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Kozisek F, Cenovic J, Armendariz S, Muthukrishnan S, Park Y, Thomas VC, Chaudhari SS. An optimized artificial blood feeding assay to study tick cuticle biology. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 168:104113. [PMID: 38527710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Ticks, ectoparasitic arachnids, are prominent disease vectors impacting both humans and animals. Their unique blood-feeding phase involves significant abdominal cuticle expansion, sharing certain similarities with insects. However, vital aspects, including the mechanisms of cuticle expansion, changes in cuticular protein composition, chitin synthesis, and cuticle function, remain poorly understood. Given that the cuticle expansion is crucial for complete engorgement of the ticks, addressing these knowledge gaps is essential. Traditional tick research involving live animal hosts has inherent limitations, such as ethical concerns and host response variability. Artificial membrane feeding systems provide an alternative approach, offering controlled experimental conditions and reduced ethical dilemmas. These systems enable precise monitoring of tick attachment, feeding parameters, and pathogen acquisition. Despite the existence of various methodologies for artificial tick-feeding systems, there is a pressing need to enhance their reproducibility and effectiveness. In this context, we introduce an improved tick-feeding system that incorporates adjustments related to factors like humidity, temperature, and blood-feeding duration. These refinements markedly boost tick engorgement rates, presenting a valuable tool for in-depth investigations into tick cuticle biology and facilitating studies on molting. This refined system allows for collecting feeding ticks at specific stages, supporting research on tick cuticle biology, and evaluating chemical agents' efficacy in the engorgement process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Kozisek
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Jonathon Cenovic
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Savannah Armendariz
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States
| | - Yoonseong Park
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States
| | - Vinai C Thomas
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States
| | - Sujata S Chaudhari
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5900, United States.
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Rochlin I, Chu D, Gmelin M, Le J, Furie MB, Thanassi DG, Kim HK. Optimization of artificial membrane feeding system for lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), and experimental infection with Rickettsia amblyommatis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:442-453. [PMID: 38104248 PMCID: PMC10936164 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
With the introduction of siliconized artificial membranes, various artificial feeding systems (AFS) for hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been developed over the last decades. Most AFS utilize similar core components but employ diverse approaches, materials, and experimental conditions. Published work describes different combinations of the core components without experimental optimizations for the artificial feeding of different tick species. Amblyomma americanum L., (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick) is a known vector and reservoir for diverse tick-borne pathogens, such as Rickettsia amblyommatis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Ongoing environmental changes have supported the expansion of A. americanum into new habitats, contributing to increased tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in A. americanum interactions with tick-borne pathogens. Here, we performed a systematic analysis and developed an optimized AFS for nymphal lone star ticks. Our results demonstrate that Goldbeater's membranes, rabbit hair, hair extract, and adult lone star ticks significantly improved the attachment rate of nymphal ticks, whereas tick frass and frass extract did not. With the optimized conditions, we achieved an attachment rate of 46 ± 3% and a success rate of 100% (i.e., one or more attached ticks) in each feeding experiment for nymphal lone star ticks. When fed on sheep blood spiked with R. amblyommatis, both nymphal and adult lone star ticks acquired and maintained R. amblyommatis, demonstrating the feasibility of studying A. americanum-pathogen interactions using AFS. Our study can serve as a roadmap to optimize and improve AFS for other medically relevant tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Dennis Chu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Gmelin
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Justin Le
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martha B Furie
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - David G Thanassi
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Sze CW, Zhang K, Lynch MJ, Iyer R, Crane BR, Schwartz I, Li C. A chemosensory-like histidine kinase is dispensable for chemotaxis in vitro but regulates the virulence of Borrelia burgdorferi through modulating the stability of RpoS. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011752. [PMID: 38011206 PMCID: PMC10703414 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As an enzootic pathogen, the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi possesses multiple copies of chemotaxis proteins, including two chemotaxis histidine kinases (CHK), CheA1 and CheA2. Our previous study showed that CheA2 is a genuine CHK that is required for chemotaxis; however, the role of CheA1 remains mysterious. This report first compares the structural features that differentiate CheA1 and CheA2 and then provides evidence to show that CheA1 is an atypical CHK that controls the virulence of B. burgdorferi through modulating the stability of RpoS, a key transcriptional regulator of the spirochete. First, microscopic analyses using green-fluorescence-protein (GFP) tags reveal that CheA1 has a unique and dynamic cellular localization. Second, loss-of-function studies indicate that CheA1 is not required for chemotaxis in vitro despite sharing a high sequence and structural similarity to its counterparts from other bacteria. Third, mouse infection studies using needle inoculations show that a deletion mutant of CheA1 (cheA1mut) is able to establish systemic infection in immune-deficient mice but fails to do so in immune-competent mice albeit the mutant can survive at the inoculation site for up to 28 days. Tick and mouse infection studies further demonstrate that CheA1 is dispensable for tick colonization and acquisition but essential for tick transmission. Lastly, mechanistic studies combining immunoblotting, protein turnover, mutagenesis, and RNA-seq analyses reveal that depletion of CheA1 affects RpoS stability, leading to reduced expression of several RpoS-regulated virulence factors (i.e., OspC, BBK32, and DbpA), likely due to dysregulated clpX and lon protease expression. Bulk RNA-seq analysis of infected mouse skin tissues further show that cheA1mut fails to elicit mouse tnf-α, il-10, il-1β, and ccl2 expression, four important cytokines for Lyme disease development and B. burgdorferi transmigration. Collectively, these results reveal a unique role and regulatory mechanism of CheA1 in modulating virulence factor expression and add new insights into understanding the regulatory network of B. burgdorferi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching Wooen Sze
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Lynch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Radha Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America
| | - Brian R. Crane
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Ira Schwartz
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America
| | - Chunhao Li
- Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
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Sebastian PS, Król N, Novoa MB, Nijhof AM, Pfeffer M, Nava S, Obiegala A. Preliminary Study on Artificial versus Animal-Based Feeding Systems for Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Microorganisms 2023; 11:1107. [PMID: 37317081 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks pose a threat to animal and human health. Active life stages need to feed on a vertebrate host in order to complete their life cycle. To study processes such as tick-pathogen interactions or drug efficacy and pharmacokinetics, it is necessary to maintain tick colonies under defined laboratory conditions, typically using laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to test a membrane-based artificial feeding system (AFS) applicable for Amblyomma ticks using Amblyomma tonelliae as a biological model. Adult ticks from a laboratory colony were fed in a membrane-based AFS. For comparison, other A. tonelliae adults were fed on calf and rabbit. The proportions of attached (AFS: 76%; calf/rabbit: 100%) and engorged females (AFS: 47.4%; calf/rabbit: 100%) in the AFS were significantly lower compared to animal-based feeding (p = 0.0265). The engorgement weight of in vitro fed ticks (x¯ = 658 mg; SD ± 259.80) did not significantly differ from that of ticks fed on animals (p = 0.3272, respectively 0.0947). The proportion of females that oviposited was 100% for all three feeding methods. However, the incubation period of eggs (x¯ = 54 days; SD ± 7) was longer in the AFS compared to conventional animal-based feeding (p = 0.0014); x¯ = 45 days; SD ± 2 in the rabbit and (p = 0.0144). x¯ = 48 days; SD ± 2 in the calf). Egg cluster hatching (x¯ = 41%; SD ± 44.82) was lower in the AFS than in the other feeding methods (rabbit: x¯ = 74%; SD ± 20; p = 0.0529; calf: x¯ = 81%; SD ± 22; p = 0.0256). Although the attachment, development, and the hatching of AFS ticks were below those from animal-based feeding, the method may be useful in future experiments. Nevertheless, further experiments with a higher number of tick specimens (including immature life stages) and different attractant stimuli are required to confirm the preliminary results of this study and to evaluate the applicability of AFS for Amblyomma ticks as an alternative to animal-based feeding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - María Belén Novoa
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Ard Menzo Nijhof
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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5
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Militzer N, Pinecki Socias S, Nijhof AM. Changes in the Ixodes ricinus microbiome associated with artificial tick feeding. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1050063. [PMID: 36704557 PMCID: PMC9871825 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1050063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial tick feeding systems (ATFS) can be used to study tick biology and tick-pathogen interactions. Due to the long feeding duration of hard ticks, antibiotics are commonly added to the in vitro blood meal to prevent the blood from decaying. This may affect the ticks' microbiome, including mutualistic bacteria that play an important role in tick biology. This effect was examined by the consecutive feeding of Ixodes ricinus larvae, nymphs, and adults in vitro with and without the supplementation of gentamicin and in parallel on calves. DNA extracted from unfed females was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The abundance of Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, Rickettsia helvetica and Spiroplasma spp. was measured by qPCR in unfed larvae, nymphs, and adults. Larvae and nymphs fed on calves performed significantly better compared to both in vitro groups. Adults fed on blood supplemented with gentamicin and B vitamins had a higher detachment proportion and weight compared to the group fed with B vitamins but without gentamicin. The detachment proportion and weights of females did not differ significantly between ticks fed on calves and in vitro with gentamicin, but the fecundity was significantly higher in ticks fed on calves. 16S rRNA sequencing showed a higher microbiome species richness in ticks fed on calves compared to ticks fed in vitro. A shift in microbiome composition, with Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii as dominant species in females fed as juveniles on calves and R. helvetica as the most abundant species in females previously fed in vitro was observed. Females fed in vitro without gentamicin showed significant lower loads of Ca. M. mitochondrii compared to females fed in vitro with gentamicin and ticks fed on calves. Spiroplasma spp. were exclusively detected in female ticks fed on cattle by qPCR, but 16S rRNA sequencing results also showed a low abundance in in vitro females exposed to gentamicin. In conclusion, the employed feeding method and gentamicin supplementation affected the ticks' microbiome composition and fecundity. Since these changes may have an impact on tick biology and vector competence, they should be taken into account in studies employing ATFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Militzer
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Pinecki Socias
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ard M. Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Ard M. Nijhof, ✉
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6
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Guo Z, Zhao N, Chung TD, Singh A, Pandey I, Wang L, Gu X, Ademola A, Linville RM, Pal U, Dumler JS, Searson PC. Visualization of the Dynamics of Invasion and Intravasation of the Bacterium That Causes Lyme Disease in a Tissue Engineered Dermal Microvessel Model. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2204395. [PMID: 36156464 PMCID: PMC9762293 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease prevalent in North America, Europe, and Asia. Despite the accumulated knowledge from epidemiological, in vitro, and in animal studies, the understanding of dissemination of vector-borne pathogens, such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), remains incomplete with several important knowledge gaps, especially related to invasion and intravasation into circulation. To elucidate the mechanistic details of these processes a tissue-engineered human dermal microvessel model is developed. Fluorescently labeled Bb are injected into the extracellular matrix (ECM) to mimic tick inoculation. High resolution, confocal imaging is performed to visualize the sub-acute phase of infection. From analysis of migration paths no evidence to support adhesin-mediated interactions between Bb and ECM components is found, suggesting that collagen fibers serve as inert obstacles to migration. Intravasation occurs at cell-cell junctions and is relatively fast, consistent with Bb swimming in ECM. In addition, it is found that Bb alone can induce endothelium activation, resulting in increased immune cell adhesion but no changes in global or local permeability. Together these results provide new insight into the minimum requirements for Bb dissemination and highlight how tissue-engineered models are complementary to animal models in visualizing dynamic processes associated with vector-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobin Guo
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Nan Zhao
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Tracy D. Chung
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Anjan Singh
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Ikshu Pandey
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Linus Wang
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics and StatisticsJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Aisha Ademola
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of South Florida4202 E Fowler AveTampaFL33620USA
| | - Raleigh M. Linville
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary MedicineThe University of Maryland, College Park8075 Greenmead DrCollege ParkMD20740USA
| | - J. Stephen Dumler
- Joint Department of PathologySchool of MedicineUniformed Services University of the Health Sciences4301 Jones Bridge RdBethesdaMD20814USA
| | - Peter C. Searson
- Institute for NanobiotechnologyJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University3400 N Charles StBaltimoreMD21218USA
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Ring K, Couper LI, Sapiro AL, Yarza F, Yang XF, Clay K, Mateusiak C, Chou S, Swei A. Host blood meal identity modifies vector gene expression and competency. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2698-2711. [PMID: 35231145 PMCID: PMC9314864 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16413] [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: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A vector's susceptibility and ability to transmit a pathogen—termed vector competency—determines disease outcomes, yet the ecological factors influencing tick vector competency remain largely unknown. Ixodes pacificus, the tick vector of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) in the western U.S., feeds on rodents, birds, and lizards. Rodents and birds are reservoirs for Bb and infect juvenile ticks, while lizards are refractory to Bb and cannot infect feeding ticks. Additionally, the lizard bloodmeal contains borreliacidal properties, clearing previously infected feeding ticks of their Bb infection. Despite I. pacificus feeding on a range of hosts, it is undetermined how the host identity of the larval bloodmeal affects future nymphal vector competency. We experimentally evaluate the influence of larval host bloodmeal on Bb acquisition by nymphal I. pacificus. Larval I. pacificus were fed on either lizards or mice and after molting, nymphs were fed on Bb‐infected mice. We found that lizard‐fed larvae were significantly more likely to become infected with Bb during their next bloodmeal than mouse‐fed larvae. We also conducted the first RNA‐seq analysis on whole‐bodied I. pacificus and found significant upregulation of tick antioxidants and antimicrobial peptides in the lizard‐fed group. Our results indicate that the lizard bloodmeal significantly alters vector competency and gene regulation in ticks, highlighting the importance of host bloodmeal identity in vector‐borne disease transmission and upends prior notions about the role of lizards in Lyme disease community ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacie Ring
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 93106
| | - Lisa I Couper
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 327 Campus Drive, Stanford, 94305
| | - Anne L Sapiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, 94158
| | - Fauna Yarza
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, 94158
| | - X Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635, Barnhill Drive, MS409J, 46202
| | - Keith Clay
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 6823 Charles Avenue, New Orleans, 70118
| | - Chase Mateusiak
- Center for Genome Science and Systems Biology, 4515 McKinley Ave, St. Louis, 63110
| | - Seemay Chou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, 94158.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, 94158
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, 94132
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Tahir D, Asri B, Meyer LN, Evans A, Mather T, Blagburn B, Straubinger RK, Choumet V, Jongejan F, Varloud M. Vectra 3D (dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen and permethrin) prevents acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto by Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis ticks in an ex vivo feeding model. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:416. [PMID: 34419129 PMCID: PMC8379798 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We evaluated the efficiency of an ex vivo feeding technique using a silicone membrane-based feeding chamber to (i) assess the anti-feeding and acaricidal efficacy of a spot-on combination of dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen and permethrin (DPP, Vectra® 3D) against adult Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes ricinus ticks, and to (ii) explore its effect on blocking the acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. METHODS Eight purpose-bred dogs were randomly allocated to two equal-size groups based on body weight assessed on day 2. DPP was administered topically, as spot-on, to four dogs on day 0. Hair from the eight dogs was collected individually by brushing the whole body on days 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. On each day of hair collection, 0.05 g of sampled hair was applied on the membrane corresponding to each feeding unit (FU). Seventy-two FU were each seeded with 30 adults of I. scapularis (n = 24 FU) or I. ricinus ticks (n = 48 FU). Bovine blood spiked with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (strain B31) was added into each unit and changed every 12 h for 4 days. Tick mortality was assessed 1 h after seeding. One additional hour of incubation was added for live/moribund specimens and reassessed for viability. All remaining live/moribund ticks were left in the feeders and tick engorgement status was recorded at 96 h after seeding, and the uptake of B. burgdorferi s.s. was examined in the collected ticks by applying quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Exposure to DPP-treated hair was 100% effective in blocking B. burgdorferi s.s. acquisition. The anti-feeding efficacy remained stable (100%) against both Ixodes species throughout the study. The acaricidal efficacy of DPP evaluated at 1 and 2 h after exposure was 100% throughout the study for I. ricinus, except the 1-h assessment on day 28 (95.9%) and day 35 (95.3%). The 1-h assessment of acaricidal efficacy was 100% at all time points for I. scapularis. CONCLUSIONS The ex vivo feeding system developed here demonstrated a protective effect of DPP against the acquisition of B. burgdorferi without exposing the animals to the vectors or to the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djamel Tahir
- Clinvet Morocco, B.P 301, 28815, Mohammedia, Morocco
| | - Btissam Asri
- Clinvet Morocco, B.P 301, 28815, Mohammedia, Morocco.,Institut Agronomique Et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Alec Evans
- Clinvet Morocco, B.P 301, 28815, Mohammedia, Morocco
| | - Thomas Mather
- Center for Vector-Borne Disease, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Byron Blagburn
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Reinhard K Straubinger
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Valérie Choumet
- Environnement Et Risques Infectieux, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Frans Jongejan
- Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Marie Varloud
- Ceva Santé Animale, 10 Avenue de la Ballastière, 33500, Libourne, France.
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Evaluating Transmission Paths for Three Different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Using Artificial Feeding. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050901. [PMID: 33922378 PMCID: PMC8146832 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria.
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10
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Koči J, Bista S, Chirania P, Yang X, Kitsou C, Rana VS, Yas OB, Sonenshine DE, Pal U. Antibodies against EGF-like domains in Ixodes scapularis BM86 orthologs impact tick feeding and survival of Borrelia burgdorferi. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6095. [PMID: 33731754 PMCID: PMC7971074 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85624-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit multiple pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, and encode many proteins harboring epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. We show that I. scapularis produces multiple orthologs for Bm86, a widely studied tick gut protein considered as a target of an anti-tick vaccine, herein termed as Is86. We show that Is86 antigens feature at least three identifiable regions harboring EGF-like domains (termed as EGF-1, EGF-2, and EGF-3) and are differentially upregulated during B. burgdorferi infection. Although the RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Is86 genes did not show any influences on tick engorgement or B. burgdorferi sensu stricto persistence, the immunization of murine hosts with specific recombinant EGF antigens marginally reduced spirochete loads in the skin, in addition to affecting tick blood meal engorgement and molting. However, given the borderline impact of EGF immunization on tick engorgement and pathogen survival in the vector, it is unlikely that these antigens, at least in their current forms, could be developed as potential vaccines. Further investigations of the biological significance of Is86 (and other tick antigens) would enrich our knowledge of the intricate biology of ticks, including their interactions with resident pathogens, and contribute to the development of anti-tick measures to combat tick-borne illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juraj Koči
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. .,Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia. .,Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84505, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Sandhya Bista
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Payal Chirania
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Chrysoula Kitsou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Vipin Singh Rana
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Ozlem Buyuktanir Yas
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Zeytinburnu, İstanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Daniel E Sonenshine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. .,Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD, USA.
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11
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González J, Bickerton M, Toledo A. Applications of artificial membrane feeding for ixodid ticks. Acta Trop 2021; 215:105818. [PMID: 33406442 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on a large variety of vertebrates. In the laboratory, animals (mainly mice and rabbits) are used to maintain tick colonies. However, the use of animals to rear ticks can be expensive and requires dedicated animal facilities. In addition, research institutions are committed to the principle of 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement), which encourages the use of alternatives to animals when possible. The development of artificial membrane systems has provided an alternative to animals, at least for some tick species. Over the years, different modifications in artificial feeding systems have led to new applications, including acaricide testing, tick-pathogen interaction, and novel approaches to study tick physiology. Although artificial membrane feeding still has some limitations, the method can provide numerous advantages, including the standardization of acaricide treatments under controlled conditions, an alternative to animals for tick rearing, and reduction of cost associated with animals and animal housing facilities. In this review, we summarized the evolution of tick feeding membranes and their applications over time, explaining the modifications incorporated to study tick physiology, tick-pathogen interactions, and acaricide testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Mathew Bickerton
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Bergen County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, 220 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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12
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Pal U, Kitsou C, Drecktrah D, Yaş ÖB, Fikrig E. Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:113-144. [PMID: 33289683 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato causes Lyme borreliosis in a variety of animals and humans. These atypical bacterial pathogens are maintained in a complex enzootic life cycle that primarily involves a vertebrate host and Ixodes spp. ticks. In the Northeastern United States, I. scapularis is the main vector, while wild rodents serve as the mammalian reservoir host. As B. burgdorferi is transmitted only by I. scapularis and closely related ticks, the spirochete-tick interactions are thought to be highly specific. Various borrelial and arthropod proteins that directly or indirectly contribute to the natural cycle of B. burgdorferi infection have been identified. Discrete molecular interactions between spirochetes and tick components also have been discovered, which often play critical roles in pathogen persistence and transmission by the arthropod vector. This review will focus on the past discoveries and future challenges that are relevant to our understanding of the molecular interactions between B. burgdorferi and Ixodes ticks. This information will not only impact scientific advancements in the research of tick- transmitted infections but will also contribute to the development of novel preventive measures that interfere with the B. burgdorferi life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chrysoula Kitsou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Özlem Büyüktanir Yaş
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Zeytinburnu, İstanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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13
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Stewart PE, Bloom ME. Sharing the Ride: Ixodes scapularis Symbionts and Their Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:142. [PMID: 32322563 PMCID: PMC7156593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The deer tick Ixodes scapularis transmits a variety of disease agents in the United States, spreading the bacteria that causes Lyme borreliosis, the protozoan agent of babesiosis, and viruses such as Powassan. However, a variety of other organisms have also evolved symbiotic relationships with this tick species, and it seems likely that some of these microbes have simultaneously coevolved mechanisms to impact each other and their tick host. The number of organisms identified as I. scapularis symbionts has increased seemingly exponentially with the advent of PCR and next generation sequencing technologies, but convincing arguments have proposed that some of these are of environmental origin, unadapted to surviving the physiological conditions of the tick or that they are artifacts of ultrasensitive detection methods. In this review, we examine the diversity of the known microbes occurring within the I. scapularis microbiome, the evidence for interactions between microbes, and discuss whether some organisms reported to be symbionts of I. scapularis are experimental artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip E Stewart
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Marshall E Bloom
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
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14
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Membrane directed expression in Escherichia coli of BBA57 and other virulence factors from the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17606. [PMID: 31772280 PMCID: PMC6879480 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-embedded proteins are critical to the establishment, survival and persistence in the host of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), but to date, there are no solved structures of transmembrane proteins representing these attractive therapeutic targets. All available structures from the genus Borrelia represent proteins expressed without a membrane-targeting signal peptide, thus avoiding conserved pathways that modify, fold and assemble membrane protein complexes. Towards elucidating structure and function of these critical proteins, we directed translocation of eleven expression-optimized Bb virulence factors, including the signal sequence, to the Escherichia coli membrane, of which five, BBA57, HtrA, BB0238, BB0323, and DipA, were expressed with C-terminal His-tags. P66 was also expressed using the PelB signal sequence fused to maltose binding protein. Membrane-associated BBA57 lipoprotein was solubilized by non-ionic and zwitterionic detergents. We show BBA57 translocation to the outer membrane, purification at a level sufficient for structural studies, and evidence for an α-helical multimer. Previous studies showed multiple critical roles of BBA57 in transmission, joint arthritis, carditis, weakening immune responses, and regulating other Bb outer surface proteins. In describing the first purification of membrane-translocated BBA57, this work will support subsequent studies that reveal the precise mechanisms of this important Lyme disease virulence factor.
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15
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Margos G, Fingerle V, Reynolds S. Borrelia bavariensis: Vector Switch, Niche Invasion, and Geographical Spread of a Tick-Borne Bacterial Parasite. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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16
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Zhuang X, Yang X, Altieri AS, Nelson DC, Pal U. Borrelia burgdorferi surface-located Lmp1 protein processed into region-specific polypeptides that are critical for microbial persistence. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12855. [PMID: 29749010 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the Borrelia burgdorferi virulence determinants, annotated as Lmp1, is a surface-exposed, conserved, and potential multi-domain protein involved in various functions in spirochete infectivity. Lmp1 contributes to host-pathogen interactions and evasion of host adaptive immunity by spirochetes. Here, we show that in diverse B. burgdorferi species, Lmp1 exists as distinct, region-specific, and lower molecular mass polypeptides encompassing 1 or more domains, including independent N-terminal and middle regions and a combined middle and C-terminal region. These polypeptides originate from complex posttranslational maturation events, partly supported by a periplasmic serine protease termed as BbHtrA. Although spirochete persistence in mice is independently supported by domain-specific Lmp1 polypeptides, transmission of B. burgdorferi from ticks to mammals requires essential contributions from both N-terminal and middle regions. Interference with the functions of Lmp1 domains or their complex posttranslational maturation events may aid in development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat infection and transmission of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuran Zhuang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Amanda S Altieri
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA.,National Institute for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Daniel C Nelson
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.,Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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17
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Hart T, Yang X, Pal U, Lin YP. Identification of Lyme borreliae proteins promoting vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in Ixodes scapularis nymphs using artificial feeding chambers. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1057-1063. [PMID: 29653905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne illness in Europe and the United States, is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. In humans, the spirochetes disseminate from the tick bite site to multiple tissues, leading to serious clinical manifestations. The ability of spirochetes to survive in ticks during blood feeding is thought to be essential for Lyme borreliae to be transmitted to different vertebrate hosts. This ability is partly attributed to several B. burgdorferi proteins, including BBA52 and Lp6.6, which promote spirochete survival in nymphal ticks feeding on mice. One of the strategies to identify such proteins without using live animals is to feed B. burgdorferi-infected ticks on blood via artificial feeding chambers. In previous studies, ticks were only fed on bovine blood in the feeding chambers. In this study, we used this chamber model and showed that I. scapularis ticks will not only acquire bovine blood but human and quail blood as well. The latter two are the incidental host and an avian host of Lyme borreliae, respectively. We also investigated the roles that BBA52 and Lp6.6 play in promoting spirochete survival in nymphal ticks fed on human or quail blood. After feeding on human blood, spirochete burdens in ticks infected with an lp6.6-deficient B. burgdorferi were significantly reduced, while bba52-deficient spirochete burdens in ticks remained unchanged, similar to the wild-type strain. No strain showed a change in spirochete burdens in ticks fed on quail blood. These results indicate that Lp6.6 plays a role for B. burgdorferi in nymphs fed on human but not quail blood. Such information also demonstrates that the artificial feeding chamber is a powerful tool to identify B. burgdorferi proteins that promote vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in I. scapularis ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hart
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
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