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Pustijanac E, Buršić M, Millotti G, Paliaga P, Iveša N, Cvek M. Tick-Borne Bacterial Diseases in Europe: Threats to public health. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:1261-1295. [PMID: 38676855 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04836-5] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne diseases, caused by bacterial pathogens, pose a growing threat to public health in Europe. This paper provides an overview of the historical context of the discovery of the most impactful pathogens transmitted by ticks, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Francisella spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Understanding the historical context of their discovery provides insight into the evolution of our understanding of these pathogens. METHODS AND RESULTS Systematic investigation of the prevalence and transmission dynamics of these bacterial pathogens is provided, highlighting the intricate relationships among ticks, host organisms, and the environment. Epidemiology is explored, providing an in-depth analysis of clinical features associated with infections. Diagnostic methodologies undergo critical examination, with a spotlight on technological advancements that enhance detection capabilities. Additionally, the paper discusses available treatment options, addressing existing therapeutic strategies and considering future aspects. CONCLUSIONS By integrating various pieces of information on these bacterial species, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers and healthcare professionals addressing the impact of bacterial tick-borne diseases in Europe. This review underscores the importance of understanding the complex details influencing bacterial prevalence and transmission dynamics to better combat these emerging public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emina Pustijanac
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia.
| | - Moira Buršić
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Gioconda Millotti
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Paolo Paliaga
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Neven Iveša
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Maja Cvek
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
- Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Region of Istria, Nazorova 23, 52100, Pula, Croatia
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2
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Yang Y, Wang P, Qaidi SE, Hardwidge PR, Huang J, Zhu G. Loss to gain: pseudogenes in microorganisms, focusing on eubacteria, and their biological significance. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:328. [PMID: 38717672 PMCID: PMC11078800 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12971-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudogenes are defined as "non-functional" copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms. KEY POINTS: • Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented. • How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted. • Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Pengzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jinlin Huang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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Chien RC, Mingqun L, Yan Q, Randolph N, Huang W, Wellman M, Toribio R, Rikihisa Y. Strains of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from horses in Ohio are related to isolates from humans in the northeastern USA. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0263223. [PMID: 37882777 PMCID: PMC10715102 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02632-23] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The tick-borne obligatory intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects humans as well as domesticated and wild animals, causing a febrile disease collectively called granulocytic anaplasmosis. The epidemiology and the host species specificity and zoonotic potential of A. phagocytophilum strains remain unclear. In this study, ankA (encoding ankyrin A) and p44 gene sequences of A. phagocytophilum were determined in clinical specimens from horses in Ohio and compared with those found in A. phagocytophilum strains from various hosts and geographic regions. With increasing numbers of seropositive horses, the study points out the unrecognized prevalence and uncharacterized strains of A. phagocytophilum infection in horses and the importance of A. phagocytophilum molecular testing for the prevention of equine and human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory C Chien
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lin Mingqun
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Qi Yan
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nina Randolph
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Weiyan Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Maxey Wellman
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ramiro Toribio
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yasuko Rikihisa
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Rickettsiology, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Fröhlich J, Fischer S, Bauer B, Hamel D, Kohn B, Ahlers M, Obiegala A, Overzier E, Pfeffer M, Pfister K, Răileanu C, Rehbein S, Skuballa J, Silaghi C. Host-pathogen associations revealed by genotyping of European strains of Anaplasma phagocytophilum to describe natural endemic cycles. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:289. [PMID: 37587504 PMCID: PMC10433637 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05900-3] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The zoonotic intracellular alpha-proteobacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted pathogen. The associations between vertebrate reservoirs and vectors are described as wide-ranging, and it was previously shown that the pathogenicity of A. phagocytophilum differs depending on the combination of pathogen variant and infected host species. This leads to the question of whether there are variations in particular gene loci associated with different virulence. Therefore, this study aims at clarifying existing host-variant combinations and detecting possible reservoir hosts. To understand these interactions, a complex toolset for molecular epidemiology, phylogeny and network theory was applied. METHODS Sequences of up to four gene loci (msp4, msp2, groEL and 16S rRNA) were evaluated for different isolates from variable host species, including, for example, dogs, cattle and deer. Variant typing was conducted for each gene locus individually, and combinations of different gene loci were analysed to gain more detailed information about the genetic plasticity of A. phagocytophilum. Results were displayed as minimum spanning nets and correlation nets. RESULTS The highest diversity of variants for all gene loci was observed in roe deer. In cattle, a reduced number of variants for 16S rRNA [only 16S-20(W) and 16S-22(Y)] but multiple variants of msp4 and groEL were found. For dogs, two msp4 variants [m4-20 and m4-2(B/C)] were found to be linked to different variants of the other three gene loci, creating two main combinations of gene loci variants. Cattle are placed centrally in the minimum spanning net analyses, indicating a crucial role in the transmission cycles by possibly bridging the vector-wildlife cycle to infections of humans and domestic animals. The minimum spanning nets confirmed previously described epidemiological cycles of the bacterium in Europe, showing separation of variants originating from wildlife animals only and a set of variants shared by wild and domestic animals. CONCLUSIONS In this comprehensive study of 1280 sequences, we found a high number of gene variants only occurring in specific hosts. Additionally, different hosts show unique but also shared variant combinations. The use of our four gene loci expand the knowledge of host-pathogen interactions and may be a starting point to predict future spread and infection risks of A. phagocytophilum in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Fröhlich
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Fischer
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17943 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bauer
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dietmar Hamel
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, Walchenseestr. 8-12, 83101 Rohrdorf, Germany
| | - Barbara Kohn
- Clinic for Small Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19B, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marion Ahlers
- agro prax GmbH, Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 2, 49577 Ankum, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Evelyn Overzier
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kurt Pfister
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Cristian Răileanu
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17943 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Steffen Rehbein
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, Walchenseestr. 8-12, 83101 Rohrdorf, Germany
| | - Jasmin Skuballa
- Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Office Karlsruhe (CVUA Karlsruhe), Weissenburger Str. 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17943 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Rodríguez‐Pastor R, Shafran Y, Knossow N, Gutiérrez R, Harrus S, Zaman L, Lenski RE, Barrick JE, Hawlena H. A road map for in vivo evolution experiments with blood-borne parasitic microbes. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2843-2859. [PMID: 35599628 PMCID: PMC9796859 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory experiments in which blood-borne parasitic microbes evolve in their animal hosts offer an opportunity to study parasite evolution and adaptation in real time and under natural settings. The main challenge of these experiments is to establish a protocol that is both practical over multiple passages and accurately reflects natural transmission scenarios and mechanisms. We provide a guide to the steps that should be considered when designing such a protocol, and we demonstrate its use via a case study. We highlight the importance of choosing suitable ancestral genotypes, treatments, number of replicates per treatment, types of negative controls, dependent variables, covariates, and the timing of checkpoints for the experimental design. We also recommend specific preliminary experiments to determine effective methods for parasite quantification, transmission, and preservation. Although these methodological considerations are technical, they also often have conceptual implications. To this end, we encourage other researchers to design and conduct in vivo evolution experiments with blood-borne parasitic microbes, despite the challenges that the work entails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Rodríguez‐Pastor
- Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Yarden Shafran
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Nadav Knossow
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
| | - Ricardo Gutiérrez
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Environmental SciencesThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Shimon Harrus
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Environmental SciencesThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Luis Zaman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS)University of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Richard E. Lenski
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Jeffrey E. Barrick
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesThe University of Texas AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Hadas Hawlena
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevMidreshet Ben‐GurionIsrael
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Drážovská M, Vojtek B, Mojžišová J, Koleničová S, Koľvek F, Prokeš M, Korytár Ľ, Csanady A, Ondrejková A, Vataščinová T, Bhide MR. The first serological evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses in Slovakia. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:31-37. [PMID: 33835943 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00007] [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: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis. It affects humans and several wild and domesticated mammals, including horses. The aim of our study was a preliminary survey of the occurrence of these re-emerging pathogens in horses in Slovakia. The sera from 200 animals of different ages and both sexes were tested for the presence of A. phagocytophilum antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Subsequently, detection of the 16S rRNA gene fragment of A. phagocytophilum was attempted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in each blood sample. Our results confirmed the presence of specific antibodies in 85 out of 200 individuals (42.5%), but no significant changes were found between the animals of different ages and sexes. However, the PCR analysis did not detect any positive animals. Our data represent one of the highest values of seropositivity to A. phagocytophilum in horses in Central Europe. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in this region, thus indicating a potential risk to other susceptible species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Drážovská
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Boris Vojtek
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Mojžišová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Simona Koleničová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Filip Koľvek
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Marián Prokeš
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľuboš Korytár
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Anna Ondrejková
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Tatiana Vataščinová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Mangesh Ramesh Bhide
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
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Torina A, Villari S, Blanda V, Vullo S, La Manna MP, Shekarkar Azgomi M, Di Liberto D, de la Fuente J, Sireci G. Innate Immune Response to Tick-Borne Pathogens: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Induced in the Hosts. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155437. [PMID: 32751625 PMCID: PMC7432002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens are transmitted by tick bites, including Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia and Theileria sensu stricto species. These pathogens cause infectious diseases both in animals and humans. Different types of immune effector mechanisms could be induced in hosts by these microorganisms, triggered either directly by pathogen-derived antigens or indirectly by molecules released by host cells binding to these antigens. The components of innate immunity, such as natural killer cells, complement proteins, macrophages, dendritic cells and tumor necrosis factor alpha, cause a rapid and intense protection for the acute phase of infectious diseases. Moreover, the onset of a pro-inflammatory state occurs upon the activation of the inflammasome, a protein scaffold with a key-role in host defense mechanism, regulating the action of caspase-1 and the maturation of interleukin-1β and IL-18 into bioactive molecules. During the infection caused by different microbial agents, very similar profiles of the human innate immune response are observed including secretion of IL-1α, IL-8, and IFN-α, and suppression of superoxide dismutase, IL-1Ra and IL-17A release. Innate immunity is activated immediately after the infection and inflammasome-mediated changes in the pro-inflammatory cytokines at systemic and intracellular levels can be detected as early as on days 2–5 after tick bite. The ongoing research field of “inflammasome biology” focuses on the interactions among molecules and cells of innate immune response that could be responsible for triggering a protective adaptive immunity. The knowledge of the innate immunity mechanisms, as well as the new targets of investigation arising by bioinformatics analysis, could lead to the development of new methods of emergency diagnosis and prevention of tick-borne infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (S.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Sara Villari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (S.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (S.V.); (S.V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefano Vullo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (S.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Marco Pio La Manna
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (M.S.A.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
| | - Mojtaba Shekarkar Azgomi
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (M.S.A.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
| | - Diana Di Liberto
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (M.S.A.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Guido Sireci
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (M.S.A.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
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8
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Nelson CM, Herron MJ, Wang XR, Baldridge GD, Oliver JD, Munderloh UG. Global Transcription Profiles of Anaplasma phagocytophilum at Key Stages of Infection in Tick and Human Cell Lines and Granulocytes. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:111. [PMID: 32211428 PMCID: PMC7069361 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of human diseases caused by tick-borne pathogens is increasing but little is known about the molecular interactions between the agents and their vectors and hosts. Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) is an obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacterium that causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, dogs, sheep, and horses. In mammals, neutrophil granulocytes are a primary target of infection, and in ticks, Ap has been found in gut and salivary gland cells. To identify bacterial genes that enable Ap to invade and proliferate in human and tick cells, labeled mRNA from Ap bound to or replicating within human and tick cells (lines HL-60 and ISE6), and replicating in primary human granulocytes ex vivo, was hybridized to a custom tiling microarray containing probes representing the entire Ap genome. Probe signal values plotted over a map of the Ap genome revealed antisense transcripts and unannotated genes. Comparisons of transcript levels from each annotated gene between test conditions (e.g., Ap replicating in HL-60 vs. ISE6) identified those that were differentially transcribed, thereby highlighting genes associated with each condition. Bacteria replicating in HL-60 cells upregulated 122 genes compared to those in ISE6, including numerous p44 paralogs, five HGE-14 paralogs, and 32 hypothetical protein genes, of which 47% were predicted to be secreted or localized to the membrane. By comparison, 60% of genes upregulated in ISE6 encoded hypothetical proteins, 60% of which were predicted to be secreted or membrane associated. In granulocytes, Ap upregulated 120 genes compared to HL-60, 33% of them hypothetical and 43% of those predicted to encode secreted or membrane associated proteins. HL-60-grown bacteria binding to HL-60 cells barely responded transcriptionally, while ISE6-grown bacteria binding to ISE6 cells upregulated 48 genes. HL-60-grown bacteria, when incubated with ISE6 cells, upregulated the same genes that were upregulated by ISE6-grown bacteria exposed to uninfected ISE6. Hypothetical genes (constituting about 29% of Ap genes) played a disproportionate role in most infection scenarios, and particular sets of them were consistently upregulated in bacteria binding/entering both ISE6 and HL-60 cells. This suggested that the encoded proteins played central roles in establishing infection in ticks and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis M Nelson
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Michael J Herron
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Xin-Ru Wang
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Gerald D Baldridge
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jonathan D Oliver
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ulrike G Munderloh
- Department of Entomology, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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9
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Seo MG, Ouh IO, Choi E, Kwon OD, Kwak D. Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Horses in Korea. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2018; 56:559-565. [PMID: 30630276 PMCID: PMC6327205 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The identification and characterization of pathogenic and zoonotic tick-borne diseases like granulocytic anaplasmosis are essential for developing effective control programs. The differential diagnosis of pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum and non-pathogenic A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. is important for implementing effective treatment from control programs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in horses in Korea by nucleotide sequencing and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism assay. Of the 627 horses included in the study, only 1 (0.2%) was infected with A. phagocytophilum. Co-infection with A. phagocytophilumlike Anaplasma spp. was not detected in the study. The 16S rRNA sequence of A. phagocytophilum was similar (99.5–100%) to A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA isolated from horses in other countries. PCR adapted to amplify A. phagocytophilum groEL and msp2 genes failed to generate amplicons, suggesting genetic diversity in these genes. This study is the first molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum in horses in Korea. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and animal infection of A. phagocytophilum have been reported in Korea recently. Because of vector tick distribution, global warming, and the increase of the horse industry, horses should be considered as a potential reservoir for A. phagocytophilum, and cross infectivity should be evaluated even though a low prevalence of infection was detected in this study. Furthermore, continuous surveillance and effective control measures for A. phagocytophilum should be established to prevent disease distribution and possible transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Goo Seo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.,Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea
| | - In-Ohk Ouh
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea
| | | | - Oh-Deog Kwon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Dongmi Kwak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
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10
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Vechtova P, Sterbova J, Sterba J, Vancova M, Rego ROM, Selinger M, Strnad M, Golovchenko M, Rudenko N, Grubhoffer L. A bite so sweet: the glycobiology interface of tick-host-pathogen interactions. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:594. [PMID: 30428923 PMCID: PMC6236881 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3062-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases constitute 17% of all infectious diseases in the world; among the blood-feeding arthropods, ticks transmit the highest number of pathogens. Understanding the interactions between the tick vector, the mammalian host and the pathogens circulating between them is the basis for the successful development of vaccines against ticks or the tick-transmitted pathogens as well as for the development of specific treatments against tick-borne infections. A lot of effort has been put into transcriptomic and proteomic analyses; however, the protein-carbohydrate interactions and the overall glycobiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens has not been given the importance or priority deserved. Novel (bio)analytical techniques and their availability have immensely increased the possibilities in glycobiology research and thus novel information in the glycobiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens is being generated at a faster pace each year. This review brings a comprehensive summary of the knowledge on both the glycosylated proteins and the glycan-binding proteins of the ticks as well as the tick-transmitted pathogens, with emphasis on the interactions allowing the infection of both the ticks and the hosts by various bacteria and tick-borne encephalitis virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Vechtova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. .,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Jarmila Sterbova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Sterba
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Vancova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ryan O M Rego
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Selinger
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Strnad
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Maryna Golovchenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nataliia Rudenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Grubhoffer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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11
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Shimada M, Takamoto N, Su H, Sasahara H, Shimamura Y, Ando S, Ohashi N. Predominant Shift of Different P44-Expressing Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Infected HL-60, THP-1, NB4, and RF/6A Cell Lines. Jpn J Infect Dis 2018; 72:73-80. [PMID: 30381676 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2018.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that dominantly produces P44 outer membrane proteins encoded by the p44/msp2 multigene family, which are major antigens for serodiagnosis. However, A. phagocytophilum antigens from cultures with different cell lines seem to have varying reactivities with sera. In this study, we performed RNA-seq to investigate the P44 expression of A. phagocytophilum propagated in 4 cell lines. In infected HL-60 cells, the P44-2b transcript was predominant in the first RNA-seq analysis (HL-60.1). However, the P44-23 transcript was predominant in the second RNA-seq analysis at 1 month after additional passages (HL-60.2). We further analyzed the P44 expression of A. phagocytophilum cultured in THP-1, NB4, and RF/6A cells through consecutive passages in the same cell lines for 1 year after transferring A. phagocytophilum from infected HL-60 cells to the respective cell lines. In the long-term cultures, P44-18, P44-78, and P44-51 were predominantly transcribed in infected THP-1, NB4, and RF/6A cells, respectively. Therefore, the predominant shifts of different P44-expressing transcripts of A. phagocytophilum might occur during cell culture even in the same cell line at different time points of sample harvest (HL-60.1 and HL-60.2), which may be attributed to host cell adaptation/selection/interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Shimada
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Naoya Takamoto
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Hongru Su
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Haruka Sasahara
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Yuko Shimamura
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
| | - Shuji Ando
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Norio Ohashi
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka
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12
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Hovius E, de Bruin A, Schouls L, Hovius J, Dekker N, Sprong H. A lifelong study of a pack Rhodesian ridgeback dogs reveals subclinical and clinical tick-borne Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections with possible reinfection or persistence. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:238. [PMID: 29650038 PMCID: PMC5898011 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2806-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Various tick-borne infections often occur without specific clinical signs and are therefore notoriously hard to diagnose separately in veterinary practice. Longitudinal studies over multiple tick seasons performing clinical, serological and molecular investigations in parallel, may elucidate the relationship between infection and disease. In this regard, six related Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs living as a pack became subject of lifetime studies due to ongoing tick infestations and recurring clinical problems. Blood samples for diagnostic tests were obtained throughout the years 2000 to 2009. Methods Data collected from clinical observations, hemograms, serology and detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, either by microscopy or by DNA amplification and typing, were placed in a time line. This dataset essentially presents as a prospective study enabling the association of the Anaplasma infections with occurring disease. Results All six dogs were infected, and two of them developed particular clinical symptoms that could be associated with Anaplasma infections over time. More specifically, episodes of general malaise with fever and purpura with thrombocytopenia and bacterial inclusions in granulocytes, were found concurrently with Anaplasma DNA and specific antibodies in peripheral blood samples. DNA from A. phagocytophilum variant 4 (of 16S rRNA) was found in multiple and sequential samples. DNA-sequences from variant 1 and the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent were also detected. Conclusions In this study two lifelong cases of canine anaplasmosis (CGA) are presented. The data show that dogs can be naturally infected concurrently with A. phagocytophilum variant 1, variant 4 and the HGE agent. The ongoing presence of specific antibodies and Anaplasma DNA in one dog indicates one year of persisting infection. Treatment with doxycycline during recurring clinical episodes in the other dog resulted in transient clinical improvement and subsequent disappearance of specific antibodies and DNA suggesting that re-infection occurred. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2806-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Hovius
- Amphipoda, Biology and Veterinary Science, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Arnout de Bruin
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Leo Schouls
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Joppe Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Dekker
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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13
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Chandrashekar R, Beall MJ, Thatcher B, Saucier JM, Tyrrell P, Lappin MR. Serologic responses to peptides of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs infested with wild-caught Ixodes scapularis. Vet J 2017; 226:6-11. [PMID: 28911844 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi are both transmitted by Ixodes spp. and are associated with clinical illness in some infected dogs. This study evaluated canine antibody responses to the A. phagocytophilum p44 peptides APH-1 and APH-4 as well as the B. burgdorferi C6 peptide before and after doxycycline treatment. A total of eight dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis for 1 week. Blood was collected prior to tick attachment and from Days 3-77 to 218-302 with doxycycline treatment beginning on Day 218. Blood was assayed for A. phagocytophilum DNA by PCR assay. Sera was assessed for antibodies by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test and ELISA. Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was amplified from blood of all dogs by Day 7. Antibodies to APH-4 were detected in serum as early as 14days after tick exposure and six dogs had APH-4 antibodies detected 3-7 days before antibodies against APH-1. All dogs were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum from Days 218 to 302. Antibodies to B. burgdorferi were detected in 6/8 dogs beginning 21days after I. scapularis infestation. Among the five dogs that remained seropositive at Day 218, C6 antibody levels declined on average 81% within 84days of initiating treatment. The results suggest that the APH-4 peptide may be more useful than APH-1 for detecting antibodies earlier in the course of an A. phagocytophilum infection. After doxycycline administration, C6 antibody levels but not APH-1 or APH-4 antibody levels decreased, suggesting a treatment effect on C6 antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Chandrashekar
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, United States.
| | - M J Beall
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, United States
| | - B Thatcher
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, United States
| | - J M Saucier
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, United States
| | - P Tyrrell
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, United States
| | - M R Lappin
- The Center for Companion Animal Studies, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States
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14
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Brown WC, Barbet AF. Persistent Infections and Immunity in Ruminants to Arthropod-Borne Bacteria in the Family Anaplasmataceae. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2015; 4:177-97. [PMID: 26734888 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022513-114206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Tick-transmitted gram-negative bacteria in the family Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales cause persistent infection and morbidity and mortality in ruminants. Whereas Anaplasma marginale infection is restricted to ruminants, Anaplasma phagocytophilum is promiscuous and, in addition to causing disease in sheep and cattle, notably causes disease in humans, horses, and dogs. Although the two pathogens invade and replicate in distinct blood cells (erythrocytes and neutrophils, respectively), they have evolved similar mechanisms of antigenic variation in immunodominant major surface protein 2 (MSP2) and MSP2(P44) that result in immune evasion and persistent infection. Furthermore, these bacteria have evolved distinct strategies to cause immune dysfunction, characterized as an antigen-specific CD4 T-cell exhaustion for A. marginale and a generalized immune suppression for A. phagocytophilum, that also facilitate persistence. This indicates highly adapted strategies of Anaplasma spp. to both suppress protective immune responses and evade those that do develop. However, conserved subdominant antigens are potential targets for immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy C Brown
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164;
| | - Anthony F Barbet
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611;
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15
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Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Varying influences of selection and demography in host-adapted populations of the tick-transmitted bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:58. [PMID: 25888490 PMCID: PMC4383208 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The host range of a pathogenic bacterial strain likely influences its effective population size, which in turn affects the efficacy of selection. Transmission between competent hosts may occur more frequently for host generalists than for specialists. This could allow higher bacterial population densities to persist within an ecological community and increase the efficacy of selection in these populations. Conversely, specialist strains may be better adapted to their hosts and consequently achieve greater within-host population densities, with corresponding increases in selection efficacy. To assess these different hypotheses, we examined the effective population sizes of three strains of the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and categorized the varying roles of selection and demography on patterns of genetic diversity and divergence in these populations. A. phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted, obligately intracellular pathogen. Strains of A. phagocytophilum display varying degrees of host specialization, making this a good species for exploring questions regarding host range, effective population size and selection efficacy. Results We found that a roe deer specialist harbored the most genetic diversity of the three A. phagocytophilum strains and correspondingly had the largest effective population size. Another strain that is ecologically specialized on rodents and insectivores had the smallest effective population size. However, these mammalian hosts are distantly related evolutionarily. The third strain, a host generalist, was intermediate in its effective population size between the other two strains. Evolutionary constraint on non-synonymous sites was pervasive in all three strains, although some slightly deleterious mutations may also be segregating in these populations. We additionally found evidence of genome-wide selective sweeps in the generalist strain, whereas signals of repeated bottlenecks were detected in the strain with the smallest effective population size. Conclusions A. phagocytophilum is a diverse bacterial species that differs among distinct strains in its effective population size, as well as how genetic diversity and divergence have been influenced by selection and demographic changes. In this species, host specialization may facilitate increased population growth and allow more opportunities for selection to act. These results provide insights into how host range has influenced evolutionary patterns of strain divergence in an emerging zoonotic bacterium. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0335-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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16
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Foley J, Piovia-Scott J. Vector biodiversity did not associate with tick-borne pathogen prevalence in small mammal communities in northern and central California. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:299-304. [PMID: 24582513 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2013] [Revised: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vector and host abundance affect infection transmission rates, prevalence, and persistence in communities. Biological diversity in hosts and vectors may provide "rescue" hosts which buffer against pathogen extinction and "dilution" hosts which reduce the force of infection in communities. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted zoonotic pathogen that circulates in small mammal and tick communities characterized by varying levels of biological diversity. We examined the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Ixodes spp. ticks in 11 communities in northern and central California. A total of 1020 ticks of 8 species was evaluated. Five percent of ticks (5 species) were PCR-positive, with the highest prevalence (6-7%) in I. pacificus and I. ochotonae. In most species, adults had a higher prevalence than nymphs or larvae. PCR prevalence varied between 0% and 40% across sites; the infection probability in ticks increased with infestation load and prevalence in small mammals, but not tick species richness, diversity, evenness, or small mammal species richness. No particular tick species was likely to "rescue" infection in the community; rather the risk of A. phagocytophilum infection is related to exposure to particular tick species and life stages, and overall tick abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Foley
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Jonah Piovia-Scott
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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17
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Ben Said M, Belkahia H, Sayahi L, Aloui M, Jemli MH, Hadj Mohamed B, Sassi L, Darghouth MA, Djaïem AA, Bayoudh M, Messadi L. Première étude sérologique de la prévalence d’Anaplasma phagocytophilum chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius) en Tunisie. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 107:1-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s13149-013-0323-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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18
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Truchan HK, Seidman D, Carlyon JA. Breaking in and grabbing a meal: Anaplasma phagocytophilum cellular invasion, nutrient acquisition, and promising tools for their study. Microbes Infect 2013; 15:1017-25. [PMID: 24141091 PMCID: PMC3894830 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum invades neutrophils to cause the emerging infection, human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Here, we provide a focused review of the A. phagocytophilum invasin-host cell receptor interactions that promote bacterial entry and the degradative and membrane traffic pathways that the organism exploits to route nutrients to the organelle in which it resides. Because its obligatory intracellular nature hinders knock out-complementation approaches, we also discuss the current methods used to study A. phagocytophilum gene function and the potential benefit of applying novel tools that have advanced studies of other obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary K. Truchan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - David Seidman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Jason A. Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
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19
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Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:31. [PMID: 23885337 PMCID: PMC3717505 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants in Ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern Europe. In recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with Ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. A. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. However, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal conditions, and considerable underreporting of clinical incidents is suspected in both human and veterinary medicine. Several variants of A. phagocytophilum have been genetically characterized. Identification and stratification into phylogenetic subfamilies has been based on cell culturing, experimental infections, PCR, and sequencing techniques. However, few genome sequences have been completed so far, thus observations on biological, ecological, and pathological differences between genotypes of the bacterium, have yet to be elucidated by molecular and experimental infection studies. The natural transmission cycles of various A. phagocytophilum variants, the involvement of their respective hosts and vectors involved, in particular the zoonotic potential, have to be unraveled. A. phagocytophilum is able to persist between seasons of tick activity in several mammalian species and movement of hosts and infected ticks on migrating animals or birds may spread the bacterium. In the present review, we focus on the ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum, especially the role of wildlife in contribution to the spread and sustainability of the infection in domestic livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Sandnes, Norway.
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20
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Severo MS, Stephens KD, Kotsyfakis M, Pedra JH. Anaplasma phagocytophilum: deceptively simple or simply deceptive? Future Microbiol 2012; 7:719-31. [PMID: 22702526 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.12.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen transmitted by ixodid ticks. This bacterium colonizes myeloid and nonmyeloid cells and causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis--an important immunopathological vector-borne disease in the USA, Europe and Asia. Recent studies uncovered novel insights into the mechanisms of A. phagocytophilum pathogenesis and immunity. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying events by which the immune system responds to A. phagocytophilum infection, how this pathogen counteracts host immunity and the contribution of the tick vector for microbial transmission. We also discuss current scientific gaps in the knowledge of A. phagocytophilum biology for the purpose of exchanging research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiara S Severo
- Department of Entomology & Center for Disease Vector Research, 900 University Avenue, University of California - Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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21
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Rejmanek D, Foley P, Barbet A, Foley J. Antigen variability in Anaplasma phagocytophilum during chronic infection of a reservoir host. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2012; 158:2632-2641. [PMID: 22859615 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.059808-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligately intracellular, tick-transmitted, bacterial pathogen of humans and other animals. In order to evade host immunity during the course of infection, A. phagocytophilum utilizes gene conversion to shuffle approximately 100 functional pseudogenes into a single expression cassette of the msp2(p44) gene, which encodes the major surface antigen, major surface protein 2 (Msp2). The role and extent of msp2(p44) recombination in a reservoir host for A. phagocytophilum have not been evaluated. In the current study, we explored patterns of recombination and expression site variability of the msp2(p44) gene in three chronically infected woodrats, a reservoir for the disease in the Western USA. All three woodrats developed persistent infection of at least 6 months duration; two of them maintained active infection for at least 8 months. In total, we detected the emergence of 60 unique msp2(p44) expression site variants with no common temporal patterns of expression site recombination among the three A. phagocytophilum populations. Both the strength of infection (i.e. pathogen load) and the genetic diversity of pseudogenes detected at the msp2(p44) expression site fluctuated periodically during the course of infection. An analysis of the genomic pseudogene exhaustion rate showed that the repertoire of pseudogenes available to the A. phagocytophilum population could in theory become depleted within a year. However, the apparent emergence of variant pseudogenes suggests that the pathogen could potentially evade host immunity indefinitely. Our findings suggest a tightly co-evolved relationship between A. phagocytophilum and woodrats in which the pathogen perpetually evades host immunity yet causes no detectable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Rejmanek
- University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Patrick Foley
- California State University Department of Biological Sciences, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Anthony Barbet
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Janet Foley
- University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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