1
|
Petchampai N, Isoe J, Balaraman P, Oscherwitz M, Carter BH, Sánchez CG, Scaraffia PY. Pyruvate kinase is post-translationally regulated by sirtuin 2 in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 162:104015. [PMID: 37797713 PMCID: PMC10698509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104015] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that Aedes aegypti pyruvate kinase (AaPK) plays a key role in the regulation of both carbon and nitrogen metabolism in mosquitoes. To further elucidate whether AaPK can be post-translationally regulated by Ae. aegypti sirtuin 2 (AaSirt2), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that catalyzes the removal of acetyl groups from acetylated lysine residues, we conducted a series of analysis in non-starved and starved female mosquitoes. Transcriptional and protein profiles of AaSirt2, analyzed by qPCR and western blots, indicated that the AaSirt2 is differentially modulated in response to sugar or blood feeding in mosquito tissues dissected at different times during the first gonotrophic cycle. We also found that AaSirt2 is localized in both cytosolic and mitochondrial cellular compartments of fat body and thorax. Multiple lysine-acetylated proteins were detected by western blotting in both cellular compartments. Furthermore, western blotting of immunoprecipitated proteins provided evidence that AaPK is lysine-acetylated and bound with AaSirt2 in the cytosolic fractions of fat body and thorax from non-starved and starved females. In correlation with these results, we also discovered that RNAi-mediated knockdown of AaSirt2 in the fat body of starved females significantly decreased AaPK protein abundance. Notably, survivorship of AaSirt2-deficient females maintained under four different nutritional regimens was not significantly affected. Taken together, our data reveal that AaPK is post-translationally regulated by AaSirt2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natthida Petchampai
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Jun Isoe
- Department of Entomology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Prashanth Balaraman
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Max Oscherwitz
- Department of Entomology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Brendan H Carter
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Cecilia G Sánchez
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Patricia Y Scaraffia
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tank W, Shippy T, Thate A, Massimino C, Hosmani PS, Flores-Gonzalez M, Mueller LA, Hunter WB, Brown SJ, D’Elia T, Saha S. Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway annotation in Diaphorina citri can reveal potential targets for RNAi-based pest management. GIGABYTE 2022; 2022:gigabyte43. [PMID: 36824528 PMCID: PMC9933519 DOI: 10.46471/gigabyte.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is an ATP-dependent process that targets proteins for degradation by the proteasome. Here, we annotated 15 genes from the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. This psyllid vector has come to prominence in the last decade owing to its role in the transmission of the devastating bacterial pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Infection of citrus crops by this pathogen causes Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, and results in the eventual death of citrus trees. The identification and correct annotation of these genes in D. citri will be useful for functional genomic studies to aid the development of RNAi-based management strategies aimed at reducing the spread of HLB. Investigating the effects of CLas infection on the expression of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes may provide new information about the role these genes play in the acquisition and transmission of CLas by D. citri.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Will Tank
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Teresa Shippy
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Amanda Thate
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Wayne B. Hunter
- USDA-ARS, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
| | - Susan J. Brown
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Tom D’Elia
- Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL 34981, USA
| | - Surya Saha
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA, Corresponding author. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Martins LA, Palmisano G, Cortez M, Kawahara R, de Freitas Balanco JM, Fujita A, Alonso BI, Barros-Battesti DM, Braz GRC, Tirloni L, Esteves E, Daffre S, Fogaça AC. The intracellular bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii exerts an inhibitory effect on the apoptosis of tick cells. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:603. [PMID: 33261663 PMCID: PMC7706286 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04477-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia rickettsii is a tick-borne obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a life-threatening illness. To obtain an insight into the vector-pathogen interactions, we assessed the effects of infection with R. rickettsii on the proteome cells of the tick embryonic cell line BME26. METHODS The proteome of BME26 cells was determined by label-free high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Also evaluated were the effects of infection on the activity of caspase-3, assessed by the hydrolysis of a synthetic fluorogenic substrate in enzymatic assays, and on the exposition of phosphatidyserine, evaluated by live-cell fluorescence microscopy after labeling with annexin-V. Finally, the effects of activation or inhibition of caspase-3 activity on the growth of R. rickettsii in BME26 cells was determined. RESULTS Tick proteins of different functional classes were modulated in a time-dependent manner by R. rickettsii infection. Regarding proteins involved in apoptosis, certain negative regulators were downregulated at the initial phase of the infection (6 h) but upregulated in the middle of the exponential phase of the bacterial growth (48 h). Microorganisms are known to be able to inhibit apoptosis of the host cell to ensure their survival and proliferation. We therefore evaluated the effects of infection on classic features of apoptotic cells and observed DNA fragmentation exclusively in noninfected cells. Moreover, both caspase-3 activity and phosphatidylserine exposition were lower in infected than in noninfected cells. Importantly, while the activation of caspase-3 exerted a detrimental effect on rickettsial proliferation, its inhibition increased bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results show that R. rickettsii modulates the proteome and exerts an inhibitory effect on apoptosis in tick cellsthat seems to be important to ensure cell colonization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Almeida Martins
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, USA
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Kawahara
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - André Fujita
- Department of Computational Science, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Iglesias Alonso
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Gloria Regina Cardoso Braz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Eliane Esteves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Andréa Cristina Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yuan C, Wu J, Peng Y, Li Y, Shen S, Deng F, Hu Z, Zhou J, Wang M, Zou Z. Transcriptome analysis of the innate immune system of Hyalomma asiaticum. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 177:107481. [PMID: 33035534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are considered to be the second most important vectors of human infectious diseases. The innate immune system is the key factor that affects its vector competence. Hyalomma asiaticum is the primary vector of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). However, the immune system of H. asiaticum remains virtually unknown. Here, a high throughput full-length mRNA sequencing method was adopted to define the immunotranscriptome of H. asiaticum infected with the fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana and gram-negative bacterium Enterobacter cloacae. The analysis yielded 22,300 isoforms with an average length of 3233 bps. In total, 68 potential immunity-related genes were identified based on similarity to the homologs known to be involved in immunity. These included most members of the Toll and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, but not the IMD signaling pathway. Moreover, two copies of Dicer-2 and five copies of Argonaute-2 were detected. These genes are postulated to be involved in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, which is an important defense against RNA viruses. Overall, this study provides the foundation for understanding the immune response of H. asiaticum to CCHFV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanfei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jia Wu
- Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yun Peng
- Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yufeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhihong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Manli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Zhen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu R, Cheng Q, Song X, Wang H, Wang X, Wang L, Zhu B, Song L. A vital ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme CgUbe2g1 participated in regulation of immune response of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 91:132-142. [PMID: 30389518 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
As an important post-translational protein modification, ubiquitination has been demonstrated to play a vital role in immune response of vertebrates. Ubiquitin (Ub)-conjugating enzyme E2 is the "heart" of ubiquitination, which is responsible for Ub cellular signaling and substrate modification. In the present study, an Ub-conjugating enzyme E2 (designed as CgUbe2g1) was identified from oyster Crassostrea gigas, and its regulation in the immune response against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was investigated. CgUbe2g1 encoded a polypeptide of 168 amino acids with the predicted molecular mass of 19.20 kDa and contained conserved catalytic 'Ubc' domains. It shared a higher similarity with the known UBC2G1 type E2s and was closely clustered with the type E2s identified from invertebrates in the phylogenetic assay. The mRNA transcripts of CgUbe2g1 were mainly distributed in hemocyte, mantle, hepatopancreas and male gonad of C. gigas. CgUbe2g1 protein was found to be colocalized with Ub around the nucleus of oyster hemocyte. The recombinant CgUbe2g1 protein (rCgUbe2g1) could activate the ubiquitination in vitro by binding both activated and un-activated Ub. The expressions of inflammation-related factors TNF-α and NF-κB in CgUbe2g1 transfected cells were both significantly up-regulated after LPS stimulation, which were 12.9-fold at 3 h (p < 0.01) and 2.3-fold at 6 h (p < 0.01) of that in negative control group, respectively. The phagocytic rate of hemocyte and the ROS level in hemocyte were both significantly decreased (p < 0.01), while the apoptosis rate was significantly increased (p < 0.01) after CgUbe2g1 mRNA was interfered. These results demonstrated that Ub-conjugating enzyme CgUbe2g1 was involved in the innate immune response of oyster against invading pathogen, which might play important roles in the activation of inflammatory response and regulation of cellular immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China
| | - Xiaorui Song
- Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiudan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Beiwei Zhu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China
| | - Linsheng Song
- Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zumaya-Estrada FA, Martínez-Barnetche J, Lavore A, Rivera-Pomar R, Rodríguez MH. Comparative genomics analysis of triatomines reveals common first line and inducible immunity-related genes and the absence of Imd canonical components among hemimetabolous arthropods. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:48. [PMID: 29357911 PMCID: PMC5778769 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2561-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insects operate complex humoral and cellular immune strategies to fend against invading microorganisms. The majority of these have been characterized in Drosophila and other dipterans. Information on hemipterans, including Triatominae vectors of Chagas disease remains incomplete and fractionated. Results We identified putative immune-related homologs of three Triatominae vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma pallidipennis, T. dimidiata and T. infestans (TTTs), using comparative transcriptomics based on established immune response gene references, in conjunction with the predicted proteomes of Rhodnius prolixus, Cimex lecticularis and Acyrthosiphon pisum hemimetabolous. We present a compressive description of the humoral and cellular innate immune components of these TTTs and extend the immune information of other related hemipterans. Key homologs of the constitutive and induced immunity genes were identified in all the studied hemipterans. Conclusions Our results in the TTTs extend previous observations in other hemipterans lacking several components of the Imd signaling pathway. Comparison with other hexapods, using published data, revealed that the absence of various Imd canonical components is common in several hemimetabolous species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2561-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesús Martínez-Barnetche
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas (CISEI), Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Andrés Lavore
- Centro de Bioinvestigaciones (CeBio) and Centro de Investigación y Transferencia del Noroeste de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pergamino, Argentina
| | - Rolando Rivera-Pomar
- Centro de Bioinvestigaciones (CeBio) and Centro de Investigación y Transferencia del Noroeste de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pergamino, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Genética y Genómica Funcional. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mario Henry Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas (CISEI), Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Infection-derived lipids elicit an immune deficiency circuit in arthropods. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14401. [PMID: 28195158 PMCID: PMC5316886 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The insect immune deficiency (IMD) pathway resembles the tumour necrosis factor receptor network in mammals and senses diaminopimelic-type peptidoglycans present in Gram-negative bacteria. Whether unidentified chemical moieties activate the IMD signalling cascade remains unknown. Here, we show that infection-derived lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl diacylglycerol (PODAG) stimulate the IMD pathway of ticks. The tick IMD network protects against colonization by three distinct bacteria, that is the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the rickettsial agents Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale. Cell signalling ensues in the absence of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins and the adaptor molecules Fas-associated protein with a death domain (FADD) and IMD. Conversely, biochemical interactions occur between x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and the E2 conjugating enzyme Bendless. We propose the existence of two functionally distinct IMD networks, one in insects and another in ticks. The insect IMD signalling pathway detects invading pathogens. Here the authors show that ticks have an alternative IMD system that lacks peptidoglycan receptors, IMD and FADD, and is instead reliant on interaction of the E3 ligase XIAP with the E2 conjugating enzyme Bendless.
Collapse
|
8
|
Candido-Ferreira IL, Kronenberger T, Sayegh RSR, Batista IDFC, da Silva Junior PI. Evidence of an Antimicrobial Peptide Signature Encrypted in HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligases. Front Immunol 2017; 7:664. [PMID: 28119686 PMCID: PMC5220581 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is a hallmark of the eukaryotic cell. In jawed vertebrates, it has been co-opted by the adaptive immune system, where proteasomal degradation produces endogenous peptides for major histocompatibility complex class I antigen presentation. However, proteolytic products are also necessary for the phylogenetically widespread innate immune system, as they often play a role as host defense peptides (HDPs), pivotal effectors against pathogens. Here, we report the identification of the arachnid HDP oligoventin, which shares homology to a core member of the UPP, E3 ubiquitin ligases. Oligoventin has broad antimicrobial activity and shows strong synergy with lysozymes. Using computational and phylogenetic approaches, we show high conservation of the oligoventin signature in HECT E3s. In silico simulation of HECT E3s self-proteolysis provides evidence that HDPs can be generated by fine-tuned 26S proteasomal degradation, and therefore are consistent with the hypothesis that oligoventin is a cryptic peptide released by the proteolytic processing of an Nedd4 E3 precursor protein. Finally, we compare the production of HDPs and endogenous antigens from orthologous HECT E3s by proteasomal degradation as a means of analyzing the UPP coupling to metazoan immunity. Our results highlight the functional plasticity of the UPP in innate and adaptive immune systems as a possibly recurrent mechanism to generate functionally diverse peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Lavander Candido-Ferreira
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Raphael Santa Rosa Sayegh
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior
- Special Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute , São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Manipulates Host Cell Apoptosis by Different Mechanisms to Establish Infection. Vet Sci 2016; 3:vetsci3030015. [PMID: 29056724 PMCID: PMC5606577 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci3030015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes human and animal granulocytic anaplasmosis and tick-borne fever of ruminants. This obligate intracellular bacterium evolved to use common strategies to establish infection in both vertebrate hosts and tick vectors. Herein, we discuss the different strategies used by the pathogen to modulate cell apoptosis and establish infection in host cells. In vertebrate neutrophils and human promyelocytic cells HL-60, both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors have been reported. Tissue-specific differences in tick response to infection and differential regulation of apoptosis pathways have been observed in adult female midguts and salivary glands in response to infection with A. phagocytophilum. In tick midguts, pathogen inhibits apoptosis through the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, while in salivary glands, the intrinsic apoptosis pathways is inhibited but tick cells respond with the activation of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. In Ixodes scapularis ISE6 cells, bacterial infection down-regulates mitochondrial porin and manipulates protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and cell glucose metabolism to inhibit apoptosis and facilitate infection, whereas in IRE/CTVM20 tick cells, inhibition of apoptosis appears to be regulated by lower caspase levels. These results suggest that A. phagocytophilum uses different mechanisms to inhibit apoptosis for infection of both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang Y, White MM, Kvist S, Moncalvo JM. Genome-Wide Survey of Gut Fungi (Harpellales) Reveals the First Horizontally Transferred Ubiquitin Gene from a Mosquito Host. Mol Biol Evol 2016; 33:2544-54. [PMID: 27343289 PMCID: PMC5026252 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Harpellales, an early-diverging fungal lineage, is associated with the digestive tracts of aquatic arthropod hosts. Concurrent with the production and annotation of the first four Harpellales genomes, we discovered that Zancudomyces culisetae, one of the most widely distributed Harpellales species, encodes an insect-like polyubiquitin chain. Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins are universally involved in protein degradation and regulation of immune response in eukaryotic organisms. Phylogenetic analyses inferred that this polyubiquitin variant has a mosquito origin. In addition, its amino acid composition, animal-like secondary structure, as well as the fungal nature of flanking genes all further support this as a horizontal gene transfer event. The single-copy polyubiquitin gene from Z. culisetae has lower GC ratio compared with homologs of insect taxa, which implies homogenization of the gene since its putatively ancient transfer. The acquired polyubiquitin gene may have served to improve important functions within Z. culisetae, by perhaps exploiting the insect hosts' ubiquitin-proteasome systems in the gut environment. Preliminary comparisons among the four Harpellales genomes highlight the reduced genome size of Z. culisetae, which corroborates its distinguishable symbiotic lifestyle. This is the first record of a horizontally transferred ubiquitin gene from disease-bearing insects to the gut-dwelling fungal endobiont and should invite further exploration in an evolutionary context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Merlin M White
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University
| | - Sebastian Kvist
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Marc Moncalvo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rosa RD, Capelli-Peixoto J, Mesquita RD, Kalil SP, Pohl PC, Braz GR, Fogaça AC, Daffre S. Exploring the immune signalling pathway-related genes of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus: From molecular characterization to transcriptional profile upon microbial challenge. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 59:1-14. [PMID: 26724380 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In dipteran insects, invading pathogens are selectively recognized by four major pathways, namely Toll, IMD, JNK, and JAK/STAT, and trigger the activation of several immune effectors. Although substantial advances have been made in understanding the immunity of model insects such as Drosophila melanogaster, knowledge on the activation of immune responses in other arthropods such as ticks remains limited. Herein, we have deepened our understanding of the intracellular signalling pathways likely to be involved in tick immunity by combining a large-scale in silico approach with high-throughput gene expression analysis. Data from in silico analysis revealed that although both the Toll and JAK/STAT signalling pathways are evolutionarily conserved across arthropods, ticks lack central components of the D. melanogaster IMD pathway. Moreover, we show that tick immune signalling-associated genes are constitutively transcribed in BME26 cells (a cell lineage derived from embryos of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus) and exhibit different transcriptional patterns in response to microbial challenge. Interestingly, Anaplasma marginale, a pathogen that is naturally transmitted by R. microplus, causes downregulation of immune-related genes, suggesting that this pathogen may manipulate the tick immune system, favouring its survival and vector colonization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael D Rosa
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Janaína Capelli-Peixoto
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael D Mesquita
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-909 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sandra P Kalil
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula C Pohl
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Glória R Braz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-909 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Andrea C Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang SM, Loker ES, Sullivan JT. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns activate expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, immunity and detoxification in the amebocyte-producing organ of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 56:25-36. [PMID: 26592964 PMCID: PMC5335875 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The anterior pericardial wall of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata has been identified as a site of hemocyte production, hence has been named the amebocyte-producing organ (APO). A number of studies have shown that exogenous abiotic and biotic substances, including pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), are able to stimulate APO mitotic activity and/or enlarge its size, implying a role for the APO in innate immunity. The molecular mechanisms underlying such responses have not yet been explored, in part due to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient APO tissue for gene expression studies. By using a modified RNA extraction technique and microarray technology, we investigated transcriptomic responses of APOs dissected from snails at 24 h post-injection with two bacterial PAMPs, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN), or with fucoidan (FCN), which may mimic fucosyl-rich glycan PAMPs on sporocysts of Schistosoma mansoni. Based upon the number of genes differentially expressed, LPS exhibited the strongest activity, relative to saline-injected controls. A concurrent activation of genes involved in cell proliferation, immune response and detoxification metabolism was observed. A gene encoding checkpoint 1 kinase, a key regulator of mitosis, was highly expressed after stimulation by LPS. Also, seven different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that play an essential role in protein synthesis were found to be highly expressed. In addition to stimulating genes involved in cell proliferation, the injected substances, especially LPS, also induced expression of a number of immune-related genes including arginase, peptidoglycan recognition protein short form, tumor necrosis factor receptor, ficolin, calmodulin, bacterial permeability increasing proteins and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Importantly, significant up-regulation was observed in four GiMAP (GTPase of immunity-associated protein) genes, a result which provides the first evidence suggesting an immune role of GiMAP in protostome animals. Moreover, altered expression of genes encoding cytochrome P450, glutathione-S-transferase, multiple drug resistance protein as well as a large number of genes encoding enzymes associated with degradation and detoxification metabolism was elicited in response to the injected substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Si-Ming Zhang
- Center for Evolutionarily and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Eric S Loker
- Center for Evolutionarily and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Parasite Division, Museum of Southwestern Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - John T Sullivan
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kotsyfakis M, Kopáček P, Franta Z, Pedra JHF, Ribeiro JMC. Deep Sequencing Analysis of the Ixodes ricinus Haemocytome. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003754. [PMID: 25970599 PMCID: PMC4430169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ixodes ricinus is the main tick vector of the microbes that cause Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis in Europe. Pathogens transmitted by ticks have to overcome innate immunity barriers present in tick tissues, including midgut, salivary glands epithelia and the hemocoel. Molecularly, invertebrate immunity is initiated when pathogen recognition molecules trigger serum or cellular signalling cascades leading to the production of antimicrobials, pathogen opsonization and phagocytosis. We presently aimed at identifying hemocyte transcripts from semi-engorged female I. ricinus ticks by mass sequencing a hemocyte cDNA library and annotating immune-related transcripts based on their hemocyte abundance as well as their ubiquitous distribution. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS De novo assembly of 926,596 pyrosequence reads plus 49,328,982 Illumina reads (148 nt length) from a hemocyte library, together with over 189 million Illumina reads from salivary gland and midgut libraries, generated 15,716 extracted coding sequences (CDS); these are displayed in an annotated hyperlinked spreadsheet format. Read mapping allowed the identification and annotation of tissue-enriched transcripts. A total of 327 transcripts were found significantly over expressed in the hemocyte libraries, including those coding for scavenger receptors, antimicrobial peptides, pathogen recognition proteins, proteases and protease inhibitors. Vitellogenin and lipid metabolism transcription enrichment suggests fat body components. We additionally annotated ubiquitously distributed transcripts associated with immune function, including immune-associated signal transduction proteins and transcription factors, including the STAT transcription factor. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This is the first systems biology approach to describe the genes expressed in the haemocytes of this neglected disease vector. A total of 2,860 coding sequences were deposited to GenBank, increasing to 27,547 the number so far deposited by our previous transcriptome studies that serves as a discovery platform for studies with I. ricinus biochemistry and physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Franta
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czech Republic
| | - Joao H. F. Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Urbanová V, Hartmann D, Grunclová L, Šíma R, Flemming T, Hajdušek O, Kopáček P. IrFC - An Ixodes ricinus injury-responsive molecule related to Limulus Factor C. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 46:439-447. [PMID: 24924263 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Limulus Clotting Factor C is a multi-domain serine protease that triggers horseshoe crab hemolymph clotting in the presence of trace amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Here we describe and functionally characterize an homologous molecule, designated as IrFC, from the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Tick Factor C consists of an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain, four complement control protein (sushi) modules, an LCCL domain, a truncated C-lectin domain and a C-terminal trypsin-type domain. Developmental expression profiling by quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the irfc mRNA is expressed in all stages including eggs. In tissues dissected from adult I. ricinus females, the irfc mRNA is present mainly in tick hemocytes and accordingly, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy localized IrFC intracellularly, in tick hemocytes. Irfc mRNA levels were markedly increased upon injection of sterile saline, or different microbes, demonstrating that the irfc gene transcription occurs in response to injury. This indicates a possible role of IrFC in hemolymph clotting and/or wound healing, although these defense mechanisms have not been yet definitely demonstrated in ticks. RNAi silencing of irfc expression resulted in a significant reduction in phagocytic activity of tick hemocytes against the Gram-negative bacteria Chryseobacterium indologenes and Escherichia coli, but not against the yeast, Candida albicans. This result suggests that IrFC plays a role in the tick primordial complement system and as such possibly mediates transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - David Hartmann
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Grunclová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Tina Flemming
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Hajdušek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice CZ-370 05, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Choy A, Severo MS, Sun R, Girke T, Gillespie JJ, Pedra JHF. Decoding the ubiquitin-mediated pathway of arthropod disease vectors. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78077. [PMID: 24205097 PMCID: PMC3804464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein regulation by ubiquitin has been extensively described in model organisms. However, characterization of the ubiquitin machinery in disease vectors remains mostly unknown. This fundamental gap in knowledge presents a concern because new therapeutics are needed to control vector-borne diseases, and targeting the ubiquitin machinery as a means for disease intervention has been already adopted in the clinic. In this study, we employed a bioinformatics approach to uncover the ubiquitin-mediated pathway in the genomes of Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Ixodes scapularis, Pediculus humanus and Rhodnius prolixus. We observed that (1) disease vectors encode a lower percentage of ubiquitin-related genes when compared to Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus and Homo sapiens but not Saccharomyces cerevisiae; (2) overall, there are more proteins categorized as E3 ubiquitin ligases when compared to E2-conjugating or E1-activating enzymes; (3) the ubiquitin machinery within the three mosquito genomes is highly similar; (4) ubiquitin genes are more than doubled in the Chagas disease vector (R. prolixus) when compared to other arthropod vectors; (5) the deer tick I. scapularis and the body louse (P. humanus) genomes carry low numbers of E1-activating enzymes and HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases; (6) R. prolixus have low numbers of RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases; and (7) C. quinquefasciatus present elevated numbers of predicted F-box E3 ubiquitin ligases, JAB and UCH deubiquitinases. Taken together, these findings provide novel opportunities to study the interaction between a pathogen and an arthropod vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Choy
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Maiara S. Severo
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Ruobai Sun
- "Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas Girke
- "Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Gillespie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joao H. F. Pedra
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hajdušek O, Síma R, Ayllón N, Jalovecká M, Perner J, de la Fuente J, Kopáček P. Interaction of the tick immune system with transmitted pathogens. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:26. [PMID: 23875177 PMCID: PMC3712896 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are hematophagous arachnids transmitting a wide variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and protozoans to their vertebrate hosts. The tick vector competence has to be intimately linked to the ability of transmitted pathogens to evade tick defense mechanisms encountered on their route through the tick body comprising midgut, hemolymph, salivary glands or ovaries. Tick innate immunity is, like in other invertebrates, based on an orchestrated action of humoral and cellular immune responses. The direct antimicrobial defense in ticks is accomplished by a variety of small molecules such as defensins, lysozymes or by tick-specific antimicrobial compounds such as microplusin/hebraein or 5.3-kDa family proteins. Phagocytosis of the invading microbes by tick hemocytes is likely mediated by the primordial complement-like system composed of thioester-containing proteins, fibrinogen-related lectins and convertase-like factors. Moreover, an important role in survival of the ingested microbes seems to be played by host proteins and redox balance maintenance in the tick midgut. Here, we summarize recent knowledge about the major components of tick immune system and focus on their interaction with the relevant tick-transmitted pathogens, represented by spirochetes (Borrelia), rickettsiae (Anaplasma), and protozoans (Babesia). Availability of the tick genomic database and feasibility of functional genomics based on RNA interference greatly contribute to the understanding of molecular and cellular interplay at the tick-pathogen interface and may provide new targets for blocking the transmission of tick pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Hajdušek
- Biological Centre ASCR, Institute of Parasitology České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Anaplasma phagocytophilum inhibits apoptosis and promotes cytoskeleton rearrangement for infection of tick cells. Infect Immun 2013; 81:2415-25. [PMID: 23630955 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00194-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Infection with this zoonotic pathogen affects gene expression in both the vertebrate host and the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. Here, we identified new genes, including spectrin alpha chain or alpha-fodrin (CG8) and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel or mitochondrial porin (T2), that are involved in A. phagocytophilum infection/multiplication and the tick cell response to infection. The pathogen downregulated the expression of CG8 in tick salivary glands and T2 in both the gut and salivary glands to inhibit apoptosis as a mechanism to subvert host cell defenses and increase infection. In the gut, the tick response to infection through CG8 upregulation was used by the pathogen to increase infection due to the cytoskeleton rearrangement that is required for pathogen infection. These results increase our understanding of the role of tick genes during A. phagocytophilum infection and multiplication and demonstrate that the pathogen uses similar strategies to establish infection in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Collapse
|