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Zhong Z, Wang K, Wang J. Tick symbiosis. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 62:101163. [PMID: 38244689 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
As obligate blood-feeders, ticks serve as vectors for a variety of pathogens that pose threats on both human and livestock health. The microbiota that ticks harbor play important roles in influencing tick nutrition, development, reproduction, and vector. These microbes also affect the capacity of ticks to transmit pathogens (vector competence). Therefore, comprehending the functions of tick microbiota will help in developing novel and effective tick control strategies. Here, we summarize the effects of main tick symbiotic bacteria on tick physiology and vector competency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwei Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
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2
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Urbanová V, Lu S, Kalinová E, Martins L, Kozelková T, Dyčka F, Ribeiro JM, Hajdušek O, Perner J, Kopáček P. From the fat body to the hemolymph: Profiling tick immune and storage proteins through transcriptomics and proteomics. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 165:104072. [PMID: 38185274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids that are known to transmit various pathogenic microorganisms to their hosts. During blood feeding, ticks activate their metabolism and immune system to efficiently utilise nutrients from the host's blood and complete the feeding process. In contrast to insects, in which the fat body is known to be a central organ that controls essential metabolic processes and immune defense mechanisms, the function of the fat body in tick physiology is still relatively unexplored. To fill this gap, we sought to uncover the repertoire of genes expressed in the fat body associated with trachea (FB/Tr) by analyzing the transcriptome of individual, partially fed (previtellogenic) Ixodes ricinus females. The resulting catalog of individual mRNA sequences reveals a broad repertoire of transcripts encoding proteins involved in nutrient storage and distribution, as well as components of the tick immune system. To gain a detailed insight into the secretory products of FB/Tr specifically involved in inter-tissue transport and humoral immunity, the transcriptomic data were complemented with the proteome of soluble proteins in the hemolymph of partially fed female ticks. Among these proteins, the hemolipoglyco-carrier proteins were predominant. When comparing immune peptides and proteins from the fat body with those produced by hemocytes, we found that the fat body serves as a unique producer of certain immune components. Finally, time-resolved transcriptional regulation of selected immune transcripts from the FB/Tr was examined in response to experimental challenges with model microbes and analyzed by RT-qPCR. Overall, our data show that the fat body of ticks, similar to insects, is an important metabolic tissue that also plays a remarkable role in immune defense against invading microbes. These findings improve our understanding of tick biology and its impact on the transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eliška Kalinová
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Larissa Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, Rocky Mountain Laboratories - NIH/NIAID, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Dyčka
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - José M Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ondřej Hajdušek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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3
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Kozelková T, Dyčka F, Lu S, Urbanová V, Frantová H, Sojka D, Šíma R, Horn M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Insight Into the Dynamics of the Ixodes ricinus Nymphal Midgut Proteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100663. [PMID: 37832788 PMCID: PMC10665701 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood and have an impressive ability to consume and process enormous amounts of host blood, allowing extremely long periods of starvation between blood meals. The central role in the parasitic lifestyle of ticks is played by the midgut. This organ efficiently stores and digests ingested blood and serves as the primary interface for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, we used a label-free quantitative approach to perform a novel dynamic proteomic analysis of the midgut of Ixodesricinus nymphs, covering their development from unfed to pre-molt stages. We identified 1534 I. ricinus-specific proteins with a relatively low proportion of host proteins. This proteome dataset, which was carefully examined by manual scrutiny, allowed precise annotation of proteins important for blood meal processing and their dynamic changes during nymphal ontogeny. We focused on midgut molecules related to lipid hydrolysis, storage, and transport, opening a yet unexplored avenue for studying lipid metabolism in ticks. Further dynamic profiling of the tick's multi-enzyme digestive network, protease inhibitors, enzymes involved in redox homeostasis and detoxification, antimicrobial peptides, and proteins responsible for midgut colonization by Borrelia spirochetes promises to uncover new targets for targeting tick nymphs, the most critical life stage for transmission the pathogens that cause tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Dyčka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Frantová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Bioptic Laboratory, Ltd, Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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4
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Rosche KL, Hurtado J, Fisk EA, Vosbigian KA, Warren AL, Sidak-Loftis LC, Wright SJ, Ramirez-Zepp E, Park JM, Shaw DK. PERK-mediated antioxidant response is key for pathogen persistence in ticks. mSphere 2023; 8:e0032123. [PMID: 37733353 PMCID: PMC10597351 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00321-23] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A crucial phase in the life cycle of tick-borne pathogens is the time spent colonizing and persisting within the arthropod. Tick immunity is emerging as a key force shaping how transmissible pathogens interact with the vector. How pathogens remain in the tick despite immunological pressure remains unknown. In persistently infected Ixodes scapularis, we found that Borrelia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis) activate a cellular stress pathway mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum receptor PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and the central regulatory molecule eIF2α. Disabling the PERK pathway through pharmacological inhibition and RNA interference (RNAi) significantly decreased microbial numbers. In vivo RNAi of the PERK pathway not only reduced the number of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi colonizing larvae after a bloodmeal but also significantly reduced the number of bacteria that survive the molt. An investigation into PERK pathway-regulated targets revealed that A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi induce activity of the antioxidant response regulator, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Tick cells deficient for nrf2 expression or PERK signaling showed accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in addition to reduced microbial survival. Supplementation with antioxidants rescued the microbicidal phenotype caused by blocking the PERK pathway. Altogether, our study demonstrates that the Ixodes PERK pathway is activated by transmissible microbes and facilitates persistence in the arthropod by potentiating an Nrf2-regulated antioxidant environment. IMPORTANCE Recent advances demonstrate that the tick immune system recognizes and limits the pathogens they transmit. Innate immune mediators such as antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species are produced and restrict microbial survival. It is currently unclear how pathogens remain in the tick, despite this immune assault. We found that an antioxidant response controlled by the PERK branch of the unfolded protein response is activated in ticks that are persistently infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) or Anaplasma phagocytophilum (granulocytic anaplasmosis). The PERK pathway induces the antioxidant response transcription factor, Nrf2, which coordinates a gene network that ultimately neutralizes reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Interfering with this signaling cascade in ticks causes a significant decline in pathogen numbers. Given that innate immune products can cause collateral damage to host tissues, we speculate that this is an arthropod-driven response aimed at minimizing damage to "self" that also inadvertently benefits the pathogen. Collectively, our findings shed light on the mechanistic push and pull between tick immunity and pathogen persistence within the arthropod vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L. Rosche
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Joanna Hurtado
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Elis A. Fisk
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kaylee A. Vosbigian
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Ashley L. Warren
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Lindsay C. Sidak-Loftis
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Sarah J. Wright
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Elisabeth Ramirez-Zepp
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Jason M. Park
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Dana K. Shaw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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5
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Hajdusek O, Kopacek P, Perner J. Experimental platforms for functional genomics in ticks. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101102. [PMID: 37586557 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites that devastate cattle farming and are an omnipresent nuisance to pets and humans, posing a threat of pathogen transmission. Laboratory experimental models can be instrumental in the search for molecular targets of novel acaricides or vaccines. Mainly, though, the experimental models represent invaluable tools for broadening our basic understanding of key processes of tick blood-feeding physiology and vector competence. In order to understand the function of a single component within the full complexity of a feeding tick, genetic or biochemical interventions are used for systemic phenotypisation. In this work, we summarise current experimental modalities that represent powerful approaches for determining biological functions of tick molecular components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Hajdusek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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Aguilar-Díaz H, Quiroz-Castañeda RE, Díaz-Esquivel IG, Cossío-Bayúgar R, Miranda-Miranda E. A Novel Rhipicephalus microplus Estrogen Related Receptor (RmERR), a Molecular and In Silico Characterization of a Potential Protein Binding Estrogen. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2294. [PMID: 37764138 PMCID: PMC10536290 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The search for targets to control ticks and tick-borne diseases has been an ongoing problem, and so far, we still need efficient, non-chemical alternatives for this purpose. This search must consider new alternatives. For example genomics analysis is a widely applied tool in veterinary health studies to control pathogens. On the other hand, we propose that regulation of endocrine mechanisms represents a feasible alternative to biologically controlling tick infestations. Thus, we performed the molecular identification of an estrogen-related receptor gene of Rhipicephalus microplus called RmERR by RT-PCR in tick ovaries, embryonic cells, and hemolymph, which allowed us to analyze its expression and propose potential functions in endocrine mechanisms and developmental stages. In addition, we performed an in silico characterization to explore the molecular interactions of RmERR with different estrogens, estrogenic antagonists, and endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA), finding potential interactions predicted by docking analysis and supported by negative values of ΔG (which suggests the potential interaction of RmERR with the molecules evaluated). Additionally, phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that RmERR is grouped with other tick species but is phylogenetically distant from host vertebrates' ERRs. In summary, this study allowed for the identification of an ERR in cattle tick R. microplus for the first time and suggested its interaction with different estrogens, supporting the idea of a probable transregulation process in ticks. The elucidation of this interaction and its mechanisms unveiled its potential as a target to develop tick control strategies.
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7
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Chen C, Hamza I. Notes from the Underground: Heme Homeostasis in C. elegans. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1149. [PMID: 37509184 PMCID: PMC10377359 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is an iron-containing tetrapyrrole that plays a critical role in various biological processes, including oxygen transport, electron transport, signal transduction, and catalysis. However, free heme is hydrophobic and potentially toxic to cells. Organisms have evolved specific pathways to safely transport this essential but toxic macrocycle within and between cells. The bacterivorous soil-dwelling nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful animal model for studying heme-trafficking pathways, as it lacks the ability to synthesize heme but instead relies on specialized trafficking pathways to acquire, distribute, and utilize heme. Over the past 15 years, studies on this microscopic animal have led to the identification of a number of heme-trafficking proteins, with corresponding functional homologs in vertebrates. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the heme-trafficking proteins identified in C. elegans and their corresponding homologs in related organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyong Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Iqbal Hamza
- Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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8
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Lu S, Martins LA, Kotál J, Ribeiro JMC, Tirloni L. A longitudinal transcriptomic analysis from unfed to post-engorgement midguts of adult female Ixodes scapularis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11360. [PMID: 37443274 PMCID: PMC10345007 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38207-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The hematophagy behavior has evolved independently several times within the Arthropoda phylum. Interestingly, the process of acquiring a blood meal in ticks is considerably distinct from that observed in other blood-feeding arthropods. Instead of taking seconds to minutes to complete a blood meal, an adult female Ixodes scapularis tick can remain attached to its host for numerous days. During this extended feeding period, the tick undergoes drastic morphological changes. It is well established that the tick midgut plays a pivotal role not only in blood meal digestion but also in pathogen acquisition and transmission. However, our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in these events remains limited. To expedite tick research, we conducted a comprehensive longitudinal RNA-sequencing of the tick midgut before, during, and after feeding. By collecting ticks in different feeding stages (unfed, slow feeding, rapid feeding, and early post-detached), we obtained a comprehensive overview of the transcripts present in each stage and the dynamic transcriptional changes that occur between them. This provides valuable insights into tick physiology. Additionally, through unsupervised clustering, we identified transcripts with similar patterns and stage-specific sequences. These findings serve as a foundation for selecting targets in the development of anti-tick control strategies and facilitate a better understanding of how blood feeding and pathogen infection impact tick physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Larissa A Martins
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Jan Kotál
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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9
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Rosche KL, Hurtado J, Fisk EA, Vosbigian KA, Warren AL, Sidak-Loftis LC, Wright SJ, Ramirez-Zepp E, Park JM, Shaw DK. PERK-mediated antioxidant response is key for pathogen persistence in ticks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542958. [PMID: 37398437 PMCID: PMC10312570 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
A crucial phase in the lifecycle of tick-borne pathogens is the time spent colonizing and persisting within the arthropod. Tick immunity is emerging as a key force shaping how transmissible pathogens interact with the vector. How pathogens remain in the tick despite immunological pressure remains unknown. In persistently infected Ixodes scapularis , we found that Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (granulocytic anaplasmosis) activate a cellular stress pathway mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum receptor PERK and the central regulatory molecule, eIF2α. Disabling the PERK pathway through pharmacological inhibition and RNAi significantly decreased microbial numbers. In vivo RNA interference of the PERK pathway not only reduced the number of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi colonizing larvae after a bloodmeal, but also significantly reduced the number of bacteria that survive the molt. An investigation into PERK pathway-regulated targets revealed that A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi induce activity of the antioxidant response regulator, Nrf2. Tick cells deficient for nrf2 expression or PERK signaling showed accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in addition to reduced microbial survival. Supplementation with antioxidants rescued the microbicidal phenotype caused by blocking the PERK pathway. Altogether, our study demonstrates that the Ixodes PERK pathway is activated by transmissible microbes and facilitates persistence in the arthropod by potentiating an Nrf2-regulated antioxidant environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L. Rosche
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Joanna Hurtado
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Elis A. Fisk
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Kaylee A. Vosbigian
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Ashley L. Warren
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Lindsay C. Sidak-Loftis
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Sarah J. Wright
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Elisabeth Ramirez-Zepp
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jason M. Park
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Dana K. Shaw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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10
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Sebastian PS, Król N, Novoa MB, Nijhof AM, Pfeffer M, Nava S, Obiegala A. Preliminary Study on Artificial versus Animal-Based Feeding Systems for Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Microorganisms 2023; 11:1107. [PMID: 37317081 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks pose a threat to animal and human health. Active life stages need to feed on a vertebrate host in order to complete their life cycle. To study processes such as tick-pathogen interactions or drug efficacy and pharmacokinetics, it is necessary to maintain tick colonies under defined laboratory conditions, typically using laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to test a membrane-based artificial feeding system (AFS) applicable for Amblyomma ticks using Amblyomma tonelliae as a biological model. Adult ticks from a laboratory colony were fed in a membrane-based AFS. For comparison, other A. tonelliae adults were fed on calf and rabbit. The proportions of attached (AFS: 76%; calf/rabbit: 100%) and engorged females (AFS: 47.4%; calf/rabbit: 100%) in the AFS were significantly lower compared to animal-based feeding (p = 0.0265). The engorgement weight of in vitro fed ticks (x¯ = 658 mg; SD ± 259.80) did not significantly differ from that of ticks fed on animals (p = 0.3272, respectively 0.0947). The proportion of females that oviposited was 100% for all three feeding methods. However, the incubation period of eggs (x¯ = 54 days; SD ± 7) was longer in the AFS compared to conventional animal-based feeding (p = 0.0014); x¯ = 45 days; SD ± 2 in the rabbit and (p = 0.0144). x¯ = 48 days; SD ± 2 in the calf). Egg cluster hatching (x¯ = 41%; SD ± 44.82) was lower in the AFS than in the other feeding methods (rabbit: x¯ = 74%; SD ± 20; p = 0.0529; calf: x¯ = 81%; SD ± 22; p = 0.0256). Although the attachment, development, and the hatching of AFS ticks were below those from animal-based feeding, the method may be useful in future experiments. Nevertheless, further experiments with a higher number of tick specimens (including immature life stages) and different attractant stimuli are required to confirm the preliminary results of this study and to evaluate the applicability of AFS for Amblyomma ticks as an alternative to animal-based feeding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - María Belén Novoa
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Ard Menzo Nijhof
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IdICaL) CONICET-INTA, Rafaela 2300, Argentina
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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11
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Hatalová T, Erhart J, Kopáček P, Perner J. On the haem auxotrophy of the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102170. [PMID: 36958097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Genomes of ticks display reductions, to various extents, in genetic coding for enzymes of the haem biosynthetic pathway. Here, we mined available transcriptomes of soft tick species and identified transcripts encoding only half of the enzymes involved in haem biosynthesis. Transcripts identified across most species examined were those coding for porphobilinogen synthase, coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, and ferrochelatase. Genomic retention of porphobilinogen synthase seems to be soft tick-restricted as no such homologue has been identified in any hard tick species. Bioinformatic mining is thus strongly indicative of the lack of biochemical capacity for de novo haem biosynthesis, suggesting a requirement for dietary haem. In the hard tick Ixodes ricinus, depletion of dietary haem, i.e. serum feeding, leads to oviposition of haem-free eggs, with no apparent embryogenesis and larvae formation. In this work, we show that serum-fed Ornithodoros moubata females, unlike those of I. ricinus, laid haem-containing eggs similarly to blood-fed controls, but only by a small proportion of the serum-fed females. To enhance the effect of dietary haem depletion, O. moubata ticks were serum-fed consecutively as last nymphal instars and females. These females laid eggs with profoundly reduced haem deposits, confirming the host origin of the haem. These data confirm the ability of soft ticks to take up and allocate host haem to their eggs in order to drive reproduction of the ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Hatalová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Erhart
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic.
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12
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Foré SA, Mangan MJ, Mantia AM, Kolok JT, Kim HJ. Multiple physiological cohorts comprise seasonal activity of wild Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102091. [PMID: 36481561 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Nymphs of the hard tick Amblyomma americanum (L.) are an important life stage in the maintenance and transmission of tick-borne pathogens. As pathogen composition can vary across developmental cohorts, it is essential to understand the demographic structure of the questing population. Amblyomma americanum nymphs often display a second peak in activity during late summer, but it is unknown whether this peak represents older overwintered ticks or younger newly molted ticks. The objective of this study was to examine the heme concentration in field-captured A. americanum nymphs to determine if the questing population consists of one physiological cohort or multiple cohorts in a season. Ticks were collected from March to August in an old field of primarily non-native grasses, and heme concentration was used to assess physiological age. LOESS modeling depicted that heme concentration in the population declined from March to early July but increased in later sampling sessions. As ticks cannot replenish declining heme stores without a blood meal, a late-summer spike in heme concentration demonstrates that newly molted nymphs are entering the active population. The vector potential of these newly emerging nymphs may differ from those collected earlier in the year as pathogen diversity depends on reservoir host dynamics and timing of larval feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Foré
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, United States.
| | - Madelyn J Mangan
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Ann M Mantia
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, United States
| | - Jared T Kolok
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, United States
| | - Hyun-Joo Kim
- Department of Statistics, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, United States
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13
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Wulff JP, Temeyer KB, Tidwell JP, Schlechte KG, Lohmeyer KH, Pietrantonio PV. Periviscerokinin (Cap 2b; CAPA) receptor silencing in females of Rhipicephalus microplus reduces survival, weight and reproductive output. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:359. [PMID: 36203198 PMCID: PMC9535995 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05457-7] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is a vector of pathogens causative of babesiosis and anaplasmosis, both highly lethal bovine diseases that affect cattle worldwide. In Ecdysozoa, neuropeptides and their G-protein-coupled receptors play a critical integrative role in the regulation of all physiological processes. However, the physiological activity of many neuropeptides is still unknown in ticks. Periviscerokinins (CAP2b/PVKs) are neuropeptides associated with myotropic and diuretic activities in insects. These peptides have been identified only in a few tick species, such as Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis and R. microplus, and their cognate receptor only characterized for the last two. METHODS Expression of the periviscerokinin receptor (Rhimi-CAP2bR) was investigated throughout the developmental stages of R. microplus and silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) in the females. In a first experiment, three double-stranded (ds) RNAs, named ds680-805, ds956-1109 and ds1102-1200, respectively, were tested in vivo. All three caused phenotypic effects, but only the last one was chosen for subsequent experiments. Resulting RNAi phenotypic variables were compared to those of negative controls, both non-injected and dsRNA beta-lactamase-injected ticks, and to positive controls injected with beta-actin dsRNA. Rhimi-CAP2bR silencing was verified by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in whole females and dissected tissues. RESULTS Rhimi-CAP2bR transcript expression was detected throughout all developmental stages. Rhimi-CAP2bR silencing was associated with increased female mortality, decreased weight of surviving females and of egg masses, a delayed egg incubation period and decreased egg hatching (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS CAP2b/PVKs appear to be associated with the regulation of female feeding, reproduction and survival. Since the Rhimi-CAP2bR loss of function was detrimental to females, the discovery of antagonistic molecules of the CAP2b/PVK signaling system should cause similar effects. Our results point to this signaling system as a promising target for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. Wulff
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
| | - Kevin B. Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
| | - Jason P. Tidwell
- Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd. Building 6419, Edinburg, TX 78541-5033 USA
| | - Kristie G. Schlechte
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
| | - Kimberly H. Lohmeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX 78028-9184 USA
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14
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Stewart PE, Raffel SJ, Gherardini FC, Bloom ME. Kinetics of tick infection by the relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii acquired through artificial membrane feeding chambers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13479. [PMID: 35931720 PMCID: PMC9356064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The relapsing fever agent Borrelia hermsii is transmitted by the tick Ornithodoros hermsi. To study the B. hermsii-tick interactions required for pathogen acquisition and transmission we developed an artificial membrane feeding system for O. hermsi nymphs and adults that results in a high percentage of engorgement. This system provides the nutritional requirements necessary for the tick to develop, mate, and produce viable eggs. By inoculating the blood with B. hermsii, we were able to obtain infected ticks for quantitative studies on pathogen acquisition and persistence. These ticks subsequently transmitted the spirochetes to mice, validating this system for both acquisition and transmission studies. Using this feeding method, a mutant of the antigenic variation locus of B. hermsii (Vmp-) that is incapable of persisting in mice was acquired by ticks at equivalent densities as the wild-type. Furthermore, Vmp is not required for persistence in the tick, as the mutant and wild-type strains are maintained at similar numbers after ecdysis and subsequent feeding. These results support the theory that Vmp is an adaptation for mammalian infection but unnecessary for survival within the tick. Interestingly, B. hermsii numbers severely declined after acquisition, though these ticks still transmitted the infection to mice. This procedure reduces animal use and provides a safe, highly controlled and well-contained alternative method for feeding and maintaining O. hermsi colonies. Importantly, this system permits quantitative studies with B. hermsii strains through ingestion during the blood meal, and thus more closely recapitulates pathogen acquisition in nature than other artificial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip E Stewart
- Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Sandra J Raffel
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Frank C Gherardini
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Marshall E Bloom
- Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
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15
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Ambivalent Roles of Oxidative Stress in Triangular Relationships among Arthropod Vectors, Pathogens and Hosts. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071254. [PMID: 35883744 PMCID: PMC9312350 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071254] [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] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods, particularly ticks and mosquitoes are considered the most important vectors of arthropod-borne diseases affecting humans and animals. While feeding on blood meals, arthropods are exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) since heme and other blood components can induce oxidative stress. Different ROS have important roles in interactions among the pathogens, vectors, and hosts. ROS influence various metabolic processes of the arthropods and some have detrimental effects. In this review, we investigate the various roles of ROS in these arthropods, including their innate immunity and the homeostasis of their microbiomes, that is, how ROS are utilized to maintain the balance between the natural microbiota and potential pathogens. We elucidate the mechanism of how ROS are utilized to fight off invading pathogens and how the arthropod-borne pathogens use the arthropods’ antioxidant mechanism to defend against these ROS attacks and their possible impact on their vector potentials or their ability to acquire and transmit pathogens. In addition, we describe the possible roles of ROS in chemical insecticide/acaricide activity and/or in the development of resistance. Overall, this underscores the importance of the antioxidant system as a potential target for the control of arthropod and arthropod-borne pathogens.
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16
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Perner J, Hajdusek O, Kopacek P. Independent somatic distribution of heme and iron in ticks. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 51:100916. [PMID: 35346896 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites with distinct genomic reductions, inevitably linking them to a parasitic lifestyle. Ticks have lost the genomic coding and, thus, biochemical capacity to synthesize heme, an essential metabolic cofactor, de novo. Instead, they are equipped with acquisition and distribution pathways for reuse of host heme. Unlike insects or mammals, ticks and mites cannot cleave the porphyrin ring of heme to release iron. Bioavailable iron is thus acquired by ticks from the host serum transferrin. Somatic trafficking of iron, however, is independent of heme and is mediated by a secretory type of ferritin. Heme and iron systemic homeostasis in ticks represents, therefore, key adaptive traits enabling successful feeding and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Hajdusek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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17
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Greay TL, Evasco KL, Evans ML, Oskam CL, Magni PA, Ryan UM, Irwin PJ. Illuminating the bacterial microbiome of Australian ticks with 16S and Rickettsia-specific next-generation sequencing. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2022; 1:100037. [PMID: 35284883 PMCID: PMC8906098 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies show that mosquito and tick microbiomes influence the transmission of pathogens, opening new avenues for vector-borne pathogen control. Recent microbiological studies of Australian ticks highlight fundamental knowledge gaps of tick-borne agents. This investigation explored the composition, diversity and prevalence of bacteria in Australian ticks (n = 655) from companion animals (dogs, cats and horses). Bacterial 16S NGS was used to identify most bacterial taxa and a Rickettsia-specific NGS assay was developed to identify Rickettsia species that were indistinguishable at the V1-2 regions of 16S. Sanger sequencing of near full-length 16S was used to confirm whether species detected by 16S NGS were novel. The haemotropic bacterial pathogens Anaplasma platys, Bartonella clarridgeiae, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” and Coxiella burnetii were identified in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) from Queensland (QLD), Western Australia, the Northern Territory (NT), and South Australia, Ixodes holocyclus from QLD, Rh. sanguineus (s.l.) from the NT, and I. holocyclus from QLD, respectively. Analysis of the control data showed that cross-talk compromises the detection of rare species as filtering thresholds for less abundant sequences had to be applied to mitigate false positives. A comparison of the taxonomic assignments made with 16S sequence databases revealed inconsistencies. The Rickettsia-specific citrate synthase gene NGS assay enabled the identification of Rickettsia co-infections with potentially novel species and genotypes most similar (97.9–99.1%) to Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia gravesii. “Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis” was identified for the first time in Australia. Phylogenetic analysis of near full-length 16S sequences confirmed a novel Coxiellaceae genus and species, two novel Francisella species, and two novel Francisella genotypes. Cross-talk raises concerns for the MiSeq platform as a diagnostic tool for clinical samples. This study provides recommendations for adjustments to Illuminaʼs 16S metagenomic sequencing protocol that help track and reduce cross-talk from cross-contamination during library preparation. The inconsistencies in taxonomic assignment emphasise the need for curated and quality-checked sequence databases. Bacterial pathogens identified in ticks from companion animals with 16S NGS. Sanger sequencing confirmed novel Coxiellaceae gen. sp. and Francisella. “Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis” was identified with Rickettsia-specific NGS. Comparison of taxonomic assignments in 16S sequence databases revealed errors. Modifications to the 16S metagenomic library protocol (Illumina) are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Telleasha L Greay
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,Executive Consultant, EpiSeq, PO Box 357, Kwinana, Western Australia, 6966, Australia
| | - Kimberly L Evasco
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,A/Senior Scientific Officer, Medical Entomology Unit, Department of Health, 1A Brockway Road, Mount Claremont, Western Australia, 6010, Australia
| | - Megan L Evans
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,Cardio Respiratory Sleep, Level 1, 52-54 Monash Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Charlotte L Oskam
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Paola A Magni
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Murdoch University Singapore, King's Centre, 390 Havelock Road, Singapore, 169662, Republic of Singapore
| | - Una M Ryan
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Peter J Irwin
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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18
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Li LJ, Ning NZ, Zheng YC, Chu YL, Cui XM, Zhang MZ, Guo WB, Wei R, Liu HB, Sun Y, Ye JL, Jiang BG, Yuan TT, Li J, Bian C, Bell-Sakyi L, Wang H, Jiang JF, Song JL, Cao WC, Tsan-Yuk Lam T, Ni XB, Jia N. Virome and Blood Meal-Associated Host Responses in Ixodes persulcatus Naturally Fed on Patients. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:728996. [PMID: 35250897 PMCID: PMC8891964 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.728996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-lasting co-evolution of ticks with pathogens results in mutual adaptation. Blood-feeding is one of the critical physiological behaviors that have been associated with the tick microbiome; however, most knowledge was gained through the study of laboratory-reared ticks. Here we detached Ixodes persulcatus ticks at different stages of blood-feeding from human patients and performed high-throughput transcriptomic analysis on them to identify their virome and genes differentially expressed between flat and fully fed ticks. We also traced bloodmeal sources of those ticks and identified bats and three other potential mammalian hosts, highlighting the public health significance. We found Jingmen tick virus and 13 putative new viruses belonging to 11 viral families, three of which even exhibited high genetic divergence from viruses previously reported in the same tick species from the same geographic region. Furthermore, differential expression analysis suggested a downregulation of antioxidant genes in the fully fed I. persulcatus ticks, which might be related to bloodmeal-related redox homeostasis. Our work highlights the significance of active surveillance of tick viromes and suggests a role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in modulating changes in the microbiome during blood-feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Nian-Zhi Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yan-Li Chu
- Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Zhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Bin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hong-Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Ling Ye
- Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Shanghai Institute for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Cai Bian
- Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ju-Liang Song
- Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Joint Institute of Virology (SU/HKU), Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Xue-Bing Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Xue-Bing Ni,
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Na Jia,
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19
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Pérez-Sánchez R, Carnero-Morán A, Luz Valero M, Oleaga A. A proteomics informed by transcriptomics insight into the proteome of Ornithodoros erraticus adult tick saliva. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:1. [PMID: 34980218 PMCID: PMC8722417 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05118-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African swine fever (ASF) in the Mediterranean Basin. The prevention and control of these diseases would greatly benefit from the elimination of O. erraticus populations, and anti-tick vaccines are envisaged as an effective and sustainable alternative to chemical acaricide usage for tick control. Ornithodoros erraticus saliva contains bioactive proteins that play essential functions in tick feeding and host defence modulation, which may contribute to host infection by tick-borne pathogens. Hence, these proteins could be candidate antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control and prevention of O. erraticus infestations and the diseases this tick transmits. The objective of the present work was to obtain and characterise the proteome of the saliva of O. erraticus adult ticks as a means to identify and select novel salivary antigen targets. METHODS A proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) approach was applied to analyse samples of female and male saliva separately using the previously obtained O. erraticus sialotranscriptome as a reference database and two different mass spectrometry techniques, namely liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in data-dependent acquisition mode and sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra MS (SWATH-MS). RESULTS Up to 264 and 263 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS in the saliva of O. erraticus female and male ticks, respectively, totalling 387 non-redundant proteins. Of these, 224 were further quantified by SWATH-MS in the saliva of both male and female ticks. Quantified proteins were classified into 23 functional categories and their abundance compared between sexes. Heme/iron-binding proteins, protease inhibitors, proteases, lipocalins and immune-related proteins were the categories most abundantly expressed in females, while glycolytic enzymes, protease inhibitors and lipocalins were the most abundantly expressed in males. Ninety-seven proteins were differentially expressed between the sexes, of which 37 and 60 were overexpressed in females and males, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The PIT approach demonstrated its usefulness for proteomics studies of O. erraticus, a non-model organism without genomic sequences available, allowing the publication of the first comprehensive proteome of the saliva of O. erraticus reported to date. These findings confirm important quantitative differences between sexes in the O. erraticus saliva proteome, unveil novel salivary proteins and functions at the tick-host feeding interface and improve our understanding of the physiology of feeding in O. erraticus ticks. The integration of O. erraticus sialoproteomic and sialotranscriptomic data will drive a more rational selection of salivary candidates as antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control of O. erraticus infestations and the diseases it transmits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Angel Carnero-Morán
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - M. Luz Valero
- Proteomics Section, Central Service for Experimental Research, University of Valencia, Carrer del Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Ana Oleaga
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Proteomics Section, Central Service for Experimental Research, University of Valencia, Carrer del Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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20
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Buysse M, Floriano AM, Gottlieb Y, Nardi T, Comandatore F, Olivieri E, Giannetto A, Palomar AM, Makepeace BL, Bazzocchi C, Cafiso A, Sassera D, Duron O. A dual endosymbiosis supports nutritional adaptation to hematophagy in the invasive tick Hyalomma marginatum. eLife 2021; 10:e72747. [PMID: 34951405 PMCID: PMC8709577 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals are dependent on microbial partners that provide essential nutrients lacking from their diet. Ticks, whose diet consists exclusively on vertebrate blood, rely on maternally inherited bacterial symbionts to supply B vitamins. While previously studied tick species consistently harbor a single lineage of those nutritional symbionts, we evidence here that the invasive tick Hyalomma marginatum harbors a unique dual-partner nutritional system between an ancestral symbiont, Francisella, and a more recently acquired symbiont, Midichloria. Using metagenomics, we show that Francisella exhibits extensive genome erosion that endangers the nutritional symbiotic interactions. Its genome includes folate and riboflavin biosynthesis pathways but deprived functional biotin biosynthesis on account of massive pseudogenization. Co-symbiosis compensates this deficiency since the Midichloria genome encompasses an intact biotin operon, which was primarily acquired via lateral gene transfer from unrelated intracellular bacteria commonly infecting arthropods. Thus, in H. marginatum, a mosaic of co-evolved symbionts incorporating gene combinations of distant phylogenetic origins emerged to prevent the collapse of an ancestral nutritional symbiosis. Such dual endosymbiosis was never reported in other blood feeders but was recently documented in agricultural pests feeding on plant sap, suggesting that it may be a key mechanism for advanced adaptation of arthropods to specialized diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Buysse
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), Univ. Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD)MontpellierFrance
- Centre of Research in Ecology and Evolution of Diseases (CREES), Montpellier, FranceMontpellierFrance
| | - Anna Maria Floriano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of PaviaPaviaItaly
- Faculty of Science, University of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Yuval Gottlieb
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Tiago Nardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Francesco Comandatore
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco and Pediatric Clinical Research Center, University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Alessia Giannetto
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Ana M Palomar
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), San Pedro University Hospital- Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR)LogroñoSpain
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), Univ. Montpellier (UM) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD)MontpellierFrance
- Centre of Research in Ecology and Evolution of Diseases (CREES), Montpellier, FranceMontpellierFrance
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21
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Kořený L, Oborník M, Horáková E, Waller RF, Lukeš J. The convoluted history of haem biosynthesis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:141-162. [PMID: 34472688 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of haem to transfer electrons, bind diatomic gases, and catalyse various biochemical reactions makes it one of the essential biomolecules on Earth and one that was likely used by the earliest forms of cellular life. Since the description of haem biosynthesis, our understanding of this multi-step pathway has been almost exclusively derived from a handful of model organisms from narrow taxonomic contexts. Recent advances in genome sequencing and functional studies of diverse and previously neglected groups have led to discoveries of alternative routes of haem biosynthesis that deviate from the 'classical' pathway. In this review, we take an evolutionarily broad approach to illuminate the remarkable diversity and adaptability of haem synthesis, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, showing the range of strategies that organisms employ to obtain and utilise haem. In particular, the complex evolutionary histories of eukaryotes that involve multiple endosymbioses and horizontal gene transfers are reflected in the mosaic origin of numerous metabolic pathways with haem biosynthesis being a striking case. We show how different evolutionary trajectories and distinct life strategies resulted in pronounced tensions and differences in the spatial organisation of the haem biosynthesis pathway, in some cases leading to a complete loss of a haem-synthesis capacity and, rarely, even loss of a requirement for haem altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luděk Kořený
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, U.K
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice (Budweis), 31, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Horáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, U.K
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice (Budweis), 31, Czech Republic
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22
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Perner J, Hatalova T, Cabello-Donayre M, Urbanova V, Sojka D, Frantova H, Hartmann D, Jirsova D, Pérez-Victoria JM, Kopacek P. Haem-responsive gene transporter enables mobilization of host haem in ticks. Open Biol 2021; 11:210048. [PMID: 34465215 PMCID: PMC8437232 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks, notorious blood-feeders and disease-vectors, have lost a part of their genetic complement encoding haem biosynthetic enzymes and are, therefore, dependent on the acquisition and distribution of host haem. Solute carrier protein SLC48A1, aka haem-responsive gene 1 protein (HRG1), has been implicated in haem transport, regulating the availability of intracellular haem. HRG1 transporter has been identified in both free-living and parasitic organisms ranging from unicellular kinetoplastids, nematodes, up to vertebrates. However, an HRG1 homologue in the arthropod lineage has not yet been identified. We have identified a single HRG1 homologue in the midgut transcriptome of the tick Ixodes ricinus, denoted as IrHRG, and have elucidated its role as a haem transporter. Data from haem biosynthesis-deficient yeast growth assays, systemic RNA interference and the evaluation of gallium protoporphyrin IX-mediated toxicity through tick membrane feeding clearly show that IrHRG is the bona fide tetrapyrrole transporter. We argue that during evolution, ticks profited from retaining a functional hrg1 gene in the genome because its protein product facilitates host haem escort from intracellularly digested haemoglobin, rendering haem bioavailable for a haem-dependent network of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - T. Hatalova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - M. Cabello-Donayre
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - V. Urbanova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - H. Frantova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Jirsova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - J. M. Pérez-Victoria
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - P. Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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23
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Schneider CA, Calvo E, Peterson KE. Arboviruses: How Saliva Impacts the Journey from Vector to Host. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179173. [PMID: 34502092 PMCID: PMC8431069 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses, referred to collectively as arboviruses, infect millions of people worldwide each year and have the potential to cause severe disease. They are predominately transmitted to humans through blood-feeding behavior of three main groups of biting arthropods: ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies. The pathogens harbored by these blood-feeding arthropods (BFA) are transferred to animal hosts through deposition of virus-rich saliva into the skin. Sometimes these infections become systemic and can lead to neuro-invasion and life-threatening viral encephalitis. Factors intrinsic to the arboviral vectors can greatly influence the pathogenicity and virulence of infections, with mounting evidence that BFA saliva and salivary proteins can shift the trajectory of viral infection in the host. This review provides an overview of arbovirus infection and ways in which vectors influence viral pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on how saliva and salivary gland extracts from the three dominant arbovirus vectors impact the trajectory of the cellular immune response to arbovirus infection in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Schneider
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA;
| | - Karin E. Peterson
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
- Correspondence:
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24
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Reck J, Webster A, Dall'Agnol B, Pienaar R, de Castro MH, Featherston J, Mans BJ. Transcriptomic Analysis of Salivary Glands of Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão, 1923, the Agent of a Neotropical Tick-Toxicosis Syndrome in Humans. Front Physiol 2021; 12:725635. [PMID: 34421661 PMCID: PMC8378177 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.725635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick salivary glands produce and secrete a variety of compounds that modulate host responses and ensure a successful blood meal. Despite great progress made in the identification of ticks salivary compounds in recent years, there is still a paucity of information concerning salivary molecules of Neotropical argasid ticks. Among this group of ticks, considering the number of human cases of parasitism, including severe syndromes and hospitalization, Ornithodoros brasiliensis can be considered one of the major Neotropical argasid species with impact in public health. Here, we describe the transcriptome analysis of O. brasiliensis salivary glands (ObSG). The transcriptome yielded ~14,957 putative contigs. A total of 368 contigs were attributed to secreted proteins (SP), which represent approximately 2.5% of transcripts but ~53% expression coverage transcripts per million. Lipocalins are the major protein family among the most expressed SP, accounting for ~16% of the secretory transcripts and 51% of secretory protein abundance. The most expressed transcript is an ortholog of TSGP4 (tick salivary gland protein 4), a lipocalin first identified in Ornithodoros kalahariensis that functions as a leukotriene C4 scavenger. A total of 55 lipocalin transcripts were identified in ObSG. Other transcripts potentially involved in tick-host interaction included as: basic/acid tail secretory proteins (second most abundant expressed group), serine protease inhibitors (including Kunitz inhibitors), 5' nucleotidases (tick apyrases), phospholipase A2, 7 disulfide bond domain, cystatins, and tick antimicrobial peptides. Another abundant group of proteins in ObSG is metalloproteases. Analysis of these major protein groups suggests that several duplication events after speciation were responsible for the abundance of redundant compounds in tick salivary glands. A full mitochondrial genome could be assembled from the transcriptome data and confirmed the close genetic identity of the tick strain sampled in the current study, to a tick strain previously implicated in tick toxicoses. This study provides novel information on the molecular composition of ObSG, a Brazilian endemic tick associated with several human cases of parasitism. These results could be helpful in the understanding of clinical findings observed in bitten patients, and also, could provide more information on the evolution of Neotropical argasids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Anelise Webster
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Bruno Dall'Agnol
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ronel Pienaar
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Minique H de Castro
- Agricultural Research Council, Biotechnology Platform, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-borne Disease Research Programme, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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25
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Interfering with cholesterol metabolism impairs tick embryo development and turns eggs susceptible to bacterial colonization. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101790. [PMID: 34325088 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol is a known precursor of arthropod molecules such as the hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone and the antimicrobial boophiline, a component of tick egg wax coat. Because the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is absent in ticks, it is necessarily obtained from the blood meal, in a still poorly understood process. In contrast, dietary cholesterol absorption is better studied in insects, and many proteins are involved in its metabolism, including Niemann-Pick C (NPC) transporter and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), as well as enzymes to convert between free cholesterol and esterified cholesterol. The present work addresses the hypothesis that tick viability can be impaired by interfering with cholesterol metabolism, proposing this route as a target for novel tick control methods. Two drugs, ezetimibe (NPC inhibitor) and avasimibe (ACAT inhibitor) were added to calf blood and used to artificially feed Rhipicephalus microplus females. Results show that, after ingesting avasimibe, tick reproductive ability and egg development are impaired. Also, eggs laid by females fed with avasimibe did not hatch and were susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion and biofilm formation in their surfaces. The immunoprotective potential of ACAT against ticks was also accessed using two selected ACAT peptides. Antibodies against these peptides were used to artificially feed female ticks, but no deleterious effects were observed. Taken together, data presented here support the hypothesis that enzymes and other proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism are suitable as targets for tick control methods.
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26
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Stavru F, Riemer J, Jex A, Sassera D. When bacteria meet mitochondria: The strange case of the tick symbiont Midichloria mitochondrii †. Cell Microbiol 2021; 22:e13189. [PMID: 32185904 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are key eukaryotic organelles that perform several essential functions. Not surprisingly, many intracellular bacteria directly or indirectly target mitochondria, interfering with innate immunity, energy production or apoptosis, to make the host cell a more hospitable niche for bacterial replication. The alphaproteobacterium Midichloria mitochondrii has taken mitochondrial targeting to another level by physically colonising mitochondria, as shown by transmission electron micrographs of bacteria residing in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. This unique localization provokes a number of questions around the mechanisms allowing, and reasons driving intramitochondrial tropism. We suggest possible scenarios that could lead to this peculiar localization and hypothesize potential costs and benefits of mitochondrial colonisation for the bacterium and its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Stavru
- Unité de Biologie Evolutive de la Cellule Microbienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS ERL6002, Paris, France
| | - Jan Riemer
- Department for Chemistry, Institute for Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Aaron Jex
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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27
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Chimeric Protein IPath ® with Chelating Activity Improves Atlantic Salmon's Immunity against Infectious Diseases. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9040361. [PMID: 33918540 PMCID: PMC8068967 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9040361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection processes displayed by pathogens require the acquisition of essential inorganic nutrients and trace elements from the host to survive and proliferate. Without a doubt, iron is a crucial trace metal for all living organisms and also a pivotal component in the host–parasite interactions. In particular, the host reduces the iron available to face the infectious disease, increasing iron transport proteins’ expression and activating the heme synthesis and degradation pathways. Moreover, recent findings have suggested that iron metabolism modulation in fish promotes the immune response by reducing cellular iron toxicity. We hypothesized that recombinant proteins related to iron metabolism could modulate the fish’s immune system through iron metabolism and iron-responsive genes. Here a chimeric iron transport protein (IPath®) was bioinformatically designed and then expressed in a recombinant bacterial system. The IPath® protein showed a significant chelating activity under in vitro conditions and biological activity. Taking this evidence, a vaccine candidate based on IPath® was evaluated in Atlantic salmon challenged with three different fish pathogens. Experimental trials were conducted using two fish groups: one immunized with IPath® and another injected with adjutant as the control group. After 400 accumulated thermal units (ATUs), two different infection trials were performed. In the first one, fish were infected with the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida, and in a second trial, fish were exposed to the ectoparasite Caligus rogercresseyi and subsequently infected with the intracellular bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis. Fish immunized with IPath® showed a significant delay in the mortality curve in response to A. salmonicida and P. salmonis infections. However, no significant differences between infected and control fish groups were observed at the end of the experiment. Notably, sea lice burden reduction was observed in vaccinated Atlantic salmon. Transcriptional analysis evidenced a high modulation of iron-homeostasis-related genes in fish vaccinated with IPath® compared to the control group during the infection. Moreover, increasing expression of Atlantic salmon IgT was associated with IPath® immunization. This study provides evidence that the IPath® protein could be used as an antigen or booster in commercial fish vaccines, improving the immune response against relevant pathogens for salmon aquaculture.
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28
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Pérez-Sánchez R, Carnero-Morán Á, Soriano B, Llorens C, Oleaga A. RNA-seq analysis and gene expression dynamics in the salivary glands of the argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus along the trophogonic cycle. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:170. [PMID: 33743776 PMCID: PMC7980729 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04671-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African swine fever (ASF) in the Mediterranean Basin. Tick salivary proteins secreted to the host at the feeding interface play critical roles for tick feeding and may contribute to host infection by tick-borne pathogens; accordingly, these proteins represent interesting antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control and prevention of tick infestations and tick-borne diseases. METHODS To identify these proteins, the transcriptome of the salivary glands of O. erraticus was de novo assembled and the salivary gene expression dynamics assessed throughout the trophogonic cycle using Illumina sequencing. The genes differentially upregulated after feeding were selected and discussed as potential antigen candidates for tick vaccines. RESULTS Transcriptome assembly resulted in 22,007 transcripts and 18,961 annotated transcripts, which represent 86.15% of annotation success. Most salivary gene expression took place during the first 7 days after feeding (2088 upregulated transcripts), while only a few genes (122 upregulated transcripts) were differentially expressed from day 7 post-feeding onwards. The protein families more abundantly overrepresented after feeding were lipocalins, acid and basic tail proteins, proteases (particularly metalloproteases), protease inhibitors, secreted phospholipases A2, 5'-nucleotidases/apyrases and heme-binding vitellogenin-like proteins. All of them are functionally related to blood ingestion and regulation of host defensive responses, so they can be interesting candidate protective antigens for vaccines. CONCLUSIONS The O. erraticus sialotranscriptome contains thousands of protein coding sequences-many of them belonging to large conserved multigene protein families-and shows a complexity and functional redundancy similar to those observed in the sialomes of other argasid and ixodid tick species. This high functional redundancy emphasises the need for developing multiantigenic tick vaccines to reach full protection. This research provides a set of promising candidate antigens for the development of vaccines for the control of O. erraticus infestations and prevention of tick-borne diseases of public and veterinary health relevance, such as TBRF and ASF. Additionally, this transcriptome constitutes a valuable reference database for proteomics studies of the saliva and salivary glands of O. erraticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Ángel Carnero-Morán
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Beatriz Soriano
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Llorens
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Oleaga
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
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29
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González J, Bickerton M, Toledo A. Applications of artificial membrane feeding for ixodid ticks. Acta Trop 2021; 215:105818. [PMID: 33406442 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on a large variety of vertebrates. In the laboratory, animals (mainly mice and rabbits) are used to maintain tick colonies. However, the use of animals to rear ticks can be expensive and requires dedicated animal facilities. In addition, research institutions are committed to the principle of 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement), which encourages the use of alternatives to animals when possible. The development of artificial membrane systems has provided an alternative to animals, at least for some tick species. Over the years, different modifications in artificial feeding systems have led to new applications, including acaricide testing, tick-pathogen interaction, and novel approaches to study tick physiology. Although artificial membrane feeding still has some limitations, the method can provide numerous advantages, including the standardization of acaricide treatments under controlled conditions, an alternative to animals for tick rearing, and reduction of cost associated with animals and animal housing facilities. In this review, we summarized the evolution of tick feeding membranes and their applications over time, explaining the modifications incorporated to study tick physiology, tick-pathogen interactions, and acaricide testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Mathew Bickerton
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Bergen County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, 220 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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30
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Nanomechanical mechanisms of Lyme disease spirochete motility enhancement in extracellular matrix. Commun Biol 2021; 4:268. [PMID: 33649506 PMCID: PMC7921401 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
As opposed to pathogens passively circulating in the body fluids of their host, pathogenic species within the Spirochetes phylum are able to actively coordinate their movement in the host to cause systemic infections. Based on the unique morphology and high motility of spirochetes, we hypothesized that their surface adhesive molecules might be suitably adapted to aid in their dissemination strategies. Designing a system that mimics natural environmental signals, which many spirochetes face during their infectious cycle, we observed that a subset of their surface proteins, particularly Decorin binding protein (Dbp) A/B, can strongly enhance the motility of spirochetes in the extracellular matrix of the host. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we disentangled the mechanistic details of DbpA/B and decorin/laminin interactions. Our results show that spirochetes are able to leverage a wide variety of adhesion strategies through force-tuning transient molecular binding to extracellular matrix components, which concertedly enhance spirochetal dissemination through the host.
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31
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Kozelková T, Doležel D, Grunclová L, Kučera M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Functional characterization of the insulin signaling pathway in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101694. [PMID: 33706210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids transmitting a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. A unique trait in tick physiology is their ability to engorge and digest large amounts of host blood, ensuring their high reproductive potential. Activation of the blood digestive machinery in the tick gut, as well as processes controlling maturation of ovaries, are triggered upon blood meal uptake by still largely unknown mechanisms. Sensing of the nutritional status in metazoan organisms is facilitated by the evolutionarily conserved Insulin Signaling Pathway (ISP) and the interlinked Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway. Recently, we have identified three components of these pathways in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus midgut transcriptome, namely a putative insulin receptor (InR), and the downstream intracellular serine/threonine kinases AKT and TOR. In this study, we primarily focus on the molecular and functional characterization of the I. ricinus insulin receptor (IrInR), the first InR characterized in Chelicerates. A phylogenetic analysis across the major Arthropod lineages demonstrated that ticks possess only one gene encoding an InR-related molecule. Tissue expression profiling by quantitative PCR in semi-engorged I. ricinus females revealed that the IrInR, as well as AKT (IrAKT) and TOR (IrTOR) are expressed in various organs, with the highest expression being detected in ovaries. We have further evaluated the impact of RNAi-mediated knock-down (KD) of IrInR, IrAKT, and IrTOR on tick blood-feeding and reproductive capacity. Weights of engorged IrInR KD females and laid egg clutches were reduced compared to the control group, and these quantitative parameters clearly correlated with the efficiency of RNAi-KD achieved in individual ticks. The most striking phenotype was observed for IrAKT KD that impaired tick feeding and completely aborted egg production. A recombinant extracellular fragment of the IrInR α-subunit was used to produce antibodies in experimental rabbits to assess its potential as a protective antigen against tick feeding and reproduction. Our data clearly indicate the functionality of the ISP in ticks and demonstrate the need for further investigation of specific roles played by the endogenous insulin-like peptides in tick physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Doležel
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Grunclová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Kučera
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Dorrah M, Bensaoud C, Mohamed AA, Sojka D, Bassal TTM, Kotsyfakis M. Comparison of the hemolysis machinery in two evolutionarily distant blood-feeding arthropod vectors of human diseases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009151. [PMID: 33539385 PMCID: PMC7888641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Host blood protein digestion plays a pivotal role in the ontogeny and reproduction of hematophagous vectors. The gut of hematophagous arthropods stores and slowly digests host blood and represents the primary gateway for transmitted pathogens. The initial step in blood degradation is induced lysis of host red blood cells (hemolysis), which releases hemoglobin for subsequent processing by digestive proteolytic enzymes. The activity cycles and characteristics of hemolysis in vectors are poorly understood. Hence, we investigated hemolysis in two evolutionarily distant blood-feeding arthropods: The mosquito Culex pipiens and the soft tick Argas persicus, both of which are important human and veterinary disease vectors. Hemolysis in both species was cyclical after blood meal ingestion. Maximum digestion occurs under slightly alkaline conditions in females. Hemolytic activity appears to be of lipoid origin in C. pipiens and enzymatic activity (proteolytic) in A. persicus. We have assessed the effect of pH, incubation time, and temperature on hemolytic activity and the hemolysin. The susceptibility of red blood cells from different hosts to the hemolysin and the effect of metabolic inhibition of hemolytic activity were assessed. We conclude that in C. pipiens and A. persicus midgut hemolysins control the amplitude of blood lysis step to guarantee an efficient blood digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moataza Dorrah
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Amr A. Mohamed
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Taha T. M. Bassal
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
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Hu E, Meng Y, Ma Y, Song R, Hu Z, Li M, Hao Y, Fan X, Wei L, Fan S, Chen S, Zhai X, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Guo Q, Bayin C. De novo assembly and analysis of the transcriptome of the Dermacentor marginatus genes differentially expressed after blood-feeding and long-term starvation. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:563. [PMID: 33172483 PMCID: PMC7654163 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04442-2] [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: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ixodid tick Dermacentor marginatus is a vector of many pathogens wide spread in Eurasia. Studies of gene sequence on many tick species have greatly increased the information on tick protective antigen which might have the potential to function as effective vaccine candidates or drug targets for eco-friendly acaricide development. In the current study, RNA-seq was applied to identify D. marginatus sequences and analyze differentially expressed unigenes. Methods To obtain a broader picture of gene sequences and changes in expression level, RNA-seq was performed to obtain the whole-body transcriptome data of D. marginatus adult female ticks after engorgement and long-term starvation. Subsequently, the real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to validate the RNA-seq data. Results RNA-seq produced 30,251 unigenes, of which 32% were annotated. Gene expression was compared among groups that differed by status as newly molted, starved and engorged female adult ticks. Nearly one third of the unigenes in each group were differentially expressed compared to the other two groups, and the most numerous were genes encoding proteins involved in catalytic and binding activities and apoptosis. Selected up-regulated differentially expressed genes in each group were associated to protein, lipids, carbohydrate and chitin metabolism. Blood-feeding and long-term starvation also caused genes differentially expressed in the defense response and antioxidant response. RT-qPCR results indicated 6 differentially expressed transcripts showed similar trends in expression changes with RNA-seq results confirming that the gene expression profiles in transcriptome data is in consistent with RT-qPCR validation. Conclusions Obtaining the sequence information of D. marginatus and characterizing the expression pattern of the genes involved in blood-feeding and during starvation would be helpful in understanding molecular physiology of D. marginatus and provides data for anti-tick vaccine and drug development for controlling the tick.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ercha Hu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Meng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqi Song
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengxiang Hu
- Bayingol Vocational and Technical College, Korla, 841000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunwei Hao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinli Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Liting Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Shilong Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Songqin Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejie Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongchang Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyong Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chahan Bayin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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Tirloni L, Braz G, Nunes RD, Gandara ACP, Vieira LR, Assumpcao TC, Sabadin GA, da Silva RM, Guizzo MG, Machado JA, Costa EP, Santos D, Gomes HF, Moraes J, dos Santos Mota MB, Mesquita RD, de Souza Leite M, Alvarenga PH, Lara FA, Seixas A, da Fonseca RN, Fogaça AC, Logullo C, Tanaka AS, Daffre S, Oliveira PL, da Silva Vaz I, Ribeiro JMC. A physiologic overview of the organ-specific transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Sci Rep 2020. [DOI: 10.1246/nikkashi.1979.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractTo further obtain insights into the Rhipicephalus microplus transcriptome, we used RNA-seq to carry out a study of expression in (i) embryos; (ii) ovaries from partially and fully engorged females; (iii) salivary glands from partially engorged females; (iv) fat body from partially and fully engorged females; and (v) digestive cells from partially, and (vi) fully engorged females. We obtained > 500 million Illumina reads which were assembled de novo, producing > 190,000 contigs, identifying 18,857 coding sequences (CDS). Reads from each library were mapped back into the assembled transcriptome giving a view of gene expression in different tissues. Transcriptomic expression and pathway analysis showed that several genes related in blood digestion and host-parasite interaction were overexpressed in digestive cells compared with other tissues. Furthermore, essential genes for the cell development and embryogenesis were overexpressed in ovaries. Taken altogether, these data offer novel insights into the physiology of production and role of saliva, blood digestion, energy metabolism, and development with submission of 10,932 novel tissue/cell specific CDS to the NCBI database for this important tick species.
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35
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A physiologic overview of the organ-specific transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18296. [PMID: 33106528 PMCID: PMC7588415 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75341-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To further obtain insights into the Rhipicephalus microplus transcriptome, we used RNA-seq to carry out a study of expression in (i) embryos; (ii) ovaries from partially and fully engorged females; (iii) salivary glands from partially engorged females; (iv) fat body from partially and fully engorged females; and (v) digestive cells from partially, and (vi) fully engorged females. We obtained > 500 million Illumina reads which were assembled de novo, producing > 190,000 contigs, identifying 18,857 coding sequences (CDS). Reads from each library were mapped back into the assembled transcriptome giving a view of gene expression in different tissues. Transcriptomic expression and pathway analysis showed that several genes related in blood digestion and host-parasite interaction were overexpressed in digestive cells compared with other tissues. Furthermore, essential genes for the cell development and embryogenesis were overexpressed in ovaries. Taken altogether, these data offer novel insights into the physiology of production and role of saliva, blood digestion, energy metabolism, and development with submission of 10,932 novel tissue/cell specific CDS to the NCBI database for this important tick species.
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36
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Solyman M, Brayton KA, Shaw DK, Omsland A, McGeehan S, Scoles GA, Noh SM. Predicted iron metabolism genes in hard ticks and their response to iron reduction in Dermacentor andersoni cells. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101584. [PMID: 33059171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
For most organisms, iron is an essential nutrient due to its role in fundamental cellular processes. Insufficient iron causes sub-optimal metabolism with potential effects on viability, while high levels of iron are toxic due to the formation of oxidative radicals, which damage cellular components. Many molecules and processes employed in iron uptake, storage, transport and metabolism are conserved, however significant knowledge gaps remain regarding these processes in ticks due to their unique physiology. In this study, we first identified and sequenced 13 genes likely to be involved in iron metabolism in Dermacentor andersoni cells. We then developed a method to reduce iron levels in D. andersoni cells using the iron chelator 2,2'-bipyridyl and measured the transcriptional response of these genes to iron reduction. The genes include a putative transferrin receptor, divalent metal transporter 1, duodenal cytochrome b, zinc/iron transporters zip7, zip13, zip14, mitoferrin, ferrochelatase, iron regulatory protein 1, ferritin1, ferritin2, transferrin and poly r(C)-binding protein. Overall, the transcriptional response of the target genes to iron reduction was modest. The most marked changes were a decrease in ferritin2, which transports iron through the tick hemolymph, the mitochondrial iron transporter mitoferrin, and the mitochondrial enzyme ferrochelatase. Iron regulatory protein1 was the only gene with an overall increase in transcript in response to reduced iron levels. This work lays the foundation for an improved understanding of iron metabolism in ticks which may provide molecular targets for the development of novel tick control methods and aid in the understanding of tick-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna Solyman
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, P. O. Box 647040, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. 99164, USA.
| | - Kelly A Brayton
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, P. O. Box 647040, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. 99164, USA.
| | - Dana K Shaw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, P. O. Box 647040, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. 99164, USA.
| | - Anders Omsland
- The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, 1155 College Ave., Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. 99164-70403, USA.
| | - Steven McGeehan
- Analytical Sciences Laboratory, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2293, USA.
| | - Glen A Scoles
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3003 ADBF, Pullman, Wash. 99164-6630, USA.
| | - Susan M Noh
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3003 ADBF, Pullman, Wash. 99164-6630, USA.
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Jia N, Wang J, Shi W, Du L, Sun Y, Zhan W, Jiang JF, Wang Q, Zhang B, Ji P, Bell-Sakyi L, Cui XM, Yuan TT, Jiang BG, Yang WF, Lam TTY, Chang QC, Ding SJ, Wang XJ, Zhu JG, Ruan XD, Zhao L, Wei JT, Ye RZ, Que TC, Du CH, Zhou YH, Cheng JX, Dai PF, Guo WB, Han XH, Huang EJ, Li LF, Wei W, Gao YC, Liu JZ, Shao HZ, Wang X, Wang CC, Yang TC, Huo QB, Li W, Chen HY, Chen SE, Zhou LG, Ni XB, Tian JH, Sheng Y, Liu T, Pan YS, Xia LY, Li J, Zhao F, Cao WC. Large-Scale Comparative Analyses of Tick Genomes Elucidate Their Genetic Diversity and Vector Capacities. Cell 2020; 182:1328-1340.e13. [PMID: 32814014 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among arthropod vectors, ticks transmit the most diverse human and animal pathogens, leading to an increasing number of new challenges worldwide. Here we sequenced and assembled high-quality genomes of six ixodid tick species and further resequenced 678 tick specimens to understand three key aspects of ticks: genetic diversity, population structure, and pathogen distribution. We explored the genetic basis common to ticks, including heme and hemoglobin digestion, iron metabolism, and reactive oxygen species, and unveiled for the first time that genetic structure and pathogen composition in different tick species are mainly shaped by ecological and geographic factors. We further identified species-specific determinants associated with different host ranges, life cycles, and distributions. The findings of this study are an invaluable resource for research and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Wenqiang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Lifeng Du
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhan
- Annoroad Gene Technology (Beijing) Company Limited, Beijing 100176, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Peifeng Ji
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Ecological and Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Ting-Ting Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Fei Yang
- Annoroad Gene Technology (Beijing) Company Limited, Beijing 100176, P.R. China
| | - Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qiao-Cheng Chang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - Shu-Jun Ding
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Xian-Jun Wang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Guo Zhu
- ManZhouLi Customs District, Manzhouli 021400, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China
| | - Xiang-Dong Ruan
- Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100714, P.R. China
| | - Lin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Te Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Teng Cheng Que
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Terrestrial Wildlife Medical-aid and Monitoring Epidemic Diseases Research Center, Nanjing 530028, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Hong Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Hao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xia Cheng
- Shanxi Provence Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xian 030012, Shanxi, P.R. China
| | - Pei-Fang Dai
- Shanxi Provence Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xian 030012, Shanxi, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Bin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Hu Han
- Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, P.R. China
| | - En-Jiong Huang
- Fuzhou International Travel Healthcare Center, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, P.R. China
| | - Lian-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Chi Gao
- Annoroad Gene Technology (Beijing) Company Limited, Beijing 100176, P.R. China
| | - Jing-Ze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Ze Shao
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Research Institute of Jilin Province, Changchun 130062, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Xin Wang
- Qingjiangpu District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huai'an 223001, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Chong-Cai Wang
- Hainan International Travel Healthcare Center, Haikou 570311, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Tian-Ci Yang
- State Key Lab of Mosquito-borne Diseases, Hangzhou International Tourism Healthcare Center, Hangzhou Customs of China, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Qiu-Bo Huo
- Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Mudanjiang 157000, Heilongjiang, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Xinjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Ying Chen
- Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of the State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nanchang 330038, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Shen-En Chen
- Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of the State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nanchang 330038, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Ling-Guo Zhou
- Shaanxi Natural Reserve and Wildlife Administration Station, Xi'an 710082, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Xue-Bing Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jun-Hua Tian
- Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430015, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Yue Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Tao Liu
- Annoroad Gene Technology (Beijing) Company Limited, Beijing 100176, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Sheng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Luo-Yuan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China; Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunan, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China.
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, P.R. China; Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Street, Jinan 250012, Shandong, P.R. China; Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, P.R. China.
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Githaka NW, Konnai S, Isezaki M, Goto S, Xavier MA, Fujisawa S, Yamada S, Okagawa T, Maekawa N, Logullo C, da Silva Vaz I, Murata S, Ohashi K. Identification and functional analysis of ferritin 2 from the Taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus Schulze. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101547. [PMID: 32993953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ferritin 2 (FER2) is an iron storage protein, which has been shown to be critical for iron homeostasis during blood feeding and reproduction in ticks and is therefore suitable as a component for anti-tick vaccines. In this study, we identified the FER2 of Ixodes persulcatus, a major vector for zoonotic diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne relapsing fever in Japan, and investigated its functions. Ixodes persulcatus-derived ferritin 2 (Ip-FER2) showed concentration-dependent iron-binding ability and high amino acid conservation, consistent with FER2s of other tick species. Vaccines containing the recombinant Ip-FER2 elicited a significant reduction of the engorgement weight of adult I. persulcatus. Interestingly, the reduction of engorgement weight was also observed in Ixodes ovatus, a sympatric species of I. persulcatus. In silico analyses of FER2 sequences of I. persulcatus and other ticks showed a greater similarity with I. scapularis and I. ricinus and lesser similarity with Hyalomma anatolicum, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus microplus, and R. appendiculatus. Moreover, it was observed that the tick FER2 sequences possess conserved regions within the primary structures, and in silico epitope mapping analysis revealed that antigenic regions were also conserved, particularly among Ixodes spp ticks. In conclusion, the data support further protective tick vaccination applications using the Ip-FER2 antigens identified herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naftaly Wang'ombe Githaka
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Satoru Konnai
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Masayoshi Isezaki
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shinya Goto
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Marina Amaral Xavier
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Sotaro Fujisawa
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shinji Yamada
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Okagawa
- Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Naoya Maekawa
- Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Morfologia, NUPEM-UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Shiro Murata
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ohashi
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
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39
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Ndawula C, Tabor AE. Cocktail Anti-Tick Vaccines: The Unforeseen Constraints and Approaches toward Enhanced Efficacies. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030457. [PMID: 32824962 PMCID: PMC7564958 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are second to mosquitoes as vectors of disease. Ticks affect livestock industries in Asia, Africa and Australia at ~ $1.13 billion USD per annum. For instance, 80% of the global cattle population is at risk of infestation by the Rhipicephalus microplus species-complex, which in 2016 was estimated to cause $22–30 billion USD annual losses. Although the management of tick populations mainly relies on the application of acaricides, this raises concerns due to tick resistance and accumulation of chemical residues in milk, meat, and the environment. To counteract acaricide-resistant tick populations, immunological tick control is regarded among the most promising sustainable strategies. Indeed, immense efforts have been devoted toward identifying tick vaccine antigens. Until now, Bm86-based vaccines have been the most effective under field conditions, but they have shown mixed success worldwide. Currently, of the two Bm86 vaccines commercialized in the 1990s (GavacTM in Cuba and TickGARDPLUS™ in Australia), only Gavac™ is available. There is thus growing consensus that combining antigens could broaden the protection range and enhance the efficacies of tick vaccines. Yet, the anticipated outcomes have not been achieved under field conditions. Therefore, this review demystifies the potential limitations and proposes ways of sustaining enhanced cocktail tick vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Ndawula
- Vaccinology Research program, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P O. Box 5746, Nakyesasa 256, Uganda
- Correspondence: (C.N.J.); (A.E.T.)
| | - Ala E. Tabor
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, The University of Queensland Australia, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
- Correspondence: (C.N.J.); (A.E.T.)
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40
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Dahmani M, Anderson JF, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Rickettsial pathogen uses arthropod tryptophan pathway metabolites to evade reactive oxygen species in tick cells. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13237. [PMID: 32562372 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are induced upon pathogen infection plays an important role in host defence. The rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is primarily transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks in the United States, has evolved many strategies to escape ROS and survive in mammalian cells. However, little is known on the role of ROS in A. phagocytophilum infection in ticks. Our results show that A. phagocytophilum and hemin induce activation of l-tryptophan pathway in tick cells. Xanthurenic acid (XA), a tryptophan metabolite, supports A. phagocytophilum growth in tick cells through inhibition of tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO) activity leading to reduced l-kynurenine levels that subsequently affects build-up of ROS. However, hemin supports A. phagocytophilum growth in tick cells by inducing TDO activity leading to increased l-kynurenine levels and ROS production. Our data reveal that XA and kynurenic acid (KA) chelate hemin. Furthermore, treatment of tick cells with 3-hydroxyl l-kynurenine limits A. phagocytophilum growth in tick cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown of kynurenine aminotransferase expression results in increased ROS production and reduced A. phagocytophilum burden in tick cells. Collectively, these results suggest that l-tryptophan pathway metabolites influence A. phagocytophilum survival by affecting build up of ROS levels in tick cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha Dahmani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
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41
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Stewart PE, Bloom ME. Sharing the Ride: Ixodes scapularis Symbionts and Their Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:142. [PMID: 32322563 PMCID: PMC7156593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The deer tick Ixodes scapularis transmits a variety of disease agents in the United States, spreading the bacteria that causes Lyme borreliosis, the protozoan agent of babesiosis, and viruses such as Powassan. However, a variety of other organisms have also evolved symbiotic relationships with this tick species, and it seems likely that some of these microbes have simultaneously coevolved mechanisms to impact each other and their tick host. The number of organisms identified as I. scapularis symbionts has increased seemingly exponentially with the advent of PCR and next generation sequencing technologies, but convincing arguments have proposed that some of these are of environmental origin, unadapted to surviving the physiological conditions of the tick or that they are artifacts of ultrasensitive detection methods. In this review, we examine the diversity of the known microbes occurring within the I. scapularis microbiome, the evidence for interactions between microbes, and discuss whether some organisms reported to be symbionts of I. scapularis are experimental artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip E Stewart
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Marshall E Bloom
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
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Wang F, Wang Y, Wang G, Zhang H, Kuang C, Zhou Y, Cao J, Zhou J. Ovary Proteome Analysis Reveals RH36 Regulates Reproduction via Vitellin Uptake Mediated by HSP70 Protein in Hard Ticks. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:93. [PMID: 32211346 PMCID: PMC7076983 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are blood-sucking vector arthropods, which play an important role in transmitting pathogens between humans and animals. RH36 is an immunomodulatory protein expressed in the salivary glands, but not other organs, of partially fed Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks, and it reaches its peak on the day of tick engorgement. RH36 gene silencing inhibited tick blood feeding and induced a significant decrease in tick oviposition, indicating that another function of immunosuppressor RH36 was regulating tick reproduction. Why did RH36 protein expressed uniquely in the salivary gland regulate tick reproduction? RH36 regulated positively the expression of vitellogenin in ovary, which indicated RH36 protein played an important role in the integration of nutrition and reproduction. According to proteomic analysis, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was significantly down-regulated in the immature ovary of post-engorged ticks. In addition, gene silencing of HSP70 not only inhibited tick blood-sucking and the expression of vitellogenin, but also increased tick death rate. These results suggested RH36 affected tick vitellogenin uptake and then regulated ovary cell maturation by modulating the expression of HSP70 protein, and finally controlled tick oviposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.,College of Life Science and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Houshuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ceyan Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongzhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Kim TK, Tirloni L, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Moresco JJ, Yates JR, da Silva Vaz I, Mulenga A. Time-resolved proteomic profile of Amblyomma americanum tick saliva during feeding. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007758. [PMID: 32049966 PMCID: PMC7041860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum ticks transmit more than a third of human tick-borne disease (TBD) agents in the United States. Tick saliva proteins are critical to success of ticks as vectors of TBD agents, and thus might serve as targets in tick antigen-based vaccines to prevent TBD infections. We describe a systems biology approach to identify, by LC-MS/MS, saliva proteins (tick = 1182, rabbit = 335) that A. americanum ticks likely inject into the host every 24 h during the first 8 days of feeding, and towards the end of feeding. Searching against entries in GenBank grouped tick and rabbit proteins into 27 and 25 functional categories. Aside from housekeeping-like proteins, majority of tick saliva proteins belong to the tick-specific (no homology to non-tick organisms: 32%), protease inhibitors (13%), proteases (8%), glycine-rich proteins (6%) and lipocalins (4%) categories. Global secretion dynamics analysis suggests that majority (74%) of proteins in this study are associated with regulating initial tick feeding functions and transmission of pathogens as they are secreted within 24–48 h of tick attachment. Comparative analysis of the A. americanum tick saliva proteome to five other tick saliva proteomes identified 284 conserved tick saliva proteins: we speculate that these regulate critical tick feeding functions and might serve as tick vaccine antigens. We discuss our findings in the context of understanding A. americanum tick feeding physiology as a means through which we can find effective targets for a vaccine against tick feeding. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is a medically important species in US that transmits 5 of the 16 reported tick-borne disease agents. Most recently, bites of this tick were associated with red meat allergies in humans. Vaccination of animals against tick feeding has been shown to be a sustainable and an effective alternative to current acaricide based tick control method which has several limitations. The pre-requisite to tick vaccine development is to understand the molecular basis of tick feeding physiology. Toward this goal, this study has identified proteins that A. americanum ticks inject into the host at different phases of its feeding cycle. This data set has identified proteins that A. americanum inject into the host within 24–48 h of feeding before it starts to transmit pathogens. Of high importance, we identified 284 proteins that are present in saliva of other tick species, which we suspect regulate important role(s) in tick feeding success and might represent rich source target antigens for a tick vaccine. Overall, this study provides a foundation to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tick feeding physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Antônio F. M. Pinto
- Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, Californai, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jolene K. Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - James J. Moresco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - John R. Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hernandez EP, Talactac MR, Fujisaki K, Tanaka T. The case for oxidative stress molecule involvement in the tick-pathogen interactions -an omics approach. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 100:103409. [PMID: 31200008 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.103409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The blood-feeding behavior of ticks has resulted in them becoming one of the most important vectors of disease-causing pathogens. Ticks possess a well-developed innate immune system to counter invading pathogens. However, the coevolution of ticks with tick-borne pathogens has adapted these pathogens to the tick's physiology and immune response through several mechanisms including transcriptional regulation. The recent development in tick and tick-borne disease research greatly involved the "omics" approach. The omics approach takes a look en masse at the different genes, proteins, metabolomes, and the microbiome of the ticks that could be differentiated during pathogen infection. Data from this approach revealed that oxidative stress-related molecules in ticks are differentiated and possibly being exploited by the pathogens to evade the tick's immune response. In this study, we review and discuss transcriptomic and proteomic data for some oxidative stress molecules differentially expressed during pathogen infection. We also discuss metabolomics and microbiome data as well as functional genomics in order to provide insight into the tick-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Pacia Hernandez
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan; Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Melbourne Rio Talactac
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan; Department of Clinical and Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Cavite, 4122, Philippines
| | - Kozo Fujisaki
- National Agricultural and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0856, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan; Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
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45
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Pillonel T, Bertelli C, Aeby S, de Barsy M, Jacquier N, Kebbi-Beghdadi C, Mueller L, Vouga M, Greub G. Sequencing the Obligate Intracellular Rhabdochlamydia helvetica within Its Tick Host Ixodes ricinus to Investigate Their Symbiotic Relationship. Genome Biol Evol 2019; 11:1334-1344. [PMID: 30949677 PMCID: PMC6490308 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rhabdochlamydiaceae family is one of the most widely distributed within the phylum Chlamydiae, but most of its members remain uncultivable. Rhabdochlamydia 16S rRNA was recently reported in more than 2% of 8,534 pools of ticks from Switzerland. Shotgun metagenomics was performed on a pool of five female Ixodes ricinus ticks presenting a high concentration of chlamydial DNA, allowing the assembly of a high-quality draft genome. About 60% of sequence reads originated from a single bacterial population that was named "Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia helvetica" whereas only few thousand reads mapped to the genome of "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii," a symbiont normally observed in all I. ricinus females. The 1.8 Mbp genome of R. helvetica is smaller than other Chlamydia-related bacteria. Comparative analyses with other chlamydial genomes identified transposases of the PD-(D/E)XK nuclease family that are unique to this new genome. These transposases show evidence of interphylum horizontal gene transfers between multiple arthropod endosymbionts, including Cardinium spp. (Bacteroidetes) and diverse proteobacteria such as Wolbachia, Rickettsia spp. (Rickettsiales), and Caedimonas varicaedens (Holosporales). Bacterial symbionts were previously suggested to provide B-vitamins to hematophagous hosts. However, incomplete metabolic capacities including for B-vitamin biosynthesis, high bacterial density and limited prevalence suggest that R. helvetica is parasitic rather than symbiotic to its host. The identification of novel Rhabdochlamydia strains in different hosts and their sequencing will help understanding if members of this genus have become highly specialized parasites with reduced genomes, like the Chlamydiaceae, or if they could be pathogenic to humans using ticks as a transmission vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trestan Pillonel
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claire Bertelli
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Aeby
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie de Barsy
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Jacquier
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carole Kebbi-Beghdadi
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Linda Mueller
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manon Vouga
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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46
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Xavier MA, Tirloni L, Torquato R, Tanaka A, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, da Silva Vaz I, Seixas A, Termignoni C. Blood anticlotting activity of a Rhipicephalus microplus cathepsin L-like enzyme. Biochimie 2019; 163:12-20. [PMID: 31059753 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In parasites, cathepsins are implicated in mechanisms related to organism surveillance and host evasion. Some parasite cathepsins have fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activity, suggesting that they may contribute to maintain blood meal fluidity for extended feeding periods. Here, it is shown that BmGTI (Rhipicephalus [Boophilus] microplus Gut Thrombin Inhibitor), a protein previously described as an inhibitor of fibrinogen hydrolysis and platelet aggregation by thrombin, and BmCL1 (Rhipicephalus [Boophilus] microplus Cathepsin-L like 1) are the same protein, hereinafter referred to using the earliest name (BmCL1). To further characterize BmCL1, Rhipicephalus microplus native and recombinant (rBmCL1) proteins were obtained. Native BmCL1 was isolated using thrombin-affinity chromatography, and it displays thrombin inhibition activity. We subsequently investigated rBmCL1 interaction with thrombin. We show that rBmCL1 and thrombin have a dissociation constant (ΚD) of 130.2 ± 11.2 nM, and this interaction likely occurs due to a more electronegative surface of BmCL1 at pH 7.5 than at pH 5.0, which may favor an electrostatic binding to positively charged thrombin exosites. During BmCL1-thrombin interaction, thrombin is not degraded or inhibited. rBmCL1 impairs thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting via a fibrinogenolytic activity. Fibrinogen degradation by BmCL1 occurs by the hydrolysis of Aα- and Bβ-chains, generating products similar to those produced by fibrinogenolytic cathepsins from other organisms. In conclusion, BmCL1 likely has an additional role in R. microplus blood digestion, besides its role in hemoglobin degradation at acid pH. BmCL1 fibrinogenolytic activity indicates a proteolytic activity in the neutral lumen of tick midgut, contributing to maintain the fluidity of the ingested blood, which remains to be confirmed in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Amaral Xavier
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ricardo Torquato
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aparecida Tanaka
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Antônio F M Pinto
- Clayton Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Adriana Seixas
- Departamento de Farmacociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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47
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Heggland EI, Eichner C, Støve SI, Martinez A, Nilsen F, Dondrup M. A scavenger receptor B (CD36)-like protein is a potential mediator of intestinal heme absorption in the hematophagous ectoparasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4218. [PMID: 30862948 PMCID: PMC6414551 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40590-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal absorption of heme has remained enigmatic for years, even though heme provides the most bioavailable form of iron. The salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, is a heme auxotrophic ectoparasite feeding on large quantities of blood from its host, the salmon. Here we show that a scavenging CD36-like receptor is a potential mediator of heme absorption in the intestine of the salmon louse. The receptor was characterized by a heme binding assay using recombinantly expressed protein, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, as well as functional knockdown studies in the louse. A computational structural model of the receptor predicted a binding pocket for heme, as also supported by in silico docking. The mRNA and protein were expressed exclusively in the intestine of the louse. Further, knocking down the transcript resulted in lower heme levels in the adult female louse, production of shorter egg strings, and an overall lower hatching success of the eggs. Finally, starving the lice caused the transcript expression of the receptor to decrease. To our knowledge, this is the first time a CD36-like protein has been suggested to be an intestinal heme receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erna Irene Heggland
- Department of Biological Sciences & Sea Lice Research Centre (SLRC), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Christiane Eichner
- Department of Biological Sciences & Sea Lice Research Centre (SLRC), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Svein Isungset Støve
- Department of Biomedicine & K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Aurora Martinez
- Department of Biomedicine & K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Frank Nilsen
- Department of Biological Sciences & Sea Lice Research Centre (SLRC), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michael Dondrup
- Department of Informatics & Sea Lice Research Centre (SLRC), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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48
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Haem Biology in Metazoan Parasites - 'The Bright Side of Haem'. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:213-225. [PMID: 30686614 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, host haem has been recognized as a cytotoxic molecule that parasites need to eliminate or detoxify in order to survive. However, recent evidence indicates that some lineages of parasites have lost genes that encode enzymes involved specifically in endogenous haem biosynthesis. Such lineages thus need to acquire and utilize haem originating from their host animal, making it an indispensable molecule for their survival and reproduction. In multicellular parasites, host haem needs to be systemically distributed throughout their bodies to meet the haem demands in all cell and tissue types. Host haem also gets deposited in parasite eggs, enabling embryogenesis and reproduction. Clearly, a better understanding of haem biology in multicellular parasites should elucidate organismal adaptations to obligatory blood-feeding.
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49
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Brock CM, Temeyer KB, Tidwell J, Yang Y, Blandon MA, Carreón-Camacho D, Longnecker MT, Almazán C, Pérez de León AA, Pietrantonio PV. The leucokinin-like peptide receptor from the cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is localized in the midgut periphery and receptor silencing with validated double-stranded RNAs causes a reproductive fitness cost. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:287-299. [PMID: 30673587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) (Acari: Ixodidae), is a one-host tick that infests primarily cattle in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. This species transmits deadly cattle pathogens, especially Babesia spp., for which a recombinant vaccine is not available. Therefore, disease control depends on tick vector control. Although R. microplus was eradicated in the USA, tick populations in Mexico and South America have acquired resistance to many of the applied acaricides. Recent acaricide-resistant tick reintroductions detected in the U.S. underscore the need for novel tick control methods. The octopamine and tyramine/octopamine receptors, both G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), are believed to be the main molecular targets of the acaricide amitraz. This provides the proof of principle that investigating tick GPCRs, especially those that are invertebrate-specific, may be a feasible strategy for discovering novel targets and subsequently new anti-tick compounds. The R. microplus leucokinin-like peptide receptor (LKR), also known as the myokinin- or kinin receptor, is such a GPCR. While the receptor was previously characterized in vitro, the function of the leucokinin signaling system in ticks remains unknown. In this work, the LKR was immunolocalized to the periphery of the female midgut and silenced through RNA interference (RNAi) in females. To optimize RNAi experiments, a dual-luciferase system was developed to determine the silencing efficiency of LKR-double stranded RNA (dsRNA) constructs prior to testing those in ticks placed on cattle. This assay identified two effective dsRNAs. Silencing of the LKR with these two validated dsRNA constructs was verified by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) of female tick dissected tissues. Silencing was significant in midguts and carcasses. Silencing caused decreases in weights of egg masses and in the percentages of eggs hatched per egg mass, as well as delays in time to oviposition and egg hatching. A role of the kinin receptor in tick reproduction is apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Brock
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Kevin B Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road Kerrville, TX 78028-9184, USA
| | - Jason Tidwell
- Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd. Building 6419 Edinburg, TX 78541-5033, USA
| | - Yunlong Yang
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Maria A Blandon
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Diana Carreón-Camacho
- Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, CP87000 Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Michael T Longnecker
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, CP87000 Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road Kerrville, TX 78028-9184, USA
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50
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Jalovecka M, Hartmann D, Miyamoto Y, Eckmann L, Hajdusek O, O'Donoghue AJ, Sojka D. Validation of Babesia proteasome as a drug target. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:394-402. [PMID: 30103207 PMCID: PMC6092455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted zoonosis caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. Treatment of this emerging malaria-related disease has relied on antimalarial drugs and antibiotics. The proteasome of Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, has recently been validated as a target for anti-malarial drug development and therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of epoxyketone (carfilzomib, ONX-0914 and epoxomicin) and boronic acid (bortezomib and ixazomib) proteasome inhibitors on the growth and survival of Babesia. Testing the compounds against Babesia divergens ex vivo revealed suppressive effects on parasite growth with activity that was higher than the cytotoxic effects on a non-transformed mouse macrophage cell line. Furthermore, we showed that the most-effective compound, carfilzomib, significantly reduces parasite multiplication in a Babesia microti infected mouse model without noticeable adverse effects. In addition, treatment with carfilzomib lead to an ex vivo and in vivo decrease in proteasome activity and accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins compared to untreated control. Overall, our results demonstrate that the Babesia proteasome is a valid target for drug development and warrants the design of potent and selective B. divergens proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Jalovecka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yukiko Miyamoto
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Lars Eckmann
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Ondrej Hajdusek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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