infections. Finally, modern vaccines against ticks can curb the spread of serious infections. The medical importance of the complex tick-host interactions is increasingly being recognized and translated into first clinical applications. Using selected examples, an overview of the mutual adaptations of ticks and hosts is given here, focusing on their significance to medical advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Schön
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
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10
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Schön MP. Die Zecke und ich: Parasiten-Wirt-Interaktionen zwischen Zecken und Menschen. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2022; 20:818-855. [PMID: 35711058 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14821_g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Schön
- Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
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11
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Maqbool M, Sajid MS, Saqib M, Anjum FR, Tayyab MH, Rizwan HM, Rashid MI, Rashid I, Iqbal A, Siddique RM, Shamim A, Hassan MA, Atif FA, Razzaq A, Zeeshan M, Hussain K, Nisar RHA, Tanveer A, Younas S, Kamran K, Rahman SU. Potential Mechanisms of Transmission of Tick-Borne Viruses at the Virus-Tick Interface. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:846884. [PMID: 35602013 PMCID: PMC9121816 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.846884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks (Acari; Ixodidae) are the second most important vector for transmission of pathogens to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Ticks as vectors for viruses have been reported many times over the last 100 years. Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) belong to two orders (Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales) containing nine families (Bunyaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Asfarviridae, Orthomyxovirida, Reoviridae, Flaviviridae, Phenuviridae, Nyamiviridae, and Nairoviridae). Among these TBVs, some are very pathogenic, causing huge mortality, and hence, deserve to be covered under the umbrella of one health. About 38 viral species are being transmitted by <10% of the tick species of the families Ixodidae and Argasidae. All TBVs are RNA viruses except for the African swine fever virus from the family Asfarviridae. Tick-borne viral diseases have also been classified as an emerging threat to public health and animals, especially in resource-poor communities of the developing world. Tick-host interaction plays an important role in the successful transmission of pathogens. The ticks' salivary glands are the main cellular machinery involved in the uptake, settlement, and multiplication of viruses, which are required for successful transmission into the final host. Furthermore, tick saliva also participates as an augmenting tool during the physiological process of transmission. Tick saliva is an important key element in the successful transmission of pathogens and contains different antimicrobial proteins, e.g., defensin, serine, proteases, and cement protein, which are key players in tick-virus interaction. While tick-virus interaction is a crucial factor in the propagation of tick-borne viral diseases, other factors (physiological, immunological, and gut flora) are also involved. Some immunological factors, e.g., toll-like receptors, scavenger receptors, Janus-kinase (JAK-STAT) pathway, and immunodeficiency (IMD) pathway are involved in tick-virus interaction by helping in virus assembly and acting to increase transmission. Ticks also harbor some endogenous viruses as internal microbial faunas, which also play a significant role in tick-virus interaction. Studies focusing on tick saliva and its role in pathogen transmission, tick feeding, and control of ticks using functional genomics all point toward solutions to this emerging threat. Information regarding tick-virus interaction is somewhat lacking; however, this information is necessary for a complete understanding of transmission TBVs and their persistence in nature. This review encompasses insight into the ecology and vectorial capacity of tick vectors, as well as our current understanding of the predisposing, enabling, precipitating, and reinforcing factors that influence TBV epidemics. The review explores the cellular, biochemical, and immunological tools which ensure and augment successful evading of the ticks' defense systems and transmission of the viruses to the final hosts at the virus-vector interface. The role of functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in profiling tick-virus interaction is also discussed. This review is an initial attempt to comprehensively elaborate on the epidemiological determinants of TBVs with a focus on intra-vector physiological processes involved in the successful execution of the docking, uptake, settlement, replication, and transmission processes of arboviruses. This adds valuable data to the existing bank of knowledge for global stakeholders, policymakers, and the scientific community working to devise appropriate strategies to control ticks and TBVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahvish Maqbool
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sohail Sajid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Saqib
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Faisal Rasheed Anjum
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Haleem Tayyab
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Rizwan
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Imaad Rashid
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Asif Iqbal
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rao Muhammad Siddique
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Asim Shamim
- Department of Pathobiology, University of the Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adeel Hassan
- Department of Parasitology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Farhan Ahmad Atif
- Medicine Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, Collège of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Razzaq
- Agricultural Linkages Program, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Kashif Hussain
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Akasha Tanveer
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Sahar Younas
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Kashif Kamran
- Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad ur Rahman
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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12
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Neelakanta G, Sultana H. Tick Saliva and Salivary Glands: What Do We Know So Far on Their Role in Arthropod Blood Feeding and Pathogen Transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:816547. [PMID: 35127563 PMCID: PMC8809362 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.816547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that have developed myriad of strategies to get a blood meal from the vertebrate host. They first attach to the host skin, select a bite site for a blood meal, create a feeding niche at the bite site, secrete plethora of molecules in its saliva and then starts feeding. On the other side, host defenses will try to counter-attack and stop tick feeding at the bite site. In this constant battle between ticks and the host, arthropods successfully pacify the host and completes a blood meal and then replete after full engorgement. In this review, we discuss some of the known and emerging roles for arthropod components such as cement, salivary proteins, lipocalins, HSP70s, OATPs, and extracellular vesicles/exosomes in facilitating successful blood feeding from ticks. In addition, we discuss how tick-borne pathogens modulate(s) these components to infect the vertebrate host. Understanding the biology of arthropod blood feeding and molecular interactions at the tick-host interface during pathogen transmission is very important. This information would eventually lead us in the identification of candidates for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines to prevent diseases caused by medically important vector-borne pathogens.
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13
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Rafiq N, Naseem M, Kakar A, Shirazi JH, Masood MI. A preliminary evaluation of tick cement-cone protein extract for a vaccine against Hyalomma infestation. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH 2022; 23:255-264. [PMID: 36425603 PMCID: PMC9681977 DOI: 10.22099/ijvr.2022.43366.6328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccines have been widely exploited to prevent tick-borne infections in cattle. Most vaccines have faced failure in the field because of inconsistency in an immune response. It is presumed that the cement-cone proteins of ticks that participate in the acquisition of blood meal for ticks possess strong immune-stimulating properties and, hence, could be a useful candidate in vaccine development. AIMS We evaluated cement-cone proteins of tick Hyalomma anatolicum as a vaccine candidate against infestations of H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium in cattle. METHODS The cement-cone proteins were extracted from H. anatolicum to develop stage-reactive and immunogenic cross-reactive vaccine against the infestation of two species of ticks H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium. The immune response of the vaccine was tested against cement-cone proteins starved, partially fed, and richly fed ticks. RESULTS The findings of the present study demonstrated the cross-reactivity among the two species of ticks that belonged to the same genus (Hyalomma). The antigenic similarity between the two ticks species suggests that a common antigen may possibly be suitable for a vaccine against the two different species of ticks. The results have also indicated that the 23 kDa cement-cone protein of H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium may be responsible for the induction, or elicitation of immunogenic, common stage reactive, and cross-reactive host immune responses with consistent intensity throughout the life stages of ticks. CONCLUSION The vaccine based upon cement-cone proteins of ticks may be a useful deterrent against tick-borne infections in cattle in countries like Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Rafiq
- Department of Zoology, SBK Women University, Quetta-87300, Pakistan
| | - M. Naseem
- Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta-87300, Pakistan
| | - A. Kakar
- Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta-87300, Pakistan
| | - J. H. Shirazi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur-63100, Pakistan
| | - M. I. Masood
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore-54000, Pakistan, and Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, D-66123, Germany, and Working Group Enteric Nervous System, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Campus Zweibrücken, 66482, Germany
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14
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Pacheco I, Prado E, Artigas-Jerónimo S, Lima-Barbero JF, de la Fuente G, Antunes S, Couto J, Domingos A, Villar M, de la Fuente J. Comparative analysis of Rhipicephalus tick salivary gland and cement elementome. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06721. [PMID: 33869878 PMCID: PMC8045051 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhipicephalus spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods, which constitute a model for the study of vector-host interactions. The chemical composition or elementome of salivary glands (SG) and cement provides information relevant for the study of protein-based complex multifunctional tissues with a key role in tick biology. In this study, we characterized the elementome of cement cones in Rhipicephalus sanguineus collected from naturally infested dogs and in SG and cement of R. bursa collected from experimentally infested rabbits at different feeding stages. The elementome was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed the identification of up to 14 chemical elements in the cement, and suggested tick/host-driven differences in the cement elementome between tick species and between SG and cement within the same species. By still unknown mechanisms, ticks may regulate cement elementome during feeding to affect various biological processes. Although these analyses are preliminary, the results suggested that N is a key component of the cement elementome with a likely origin in SG/salivary proteins (i.e., Glycine (C2H5NO2)-rich superfamily member proteins; GRPs) and other tick/host-derived components (i.e. NAPDH). Future research should be focused on tick elementome and its functional implications to better understand cement structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Pacheco
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Eduardo Prado
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Sara Artigas-Jerónimo
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José Francisco Lima-Barbero
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Sabiotec, Camino de Moledores s/n. 13003, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Gabriela de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Sabiotec, Camino de Moledores s/n. 13003, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Sandra Antunes
- GHMT - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa – UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Couto
- GHMT - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa – UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- GHMT - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa – UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarita Villar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science and Chemical Technologies, and Regional Centre for Biomedical Research (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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González J, Bickerton M, Toledo A. Applications of artificial membrane feeding for ixodid ticks. Acta Trop 2021; 215:105818. [PMID: 33406442 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on a large variety of vertebrates. In the laboratory, animals (mainly mice and rabbits) are used to maintain tick colonies. However, the use of animals to rear ticks can be expensive and requires dedicated animal facilities. In addition, research institutions are committed to the principle of 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement), which encourages the use of alternatives to animals when possible. The development of artificial membrane systems has provided an alternative to animals, at least for some tick species. Over the years, different modifications in artificial feeding systems have led to new applications, including acaricide testing, tick-pathogen interaction, and novel approaches to study tick physiology. Although artificial membrane feeding still has some limitations, the method can provide numerous advantages, including the standardization of acaricide treatments under controlled conditions, an alternative to animals for tick rearing, and reduction of cost associated with animals and animal housing facilities. In this review, we summarized the evolution of tick feeding membranes and their applications over time, explaining the modifications incorporated to study tick physiology, tick-pathogen interactions, and acaricide testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Mathew Bickerton
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Bergen County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, 220 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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16
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Sanches GS, Villar M, Couto J, Ferrolho J, Fernández de Mera IG, André MR, Barros-Battesti DM, Machado RZ, Bechara GH, Mateos-Hernández L, de la Fuente J, Antunes S, Domingos A. Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) Tropical and Temperate Lineages: Uncovering Differences During Ehrlichia canis Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:611113. [PMID: 33585280 PMCID: PMC7879575 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.611113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The tick vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus is established as a complex of closely related species with high veterinary-medical significance, in which the presence of different genetic, morphological, and biological traits has resulted in the recognition of different lineages within taxa. One of the most striking differences in the "temperate" and "tropical" lineages of R. sanguineus (s.l.) is the vector competence to Ehrlichia canis, suggesting that these ticks tolerate and react differently to pathogen infection. The present study addresses the SG and MG proteome of the R. sanguineus tropical and temperate lineages and compares their proteomic profile during E. canis infection. Batches of nymphs from the two lineages were allowed to feed on naïve and experimentally E. canis infected dogs and after molting, adults were dissected, and salivary glands and midgut tissues separated. Samples were screened for the presence of E. canis before proteomic analyses. The representation of the proteins identified in infected and non-infected tissues of each lineage was compared and gene ontology used for protein classification. Results highlight important differences in those proteomic profiles that added to previous reported genetic, biological, behavioral, and morphological differences, strengthening the hypothesis of the existence of two different species. Comparing infected and non-infected tissues, the results show that, while in midgut tissues the response to E. canis infection is similar in the salivary glands, the two lineages show a different pattern of protein representation. Focusing on the proteins found only in the infected condition, the data suggests that the cement cone produced during tick feeding may be implicated in pathogen infection. This study adds useful information to the debate on the controversial R. sanguineus systematic status, to the discussion related with the different vectorial competence occurring between the two lineages and identifies potential targets for efficient tick and tick-borne disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Seron Sanches
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Lisboa, Portugal.,Escola de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Margarita Villar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science and Chemical Technologies, and Regional Centre for Biomedical Research [CRIB], University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Joana Couto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Ferrolho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Marcos Rogério André
- Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV-UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Paris, France
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
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17
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De novo assembled salivary gland transcriptome and expression pattern analyses for Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neuman, 1897 male and female ticks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1642. [PMID: 33452281 PMCID: PMC7810686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete proteins in their saliva that change over the course of feeding to modulate the host inflammation, immune responses, haemostasis or may cause paralysis. RNA next generation sequencing technologies can reveal the complex dynamics of tick salivary glands as generated from various tick life stages and/or males and females. The current study represents 15,115 Illumina sequenced contigs of the salivary gland transcriptome from male and female Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks of early, mid and late feeding stages from 1320 separate assemblies using three short read assemblers. The housekeeping functional class contributed to the majority of the composition of the transcriptome (80%) but with lower expression (51%), while the secretory protein functional class represented only 14% of the transcriptome but 46% of the total coverage. Six percent had an unknown status contributing 3% of the overall expression in the salivary glands. Platelet aggregation inhibitors, blood clotting inhibitors and immune-modulators orthologous to the ancestral tick lineages were confirmed in the transcriptome and their differential expression during feeding in both genders observed. This transcriptome contributes data of importance to salivary gland biology and blood feeding physiology of non-model organisms.
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18
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Lynn GE, Diktas H, DePonte K, Fikrig E. Naturally Acquired Resistance to Ixodes scapularis Elicits Partial Immunity against Other Tick Vectors in a Laboratory Host. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:175-183. [PMID: 33258439 PMCID: PMC7790098 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In many regions where ticks negatively impact public health or economic production, multiple medically important tick species may have overlapping geographic distribution, and in North America, this includes members of Ixodes, Dermacentor, and Amblyomma genera. Acquired tick resistance is the process by which some animals develop an immune response against feeding ticks after one or more exposures. This form of immunity can restrict the ability of ticks to feed and may inhibit transmission of pathogens. Likewise, many proteins present in tick saliva are conserved among tick species, and prior studies have reported cross-protective host immunity against certain combinations of ticks. In this study, we used a guinea pig model to assess whether host resistance against Ixodes scapularis could confer protection against two other medically important tick vectors, Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum. Tick challenges using nymphs were used to induce host resistance against a primary species, followed by additional challenge using a secondary tick species. Tick attachment to hosts and engorgement weights were reduced significantly for D. variabilis and A. americanum feeding on I. scapularis-sensitized hosts. Reciprocally, I. scapularis engorgement weights were reduced to a lesser extent, and attachment was unaffected when feeding on hosts sensitized with either D. variabilis or A. americanum. These results indicate that immunity against I. scapularis could potentially be exploited for use in an anti-tick vaccine targeting multiple tick species and their associated pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E. Lynn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Husrev Diktas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kathleen DePonte
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
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19
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Narasimhan S, Kurokawa C, DeBlasio M, Matias J, Sajid A, Pal U, Lynn G, Fikrig E. Acquired tick resistance: The trail is hot. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12808. [PMID: 33187012 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acquired tick resistance is a phenomenon wherein the host elicits an immune response against tick salivary components upon repeated tick infestations. The immune responses, potentially directed against critical salivary components, thwart tick feeding, and the animal becomes resistant to subsequent tick infestations. The development of tick resistance is frequently observed when ticks feed on non-natural hosts, but not on natural hosts. The molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of tick resistance are not fully understood, and both host and tick factors are invoked in this phenomenon. Advances in molecular tools to address the host and the tick are beginning to reveal new insights into this phenomenon and to uncover a deeper understanding of the fundamental biology of tick-host interactions. This review will focus on the expanding understanding of acquired tick resistance and highlight the impact of this understanding on anti-tick vaccine development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cheyne Kurokawa
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Melody DeBlasio
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jaqueline Matias
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andaleeb Sajid
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Geoffrey Lynn
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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20
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Mans BJ. Quantitative Visions of Reality at the Tick-Host Interface: Biochemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, and Transcriptomics as Measures of Complete Inventories of the Tick Sialoverse. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:574405. [PMID: 33042874 PMCID: PMC7517725 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.574405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Species have definitive genomes. Even so, the transcriptional and translational products of the genome are dynamic and subject to change over time. This is especially true for the proteins secreted by ticks at the tick-host feeding interface that represent a complex system known as the sialoverse. The sialoverse represent all of the proteins derived from tick salivary glands for all tick species that may be involved in tick-host interaction and the modulation of the host's defense mechanisms. The current study contemplates the advances made over time to understand and describe the complexity present in the sialoverse. Technological advances at given periods in time allowed detection of functions, genes, and proteins enabling a deeper insight into the complexity of the sialoverse and a concomitant expansion in complexity with as yet, no end in sight. The importance of systematic classification of the sialoverse is highlighted with the realization that our coverage of transcriptome and proteome space remains incomplete, but that complete descriptions may be possible in the future. Even so, analysis and integration of the sialoverse into a comprehensive understanding of tick-host interactions may require further technological advances given the high level of expected complexity that remains to be uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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21
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Villar M, Pacheco I, Merino O, Contreras M, Mateos-Hernández L, Prado E, Barros-Picanço DK, Lima-Barbero JF, Artigas-Jerónimo S, Alberdi P, Fernández de Mera IG, Estrada-Peña A, Cabezas-Cruz A, de la Fuente J. Tick and Host Derived Compounds Detected in the Cement Complex Substance. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E555. [PMID: 32260542 PMCID: PMC7226240 DOI: 10.3390/biom10040555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods and vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health worldwide. Cement is a complex protein polymerization substance secreted by ticks with antimicrobial properties and a possible role in host attachment, sealing the feeding lesion, facilitating feeding and pathogen transmission, and protection from host immune and inflammatory responses. The biochemical properties of tick cement during feeding have not been fully characterized. In this study, we characterized the proteome of Rhipicephalus microplus salivary glands (sialome) and cement (cementome) together with their physicochemical properties at different adult female parasitic stages. The results showed the combination of tick and host derived proteins and other biomolecules such as α-Gal in cement composition, which varied during the feeding process. We propose that these compounds may synergize in cement formation, solidification and maintenance to facilitate attachment, feeding, interference with host immune response and detachment. These results advanced our knowledge of the complex tick cement composition and suggested that tick and host derived compounds modulate cement properties throughout tick feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Villar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science and Chemical Technologies, and Regional Centre for Biomedical Research (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Iván Pacheco
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | - Octavio Merino
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Km 5, Carretera Victoria-Mante, CP 87000 Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico;
| | - Marinela Contreras
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France;
| | - Eduardo Prado
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain;
| | - Dina Karen Barros-Picanço
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | - José Francisco Lima-Barbero
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
- Sabiotec, Camino de Moledores s/n. 13003, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Sara Artigas-Jerónimo
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | - Pilar Alberdi
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | - Isabel G. Fernández de Mera
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
| | | | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France;
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (M.V.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (L.M.-H.); (D.K.B.-P.); (J.F.L.-B.); (S.A.-J.); (P.A.); (I.G.F.d.M.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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22
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Quantitative Proteomics Identifies Metabolic Pathways Affected by Babesia Infection and Blood Feeding in the Sialoproteome of the Vector Rhipicephalus bursa. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010091. [PMID: 32092882 PMCID: PMC7157752 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The negative impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animals and human health is driving research to discover novel targets affecting both vectors and pathogens. The salivary glands are involved in feeding and pathogen transmission, thus are considered as a compelling target to focus research. In this study, proteomics approach was used to characterize Rhipicephalusbursa sialoproteome in response to Babesiaovis infection and blood feeding. Two potential tick protective antigens were identified and its influence in tick biological parameters and pathogen infection was evaluated. Results demonstrate that the R. bursa sialoproteome is highly affected by feeding but infection is well tolerated by tick cells. The combination of both stimuli shifts the previous scenario and a more evident pathogen manipulation can be suggested. Knockdown of ub2n led to a significative increase of infection in tick salivary glands but a brusque decrease in the progeny, revealing its importance in the cellular response to pathogen infection, which is worth pursuing in future studies. Additionally, an impact in the recovery rate of adults (62%), the egg production efficiency (45.75%), and the hatching rate (88.57 %) was detected. Building knowledge on vector and/or pathogen interplay bridges the identification of protective antigens and the development of novel control strategies.
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23
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Kim TK, Tirloni L, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Moresco JJ, Yates JR, da Silva Vaz I, Mulenga A. Time-resolved proteomic profile of Amblyomma americanum tick saliva during feeding. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007758. [PMID: 32049966 PMCID: PMC7041860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum ticks transmit more than a third of human tick-borne disease (TBD) agents in the United States. Tick saliva proteins are critical to success of ticks as vectors of TBD agents, and thus might serve as targets in tick antigen-based vaccines to prevent TBD infections. We describe a systems biology approach to identify, by LC-MS/MS, saliva proteins (tick = 1182, rabbit = 335) that A. americanum ticks likely inject into the host every 24 h during the first 8 days of feeding, and towards the end of feeding. Searching against entries in GenBank grouped tick and rabbit proteins into 27 and 25 functional categories. Aside from housekeeping-like proteins, majority of tick saliva proteins belong to the tick-specific (no homology to non-tick organisms: 32%), protease inhibitors (13%), proteases (8%), glycine-rich proteins (6%) and lipocalins (4%) categories. Global secretion dynamics analysis suggests that majority (74%) of proteins in this study are associated with regulating initial tick feeding functions and transmission of pathogens as they are secreted within 24–48 h of tick attachment. Comparative analysis of the A. americanum tick saliva proteome to five other tick saliva proteomes identified 284 conserved tick saliva proteins: we speculate that these regulate critical tick feeding functions and might serve as tick vaccine antigens. We discuss our findings in the context of understanding A. americanum tick feeding physiology as a means through which we can find effective targets for a vaccine against tick feeding. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is a medically important species in US that transmits 5 of the 16 reported tick-borne disease agents. Most recently, bites of this tick were associated with red meat allergies in humans. Vaccination of animals against tick feeding has been shown to be a sustainable and an effective alternative to current acaricide based tick control method which has several limitations. The pre-requisite to tick vaccine development is to understand the molecular basis of tick feeding physiology. Toward this goal, this study has identified proteins that A. americanum ticks inject into the host at different phases of its feeding cycle. This data set has identified proteins that A. americanum inject into the host within 24–48 h of feeding before it starts to transmit pathogens. Of high importance, we identified 284 proteins that are present in saliva of other tick species, which we suspect regulate important role(s) in tick feeding success and might represent rich source target antigens for a tick vaccine. Overall, this study provides a foundation to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tick feeding physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Antônio F. M. Pinto
- Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, Californai, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jolene K. Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - James J. Moresco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - John R. Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Bullard R, Sharma SR, Das PK, Morgan SE, Karim S. Repurposing of Glycine-Rich Proteins in Abiotic and Biotic Stresses in the Lone-Star Tick ( Amblyomma americanum). Front Physiol 2019; 10:744. [PMID: 31275163 PMCID: PMC6591454 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick feeding requires the secretion of a huge number of pharmacologically dynamic proteins and other molecules which are vital for the formation of the cement cone, the establishment of the blood pool and to counter against the host immune response. Glycine-rich proteins (GRP) are found in many organisms and can function in a variety of cellular processes and structures. The functional characterization of the GRPs in the tick salivary glands has not been elucidated. GRPs have been found to play a role in the formation of the cement cone; however, new evidence suggests repurposing of GRPs in the tick physiology. In this study, an RNA interference approach was utilized to silence two glycine-rich protein genes expressed in early phase of tick feeding to determine their functional role in tick hematophagy, cement cone structure, and microbial homeostasis within the tick host. Additionally, the transcriptional regulation of GRPs was determined after exposure to biotic and abiotic stresses including cold and hot temperature, injury, and oxidative stress. This caused a significant up-regulation of AamerSigP-34358, Aam-40766, AamerSigP-39259, and Aam-36909. Our results suggest ticks repurpose these proteins and further functional characterization of GRPs may help to design novel molecular strategies to disrupt the homeostasis and the pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Bullard
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States.,Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Surendra Raj Sharma
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Pradipta Kumar Das
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Sarah E Morgan
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Shahid Karim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
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25
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Crispell G, Commins SP, Archer-Hartman SA, Choudhary S, Dharmarajan G, Azadi P, Karim S. Discovery of Alpha-Gal-Containing Antigens in North American Tick Species Believed to Induce Red Meat Allergy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1056. [PMID: 31156631 PMCID: PMC6533943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of specific IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1, 3-galactose (α-gal) following tick bites has been shown to be the source of red meat allergy. In this study, we investigated the presence of α-gal in four tick species: the lone-star tick (Amblyomma americanum), the Gulf-Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) by using a combination of immunoproteomic approach and, carbohydrate analysis. Anti-α-gal antibodies identified α-gal in the salivary glands of both Am. americanum and Ix. scapularis, while Am. maculatum and De. variabilis appeared to lack the carbohydrate. PNGase F treatment confirmed the deglycosylation of N-linked α-gal-containing proteins in tick salivary glands. Immunolocalization of α-gal moieties to the salivary secretory vesicles of the salivary acini also confirmed the secretory nature of α-gal-containing antigens in ticks. Am. americanum ticks were fed on human blood (lacks α-gal) using a silicone membrane system to determine the source of the α-gal. N-linked glycan analysis revealed that Am. americanum and Ix. scapularis have α-gal in their saliva and salivary glands, but Am. maculatum contains no detectable quantity. Consistent with the glycan analysis, salivary samples from Am. americanum and Ix. scapularis stimulated activation of basophils primed with plasma from α-gal allergic subjects. Together, these data support the idea that bites from certain tick species may specifically create a risk for the development of α-gal-specific IgE and hypersensitivity reactions in humans. Alpha-Gal syndrome challenges the current food allergy paradigm and broadens opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Crispell
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environment, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Scott P Commins
- Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Shailesh Choudhary
- Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Guha Dharmarajan
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Shahid Karim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environment, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
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26
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Mans BJ. Chemical Equilibrium at the Tick-Host Feeding Interface:A Critical Examination of Biological Relevance in Hematophagous Behavior. Front Physiol 2019; 10:530. [PMID: 31118903 PMCID: PMC6504839 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete hundreds to thousands of proteins into the feeding site, that presumably all play important functions in the modulation of host defense mechanisms. The current review considers the assumption that tick proteins have functional relevance during feeding. The feeding site may be described as a closed system and could be treated as an ideal equilibrium system, thereby allowing modeling of tick-host interactions in an equilibrium state. In this equilibrium state, the concentration of host and tick proteins and their affinities will determine functional relevance at the tick-host interface. Using this approach, many characterized tick proteins may have functional relevant concentrations and affinities at the feeding site. Conversely, the feeding site is not an ideal closed system, but is dynamic and changing, leading to possible overestimation of tick protein concentration at the feeding site and consequently an overestimation of functional relevance. Ticks have evolved different possible strategies to deal with this dynamic environment and overcome the barrier that equilibrium kinetics poses to tick feeding. Even so, cognisance of the limitations that equilibrium binding place on deductions of functional relevance should serve as an important incentive to determine both the concentration and affinity of tick proteins proposed to be functional at the feeding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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27
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Dong X, Chaisiri K, Xia D, Armstrong SD, Fang Y, Donnelly MJ, Kadowaki T, McGarry JW, Darby AC, Makepeace BL. Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism. Gigascience 2018; 7:5160133. [PMID: 30445460 PMCID: PMC6275457 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trombidid mites have a unique life cycle in which only the larval stage is ectoparasitic. In the superfamily Trombiculoidea ("chiggers"), the larvae feed preferentially on vertebrates, including humans. Species in the genus Leptotrombidium are vectors of a potentially fatal bacterial infection, scrub typhus, that affects 1 million people annually. Moreover, chiggers can cause pruritic dermatitis (trombiculiasis) in humans and domesticated animals. In the Trombidioidea (velvet mites), the larvae feed on other arthropods and are potential biological control agents for agricultural pests. Here, we present the first trombidid mites genomes, obtained both for a chigger, Leptotrombidium deliense, and for a velvet mite, Dinothrombium tinctorium. Results Sequencing was performed using Illumina technology. A 180 Mb draft assembly for D. tinctorium was generated from two paired-end and one mate-pair library using a single adult specimen. For L. deliense, a lower-coverage draft assembly (117 Mb) was obtained using pooled, engorged larvae with a single paired-end library. Remarkably, both genomes exhibited evidence of ancient lateral gene transfer from soil-derived bacteria or fungi. The transferred genes confer functions that are rare in animals, including terpene and carotenoid synthesis. Thirty-seven allergenic protein families were predicted in the L. deliense genome, of which nine were unique. Preliminary proteomic analyses identified several of these putative allergens in larvae. Conclusions Trombidid mite genomes appear to be more dynamic than those of other acariform mites. A priority for future research is to determine the biological function of terpene synthesis in this taxon and its potential for exploitation in disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dong
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China.,School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China.,Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Kittipong Chaisiri
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Dong Xia
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart D Armstrong
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Yongxiang Fang
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - John W McGarry
- Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RP, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair C Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
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28
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Olivieri E, Wijnveld M, Bonga M, Berger L, Manfredi MT, Veronesi F, Jongejan F. Transmission of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia massiliae DNA by Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) ticks during artificial feeding. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:494. [PMID: 30176918 PMCID: PMC6122679 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3075-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne rickettsial pathogens are emerging worldwide and pose an increased health risk to both humans and animals. A plethora of rickettsial species has been identified in ticks recovered from human and animal patients. However, the detection of rickettsial DNA in ticks does not necessarily mean that these ticks can act as vectors for these pathogens. Here, we used artificial feeding of ticks to confirm transmission of Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia raoultii by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, respectively. The speed of transmission was also determined. Methods An artificial feeding system based on silicone membranes were used to feed adult R. sanguineus (s.l.) and D. reticulatus ticks. Blood samples from in vitro feeding units were analysed for the presence of rickettsial DNA using PCR and reverse line blot hybridisation. Results The attachment rate of R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks were 40.4% at 8 h post-application, increasing to 70.2% at 72 h. Rickettsia massiliae was detected in blood samples collected 8 h after the R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks were placed into the in vitro feeding units. D. reticulatus ticks were pre-fed on sheep and subsequently transferred to the in vitro feeding system. The attachment rate was 29.1 % at 24 h post-application, increasing to 43.6 % at 96 h. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in blood collected 24 h after D. reticulatus was placed into the feeding units. Conclusions Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) and D. reticulatus ticks are vectors of R. massiliae and R. raoultii, respectively. The transmission of R. massiliae as early as 8 h after tick attachment emphasises the importance of removing ticks as soon as possible to minimise transmission. This study highlights the relevance of in vitro feeding systems to provide insight into the vectorial capacity of ticks and the dynamics of tick-borne pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Olivieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy.,Utrecht Centre for Tick-borne Diseases, FAO Reference Centre for Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Wijnveld
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marise Bonga
- Utrecht Centre for Tick-borne Diseases, FAO Reference Centre for Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Berger
- Utrecht Centre for Tick-borne Diseases, FAO Reference Centre for Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maria T Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Frans Jongejan
- Utrecht Centre for Tick-borne Diseases, FAO Reference Centre for Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
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29
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Suppan J, Engel B, Marchetti-Deschmann M, Nürnberger S. Tick attachment cement - reviewing the mysteries of a biological skin plug system. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1056-1076. [PMID: 29119723 PMCID: PMC5947171 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The majority of ticks in the family Ixodidae secrete a substance anchoring their mouthparts to the host skin. This substance is termed cement. It has adhesive properties and seals the lesion during feeding. The particular chemical composition and the curing process of the cement are unclear. This review summarizes the literature, starting with a historical overview, briefly introducing the different hypotheses on the origin of the adhesive and how the tick salivary glands have been identified as its source. Details on the sequence of cement deposition, the curing process and detachment are provided. Other possible functions of the cement, such as protection from the host immune system and antimicrobial properties, are presented. Histochemical and ultrastructural data of the intracellular granules in the salivary gland cells, as well as the secreted cement, suggest that proteins constitute the main material, with biochemical data revealing glycine to be the dominant amino acid. Applied methods and their restrictions are discussed. Tick cement is compared with adhesives of other animals such as barnacles, mussels and sea urchins. Finally, we address the potential of tick cement for the field of biomaterial research and in particular for medical applications in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Suppan
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Engel
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/164, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Sylvia Nürnberger
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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30
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Hart T, Yang X, Pal U, Lin YP. Identification of Lyme borreliae proteins promoting vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in Ixodes scapularis nymphs using artificial feeding chambers. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1057-1063. [PMID: 29653905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne illness in Europe and the United States, is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. In humans, the spirochetes disseminate from the tick bite site to multiple tissues, leading to serious clinical manifestations. The ability of spirochetes to survive in ticks during blood feeding is thought to be essential for Lyme borreliae to be transmitted to different vertebrate hosts. This ability is partly attributed to several B. burgdorferi proteins, including BBA52 and Lp6.6, which promote spirochete survival in nymphal ticks feeding on mice. One of the strategies to identify such proteins without using live animals is to feed B. burgdorferi-infected ticks on blood via artificial feeding chambers. In previous studies, ticks were only fed on bovine blood in the feeding chambers. In this study, we used this chamber model and showed that I. scapularis ticks will not only acquire bovine blood but human and quail blood as well. The latter two are the incidental host and an avian host of Lyme borreliae, respectively. We also investigated the roles that BBA52 and Lp6.6 play in promoting spirochete survival in nymphal ticks fed on human or quail blood. After feeding on human blood, spirochete burdens in ticks infected with an lp6.6-deficient B. burgdorferi were significantly reduced, while bba52-deficient spirochete burdens in ticks remained unchanged, similar to the wild-type strain. No strain showed a change in spirochete burdens in ticks fed on quail blood. These results indicate that Lp6.6 plays a role for B. burgdorferi in nymphs fed on human but not quail blood. Such information also demonstrates that the artificial feeding chamber is a powerful tool to identify B. burgdorferi proteins that promote vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in I. scapularis ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hart
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
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31
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Hollmann T, Kim TK, Tirloni L, Radulović ŽM, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, da Silva Vaz I, Mulenga A. Identification and characterization of proteins in the Amblyomma americanum tick cement cone. Int J Parasitol 2017; 48:211-224. [PMID: 29258831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The adaptation of hard ticks to feed for long periods is facilitated by the cement cone, which securely anchors the tick mouthparts onto host skin and protects the tick from being groomed off by the host. Thus, preventing tick cement deposition is an attractive target for the development of innovative tick control. We used LC-MS/MS sequencing to identify 160 Amblyomma americanum tick cement proteins that include glycine-rich proteins (GRP, 19%), protease inhibitors (12%), proteins of unknown function (11%), mucin (4%), detoxification, storage, and lipocalin at 1% each, and housekeeping proteins (50%). Spatiotemporal transcription analysis showing mRNA expression in multiple tick organs and transcript abundance increasing with feeding suggest that selected GRPs (n = 13) regulate multiple tick feeding functions, being classified as constitutively expressed (CE), feeding induced (FI), and up-regulated with feeding (UR). We show that transcription of CE GRPs is likely under the control of tick appetence associated factors in that mRNA abundance increased several thousand fold in 1 week old adult ticks, the time period that coincides with tick attainment of appetence. Given the high number of targets, we synthesized and injected unfed ticks with combinatorial (co) double stranded (ds)RNA and disrupted GRP mRNA in clusters according to similar transcription patterns: CE (n = 3), FI, (n = 4), and UR (n = 6) to streamline the work. Our data suggest that CE and FI GRPs are important for maintenance of the tick feeding site in that reddening and subsequent bleeding were observed around the mouthparts of CE and FI GRP co-dsRNA injected ticks during feeding. Furthermore, although not significantly different, indices for blood meal size and fecundity were apparently reduced in FI and UR ticks. We discuss our data with reference to A. americanum tick feeding physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Hollmann
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Željko M Radulović
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Antônio F M Pinto
- Centro de Pesquisas em Biologia Molecular e Funcional, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Tuberculose (INCT-TB), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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32
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Characterization of a glycine-rich protein from Rhipicephalus microplus: tissue expression, gene silencing and immune recognition. Parasitology 2017; 145:927-938. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017001998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSalivary molecules, as glycine-rich proteins (GRPs), are essential to tick attachment and feeding on the host and are suggested to be involved in the host's immune system evasion, therefore representing natural candidates in the search for protective vaccine antigens. This work shows the molecular characterization of a GRP from Rhipicephalus microplus (RmGRP). The cDNA and putative amino acid sequences were analysed, as well as the transcription level in tick tissues/developmental stages, showing the highest levels of gene expression in 1-day-old larvae and salivary glands of fully engorged females. RmGRP gene silencing resulted in a lower hatching rate of larvae from treated females. In addition, recombinant RmGRP (rRmGRP) was recognized by sera from naturally and experimentally infested bovines, displaying considerable differences among the individuals tested. rRmGRP was recognized by anti-saliva and anti-salivary glands sera, while anti-rRmGRP serum recognized RmGRP in saliva and salivary glands, indicating its secretion into the host. The data collected indicate that RmGRP may present roles other than in the tick–host relationship, especially in embryo development. In addition, the high expression in adult females, antigenicity and presence of shared characteristics with other tick protective GRPs turns RmGRP a potential candidate to compose an anti-tick vaccine cocktail.
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33
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Šimo L, Kazimirova M, Richardson J, Bonnet SI. The Essential Role of Tick Salivary Glands and Saliva in Tick Feeding and Pathogen Transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:281. [PMID: 28690983 PMCID: PMC5479950 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As long-term pool feeders, ticks have developed myriad strategies to remain discreetly but solidly attached to their hosts for the duration of their blood meal. The critical biological material that dampens host defenses and facilitates the flow of blood-thus assuring adequate feeding-is tick saliva. Saliva exhibits cytolytic, vasodilator, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive activity. This essential fluid is secreted by the salivary glands, which also mediate several other biological functions, including secretion of cement and hygroscopic components, as well as the watery component of blood as regards hard ticks. When salivary glands are invaded by tick-borne pathogens, pathogens may be transmitted via saliva, which is injected alternately with blood uptake during the tick bite. Both salivary glands and saliva thus play a key role in transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to vertebrate hosts. During their long co-evolution with ticks and vertebrate hosts, microorganisms have indeed developed various strategies to exploit tick salivary molecules to ensure both acquisition by ticks and transmission, local infection and systemic dissemination within the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladislav Šimo
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-EstMaisons-Alfort, France
| | - Maria Kazimirova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of SciencesBratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jennifer Richardson
- UMR Virologie, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-EstMaisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sarah I. Bonnet
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-EstMaisons-Alfort, France
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34
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Murfin KE, Fikrig E. Tick Bioactive Molecules as Novel Therapeutics: Beyond Vaccine Targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017. [PMID: 28634573 PMCID: PMC5459892 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Murfin
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, United States
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical InstituteChevy Chase, MD, United States.,Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT, United States
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