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Sun Y, Chen C, Zeng C, Xia Q, Yuan C, Pei H. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection shapes gut microbiome of the tick vector Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:107. [PMID: 38444018 PMCID: PMC10913621 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06204-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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks serve as vectors for a diverse array of pathogens, including viruses responsible for both human and livestock diseases. Symbiotic bacteria hold significant potential for controlling tick-borne disease. However, the alteration of tick gut bacterial community in response to pathogen infection has not been analyzed for any tick-borne viruses. Here, the impact of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection on bacterial diversity in the gut of Haemaphysalis longicornis is investigated. METHODS Unfed tick females were artificially infected with SFTSV. The gut samples were collected and the genomic DNA was extracted. We then investigated alterations in gut bacterial composition in response to SFTSV infection through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS The study found that a reduction in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the tick gut following SFTSV infection. However, there were no significant changes in alpha diversity indices upon infection. Four genera, including Corynebacterium, Arthrobacter, Sphingomonas, and Escherichia, were identified as biomarkers for the tick gut without SFTSV infection. Notably, the predicted correlation network indicated that the biomarkers Sphingomonas and Escherichia exhibited positive correlations within the same subcommunity, which was altered upon viral infection. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed that the change in tick gut bacterial composition upon SFTSV infection and could facilitate the discovery new target for tick-borne viral disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Chenghong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Qianfeng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
| | - Chuanfei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
| | - Hua Pei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
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Ma H, Ai J, La Y, Zhao X, Zeng A, Qin Q, Feng S, Kang M, Sun Y, Li J. Hemalin vaccination modulates the host immune response and reproductive cycle of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Vet Parasitol 2023; 323:110051. [PMID: 37866015 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis can transmit high varieties of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), and a primary strategy for preventing the transmission of those TBPs is to control ticks. Hemalin, a thrombin inhibitor of the Kunitz-type family and a crucial component in H. longicornis feeding process has been isolated from parthenogentic ticks. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a recombinant Hemalin (rHlHemalin) vaccination as an anti-tick vaccine against H. longicornis in rabbits to find a new candidate for an effective tick control. In this study, mouse splenocytes were isolated and used to investigate immune responses after rHlHemalin stimulation. The rabbits were vaccinated with the rHlHemalin protein. After tick challenges, body weight at engorgement, egg mass, and the reproductive cycle of H. longicornis were evaluated. To confirm the vaccination, the passive immunization tests of α-rHlHemalin sera were performed. The results showed that the rHlHemalin protein could stimulate cytokine production in mouse splenocytes. Vaccination assay revealed that the periods from tick infestations to egg-hatch in the vaccination group were significantly longer than those in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group (P = 0.0003). In addition, the tick body weight at engorgement (P = 0.0019) and egg mass at 10 days after oviposition (P = 0.0232) were higher than those in the PBS group. These findings were consistent with the current passive immunization results and suggest rHlHemalin vaccination extended the reproductive cycle in H. longicornis but did not decrease the body weight at engorgement or weight of egg mass. Therefore, it is debatable whether Hemalin vaccination is highly-effective anti-tick vaccine or not. However, due to the importance of thrombin inhibitors in tick blood feeding and blood digestion, additional inhibitor-based vaccines should be developed aiming to find an effective and environmentally friendly biological strategy to combat ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejia Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Jingkai Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Yansha La
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Ankang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Qi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Shangjiali Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Ming Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Jixu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
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Antunes S, Domingos A. Tick Vaccines and Concealed versus Exposed Antigens. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030374. [PMID: 36986295 PMCID: PMC10056810 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-tick vaccines development mainly depends on the identification of suitable antigens, which ideally should have different features. These should be key molecules in tick biology, encoded by a single gene, expressed across life stages and tick tissues, capable of inducing B and T cells to promote an immunological response without allergenic, hemolytic, and toxic effects; and should not be homologous to the mammalian host. The discussion regarding this subject and the usefulness of “exposed” and “concealed” antigens was effectively explored in the publication by Nuttall et al. (2006). The present commentary intends to debate the relevance of such study in the field of tick immunological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Antunes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Characterization and evaluation of a new triosephosphate isomerase homologue from Haemaphysalis longicornis as a candidate vaccine against tick infection. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101968. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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The current strategies and underlying mechanisms in the control of the vector tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis: Implications for future integrated management. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101905. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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