1
|
Ahmed A, Shimizu T, Shimoda H, Hosoi E, Uda A, Hotta A, Watarai M, Maeda K, Takano A. Molecular and serological investigation of Francisella tularensis among wild animals in Yamaguchi prefecture. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10474-1. [PMID: 39066824 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is an intracellular gram-negative bacterium known as the causative agent of tularemia, which can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with wild animals or by tick bites. Although F. tularensis is highly pathogenic, its recent prevalence in Japan is underreported due to the small number of reported cases. To clarify the current situation of F. tularensis in wild animals, we conducted surveillance on various species of wild animals in Yamaguchi prefecture. In this study, we screened 809 samples collected from 90 Japanese black bears, 105 Japanese monkeys, 168 sika deer, 205 wild boars, and 84 bats. For seroprevalence analysis, we tested 177 serum samples from 75 black bears and 102 monkeys using the microagglutination test. The results showed that serums from five black bears exhibited slight agglutination. Western blot was performed as a confirmatory test on these five samples, but no positive signals were detected. Additionally, molecular surveillance was conducted using DNA extracted from 464 whole blood and 168 tissues, targeting the gene encoding 23 KDa hypothetical protein by real-time PCR and outer membrane protein A gene by conventional PCR. No positive samples of F. tularensis were detected by either real-time or conventional PCR. Although we did not detect any F. tularensis-positive samples through serological and molecular analyses, continuous surveillance studies are necessary since sporadic human cases have been reported in Japan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman Ahmed
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Takashi Shimizu
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimoda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Eiji Hosoi
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Akihiko Uda
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, 162-8640, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hotta
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, 162-8640, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahisa Watarai
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Ken Maeda
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, 162-8640, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ai Takano
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li D, Liu L, Liu ZL, Tian Y, Gao X, Cheng TY. What are the main proteins in the hemolymph of Haemaphysalis flava ticks? Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1387719. [PMID: 39086760 PMCID: PMC11289883 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1387719] [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: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Haemaphysalis flava is a notorious parasite for humans and animals worldwide. The organs of H. flava are bathed in hemolymph, which is a freely circulating fluid. Nutrients, immune factors, and waste can be transported to any part of the body via hemolymph. The main soluble components in hemolymph are proteins. However, knowledge of the H. flava proteome is limited. Methods The hemolymph was collected from fully engorged H. flava ticks by leg amputation. Hemolymph proteins were examined by both blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate PAGE (SDS-PAGE). Proteins extracted from the gels were further identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results Two bands (380 and 520 kDa) were separated from tick hemolymph by BN-PAGE and were further separated into four bands (105, 120, 130, and 360 kDa) by SDS-PAGE. LC-MS/MS revealed that seven tick proteins and 13 host proteins were present in the four bands. These tick proteins mainly belonged to the vitellogenin (Vg) family and the α-macroglobulin family members. In silico structural analysis showed that these Vg family members all had common conserved domains, including the N-terminus lipid binding domain (LPD-N), the C-terminus von Willebrand type D domain (vWD), and the domain of unknown function (DUF). Additionally, two of the Vg family proteins were determined to belong to the carrier protein (CP) by analyzing the unique N-terminal amino acid sequences and the cleaving sites. Conclusion These findings suggest that the Vg family proteins and α-macroglobulin are the primary constituents of the hemolymph in the form of protein complexes. Our results provide a valuable resource for further functional investigations of H. flava hemolymph effectors and may be useful in tick management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tian-yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites and Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tukmechi A, Ownagh A, Enferadi A, Khademi P. First molecular detection of Francisella tularensis in turtle ( Testudo graeca) and ticks ( Hyalomma aegyptium) in Northwest of Iran. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100892. [PMID: 38192304 PMCID: PMC10772711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.11.005] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis, causative agent of tularemia, is a contagious zoonotic ailment. This study was aimed to molecularly detect F. tularensis in tortoise blood (n = 100) and ticks (n = 100) collected in the West Azerbaijan province, Iran suing a 16SrRNA gene of the Francisella genus through employment of the Nested-PCR technique. The identified ticks were s Hyalomma aegyptium by morphological analysis. Seven percent (with a 95% CI: 3.5%-13.75%) of animal blood samples yielded positive results for the presence of the Francisella. Meanwhile, the Francisella was identified in tick samples at a rate of fifteen percent (15%) (with a 95% CI: 9%-23%). The samples containing positive results were specifically classified as F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. The samples were taken from ticks belonging to the H. aegyptium species that were gathered in Oshnavieh, southern part of West Azerbaijan province, Iran. This research was aimed to validate the existence of F. tularensis in ticks found within the West Azerbaijan province. Consequently, it is vital to acknowledge the potential of these ticks to transmit the bacteria to both livestock and humans through tick bites in this specific area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Tukmechi
- Department of Microbiology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | | | - Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Peyman Khademi
- Department of Microbiology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sang MK, Patnaik HH, Park JE, Song DK, Jeong JY, Hong CE, Kim YT, Shin HJ, Ziwei L, Hwang HJ, Park SY, Kang SW, Park SH, Cha SJ, Ko JH, Shin EH, Park HS, Jo YH, Han YS, Patnaik BB, Lee YS. Transcriptome analysis of Haemaphysalis flava female using Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing: de novo assembly, functional annotation and discovery of SSR markers. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:367. [PMID: 37848984 PMCID: PMC10583488 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05923-w] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks are ectoparasites capable of directly damaging their hosts and transmitting vector-borne diseases. The ixodid tick Haemaphysalis flava has a broad distribution that extends from East to South Asia. This tick is a reservoir of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) that causes severe hemorrhagic disease, with cases reported from China, Japan and South Korea. Recently, the distribution of H. flava in South Korea was found to overlap with the occurrence of SFTSV. METHODS This study was undertaken to discover the molecular resources of H. flava female ticks using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 system, the Trinity de novo sequence assembler and annotation against public databases. The locally curated Protostome database (PANM-DB) was used to screen the putative adaptation-related transcripts classified to gene families, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme, aquaporin, adenylate cyclase, AMP-activated protein kinase, glutamate receptors, heat shock proteins, molecular chaperones, insulin receptor, mitogen-activated protein kinase and solute carrier family proteins. Also, the repeats and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were screened from the unigenes using RepeatMasker (v4.0.6) and MISA (v1.0) software tools, followed by the designing of SSRs flanking primers using BatchPrimer 3 (v1.0) software. RESULTS The transcriptome produced a total of 69,822 unigenes, of which 46,175 annotated to the homologous proteins in the PANM-DB. The unigenes were also mapped to the EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) specializations. Promiscuous presence of protein kinase, zinc finger (C2H2-type), reverse transcriptase, and RNA recognition motif domains was observed in the unigenes. A total of 3480 SSRs were screened, of which 1907 and 1274 were found as tri- and dinucleotide repeats, respectively. A list of primer sequences flanking the SSR motifs was detailed for validation of polymorphism in H. flava and the related tick species. CONCLUSIONS The reference transcriptome information on H. flava female ticks will be useful for an enriched understanding of tick biology, its competency to act as a vector and the study of species diversity related to disease transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyu Sang
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Research Support Center for Bio-Bigdata Analysis and Utilization of Biological Resources, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Hongray Howrelia Patnaik
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Jie Eun Park
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Research Support Center for Bio-Bigdata Analysis and Utilization of Biological Resources, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Dae Kwon Song
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Research Support Center for Bio-Bigdata Analysis and Utilization of Biological Resources, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Jun Yang Jeong
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Chan Eui Hong
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Yong Tae Kim
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Hyeon Jun Shin
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Liu Ziwei
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Hee Ju Hwang
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - So Young Park
- Biodiversity Research Team, Animal & Plant Research Department, Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources, Sangju, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Se Won Kang
- Biological Resource Center (BRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Park
- Biological Resource Center (BRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, South Korea
| | - Sung-Jae Cha
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jung Ho Ko
- Police Science Institute, Korean National Police University, Asan, Chungnam, 31539, South Korea
| | - E Hyun Shin
- Research Institute, Korea Pest Control Association, Seoul, 08501, South Korea
| | - Hong Seog Park
- Research Institute, GnC BIO Co., LTD., 621-6 Banseok-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34069, South Korea
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Bharat Bhusan Patnaik
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea
- PG Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fakir Mohan University, Nuapadhi, Balasore , Odisha, 756089, India
| | - Yong Seok Lee
- Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea.
- Research Support Center for Bio-Bigdata Analysis and Utilization of Biological Resources, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam, South Korea.
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Chungnam, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mohammed RR, Enferadi A, Sidiq KR, Sarani S, Khademi P, Jaydari A, Ahmed AK. Molecular Detection of Francisella tularensis Isolated from Ticks of Livestock in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:514-519. [PMID: 37582218 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes tularemia in both human and animals. Tularemia is a potential serious zoonotic disease that is transmitted by different routes, including tick bites. Materials and Methods: This study deals with investigating the prevalence of F. tularensis in the ticks of local animal farms in Kurdistan region since the farmers are normally in close contact with livestock. We used molecular methods for this purpose. A total of 412 tick and 126 blood samples were gathered from goat, sheep, and cow flocks. The existence of F. tularensis 16Sr RNA gene was examined in the samples using nested-PCR technique. Results: In the animal blood specimens, no F. tularensis was found. The incidence of F. tularensis was 1.7% (7 out of 412) in the tick samples, representing a very lower possibility of tuleremia infection. Moreover, the two subspecies of F. tularensis novicida and holarctica were identified based on the sequencing of pdpD and RD genes, respectively. The F. tularensis subsp. novicida was isolated from four species of ticks, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus annulatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Ornithodoros spp., whereas the F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was isolated from Haemaphysalis parva and Hyalomma dromedarii species of ticks. Conclusion: Although its prevalence is very low, the isolation of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica from the ticks of farm animals suggests possible transmission of Tularemia through tick bite in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Ref: IR-UU-AEC-3/22.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebin Rafaat Mohammed
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran
| | - Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran
| | - Karzan R Sidiq
- Charmo Centre for Research, Training and Consultancy, Charmo University, Chamchamal, Iraq
| | - Saeedeh Sarani
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zabol University, Sistan and Balochistan, Iran
| | - Peyman Khademi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran
| | - Amin Jaydari
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran
| | - Avin Kawa Ahmed
- Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Chamchamal Veterinary Hospital, Sulaimani, Iraq
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kondo M, Matsushima Y, Nakanishi T, Iida S, Koji H, Yamanaka K. Increasing Risk of Tick-Borne Disease through Growth Stages in Ticks. Clin Pract 2023; 13:246-250. [PMID: 36826164 PMCID: PMC9955134 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract13010022] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia and Coxiella spp. are pathogens transmitted by ticks to humans. However, the developmental stage of the tick carrying the greatest risk of infection is unknown. Detection of pathogen-specific genes proves that ticks carrying Rickettsia or Coxiella spp. constitute a reservoir of infection. However, conventional PCR methods are unable to quantitate the pathogens within ticks. In the present study, we collected ticks in the endemic area of Japanese spotted fever, caused by Rickettsia japonica, and determined the rate of tick-borne pathogens carried by the ticks. As a method of evaluation, next-generation sequencing was used to estimate the proportion of pathogens in 10 adult and 10 larval ticks. Ticks were identified Haemaphysalis longicornis (H.L) from the results of the sequencing of PCR products amplified using tick identification-specific primers. The gene detection rates were 10/10 for Rickettsia sp. and 10/10 for Coxiella sp. among the adult ticks. For the larval ticks, the ratios were 7/10 and 5/10 for Rickettsia sp. and Coxiella sp., respectively. The largest proportion of Coxiella sp.-specific DNA reached 96% in one adult tick. The proportion of Rickettsia sp. genes ranged from 1.76% to 41.81% (mean, 15.56%) in the adult ticks. The proportions of Coxiella and Rickettsia spp. genes in the larvae ranged from 0% to 27.4% (mean 5.86%) and from 0% to 14.6% (mean 3.38%), respectively. When the percentage of Rickettsia sp., out of all pathogens detected via next-generation sequencing, was analyzed between the adult and larval stages of the ticks, a significant difference was observed at p = 0.0254. For Coxiella sp., a highly significant difference (p < 0.0001) was found between the adult and larval stages of the ticks. In conclusion, the detection rates and proportions of Rickettsia and Coxiella spp. genes were highest in adult H.L ticks. The risk of contracting tick-borne infections may increase with bites from adult ticks, especially those harboring Coxiella sp.
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu YK, Liu GH, Liu L, Wang AB, Cheng TY, Duan DY. Comparative analysis of the anticoagulant activities and immunogenicity of HSC70 and HSC70 TKD of Haemaphysalis flava. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:411. [PMID: 36335395 PMCID: PMC9636643 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemaphysalis flava is a hematophagous ectoparasite that acquires the nutrition needed for development and reproduction by sucking blood and digesting the blood meal. During blood-sucking and blood-meal digestion, the prevention of blood coagulation is important for this tick. Previous studies have shown that heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) protein has certain anticoagulant activities, but its immunogenicity remains unclear. Also, whether the mutation of individual bases of the TKD-like peptide of HSC70 through the overlap extension method can change its anticoagulant activities and immunogenicity remains to be investigated. METHODS The gene encoding the HSC70 protein was cloned from a complementary DNA library synthesized from H. flava. The coding gene of the TKD-like peptide of HSC70 was mutated into a TKD peptide coding gene (HSC70TKD) using the overlap extension method. Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression plasmids were constructed to obtain the recombinant proteins of HSC70 (rHSC70) and HSC70TKD (rHSC70TKD). The purified rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD were evaluated at different concentrations for anticoagulant activities using four in vitro clotting assays. Emulsifying recombinant proteins with complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvants were subcutaneously immunized in Sprague Dawley rats. The serum antibody titers and serum concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess the immunogenicity of rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD. RESULTS The open reading frame of HSC70 was successfully amplified and found to have a length of 1958 bp. The gene encoding the TKD-like peptide of HSC70 was artificially mutated, with the 1373-position adenine (A) of the original sequence mutated into guanine (G), the 1385-position cytosine (C) mutated into G and the 1386-position G mutated into C. rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD that fused with His-tag were obtained using the expression plasmids pET-28a-HSC70 and pET-28a-HSC70TKD, respectively. rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD prolonged the thrombin time (TT) and reduced the fibrinogen (FIB) content in the plasma, but did not affect the prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) when compared to the negative control. Interestingly, the ability of rHSC70TKD to prolong the TT and reduce the FIB content in the plasma was better than that of rHSC70. The specific antibody titers of both rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD in rat serum reached 1:124,000 14 days after the third immunization. The serum concentration of IFN-γ in the rHSC70TKD group was higher than that in the rHSC70 group. The rHSC70 group has the highest serum concentration of IL-4, and the serum concentration of IL-4 in the rHSC70TKD group was higher than that in the negative group. CONCLUSIONS rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD exhibited anticoagulant activities by prolonging the TT and reducing the FIB content in vitro. rHSC70TKD had better anticoagulant activities than rHSC70. Both rHSC70 and rHSC70TKD had good immunogenicity and induced humoral and cellular immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ke Liu
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| | - Lei Liu
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| | - Ai-Bing Wang
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- grid.257160.70000 0004 1761 0331Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128 Hunan Province China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rahravani M, Moravedji M, Mostafavi E, Baseri N, Seyfi H, Mohammadi M, Ziaei AH, Mozoun MM, Latifian M, Esmaeili S. Molecular detection of Francisella tularensis in small ruminants and their ticks in western Iran. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 83:101779. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
9
|
Kondo M, Matsushima Y, Nakanishi T, Habe K, Yamanaka K. Investigation of pathogens injected into the human body by ticks. Exp Dermatol 2022; 31:1014-1015. [PMID: 35181953 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Kondo
- Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Matsushima
- Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Takehisa Nakanishi
- Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Koji Habe
- Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Keiichi Yamanaka
- Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fang LZ, Lei SC, Yan ZJ, Xiao X, Liu JW, Gong XQ, Yu H, Yu XJ. Detection of Multiple Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava Ticks Collected from Hedgehogs in Central China. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020115. [PMID: 33498714 PMCID: PMC7911675 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tickborne intracellular bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma, Coxiella burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia cause emerging infectious diseases worldwide. PCR was used to amplify the genes of these pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks collected from hedgehogs in Central China. Among 125 samples including 20 egg batches, 24 engorged females, and 81 molted male and female adult ticks, the DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed that the minimum infection rate of the ticks was 4% (5/125) for A. bovis, 3.2% (4/125) for C. burnetti, 9.6%, (12/125) for E. ewingii, and 5.6% for Rickettsia including R.japonica (3.2%, 4/125) and R. raoultii (2.4%, 3/125), respectively. The prevalence of these pathogens was significantly higher in dead engorged females (83.3%, 20/24) than in eggs (5%, 1/20) and molted ticks (8.6%, 7/81). Our study indicated that H. flava ticks could be infected with multiple species of tickborne pathogens including Anaplasma, C. burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia in Central China, and the prevalence of these pathogens was reduced during transovarial and transstadial transmission in ticks, suggesting that ticks may not be real reservoirs but only vectors for these tickborne pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Zhu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Si-Cong Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | | | - Xiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- Lab Animal Research Center, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Jian-Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Xiao-Qing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Hao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liu L, He XM, Feng LL, Duan DY, Zhan Y, Cheng TY. Cloning of four HSPA multigene family members in Haemaphysalis flava ticks. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 34:192-200. [PMID: 31802518 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The heat shock protein 70 (HSPA) family and their genes have been studied in ticks and are considered as possible antigen candidates for the development of anti-tick vaccines. However, knowledge about their members, structure and function in ticks is incomplete. Based on our transcriptomic data, the full length of four HSPA genes in Haemaphysalis flava (Acari: Ixodidae) was cloned via rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The open reading frame of HSPA2A, HSPA2B, HSPA5 and HSPA9 was 1920, 1911, 1983 and 2088 bp in length, respectively. Three family signatures and one localization motif were in the encoding proteins. HSPA2A and HSPA2B were predicted to be located at cytoplasm/nucleus, whereas HSPA5 and HSPA9 were at endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, respectively. In silico simulation demonstrated that those proteins had distinct numbers of α-helixes, extended strands and coils, and different antigenic epitopes. Expression of HSPA5 and HSPA9 in the salivary gland was significantly higher in partially-engorged female adult ticks than the fully-engorged (P < 0.01) as shown by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our data indicated that H. flava ticks had at least four HSPA genes encoding proteins with different cellular locations, structures and expression profiles, suggesting their diverse roles in tick biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - X-M He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - L-L Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - D-Y Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Y Zhan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - T-Y Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Collaborative Innovation Center for Safety Production of Livestock and Poultry, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Xu L, Liu And L, Cheng TY. Cloning and Expression Profile of Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Haemaphysalis flava (Acari: Ixodidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:569-575. [PMID: 30418636 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis flava (Acari: Ixodidae) harbors pathogenic microorganisms and transfers these to hosts during blood feeding. Proteomic analysis in the midgut contents of H. flava detected glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and contig 1683 was retrieved as a GAPDH gene fragment by searching our previous transcriptomic library. In the study, the 5' and 3' ends of contig 1683 were cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and a full length, 1340 bp cDNA of Hf-GAPDH was obtained. The open-reading frame had 999 bp and coded for 333 amino acids. Hf-GAPDH was predicted to have an N-terminal NAD binding domain and a C-terminal glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase catalytic domain. The molecular structure of Hf-GAPDH was analyzed and the evolutionary relationship also established. The GAPDH protein sequence was conserved among ticks. The expression pattern of Hf-GAPDH, analyzed by real-time PCR, significantly differed among life phases, feeding stages, and tissues. As the ticks grew, the expression level of Hf-GAPDH was up-regulated. The expression levels of Hf-GAPDH in salivary glands and midguts from half-engorged ticks were lower than the same tissues from engorged ticks. This study will provide reference data for the follow-up verification of the GAPDH-related function and the feasibility as a potential anti-tick vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lv Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Lei Liu And
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Shimizu T, Otonari S, Suzuki J, Uda A, Watanabe K, Watarai M. Expression of Francisella pathogenicity island protein intracellular growth locus E (IglE) in mammalian cells is involved in intracellular trafficking, possibly through microtubule organizing center. Microbiologyopen 2018; 8:e00684. [PMID: 29978561 PMCID: PMC6460260 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of the infectious disease tularemia and is designated a category A bioterrorism agent. The type VI secretion system encoded by the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) is necessary for intracellular growth; however, the functions of FPI proteins are largely unknown. In this study, we found that the FPI protein intracellular growth locus E (IglE) showed a unique localization pattern compared to other FPI proteins. Deleting iglE from Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida (F. novicida) decreased intracellular growth. Immunoprecipitation and pull‐down assays revealed that IglE was associated with β‐tubulin. Additionally, GFP‐fused IglE colocalized with microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) in 293T cells. The iglE deletion mutant was transferred with dynein toward MTOCs and packed into lysosome‐localizing areas. Conversely, the wild‐type F. novicida exhibited intracellular growth distant from MTOCs. In addition, IglE expressed in 293T cells colocalized with dynein. These results suggest that IglE helps to prevent dynein‐ and MTOC‐mediated intracellular trafficking in host cells to inhibit the transport of F. novicida toward lysosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Shimizu
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.,Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shiho Otonari
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Jin Suzuki
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Akihiko Uda
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku, Japan
| | - Kenta Watanabe
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.,Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Watarai
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.,Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
RtxA like protein contributes to infection of Francisella novicida in silkworm and human macrophage THP-1. Microb Pathog 2018; 123:74-81. [PMID: 29969671 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.06.046] [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] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by CDC-declared Tier 1 threat agent Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis subsp. novicida (F. novicida) is virulent in mice but non-pathogenic in immunocompetent humans and serves as a potential surrogate organism. In a recent study, we established a silkworm (Bombyx mori) model of infection for F. novicida. Francisella secretes its virulence factors through various mechanisms that modify the intracellular environment to ensure its replication and survival. To identify new pathogenic factors, we focused on the type I secretory system (T1SS) of Francisella. In silico analysis revealed a RtxA (Repeats-in-toxin) like protein in the Francisella genome. The characteristics of RtxA like protein were investigated using mutant analysis. Firstly, the role of rtxA in silkworms was investigated by infecting them with F. novicida strains into the hemocoel. The rtxA mutant failed to kill the silkworms, whereas F. novicida wild-type (WT) strain killed silkworms within 3-7 days post infection. The arrested growth of the mutant strain in silkworms was observed using a whole-body CFU count assay. We also investigated the growth characteristics of the rtxA mutant in hemocytes, one of the primary multiplication sites of Francisella within silkworms. Interrupted growth of the rtxA mutant with significantly reduced cytotoxicity was observed in hemocytes via confocal microscopy. Next, we analyzed the effect of rtxA in human monocyte cell line THP-1. The mutant strain showed significantly decreased growth and reduced cytotoxicity compared with its parental strain in THP-1 cells. This study newly identified RtxA like protein of F. novicida as an important lethal pathogenic factor in silkworm and mammalian cells.
Collapse
|
15
|
|
16
|
Robinson MT, Vongphayloth K, Hertz JC, Brey P, Newton PN. Tick-transmitted human infections in Asia. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/ma18064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens of human significance cause a predicted 17% of infectious diseases worldwide, of which, ~23% are tick transmitted1. Although second to mosquitoes in terms of impact, ticks are thought to carry a greater diversity of pathogens than other arthropod vectors2. Asia is a key region for tick-borne pathogens, with tick species typically restricted to latitudes below 60–55°N3 where the climate is warmer and wetter – from the steppe regions of Russia to the tropical rainforests of South East Asia.
Collapse
|
17
|
Takhampunya R, Kim HC, Chong ST, Korkusol A, Tippayachai B, Davidson SA, Petersen JM, Klein TA. Francisella-Like Endosymbiont Detected in Haemaphysalis Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) From the Republic of Korea. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1735-1742. [PMID: 28981682 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A total of 6,255 ticks belonging to three genera and six species (Haemaphysalis flava Neumann, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, Haemaphysalis phasiana Saito, Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka & Saito, Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, and Amblyomma testudinarium Koch) collected from May-August, 2013, at four southwestern provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK) were submitted to the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences and assayed for selected tick-borne pathogens. One pool each of H. flava and H. phasiana was positive by PCR and sequencing for a Francisella-like endosymbiont, while all pools were negative for Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ratree Takhampunya
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- 5th Medical Detachment/Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment/Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
| | - Achareeya Korkusol
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Bousaraporn Tippayachai
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Silas A Davidson
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jeannine M Petersen
- Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Terry A Klein
- Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96205-5281, USA
| |
Collapse
|