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Le Dortz LL, Rouxel C, Polack B, Boulouis HJ, Lagrée AC, Deshuillers PL, Haddad N. Tick-borne diseases in Europe: Current prevention, control tools and the promise of aptamers. Vet Parasitol 2024; 328:110190. [PMID: 38714064 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
In Europe, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality, affecting both human and animal health. Ticks can transmit a wide variety of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) and feed on many vertebrate hosts. The incidence and public health burden of TBDs are tending to intensify in Europe due to various factors, mainly anthropogenic and often combined. Early detection of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), preventive measures and treatment are of great importance to control TBDs and their expansion. However, there are various limitations in terms of the sensitivity and/or specificity of detection and prevention methods, and even in terms of feasibility. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA that could address these issues as they are able to bind with high affinity and specificity to a wide range of targets (e.g., proteins, small compounds, and cells) due to their unique three-dimensional structure. To date, aptamers have been selected against TBPs such as tick-borne encephalitis virus, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia typhi. These studies have demonstrated the benefits of aptamer-based assays for pathogen detection and medical diagnosis. In this review, we address the applications of aptamers to TBDs and discuss their potential for improving prevention measures (use of chemical acaricides, vaccination), diagnosis and therapeutic strategies to control TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lucie Le Dortz
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Clotilde Rouxel
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Bruno Polack
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Henri-Jean Boulouis
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Anne-Claire Lagrée
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Pierre Lucien Deshuillers
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Nadia Haddad
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France.
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Wang J, Chai Y, Yang J, Chen K, Liu G, Luo J, Guan G, Ren Q, Yin H. Insight into Hyalomma anatolicum biology by comparative genomics analyses. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:157-170. [PMID: 37858900 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Hyalomma anatolicum is an obligatory blood-sucking ectoparasite and contributes to the transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus, Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. Progress in exploring the adaptive strategy of this ectoparasite and developing tools to fight it has been hindered by the lack of a complete genome. Herein, we assembled the genome using diverse sources of data from multiple sequencing platforms and annotated the 1.96 Gb genome of Hy. anatolicum. Comparative genome analyses and the predicted protein encoding genes reveal unique facets of this genome, including gene family expansion associated with blood feeding and digestion, multi-gene families involved in detoxification, a great number of neuropeptides and corresponding receptors regulating tick growth, development, and reproduction, and glutathione S-transferase genes playing roles in insecticide resistance and detoxification of multiple xenobiotic factors. This high quality reference genome provides fundamental data for obtaining insights into a variety of aspects of tick biology and developing novel strategies to fight notorious tick vectors of human and animal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China.
| | - Yijun Chai
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China
| | - Jifei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China.
| | - Qiaoyun Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China.
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
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de Aquino LM, Zapa DMB, de Castro Rodrigues D, Strydom T, Torres S, Ferreira LL, Barufi F, de Amaral HOA, de Borges FDA, Gallina T, de Mendonça RP, Soares VE, Monteiro CMO, Lopes WDZ. Two protocols using fluralaner for Rhipicephalus microplus strategic control on taurine cattle in a tropical region. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:15. [PMID: 38191412 PMCID: PMC10775593 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06107-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different treatment strategies using a new commercial formulation containing pour-on fluralaner on Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in cattle and in pastures in a tropical climate region where up to five generations of this tick species can occur per year. METHODS Forty-five naturally infested cattle were divided into three experimental groups: T01, treated with fluralaner (2.5 mg/kg) pour-on every 42 days; T02, the cattle received the first treatment with fluralaner on Day 0 but the next treatment involved a weekly visual evaluation; T03, control, received palliative treatment with a spray formulation when the group mean was ≥ 30 ticks. Counts of female R. microplus were performed weekly until day 343, and larval counts on pasture were performed on Days 0, 30, and 60 and every 30 days until Day 330. RESULTS Using fluralaner, six applications were performed in Group T01, and four were performed in Group T02. In the control group (T03), it was necessary to perform eight palliative acaricide treatments with the spray formulation. The animals in T01 and T02 showed lower mean tick counts (p ≤ 0.05) than the control group (T03) on 28 and 27 of the 49 evaluated dates, respectively. In the paddock where the animals were kept as controls, the R. microplus larvae counts increased to 1458. In the paddocks where the animals were treated with fluralaner, the number was ≤ 19 per paddock during the study. CONCLUSIONS The different strategic treatment protocols performed with pour-on fluralaner (2.5 mg/kg) over a year in taurine cattle in a tropical region with a history of up to five annual generations of cattle ticks were effective, maintaining levels of R. microplus infestations in animals and in pastures close to zero in most of the study. Depending on the retreatment criterion adopted, the number of applications per year may be lower, resulting in a reduction in the mean cost of acaricide treatment per year and lower exposure of R. microplus populations to the active ingredient, resulting in lower resistance and selection pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Mendes de Aquino
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Dina Maria Beltran Zapa
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Daniel de Castro Rodrigues
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- MSD Animal Health, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tom Strydom
- MSD Animal Health, 20 Spartan Road, Isando, Kempton Park, 1619, South Africa
| | | | - Lorena Lopes Ferreira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernando de Almeida de Borges
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vando Edésio Soares
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- University of Brazil, Descalvado, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caio Marcio Oliveira Monteiro
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Department of Biosciences and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes
- Center of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
- Department of Biosciences and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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Lyu B, Li J, Niemeyer B, Stanley D, Song Q. Identification and characterization of ecdysis-related neuropeptides in the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1256618. [PMID: 37693356 PMCID: PMC10490126 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is an important ectoparasite known for transmitting diseases to humans and animals. Ecdysis-related neuropeptides (ERNs) control behaviors crucial for arthropods to shed exoskeletons. However, ERN identification and characterization in A. americanum remain incomplete. Methods We investigated ERNs in A. americanum, assessing their evolutionary relationships, protein properties, and functions. Phylogeny, sequence alignment, and domain structures of ERNs were analyzed. ERN functionality was explored using enrichment analysis, and developmental and tissue-specific ERN expression profiles were examined using qPCR and RNAi experiments. Results and discussion The study shows that ERN catalogs (i.e., eclosion hormone, corazonin, and bursicon) are found in most arachnids, and these ERNs in A. americanum have high evolutionary relatedness with other tick species. Protein modeling analysis indicates that ERNs primarily consist of secondary structures and protein stabilizing forces (i.e., hydrophobic clusters, hydrogen bond networks, and salt bridges). Gene functional analysis shows that ENRs are involved in many ecdysis-related functions, including ecdysis-triggering hormone activity, neuropeptide signaling pathway, and corazonin receptor binding. Bursicon proteins have functions in chitin binding and G protein-coupled receptor activity and strong interactions with leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5. ERNs were expressed in higher levels in newly molted adults and synganglia. RNAi-mediated knockdown of burs α and burs β expression led to a significant decrease in the expression of an antimicrobial peptide, defensin, suggesting they might act in signaling or regulatory pathways that control the expression of immune-related genes. Arthropods are vulnerable immediately after molting because new cuticles are soft and susceptible to injury and pathogen infections. Bursicon homodimers act in prophylactic immunity during this vulnerable period by increasing the synthesis of transcripts encoding antimicrobial peptides to protect them from microbial invasion. Collectively, the expression pattern and characterization of ERNs in this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the physiological processes in A. americanum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lyu
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jingjing Li
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Brigid Niemeyer
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - David Stanley
- Biological Control of Insect Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Station (USDA/ARS), Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Fu P, Mei YS, Liu WJ, Chen P, Jin QC, Guo SQ, Wang HY, Xu JP, Zhang YCF, Ding XY, Liu CP, Liu CY, Mao RT, Zhang G, Jing J. Identification of three elevenin receptors and roles of elevenin disulfide bond and residues in receptor activation in Aplysia californica. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7662. [PMID: 37169790 PMCID: PMC10175484 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides are ubiquitous intercellular signaling molecules in the CNS and play diverse roles in modulating physiological functions by acting on specific G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Among them, the elevenin signaling system is now believed to be present primarily in protostomes. Although elevenin was first identified from the L11 neuron of the abdominal ganglion in mollusc Aplysia californica, no receptors have been described in Aplysia, nor in any other molluscs. Here, using two elevenin receptors in annelid Platynereis dumerilii, we found three putative elevenin GPCRs in Aplysia. We cloned the three receptors and tentatively named them apElevR1, apElevR2, and apElevR3. Using an inositol monophosphate (IP1) accumulation assay, we demonstrated that Aplysia elevenin with the disulfide bond activated the three putative receptors with low EC50 values (ranging from 1.2 to 25 nM), supporting that they are true receptors for elevenin. In contrast, elevenin without the disulfide bond could not activate the receptors, indicating that the disulfide bond is required for receptor activity. Using alanine substitution of individual conserved residues other than the two cysteines, we showed that these residues appear to be critical to receptor activity, and the three different receptors had different sensitivities to the single residue substitution. Finally, we examined the roles of those residues outside the disulfide bond ring by removing these residues and found that they also appeared to be important to receptor activity. Thus, our study provides an important basis for further study of the functions of elevenin and its receptors in Aplysia and other molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Shuo Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing-Chun Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shi-Qi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui-Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ju-Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan-Chu-Fei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue-Ying Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cui-Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng-Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui-Ting Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jian Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Waldman J, Klafke GM, Tirloni L, Logullo C, da Silva Vaz I. Putative target sites in synganglion for novel ixodid tick control strategies. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102123. [PMID: 36716581 PMCID: PMC10033424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102123] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Acaricide resistance is a global problem that has impacts worldwide. Tick populations with broad resistance to all commercially available acaricides have been reported. Since resistance selection in ticks and their role in pathogen transmission to animals and humans result in important economic and public health burden, it is essential to develop new strategies for their control (i.e., novel chemical compounds, vaccines, biological control). The synganglion is the tick central nervous system and it is responsible for synthesizing and releasing signaling molecules with different physiological functions. Synganglion proteins are the targets of the majority of available acaricides. In this review we provide an overview of the mode-of-action and resistance mechanisms against neurotoxic acaricides in ticks, as well as putative target sites in synganglion, as a supporting tool to identify new target proteins and to develop new strategies for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Waldman
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Marcondes Klafke
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor - Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, IBqM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Krishnarjuna B, Sunanda P, Seow J, Tae HS, Robinson SD, Belgi A, Robinson AJ, Safavi-Hemami H, Adams DJ, Norton RS. Characterisation of Elevenin-Vc1 from the Venom of Conus victoriae: A Structural Analogue of α-Conotoxins. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21020081. [PMID: 36827123 PMCID: PMC9963005 DOI: 10.3390/md21020081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevenins are peptides found in a range of organisms, including arthropods, annelids, nematodes, and molluscs. They consist of 17 to 19 amino acid residues with a single conserved disulfide bond. The subject of this study, elevenin-Vc1, was first identified in the venom of the cone snail Conus victoriae (Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 2017, 244, 11-18). Although numerous elevenin sequences have been reported, their physiological function is unclear, and no structural information is available. Upon intracranial injection in mice, elevenin-Vc1 induced hyperactivity at doses of 5 or 10 nmol. The structure of elevenin-Vc1, determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, consists of a short helix and a bend region stabilised by the single disulfide bond. The elevenin-Vc1 structural fold is similar to that of α-conotoxins such as α-RgIA and α-ImI, which are also found in the venoms of cone snails and are antagonists at specific subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In an attempt to mimic the functional motif, Asp-Pro-Arg, of α-RgIA and α-ImI, we synthesised an analogue, designated elevenin-Vc1-DPR. However, neither elevenin-Vc1 nor the analogue was active at six different human nAChR subtypes (α1β1εδ, α3β2, α3β4, α4β2, α7, and α9α10) at 1 µM concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bankala Krishnarjuna
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Punnepalli Sunanda
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Seow
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Han-Shen Tae
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Samuel D. Robinson
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Alessia Belgi
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | | | | | - David J. Adams
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Raymond S. Norton
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-9903-9167
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8
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Wulff JP, Temeyer KB, Tidwell JP, Schlechte KG, Lohmeyer KH, Pietrantonio PV. Periviscerokinin (Cap 2b; CAPA) receptor silencing in females of Rhipicephalus microplus reduces survival, weight and reproductive output. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:359. [PMID: 36203198 PMCID: PMC9535995 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05457-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is a vector of pathogens causative of babesiosis and anaplasmosis, both highly lethal bovine diseases that affect cattle worldwide. In Ecdysozoa, neuropeptides and their G-protein-coupled receptors play a critical integrative role in the regulation of all physiological processes. However, the physiological activity of many neuropeptides is still unknown in ticks. Periviscerokinins (CAP2b/PVKs) are neuropeptides associated with myotropic and diuretic activities in insects. These peptides have been identified only in a few tick species, such as Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis and R. microplus, and their cognate receptor only characterized for the last two. METHODS Expression of the periviscerokinin receptor (Rhimi-CAP2bR) was investigated throughout the developmental stages of R. microplus and silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) in the females. In a first experiment, three double-stranded (ds) RNAs, named ds680-805, ds956-1109 and ds1102-1200, respectively, were tested in vivo. All three caused phenotypic effects, but only the last one was chosen for subsequent experiments. Resulting RNAi phenotypic variables were compared to those of negative controls, both non-injected and dsRNA beta-lactamase-injected ticks, and to positive controls injected with beta-actin dsRNA. Rhimi-CAP2bR silencing was verified by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in whole females and dissected tissues. RESULTS Rhimi-CAP2bR transcript expression was detected throughout all developmental stages. Rhimi-CAP2bR silencing was associated with increased female mortality, decreased weight of surviving females and of egg masses, a delayed egg incubation period and decreased egg hatching (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS CAP2b/PVKs appear to be associated with the regulation of female feeding, reproduction and survival. Since the Rhimi-CAP2bR loss of function was detrimental to females, the discovery of antagonistic molecules of the CAP2b/PVK signaling system should cause similar effects. Our results point to this signaling system as a promising target for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. Wulff
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
| | - Kevin B. Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
| | - Jason P. Tidwell
- Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd. Building 6419, Edinburg, TX 78541-5033 USA
| | - Kristie G. Schlechte
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
| | - Kimberly H. Lohmeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
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Wulff JP, Temeyer KB, Tidwell JP, Schlechte KG, Xiong C, Lohmeyer KH, Pietrantonio PV. Pyrokinin receptor silencing in females of the southern cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is associated with a reproductive fitness cost. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:252. [PMID: 35818078 PMCID: PMC9272880 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05349-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhipicephalusmicroplus is the vector of deadly cattle pathogens, especially Babesia spp., for which a recombinant vaccine is not available. Therefore, disease control depends on tick vector control. However, R.microplus populations worldwide have developed resistance to available acaricides, prompting the search for novel acaricide targets. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in the regulation of many physiological processes and have been suggested as druggable targets for the control of arthropod vectors. Arthropod-specific signaling systems of small neuropeptides are being investigated for this purpose. The pyrokinin receptor (PKR) is a GPCR previously characterized in ticks. Myotropic activity of pyrokinins in feeding-related tissues of Rhipicephalussanguineus and Ixodesscapularis was recently reported. Methods The R.microplus pyrokinin receptor (Rhimi-PKR) was silenced through RNA interference (RNAi) in female ticks. To optimize RNAi, a dual-luciferase assay was applied to determine the silencing efficiency of two Rhimi-PKR double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) prior to injecting dsRNA in ticks to be placed on cattle. Phenotypic variables of female ticks obtained at the endpoint of the RNAi experiment were compared to those of control female ticks (non-injected and beta-lactamase dsRNA-injected). Rhimi-PKR silencing was verified by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in whole females and dissected tissues. Results The Rhimi-PKR transcript was expressed in all developmental stages. Rhimi-PKR silencing was confirmed in whole ticks 4 days after injection, and in the tick carcass, ovary and synganglion 6 days after injection. Rhimi-PKR silencing was associated with an increased mortality and decreased weight of both surviving females and egg masses (P < 0.05). Delays in repletion, pre-oviposition and incubation periods were observed (P < 0.05). Conclusions Rhimi-PKR silencing negatively affected female reproductive fitness. The PKR appears to be directly or indirectly associated with the regulation of female feeding and/or reproductive output in R.microplus. Antagonists of the pyrokinin signaling system could be explored for tick control. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05349-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Wulff
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2475, USA
| | - Kevin B Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028-9184, USA
| | - Jason P Tidwell
- Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd. Building 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541-5033, USA
| | - Kristie G Schlechte
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028-9184, USA
| | - Caixing Xiong
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2475, USA
| | - Kimberly H Lohmeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028-9184, USA
| | - Patricia V Pietrantonio
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028-9184, USA.
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Rispe C, Hervet C, de la Cotte N, Daveu R, Labadie K, Noel B, Aury JM, Thany S, Taillebois E, Cartereau A, Le Mauff A, Charvet CL, Auger C, Courtot E, Neveu C, Plantard O. Transcriptome of the synganglion in the tick Ixodes ricinus and evolution of the cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel family in ticks. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:463. [PMID: 35733088 PMCID: PMC9219234 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08669-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks represent a major health issue for humans and domesticated animals. Exploring the expression landscape of the tick's central nervous system (CNS), known as the synganglion, would be an important step in understanding tick physiology and in managing tick-borne diseases, but studies on that topic are still relatively scarce. Neuron-specific genes like the cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels (cys-loop LGICs, or cysLGICs) are important pharmacological targets of acaricides. To date their sequence have not been well catalogued for ticks, and their phylogeny has not been fully studied. RESULTS We carried out the sequencing of transcriptomes of the I. ricinus synganglion, for adult ticks in different conditions (unfed males, unfed females, and partially-fed females). The de novo assembly of these transcriptomes allowed us to obtain a large collection of cys-loop LGICs sequences. A reference meta-transcriptome based on synganglion and whole body transcriptomes was then produced, showing high completeness and allowing differential expression analyses between synganglion and whole body. Many of the genes upregulated in the synganglion were associated with neurotransmission and/or localized in neurons or the synaptic membrane. As the first step of a functional study of cysLGICs, we cloned the predicted sequence of the resistance to dieldrin (RDL) subunit homolog, and functionally reconstituted the first GABA-gated receptor of Ixodes ricinus. A phylogenetic study was performed for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and other cys-loop LGICs respectively, revealing tick-specific expansions of some types of receptors (especially for Histamine-like subunits and GluCls). CONCLUSIONS We established a large catalogue of genes preferentially expressed in the tick CNS, including the cysLGICs. We discovered tick-specific gene family expansion of some types of cysLGIC receptors, and a case of intragenic duplication, suggesting a complex pattern of gene expression among different copies or different alternative transcripts of tick neuro-receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Romain Daveu
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, Nantes, France.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Karine Labadie
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Université d'Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Benjamin Noel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Université d'Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Université d'Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Steeve Thany
- Université d'Orléans, LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Emiliane Taillebois
- Université d'Orléans, LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Alison Cartereau
- Université d'Orléans, LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Anaïs Le Mauff
- Université d'Orléans, LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, 45067, Orléans, France
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