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Xu G, Siegel E, Fernandez N, Bechtold E, Daly T, Dupuis AP, Ciota A, Rich SM. Active Surveillance of Powassan Virus in Massachusetts Ixodes scapularis Ticks, Comparing Detection Using a New Triplex Real-Time PCR Assay with a Luminex Vector-Borne Panel. Viruses 2024; 16:250. [PMID: 38400026 PMCID: PMC10892230 DOI: 10.3390/v16020250] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus is an emerging tick-borne pathogen capable of causing severe neuroinvasive disease. As the incidence of human Powassan virus grows both in magnitude and geographical range, the development of sensitive detection methods for diagnostics and surveillance is critical. In this study, a Taqman-based triplex real-time PCR assay was developed for the simultaneous and quantitative detection of Powassan virus and Powassan virus lineage II (deer tick virus) in Ixodes scapularis ticks. An exon-exon junction internal control was built-in to allow for accurate detection of RNA quality and the failure of RNA extraction. The newly developed assay was also applied to survey deer tick virus in tick populations at 13 sites on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard Island in Massachusetts. The assay's performance was compared with the Luminex xMAP MultiFLEX Vector-borne Panel 2. The results suggested that the real-time PCR method was more sensitive. Powassan virus infection rates among ticks collected from these highly endemic tick areas ranged from 0.0 to 10.4%, highlighting the fine-scale geographic variations in deer tick virus presence in this region. Looking forward, our PCR assay could be adopted in other Powassan virus surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Xu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Eric Siegel
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Nolan Fernandez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Emily Bechtold
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Timothy Daly
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Alan P. Dupuis
- New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA; (A.P.D.II); (A.C.)
| | - Alexander Ciota
- New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA; (A.P.D.II); (A.C.)
| | - Stephen M. Rich
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (G.X.); (N.F.); (E.B.); (T.D.)
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2
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Lange RE, Dupuis Ii AP, Prusinski MA, Maffei JG, Koetzner CA, Ngo K, Backenson B, Oliver J, Vogels CBF, Grubaugh ND, Kramer LD, Ciota AT. Identification and characterization of novel lineage 1 Powassan virus strains in New York State. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2155585. [PMID: 36503411 PMCID: PMC9788702 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2155585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV, family Flaviviridae) is a reemerging tick-borne virus endemic in North America and Russia. In 1997, a POWV-like agent was isolated from Ixodes scapularis in New England and determined to be genetically distinct from the original POWV isolate. This revealed the existence of two lineages: lineage 1, prototype Powassan virus (POWV-1) and lineage 2, deer tick virus (DTV). POWV-1 is thought to be primarily maintained in a cycle between I. cookei and woodchucks and I. marxi and squirrels, while DTV is primarily maintained in a cycle between I. scapularis and small mammal hosts. Recent tick, mammalian, and human isolates from New York State (NYS) have been identified as DTV, but for the first time in 45 years, we detected four POWV-1 isolates, including the first reported isolation of POWV-1 from I. scapularis. We aimed to investigate genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of recent NYS isolates through sequence analysis and evaluation of replication kinetics in vitro and in vivo. Our sequencing revealed genetic divergence between NYS POWV-1 isolates, with two distinct foci. We found that POWV-1 isolates displayed variable replication kinetics in nymphal ticks but not in cell culture. POWV-1 isolated from I. scapularis displayed increased fitness in experimentally infected I. scapularis as compared to historic and recent POWV-1 isolates from I. cookei. These data suggest the emergence of divergent POWV-1 strains in alternate tick hosts and maintenance of genetically and phenotypically discrete POWV-1 foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Lange
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Alan P Dupuis Ii
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Melissa A Prusinski
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Joseph G Maffei
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Cheri A Koetzner
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Kiet Ngo
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Bryon Backenson
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Albany, NY, USA
| | - JoAnne Oliver
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laura D Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
| | - Alexander T Ciota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA
- New York State Department of Health, The Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY, USA
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3
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Brackney DE, Vogels CBF. The known unknowns of Powassan virus ecology. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1142-1148. [PMID: 37862099 PMCID: PMC10645372 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad095] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV; Family: Flaviviridae, Genus: Flavivirus) is the sole North American member of the tick-borne encephalitis sero-complex. While associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, POWV has historically been of little public health concern due to low incidence rates. However, over the last 20 yr, incidence rates have increased highlighting the growing epidemiological threat. Currently, there are no vaccines or therapeutics with tick habitat reduction, acaricide application, and public awareness programs being our primary means of intervention. The effectiveness of these control strategies is dependent on having a sound understanding of the virus's ecology. In this Forum, we review what is currently known about POWV ecology, identify gaps in our knowledge, and discuss prevailing and alternative hypotheses about transmission dynamics, reservoir hosts, and spatial focality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug E Brackney
- Department of Entomology, Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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4
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Karim S, Zenzal TJ, Beati L, Sen R, Adegoke A, Kumar D, Downs LP, Keko M, Nussbaum A, Becker DJ, Moore FR. Ticks without borders: Microbial communities of immature Neotropical tick species parasitizing migratory landbirds along northern Gulf of Mexico. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.22.563347. [PMID: 37961388 PMCID: PMC10634713 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.22.563347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The long-distance, seasonal migrations of birds make them an effective ecological bridge for the movement of ticks. The introduction of exotic tick species to new geographical regions can lead to the emergence of novel tick-borne pathogens or the re-emergence of previously eradicated ones. This study assessed the prevalence of exotic tick species parasitizing resident, short-distance, and long-distance songbirds during spring and autumn at stopover sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico using the mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene. Birds were captured for tick collection from six different sites from late August to early November in both 2018 and 2019. The highest number of ticks were collected in the 2019 season. Most ticks were collected off the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) and Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), and 54% of the total ticks collected were from Grand Chenier, LA. A high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing approach was followed to characterize the microbial communities and identify pathogenic microbes in all tick samples. Tick microbial communities, diversity, and community structure were determined using quantitative insight into microbial ecology (QIIME). The sparse correlations for compositional data (SparCC) approach was then used to construct microbial network maps and infer microbial correlations. A total of 421 individual ticks in the genera Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes were recorded from 28 songbird species, of which Amblyomma and Amblyomma longirostre was the most abundant tick genus and species, respectively. Microbial profiles showed that Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum. The most abundant bacteria include the pathogenic Rickettsia and endosymbiont Francisella, Candidatus Midichloria, and Spiroplasma. BLAST analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction of the Rickettsia sequences revealed the highest similarities to pathogenic spotted and non-spotted fever groups, including R. buchneri, R. conorii, R. prowazekii, R. bellii, R. australis, R. parkeri, R. monacensis, and R. monteiroi. Permutation multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the relative abundance of Francisella and Rickettsia drives microbial patterns across the tick genera. We also observed a higher percentage of positive correlations in microbe-microbe interactions among members of the microbial communities. Network analysis suggested a negative correlation between a) Francisella and Rickettsia and, b) Francisella and Cutibacterium. Lastly, mapping the distributions of bird species parasitized during spring migrations highlighted geographic hotspots where migratory songbirds could disperse ticks and their pathogens at stopover sites or upon arrival to their breeding grounds, the latter showing means dispersal distances from 421-5003 kilometers. These findings strongly highlight the potential role of migratory birds in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Karim
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Theodore J. Zenzal
- United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA 70506
| | - Lorenza Beati
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Raima Sen
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Abdulsalam Adegoke
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Deepak Kumar
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Latoyia P. Downs
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Mario Keko
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Ashly Nussbaum
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Frank R. Moore
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
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5
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Conde JN, Himmler GE, Mladinich MC, Setoh YX, Amarilla AA, Schutt WR, Saladino N, Gorbunova EE, Salamango DJ, Benach J, Kim HK, Mackow ER. Establishment of a CPER reverse genetics system for Powassan virus defines attenuating NS1 glycosylation sites and an infectious NS1-GFP11 reporter virus. mBio 2023; 14:e0138823. [PMID: 37489888 PMCID: PMC10470542 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-borne Flavivirus that causes lethal encephalitis and long-term neurologic damage. Currently, there are no POWV therapeutics, licensed vaccines, or reverse genetics systems for producing infectious POWVs from recombinant DNA. Using a circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER), we generated recombinant LI9 (recLI9) POWVs with attenuating NS1 protein mutations and a recLI9-split-eGFP reporter virus. NS1 proteins are highly conserved glycoproteins that regulate replication, spread, and neurovirulence. POWV NS1 contains three putative N-linked glycosylation sites that we modified individually in infectious recLI9 mutants (N85Q, N208Q, and N224Q). NS1 glycosylation site mutations reduced replication kinetics and were attenuated, with 1-2 log decreases in titer. Severely attenuated recLI9-N224Q exhibited a 2- to 3-day delay in focal cell-to-cell spread and reduced NS1 secretion but was lethal when intracranially inoculated into suckling mice. However, footpad inoculation of recLI9-N224Q resulted in the survival of 80% of mice and demonstrated that NS1-N224Q mutations reduce POWV neuroinvasion in vivo. To monitor NS1 trafficking, we CPER fused a split GFP11-tag to the NS1 C-terminus and generated an infectious reporter virus, recLI9-NS1-GFP11. Cells infected with recLI9-NS1-GFP11 revealed NS1 trafficking in live cells and the novel formation of large NS1-lined intracellular vesicles. An infectious recLI9-NS1-GFP11 reporter virus permits real-time analysis of NS1 functions in POWV replication, assembly, and secretion and provides a platform for evaluating antiviral compounds. Collectively, our robust POWV reverse genetics system permits analysis of viral spread and neurovirulence determinants in vitro and in vivo and enables the rational genetic design of live attenuated POWV vaccines. IMPORTANCE Our findings newly establish a mechanism for genetically modifying Powassan viruses (POWVs), systematically defining pathogenic determinants and rationally designing live attenuated POWV vaccines. This initial study demonstrates that mutating POWV NS1 glycosylation sites attenuates POWV spread and neurovirulence in vitro and in vivo. Our findings validate a robust circular polymerase extension reaction approach as a mechanism for developing, and evaluating, attenuated genetically modified POWVs. We further designed an infectious GFP-tagged reporter POWV that permits us to monitor secretory trafficking of POWV in live cells, which can be applied to screen potential POWV replication inhibitors. This robust system for modifying POWVs provides the ability to define attenuating POWV mutations and create genetically attenuated recPOWV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas N. Conde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Grace E. Himmler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Megan C. Mladinich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yin Xiang Setoh
- Microbiology and Molecular Epidemiology Division, Environmental Health Institute, National Environmental Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alberto A. Amarilla
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - William R. Schutt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Saladino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Elena E. Gorbunova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Daniel J. Salamango
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jorge Benach
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erich R. Mackow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Shah T, Li Q, Wang B, Baloch Z, Xia X. Geographical distribution and pathogenesis of ticks and tick-borne viral diseases. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1185829. [PMID: 37293222 PMCID: PMC10244671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1185829] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory hematophagous arthropods that harbor and transmit infectious pathogens to humans and animals. Tick species belonging to Amblyomma, Ixodes, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma genera may transmit certain viruses such as Bourbon virus (BRBV), Dhori virus (DHOV), Powassan virus (POWV), Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Heartland virus (HRTV), Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), etc. that affect humans and certain wildlife. The tick vectors may become infected through feeding on viraemic hosts before transmitting the pathogen to humans and animals. Therefore, it is vital to understand the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne viruses and their pathogenesis to optimize preventive measures. Thus this review summarizes knowledge on some medically important ticks and tick-borne viruses, including BRBV, POWV, OHFV, CTFV, CCHFV, HRTV, and KFDV. Further, we discuss these viruses' epidemiology, pathogenesis, and disease manifestations during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taif Shah
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Qian Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Binghui Wang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Zulqarnain Baloch
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Xueshan Xia
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming, China
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7
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Vogels C, Brackney D, Dupuis A, Robich R, Fauver J, Brito A, Williams S, Anderson J, Lubelczyk C, Lange R, Prusinski M, Kramer L, Gangloff-Kaufmann J, Goodman L, Baele G, Smith R, Armstrong P, Ciota A, Dellicour S, Grubaugh N. Phylogeographic reconstruction of the emergence and spread of Powassan virus in the northeastern United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218012120. [PMID: 37040418 PMCID: PMC10120011 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218012120] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus is an emerging tick-borne virus of concern for public health, but very little is known about its transmission patterns and ecology. Here, we expanded the genomic dataset by sequencing 279 Powassan viruses isolated from Ixodes scapularis ticks from the northeastern United States. Our phylogeographic reconstructions revealed that Powassan virus lineage II was likely introduced or emerged from a relict population in the Northeast between 1940 and 1975. Sequences strongly clustered by sampling location, suggesting a highly focal geographical distribution. Our analyses further indicated that Powassan virus lineage II emerged in the northeastern United States mostly following a south-to-north pattern, with a weighted lineage dispersal velocity of ~3 km/y. Since the emergence in the Northeast, we found an overall increase in the effective population size of Powassan virus lineage II, but with growth stagnating during recent years. The cascading effect of population expansion of white-tailed deer and I. scapularis populations likely facilitated the emergence of Powassan virus in the northeastern United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Doug E. Brackney
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Alan P. Dupuis
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12222
| | - Rebecca M. Robich
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074
| | - Joseph R. Fauver
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198
| | - Anderson F. Brito
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510
- Instituto Todos pela Saúde, São Paulo SP01310-942, Brazil
| | - Scott C. Williams
- Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - John F. Anderson
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Charles B. Lubelczyk
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074
| | - Rachel E. Lange
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12222
| | - Melissa A. Prusinski
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Albany, NY 12237
| | - Laura D. Kramer
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12222
| | | | - Laura B. Goodman
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Guy Baele
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven3000, Belgium
| | - Robert P. Smith
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074
| | - Philip M. Armstrong
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Alexander T. Ciota
- The Arbovirus Laboratory, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Slingerlands, NY 12159
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY 12222
| | - Simon Dellicour
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven3000, Belgium
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels1050, Belgium
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
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8
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Characterization of Live-Attenuated Powassan Virus Vaccine Candidates Identifies an Efficacious Prime-Boost Strategy for Mitigating Powassan Virus Disease in a Murine Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030612. [PMID: 36992196 PMCID: PMC10058527 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-borne virus and cause of lethal encephalitis in humans. The lack of treatment or prevention strategies for POWV disease underscores the need for an effective POWV vaccine. Here, we took two independent approaches to develop vaccine candidates. First, we recoded the POWV genome to increase the dinucleotide frequencies of CpG and UpA to potentially attenuate the virus by raising its susceptibility to host innate immune factors, such as the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP). Secondly, we took advantage of the live-attenuated yellow fever virus vaccine 17D strain (YFV-17D) as a vector to express the structural genes pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) of POWV. The chimeric YFV-17D-POWV vaccine candidate was further attenuated for in vivo application by removing an N-linked glycosylation site within the nonstructural protein (NS)1 of YFV-17D. This live-attenuated chimeric vaccine candidate significantly protected mice from POWV disease, conferring a 70% survival rate after lethal challenge when administered in a homologous two-dose regimen. Importantly, when given in a heterologous prime-boost vaccination scheme, in which vaccination with the initial chimeric virus was followed by a protein boost with the envelope protein domain III (EDIII), 100% of the mice were protected without showing any signs of morbidity. Combinations of this live-attenuated chimeric YFV-17D-POWV vaccine candidate with an EDIII protein boost warrant further studies for the development of an effective vaccine strategy for the prevention of POWV disease.
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9
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McMinn RJ, Langsjoen RM, Bombin A, Robich RM, Ojeda E, Normandin E, Goethert HK, Lubelczyk CB, Schneider E, Cosenza D, Meagher M, Prusinski MA, Sabeti PC, Smith RP, Telford SR, Piantadosi A, Ebel GD. Phylodynamics of deer tick virus in North America. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead008. [PMID: 36846826 PMCID: PMC9943884 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead008] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The burden of ticks and the pathogens they carry is increasing worldwide. Powassan virus (POWV; Flaviviridae: Flavivirus), the only known North American tick-borne flavivirus, is of particular concern due to rising cases and the severe morbidity of POWV encephalitis. Here, we use a multifaceted approach to evaluate the emergence of the II POWV lineage, known as deer tick virus (DTV), in parts of North America where human cases occur. We detected DTV-positive ticks from eight of twenty locations in the Northeast USA with an average infection rate of 1.4 per cent. High-depth, whole-genome sequencing of eighty-four POWV and DTV samples allowed us to assess geographic and temporal phylodynamics. We observed both stable infection in the Northeast USA and patterns of geographic dispersal within and between regions. A Bayesian skyline analysis demonstrated DTV population expansion over the last 50 years. This is concordant with the documented expansion of Ixodes scapularis tick populations and suggests an increasing risk of human exposure as the vector spreads. Finally, we isolated sixteen novel viruses in cell culture and demonstrated limited genetic change after passage, a valuable resource for future studies investigating this emerging virus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rose M Langsjoen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
| | - Andrei Bombin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
| | | | - Erick Ojeda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
| | - Erica Normandin
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Center for Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Heidi K Goethert
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | | | | | | | - Molly Meagher
- Maine Health Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Melissa A Prusinski
- Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12237, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Robert P Smith
- Maine Health Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Sam R Telford
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
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10
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Stone ET, Hirsch AJ, Smith JL, Brien JD, Pinto AK. Titration and neutralizing antibody quantification by focus forming assay for Powassan virus. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101473. [PMID: 35755126 PMCID: PMC9218233 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of high-throughput assays measuring Powassan virus (POWV) lineage I and II represents an important step in virological and immunological studies. By adapting focus-forming assays previously optimized for West Nile virus and Zika virus, this protocol is able to determine viral load, evaluate antivirals, and measure neutralizing antibodies. Although limited by its requirement of a detection antibody, this protocol includes a rapid and high-throughput assay for measuring viral titer. By utilizing a baby hamster kidney cell line and a 96-well plate format, this protocol allows for more sensitivity in the detection of POWV lineage I. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Stone et al. (2022). Powassan virus focus forming assay for evaluation of antivirals Antibody focus reduction neutralization assay (FRNT) for Powassan virus Steps describing Powassan virus lineage I and II titration
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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11
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Abstract
Powassan virus is an increasingly recognized cause of severe encephalitis that is transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Given the nonspecific clinical, laboratory, and imaging features of Powassan virus disease, providers should consider it in patients with compatible exposures and request appropriate testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Piantadosi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Isaac H Solomon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, AL360U.2, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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12
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Gregory N, Fernandez MP, Diuk-Wasser M. Risk of tick-borne pathogen spillover into urban yards in New York City. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:288. [PMID: 35948911 PMCID: PMC9365221 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05416-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of tick-borne disease has increased dramatically in recent decades, with urban areas increasingly recognized as high-risk environments for exposure to infected ticks. Green spaces may play a key role in facilitating the invasion of ticks, hosts and pathogens into residential areas, particularly where they connect residential yards with larger natural areas (e.g. parks). However, the factors mediating tick distribution across heterogeneous urban landscapes remain poorly characterized. METHODS Using generalized linear models in a multimodel inference framework, we determined the residential yard- and local landscape-level features associated with the presence of three tick species of current and growing public health importance in residential yards across Staten Island, a borough of New York City, in the state of New York, USA. RESULTS The amount and configuration of canopy cover immediately surrounding residential yards was found to strongly predict the presence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, but not that of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Within yards, we found a protective effect of fencing against I. scapularis and A. americanum, but not against H. longicornis. For all species, the presence of log and brush piles strongly increased the odds of finding ticks in yards. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight a considerable risk of tick exposure in residential yards in Staten Island and identify both yard- and landscape-level features associated with their distribution. In particular, the significance of log and brush piles for all three species supports recommendations for yard management as a means of reducing contact with ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichar Gregory
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Maria P. Fernandez
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Maria Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
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13
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Cumbie AN, Whitlow AM, Eastwood G. First Evidence of Powassan Virus (Flaviviridae) in Ixodes scapularis in Appalachian Virginia, USA. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 106:905-908. [PMID: 34929670 PMCID: PMC8922523 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the first detection and confirmation of Powassan virus (POWV) (family: Flaviridae) in Ixodes scapularis ticks collected from Appalachian Virginia. Ixodes scapularis ticks were collected from vegetation across field sites in eight counties of western Virginia from June 2019 to April 2021. From these collections, one nymph and one adult male I. scapularis were determined to be positive for POWV using real-time RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Both positive ticks were collected from Floyd county, VA, at residential sites; the nymph in June 2020 and the adult male in April 2021. The presence of POWV in Virginia in its natural tick vector is crucial knowledge in beginning to understand the movement and transmission of this pathogen into new geographical areas and the risk it poses to medical and veterinary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N. Cumbie
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Amanda M. Whitlow
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Gillian Eastwood
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, Virginia;,Virginia Tech Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens (CeZAP), Blacksburg, Virginia;,Virginia Tech Global Change Center, Blacksburg, Virginia,Address correspondence to Gillian Eastwood, Virginia State University and Polytechnic Institute, 220 Ag Quad Lane, Latham Hall Room 309, Blacksburg, VA 24061. E-mail:
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14
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Vahey GM, Wilson N, McDonald E, Fitzpatrick K, Lehman J, Clark S, Lindell K, Pastula DM, Perez S, Rhodes H, Gould CV, Staples JE, Cervantes K, Martin SW. Seroprevalence of Powassan Virus Infection in an Area Experiencing a Cluster of Disease Cases: Sussex County, New Jersey, 2019. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac023. [PMID: 35169592 PMCID: PMC8833865 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2019, a geographically focal cluster of 3 Powassan virus neuroinvasive disease cases occurred in New Jersey. We conducted a serosurvey of 273 adult area residents and estimated that immunoglobulin M seroprevalence was 0.31% (95% confidence interval [CI], .04%-1.00%) and 23% (95% CI, 7%-100%) of infections result in neuroinvasive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Vahey
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicolette Wilson
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
- CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Emily McDonald
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kelly Fitzpatrick
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jennifer Lehman
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sandhya Clark
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kristine Lindell
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel M Pastula
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Stephen Perez
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Heather Rhodes
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Carolyn V Gould
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - J Erin Staples
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kim Cervantes
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stacey W Martin
- Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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15
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Conde JN, Sanchez-Vicente S, Saladino N, Gorbunova EE, Schutt WR, Mladinich MC, Himmler GE, Benach J, Kim HK, Mackow ER. Powassan Viruses Spread Cell to Cell during Direct Isolation from Ixodes Ticks and Persistently Infect Human Brain Endothelial Cells and Pericytes. J Virol 2022; 96:e0168221. [PMID: 34643436 PMCID: PMC8754205 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01682-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan viruses (POWVs) are neurovirulent tick-borne flaviviruses emerging in the northeastern United States, with a 2% prevalence in Long Island (LI) deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). POWVs are transmitted within as little as 15 min of a tick bite and enter the central nervous system (CNS) to cause encephalitis (10% of cases are fatal) and long-term neuronal damage. POWV-LI9 and POWV-LI41 present in LI Ixodes ticks were isolated by directly inoculating VeroE6 cells with tick homogenates and detecting POWV-infected cells by immunoperoxidase staining. Inoculated POWV-LI9 and LI41 were exclusively present in infected cell foci, indicative of cell to cell spread, despite growth in liquid culture without an overlay. Cloning and sequencing establish POWV-LI9 as a phylogenetically distinct lineage II POWV strain circulating in LI deer ticks. Primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) and pericytes form a neurovascular complex that restricts entry into the CNS. We found that POWV-LI9 and -LI41 and lineage I POWV-LB productively infect hBMECs and pericytes and that POWVs were basolaterally transmitted from hBMECs to lower-chamber pericytes without permeabilizing polarized hBMECs. Synchronous POWV-LI9 infection of hBMECs and pericytes induced proinflammatory chemokines, interferon-β (IFN-β) and proteins of the IFN-stimulated gene family (ISGs), with delayed IFN-β secretion by infected pericytes. IFN inhibited POWV infection, but despite IFN secretion, a subset of POWV-infected hBMECs and pericytes remained persistently infected. These findings suggest a potential mechanism for POWVs (LI9/LI41 and LB) to infect hBMECs, spread basolaterally to pericytes, and enter the CNS. hBMEC and pericyte responses to POWV infection suggest a role for immunopathology in POWV neurovirulence and potential therapeutic targets for preventing POWV spread to neuronal compartments. IMPORTANCE We isolated POWVs from LI deer ticks (I. scapularis) directly in VeroE6 cells, and sequencing revealed POWV-LI9 as a distinct lineage II POWV strain. Remarkably, inoculation of VeroE6 cells with POWV-containing tick homogenates resulted in infected cell foci in liquid culture, consistent with cell-to-cell spread. POWV-LI9 and -LI41 and lineage I POWV-LB strains infected hBMECs and pericytes that comprise neurovascular complexes. POWVs were nonlytically transmitted basolaterally from infected hBMECs to lower-chamber pericytes, suggesting a mechanism for POWV transmission across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). POWV-LI9 elicited inflammatory responses from infected hBMEC and pericytes that may contribute to immune cell recruitment and neuropathogenesis. This study reveals a potential mechanism for POWVs to enter the CNS by infecting hBMECs and spreading basolaterally to abluminal pericytes. Our findings reveal that POWV-LI9 persists in cells that form a neurovascular complex spanning the BBB and suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing POWV spread to neuronal compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas N. Conde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Santiago Sanchez-Vicente
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Saladino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Elena E. Gorbunova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - William R. Schutt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Megan C. Mladinich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Grace E. Himmler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jorge Benach
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erich R. Mackow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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16
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Hart CE, Bhaskar JR, Reynolds E, Hermance M, Earl M, Mahoney M, Martinez A, Petzlova I, Esterly AT, Thangamani S. Community engaged tick surveillance and tickMAP as a public health tool to track the emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in New York. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000215. [PMID: 36962313 PMCID: PMC10022224 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A community engaged passive surveillance program was utilized to acquire ticks and associated information throughout New York state. Ticks were speciated and screened for several tick-borne pathogens. Of these ticks, only I. scapularis was commonly infected with pathogens of human relevance, including B. burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, B. microti, and Powassan virus. In addition, the geographic and temporal distribution of tick species and pathogens was determined. This enabled the construction of a powerful visual analytical mapping tool, tickMAP to track the emergence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in real-time. The public can use this tool to identify hot-spots of disease emergence, clinicians for supportive evidence during differential diagnosis, and researchers to better understand factors influencing the emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in New York. Overall, we have created a community-engaged tick surveillance program and an interactive visual analytical tickMAP that other regions could emulate to provide real-time tracking and an early warning for the emergence of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Hart
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Jahnavi Reddy Bhaskar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Erin Reynolds
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Meghan Hermance
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Martin Earl
- Moonshot Team, Information Management and Technology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Matthew Mahoney
- Moonshot Team, Information Management and Technology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Ana Martinez
- Moonshot Team, Information Management and Technology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Ivona Petzlova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Allen T Esterly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Saravanan Thangamani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
- Institute for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
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17
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Yang X, Gao GF, Liu WJ. Powassan virus: A tick borne flavivirus infecting humans. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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18
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Hassett EM, Thangamani S. Ecology of Powassan Virus in the United States. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112317. [PMID: 34835443 PMCID: PMC8624383 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic viruses threaten the lives of millions of people annually, exacerbated by climate change, human encroachment into wildlife habitats, and habitat destruction. The Powassan virus (POWV) is a rare tick-borne virus that can cause severe neurological damage and death, and the incidence of the associated disease (Powassan virus disease) is increasing in the eastern United States. The mechanisms by which POWV is maintained in nature and transmitted to humans are complex and only partly understood. This review provides an overview of what is known about the vector species, vector-host transmission dynamics, and environmental and human-driven factors that may be aiding the spread of both the vector and virus.
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19
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Bobe JR, Jutras BL, Horn EJ, Embers ME, Bailey A, Moritz RL, Zhang Y, Soloski MJ, Ostfeld RS, Marconi RT, Aucott J, Ma'ayan A, Keesing F, Lewis K, Ben Mamoun C, Rebman AW, McClune ME, Breitschwerdt EB, Reddy PJ, Maggi R, Yang F, Nemser B, Ozcan A, Garner O, Di Carlo D, Ballard Z, Joung HA, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Baumgarth N, Fallon BA. Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:666554. [PMID: 34485323 PMCID: PMC8416313 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.666554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated 476,000 cases per year. While historically, the long-term impact of Lyme disease on patients has been controversial, mounting evidence supports the idea that a substantial number of patients experience persistent symptoms following treatment. The research community has largely lacked the necessary funding to properly advance the scientific and clinical understanding of the disease, or to develop and evaluate innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the many outstanding questions raised into the diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment of Lyme disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms that trigger persistent disease, there is an urgent need for more support. This review article summarizes progress over the past 5 years in our understanding of Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the United States and highlights remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Bobe
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Monica E. Embers
- Tulane University Health Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Allison Bailey
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mark J. Soloski
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - John Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kim Lewis
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Alison W. Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mecaila E. McClune
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Ricardo Maggi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Bennett Nemser
- Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Stamford, CT, United States
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Omai Garner
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary Ballard
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hyou-Arm Joung
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Albert Garcia-Romeu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roland R. Griffiths
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian A. Fallon
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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20
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Cimica V, Saleem S, Matuczinski E, Adams-Fish D, McMahon C, Rashid S, Stedman TT. A Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccine Candidate against the Tick-Borne Powassan Virus Induces Neutralizing Antibodies in a Mouse Model. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060680. [PMID: 34072726 PMCID: PMC8229747 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne flavivirus circulating in North America and the Russian Far East that can cause severe neuroinvasive diseases, including encephalitis, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis. The reported neuroinvasive case fatality is about 10%, and approximately 50% of the survivors from the neuroinfection exhibit long-lasting or permanent neurological sequelae. Currently, treatment of POWV infection is supportive, and no FDA-approved vaccines or specific therapeutics are available. A novel Powassan vaccine candidate was created using virus-like particle technology (POW-VLP) and assembled with the viral structural proteins pre-Membrane (prM) and Envelope (E). Western blot immunoassay demonstrated high antigenicity of POW-VLP structural proteins. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the POW-VLP exhibited icosahedral morphology typical of flaviviruses. A dose-escalation study in a murine model was performed to test immunogenicity and safety. Serum antibody was tested by ELISA, demonstrating that POW-VLP afforded 100% seroconversion to the E protein. Reporter viral-particle neutralization assay demonstrated high levels of neutralizing antibodies in the serum of immunized mice. Hybridomas expressing monoclonal antibodies were produced following POW-VLP immunization. The POW-VLP vaccine candidate created in this study provides a strategy for inducing protective antibodies against Powassan neuroinvasive infection.
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21
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Normandin E, Solomon IH, Zamirpour S, Lemieux J, Freije CA, Mukerji SS, Tomkins-Tinch C, Park D, Sabeti PC, Piantadosi A. Powassan Virus Neuropathology and Genomic Diversity in Patients With Fatal Encephalitis. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa392. [PMID: 33094116 PMCID: PMC7566439 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging cause of severe encephalitis; very little is known about human pathogenicity due to challenges in diagnosis and viral RNA recovery. We present 3 patients with fatal encephalitis due to POWV lineage II (deer tick virus). Methods We obtained 27 unique samples, including from brain biopsy and autopsy, and used metagenomic sequencing, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and a newly developed CRISPR-based diagnostic assay to perform the first detailed characterization of POWV compartmentalization and genomics between and within human subjects. Results In all 3 patients, imaging and histopathology findings were notable for profound cerebellar involvement. All patients were initially diagnosed with POWV by metagenomic sequencing, and 2 of the 3 had negative clinical testing by serology. We detected POWV RNA in 13 clinical samples; levels were highest in the cerebellum, and there was very little involvement of peripheral tissue. We assembled complete POWV genomes from 8 samples, providing unique information about the strains of POWV lineage II (deer tick virus) that infect humans. Conclusions We demonstrate the utility of molecular assays for detecting POWV infection, including in seronegative patients, and nominate viral genomic features that may relate to human infection and neuropathogenicity. The cerebellum was identified as a key target POWV in fatal infection, by radiological and histopathological findings as well as molecular testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Normandin
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isaac H Solomon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Siavash Zamirpour
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacob Lemieux
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine A Freije
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shibani S Mukerji
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher Tomkins-Tinch
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Park
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne Piantadosi
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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22
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Campbell O, Krause PJ. The emergence of human Powassan virus infection in North America. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101540. [PMID: 32993949 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tickborne flavivirus discovered in Ontario, Canada in 1958 that causes long-term neurological sequelae in about half the reported cases and death in a little more than 10 % of cases. The incidence of POWV disease is rising in the United States but there is limited understanding of the scope and causes of recent changes in POWV epidemiology. We focus on quantifying the increase in human POWV disease incidence and infection prevalence in the United States. We also examine differences in the frequency of symptomatic cases and asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases, as well as limitations in national and state surveillance for POWV infection. We searched SCOPUS for all articles containing original POWV prevalence research, case studies, or literature reviews published in English. Case studies were supplemented by Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report POWV data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and surveillance information from state health department websites. An increase in the number of POWV cases has been reported in the United States over the past 50 yr, and the geographic range of human POWV cases has expanded. The age distribution of symptomatic POWV cases has shifted, with significantly more individuals over 40 yr old being diagnosed after 1998. The emergence of POWV is due in large part to: (i) a change in transmission of POWV from a vector that rarely bites people (Ixodes cookei) to a new vector that often bites people (Ixodes scapularis) and has expanded its geographic range, (ii) enhanced surveillance efforts for arboviruses, and (iii) a greater awareness of POWV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Campbell
- Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Peter J Krause
- Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
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23
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Ramasamy E, Taank V, Anderson JF, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Repression of tick microRNA-133 induces organic anion transporting polypeptide expression critical for Anaplasma phagocytophilum survival in the vector and transmission to the vertebrate host. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008856. [PMID: 32614824 PMCID: PMC7331985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression. In this study, we provide evidence for the first time to show that rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection results in the down-regulation of tick microRNA-133 (miR-133), to induce Ixodes scapularis organic anion transporting polypeptide (isoatp4056) gene expression critical for this bacterial survival in the vector and for its transmission to the vertebrate host. Transfection studies with recombinant constructs containing transcriptional fusions confirmed binding of miR-133 to isoatp4056 mRNA. Treatment with miR-133 inhibitor resulted in increased bacterial burden and isoatp4056 expression in ticks and tick cells. In contrast, treatment with miR-133 mimic or pre-mir-133 resulted in dramatic reduction in isoatp4056 expression and bacterial burden in ticks and tick cells. Moreover, treatment of ticks with pre-mir-133 affected vector-mediated A. phagocytophilum infection of murine host. These results provide novel insights to understand impact of modulation of tick miRNAs on pathogen colonization in the vector and their transmission to infect the vertebrate host. This study provides novel evidence that shows that down-regulation of arthropod microRNA-133 leading to enhanced expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide is not only critical for rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum survival in ticks but also for this bacterial transmission from vector to the vertebrate host. Understanding how pathogens manipulate vector-signaling repertoire for their benefit would lead to the development of strategies to block their transmission from vector to the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellango Ramasamy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Vikas Taank
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Lewy TG, Offerdahl DK, Grabowski JM, Kellman E, Mlera L, Chiramel A, Bloom ME. PERK-Mediated Unfolded Protein Response Signaling Restricts Replication of the Tick-Borne Flavivirus Langat Virus. Viruses 2020; 12:v12030328. [PMID: 32197325 PMCID: PMC7150897 DOI: 10.3390/v12030328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) maintains protein-folding homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and has been implicated as both beneficial and detrimental to flavivirus infection. Protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a sensor of the UPR, is commonly associated with antiviral effects during mosquito-borne flavivirus (MBFV) infection, but its relation to tick-borne flavivirus (TBFV) infection remains largely unexplored. In this study, we identified changes in UPR and autophagic activity during Langat virus (LGTV) infection. LGTV robustly activated UPR and altered autophagic flux. Knockdown of endogenous PERK in human cells resulted in increased LGTV replication, but not that of closely related Powassan virus (POWV). Finally, on examining changes in protein levels of components associated with UPR and autophagy in the absence of PERK, we could show that LGTV-infected cells induced UPR but did not lead to expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), an important downstream transcription factor of multiple stress pathways. From these data, we hypothesize that LGTV can antagonize other kinases that target eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), but not PERK, implicating PERK as a potential mediator of intrinsic immunity. This effect was not apparent for POWV, a more pathogenic TBFV, suggesting it may be better equipped to mitigate the antiviral effects of PERK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G. Lewy
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Danielle K. Offerdahl
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Jeffrey M. Grabowski
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.G.); (M.E.B.); Tel.: +1-406-375-9789 (J.M.G.); +1-406-375-9707 (M.E.B.)
| | - Eliza Kellman
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Luwanika Mlera
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Abhilash Chiramel
- Innate Immunity and Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
| | - Marshall E. Bloom
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID/NIH, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; (T.G.L.); (D.K.O.); (E.K.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.G.); (M.E.B.); Tel.: +1-406-375-9789 (J.M.G.); +1-406-375-9707 (M.E.B.)
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25
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Robich RM, Cosenza DS, Elias SP, Henderson EF, Lubelczyk CB, Welch M, Smith RP. Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Deer Tick Virus (Powassan Virus, Lineage II) in Ixodes scapularis Ticks Collected in Maine. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:467-471. [PMID: 31218999 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Deer tick virus (DTV) is a genetic variant of Powassan virus (POWV) that circulates in North America in an enzootic cycle involving the blacklegged or "deer tick," Ixodes scapularis, and small rodents such as the white-footed mouse. The number of reported human cases with neuroinvasive disease has increased substantially over the past few years, indicating that POWV may be of increasing public health importance. To this end, we sought to estimate POWV infection rates in questing I. scapularis collected from four health districts in Maine (York, Cumberland, Midcoast, and Central Maine). Infection rates were 1.6%, 1.7%, 0.7%, and 0%, respectively, for adults collected from April to November in 2016. Adults collected in October and November in 2017 from York and Cumberland counties had slightly higher rates of 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively. There was no difference in the number of males verses the number of females infected. All positive samples were of the DTV (lineage II) variant. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on 8 of the 15 DTV sequences obtained in 2016. Deer tick virus from the coastal regions were genetically similar and clustered with virus strains isolated from I. scapularis from New York State and Bridgeport, CT. The two inland viruses were genetically nearly identical and grouped with viruses from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. These results are the first reported infection rates and sequences for POWV in questing ticks collected in Maine and will provide a reference point for future POWV studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Robich
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Danielle S Cosenza
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Susan P Elias
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Elizabeth F Henderson
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Charles B Lubelczyk
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Margret Welch
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Robert P Smith
- Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
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26
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Mrozowich T, Henrickson A, Demeler B, Patel TR. Nanoscale Structure Determination of Murray Valley Encephalitis and Powassan Virus Non-Coding RNAs. Viruses 2020; 12:E190. [PMID: 32046304 PMCID: PMC7077200 DOI: 10.3390/v12020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infections are responsible for numerous deaths worldwide. Flaviviruses, which contain RNA as their genetic material, are one of the most pathogenic families of viruses. There is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting that their 5' and 3' non-coding terminal regions are critical for their survival. Information on their structural features is essential to gain detailed insights into their functions and interactions with host proteins. In this study, the 5' and 3' terminal regions of Murray Valley encephalitis virus and Powassan virus were examined using biophysical and computational modeling methods. First, we used size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifuge methods to investigate the purity of in-vitro transcribed RNAs. Next, we employed small-angle X-ray scattering techniques to study solution conformation and low-resolution structures of these RNAs, which suggest that the 3' terminal regions are highly extended as compared to the 5' terminal regions for both viruses. Using computational modeling tools, we reconstructed 3-dimensional structures of each RNA fragment and compared them with derived small-angle X-ray scattering low-resolution structures. This approach allowed us to reinforce that the 5' terminal regions adopt more dynamic structures compared to the mainly double-stranded structures of the 3' terminal regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Mrozowich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (T.M.); (A.H.); (B.D.)
| | - Amy Henrickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (T.M.); (A.H.); (B.D.)
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (T.M.); (A.H.); (B.D.)
- Department of Chemistry And Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- NorthWest Biophysics Consortium, University of Lethbridge, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Trushar R Patel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (T.M.); (A.H.); (B.D.)
- NorthWest Biophysics Consortium, University of Lethbridge, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and Discovery Lab, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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27
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VanBlargan LA, Himansu S, Foreman BM, Ebel GD, Pierson TC, Diamond MS. An mRNA Vaccine Protects Mice against Multiple Tick-Transmitted Flavivirus Infections. Cell Rep 2019; 25:3382-3392.e3. [PMID: 30566864 PMCID: PMC6353567 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-transmitted flavivirus that circulates in North America and Russia. Up to 5% of deer ticks now test positive for POWV in certain regions of the northern United States. Although POWV infections cause life-threatening encephalitis, there is no vaccine or countermeasure available for prevention or treatment. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated modified mRNA vaccine encoding the POWV prM and E genes and demonstrated its immunogenicity and efficacy in mice following immunization with one or two doses. The POWV mRNA vaccine induced high titers of neutralizing antibody and sterilizing immunity against lethal challenge with different POWV strains. The mRNA vaccine also induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple other tick-borne flaviviruses and protected mice against the distantly related Langat virus. These data demonstrate the utility of the LNP-mRNA vaccine platform for the development of vaccines with protective activity against multiple flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A VanBlargan
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sunny Himansu
- Moderna, Inc., 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bryant M Foreman
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Theodore C Pierson
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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28
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Scott JD, Clark KL, Coble NM, Ballantyne TR. Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada. Healthcare (Basel) 2019; 7:E155. [PMID: 31810270 PMCID: PMC6955799 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare7040155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease and human babesiosis are the most common tick-borne zoonoses in the Temperate Zone of North America. The number of infected patients has continued to rise globally, and these zoonoses pose a major healthcare threat. This tick-host-pathogen study was conducted to test for infectious microbes associated with Lyme disease and human babesiosis in Canada. Using the flagellin (flaB) gene, three members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex were detected, namely a Borrelia lanei-like spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), and a distinct strain that may represent a separate Bbsl genospecies. This novel Bbsl strain was detected in a mouse tick, Ixodes muris, collected from a House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, in Quebec during the southward fall migration. The presence of Bbsl in bird-feeding larvae of I. muris suggests reservoir competency in three passerines (i.e., Common Yellowthroat, House Wren, Magnolia Warbler). Based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, three Babesia species (i.e., Babesia divergens-like, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei) were detected in field-collected ticks. Not only was B. odocoilei found in songbird-derived ticks, this piroplasm was apparent in adult questing blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in southern Canada. By allowing live, engorged ticks to molt, we confirm the transstadial passage of Bbsl in I. muris and B. odocoilei in I. scapularis. Bbss and Babesia microti were detected concurrently in a groundhog tick, Ixodes cookei, in Western Ontario. In Alberta, a winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, which was collected from a moose, Alces alces, tested positive for Bbss. Notably, a B. divergens-like piroplasm was detected in a rabbit tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, collected from an eastern cottontail in southern Manitoba; this Babesia species is a first-time discovery in Canada. This rabbit tick was also co-infected with Borrelia lanei-like spirochetes, which constitutes a first in Canada. Overall, five ticks were concurrently infected with Babesia and Bbsl pathogens and, after the molt, could potentially co-infect humans. Notably, we provide the first authentic report of I. scapularis ticks co-infected with Bbsl and B. odocoilei in Canada. The full extent of infectious microorganisms transmitted to humans by ticks is not fully elucidated, and clinicians need to be aware of the complexity of these tick-transmitted enzootic agents on human health. Diagnosis and treatment must be administered by those with accredited medical training in tick-borne zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D. Scott
- International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, 2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7007, USA
| | - Kerry L. Clark
- Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; (K.L.C.); (N.M.C.); (T.R.B.)
| | - Nikki M. Coble
- Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; (K.L.C.); (N.M.C.); (T.R.B.)
| | - Taylor R. Ballantyne
- Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; (K.L.C.); (N.M.C.); (T.R.B.)
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29
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Russo AG, Kelly AG, Enosi Tuipulotu D, Tanaka MM, White PA. Novel insights into endogenous RNA viral elements in Ixodes scapularis and other arbovirus vector genomes. Virus Evol 2019; 5:vez010. [PMID: 31249694 PMCID: PMC6580184 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vez010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many emerging arboviruses are not transmitted by traditional mosquito vectors, but by lesser-studied arthropods such as ticks, midges, and sand flies. Small RNA (sRNA) silencing pathways are the main antiviral defence mechanism for arthropods, which lack adaptive immunity. Non-retroviral integrated RNA virus sequences (NIRVS) are one potential source of sRNAs which comprise these pathways. NIRVS are remnants of past germline RNA viral infections, where viral cDNA integrates into the host genome and is vertically transmitted. In Aedes mosquitoes, NIRVS are widespread and produce PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). These are hypothesised to target incoming viral transcripts to modulate viral titre, perhaps rendering the organism a more efficient arbovirus vector. To explore the NIRVS landscape in alternative arbovirus vectors, we validated the NIRVS landscape in Aedes spp. and then identified novel NIRVS in six medically relevant arthropods and also in Drosophila melanogaster. We identified novel NIRVS in Phlebotomus papatasi, Culicoides sonorensis, Rhipicephalus microplus, Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Ixodes scapularis. Due to their unexpected abundance, we further characterised NIRVS in the blacklegged tick I. scapularis (n = 143). Interestingly, NIRVS are not enriched in R. microplus, another hard tick, suggesting this is an Ixodes-specific adaptation. I. scapularis NIRVS are enriched in bunya- and orthomyxo-like sequences, reflecting that ticks are a dominant host for these virus groups. Unlike in mosquitoes, I. scapularis NIRVS are more commonly derived from the non-structural region (replicase) of negative-sense viruses, as opposed to structural regions (e.g. glycoprotein). Like other arthropods, I. scapularis NIRVS preferentially integrate into genomic piRNA clusters, and serve as a template for primary piRNA production in the commonly used embryonic I. scapularis ISE6 cell line. Interestingly, we identified a two-fold enrichment of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons, in genomic proximity to NIRVS, contrasting with studeis in Ae. aegypti, where LTR retrotransposons are instead associated with NIRVS formation. We characterised NIRVS phylogeny and integration patterns in the important vector, I. scapularis, revealing they are distinct from those in Aedes spp. Future studies will explore the possible antiviral mechanism conferred by NIRVS to I. scapularis,which may help the transmission of pathogenic arboviruses. Finally, this study explored NIRVS as an untapped wealth of viral diversity in arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice G Russo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew G Kelly
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark M Tanaka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter A White
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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30
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Abstract
The tick-borne pathogen Powassan virus is a rare cause of encephalitis in North America and the Russian Far East. The number of documented cases described since the discovery of Powassan virus in 1958 may be <150, although detection of cases has increased over the past decade. In the United States, the incidence of Powassan virus infections expanded from the estimated 1 case per year prior to 2005 to 10 cases per year during the subsequent decade. The increased detection rate may be associated with several factors, including enhanced surveillance, the availability of improved laboratory diagnostic methods, the expansion of the vector population, and, perhaps, altered human activities that lead to more exposure. Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether Powassan virus is indeed an emerging threat or if enzootic cycles in nature remain more-or-less stable with periodic fluctuations of host and vector population sizes. Despite the low disease incidence, the approximately 10% to 15% case fatality rate of neuroinvasive Powassan virus infection and the temporary or prolonged sequelae in >50% of survivors make Powassan virus a medical concern requiring the attention of public health authorities and clinicians. The medical importance of Powassan virus justifies more research on developing specific and effective treatments and prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Kemenesi
- Virological Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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31
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Taank V, Zhou W, Zhuang X, Anderson JF, Pal U, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Characterization of tick organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) upon bacterial and viral infections. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:593. [PMID: 30428915 PMCID: PMC6236954 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3160-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes scapularis organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) play important roles in tick-rickettsial pathogen interactions. In this report, we characterized the role of these conserved molecules in ticks infected with either Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi or tick-borne Langat virus (LGTV), a pathogen closely related to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Results Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed no significant changes in oatps gene expression upon infection with B. burgdorferi in unfed ticks. Synchronous infection of unfed nymphal ticks with LGTV in vitro revealed no significant changes in oatps gene expression. However, expression of specific oatps was significantly downregulated upon LGTV infection of tick cells in vitro. Treatment of tick cells with OATP inhibitor significantly reduced LGTV loads, kynurenine amino transferase (kat), a gene involved in the production of tryptophan metabolite xanthurenic acid (XA), levels and expression of several oatps in tick cells. Furthermore, bioinformatics characterization of OATPs from some of the medically important vectors including ticks, mosquitoes and lice revealed the presence of several glycosylation, phosphorylation and myristoylation sites. Conclusions This study provides additional evidence on the role of arthropod OATPs in vector-intracellular pathogen interactions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3160-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Taank
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Wenshuo Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Xuran Zhuang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA. .,Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
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32
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Corrin T, Greig J, Harding S, Young I, Mascarenhas M, Waddell LA. Powassan virus, a scoping review of the global evidence. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:595-624. [PMID: 29911344 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Powassan virus (POWV), a flavivirus discovered in 1958, causes sporadic but severe cases of encephalitis in humans. Since 2007, the number of human Powassan cases diagnosed each year in the USA has steadily increased. This is in agreement with predictions that Powassan cases may increase in North America as a result of increased exposure to infected ticks. However, the increase may also reflect improved diagnostics and reporting among other factors. METHODS A scoping review was prioritized to identify and characterize the global literature on POWV. Following an a priori developed protocol, a comprehensive search strategy was implemented. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts for relevant research and the identified full papers were used to characterize the POWV literature using a predetermined data characterization tool. RESULTS One hundred and seventy-eight articles were included. The majority of the studies were conducted in North America (88.2%) between 1958 and 2017. Both genotypes of POWV (Powassan lineage 1 and Deer Tick virus) were isolated or studied in vitro, in vectors, nonhuman hosts and human populations. To date, POWV has been reported in 147 humans in North America. The virus has also been isolated from five tick species, and several animals have tested positive for exposure to the virus. The relevant articles identified in this review cover the following eight topics: epidemiology (123 studies), pathogenesis (66), surveillance (33), virus characterization (22), POWV transmission (8), diagnostic test accuracy (8), treatment (4) and mitigation strategies (3). CONCLUSION The literature on POWV is relatively small compared with other vector-borne diseases, likely because POWV has not been prioritized due to the small number of severe sporadic human cases. With the projected impact of climate change on tick populations, increases in the number of human cases are expected. It is recommended that future research efforts focus on closing some of the important knowledge gaps identified in this scoping review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia Corrin
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Judy Greig
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon Harding
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Young
- School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mariola Mascarenhas
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Lisa A Waddell
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
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33
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Campagnolo ER, Tewari D, Farone TS, Livengood JL, Mason KL. Evidence of Powassan/deer tick virus in adult black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) recovered from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Pennsylvania: A public health perspective. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:589-594. [PMID: 29707917 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Studies reporting tick infection rates for Powassan virus (POWV), an emerging zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogen responsible for POWV disease in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are limited. To determine the presence and ascertain a statewide prevalence of POWV, ticks were collected from 9,912 hunter-harvested white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) heads presented to six regional Pennsylvania Game Commission Chronic Wasting Disease sampling stations in early December of 2013, 2014 and 2015. Of the 2,973 ticks recovered, 1,990 (66.9%) were identified as adult Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick). The 1,990 I. scapularis ticks were PCR-tested for the presence of POWV. The ticks had a statewide Powassan/deer tick virus infection rate of 0.05%, providing evidence of this pathogen in Pennsylvania's adult I. scapularis ticks and supporting the need for more comprehensive pathogen prevalence assessment strategies, as well as increased public health awareness for this emerging zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogen of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Campagnolo
- Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.,Division of State and Local Readiness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - D Tewari
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
| | - T S Farone
- Department of Biology, Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania
| | - J L Livengood
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
| | - K L Mason
- Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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34
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Cavanaugh CE, Muscat PL, Telford SR, Goethert H, Pendlebury W, Elias SP, Robich R, Welch M, Lubelczyk CB, Smith RP. Fatal Deer Tick Virus Infection in Maine. Clin Infect Dis 2018; 65:1043-1046. [PMID: 28903511 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deer tick virus (DTV), a genetic variant (lineage II) of Powassan virus, is a rare cause of encephalitis in North America. We report a fatal case of DTV encephalitis following a documented bite from an Ixodes scapularis tick and the erythema migrans rash associated with Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul L Muscat
- Division of Neurology, Maine Medical Center, Portland
| | - Sam R Telford
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heidi Goethert
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Susan P Elias
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory
| | - Rebecca Robich
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory
| | - Margret Welch
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory
| | | | - Robert P Smith
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Maine Medical Center, Portland
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35
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Fatmi SS, Zehra R, Carpenter DO. Powassan Virus-A New Reemerging Tick-Borne Disease. Front Public Health 2017; 5:342. [PMID: 29312918 PMCID: PMC5732952 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus is a neurovirulent flavivirus consisting of two lineages causing meningoencephalitis. It is the only member of the tick-borne encephalitis serogroup which is present in mainland North America. With a total number of 27 cases from 1958 to 1998 and 98 cases from 1999 to 2016, reported cases have increased by 671% over the last 18 years. Powassan infection is transmitted by different tick species in different geographical regions. Ixodes scapularis is the primary vector that transmits the virus on the East Coast of US and Ixodes cookei in the Midwest and Canada, while Hemaphysalis longicornis is the vector in Russia. Powassan has no singular pathognomonic finding and presents with a wide spectrum of symptoms including severe neurological symptoms. The clinical challenge lies within the management of the disease as there is no standard diagnostic protocol and most cases are only diagnosed after a patient goes through an extensive workup for other infectious disease. The diagnosis is established by a combination of imaging and serologic tests. In case of Powassan meningoencephalitis, computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging show vascular insults, which are also seen in cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus, another flavivirus of medical importance. Serologic tests are the gold standard for diagnosis, although testing is not widely available and only state health departments and Center for Disease Control and Prevention can perform Powassan-specific IgM antibody testing utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence antibody. Powassan is also of veterinary medical importance. Wildlife animals act as a reservoir to the pathogens, hence possessing threat to humans and domestic animals. This review highlights Powassan’s neurotropic presentation, epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and prevalence. Strong emphasis is placed on establishing diagnostic protocols, widespread Powassan-specific IgM testing, role of the vector in disease presentation, and necessary preventive research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Soheb Fatmi
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, SUNY, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Rija Zehra
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, SUNY, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - David O Carpenter
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, SUNY, Rensselaer, NY, United States
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36
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Bouquet J, Melgar M, Swei A, Delwart E, Lane RS, Chiu CY. Metagenomic-based Surveillance of Pacific Coast tick Dermacentor occidentalis Identifies Two Novel Bunyaviruses and an Emerging Human Ricksettsial Pathogen. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12234. [PMID: 28947798 PMCID: PMC5612965 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12047-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of emerging tick-borne diseases has been reported in the United States since the 1970s. Using metagenomic next generation sequencing, we detected nucleic acid sequences from 2 novel viruses in the family Bunyaviridae and an emerging human rickettsial pathogen, Rickettsia philipii, in a population of the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis in Mendocino County sampled annually from 2011 to 2014. A total of 250 adults of this human-biting, generalist tick were collected from contiguous chaparral and grassland habitats, and RNA from each individually extracted tick was deep sequenced to an average depth of 7.3 million reads. We detected a Francisella endosymbiont in 174 ticks (70%), and Rickettsia spp. in 19 ticks (8%); Rickettsia-infected ticks contained R. rhipicephali (16 of 250, 6.4%) or R. philipii (3 of 250,1.2%), the agent of eschar-associated febrile illness in humans. The genomes of 2 novel bunyaviruses (>99% complete) in the genera Nairovirus and Phlebovirus were also identified and found to be present in 20-91% of ticks, depending on the year of collection. The high prevalence of these bunyaviruses in sampled Dermacentor ticks suggests that they may be viral endosymbionts, although further studies are needed to determine whether they are infectious for vertebrate hosts, especially humans, and their potential role in tick ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Bouquet
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Michael Melgar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Eric Delwart
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Robert S Lane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Charles Y Chiu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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37
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Mansfield KL, Jizhou L, Phipps LP, Johnson N. Emerging Tick-Borne Viruses in the Twenty-First Century. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:298. [PMID: 28744449 PMCID: PMC5504652 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks, as a group, are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens to humans and are the primary vector for pathogens of livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. The role of ticks in the transmission of viruses has been known for over 100 years and yet new pathogenic viruses are still being detected and known viruses are continually spreading to new geographic locations. Partly as a result of their novelty, tick-virus interactions are at an early stage in understanding. For some viruses, even the principal tick-vector is not known. It is likely that tick-borne viruses will continue to emerge and challenge public and veterinary health long into the twenty-first century. However, studies focusing on tick saliva, a critical component of tick feeding, virus transmission, and a target for control of ticks and tick-borne diseases, point toward solutions to emerging viruses. The aim of this review is to describe some currently emerging tick-borne diseases, their causative viruses, and to discuss research on virus-tick interactions. Through focus on this area, future protein targets for intervention and vaccine development may be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Mansfield
- Animal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestone, United Kingdom.,Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of LiverpoolLiverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lv Jizhou
- Animal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestone, United Kingdom.,Chinese Academy of Inspection and QuarantineBeijing, China
| | - L Paul Phipps
- Animal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Animal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestone, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of SurreyGuildford, United Kingdom
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38
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Hermance ME, Thangamani S. Powassan Virus: An Emerging Arbovirus of Public Health Concern in North America. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:453-462. [PMID: 28498740 PMCID: PMC5512300 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV, Flaviviridae) is the only North American member of the tick-borne encephalitis serogroup of flaviviruses. It is transmitted to small- and medium-sized mammals by Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes cookei, and several other Ixodes tick species. Humans become infected with POWV during spillover transmission from the natural transmission cycles. In humans, POWV is the causative agent of a severe neuroinvasive illness with 50% of survivors displaying long-term neurological sequelae. POWV was recognized as a human pathogen in 1958 when a young boy died of severe encephalitis in Powassan, Ontario, and POWV was isolated from the brain autopsy of this case. Two distinct genetic lineages of POWV are now recognized: POWV (lineage I) and deer tick virus (lineage II). Since the index case in 1958, over 100 human cases of POWV have been reported, with an apparent rise in disease incidence in the past 16 years. This recent increase in cases may represent a true emergence of POWV in regions where the tick vector species are prevalent, or it could represent an increase in POWV surveillance and diagnosis. In the past 5 years, both basic and applied research for POWV disease has intensified, including phylogenetic studies, field surveillance, case studies, and animal model development. This review provides an overview of POWV, including the epidemiology, transmission, clinical disease, and diagnosis of POWV infection. Recent research developments and future priorities with regard to the disease are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Hermance
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Saravanan Thangamani
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas.,2 Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas.,3 Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
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39
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Knox KK, Thomm AM, Harrington YA, Ketter E, Patitucci JM, Carrigan DR. Powassan/Deer Tick Virus and Borrelia Burgdorferi Infection in Wisconsin Tick Populations. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:463-466. [PMID: 28488932 PMCID: PMC5512294 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan/Deer Tick Virus (POWV/DTV) is an emerging cause of arboviral neuroinvasive disease in the upper Midwest. These studies describe the prevalence and geographic distribution of Wisconsin ticks carrying POWV/DTV as well as the high frequency of Ixodes scapularis ticks coinfected with both POWV/DTV and Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. These findings suggest that concurrent transmission of POWV/DTV and B. Burgdorferi from coinfected ticks is likely to occur in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ellen Ketter
- 2 Stowers Institute for Medical Research , Kansas City, Missouri
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40
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Tutolo JW, Staples JE, Sosa L, Bennett N. Notes from the Field: Powassan Virus Disease in an Infant - Connecticut, 2016. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2017; 66:408-409. [PMID: 28426641 PMCID: PMC5687186 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6615a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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41
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Vora A, Taank V, Dutta SM, Anderson JF, Fish D, Sonenshine DE, Catravas JD, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Ticks elicit variable fibrinogenolytic activities upon feeding on hosts with different immune backgrounds. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44593. [PMID: 28300174 PMCID: PMC5353578 DOI: 10.1038/srep44593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete several anti-hemostatic factors in their saliva to suppress the host innate and acquired immune defenses against infestations. Using Ixodes scapularis ticks and age-matched mice purchased from two independent commercial vendors with two different immune backgrounds as a model, we show that ticks fed on immunodeficient animals demonstrate decreased fibrinogenolytic activity in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Reduced levels of D-dimer (fibrin degradation product) were evident in ticks fed on immunodeficient animals in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Increased engorgement weights were noted for ticks fed on immunodeficient animals in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Furthermore, the LC-MS/MS and quantitative real-time-PCR analysis followed by inhibitor and antibody-blocking assays revealed that the arthropod HSP70-like molecule contributes to differential fibrinogenolysis during tick feeding. Collectively, these results not only indicate that ticks elicit variable fibrinogenolysis upon feeding on hosts with different immune backgrounds but also provide insights for the novel role of arthropod HSP70-like molecule in fibrinogenolysis during blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Vora
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Vikas Taank
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Sucharita M Dutta
- Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Durland Fish
- School of Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel E Sonenshine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - John D Catravas
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,School of Medical Diagnostic and Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
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42
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Scott JD, Foley JE, Anderson JF, Clark KL, Durden LA. Detection of Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, in Blacklegged Ticks Collected in the Grand River Valley, Ontario, Canada. Int J Med Sci 2017; 14:150-158. [PMID: 28260991 PMCID: PMC5332844 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.17763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We document the presence of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in the Grand River valley, Centre Wellington, Ontario. Overall, 15 (36%) of 42 I. scapularis adults collected from 41 mammalian hosts (dogs, cats, humans) were positive for the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). Using real-time PCR testing and DNA sequencing of the flagellin (fla) gene, we determined that Borrelia amplicons extracted from I. scapularis adults belonged to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), which is pathogenic to humans and certain domestic animals. Based on the distribution of I. scapularis adults within the river basin, it appears likely that migratory birds provide an annual influx of I. scapularis immatures during northward spring migration. Health-care providers need to be aware that local residents can present with Lyme disease symptoms anytime during the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Scott
- Research Division, Lyme Ontario, Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 2L7
| | - Janet E Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA 95616
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology and Center for Vector Ecology and Zoonotic Diseases. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, USA 06504
| | - Kerry L Clark
- Epidemiology & Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, USA 32224
| | - Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30458, USA
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Mlera L, Meade-White K, Saturday G, Scott D, Bloom ME. Modeling Powassan virus infection in Peromyscus leucopus, a natural host. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005346. [PMID: 28141800 PMCID: PMC5302833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tick-borne flavivirus, Powassan virus (POWV) causes life-threatening encephalitis in humans in North America and Europe. POWV is transmitted by ixodid tick vectors that feed on small to medium-sized mammals, such as Peromyscus leucopus mice, which may serve as either reservoir, bridge or amplification hosts. Intraperitoneal and intracranial inoculation of 4-week old Peromyscus leucopus mice with 103 PFU of POWV did not result in overt clinical signs of disease. However, following intracranial inoculation, infected mice seroconverted to POWV and histopathological examinations revealed that the mice uniformly developed mild lymphocytic perivascular cuffing and microgliosis in the brain and spinal cord from 5 to 15 days post infection (dpi), suggesting an early inflammatory response. In contrast, intracranial inoculation of 4-week old C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice was lethal by 5 dpi. Intraperitoneal inoculation was lethal in BALB/c mice, but 40% (2/5) of C57BL/6 mice survived. We concluded that Peromyscus leucopus mice infected i.c. with a lethal dose of POWV support a limited infection, restricted to the central nervous system and mount an antibody response to the virus. However, they fail to develop clinical signs of disease and are able to control the infection. These results suggest the involvement of restriction factors, and the mechanism by which Peromyscus leucopus mice restrict POWV infection remains under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwanika Mlera
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Meade-White
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Greg Saturday
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Dana Scott
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Marshall E. Bloom
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
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Transmission and evolution of tick-borne viruses. Curr Opin Virol 2016; 21:67-74. [PMID: 27569396 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ticks transmit a diverse array of viruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus, Powassan virus, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus that are reemerging in many parts of the world. Most tick-borne viruses (TBVs) are RNA viruses that replicate using error-prone polymerases and produce genetically diverse viral populations that facilitate their rapid evolution and adaptation to novel environments. This article reviews the mechanisms of virus transmission by tick vectors, the molecular evolution of TBVs circulating in nature, and the processes shaping viral diversity within hosts to better understand how these viruses may become public health threats. In addition, remaining questions and future directions for research are discussed.
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Nelder MP, Russell CB, Sheehan NJ, Sander B, Moore S, Li Y, Johnson S, Patel SN, Sider D. Human pathogens associated with the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:265. [PMID: 27151067 PMCID: PMC4857413 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1529-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis transmits Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto) in eastern North America; however, the agent of Lyme disease is not the sole pathogen harbored by the blacklegged tick. The blacklegged tick is expanding its range into areas of southern Canada such as Ontario, an area where exposure to blacklegged tick bites and tick-borne pathogens is increasing. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the public health risks posed by expanding blacklegged tick populations and their associated pathogens. METHODS We followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for conducting our systematic review. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS, Scopus and Environment Complete databases for studies published from 2000 through 2015, using subject headings and keywords that included "Ixodes scapularis", "Rickettsia", "Borrelia", "Anaplasma", "Babesia" and "pathogen." Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts against eligibility criteria (i.e. studies that included field-collected blacklegged ticks and studies that did not focus solely on B. burgdorferi) and performed quality assessments on eligible studies. RESULTS Seventy-eight studies were included in the final review, 72 were from the US and eight were from Canada (two studies included blacklegged ticks from both countries). Sixty-four (82%) studies met ≥ 75% of the quality assessment criteria. Blacklegged ticks harbored 91 distinct taxa, 16 of these are tick-transmitted human pathogens, including species of Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Theileria and Flavivirus. Organism richness was highest in the Northeast (Connecticut, New York) and Upper Midwest US (Wisconsin); however, organism richness was dependent on sampling effort. The primary tick-borne pathogens of public health concern in Ontario, due to the geographic proximity or historical detection in Ontario, are Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, B. burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, deer tick virus and Ehrlichia muris-like sp. Aside from B. burgdorferi and to a much lesser concern A. phagocytophilum, these pathogens are not immediate concerns to public health in Ontario; rather they represent future threats as the distribution of vectors and pathogens continue to proliferate. CONCLUSIONS Our review is the first systematic assessment of the literature on the human pathogens associated with the blacklegged tick. As Lyme disease awareness continues to increase, it is an opportune time to document the full spectrum of human pathogens transmittable by blacklegged ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Curtis B Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nina Jain Sheehan
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Moore
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ye Li
- Analytic Services, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Johnson
- Analytic Services, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratories, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Doug Sider
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Piantadosi A, Rubin DB, McQuillen DP, Hsu L, Lederer PA, Ashbaugh CD, Duffalo C, Duncan R, Thon J, Bhattacharyya S, Basgoz N, Feske SK, Lyons JL. Emerging Cases of Powassan Virus Encephalitis in New England: Clinical Presentation, Imaging, and Review of the Literature. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 62:707-713. [PMID: 26668338 PMCID: PMC4850925 DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ1005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Powassan virus (POWV) is a rarely diagnosed cause of encephalitis in the United States. In the Northeast, it is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, the same vector that transmits Lyme disease. The prevalence of POWV among animal hosts and vectors has been increasing. We present 8 cases of POWV encephalitis from Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2013-2015. METHODS We abstracted clinical and epidemiological information for patients with POWV encephalitis diagnosed at 2 hospitals in Massachusetts from 2013 to 2015. We compared their brain imaging with those in published findings from Powassan and other viral encephalitides. RESULTS The patients ranged in age from 21 to 82 years, were, for the most part, previously healthy, and presented with syndromes of fever, headache, and altered consciousness. Infections occurred from May to September and were often associated with known tick exposures. In all patients, cerebrospinal fluid analyses showed pleocytosis with elevated protein. In 7 of 8 patients, brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated deep foci of increased T2/fluid-attenuation inversion recovery signal intensity. CONCLUSIONS We describe 8 cases of POWV encephalitis in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2013-2015. Prior to this, there had been only 2 cases of POWV encephalitis identified in Massachusetts. These cases may represent emergence of this virus in a region where its vector, I. scapularis, is known to be prevalent or may represent the emerging diagnosis of an underappreciated pathogen. We recommend testing for POWV in patients who present with encephalitis in the spring to fall in New England.
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MESH Headings
- Acyclovir/therapeutic use
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/cerebrospinal fluid
- Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
- Brain/diagnostic imaging
- Brain/pathology
- Brain/virology
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/drug effects
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/immunology
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/pathogenicity
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/diagnosis
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/diagnostic imaging
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/epidemiology
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/virology
- Female
- Flavivirus/drug effects
- Flavivirus/immunology
- Flavivirus/pathogenicity
- Humans
- Ixodes/virology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Massachusetts/epidemiology
- Meningitis, Bacterial/drug therapy
- Middle Aged
- New Hampshire/epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Seasons
- United States/epidemiology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Piantadosi
- Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Daniel B Rubin
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
| | - Daniel P McQuillen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Burlington
| | | | | | - Cameron D Ashbaugh
- Division of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chad Duffalo
- Christiana Care Health System, Division of Infectious Diseases, Newark, Delaware
| | - Robert Duncan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Burlington
| | - Jesse Thon
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
| | | | - Nesli Basgoz
- Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Steven K Feske
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
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Tick Saliva Enhances Powassan Virus Transmission to the Host, Influencing Its Dissemination and the Course of Disease. J Virol 2015; 89:7852-60. [PMID: 25995246 PMCID: PMC4505606 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01056-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Powassan virus (POWV) is an encephalitic tick-borne flavivirus which can result in serious neuroinvasive disease with up to a 10% case fatality rate. The study objective was to determine whether the salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ixodes scapularis ticks facilitates the transmission and dissemination of POWV in a process known as saliva-activated transmission. Groups of BALB/c mice were footpad inoculated with either a high dose of POWV with and without SGE or a low dose of POWV with and without SGE. Mice from each group were sacrificed daily. Organ viral loads and gene expression profiles were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Both groups of mice infected with high-dose POWV showed severe neurological signs of disease preceding death. The presence of SGE did not affect POWV transmission or disease outcome for mice infected with the high dose of POWV. Neuroinvasion, paralysis, and death occurred for all mice infected with the low dose of POWV plus SGE; however, for mice infected with the low dose of POWV in the absence of SGE, there were no clinical signs of infection and no mice succumbed to disease. Although this group displayed low-level viremias, all mice were completely healthy, and it was the only group in which POWV was cleared from the lymph nodes. We conclude that saliva-activated transmission occurs in mice infected with a low dose of POWV. Our study is the first to demonstrate virus dose-dependent saliva-activated transmission, warranting further investigation of the specific salivary factors responsible for enhancing POWV transmission. IMPORTANCE Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne flavivirus that continues to emerge in the United States, as is evident by the surge in number and expanding geographic range of confirmed cases in the past decade. This neuroinvasive virus is transmitted to humans by infected tick bites. Successful tick feeding is facilitated by a collection of pharmacologically active factors in tick saliva. In a process known as saliva-activated transmission, tick bioactive salivary molecules are thought to modulate the host environment, making it more favorable for the transmission and establishment of a pathogen. This phenomenon has been demonstrated for several tick-borne pathogens; however, a systematic investigation of the role of tick saliva on dissemination and pathogenesis of a tick-borne viral disease has never been attempted before. This study will fill that gap by systematically examining whether the presence of tick saliva contributes to the transmission and dissemination of POWV in mice.
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El Khoury MY, Camargo JF, White JL, Backenson BP, Dupuis AP, Escuyer KL, Kramer L, St. George K, Chatterjee D, Prusinski M, Wormser GP, Wong SJ. Potential role of deer tick virus in Powassan encephalitis cases in Lyme disease-endemic areas of New York, U.S.A. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 19:1926-33. [PMID: 24274334 PMCID: PMC3840892 DOI: 10.3201/eid1912.130903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
TOC Summary: The epidemiologic pattern and limited laboratory testing indicate that this virus lineage might account for most of these illnesses. Powassan virus, a member of the tick-borne encephalitis group of flaviviruses, encompasses 2 lineages with separate enzootic cycles. The prototype lineage of Powassan virus (POWV) is principally maintained between Ixodes cookei ticks and the groundhog (Marmota momax) or striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), whereas the deer tick virus (DTV) lineage is believed to be maintained between Ixodes scapularis ticks and the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). We report 14 cases of Powassan encephalitis from New York during 2004–2012. Ten (72%) of the patients were residents of the Lower Hudson Valley, a Lyme disease–endemic area in which I. scapularis ticks account for most human tick bites. This finding suggests that many of these cases were caused by DTV rather than POWV. In 2 patients, DTV infection was confirmed by genetic sequencing. As molecular testing becomes increasingly available, more cases of Powassan encephalitis may be determined to be attributable to the DTV lineage.
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Hermance M, Dos Santos RIM, Heinze D, Hausser N, Bouyer DH, Thangamani S. Detection of Rickettsia amblyommii in ticks collected from Missouri, USA. Emerg Microbes Infect 2014; 3:e34. [PMID: 26038740 PMCID: PMC4051364 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2014.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Hermance
- Department of Pathology , University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | - Dar Heinze
- Department of Pathology , University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Nicole Hausser
- Department of Pathology , University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA ; Insectary Services Division, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Donald H Bouyer
- Department of Pathology , University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Saravanan Thangamani
- Department of Pathology , University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA ; Insectary Services Division, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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50
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Ei Khoury MY, Camargo JF, Wormser GP. Changing epidemiology of Powassan encephalitis in North America suggests the emergence of the deer tick virus subtype. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 11:983-5. [PMID: 24124795 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2013.837805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Y Ei Khoury
- New York Medical College, Division of Infectious Diseases, Munger Pavilion, Room 245, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA +1 914 493 8865 +1 914 594 4673
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