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Kwofie KD, Hernandez EP, Anisuzzaman, Kawada H, Koike Y, Sasaki S, Inoue T, Jimbo K, Mikami F, Ladzekpo D, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Yamaji K, Tanaka T, Matsubayashi M, Alim MA, Dadzie SK, Iwanaga S, Tsuji N, Hatta T. RNA activation in ticks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9341. [PMID: 37291173 PMCID: PMC10250327 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36523-4] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA activation (RNAa) is a burgeoning area of research in which double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) or small activating RNAs mediate the upregulation of specific genes by targeting the promoter sequence and/or AU-rich elements in the 3'- untranslated region (3'-UTR) of mRNA molecules. So far, studies on the phenomenon have been limited to mammals, plants, bacteria, Caenorhabditis elegans, and recently, Aedes aegypti. However, it is yet to be applied in other arthropods, including ticks, despite the ubiquitous presence of argonaute 2 protein, which is an indispensable requirement for the formation of RNA-induced transcriptional activation complex to enable a dsRNA-mediated gene activation. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the possible presence of RNAa phenomenon in the tick vector, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick). We targeted the 3'-UTR of a novel endochitinase-like gene (HlemCHT) identified previously in H. longicornis eggs for dsRNA-mediated gene activation. Our results showed an increased gene expression in eggs of H. longicornis endochitinase-dsRNA-injected (dsHlemCHT) ticks on day-13 post-oviposition. Furthermore, we observed that eggs of dsHlemCHT ticks exhibited relatively early egg development and hatching, suggesting a dsRNA-mediated activation of the HlemCHT gene in the eggs. This is the first attempt to provide evidence of RNAa in ticks. Although further studies are required to elucidate the detailed mechanism by which RNAa occurs in ticks, the outcome of this study provides new opportunities for the use of RNAa as a gene overexpression tool in future studies on tick biology, to reduce the global burden of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kofi Dadzie Kwofie
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Pacia Hernandez
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, College, 4031, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Anisuzzaman
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Hayato Kawada
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Yuki Koike
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Sana Sasaki
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Takahiro Inoue
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Kei Jimbo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Fusako Mikami
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Danielle Ladzekpo
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Environmental Parasitology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Kayoko Yamaji
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Center for Medical Entomology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsubayashi
- Department of Veterinary Immunology, Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan
| | - Md Abdul Alim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Samuel Kweku Dadzie
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CIDER), Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naotoshi Tsuji
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hatta
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan.
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Adjou Moumouni PF, Naomasa S, Tuvshintulga B, Sato N, Okado K, Zheng W, Lee SH, Mosqueda J, Suzuki H, Xuan X, Umemiya-Shirafuji R. Identification and Characterization of Rhipicephalus microplus ATAQ Homolog from Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks and Its Immunogenic Potential as an Anti-Tick Vaccine Candidate Molecule. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040822. [PMID: 37110244 PMCID: PMC10145298 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although vaccines are one of the environmentally friendly means to prevent the spread of ticks, there is currently no commercial vaccine effective against Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. In this study, we identified, characterized, localized, and evaluated the expression patterns, and tested the immunogenic potential of a homologue of Rhipicephalus microplus ATAQ in H. longicornis (HlATAQ). HlATAQ was identified as a 654 amino acid-long protein present throughout the midgut and in Malpighian tubule cells and containing six full and one partial EGF-like domains. HlATAQ was genetically distant (homology < 50%) from previously reported ATAQ proteins and was expressed throughout tick life stages. Its expression steadily increased (p < 0.001) during feeding, reached a peak, and then decreased slightly with engorgement. Silencing of HlATAQ did not result in a phenotype that was significantly different from the control ticks. However, H. longicornis female ticks fed on a rabbit immunized with recombinant HlATAQ showed significantly longer blood-feeding periods, higher body weight at engorgement, higher egg mass, and longer pre-oviposition and egg hatching periods than control ticks. These findings indicate that the ATAQ protein plays a role in the blood-feeding-related physiological processes in the midgut and Malpighian tubules and antibodies directed against it may affect these tissues and disrupt tick engorgement and oviposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Souichirou Naomasa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Bumduuren Tuvshintulga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nariko Sato
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Okado
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Weiqing Zheng
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Seung-Hun Lee
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
| | - Hiroshi Suzuki
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
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Nganso BT, Pines G, Soroker V. Insights into gene manipulation techniques for Acari functional genomics. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 143:103705. [PMID: 35134533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional genomics is an essential tool for elucidating the structure and function of genes in any living organism. Here, we review the use of different gene manipulation techniques in functional genomics of Acari (mites and ticks). Some of these Acari species inflict severe economic losses to managed crops and health problems to humans, wild and domestic animals, but many also provide important ecosystem services worldwide. Currently, RNA interference (RNAi) is the leading gene expression manipulation tool followed by gene editing via the bacterial type II Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and associated protein 9 system (CRISPR-Cas9). Whilst RNAi, via siRNA, does not always lead to expected outcomes, the exploitations of the CRISPR systems in Acari are still in their infancy and are limited only to CRISP/Cas9 to date. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 and the technical challenges associated with their exploitations. We also compare the biochemical machinery of RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies. We highlight some potential solutions for experimental optimization of each mechanism in gene function studies. The potential benefits of adopting various CRISPR-Cas9 systems for expanding on functional genomics experiments in Acari are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice T Nganso
- Department of Entomology, Chemistry and Nematology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Centre, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
| | - Gur Pines
- Department of Entomology, Chemistry and Nematology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Centre, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
| | - Victoria Soroker
- Department of Entomology, Chemistry and Nematology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Centre, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
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Characterization of a single-domain von Willebrand factor type C protein (HaSVC) from the salivary gland of the tick Hyalomma asiaticum. Exp Parasitol 2021; 232:108190. [PMID: 34848245 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As a widely distributed arthropod and vector for various pathogens, Hyalomma asiaticum presents great risk and potential losses in animal husbandry. Effective measures, including the use of vaccines, are necessary for controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases. A concise understanding of the tick-host interaction associated molecules and pathways is required for vaccine development. In the present study, a protein containing a single-domain von Willebrand factor type C (HaSVC) was isolated from H. asiaticum and was subjected to functional identification. As a result, the full-length sequence of the HaSVC (506 bp) gene was obtained, which putatively encodes 100 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 11 kDa, excluding the 23-amino acid signal peptide. HaSVC contains 8 cysteines to form 4 disulfide bonds. The native HaSVC protein was detected in multiple tick organs. HaSVC neither attenuated the anti-coagulation process nor directly affected the blood feeding of adult ticks. However, the purified recombinant protein HaSVC (rHaSVC/GST) significantly increased the proliferation of mice spleen cells. This might suggest a regulatory function for HaSVC on inflammation, thus providing new information that may explain the "crosstalk" between ticks and hosts.
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Lee SH, Li J, Moumouni PFA, Okado K, Zheng W, Liu M, Ji S, Kim S, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Xuan X. Subolesin vaccination inhibits blood feeding and reproduction of Haemaphysalis longicornis in rabbits. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:478. [PMID: 32948229 PMCID: PMC7501621 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04359-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks can transmit numerous tick-borne pathogens and cause a huge economic loss to the livestock industry. Tick vaccines can contribute to the prevention of tick-borne diseases by inhibiting tick infestation or reproduction. Subolesin is an antigenic molecule proven to be a potential tick vaccine against different tick species and even some tick-borne pathogens. However, its effectivity has not been verified in Haemaphysalis longicornis, which is a widely distributed tick species, especially in East Asian countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectivity of subolesin vaccination against H. longicornis in a rabbit model. Methods Haemaphysalis longicornis (Okayama strain, female, adult, parthenogenetic strain) and Japanese white rabbits were used as the model tick and animal, respectively. The whole open reading frame of H. longicornis subolesin (HlSu) was identified and expressed as a recombinant protein using E. coli. The expression was verified using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the immunogenicity of rHlSu against anti-H. longicornis rabbit serum was confirmed using Western blotting. After vaccination of rHlSu in rabbits, experimental infestation of H. longicornis was performed. Variables related to blood-feeding periods, pre-oviposition periods, body weight at engorgement, egg mass, egg mass to body weight ratio, and egg-hatching periods were measured to evaluate the effectiveness of subolesin vaccination. Results The whole open reading frame of HlSu was 540 bp, and it was expressed as a recombinant protein. Vaccination with rHlSu stimulated an immune response in rabbits. In the rHlSu-vaccinated group, body weight at engorgement, egg mass, and egg mass to body weight ratio were statistically significantly lower than those in the control group. Besides, egg-hatching periods were extended significantly. Blood-feeding periods and pre-oviposition periods were not different between the two groups. In total, the calculated vaccine efficacy was 37.4%. Conclusions Vaccination of rabbits with rHlSu significantly affected the blood-feeding and reproduction in H. longicornis. Combined with findings from previous studies, our findings suggest subolesin has the potential to be used as a universal tick vaccine.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hun Lee
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea
| | - Jixu Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Okado
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Weiqing Zheng
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Mingming Liu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Soochong Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
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Rodríguez Mallón A, Javier González L, Encinosa Guzmán PE, Bechara GH, Sanches GS, Pousa S, Cabrera G, Cabrales A, Garay H, Mejías R, López Álvarez JR, Bello Soto Y, Almeida F, Guirola O, Rodríguez Fernández R, Fuentes Castillo A, Méndez L, Jiménez S, Licea-Navarro A, Portela M, Durán R, Estrada MP. Functional and Mass Spectrometric Evaluation of an Anti-Tick Antigen Based on the P0 Peptide Conjugated to Bm86 Protein. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9060513. [PMID: 32630414 PMCID: PMC7350365 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A synthetic 20 amino acid peptide of the ribosomal protein P0 from ticks, when conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin from Megathura crenulata and used as an immunogen against Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. species, has shown efficacies of around 90%. There is also experimental evidence of a high efficacy of this conjugate against Amblyomma mixtum and Ixodes ricinus species, which suggest that this antigen could be a good broad-spectrum anti-tick vaccine candidate. In this study, the P0 peptide (pP0) was chemically conjugated to Bm86 as a carrier protein. SDS-PAGE analysis of this conjugate demonstrated that it is highly heterogeneous in size, carrying from 1 to 18 molecules of pP0 per molecule of Bm86. Forty-nine out of the 54 lysine residues and the N-terminal end of Bm86 were found partially linked to pP0 by using LC-MS/MS analysis and the combination of four different softwares. Several post-translational modifications of Bm86 protein were also identified by mass spectrometry. High immunogenicity and efficacy were achieved when dogs and cattle were vaccinated with the pP0-Bm86 conjugate and challenged with R. sanguineus s.l. and R. microplus, respectively. These results encourage the development of this antigen with promising possibilities as an anti-tick vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Rodríguez Mallón
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana 10600, Cuba; (P.E.E.G.); (Y.B.S.); (M.P.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +53-72504407
| | - Luis Javier González
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and GlycoLab, Department of Proteomics, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (L.J.G.); (S.P.); (G.C.); (F.A.)
| | - Pedro Enrique Encinosa Guzmán
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana 10600, Cuba; (P.E.E.G.); (Y.B.S.); (M.P.E.)
| | - Gervasio Henrique Bechara
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Paraná 80215-901, Brazil; (G.H.B.); (G.S.S.)
- Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV-UNESP), São Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Seron Sanches
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Paraná 80215-901, Brazil; (G.H.B.); (G.S.S.)
- Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV-UNESP), São Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Satomy Pousa
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and GlycoLab, Department of Proteomics, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (L.J.G.); (S.P.); (G.C.); (F.A.)
| | - Gleysin Cabrera
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and GlycoLab, Department of Proteomics, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (L.J.G.); (S.P.); (G.C.); (F.A.)
| | - Ania Cabrales
- Synthetic Peptides Group, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (A.C.); (H.G.)
| | - Hilda Garay
- Synthetic Peptides Group, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (A.C.); (H.G.)
| | - Raúl Mejías
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal (ICA), San José de las Lajas 32700, Cuba; (R.M.); (J.R.L.Á.)
| | | | - Yamil Bello Soto
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana 10600, Cuba; (P.E.E.G.); (Y.B.S.); (M.P.E.)
| | - Fabiola Almeida
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and GlycoLab, Department of Proteomics, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba; (L.J.G.); (S.P.); (G.C.); (F.A.)
| | | | | | - Alier Fuentes Castillo
- National Laboratory for Parasitology, San Antonio de los Banos 32500, Cuba; (R.R.F.); (A.F.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Luis Méndez
- National Laboratory for Parasitology, San Antonio de los Banos 32500, Cuba; (R.R.F.); (A.F.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Samanta Jiménez
- Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, CICESE, Ensenada 22860, Mexico; (S.J.); (A.L.-N.)
| | - Alexei Licea-Navarro
- Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, CICESE, Ensenada 22860, Mexico; (S.J.); (A.L.-N.)
| | - Madelón Portela
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Proteómica Analítica, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (M.P.); (R.D.)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Rosario Durán
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Proteómica Analítica, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (M.P.); (R.D.)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Mario Pablo Estrada
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana 10600, Cuba; (P.E.E.G.); (Y.B.S.); (M.P.E.)
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Stutzer C, Richards SA, Ferreira M, Baron S, Maritz-Olivier C. Metazoan Parasite Vaccines: Present Status and Future Prospects. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:67. [PMID: 29594064 PMCID: PMC5859119 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic parasites and pathogens continue to cause some of the most detrimental and difficult to treat diseases (or disease states) in both humans and animals, while also continuously expanding into non-endemic countries. Combined with the ever growing number of reports on drug-resistance and the lack of effective treatment programs for many metazoan diseases, the impact that these organisms will have on quality of life remain a global challenge. Vaccination as an effective prophylactic treatment has been demonstrated for well over 200 years for bacterial and viral diseases. From the earliest variolation procedures to the cutting edge technologies employed today, many protective preparations have been successfully developed for use in both medical and veterinary applications. In spite of the successes of these applications in the discovery of subunit vaccines against prokaryotic pathogens, not many targets have been successfully developed into vaccines directed against metazoan parasites. With the current increase in -omics technologies and metadata for eukaryotic parasites, target discovery for vaccine development can be expedited. However, a good understanding of the host/vector/pathogen interface is needed to understand the underlying biological, biochemical and immunological components that will confer a protective response in the host animal. Therefore, systems biology is rapidly coming of age in the pursuit of effective parasite vaccines. Despite the difficulties, a number of approaches have been developed and applied to parasitic helminths and arthropods. This review will focus on key aspects of vaccine development that require attention in the battle against these metazoan parasites, as well as successes in the field of vaccine development for helminthiases and ectoparasites. Lastly, we propose future direction of applying successes in pursuit of next generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Stutzer
- Tick Vaccine Group, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Wright HW, Bartley K, Huntley JF, Nisbet AJ. Characterisation of tropomyosin and paramyosin as vaccine candidate molecules for the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:544. [PMID: 27733192 PMCID: PMC5059928 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1831-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dermanyssus gallinae is the most economically important haematophagous ectoparasite in commercial egg laying flocks worldwide. It infests the hens during the night where it causes irritation leading to restlessness, pecking and in extreme cases anaemia and increased cannibalism. Due to an increase in the occurrence of acaricide-resistant D. gallinae populations, new control strategies are required and vaccination may offer a sustainable alternative to acaricides. In this study, recombinant forms of D. gallinae tropomyosin (Der g 10) and paramyosin (Der g 11) were produced, characterised and tested as vaccine candidate molecules. Methods The D. gallinae paramyosin (Der g 11) coding sequence was characterised and recombinant versions of Der g 11 and D. gallinae tropomyosin (Der g 10) were produced. Hens were immunised with the recombinant proteins and the resulting antibodies were fed to D. gallinae and mite mortality evaluated. Sections of mites were probed with anti- Der g 11 and Der g 10 antibodies to identify the tissue distribution of these protein in D. gallinae. Results The entire coding sequence of Der g 11 was 2,622 bp encoding 874 amino acid residues. Immunohistochemical staining of mite sections revealed that Der g 10 and Der g 11 were located throughout D. gallinae tissues. In phylogenetic analyses of these proteins both clustered with orthologues from tick species rather than with orthologues from astigmatid mites. Antibodies raised in hens against recombinant forms of these proteins significantly increased D. gallinae mortality, by 19 % for Der g 10 (P < 0.001) and by 23 % for Der g 11 (P = 0.009) when fed to the mites using an in vitro feeding device. Conclusions This study has shown that Der g 10 and Der g 11 were located ubiquitously throughout D. gallinae and that antibodies raised against recombinant versions of these proteins can be used to significantly increase D. gallinae mortality in an in vitro feeding assay. When comparing archived data for all recombinant and native proteins assessed as vaccines using this in vitro feeding assay, Der g 10 and Der g 11 ranked highly and performed better than some of the pools of native proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry W Wright
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK.
| | - Kathryn Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - John F Huntley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
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9
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Marr EJ, Sargison ND, Nisbet AJ, Burgess STG. RNA interference for the identification of ectoparasite vaccine candidates. Parasite Immunol 2015; 36:616-26. [PMID: 25065384 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ectoparasites present a major challenge for disease management globally. With drug resistance increasingly observed in many disease-causing species, the need for novel control measures is pressing. Ever-expanding genomic resources from 'next generation' sequencing are now available for a number of arthropod ectoparasites, necessitating an effective means of screening these data for novel candidates for vaccine antigens or targets for chemotherapeutics. Such in vitro screening methods must be developed if we are to make discoveries in a timely and cost-effective manner. This review will discuss the potential that RNA interference (RNAi) has demonstrated thus far in the context of arthropod ectoparasites and the potential roles for this technology in the development of novel methods for parasite control.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Marr
- Division of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Pentlands Science Park, Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, UK
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10
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Manjunathachar HV, Saravanan BC, Kesavan M, Karthik K, Rathod P, Gopi M, Tamilmahan P, Balaraju BL. Economic importance of ticks and their effective control strategies. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(14)60725-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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11
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Parizi LF, Githaka NW, Logullo C, Konnai S, Masuda A, Ohashi K, da Silva Vaz I. The quest for a universal vaccine against ticks: Cross-immunity insights. Vet J 2012; 194:158-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 05/23/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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12
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Immunization of cattle with Ra86 impedes Rhipicephalus appendiculatus nymphal-to-adult molting. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012; 3:170-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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13
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Rodríguez-Valle M, Taoufik A, Valdés M, Montero C, Hassan I, Hassan SM, Jongejan F, de la Fuente J. Efficacy of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Bm86 against Hyalomma dromedarii and Amblyomma cajennense tick infestations in camels and cattle. Vaccine 2012; 30:3453-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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14
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Kamau L, Skilton RA, Odongo DO, Mwaura S, Githaka N, Kanduma E, Obura M, Kabiru E, Orago A, Musoke A, Bishop RP. Differential transcription of two highly divergent gut-expressed Bm86 antigen gene homologues in the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Acari: Ixodida). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 20:105-114. [PMID: 20854482 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2010.01043.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional control of gene expression is not well documented in the Arthropoda. We describe transcriptional analysis of two exceptionally divergent homologues (Ra86) of the Bm86 gut antigen from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Bm86 forms the basis of a commercial vaccine for the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The R. appendiculatus Ra86 proteins contain 654 and 693 amino acids, with only 80% amino acid sequence identity. Reverse-transcription PCR of gut cDNA showed transcription of only one genotype in individual female ticks. PCR amplification of 3' untranslated sequences from genomic DNA indicated that both variants could be encoded within a single genome. When both variants were present, one of the two Ra86 genotypes was transcriptionally dominant.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Kamau
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
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15
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Bastos RG, Ueti MW, Knowles DP, Scoles GA. The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Bm86 gene plays a critical role in the fitness of ticks fed on cattle during acute Babesia bovis infection. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:111. [PMID: 21092112 PMCID: PMC2994843 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an economically important tick of cattle involved in the transmission of Babesia bovis, the etiological agent of bovine babesiosis. Commercial anti-tick vaccines based on the R. microplus Bm86 glycoprotein have shown some effect in controlling tick infestation; however their efficacy as a stand-alone solution for tick control has been questioned. Understanding the role of the Bm86 gene product in tick biology is critical to identifying additional methods to utilize Bm86 to reduce R. microplus infestation and babesia transmission. Additionally, the role played by Bm86 in R. microplus fitness during B. bovis infection is unknown. Results Here we describe in two independent experiments that RNA interference-mediated silencing of Bm86 decreased the fitness of R. microplus females fed on cattle during acute B. bovis infection. Notably, Bm86 silencing decreased the number and survival of engorged females, and decreased the weight of egg masses. However, gene silencing had no significant effect on the efficiency of transovarial transmission of B. bovis from surviving female ticks to their larval offspring. The results also show that Bm86 is expressed, in addition to gut cells, in larvae, nymphs, adult males and ovaries of partially engorged adult R. microplus females, and its expression was significantly down-regulated in ovaries of ticks fed on B. bovis-infected cattle. Conclusion The R. microplus Bm86 gene plays a critical role during tick feeding and after repletion during blood digestion in ticks fed on cattle during acute B. bovis infection. Therefore, the data indirectly support the rationale for using Bm86-based vaccines, perhaps in combination with acaricides, to control tick infestation particularly in B. bovis endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo G Bastos
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA.
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16
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Nijhof AM, Balk JA, Postigo M, Rhebergen AM, Taoufik A, Jongejan F. Bm86 homologues and novel ATAQ proteins with multiple epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains from hard and soft ticks. Int J Parasitol 2010; 40:1587-97. [PMID: 20647015 PMCID: PMC2998001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Revised: 06/04/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Tick control on livestock relies principally on the use of acaricides but the development of acaricide resistance and concerns for environmental pollution underscore the need for alternative control methods, for instance through the use of anti-tick vaccines. Two commercial vaccines based on the recombinant Bm86 protein from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks were developed. Partial protection of the Bm86 vaccine against other Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) and Hyalomma tick species suggests that the efficacy of a Bm86-based vaccine may be enhanced when based on the orthologous recombinant Bm86 antigen. We therefore identified and analysed the Bm86 homologues from species representing the main argasid and ixodid tick genera, including two from the prostriate Ixodes ricinus tick species. A novel protein from metastriate ticks with multiple epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains which is structurally related to Bm86 was identified by using a 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3′-RACE) method with a degenerate primer based on a highly conserved region of Bm86 and its orthologues. This second protein was named ATAQ after a part of its signature peptide. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR showed that ATAQ proteins are expressed in both midguts and Malpighian tubules, in contrast to Bm86 orthologues which are expressed exclusively in tick midguts. Furthermore, expression of this protein over the life stages of R. microplus and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was more continuous compared with Bm86. Although a highly effective vaccine antigen, gene silencing of Bm86 by RNA interference (RNAi) produced only a weak phenotype. Similarly the RNAi phenotype of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi females in which the expression of Ree86, ReeATAQ or a combination of both genes was silenced by RNAi did not differ from a mock-injected control group. The vaccine potential of ATAQ proteins against tick infestations is yet to be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ard M Nijhof
- Utrecht Centre for Tick-Borne Diseases (UCTD), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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17
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Ebrahimi SM, Paykari H, Memarnejadian A. Molecular characterization of HAO3, the homologue of the Bm86 tick vaccine antigen, from the Iranian isolate of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. Exp Parasitol 2010; 135:726-34. [PMID: 20599993 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Revised: 05/24/2010] [Accepted: 06/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick is widely distributed in many parts of Iran and while the commercial vaccines based on the application of midgut-derived recombinant Bm86 antigen are used for its control, limited information about the efficiency of this vaccination in Iran is available. Herein, with the final aim of evaluation of Bm86-based heterologous vaccination, as the primary step the Bm86 homologue of the H. a. anatolicum (Hao3) from an Iranian isolate was characterized and compared with the commercialized Bm86 and other Bm86 homologoue sequences available in GenBank. Our in silico predictions resulted in the identification of seven epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains, one hydrophobic transmembrane region, one leader sequence and several glycosylation sites within the structure of both Hao3 and Bm86 proteins, which suggested the pattern of extracellular membrane-bound glycoproteins with the role of regulation in cell growth for both proteins. Moreover, while the nucleotide and amino acid sequences corresponding to Bm86 homologue showed a high level of conservation among the Iranian isolates (Hao3, Hao3-1 and Hao3-2, more than 99%), the Hao3 amino acid sequence had a homology of around 89%, 64% and 65% with that of Indian, Australian and Argentinean isolates, respectively. This indicated a considerable variation between commercial Bm86 antigen and H. a. anatolicum Bm86-like protein of Iranian and Indian isolates. Taking together, these results imply that the efficiency of commercial Bm86-based vaccine against the Iranian H. a. anatolicum may be under the question and indicates the value of the development of Hao3-based recombinant vaccines and further planning for their in vivo evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Mahmoud Ebrahimi
- Department of Biotechnology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), P.O. Box 31975/148, Karaj, Tehran, Iran.
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18
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Gong H, Umemiya R, Zhou J, Liao M, Zhang H, Jia H, Nishikawa Y, Xuan X, Fujisaki K. Blocking the secretion of saliva by silencing the HlYkt6 gene in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 39:372-381. [PMID: 19328851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2009.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2008] [Revised: 12/14/2008] [Accepted: 03/02/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) have been identified as the key components of the protein complexes that facilitate vesicle traffic, of which Ykt6 (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, v-SNARE) is proved to be a multifunctional protein in the membrane fusion. In the present study, a tick homologue of Ykt6 (HlYkt6, predicted 22.6 kDa), was isolated from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis indicated that the gene and the encoded protein were expressed ubiquitously in different tissues of the partially fed adult tick. Silencing of the HlYkt6 gene resulted in a significant decrease of the engorged body weight (82.9 +/- 26.8 mg vs. 232.17 +/- 59.1 mg in the PBS-injected control group and 178.7 +/- 57.0 mg in the GFP dsRNA-injected control group) and high mortality of replete ticks (100% in tested group vs. 4.8% in the PBS and 20.4% in GFP dsRNA-injected control groups). Disruption of HlYkt6 mRNA led to the suppression of saliva secretion, and a lower anticoagulant activity of the released liquid from the glands (APTT time: 25.25 +/- 1.50 s) than that of the control groups (39.25 +/- 0.50 s in the PBS-treated group and 40.0 +/- 1.41 s in the GFP dsRNA-treated group). These results suggest the vital role of the HlYkt6 protein in the exocytosis of saliva proteins, the feeding and survival of ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Gong
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Hokkaido, Japan
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Boldbaatar D, Kilonzo RM, Battur B, Umemiya R, Liao M, Tanaka T, Xuan X, Fujisaki K. Identification of two forms of cyclophilin from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Process Biochem 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2008.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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