Differential interactions of Rickettsia species with tick microbiota in Rh. sanguineus and Rh. turanicus

Identification and genetic characterization of Xiabuqu River virus: A novel member of the Iflaviridae family detected in soft ticks from Tibet, China

Soft ticks, an important group of blood-sucking arthropods in nature, are widely distributed globally and can carry a wide range of pathogens, including Theileria ovis, Anaplasma ovis, Rickettsia spp. and African swine fever virus. In this study, we identified a novel single positive-stranded RNA virus, tentatively named Xiabuqu River virus (XRV), for the first time from soft ticks collected in Shigatse, Tibet. A total of 96 engorged soft ticks were collected from Tibetan sheep, with each tick assigned to a separate pool for analysis. The complete coding sequence of XRV was determined through next-generation sequencing, revealing a sequence length of 9277 nucleotides that includes a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding proteins such as the capsid protein, RNA helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP). Quantitative RT-PCR and nested PCR were utilized to investigate the distribution of XRV within the tick sample. Pairwise distance analysis revealed that all obtained viral sequences shared a high nucleotide identity. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that XRV clustered with Lhasa Iflav tick virus 1, Fuyun tick virus 2, and Hubei tick virus 2. Further analyses indicated that XRV is a new member of the unclassified genus Iflavirus within the family Iflaviridae.

Multi-Omics Technologies Applied to Improve Tick Research

The advancement of multi-omics technologies is crucial to deepen knowledge on tick biology. These approaches, used to study diverse phenomena, are applied to experiments that aim to understand changes in gene transcription, protein function, cellular processes, and prediction of systems at global biological levels. This review addressed the application of omics data to investigate and elucidate tick physiological processes, such as feeding, digestion, reproduction, neuronal, endocrine systems, understanding population dynamics, transmitted pathogens, control, and identifying new vaccine targets. Furthermore, new therapeutic perspectives using tick bioactive molecules, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antitumor, were summarized. Taken together, the application of omics technologies can help to understand the protein functions and biological behavior of ticks, as well as the identification of potential new antigens influencing the development of alternative control strategies and, consequently, the tick-borne disease prevention in veterinary and public health contexts. Finally, tick population dynamics have been determined through a combination of environmental factors, host availability, and genetic adaptations, and recent advances in omics technologies have improved our understanding of their ecological resilience and resistance mechanisms. Future directions point to the integration of spatial omics and artificial intelligence to further unravel tick biology and improve control strategies.

Microbial community variations in adult Hyalomma dromedarii ticks from single locations in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia

Introduction

The camel-infesting tick, Hyalomma dromedarii, is a prominent ectoparasite in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, critically impacting camel health and acting as a vector for tick-borne pathogens. Despite prior studies on its microbiota, the effects of geographic origin and sex on microbial community structure and functional stability remain poorly understood.

Methods

To address this, we characterized the bacterial microbiota of H. dromedarii ticks collected from camels in Tunisia (TUN) and Saudi Arabia (SA) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, microbial network analysis, and metabolic pathway prediction.

Results

Our findings indicate a dominant presence of Francisella endosymbionts in Tunisian ticks, suggesting adaptive roles of H. dromedarii ticks in arid ecosystems. Keystone taxa, particularly Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium, were identified as central to microbial network structure and resilience. Moreover, network robustness analyses demonstrated enhanced ecological stability in the Tunisian tick microbiota under perturbation, indicative of higher resilience to environmental fluctuations compared to Saudi Arabian ticks. Additionally, functional pathway predictions further revealed geographically distinct metabolic profiles between both groups (Tunisia vs. Saudi Arabia and males vs. females), underscoring environmental and biological influences on H. dromedarii microbiota assembly.

Discussion

These results highlight region-specific and sex-specific microbial adaptations in H. dromedarii, with potential implications for pathogen transmission dynamics and vector resilience. Understanding these microbial interactions may contribute to improved strategies for tick control and tick-borne disease prevention.