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Gao X, Tian Y, Liu ZL, Li D, Liu JJ, Yu GX, Duan DY, Peng T, Cheng TY, Liu L. Tick salivary protein Cystatin: structure, anti-inflammation and molecular mechanism. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102289. [PMID: 38070274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102289] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites that secrete immunomodulatory substances in saliva to hosts during engorging. Cystatins, a tick salivary protein and natural inhibitor of Cathepsins, are attracting growing interest globally because of the immunosuppressive activities and the feasibility as an antigen for developing anti-tick vaccines. This review outlines the classification and the structure of tick Cystatins, and focuses on the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms. Tick Cystatins can be divided into four families based on structures and cystatin 1 and cystatin 2 are the most abundant. They are injected into hosts during blood feeding and effectively mitigate the host inflammatory response. Mechanically, tick Cystatins exert anti-inflammatory properties through the inhibition of TLR-NF-κb, JAK-STAT and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Further investigations are crucial to confirm the reduction of inflammation in other cell types like neutrophils and mast cells, and fully elucidate the underlying mechanism (like the structural mechanism) to make Cystatin a potential candidate for the development of novel anti-inflammation agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gao
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Zi-Ling Liu
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Dan Li
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Jia-Jun Liu
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Guang-Xu Yu
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
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A Deeper Insight into the Tick Salivary Protein Families under the Light of Alphafold2 and Dali: Introducing the TickSialoFam 2.0 Database. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415613. [PMID: 36555254 PMCID: PMC9779611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks feed for several days or weeks on their hosts and their saliva contains thousands of polypeptides belonging to dozens of families, as identified by salivary transcriptomes. Comparison of the coding sequences to protein databases helps to identify putative secreted proteins and their potential functions, directing and focusing future studies, usually done with recombinant proteins that are tested in different bioassays. However, many families of putative secreted peptides have a unique character, not providing significant matches to known sequences. The availability of the Alphafold2 program, which provides in silico predictions of the 3D polypeptide structure, coupled with the Dali program which uses the atomic coordinates of a structural model to search the Protein Data Bank (PDB) allows another layer of investigation to annotate and ascribe a functional role to proteins having so far being characterized as "unique". In this study, we analyzed the classification of tick salivary proteins under the light of the Alphafold2/Dali programs, detecting novel protein families and gaining new insights relating the structure and function of tick salivary proteins.
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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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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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5
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Denisov SS, Dijkgraaf I. Immunomodulatory Proteins in Tick Saliva From a Structural Perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:769574. [PMID: 34722347 PMCID: PMC8548845 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.769574] [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: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To feed successfully, ticks must bypass or suppress the host’s defense mechanisms, particularly the immune system. To accomplish this, ticks secrete specialized immunomodulatory proteins into their saliva, just like many other blood-sucking parasites. However, the strategy of ticks is rather unique compared to their counterparts. Ticks’ tendency for gene duplication has led to a diverse arsenal of dozens of closely related proteins from several classes to modulate the immune system’s response. Among these are chemokine-binding proteins, complement pathways inhibitors, ion channels modulators, and numerous poorly characterized proteins whose functions are yet to be uncovered. Studying tick immunomodulatory proteins would not only help to elucidate tick-host relationships but would also provide a rich pool of potential candidates for the development of immunomodulatory intervention drugs and potentially new vaccines. In the present review, we will attempt to summarize novel findings on the salivary immunomodulatory proteins of ticks, focusing on biomolecular targets, structure-activity relationships, and the perspective of their development into therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stepan S Denisov
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Dijkgraaf
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Hart CE, Ribeiro JM, Kazimirova M, Thangamani S. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection Alters the Sialome of Ixodes ricinus Ticks During the Earliest Stages of Feeding. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:41. [PMID: 32133301 PMCID: PMC7041427 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that transmit a number of pathogens while feeding. Among these is tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a flavivirus transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks in the temperate zone of Europe. The infection results in febrile illness progressing to encephalitis and meningitis with a possibility of fatality or long-term neurological sequelae. The composition of tick saliva plays an essential role in the initial virus transmission during tick feeding. Ticks secrete a diverse range of salivary proteins to modulate the host response, such as lipocalins to control the itch and inflammatory response, and both proteases and protease inhibitors to prevent blood coagulation. Here, the effect of viral infection of adult females of Ixodes ricinus was studied with the goal of determining how the virus alters the tick sialome to modulate host tissue response at the site of infection. Uninfected ticks or those infected with TBEV were fed on mice and removed and dissected one- and 3-h post-attachment. RNA from the salivary glands of these ticks, as well as from unfed ticks, was extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing to determine the expression of key secreted proteins at each timepoint. Genes showing statistically significant up- or down-regulation between infected and control ticks were selected and compared to published literature to ascertain their function. From this, the effect of tick viral infection on the modulation of the tick-host interface was determined. Infected ticks were found to differentially express a number of uncategorized genes, proteases, Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors, cytotoxins, and lipocalins at different timepoints. These virus-induced changes to the tick sialome may play a significant role in facilitating virus transmission during the early stages of tick feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Hart
- SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- The Institute for Translational Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Jose M. Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maria Kazimirova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Saravanan Thangamani
- SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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Molecular Determinants of Cholesterol Binding to Soluble and Transmembrane Protein Domains. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1135:47-66. [PMID: 31098810 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14265-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol-protein interactions play a critical role in lipid metabolism and maintenance of cell integrity. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions, a growing number of studies have focused on determining the crystal structures of a variety of proteins complexed with cholesterol. These include structures in which cholesterol binds to transmembrane domains, and structures in which cholesterol interacts with soluble ones. However, it remains unknown whether there are differences in the prerequisites for cholesterol binding to these two types of domains. Thus, to define the molecular determinants that characterize the binding of cholesterol to these two distinct protein domains, we employed the database of crystal structures of proteins complexed with cholesterol. Our analysis suggests that cholesterol may bind more strongly to soluble domains than to transmembrane domains. The interactions between cholesterol and the protein in both cases critically depends on hydrophobic and aromatic residues. In addition, cholesterol binding sites in both types of domains involve polar and/or charged residues. However, the percentage of appearance of the different types of polar/charged residues in cholesterol binding sites differs between soluble and transmembrane domains. No differences were observed in the conformational characteristics of the cholesterol molecules bound to soluble versus transmembrane protein domains suggesting that cholesterol is insensitive to the environment provided by the different protein domains.
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Štibrániová I, Bartíková P, Holíková V, Kazimírová M. Deciphering Biological Processes at the Tick-Host Interface Opens New Strategies for Treatment of Human Diseases. Front Physiol 2019; 10:830. [PMID: 31333488 PMCID: PMC6617849 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasites, causing blood loss and skin damage in their hosts. In addition, ticks also transmit a number of various pathogenic microorganisms that cause serious diseases in humans and animals. Ticks evolved a wide array of salivary bioactive compounds that, upon injection into the host skin, inhibit or modulate host reactions such as hemostasis, inflammation and wound healing. Modulation of the tick attachment site in the host skin involves mainly molecules which affect physiological processes orchestrated by cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Suppressing host defense reactions is crucial for tick survival and reproduction. Furthermore, pharmacologically active compounds in tick saliva have a promising therapeutic potential for treatment of some human diseases connected with disorders in hemostasis and immune system. These disorders are often associated to alterations in signaling pathways and dysregulation or overexpression of specific cytokines which, in turn, affect mechanisms of angiogenesis, cell motility and cytoskeletal regulation. Moreover, tick salivary molecules were found to exert cytotoxic and cytolytic effects on various tumor cells and have anti-angiogenic properties. Elucidation of the mode of action of tick bioactive molecules on the regulation of cell processes in their mammalian hosts could provide new tools for understanding the complex changes leading to immune disorders and cancer. Tick bioactive molecules may also be exploited as new pharmacological inhibitors of the signaling pathways of cytokines and thus help alleviate patient discomfort and increase patient survival. We review the current knowledge about tick salivary peptides and proteins that have been identified and functionally characterized in in vitro and/or in vivo models and their therapeutic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iveta Štibrániová
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavlína Bartíková
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Viera Holíková
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Chmelař J, Kotál J, Kovaříková A, Kotsyfakis M. The Use of Tick Salivary Proteins as Novel Therapeutics. Front Physiol 2019; 10:812. [PMID: 31297067 PMCID: PMC6607933 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The last three decades of research into tick salivary components have revealed several proteins with important pharmacological and immunological activities. Two primary interests have driven research into tick salivary secretions: the search for suitable pathogen transmission blocking or “anti-tick” vaccine candidates and the search for novel therapeutics derived from tick salivary components. Intensive basic research in the field of tick salivary gland transcriptomics and proteomics has identified several major protein families that play important roles in tick feeding and overcoming vertebrate anti-tick responses. Moreover, these families contain members with unrealized therapeutic potential. Here we review the major tick salivary protein families exploitable in medical applications such as immunomodulation, inhibition of hemostasis and inflammation. Moreover, we discuss the potential, opportunities, and challenges in searching for novel tick-derived drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindřich Chmelař
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Kotál
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Anna Kovaříková
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Xavier MA, Tirloni L, Pinto AF, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, Gonzales S, Farber M, da Silva Vaz I, Termignoni C. Tick Gené’s organ engagement in lipid metabolism revealed by a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:787-797. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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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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