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Janciauskiene S, Lechowicz U, Pelc M, Olejnicka B, Chorostowska-Wynimko J. Diagnostic and therapeutic value of human serpin family proteins. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116618. [PMID: 38678961 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116618] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
SERPIN (serine proteinase inhibitors) is an acronym for the superfamily of structurally similar proteins found in animals, plants, bacteria, viruses, and archaea. Over 1500 SERPINs are known in nature, while only 37 SERPINs are found in humans, which participate in inflammation, coagulation, angiogenesis, cell viability, and other pathophysiological processes. Both qualitative or quantitative deficiencies or overexpression and/or abnormal accumulation of SERPIN can lead to diseases commonly referred to as "serpinopathies". Hence, strategies involving SERPIN supplementation, elimination, or correction are utilized and/or under consideration. In this review, we discuss relationships between certain SERPINs and diseases as well as putative strategies for the clinical explorations of SERPINs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases and BREATH German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Urszula Lechowicz
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Magdalena Pelc
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St, Warsaw 01-138, Poland
| | - Beata Olejnicka
- Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases and BREATH German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St, Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
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Feng T, Tong H, Zhang Q, Ming Z, Song Z, Zhou X, Dai J. Targeting Haemaphysalis longicornis serpin to prevent tick feeding and pathogen transmission. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:694-706. [PMID: 37635449 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13260] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins), identified from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis of China, play significant roles in various animal physiological processes. In this study, we showed that H. longicornis serpins (Hlserpin-a and Hlserpin-b) were induced during blood-feeding in nymph ticks and exhibited anticoagulation activity in vitro. Silencing Hlserpins through RNA interference (RNAi) significantly impaired tick feeding. Immunization of mice with recombinant Hlserpins or passive transfer of Hlserpin antiserum significantly curtails the efficacy of tick feeding. Concurrently, the transmission of the Langat virus (LGTV) from ticks to mice witnessed a substantial decrease when Hlserpins were silenced. Our findings suggest that inhibiting Hlserpins can hamper tick engorgement and pathogen transmission, indicating the potential of Hlserpins as a vaccine to counter tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Feng
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao Tong
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhihao Ming
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhenyu Song
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Science, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
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Lu Y, Xu Y, Yu C, Cheng S, Xia Q, Bin Z. Key molecules regulating the blood meals of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) revealed by transcriptomics. VETERINARY RESEARCH FORUM : AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL 2024; 15:171-179. [PMID: 38770198 PMCID: PMC11102794 DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2024.2011271.4007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a repulsive obligate blood feeder, is a three-host tick inflicting tremendous damage. Blood-sucking initiates tick-pathogen-host interactions along with alterations in the expression levels of numerous bioactive ingredients. Key molecules regulating blood meals were identified using the transcriptomic approach. A total number of 744 transcripts showed statistically significantly differential expression including 309 significantly upregulated transcripts and 435 significantly downregulated transcripts in semiengorged female ticks compared to unfed ticks, all collected in 2021. The top 10 differentially upregulated transcripts with explicit functional annotations included turripeptide OL55-like protein, valine tRNA ligase-like protein and ice-structuring glycoprotein-like protein. The top 10 differentially down-regulated transcripts were uncharacterized proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed four associated terms in the cellular component category and 16 in the molecular function category among the top 20 terms. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in GO terms ID 0000323 (lytic vacuole) and ID 0005773 (vacuole). The top 20 enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways included metabolism, cellular processes, organismal systems and human diseases. The DEGs were enriched in the KEGG term ID: ko-04142 (lysosome pathway) associated with intracellular digestion in the tick midgut epithelium. Molecular markers annotated via comparative transcriptomic profiling were expected to be candidate markers for the purpose of tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Lu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China;
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China;
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Yijia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Chenghang Yu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China;
| | - Shi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Qianfeng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, School of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Zheng Bin
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China;
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Nepveu-Traversy ME, Fausther-Bovendo H, Babuadze G(G. Human Tick-Borne Diseases and Advances in Anti-Tick Vaccine Approaches: A Comprehensive Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:141. [PMID: 38400125 PMCID: PMC10891567 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020141] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review explores the field of anti-tick vaccines, addressing their significance in combating tick-borne diseases of public health concern. The main objectives are to provide a brief epidemiology of diseases affecting humans and a thorough understanding of tick biology, traditional tick control methods, the development and mechanisms of anti-tick vaccines, their efficacy in field applications, associated challenges, and future prospects. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant and escalating threat to global health and the livestock industries due to the widespread distribution of ticks and the multitude of pathogens they transmit. Traditional tick control methods, such as acaricides and repellents, have limitations, including environmental concerns and the emergence of tick resistance. Anti-tick vaccines offer a promising alternative by targeting specific tick proteins crucial for feeding and pathogen transmission. Developing vaccines with antigens based on these essential proteins is likely to disrupt these processes. Indeed, anti-tick vaccines have shown efficacy in laboratory and field trials successfully implemented in livestock, reducing the prevalence of TBDs. However, some challenges still remain, including vaccine efficacy on different hosts, polymorphisms in ticks of the same species, and the economic considerations of adopting large-scale vaccine strategies. Emerging technologies and approaches hold promise for improving anti-tick vaccine development and expanding their impact on public health and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hugues Fausther-Bovendo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
| | - George (Giorgi) Babuadze
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
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da Silva Vaz Junior I, Lu S, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, Mulenga A, Termignoni C, Ribeiro JM, Tirloni L. Changes in saliva protein profile throughout Rhipicephalus microplus blood feeding. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:36. [PMID: 38281054 PMCID: PMC10821567 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06136-5] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When feeding on a vertebrate host, ticks secrete saliva, which is a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, and other molecules. Tick saliva assists the vector in modulating host hemostasis, immunity, and tissue repair mechanisms. While helping the vector to feed, its saliva modifies the site where pathogens are inoculated and often facilitates the infection process. The objective of this study is to uncover the variation in protein composition of Rhipicephalus microplus saliva during blood feeding. METHODS Ticks were fed on calves, and adult females were collected, weighed, and divided in nine weight groups, representing the slow and rapid feeding phases of blood feeding. Tick saliva was collected, and mass spectrometry analyses were used to identify differentially secreted proteins. Bioinformatic tools were employed to predict the structural and functional features of the salivary proteins. Reciprocal best hit analyses were used to identify conserved families of salivary proteins secreted by other tick species. RESULTS Changes in the protein secretion profiles of R. microplus adult female saliva during the blood feeding were observed, characterizing the phenomenon known as "sialome switching." This observation validates the idea that the switch in protein expression may serve as a mechanism for evading host responses against tick feeding. Cattle tick saliva is predominantly rich in heme-binding proteins, secreted conserved proteins, lipocalins, and protease inhibitors, many of which are conserved and present in the saliva of other tick species. Additionally, another remarkable observation was the identification of host-derived proteins as a component of tick saliva. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study brings new insights to understanding the dynamics of the proteomic profile of tick saliva, which is an important component of tick feeding biology. The results presented here, along with the disclosed sequences, contribute to our understanding of tick feeding biology and might aid in the identification of new targets for the development of novel anti-tick methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Antônio F M Pinto
- Clayton Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - José Marcos Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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Kozelková T, Dyčka F, Lu S, Urbanová V, Frantová H, Sojka D, Šíma R, Horn M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Insight Into the Dynamics of the Ixodes ricinus Nymphal Midgut Proteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100663. [PMID: 37832788 PMCID: PMC10665701 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood and have an impressive ability to consume and process enormous amounts of host blood, allowing extremely long periods of starvation between blood meals. The central role in the parasitic lifestyle of ticks is played by the midgut. This organ efficiently stores and digests ingested blood and serves as the primary interface for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, we used a label-free quantitative approach to perform a novel dynamic proteomic analysis of the midgut of Ixodesricinus nymphs, covering their development from unfed to pre-molt stages. We identified 1534 I. ricinus-specific proteins with a relatively low proportion of host proteins. This proteome dataset, which was carefully examined by manual scrutiny, allowed precise annotation of proteins important for blood meal processing and their dynamic changes during nymphal ontogeny. We focused on midgut molecules related to lipid hydrolysis, storage, and transport, opening a yet unexplored avenue for studying lipid metabolism in ticks. Further dynamic profiling of the tick's multi-enzyme digestive network, protease inhibitors, enzymes involved in redox homeostasis and detoxification, antimicrobial peptides, and proteins responsible for midgut colonization by Borrelia spirochetes promises to uncover new targets for targeting tick nymphs, the most critical life stage for transmission the pathogens that cause tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Dyčka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Frantová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Bioptic Laboratory, Ltd, Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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Butler LR, Gonzalez J, Pedra JHF, Oliva Chavez AS. Tick extracellular vesicles in host skin immunity and pathogen transmission. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:873-885. [PMID: 37591719 PMCID: PMC10528898 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Ticks can transmit a variety of human pathogens, including intracellular and extracellular bacteria, viruses, and protozoan parasites. Historically, their saliva has been of immense interest due to its anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic properties. Only recently, it was discovered that tick saliva contains extracellular vesicles (EVs). Briefly, it has been observed that proteins associated with EVs are important for multiple tick-borne intracellular microbial lifestyles. The impact of tick EVs on viral and intracellular bacterial pathogen transmission from the tick to the mammalian host has been shown experimentally. Additionally, tick EVs interact with the mammalian skin immune system at the bite site. The interplay between tick EVs, the transmission of pathogens, and the host skin immune system affords opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rainer Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Julia Gonzalez
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Ma H, Lao Y, Liu S, Ai J, Sun X, Zhang W, Kang M, Li J, Sun Y. The diurnal salivary glands transcriptome of Dermacentor nuttalli from the first four days of blood feeding. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102178. [PMID: 37001418 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The ixodid tick Dermacentor nuttalli is distributed from southern Siberia to North China and is a vector of many pathogens. This species can have severe impacts on animal husbandry and human health. To date, the control of D. nuttalli is limited to the use of acaricides such as organophosphorus, synthetic pyrethroids and amidine pesticides. There are no environmentally friendly or reliable prevention and control measures, and little is known regarding key antigens involved in blood feeding. Salivary glands are major tissues involved in the blood feeding and pathogen transmission of ticks. Therefore, this study focused on salivary glands tissue to identify the dominant antigens of D. nuttalli involved in tick feeding. For this, high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used for analysis. The transcriptome of female D. nuttalli ticks was assembled and characterized, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the salivary glands of ticks that had not fed (0 h) and of ticks after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of feeding. There were 22,802,784, 22,275,013, 26,629,453, 24,982,389, and 22,596,230 high-quality clean reads obtained from salivary glands tissues at the five different blood feeding time points. The total number of annotated unigenes was 100,347. The differences in gene expression between different time points were compared, and functional enrichment was performed. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‒qPCR) was used to validate the RNA-seq results, the results of which showed that the differences in expressed transcripts presented similar trends. Among the identified DEGs, the most numerous were those with catalytic and binding activities and those involved in diverse metabolic pathways and cellular processes. The expression patterns of homologous and family-member proteins throughout the blood feeding period exhibited significant differences, strongly suggesting that the transcriptome composition is highly dynamic and likely subjected to important variation throughout the life cycle. Studies of gene sequences in D. nuttalli will greatly increase the information on tick protective antigens, which could potentially function as effective vaccine candidates or drug targets for the development of environmentally friendly acaricides.
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Gul I, Abbas MN, Kausar S, Luo J, Gao X, Mu Y, Fan W, Cui H. Insight into crustacean cathepsins: Structure-evolutionary relationships and functional roles in physiological processes. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023:108852. [PMID: 37295735 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsins belong to a group of proteins that are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and have an extremely high degree of evolutionary conservation. These proteins are functionally active in extracellular environments as soluble enzymatic proteins or attached to plasma membrane receptors. In addition, they occur in cellular secretory vesicles, mitochondria, the cytosol, and within the nuclei of eukaryotic cells. Cathepsins are classified into various groups based on their sequence variations, leading to their structural and functional diversification. The molecular understanding of the physiology of crustaceans has shown that proteases, including cathepsins, are expressed ubiquitously. They also contain one of the central regulatory systems for crustacean reproduction, growth, and immune responses. This review focuses on various aspects of the crustaceans cathepsins and emphasizes their biological roles in different physiological processes such as reproduction, growth, development, and immune responses. We also describe the bioactivity of crustaceans cathepsins. Because of the vital biological roles that cathepsins play as cellular proteases in physiological processes, they have been proposed as potential novel targets for the development of management strategies for the aquaculture industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isma Gul
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Saima Kausar
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Jili Luo
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Xinyue Gao
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Yuhang Mu
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Wenhui Fan
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Department of Neurology, Chongqing Ninth People's Hospital, Chongqing, 400700, China.
| | - Honghuan Cui
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
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Liu L, Cheng R, Mao SQ, Duan DY, Feng LL, Cheng TY. Saliva proteome of partially- and fully-engorged adult female Haemaphysalis flava ticks. Vet Parasitol 2023; 318:109933. [PMID: 37043866 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109933] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick saliva is a reservoir of bioactive proteins. Saliva protein compositions change dynamically during blood-feeding. Decipherment of protein profiles in different blood-feeding stages may bring deeper insight into tick feeding physiology and provide targets for immunologic control alternatives. However, having the infancy of tick genome sequencing, assembly, annotation, and limited knowledge of tick salivary proteins restrain the data interpretation. Here, we aimed to depict the saliva protein profile in partially- (PE) and fully-engorged (FE) Haemaphysalis flava ticks, with a special focus on the analysis of those uncharacterized proteins. Saliva was collected from PE and FE adult female H. flava ticks. Saliva proteins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS-MS). MS data were searched against an in-house salivary gland transcriptome library for identification of tick-derived proteins. Abundances of proteins were compared between PE and FE ticks. The uncharacterized proteins detected in saliva were further bioinformatically analyzed. In total, 614 proteins were identified including 94 host proteins and 520 tick-derived proteins. The 226 tick-derived high-confidence proteins were classified into 10 categories: transporters, enzymes, protease inhibitors, immunity-related proteins, lipocalins, glycine-rich proteins, muscle proteins, secreted proteins, uncharacterized proteins and others. A total of 98 proteins were shared in both PE and FE with 74 only in PE and 54 only in FE. Abundances of 24 shared proteins were significantly higher in PE. The profile of top 15 most abundant proteins was also different between PE and FE ticks. The 65 uncharacterized proteins detected in tick saliva were branched into subclusters 1 A, 1B, 2, 3 A, 3B and 3 C based on particular motifs like RGD, LRR, indicating their diverse predicted functions like anti-coagulation, regulation of innate immune, or other functions. This study provides and compares saliva proteomes of H. flava ticks in two feeding stages with special cluster analysis on the uncharacterized proteins. Further investigations are needed to confirm the roles of these uncharacterized proteins in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Rong Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Si-Qing Mao
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Li-Li Feng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
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11
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Abbas MN, Jmel MA, Mekki I, Dijkgraaf I, Kotsyfakis M. Recent Advances in Tick Antigen Discovery and Anti-Tick Vaccine Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054969. [PMID: 36902400 PMCID: PMC10003026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054969] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks can seriously affect human and animal health around the globe, causing significant economic losses each year. Chemical acaricides are widely used to control ticks, which negatively impact the environment and result in the emergence of acaricide-resistant tick populations. A vaccine is considered as one of the best alternative approaches to control ticks and tick-borne diseases, as it is less expensive and more effective than chemical controls. Many antigen-based vaccines have been developed as a result of current advances in transcriptomics, genomics, and proteomic techniques. A few of these (e.g., Gavac® and TickGARD®) are commercially available and are commonly used in different countries. Furthermore, a significant number of novel antigens are being investigated with the perspective of developing new anti-tick vaccines. However, more research is required to develop new and more efficient antigen-based vaccines, including on assessing the efficiency of various epitopes against different tick species to confirm their cross-reactivity and their high immunogenicity. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements in the development of antigen-based vaccines (traditional and RNA-based) and provide a brief overview of recent discoveries of novel antigens, along with their sources, characteristics, and the methods used to test their efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Mohamed Amine Jmel
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Imen Mekki
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ingrid Dijkgraaf
- Department of Biochemistry, CARIM, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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Chlastáková A, Kaščáková B, Kotál J, Langhansová H, Kotsyfakis M, Kutá Smatanová I, Tirloni L, Chmelař J. Iripin-1, a new anti-inflammatory tick serpin, inhibits leukocyte recruitment in vivo while altering the levels of chemokines and adhesion molecules. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1116324. [PMID: 36756125 PMCID: PMC9901544 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1116324] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Serpins are widely distributed and functionally diverse inhibitors of serine proteases. Ticks secrete serpins with anti-coagulation, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities via their saliva into the feeding cavity to modulate host's hemostatic and immune reaction initiated by the insertion of tick's mouthparts into skin. The suppression of the host's immune response not only allows ticks to feed on a host for several days but also creates favorable conditions for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Herein we present the functional and structural characterization of Iripin-1 (Ixodes ricinus serpin-1), whose expression was detected in the salivary glands of the tick Ixodes ricinus, a European vector of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Of 16 selected serine proteases, Iripin-1 inhibited primarily trypsin and further exhibited weaker inhibitory activity against kallikrein, matriptase, and plasmin. In the mouse model of acute peritonitis, Iripin-1 enhanced the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and chemokines involved in neutrophil and monocyte recruitment, including MCP-1/CCL2, a potent histamine-releasing factor. Despite increased chemokine levels, the migration of neutrophils and monocytes to inflamed peritoneal cavities was significantly attenuated following Iripin-1 administration. Based on the results of in vitro experiments, immune cell recruitment might be inhibited due to Iripin-1-mediated reduction of the expression of chemokine receptors in neutrophils and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells. Decreased activity of serine proteases in the presence of Iripin-1 could further impede cell migration to the site of inflammation. Finally, we determined the tertiary structure of native Iripin-1 at 2.10 Å resolution by employing the X-ray crystallography technique. In conclusion, our data indicate that Iripin-1 facilitates I. ricinus feeding by attenuating the host's inflammatory response at the tick attachment site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Chlastáková
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia,Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Ticks, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Barbora Kaščáková
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Kotál
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Helena Langhansová
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Ivana Kutá Smatanová
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Jindřich Chmelař
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia,*Correspondence: Jindřich Chmelař,
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Abbas MN, Kausar S, Asma B, Ran W, Li J, Lin Z, Li T, Cui H. MicroRNAs reshape the immunity of insects in response to bacterial infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176966. [PMID: 37153604 PMCID: PMC10161253 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between bacteria and insects can significantly impact a wide range of different areas because bacteria and insects are widely distributed around the globe. The bacterial-insect interactions have the potential to directly affect human health since insects are vectors for disease transmission, and their interactions can also have economic consequences. In addition, they have been linked to high mortality rates in economically important insects, resulting in substantial economic losses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are types of non-coding RNAs involved in regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. The length of miRNAs ranges from 19 to 22 nucleotides. MiRNAs, in addition to their ability to exhibit dynamic expression patterns, have a diverse range of targets. This enables them to govern various physiological activities in insects, like innate immune responses. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs have a crucial biological role in bacterial infection by influencing immune responses and other mechanisms for resistance. This review focuses on some of the most recent and exciting discoveries made in recent years, including the correlation between the dysregulation of miRNA expression in the context of bacterial infection and the progression of the infection. Furthermore, it describes how they profoundly impact the immune responses of the host by targeting the Toll, IMD, and JNK signaling pathways. It also emphasizes the biological function of miRNAs in regulating immune responses in insects. Finally, it also discusses current knowledge gaps about the function of miRNAs in insect immunity, in addition to areas that require more research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Saima Kausar
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bibi Asma
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenhao Ran
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingui Li
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zini Lin
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Tiejun Li
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Gastrointestinal Vascular Surgery, The Chongqing Ninth People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Tiejun Li, ; Hongjuan Cui,
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Tiejun Li, ; Hongjuan Cui,
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Medina JM, Abbas MN, Bensaoud C, Hackenberg M, Kotsyfakis M. Bioinformatic Analysis of Ixodes ricinus Long Non-Coding RNAs Predicts Their Binding Ability of Host miRNAs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179761. [PMID: 36077158 PMCID: PMC9456184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus ticks are distributed across Europe and are a vector of tick-borne diseases. Although I. ricinus transcriptome studies have focused exclusively on protein coding genes, the last decade witnessed a strong increase in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) research and characterization. Here, we report for the first time an exhaustive analysis of these non-coding molecules in I. ricinus based on 131 RNA-seq datasets from three different BioProjects. Using this data, we obtained a consensus set of lncRNAs and showed that lncRNA expression is stable among different studies. While the length distribution of lncRNAs from the individual data sets is biased toward short length values, implying the existence of technical artefacts, the consensus lncRNAs show a more homogeneous distribution emphasizing the importance to incorporate data from different sources to generate a solid reference set of lncRNAs. KEGG enrichment analysis of host miRNAs putatively targeting lncRNAs upregulated upon feeding showed that these miRNAs are involved in several relevant functions for the tick-host interaction. The possibility that at least some tick lncRNAs act as host miRNA sponges was further explored by identifying lncRNAs with many target regions for a given host miRNA or sets of host miRNAs that consistently target lncRNAs together. Overall, our findings suggest that lncRNAs that may act as sponges have diverse biological roles related to the tick–host interaction in different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Medina
- Departamentode Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Hackenberg
- Departamentode Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (M.K.)
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (M.K.)
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