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Lyu B, Li J, Niemeyer B, Anderson D, Beerntsen B, Song Q. Identification, structural modeling, gene expression analysis and RNAi effect of putative phospholipase A 2 in the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102256. [PMID: 37734164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102256] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum, also known as the lone star tick, is a small arachnid that feeds on blood and can spread disease to humans and other animals. Despite the overlapped ecological niche, geographic distribution, and host selection, there is no proof that A. americanum transmits the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme disease. Studies have shown that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) may act as a tool to eliminate B. burgdorferi, but particular PLA2 genes in A. americanum have not been identified and functionally characterized. Using the de novo sequencing method, we identified 42 putative A. americanum PLA2 (pAaPLA2) homologs in the present study, of which three pAaPLA2 had calcium binding sites and canonical histidine catalytic sites. Then, we determined phylogenetic relationships, sequence alignments, and conserved protein motifs of these pAaPLA2s. Protein structural analysis demonstrated that pAaPLA2s primarily consisted of α-helices, β-sheets, and random coils. These genes were predicted to be engaged in the phospholipid metabolic process, arachidonic acid secretion, and PLA2 activity by functional annotation analysis. A transcriptional factor (Bgb) was discovered that interacted with pAaPLA2 proteins that may have unrecognized roles in regulating neuronal development. Based on the RNA-seq data, we surveyed expression profiles of key pAaPLA2-related genes to reveal putative modulatory networks of these genes. RNAi knockdown of pAaPLA2_1, a dominant isoform in A. americanum, led to decreased bacterial inhibition ability, suggesting pAaPLA2 may play an important role in mediating immune responses. Collectively, this study provides essential evidence of the identification, gene structure, phylogeny, and expression analysis of pAaPLA2 genes in A. americanum, and offers a deeper understanding of the putative borreliacidal roles in the lone star tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lyu
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Brigid Niemeyer
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Deborah Anderson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Brenda Beerntsen
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Nogueira BCF, Orozco AMO, Argumedo AK, de Oliveira Faustino A, de Oliveira LL, da Fonseca LA, Campos AK. Circulating oxidative stress and acute phase protein levels in horses infested with ticks. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s10493-023-00798-z. [PMID: 37285109 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ticks have saliva rich in immunoregulatory molecules that interfere with the host's physiology in order to feed. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of acute phase proteins and circulating oxidative stress in response to infestation by Amblyomma sculptum and Dermacentor nitens in two breed horses, Mangalarga Marchador and Breton Postier, to define resistance or susceptibility to ticks. Among the oxidative stress markers, we observed lower malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in horses with tick infestation, consequently not altering the antioxidant enzymes. Breton Postier with tick infestation showed a reduction in the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), which may be due to lower feeding of the host due to the stress caused by the infestation or even to sequestration of components induced by the tick during blood feeding. The alpha-1-antitrypsin, an acute phase protein, showed an increase in Mangalarga Marchador with tick infestation; curiously it is related to a protective action against tissue damage, pathogens and parasites. We could assume that Mangalarga Marchador showed a better response to ticks when compared to Breton Postier. However, it is still early to define the resistance or susceptibility to ticks, as we did not observe significant changes in most of the analyzed variables. Further studies are needed to understand the compounds and mechanisms of action of the tick saliva in the acute phase proteins and the possible relationships of oxidative stress in the host and the tick during blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Karina Argumedo
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Vargas-Hernandez M, Montero-Espinosa C, Sánchez-Villaurrutia D, Duarte CA, Bechara GH, Fuentes-Castillo A, Ancisar J, Suárez-Alba J, Mosqueda-Lobaina O, Suárez-Pedroso M. Infestation of rabbits with just-molted adults of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus: biological parameters and efficiency. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e016122. [PMID: 36722683 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report for the first time the successful infestation of rabbits with just-molted, unfed adults of Rhipicephalus microplus. Six New Zealand White rabbits were experimentally infested with 20 female and 20 male unfed adult ticks released into plastic chambers fixed on the shaved backs of each host. The attachment and feeding processes were successful. The biological characteristics of the ticks and the occurrence of adverse events in the tick-attachment area were studied. The average engorgement period was 10.7 days, and 33.3% of the engorged females completed the parasitic phase. The average weight of the recovered engorged females was 149.8 mg, with an average egg mass weight of 70.9 mg, a conversion efficiency index of 47.3%, and a hatching percentage of 88.31%. The adverse reactions found in the tick-attachment area were the usual inflammatory responses of the organism to infestation by these ectoparasites; however, it did not prevent the ticks from feeding and completing their life cycle. These data indicate that the infestation of rabbits with just-molted, unfed adult ticks could be a valuable, alternative animal model for rapid and economical evaluation of vaccine candidates and new molecules with acaricidal activity against Rhipicephalus microplus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milagros Vargas-Hernandez
- Departamento de Biotecnología Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Carlos Montero-Espinosa
- Departamento de Biotecnología Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | | | - Carlos Antonio Duarte
- Departamento de Biotecnología Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Gervasio Henrique Bechara
- Escola de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná - PUC-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | | | - Julio Ancisar
- Departamento de Investigaciones Preclínicas y Experimentación Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | - José Suárez-Alba
- Departamento de Investigaciones Preclínicas y Experimentación Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Omar Mosqueda-Lobaina
- Departamento de Investigaciones Preclínicas y Experimentación Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Marisela Suárez-Pedroso
- Departamento de Biotecnología Animal, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, La Habana, Cuba
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Inspiring Anti-Tick Vaccine Research, Development and Deployment in Tropical Africa for the Control of Cattle Ticks: Review and Insights. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 11:vaccines11010099. [PMID: 36679944 PMCID: PMC9866923 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are worldwide ectoparasites to humans and animals, and are associated with numerous health and economic effects. Threatening over 80% of the global cattle population, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) particularly constrain livestock production in the East, Central and Southern Africa. This, therefore, makes their control critical to the sustainability of the animal industry in the region. Since ticks are developing resistance against acaricides, anti-tick vaccines (ATVs) have been proposed as an environmentally friendly control alternative. Whereas they have been used in Latin America and Australia to reduce tick populations, pathogenic infections and number of acaricide treatments, commercially registered ATVs have not been adopted in tropical Africa for tick control. This is majorly due to their limited protection against economically important tick species of Africa and lack of research. Recent advances in various omics technologies and reverse vaccinology have enabled the identification of many candidate anti-tick antigens (ATAs), and are likely to usher in the next generation of vaccines, for which Africa should prepare to embrace. Herein, we highlight some scientific principles and approaches that have been used to identify ATAs, outline characteristics of a desirable ATA for vaccine design and propose the need for African governments to investment in ATV research to develop vaccines relevant to local tick species (personalized vaccines). We have also discussed the prospect of incorporating anti-tick vaccines into the integrated TTBDs control strategies in the sub-Saharan Africa, citing the case of Uganda.
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Castrosanto MA, Mukerjee N, Ramos AR, Maitra S, Manuben JJP, Das P, Malik S, Hasan MM, Alexiou A, Dey A, Kamal MA, Aljarba NH, Alkahtani S, Ghosh A. Abetting host immune response by inhibiting rhipicephalus sanguineus Evasin-1: An in silico approach. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271401. [PMID: 36099243 PMCID: PMC9469951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is the most prevalent tick in the world and a well-recognized vector of many pathogens affecting dogs and occasionally humans. Pathogens exploit tick salivary molecules for their survival and multiplication in the vector and transmission to and establishment in the hosts. Tick saliva contains various non-proteinaceous substances and secreted proteins that are differentially produced during feeding and comprise of inhibitors of blood congealing and platelet aggregation, vasodilatory and immunomodulatory substances, and compounds preventing itch and pain. One of these proteins is Evasin-1, which has a high binding affinity to certain types of chemokines. The binding of Evasin-1 to chemokines prevents the detection and immune response of the host to R. sanguineus, which may result in the successful transmission of pathogens. In this study, we screened potential Evasin-1 inhibitor based on the pharmacophore model derived from the binding site residues. Hit ligands were further screened via molecular docking and virtual ADMET prediction, which resulted in ZINC8856727 as the top ligand (binding affinity: -9.1 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulation studies, coupled with MM-GBSA calculations and principal component analysis revealed that ZINC8856727 plays a vital role in the stability of Evasin-1. We recommend continuing the study by developing a formulation that serves as a potential medicine aid immune response during R. sanguineus infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin A. Castrosanto
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Nobendu Mukerjee
- Department of Microbiology, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, West Bengal, Kolkata, India
- Department of Health Sciences, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail: (AG); (AA); (NM); (SA)
| | - Ana Rose Ramos
- Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | | | - John Julius P. Manuben
- National Crop Protection Center, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Padmashree Das
- Central Silk Board, Regional Office, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Sumira Malik
- Department of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand Ranch, Jharkhand, India
| | - Mohammad Mehedi Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Australia & AFNP Med, Hebersham, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail: (AG); (AA); (NM); (SA)
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Habersham, New South Wales, Australia
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Habersham, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nada H. Aljarba
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad Alkahtani
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (AG); (AA); (NM); (SA)
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Microbiology Division, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India
- * E-mail: (AG); (AA); (NM); (SA)
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6
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Alvarenga PH, Dias DR, Xu X, Francischetti IMB, Gittis AG, Arp G, Garboczi DN, Ribeiro JMC, Andersen JF. Functional aspects of evolution in a cluster of salivary protein genes from mosquitoes. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 146:103785. [PMID: 35568118 PMCID: PMC9662162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The D7 proteins are highly expressed in the saliva of hematophagous Nematocera and bind biogenic amines and eicosanoid compounds produced by the host during blood feeding. These proteins are encoded by gene clusters expressing forms having one or two odorant-binding protein-like domains. Here we examine functional diversity within the D7 group in the genus Anopheles and make structural comparisons with D7 proteins from culicine mosquitoes in order to understand aspects of D7 functional evolution. Two domain long form (D7L) and one domain short form (D7S) proteins from anopheline and culicine mosquitoes were characterized to determine their ligand selectivity and binding pocket structures. We previously showed that a D7L protein from Anopheles stephensi, of the subgenus Cellia, could bind eicosanoids at a site in its N-terminal domain but could not bind biogenic amines in its C-terminal domain as does a D7L1 ortholog from the culicine species Aedes aegypti, raising the question of whether anopheline D7L proteins had lost their ability to bind biogenic amines. Here we find that D7L from anopheline species belonging to two other subgenera, Nyssorhynchus and Anopheles, can bind biogenic amines and have a structure much like the Ae. aegypti ortholog. The unusual D7L, D7L3, can also bind serotonin in the Cellia species An. gambiae. We also show through structural comparisons with culicine forms that the biogenic amine binding function of single domain D7S proteins in the genus Anopheles may have evolved through gene conversion of structurally similar proteins, which did not have biogenic amine binding capability. Collectively, the data indicate that D7L proteins had a biogenic amine and eicosanoid binding function in the common ancestor of anopheline and culicine mosquitoes, and that the D7S proteins may have acquired a biogenic amine binding function in anophelines through a gene conversion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia H Alvarenga
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA; Laboratório de Bioquímica de Resposta ao Estresse, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Denis R Dias
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Resposta ao Estresse, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Xueqing Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ivo M B Francischetti
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Apostolos G Gittis
- Structural Biology Section, Research Technologies Branch (RTB) National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gabriela Arp
- Structural Biology Section, Research Technologies Branch (RTB) National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - David N Garboczi
- Structural Biology Section, Research Technologies Branch (RTB) National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - John F Andersen
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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Ali A, Zeb I, Alouffi A, Zahid H, Almutairi MM, Ayed Alshammari F, Alrouji M, Termignoni C, Vaz IDS, Tanaka T. Host Immune Responses to Salivary Components - A Critical Facet of Tick-Host Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:809052. [PMID: 35372098 PMCID: PMC8966233 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.809052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick sialome is comprised of a rich cocktail of bioactive molecules that function as a tool to disarm host immunity, assist blood-feeding, and play a vibrant role in pathogen transmission. The adaptation of the tick's blood-feeding behavior has lead to the evolution of bioactive molecules in its saliva to assist them to overwhelm hosts' defense mechanisms. During a blood meal, a tick secretes different salivary molecules including vasodilators, platelet aggregation inhibitors, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory proteins, and inhibitors of complement activation; the salivary repertoire changes to meet various needs such as tick attachment, feeding, and modulation or impairment of the local dynamic and vigorous host responses. For instance, the tick's salivary immunomodulatory and cement proteins facilitate the tick's attachment to the host to enhance prolonged blood-feeding and to modulate the host's innate and adaptive immune responses. Recent advances implemented in the field of "omics" have substantially assisted our understanding of host immune modulation and immune inhibition against the molecular dynamics of tick salivary molecules in a crosstalk between the tick-host interface. A deep understanding of the tick salivary molecules, their substantial roles in multifactorial immunological cascades, variations in secretion, and host immune responses against these molecules is necessary to control these parasites. In this article, we reviewed updated knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying host responses to diverse elements in tick saliva throughout tick invasion, as well as host defense strategies. In conclusion, understanding the mechanisms involved in the complex interactions between the tick salivary components and host responses is essential to decipher the host defense mechanisms against the tick evasion strategies at tick-host interface which is promising in the development of effective anti-tick vaccines and drug therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Ismail Zeb
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hafsa Zahid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahdah Ayed Alshammari
- College of Sciences and Literature Microbiology, Nothern Border University, Rafha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alrouji
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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8
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Villar M, Pacheco I, Mateos-Hernández L, Cabezas-Cruz A, Tabor AE, Rodríguez-Valle M, Mulenga A, Kocan KM, Blouin EF, de la Fuente J. Characterization of tick salivary gland and saliva alphagalactome reveals candidate alpha-gal syndrome disease biomarkers. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 18:1099-1116. [PMID: 34904495 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.2018305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that synthesize the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal) associated with the alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) or allergy to mammalian meat consumption. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, we used a proteomics approach to characterize tick proteins in salivary glands (sialome SG), secreted saliva (sialome SA) and with α-Gal modification (alphagalactome SG and SA) in model tick species associated with the AGS in the United States (Amblyomma americanum) and Australia (Ixodes holocyclus). Selected proteins reactive to sera (IgE) from patients with AGS were identified to advance in the identification of possible proteins associated with the AGS. For comparative analysis, the α-Gal content was measured in various tick species. RESULTS The results confirmed that ticks produce proteins with α-Gal modifications and secreted into saliva during feeding. Proteins identified in tick alphagalactome SA by sera from patients with severe AGS symptomatology may constitute candidate disease biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS The results support the presence tick-derived proteins with α-Gal modifications in the saliva with potential implications in AGS and other disorders and protective capacity against tick infestations and pathogen infection. Future research should focus on the characterization of the function of tick glycoproteins with α-Gal in tick biology and AGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Villar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.,Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science and Chemical Technologies, and Regional Centre for Biomedical Research (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Iván Pacheco
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Ala E Tabor
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, 68 Cooper Road, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Manuel Rodríguez-Valle
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843, United States
| | - Katherine M Kocan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Edmour F Blouin
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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9
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Rajendran KV, Neelakanta G, Sultana H. Sphingomyelinases in a journey to combat arthropod-borne pathogen transmission. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:1622-1638. [PMID: 33960414 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks feed on humans and other vertebrate hosts and transmit several pathogens of public health concern. Tick saliva is a complex mixture of bioactive proteins, lipids and immunomodulators, such as I. scapularis sphingomyelinase (IsSMase)-like protein, an ortholog of dermonecrotoxin SMase D found in the venom of Loxosceles spp. of spiders. IsSMase modulates the host immune response towards Th2, which suppresses Th1-mediated cytokines to facilitate pathogen transmission. Arboviruses utilize exosomes for their transmission from tick to the vertebrate host, and exosomes derived from tick saliva/salivary glands suppress C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 and interleukin-8 immune response(s) in human skin to delay wound healing and repair processes. IsSMase affects also viral replication and exosome biogenesis, thereby inhibiting tick-to-vertebrate host transmission of pathogenic exosomes. In this review, we elaborate on exosomes and their biogenesis as potential candidates for developing novel control measure(s) to combat tick-borne diseases. Such targets could help with the development of an efficient anti-tick vaccine for preventing the transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kundave V Rajendran
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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10
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Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Alves RS, de Cássia Vieira Faria R, Sarandy MM, Fonseca E Silva F, Gonçalves RV. Oxidative and local histopathological response on skin wound of horses due to Amblyomma sculptum tick parasitism. Res Vet Sci 2021; 136:550-560. [PMID: 33892365 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Amblyomma sculptum is frequently observed parasitizing horses, responsible for economic losses, damage to the host''s skin and transmission of pathogens. The oxidative stress profile and inflammatory mechanisms involved in this parasitism remain poorly studied. Thus, this study aimed to assess the histopathological changes and oxidative profile responses of horses in the attachment site of A. sculptum to find variations that indicate resistance and susceptibility between the breeds to this tick, based on the hypothesis that resistant animals have a greater inflammatory response and lesser number of attached ticks. We analyzed female horses of two breeds, Mangalarga Marchador and Breton Postier, naturally infested by Amblyomma sculptum. The ticks were counted and full-thickness excisional skin wounds of 10 mm were made on the perineal region on the attachment site of partially engorged females for histological and biochemical analyzes. The occurrence of the tick on the skin caused an increase in cellularity, inflammatory infiltrate, mast cells, pyknotic nuclei, and changes in the fibrous components of the matrix. The negative correlation observed between tick infestation and inflammatory response indicated that animals with greater inflammatory response tend to have less tick infestation. The oxidative stress markers, MDA, PCN and NO not present great variation; however, between the antioxidant enzymes levels, SOD was higher in tick attachment of Breton Postier skin, this may mean that these animals had higher oxidative enzymatic activity and consequently less tissue damage, while the GST dropped in the attachment sites compared to the control, which may indicate that animals were in a state of significant oxidative stress or raises the question of the possibility of enzymatic sequestration by ticks. No significant differences were found in the resistance of the two breeds since most of the analyzes varied due to the presence or absence of the tick attached to the skin. We draw attention to the importance of studying characteristics of the animal's antioxidant responses to the tick and the action of tick saliva on antioxidant enzymes and ROS because these characteristics are interdependent with the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Raul Santos Alves
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Reggiani Vilela Gonçalves
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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11
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Changing the Recipe: Pathogen Directed Changes in Tick Saliva Components. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041806. [PMID: 33673273 PMCID: PMC7918122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites and are important vectors of a wide variety of pathogens. These pathogens include spirochetes in the genus Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, rickettsial pathogens, and tick-borne encephalitis virus, among others. Due to their prolonged feeding period of up to two weeks, hard ticks must counteract vertebrate host defense reactions in order to survive and reproduce. To overcome host defense mechanisms, ticks have evolved a large number of pharmacologically active molecules that are secreted in their saliva, which inhibits or modulates host immune defenses and wound healing responses upon injection into the bite site. These bioactive molecules in tick saliva can create a privileged environment in the host’s skin that tick-borne pathogens take advantage of. In fact, evidence is accumulating that tick-transmitted pathogens manipulate tick saliva composition to enhance their own survival, transmission, and evasion of host defenses. We review what is known about specific and functionally characterized tick saliva molecules in the context of tick infection with the genus Borrelia, the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Additionally, we review studies analyzing sialome-level responses to pathogen challenge.
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12
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Mizushima D, Tabbabi A, Yamamoto DS, Kien LT, Kato H. Salivary gland transcriptome of the Asiatic Triatoma rubrofasciata. Acta Trop 2020; 210:105473. [PMID: 32505596 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Salivary gland transcriptome analysis of the Asiatic Triatoma rubrofasciata was performed by high-throughput RNA sequencing. This analysis showed that the majority of reads accounting for 85.38% FPKM (fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped fragments) were mapped with a secreted class. Of these, the most abundant subclass accounting for 89.27% FPKM was the lipocalin family. In the lipocalin family, the most dominant molecules making up 70.49% FPKM were homologues of procalin, a major allergen identified from T. protracta saliva, suggesting an important role in blood-sucking of T. rubrofasciata. Other lipocalins showed similarities to pallidipin and triplatin, inhibitors of collagen-induced platelet aggregation identified from T. pallidipennis and T. infestans, respectively, Td38 from T. dimidiata with unknown function, triatin-like lipocalin with unknown function, and triafestin, an inhibitor of the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system, identified from T. infestans saliva. Other than lipocalin family proteins, homologues of antigen-5 (3.38% FPKM), Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor (1.36% FPKM), inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (1.32% FPKM), and apyrase/5'-nucleotidase (0.64% FPKM) were identified as abundant molecules in T. rubrofasciata saliva. Through this study, de novo assembly of 42,580,822 trimmed reads generated 35,781 trinity transcripts, and a total of 1,272 coding sequences for the secreted class were deposited in GenBank. The results provide further insights into the evolution of salivary components in blood-sucking arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Mizushima
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Ahmed Tabbabi
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Daisuke S Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Le Trung Kien
- Department of Experimental Chemistry, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam
| | - Hirotomo Kato
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
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13
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Zhou W, Tahir F, Wang JCY, Woodson M, Sherman MB, Karim S, Neelakanta G, Sultana H. Discovery of Exosomes From Tick Saliva and Salivary Glands Reveals Therapeutic Roles for CXCL12 and IL-8 in Wound Healing at the Tick-Human Skin Interface. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:554. [PMID: 32766239 PMCID: PMC7378379 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete various anti-coagulatory, anti-vasoconstrictory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet aggregation factors in their saliva at the bite site during feeding to evade host immunological surveillance and responses. For the first time, we report successful isolation of exosomes (small membrane-bound extracellular signaling vesicles) from saliva and salivary glands of partially fed or unfed ixodid ticks. Our data showed a novel role of these in vivo exosomes in the inhibition of wound healing via downregulation of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) and upregulation of interleukin-8 (IL-8). Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis revealed that tick saliva and salivary glands are composed of heterogeneous populations of in vivo exosomes with sizes ranging from 30 to 200 nm. Enriched amounts of tick CD63 ortholog protein and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were evident in these exosomes. Treatment of human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with exosomes derived from tick saliva/salivary glands or ISE6 cells dramatically delayed cell migration, wound healing, and repair process. Wound healing is a highly dynamic process with several individualized processes including secretion of cytokines. Cytokine array profiling followed by immunoblotting and quantitative-PCR analysis revealed that HaCaT cells treated with exosomes derived from tick saliva/salivary glands or ISE6 cells showed enhanced IL-8 levels and reduced CXCL12 loads. Inhibition of IL-8 or CXCL12 further delayed exosome-mediated cell migration, wound healing, and repair process, suggesting a skin barrier protection role for these chemokines at the tick bite site. In contrast, exogenous treatment of CXCL12 protein completely restored this delay and enhanced the repair process. Taken together, our study provides novel insights on how tick salivary exosomes secreted in saliva can delay wound healing at the bite site to facilitate successful blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuo Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Faizan Tahir
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Joseph Che-Yen Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.,Electron Microscopy Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Michael Woodson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Michael B Sherman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States.,Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Shahid Karim
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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14
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Zhang Y, Han R. Insight Into the Salivary Secretome of Varroa destructor and Salivary Toxicity to Apis cerana. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 112:505-514. [PMID: 30219905 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toy224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Varroa destructor (Acari Varroidae) mite is a serious threat to honey bee due to hemolymph feeding and virus transmission. Mite salivary proteins are involved in these interactions. However, the salivary secretome has not been previously characterized. In this paper, the saliva of V. destructor was found to be toxic to the worker larvae of Apis cerana (Hymenoptera Apidae) in the absence of deformed wing virus (DWV) and to stimulate the development of deformed wings in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera Apidae) adults in the presence of DWV. The salivary secretome was analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS). A search of the resulting data against peptide databases using the software Mascot yielded 356, 53, and 9 matched proteins from V. destructor, A. mellifera, and DWV, respectively. The saliva contained Varroa mite proteins identified as important for potential virulence to A. cerana larvae, for the inhibition of harmful microorganisms, for the utilization of bee nutrients, and for antioxidant, oxidation-reduction and detoxification functions as well as A. mellifera proteins identified as nutrients important for mite reproduction. The saliva proteins also contained viral proteins from one virus, DWV. These results provide a strong foundation for understanding the interactions among the Varroa mite, honeybee, and DWV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Richou Han
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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15
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Sajid M, Kausar A, Iqbal A, Abbas H, Iqbal Z, Jones M. An insight into the ecobiology, vector significance and control of Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): A review. Acta Trop 2018; 187:229-239. [PMID: 30118698 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Acari:Ixodoidea) are important ectoparasites infesting livestock and human populations around the globe. Ticks can cause damage directly by affecting the site of infestation, or indirectly as vectors of a wide range of protozoa, bacteria and viruses which ultimately lead to lowered productivity of livestock populations. Hyalomma is a genus of hard ticks, having more than 30 species well-adapted to hot, humid and cold climates. Habitat diversity, vector ability, and emerging problem of acaricidal resistance in enzootic regions typify this genus in various countries around the world. This paper reviews the epidemiology, associated risk factors (temperature, climate, age, sex, breed etc.), vector role, vector-pathogen association, and reported control strategies of genus Hyalomma. The various proteins in saliva of Hyalomma secreted into the blood stream of host and the prolonged attachment are responsible for the successful engorgement of female ticks in spite of host immune defense system. The various immunological approaches that have been tried by researchers in order to cause tick rejection are also discussed. In addition, the novel biological control approaches involving the use of entomo-pathogenic nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) serovar thuringiensis H14; an endotoxin, for their acaricidal effect on different species and life cycle stages of Hyalomma are also presented.
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16
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Koleoglu G, Goodwin PH, Reyes-Quintana M, Hamiduzzaman MM, Guzman-Novoa E. Varroa destructor parasitism reduces hemocyte concentrations and prophenol oxidase gene expression in bees from two populations. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:1175-1183. [PMID: 29435718 PMCID: PMC5978920 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Circulating hemocytes are responsible for defensive and healing mechanisms in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Parasitism by the mite Varroa destructor and injection of V. destructor homogenate in buffer, but not buffer injection, showed similar reductions in total hemocyte concentrations in both Africanized and European adult honey bees. This indicated that compounds in V. destructor homogenate can have similar effects as V. destructor parasitism and that the response is not solely due to wounding. Samples from honey bees with different hemocyte concentrations were compared for the expression patterns of hemolectin (AmHml), prophenol oxidase (AmPpo), and class C scavenger receptor (AmSRC-C). Of the genes tested, only the expression of AmPpo correlated well with hemocyte counts for all the treatments, indicating that melanization is associated with those responses. Thus, the expression of AmPpo might be a suitable biomarker for hemocyte counts as part of cellular defenses against injection of buffer or mite compounds and V. destructor parasitism and perhaps other conditions involving healing and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gun Koleoglu
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Paul H Goodwin
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Mariana Reyes-Quintana
- Departamento de Medicina y Zootecnia en Abejas, FMVZ, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04960, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | | | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
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17
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Kato H, Jochim RC, Gomez EA, Tsunekawa S, Valenzuela JG, Hashiguchi Y. Salivary gland transcripts of the kissing bug, Panstrongylus chinai, a vector of Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2017; 174:122-129. [PMID: 28690145 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The saliva of hematophagous arthropods injected during blood feeding contains potent pharmacologically active components to counteract the host hemostatic and inflammatory systems. In the present study, dominant salivary gland transcripts of Panstrongylus chinai, a vector of Chagas disease, were analyzed by sequencing randomly selected clones of the salivary gland cDNA library. This analysis showed that 56.5% of the isolated transcripts coded for putative secreted proteins, of which 73.7% coded for proteins belonging to the lipocalin family. The most abundant transcript of lipocalin family proteins was a homologue of pallidipin 2, an inhibitor of collagen-induced platelet aggregation of Triatoma pallidipennis. In addition, homologues of triafestin, an inhibitor of the kallikrein-kinin system of T. infestans, were identified as the dominant transcript. Other salivary transcripts encoding lipocalin family proteins had homology to triplatin (an inhibitor of platelet aggregation) and others with unknown function. Other than lipocalin family proteins, homologues of a Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor (putative anticoagulant), a hemolysin-like protein (unknown function), inositol polyphosphate 5-related protein (a regulator of membrane phosphoinositide), antigen 5-related protein (unknown function) and apyrase (platelet aggregation inhibitor) were identified.
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18
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Landulfo GA, Patané JSL, Silva DGND, Junqueira-de-Azevedo ILM, Mendonca RZ, Simons SM, Carvalho ED, Barros-Battesti DM. Gut transcriptome analysis on females of Ornithodoros mimon (Acari: Argasidae) and phylogenetic inference of ticks. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2017; 26:185-204. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612017027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Ornithodoros mimon is an argasid tick that parasitizes bats, birds and opossums and is also harmful to humans. Knowledge of the transcripts present in the tick gut helps in understanding the role of vital molecules in the digestion process and parasite-host relationship, while also providing information about the evolution of arthropod hematophagy. Thus, the present study aimed to know and ascertain the main molecules expressed in the gut of argasid after their blood meal, through analysis on the gut transcriptome of engorged females of O. mimon using 454-based RNA sequencing. The gut transcriptome analysis reveals several transcripts associated with hemoglobin digestion, such as serine, cysteine, aspartic proteases and metalloenzymes. The phylogenetic analysis on the peptidases confirmed that most of them are clustered with other tick genes. We recorded the presence a cathepsin O peptidase-coding transcript in ticks. The topology of the phylogenetic inferences, based on transcripts of inferred families of homologues, was similar to that of previous reports based on mitochondrial genome and nuclear rRNA sequences. We deposited 2,213 sequence of O. mimon to the public databases. Our findings may help towards better understanding of important argasid metabolic processes, such as digestion, nutrition and immunity.
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19
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Neelakanta G, Sultana H, Sonenshine DE, Marconi RT. An In Vitro Blood-Feeding Method Revealed Differential Borrelia turicatae (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) Gene Expression After Spirochete Acquisition and Colonization in the Soft Tick Ornithodoros turicata (Acari: Argasidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:441-449. [PMID: 28399292 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the Midwestern, Southwestern, and Southern part of the United States, the soft tick Ornithodoros turicata transmits the spirochete Borrelia turicatae, the causative agent of relapsing fever in humans. In this study, we report a simplified and an efficient method of in vitro feeding to evaluate O. turicata-B. turicatae interactions. Both nymphal and adult female ticks successfully acquired spirochetes upon in vitro feeding on the B. turicatae-infected blood. We also noted transstadial transmission of spirochetes to adult ticks that were molted from nymphs fed on B. turicatae-infected blood. A differential expression pattern for some of the B. turicatae genes was evident after acquisition and colonization of the vector. The levels of arthropod-associated lipoprotein Alp-mRNA were significantly upregulated and the mRNA levels of factor H binding protein FhbA and immunogenic protein BipA were significantly downregulated in the spirochetes after acquisition into ticks in comparison with spirochetes grown in culture medium. In addition, genes such as bta124 and bta116 were significantly upregulated in spirochetes in unfed ticks in comparison with the levels noted in spirochetes after acquisition. These findings represent an efficient in vitro blood-feeding method to study B. turicatae gene expression after acquisition and colonization in these ticks. In summary, we report that B. turicatae survive and develop in the tick host when acquired by in vitro feeding. We also report that B. turicatae genes are differentially expressed in ticks in comparison with the in vitro-grown cultures, indicating influence of tick environment on spirochete gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Neelakanta
- Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 (; )
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 (; )
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
| | - Daniel E Sonenshine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
| | - Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca L. Ware
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicester LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Martin R. Luck
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicester LE12 5RD, UK
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21
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Sant'Anna MRV, Soares AC, Araujo RN, Gontijo NF, Pereira MH. Triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) blood intake: Physical constraints and biological adaptations. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 97:20-26. [PMID: 27521585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In order to efficiently obtain blood from their vertebrate hosts, bloodsucking arthropods have undergone an evolutionary selection process leading to specialist adaptations in their feeding apparatus (mouthparts and suction pumps) and salivary molecules. These adaptations act to counteract haemostasis, inflammation, and immune responses in their vertebrate hosts. The association of haematophagous arthropods with vertebrate hosts during a blood feed allows the transmission of pathogens between their hosts and vectors in a tripartite interaction. Feeding mechanisms in haematophagous arthropod species have been the subject of studies over at least eight decades worldwide, as a consequence of the importance of vector-borne diseases and their impact on human health. Here we review studies of the feeding mechanisms of triatomine bugs, with a particular focus on factors that influence their feeding performance when obtaining a blood meal from different vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Roberto Viana Sant'Anna
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Adriana Coelho Soares
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Nascimento Araujo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marcos Horácio Pereira
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
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22
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Jang MS, Kim CM, Kim DM, Yoon NR, Han MA, Kim HK, Oh WS, Yoon HJ, Wie SH, Hur J. Comparison of Preferred Bite Sites Between Mites and Ticks on Humans in Korea. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:1021-1025. [PMID: 27645781 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of mite and tick bite sites provides important clinical information. The predominant mite species in Korea associated with scrub typhus are Leptotrombidium pallidum and Leptotrombidium scutellare The most abundant tick species is Haemaphysalis longicornis To date, there has been no comparative study on preferred bite sites between mites and ticks in humans. This study included a review of medical records and a field study. For mite bite sites, eschars were checked on 506 patients with scrub typhus, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay or nested polymerase chain reaction on the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi Tick bite sites were identified and marked on a diagram for 91 patients who experienced tick bites within the previous year through a field epidemiological investigation. The mite and tick bite sites in Koreans were compared. The most frequently observed mite bite sites were the anterior chest, including the axillae (29.1%) and the abdominal region, including the inguinal area (26.1%). Tick bite sites were most frequent on the lower extremities (33.0%), followed by the abdominal region, including the inguinal area (26.4%), and upper extremities (26.4%). The distribution was significantly different between mite and tick bite sites (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the mite bite (P = 0.001), but not tick bite sites (P = 0.985), between men and women. This is the first report on the differences between tick and mite bite sites, and may help clinicians reach a rapid diagnosis of mite- or tick-borne infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Sun Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Choon-Mee Kim
- Premedical Science, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Dong-Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea.
| | - Na Ra Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Mi Ah Han
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Kuk Kim
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Won Sup Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Hee-Jung Yoon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seobuk Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seong-Heon Wie
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jian Hur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University, College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
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Olds CL, Mwaura S, Odongo DO, Scoles GA, Bishop R, Daubenberger C. Induction of humoral immune response to multiple recombinant Rhipicephalus appendiculatus antigens and their effect on tick feeding success and pathogen transmission. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:484. [PMID: 27589998 PMCID: PMC5010713 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1774-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the primary vector of Theileria parva, the etiological agent of East Coast fever (ECF), a devastating disease of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesized that a vaccine targeting tick proteins that are involved in attachment and feeding might affect feeding success and possibly reduce tick-borne transmission of T. parva. Here we report the evaluation of a multivalent vaccine cocktail of tick antigens for their ability to reduce R. appendiculatus feeding success and possibly reduce tick-transmission of T. parva in a natural host-tick-parasite challenge model. Methods Cattle were inoculated with a multivalent antigen cocktail containing recombinant tick protective antigen subolesin as well as two additional R. appendiculatus saliva antigens: the cement protein TRP64, and three different histamine binding proteins. The cocktail also contained the T. parva sporozoite antigen p67C. The effect of vaccination on the feeding success of nymphal and adult R. appendiculatus ticks was evaluated together with the effect on transmission of T. parva using a tick challenge model. Results To our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of the anti-tick effects of these antigens in the natural host-tick-parasite combination. In spite of evidence of strong immune responses to all of the antigens in the cocktail, vaccination with this combination of tick and parasite antigens did not appear to effect tick feeding success or reduce transmission of T. parva. Conclusion The results of this study highlight the importance of early evaluation of anti-tick vaccine candidates in biologically relevant challenge systems using the natural tick-host-parasite combination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1774-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Olds
- International Livestock Research Institute, Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. .,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stephen Mwaura
- International Livestock Research Institute, Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - David O Odongo
- International Livestock Research Institute, Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 30197, G.P.O, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Glen A Scoles
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Richard Bishop
- International Livestock Research Institute, Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Claudia Daubenberger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
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Cattle experimentally infected by Anaplasma marginale : Influence of splenectomy on disease pathogenesis, oxidative profile, and antioxidant status. Microb Pathog 2016; 95:193-199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Araujo RN, Franco PF, Rodrigues H, Santos LCB, McKay CS, Sanhueza CA, Brito CRN, Azevedo MA, Venuto AP, Cowan PJ, Almeida IC, Finn MG, Marques AF. Amblyomma sculptum tick saliva: α-Gal identification, antibody response and possible association with red meat allergy in Brazil. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:213-220. [PMID: 26812026 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The anaphylaxis response is frequently associated with food allergies, representing a significant public health hazard. Recently, exposure to tick bites and production of specific IgE against α-galactosyl (α-Gal)-containing epitopes has been correlated to red meat allergy. However, this association and the source of terminal, non-reducing α-Gal-containing epitopes have not previously been established in Brazil. Here, we employed the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mouse (α1,3-GalT-KO) model and bacteriophage Qβ-virus like particles (Qβ-VLPs) displaying Galα1,3Galβ1,4GlcNAc (Galα3LN) epitopes to investigate the presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes in the saliva of Amblyomma sculptum, a species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex, which represents the main tick that infests humans in Brazil. We confirmed that the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout animals produce significant levels of anti-α-Gal antibodies against the Galα1,3Galβ1,4GlcNAc epitopes displayed on Qβ-virus like particles. The injection of A. sculptum saliva or exposure to feeding ticks was also found to induce both IgG and IgE anti-α-Gal antibodies in α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mice, thus indicating the presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes in the tick saliva. The presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes was confirmed by ELISA and immunoblotting following removal of terminal α-Gal epitopes by α-galactosidase treatment. These results suggest for the first known time that bites from the A. sculptum tick may be associated with the unknown etiology of allergic reactions to red meat in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Nascimento Araujo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula Ferreira Franco
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Henrique Rodrigues
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luiza C B Santos
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Craig S McKay
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carlos A Sanhueza
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carlos Ramon Nascimento Brito
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maíra Araújo Azevedo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Venuto
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Peter J Cowan
- Immunology Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USA
| | - M G Finn
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexandre F Marques
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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A review of reverse vaccinology approaches for the development of vaccines against ticks and tick borne diseases. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:573-85. [PMID: 26723274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The field of reverse vaccinology developed as an outcome of the genome sequence revolution. Following the introduction of live vaccinations in the western world by Edward Jenner in 1798 and the coining of the phrase 'vaccine', in 1881 Pasteur developed a rational design for vaccines. Pasteur proposed that in order to make a vaccine that one should 'isolate, inactivate and inject the microorganism' and these basic rules of vaccinology were largely followed for the next 100 years leading to the elimination of several highly infectious diseases. However, new technologies were needed to conquer many pathogens which could not be eliminated using these traditional technologies. Thus increasingly, computers were used to mine genome sequences to rationally design recombinant vaccines. Several vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases (i.e. meningococcus and HIV) have been developed, however the on-going challenge for parasite vaccines has been due to their comparatively larger genomes. Understanding the immune response is important in reverse vaccinology studies as this knowledge will influence how the genome mining is to be conducted. Vaccine candidates for anaplasmosis, cowdriosis, theileriosis, leishmaniasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, and the cattle tick have been identified using reverse vaccinology approaches. Some challenges for parasite vaccine development include the ability to address antigenic variability as well the understanding of the complex interplay between antibody, mucosal and/or T cell immune responses. To understand the complex parasite interactions with the livestock host, there is the limitation where algorithms for epitope mining using the human genome cannot directly be adapted for bovine, for example the prediction of peptide binding to major histocompatibility complex motifs. As the number of genomes for both hosts and parasites increase, the development of new algorithms for pan-genomic mining will continue to impact the future of parasite and ricketsial (and other tick borne pathogens) disease vaccine development.
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Iyer JK, Otvos RA, Kool J, Kini RM. Microfluidic Chip–Based Online Screening Coupled to Mass Spectrometry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 21:212-20. [DOI: 10.1177/1087057115602648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Thrombin and factor Xa (FXa) are critical enzymes of the blood coagulation cascade and are excellent targets of anticoagulant agents. Natural sources present an array of anticoagulants that can be developed as antithrombotic drugs. High-resolution, online screening techniques have been developed for the identification of drug leads from complex mixtures. In this study, we have developed and optimized a microfluidic online screening technique coupled to nano–liquid chromatography (LC) and in parallel with a mass spectrometer for the identification of thrombin and FXa inhibitors in mixtures. Inhibitors eluting from the nano-LC were split postcolumn in a 1:1 ratio; half was fed into a mass spectrometer (where its mass is detected), and the other half was fed into a microfluidic chip (which acts as a microreactor for the online assays). With our platform, thrombin and FXa inhibitors were detected in the assay in parallel with their mass identification. These methods are suitable for the identification of inhibitors from sample amounts as low as sub-microliter volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reka A. Otvos
- AIMMS Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - R. Manjunatha Kini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Finney CAM, Kamhawi S, Wasmuth JD. Does the arthropod microbiota impact the establishment of vector-borne diseases in mammalian hosts? PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004646. [PMID: 25856431 PMCID: PMC4391854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of the microbiota on the immune status of its host is a source of intense research and publicity. In comparison, the effect of arthropod microbiota on vector-borne infectious diseases has received little attention. A better understanding of the vector microbiota in relation to mammalian host immune responses is vital, as it can lead to strategies that affect transmission and improve vaccine design in a field of research where few vaccines exist and effective treatment is rare. Recent demonstrations of how microbiota decrease pathogen development in arthropods, and thus alter vector permissiveness to vector-borne diseases (VBDs), have led to renewed interest. However, hypotheses on the interactions between the arthropod-derived microbiota and the mammalian hosts have yet to be addressed. Advances in DNA sequencing technology, increased yield and falling costs, mean that these studies are now feasible for many microbiologists and entomologists. Here, we distill current knowledge and put forward key questions and experimental designs to shed light on this burgeoning research topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance A. M. Finney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - James D. Wasmuth
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Schmid MA, Diamond MS, Harris E. Dendritic cells in dengue virus infection: targets of virus replication and mediators of immunity. Front Immunol 2014; 5:647. [PMID: 25566258 PMCID: PMC4269190 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are sentinels of the immune system and detect pathogens at sites of entry, such as the skin. In addition to the ability of DCs to control infections directly via their innate immune functions, DCs help to prime adaptive B- and T-cell responses by processing and presenting antigen in lymphoid tissues. Infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes transmit the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes to humans while probing for small blood vessels in the skin. DENV causes the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease in humans, yet no vaccine or specific therapeutic is currently licensed. Although primary DENV infection confers life-long protective immunity against re-infection with the same DENV serotype, secondary infection with a different DENV serotype can lead to increased disease severity via cross-reactive T-cells or enhancing antibodies. This review summarizes recent findings in humans and animal models about DENV infection of DCs, monocytes, and macrophages. We discuss the dual role of DCs as both targets of DENV replication and mediators of innate and adaptive immunity, and summarize immune evasion strategies whereby DENV impairs the function of infected DCs. We suggest that DCs play a key role in priming DENV-specific neutralizing or potentially harmful memory B- and T-cell responses, and that future DC-directed therapies may help induce protective memory responses and reduce dengue pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Schmid
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley , Berkeley, CA , USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO , USA ; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO , USA ; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO , USA
| | - Eva Harris
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley , Berkeley, CA , USA
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Transmission-Blocking Vaccines: Focus on Anti-Vector Vaccines against Tick-Borne Diseases. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2014; 63:169-79. [PMID: 25503555 PMCID: PMC4429137 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-014-0324-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a potential threat that account for significant morbidity and mortality in human population worldwide. Vaccines are not available to treat several of the tick-borne diseases. With the emergence and resurgence of several tick-borne diseases, emphasis on the development of transmission-blocking vaccines remains increasing. In this review, we provide a snap shot on some of the potential candidates for the development of anti-vector vaccines (a form of transmission-blocking vaccines) against wide range of hard and soft ticks that include Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus and Ornithodoros species.
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Wikel S. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens at the cutaneous interface: host defenses, tick countermeasures, and a suitable environment for pathogen establishment. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:337. [PMID: 24312085 PMCID: PMC3833115 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are unique among hematophagous arthropods by continuous attachment to host skin and blood feeding for days; complexity and diversity of biologically active molecules differentially expressed in saliva of tick species; their ability to modulate the host defenses of pain and itch, hemostasis, inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, and wound healing; and, the diverse array of infectious agents they transmit. All of these interactions occur at the cutaneous interface in a complex sequence of carefully choreographed host defense responses and tick countermeasures resulting in an environment that facilitates successful blood feeding and establishment of tick-borne infectious agents within the host. Here, we examine diverse patterns of tick attachment to host skin, blood feeding mechanisms, salivary gland transcriptomes, bioactive molecules in tick saliva, timing of pathogen transmission, and host responses to tick bite. Ticks engage and modulate cutaneous and systemic immune defenses involving keratinocytes, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T cell subpopulations (Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg), B cells, neutrophils, mast cells, basophils, endothelial cells, cytokines, chemokines, complement, and extracellular matrix. A framework is proposed that integrates tick induced changes of skin immune effectors with their ability to respond to tick-borne pathogens. Implications of these changes are addressed. What are the consequences of tick modulation of host cutaneous defenses? Does diversity of salivary gland transcriptomes determine differential modulation of host inflammation and immune defenses and therefore, in part, the clades of pathogens effectively transmitted by different tick species? Do ticks create an immunologically modified cutaneous environment that enhances specific pathogen establishment? Can tick saliva molecules be used to develop vaccines that block pathogen transmission?
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Wikel
- Department of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT, USA
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Kar S, Dervis E, Akın A, Ergonul O, Gargili A. Preferences of different tick species for human hosts in Turkey. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2013; 61:349-355. [PMID: 23620419 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-013-9698-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The ticks removed from the patients who applied to the hospitals in Istanbul and neighboring cities, Turkey, with the complaint of tick bite were examined in this study, on account of their species, biological stages, attachment sites on the body, and the age of the affected patients. A total of 16,969 ticks were identified. Encountered species were as follows: 33.6 % Ixodes spp. immature, 25.3 % Hyalomma spp. immature, 24.3 % I. ricinus, 9.5 % Rhipicephalus sanguineus gr., 3.2 % R. bursa, 2.2 % Hyalomma marginatum, 1.96 % Haemaphysalis adults, 1.66 % Hyalomma aegyptium, 0.52 % Dermacentor marginatus, 0.39 % Rhipicephalus spp. nymphs, 0.12 % Dermacentor spp. nymphs, 0.11 % Haemaphysalis spp. nymphs, 0.09 % Hyalomma scupense, and 0.03 % Hyalomma excavatum. The distribution of attachment sites of the species and instars showed significant differences. Furthermore, age data of the patients also revealed that certain tick species were more common within certain age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kar
- Department of Biology, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
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Fitness cost of Litomosoides sigmodontis filarial infection in mite vectors; implications of infected haematophagous arthropod excretory products in host-vector interactions. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:584105. [PMID: 24089685 PMCID: PMC3781844 DOI: 10.1155/2013/584105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Filariae are a leading cause of infections which are responsible for serious dermatological, ocular, and vascular lesions. Infective third stage larvae (L3) are transmitted through the bite of a haematophagous vector. Litomosoides sigmodontis is a well-established model of filariasis in the mouse, with the vector being the mite Ornithonyssus bacoti. The aim of the study was to analyse the filarial infection in mites to determine the consequences of filarial infection in the blood-feeding and the reproduction of mites as well as in the regulation of vector-induced inflammation in the mouse skin. Firstly, L3 are unevenly distributed throughout the host population and the majority of the population harbours a moderate infection (1 to 6 L3). Filarial infection does not significantly affect the probing delay for blood feeding. The number of released protonymphs is lower in infected mites but is not correlated with the L3 burden. Finally, induced excreted proteins from infected mites but not from uninfected mites stimulate TNF- α and the neutrophil-chemoattractant KC production by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Altogether, these results describe the modification of the mite behavior under filarial infection and suggest that the immunomodulatory capacity of the mite may be modified by the presence of the parasite, hindering its defensive ability towards the vertebrate host.
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Kazimírová M, Štibrániová I. Tick salivary compounds: their role in modulation of host defences and pathogen transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:43. [PMID: 23971008 PMCID: PMC3747359 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks require blood meal to complete development and reproduction. Multifunctional tick salivary glands play a pivotal role in tick feeding and transmission of pathogens. Tick salivary molecules injected into the host modulate host defence responses to the benefit of the feeding ticks. To colonize tick organs, tick-borne microorganisms must overcome several barriers, i.e., tick gut membrane, tick immunity, and moulting. Tick-borne pathogens co-evolved with their vectors and hosts and developed molecular adaptations to avoid adverse effects of tick and host defences. Large gaps exist in the knowledge of survival strategies of tick-borne microorganisms and on the molecular mechanisms of tick-host-pathogen interactions. Prior to transmission to a host, the microorganisms penetrate and multiply in tick salivary glands. As soon as the tick is attached to a host, gene expression and production of salivary molecules is upregulated, primarily to facilitate feeding and avoid tick rejection by the host. Pathogens exploit tick salivary molecules for their survival and multiplication in the vector and transmission to and establishment in the hosts. Promotion of pathogen transmission by bioactive molecules in tick saliva was described as saliva-assisted transmission (SAT). SAT candidates comprise compounds with anti-haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions, but the molecular mechanisms by which they mediate pathogen transmission are largely unknown. To date only a few tick salivary molecules associated with specific pathogen transmission have been identified and their functions partially elucidated. Advanced molecular techniques are applied in studying tick-host-pathogen interactions and provide information on expression of vector and pathogen genes during pathogen acquisition, establishment and transmission. Understanding the molecular events on the tick-host-pathogen interface may lead to development of new strategies to control tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Figueiredo AC, de Sanctis D, Pereira PJB. The tick-derived anticoagulant madanin is processed by thrombin and factor Xa. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71866. [PMID: 23951260 PMCID: PMC3741208 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-less peptidic anticoagulants madanin-1 and madanin-2 from the bush tick Haemaphysalis longicornis are the founding members of the MEROPS inhibitor family I53. It has been previously suggested that madanins exert their functional activity by competing with physiological substrates for binding to the positively charged exosite I (fibrinogen-binding exosite) of α-thrombin. We hereby demonstrate that competitive inhibition of α-thrombin by madanin-1 or madanin-2 involves binding to the enzyme's active site. Moreover, the blood coagulation factors IIa and Xa are shown to hydrolyze both inhibitors at different, although partially overlapping cleavage sites. Finally, the three-dimensional structure of the complex formed between human α-thrombin and a proteolytic fragment of madanin-1, determined by X-ray crystallography, elucidates the molecular details of madanin-1 recognition and processing by the proteinase. Taken together, the current findings establish the mechanism of action of madanins, natural anticoagulants that behave as cleavable competitive inhibitors of thrombin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Figueiredo
- IBMC – Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniele de Sanctis
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France
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Rhipicephalus microplus lipocalins (LRMs): Genomic identification and analysis of the bovine immune response using in silico predicted B and T cell epitopes. Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:739-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Rao SAK, Carolan JC, Wilkinson TL. Proteomic profiling of cereal aphid saliva reveals both ubiquitous and adaptive secreted proteins. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57413. [PMID: 23460852 PMCID: PMC3584018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The secreted salivary proteins from two cereal aphid species, Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum, were collected from artificial diets and analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Protein identification was performed by searching MS data against the official protein set from the current pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome assembly and revealed 12 and 7 proteins in the saliva of S. avenae and M. dirhodum, respectively. When combined with a comparable dataset from A. pisum, only three individual proteins were common to all the aphid species; two paralogues of the GMC oxidoreductase family (glucose dehydrogenase; GLD) and ACYPI009881, an aphid specific protein previously identified as a putative component of the salivary sheath. Antibodies were designed from translated protein sequences obtained from partial cDNA sequences for ACYPI009881 and both saliva associated GLDs. The antibodies detected all parent proteins in secreted saliva from the three aphid species, but could only detect ACYPI009881, and not saliva associated GLDs, in protein extractions from the salivary glands. This result was confirmed by immunohistochemistry using whole and sectioned salivary glands, and in addition, localised ACYPI009881 to specific cell types within the principal salivary gland. The implications of these findings for the origin of salivary components and the putative role of the proteins identified are discussed in the context of our limited understanding of the functional relationship between aphid saliva and the plants they feed on. The mass spectrometry data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange and can be accessed under the identifier PXD000113.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohail A. K. Rao
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James C. Carolan
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tom L. Wilkinson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Chen G, Severo MS, Sohail M, Sakhon OS, Wikel SK, Kotsyfakis M, Pedra JHF. Ixodes scapularis saliva mitigates inflammatory cytokine secretion during Anaplasma phagocytophilum stimulation of immune cells. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:229. [PMID: 23050849 PMCID: PMC3503595 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes scapularis saliva enables the transmission of infectious agents to the mammalian host due to its immunomodulatory, anesthetic and anti-coagulant properties. However, how I. scapularis saliva influences host cytokine secretion in the presence of the obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum remains elusive. Methods Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) were stimulated with pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and A. phagocytophilum. Cytokine secretion was measured in the presence and absence of I. scapularis saliva. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were also stimulated with Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α in the presence and absence of I. scapularis saliva and interleukin (IL)-8 was measured. Results I. scapularis saliva inhibits inflammatory cytokine secretion by macrophages during stimulation of Toll-like (TLR) and Nod-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathways. The effect of I. scapularis saliva on immune cells is not restricted to murine macrophages because decreasing levels of interleukin (IL)-8 were observed after TNF-α stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. I. scapularis saliva also mitigates pro-inflammatory cytokine response by murine macrophages during challenge with A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions These findings suggest that I. scapularis may inhibit inflammatory cytokine secretion during rickettsial transmission at the vector-host interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Chen
- Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Wasala NB, Bowen CJ, Jaworski DC. Expression and regulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in feeding American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2012; 57:179-187. [PMID: 22476444 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9550-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/24/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by many mammalian tissues. It is also found in ticks and may function to aid the tick in regulating host responses to tick feeding. Our hypothesis is that MIF functions in tick blood meal acquisition and pathogen transmission. This study was performed to understand the expression and regulation of MIF in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis during early stages of blood feeding. We used quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR to study the gene expression during the first 96 h of feeding. Increases in MIF gene expression were observed in salivary gland and midgut tissues during the first 6 days of feeding. RNAi-mediated gene knockdown of D. variabilis MIF was demonstrated but we did not observe measureable phenotypic impact on blood meal acquisition in female ticks. These observations are consistent with previously published data on the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum and suggest that MIF may not have a direct impact on tick blood meal acquisition. Silencing of subolesin, a putative transcription factor, down-regulated MIF expression by 50 %.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 127 Noble Research Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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A deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28525. [PMID: 22216098 PMCID: PMC3244413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Saliva of blood sucking arthropods contains compounds that antagonize their hosts' hemostasis, which include platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction and blood clotting; saliva of these organisms also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodullatory properties. Perhaps because hosts mount an active immune response against these compounds, the diversity of these compounds is large even among related blood sucking species. Because of these properties, saliva helps blood feeding as well as help the establishment of pathogens that can be transmitted during blood feeding. Methodology/Principal Findings We have obtained 1,626,969 reads by pyrosequencing a salivary gland cDNA library from adult females Amblyomma maculatum ticks at different times of feeding. Assembly of this data produced 72,441 sequences larger than 149 nucleotides from which 15,914 coding sequences were extracted. Of these, 5,353 had >75% coverage to their best match in the non-redundant database from the National Center for Biotechnology information, allowing for the deposition of 4,850 sequences to GenBank. The annotated data sets are available as hyperlinked spreadsheets. Putative secreted proteins were classified in 133 families, most of which have no known function. Conclusions/Significance This data set of proteins constitutes a mining platform for novel pharmacologically active proteins and for uncovering vaccine targets against A. maculatum and the diseases they carry.
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Hughes AL, Friedman R. Distinctive amino acid composition profiles in salivary proteins of the tick Ixodes scapularis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011; 2:219-24. [PMID: 22108016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Revised: 08/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Bioinformatic analysis of the amino acid composition of proteins of the tick Ixodes scapularis showed that, in comparison to other secreted proteins, salivary proteins in general have higher frequencies of polar residues and lower frequencies of the non-polar residues leucine and valine. Computer prediction of linear B-cell epitopes showed that polar residues were associated with the presence of high-quality epitopes and that tick salivary proteins included significantly more proteins with predicted high-quality epitopes than did other secreted proteins. The results provided no evidence that salivary proteins as a whole have evolved characteristics minimizing their antigenicity to the vertebrate host. Certain salivary proteins may indeed have evolved low antigenicity, but the I. scapularis sialome include at least some apparently antigenic proteins that might be tested experimentally to determine whether they would be suitable candidates for anti-tick vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin L Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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Francischetti IMB, Anderson JM, Manoukis N, Pham VM, Ribeiro JMC. An insight into the sialotranscriptome and proteome of the coarse bontlegged tick, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes. J Proteomics 2011; 74:2892-908. [PMID: 21851864 PMCID: PMC3215792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are mites specialized in acquiring blood from vertebrates as their sole source of food and are important disease vectors to humans and animals. Among the specializations required for this peculiar diet, ticks evolved a sophisticated salivary potion that can disarm their host's hemostasis, inflammation, and immune reactions. Previous transcriptome analysis of tick salivary proteins has revealed many new protein families indicative of fast evolution, possibly due to host immune pressure. The hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are further divided into two basal groups, of which the Metastriata have 11 genera. While salivary transcriptomes and proteomes have been described for some of these genera, no tick of the genus Hyalomma has been studied so far. The analysis of 2084 expressed sequence tags (EST) from a salivary gland cDNA library allowed an exploration of the proteome of this tick species by matching peptide ions derived from MS/MS experiments to this data set. We additionally compared these MS/MS derived peptide sequences against the proteins from the bovine host, finding many host proteins in the salivary glands of this tick. This annotated data set can assist the discovery of new targets for anti-tick vaccines as well as help to identify pharmacologically active proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo MB Francischetti
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
| | - Jennifer M Anderson
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
| | - Nicholas Manoukis
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
| | - Van M Pham
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
| | - José MC Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
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Abstract
Exogenous factors isolated from venoms of snakes and saliva of haematophagous animals that affect thrombosis and haemostasis have contributed significantly to the development of diagnostic agents, research tools and life-saving drugs. Here, I discuss recent advances in the discovery, structural and functional characterisation, and mechanism of action of new procoagulant and anti-haemostatic proteins. In nature, these factors have evolved to target crucial 'bottlenecks' in the coagulation cascade and platelet aggregation. Several simple protein scaffolds are used to target a wide variety of target proteins and receptors exhibiting functional divergence. Different protein scaffolds have also evolved to target identical, physiologically relevant key enzymes or receptors exhibiting functional convergence. At times, exogenous factors bind to the same target protein, but at distinct sites, to differentially attenuate their functions exhibiting mechanistic divergence within the same family of proteins. The structure-function relationships of these factors are subtle and complicated but represent an exciting challenge. These studies provide ample opportunities to design highly specific and precise ligands to achieve desired biological target function. Although only a small number of them have been characterised to date, the molecular and mechanical diversities of these exogenous factors and their contributions to understanding molecular and cellular events in thrombosis and haemostasis as well as developing diagnostic and research tools and therapeutic agents, is outstanding. Based on the current status, I have attempted to identify future potential and prospects in this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Kini
- Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Karaer Z, Guven E, Nalbantoglu S, Kar S, Orkun O, Ekdal K, Kocak A, Akcay A. Ticks on humans in Ankara, Turkey. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2011; 54:85-91. [PMID: 21153755 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-010-9417-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a total of 5,094 ticks found on humans were examined in terms of species, development stage, gender, host features and seasonality for a year period. Of these ticks 17 were argasid and 5,077 were ixodid. Predominantly species of the ixodid genera Hyalomma, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis were found on humans in Ankara (Anatolia). Most abundant were Hyalomma nymphs (29.8%) and adults (28.2%). Primary factors in terms of tick bite risk were region, habitat and season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zafer Karaer
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
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Ribeiro JM, Anderson JM, Manoukis NC, Meng Z, Francischetti IM. A further insight into the sialome of the tropical bont tick, Amblyomma variegatum. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:136. [PMID: 21362191 PMCID: PMC3060141 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Accepted: 03/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks--vectors of medical and veterinary importance--are themselves also significant pests. Tick salivary proteins are the result of adaptation to blood feeding and contain inhibitors of blood clotting, platelet aggregation, and angiogenesis, as well as vasodilators and immunomodulators. A previous analysis of the sialotranscriptome (from the Greek sialo, saliva) of Amblyomma variegatum is revisited in light of recent advances in tick sialomes and provides a database to perform a proteomic study. Results The clusterized data set has been expertly curated in light of recent reviews on tick salivary proteins, identifying many new families of tick-exclusive proteins. A proteome study using salivary gland homogenates identified 19 putative secreted proteins within a total of 211 matches. Conclusions The annotated sialome of A. variegatum allows its comparison to other tick sialomes, helping to consolidate an emerging pattern in the salivary composition of metastriate ticks; novel protein families were also identified. Because most of these proteins have no known function, the task of functional analysis of these proteins and the discovery of novel pharmacologically active compounds becomes possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Mc Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA.
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Menten-Dedoyart C, Couvreur B, Jolois O, Van Lerberghe P, Duwez L, Drion P, Heinen E. Kinetic study of the antibody response during the blood meal of Ixodes ricinus: Implication on plasma cell maturation in vivo and for anti-Ixodes vaccination. Vaccine 2011; 29:2044-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2010] [Revised: 01/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Tijsse-Klasen E, Jacobs JJ, Swart A, Fonville M, Reimerink JH, Brandenburg AH, van der Giessen JWB, Hofhuis A, Sprong H. Small risk of developing symptomatic tick-borne diseases following a tick bite in The Netherlands. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:17. [PMID: 21310036 PMCID: PMC3050846 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In The Netherlands, the incidence of Lyme borreliosis is on the rise. Besides its causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., other potential pathogens like Rickettsia, Babesia and Ehrlichia species are present in Ixodes ricinus ticks. The risk of disease associated with these microorganisms after tick-bites remains, however, largely unclear. A prospective study was performed to investigate how many persons with tick-bites develop localized or systemic symptoms and whether these are associated with tick-borne microorganisms. Results In total, 297 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from 246 study participants who consulted a general practitioner on the island of Ameland for tick bites. Ticks were subjected to PCR to detect DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp. or Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp.. Sixteen percent of the collected ticks were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., 19% for Rickettsia spp., 12% for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. and 10% for Babesia spp.. At least six months after the tick bite, study participants were interviewed on symptoms by means of a standard questionnaire. 14 out of 193 participants (8.3%) reported reddening at the bite site and 6 participants (4.1%) reported systemic symptoms. No association between symptoms and tick-borne microorganisms was found. Attachment duration ≥24 h was positively associated with reddening at the bite site and systemic symptoms. Using logistic regression techniques, reddening was positively correlated with presence of Borrelia afzelii, and having 'any symptoms' was positively associated with attachment duration. Conclusion The risk of contracting acute Lyme borreliosis, rickettsiosis, babesiosis or ehrlichiosis from a single tick bite was <1% in this study population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Tijsse-Klasen
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Abstract
SUMMARYIntroduction. The ectoparasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor feeds on the haemolymph of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, through a single puncture wound that does not heal but remains open for several days. It was hypothesized that factors in the varroa saliva are responsible for this aberrant wound healing. Methods. An in vitro procedure was developed for collecting salivary gland secretions from V. destructor. Mites were incubated on balls of cotton wool soaked in a tissue culture medium (TC-100), and then induced to spit by topical application of an ethanolic pilocarpine solution. Results. Elution of secretions from balls of cotton wool, followed by electrophoretic analysis by SDS-PAGE and electroblotting indicated the presence of at least 15 distinct protein bands, with molecular weights ranging from 130 kDa to <17 kDa. Serial titration of V. destructor salivary secretions in TC-100 followed by an 18-h incubation with haemocytes from the caterpillar, Lacanobia oleracea, indicated that the secretions damage the haemocytes and suppresses their ability to extend pseudopods and form aggregates. Conclusion. We suggest that these secretions facilitate the ability of V. destructor to feed repeatedly off their bee hosts by suppressing haemocyte-mediated wound healing and plugging responses in the host.
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