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Buysse M, Koual R, Binetruy F, de Thoisy B, Baudrimont X, Garnier S, Douine M, Chevillon C, Delsuc F, Catzeflis F, Bouchon D, Duron O. Detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria in humans, wildlife, and ticks in the Amazon rainforest. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3988. [PMID: 38734682 PMCID: PMC11088697 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne bacteria of the genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma cause several emerging human infectious diseases worldwide. In this study, we conduct an extensive survey for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in the rainforests of the Amazon biome of French Guiana. Through molecular genetics and metagenomics reconstruction, we observe a high indigenous biodiversity of infections circulating among humans, wildlife, and ticks inhabiting these ecosystems. Molecular typing identifies these infections as highly endemic, with a majority of new strains and putative species specific to French Guiana. They are detected in unusual rainforest wild animals, suggesting they have distinctive sylvatic transmission cycles. They also present potential health hazards, as revealed by the detection of Candidatus Anaplasma sparouinense in human red blood cells and that of a new close relative of the human pathogen Ehrlichia ewingii, Candidatus Ehrlichia cajennense, in the tick species that most frequently bite humans in South America. The genome assembly of three new putative species obtained from human, sloth, and tick metagenomes further reveals the presence of major homologs of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma virulence factors. These observations converge to classify health hazards associated with Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in the Amazon biome as distinct from those in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Buysse
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Rachid Koual
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Florian Binetruy
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Benoit de Thoisy
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de Guyane, Cayenne, France
- Association Kwata 'Study and Conservation of Guianan Wildlife', Cayenne, France
| | - Xavier Baudrimont
- Direction Générale des Territoires et de la Mer (DGTM) - Direction de l'environnement, de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation et de la forêt (DEAAF), Cayenne, France
| | - Stéphane Garnier
- Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 uB/CNRS/EPHE, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Maylis Douine
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane, INSERM 1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, France
| | | | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - François Catzeflis
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Didier Bouchon
- EBI, University of Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267, Poitiers, France
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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Zhang T, Chien RC, Budachetri K, Lin M, Boyaka P, Huang W, Rikihisa Y. Ehrlichia effector TRP120 manipulates bacteremia to facilitate tick acquisition. mBio 2024; 15:e0047624. [PMID: 38501870 PMCID: PMC11005420 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00476-24] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia species are obligatory intracellular bacteria that cause a potentially fatal disease, human ehrlichiosis. The biomolecular mechanisms of tick acquisition of Ehrlichia and transmission between ticks and mammals are poorly understood. Ehrlichia japonica infection of mice recapitulates the full spectrum of human ehrlichiosis. We compared the pathogenicity and host acquisition of wild-type E. japonica with an isogenic transposon mutant of E. japonica that lacks tandem repeat protein 120 (TRP120) (ΔTRP120). Both wild-type and ΔTRP120 E. japonica proliferated similarly in cultures of mammalian and tick cells. Upon inoculation into mice, both wild-type and ΔTRP120 E. japonica multiplied to high levels in various tissues, with similar clinical chemistry and hematologic changes, proinflammatory cytokine induction, and fatal disease. However, the blood levels of ΔTRP120 E. japonica were almost undetectable within 24 h, whereas the levels of the wild type increased exponentially. Greater than 90% of TRP120 was released from infected cells into the culture medium. Mouse blood monocytes exposed to native TRP120 from culture supernatants showed significantly reduced cell surface expression of the transmigration-related markers Ly6C and CD11b. Larval ticks attached to mice infected with either wild-type or ΔTRP120 E. japonica imbibed similar amounts of blood and subsequently molted to nymphs at similar rates. However, unlike wild-type E. japonica, the ΔTRP120 mutant was minimally acquired by larval ticks and subsequent molted nymphs and, thus, failed to transmit to naïve mice. Thus, TRP120 is required for bacteremia but not disease. These findings suggest a novel mechanism whereby an obligatory intracellular bacterium manipulates infected blood monocytes to sustain the tick-mammal transmission cycle. IMPORTANCE Effective prevention of tick-borne diseases such as human ehrlichiosis requires an understanding of how disease-causing organisms are acquired. Ehrlichia species are intracellular bacteria that require infection of both mammals and ticks, involving cycles of transmission between them. Mouse models of ehrlichiosis and tick-mouse transmission can advance our fundamental understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of ehrlichiosis. Herein, a mutant of Ehrlichia japonica was used to investigate the role of a single Ehrlichia factor, named tandem repeat protein 120 (TRP120), in infection of mammalian and tick cells in culture, infection and disease progression in mice, and tick acquisition of E. japonica from infected mice. Our results suggest that TRP120 is necessary only for Ehrlichia proliferation in circulating mouse blood and ongoing bacteremia to permit Ehrlichia acquisition by ticks. This study provides new insights into the importance of bacterial factors in regulating bacteremia, which may facilitate tick acquisition of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsian Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rory C. Chien
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Khemraj Budachetri
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mingqun Lin
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Prosper Boyaka
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Weiyan Huang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yasuko Rikihisa
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Flores FS, Sebastian PS, Nava S. Molecular detection of Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (Acari: Ixodidae) from central Argentina. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:585-589. [PMID: 37718328 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10219-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to report the first detection of Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi from Argentina. Free-living ticks were collected from vegetation by drag-flag method on five sample sites in Entre Ríos Province, central Argentina, belonging to the Espinal Phytogeographic Province. Molecular detection of order Rickettsiales agents was performed using gltA (Rickettsia spp.), 16 S rRNA and groEL (Anaplasmataceae) genes as targets. A total of 67 ticks of Amblyomma aureolatum (20 nymphs and 4 adults), Amblyomma dubitatum (15 nymphs) and Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (24 nymphs and 4 adults) were collected. While all tested ticks were negative for Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasmataceae agents could neither be detected in A. aureolatum nor in A. dubitatum, Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana was detected in one male of H. juxtakochi. DNA sequences of this microorganism (16 S rDNA and groEL) are related to sequences of Ehrlichia ewingii. The findings of the current study represent the first report of this Ehrlichia strain for Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando S Flores
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba (CIEC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Patrick S Sebastian
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA - CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, E.E.A. Rafaela, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA - CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, E.E.A. Rafaela, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Zhang J, Wang J, Wang C. Whole Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of the First Ehrlichia canis Isolate in China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:125. [PMID: 38257951 PMCID: PMC10820421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia canis, a prominent tick-borne pathogen causing canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), is one of the six recognized Ehrlichia species worldwide. Despite its widespread presence in ticks and host dogs in China, comprehensive genomic information about this pathogen remains limited. This study focuses on an in-depth analysis of E. canis YZ-1, isolated and cultured from an infected dog in China. The complete genome of E. canis YZ-1 was sequenced (1,314,789 bp, 1022 genes, 29% GC content, and 73% coding bases), systematically characterizing its genomic elements and functions. Comparative analysis with representative genomes of Ehrlichia species, including E. canis strain Jake, E. chaffeensis, Ehrlichia spp., E. muris, E. ruminantium, and E. minasensis, revealed conserved genes, indicating potential evolutionary connections with E. ruminantium. The observed reduction in virulence-associated genes, coupled with a type IV secretion system (T4SS), suggests an intricate balance between pathogenicity and host adaptation. The close relationship with E. canis Jake and E. chaffeensis, alongside nuanced genomic variations with E. ruminantium and E. mineirensis, underscores the need to explore emerging strains and advancements in sequencing technologies continuously. This genetic insight opens avenues for innovative medications, studies on probiotic resistance, development of new detection markers, and progress in vaccine development for ehrlichiosis. Further investigations into the functional significance of identified genes and their role in host-pathogen interactions will contribute to a more holistic comprehension of Ehrlichia's biology and its implications for pathogenicity and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China;
- College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jiawei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China;
| | - Chengming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Van Wyk CL, Mtshali S, Ramatla T, Lekota KE, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. Distribution of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Heamaphysalis elliptica dog ticks and pathogens they are carrying: A systematic review. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 47:100969. [PMID: 38199685 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100969] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The role of ixodid ticks especially Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Heamaphysalis elliptica in the epidemiology of several diseases of veterinary and public health importance have been documented. This study conducted a systematic review focusing on the distribution of R. sanguineus and H. elliptica, as well as the common tick-borne pathogens they harbour. The Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were used to search for English journal articles published between January 1990 and June 2021. The articles were assessed by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO [(ID no: CRD42022327372). Of the studies included in the systematic review, 247 and 19 articles had identified R. sanguineus and H. elliptica respectively, whereas 15 articles had identified both tick species. There is a reported worldwide distribution of R. sanguineus from 64 countries, whereas H. elliptica was only reported in the African continent from 6 countries. In total, 120 articles that were included in this systematic review reported detection of tick-borne pathogens from R. sanguineus (n = 118 articles) and/or H. elliptica (n = 2 articles) ticks. According to the studies tick-borne pathogens harboured by R. sanguineus included protozoa such as Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Leishmania spp., and Theileria spp., as well as bacteria such as Acinetobacter spp. Anaplasma spp., Bacillus spp., Borrelia spp., Brucella spp., Coxiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. The H. elliptica was reported to be harbouring Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Rickettsia spp. Most of the studies (50%) used the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the detection of tick-borne pathogens, followed by real-time PCR (qPCR) (n = 26), and nested PCR (n = 22). This systematic review has shed light on the distribution of two common dog ticks as well as the tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance they are harbouring. This data will enable surveillance studies that can report whether the distribution of these ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens is expanding or shrinking or is stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara-Lee Van Wyk
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
| | - Senzo Mtshali
- National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Sandringham 2131, South Africa
| | - Tsepo Ramatla
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa.
| | - Kgaugelo E Lekota
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Oriel Thekisoe
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
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Sharma AK, Ismail N. Non-Canonical Inflammasome Pathway: The Role of Cell Death and Inflammation in Ehrlichiosis. Cells 2023; 12:2597. [PMID: 37998332 PMCID: PMC10670716 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222597] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating inflammatory caspases and releasing pro-inflammatory mediators are two essential functions of inflammasomes which are triggered in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The canonical inflammasome pathway involves the activation of inflammasome and its downstream pathway via the adaptor ASC protein, which causes caspase 1 activation and, eventually, the cleavage of pro-IL-1b and pro-IL-18. The non-canonical inflammasome pathway is induced upon detecting cytosolic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by NLRP3 inflammasome in Gram-negative bacteria. The activation of NLRP3 triggers the cleavage of murine caspase 11 (human caspase 4 or caspase 5), which results in the formation of pores (via gasdermin) to cause pyroptosis. Ehrlichia is an obligately intracellular bacterium which is responsible for causing human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), a potentially lethal disease similar to toxic shock syndrome and septic shock syndrome. Several studies have indicated that canonical and non-canonical inflammasome activation is a crucial pathogenic mechanism that induces dysregulated inflammation and host cellular death in the pathophysiology of HME. Mechanistically, the activation of canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways affected by virulent Ehrlichia infection is due to a block in autophagy. This review aims to explore the significance of non-canonical inflammasomes in ehrlichiosis, and how the pathways involving caspases (with the exception of caspase 1) contribute to the pathophysiology of severe and fatal ehrlichiosis. Improving our understanding of the non-canonical inflammatory pathway that cause cell death and inflammation in ehrlichiosis will help the advancement of innovative therapeutic, preventative, and diagnostic approaches to the treatment of ehrlichiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nahed Ismail
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
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Teymournejad O, Sharma AK, Abdelwahed M, Kader M, Ahmed I, Elkafas H, Ismail N. Hepatocyte-specific regulation of autophagy and inflammasome activation via MyD88 during lethal Ehrlichia infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212167. [PMID: 38022511 PMCID: PMC10662044 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocytes play a crucial role in host response to infection. Ehrlichia is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes potentially life-threatening human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) characterized by an initial liver injury followed by sepsis and multi-organ failure. We previously showed that infection with highly virulent Ehrlichia japonica (E. japonica) induces liver damage and fatal ehrlichiosis in mice via deleterious MyD88-dependent activation of CASP11 and inhibition of autophagy in macrophage. While macrophages are major target cells for Ehrlichia, the role of hepatocytes (HCs) in ehrlichiosis remains unclear. We investigated here the role of MyD88 signaling in HCs during infection with E. japonica using primary cells from wild-type (WT) and MyD88-/- mice, along with pharmacologic inhibitors of MyD88 in a murine HC cell line. Similar to macrophages, MyD88 signaling in infected HCs led to deleterious CASP11 activation, cleavage of Gasdermin D, secretion of high mobility group box 1, IL-6 production, and inflammatory cell death, while controlling bacterial replication. Unlike macrophages, MyD88 signaling in Ehrlichia-infected HCs attenuated CASP1 activation but activated CASP3. Mechanistically, active CASP1/canonical inflammasome pathway negatively regulated the activation of CASP3 in infected MyD88-/- HCs. Further, MyD88 promoted autophagy induction in HCs, which was surprisingly associated with the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a known negative regulator of autophagy. Pharmacologic blocking mTORC1 activation in E. japonica-infected WT, but not infected MyD88-/- HCs, resulted in significant induction of autophagy, suggesting that MyD88 promotes autophagy during Ehrlichia infection not only in an mTORC1-indpenedent manner, but also abrogates mTORC1-mediated inhibition of autophagy in HCs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that hepatocyte-specific regulation of autophagy and inflammasome pathway via MyD88 is distinct than MyD88 signaling in macrophages during fatal ehrlichiosis. Understanding hepatocyte-specific signaling is critical for the development of new therapeutics against liver-targeting pathogens such as Ehrlichia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Teymournejad
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Aditya Kumar Sharma
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mohammed Abdelwahed
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Hofstra School of Medicine, North Well Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Muhamuda Kader
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ibrahim Ahmed
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Hoda Elkafas
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Nahed Ismail
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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Bui DC, Luo T, McBride JW. Type 1 secretion system and effectors in Rickettsiales. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1175688. [PMID: 37256108 PMCID: PMC10225607 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1175688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Obligate intracellular bacteria in the order Rickettsiales are transmitted by arthropod vectors and cause life-threatening infections in humans and animals. While both type 1 and type 4 secretion systems (T1SS and T4SS) have been identified in this group, the most extensive studies of Rickettsiales T1SS and associated effectors have been performed in Ehrlichia. These studies have uncovered important roles for the T1SS effectors in pathobiology and immunity. To evade innate immune responses and promote intracellular survival, Ehrlichia and other related obligate pathogens secrete multiple T1SS effectors which interact with a diverse network of host targets associated with essential cellular processes. T1SS effectors have multiple functional activities during infection including acting as nucleomodulins and ligand mimetics that activate evolutionarily conserved cellular signaling pathways. In Ehrlichia, an array of newly defined major immunoreactive proteins have been identified that are predicted as T1SS substrates and have conformation-dependent antibody epitopes. These findings highlight the underappreciated and largely uncharacterized roles of T1SS effector proteins in pathobiology and immunity. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding roles of T1SS effectors in Rickettsiales members during infection and explores newly identified immunoreactive proteins as potential T1SS substrates and targets of a protective host immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc-Cuong Bui
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Tian Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Jere W. McBride
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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9
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Lu M, Qin XC, Jiang YZ, Guo Q, Jin XJ, Teng ZQ, Sun XR, Yu L, Zhang YF, Wang W, Chen QQ, Liang JR, Wan J, Ren HY, Lv Y, Wang YH, Yi L, Chang HW, Hong DY, Zheng C, Lian XX, Li K, Xu PX, Wen B, Kan B, Xu J, Qin T. Emergence of ehrlichiosis by a new tick-borne Ehrlichia species in China. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 131:32-39. [PMID: 36967037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES From March to June 2021, the reported number of clinically diagnosed endemic typhus in Anhui and Hubei provinces of China nearly increased four-fold compared with the monthly average numbers in last 5 years. An etiological and epidemiological investigation was initiated. METHODS The clinical specimens from the reported patients and the potential vector ticks were collected for molecular and serological detection, as well as cell culturing assay to identify the potential pathogen. RESULTS Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of rrs and groEL showed that the pathogen from these patients was Ehrlichia sp., isolated from Haemaphysalis longicornis attached to these patients. The phylogenetic analysis based on 39 Ehrlichia genomes suggested that it should be taxonomically classified as a novel species, tentatively named "Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense". A total of 19 of 106 cases were confirmed as Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense infections by polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and/or serological tests. The most frequent symptoms were fever (100%), rashes (100%), asthenia (100%), anorexia (100%), and myalgia (79%). CONCLUSION The occurrence of the disease presenting with fever and rashes in Anhui and Hubei provinces was caused by a novel species of the genus Ehrlichia; physicians need to be aware of this newly-discovered pathogen to ensure appropriate testing, treatment, and regional surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Cheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Jiang
- Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Qiu Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Rong Sun
- Nanchang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Liang Yu
- Jinzhai County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinzhai, China
| | - Yun-Fei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Qing Chen
- Department of microbiology laboratory, Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, China
| | - Jun-Rong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wan
- Yingshan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yingshan, China
| | - Hong-Yu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Lv
- Lu'an Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lu'an, China
| | - Yan-Hua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Yi
- Huanggang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huanggang, China
| | - Hong-Wei Chang
- Lu'an Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lu'an, China
| | - Da-Yin Hong
- Jinzhai County People's Hospital, Jinzhai, China
| | - Cheng Zheng
- Yingshan County People's Hospital, Yingshan, China
| | - Xing-Xing Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Pei-Xing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Bohai Wen
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Biao Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianguo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
| | - Tian Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
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10
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Efficacy and Immune Correlates of OMP-1B and VirB2-4 Vaccines for Protection of Dogs from Tick Transmission of Ehrlichia chaffeensis. mBio 2022; 13:e0214022. [PMID: 36342170 PMCID: PMC9765013 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02140-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an obligatory intracellular bacterium, causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, an emerging disease transmitted by the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum. Here, we investigated the vaccine potential of OMP-1B and VirB2-4. Among the highly expressed and immunodominant E. chaffeensis porin P28s/OMP-1s, OMP-1B is predominantly expressed by E. chaffeensis in A. americanum ticks, whereas VirB2-4 is a pilus protein of the type IV secretion system essential for E. chaffeensis infection of host cells. Immunization with recombinant OMP-1B (rOMP-1B) or recombinant VirB2-4 (rVirB2-4) protected mice from E. chaffeensis infection as effectively as Entry-triggering protein of Ehrlichia immunization. Dogs vaccinated with a nanoparticle vaccine composed of rOMP-1B or rVirB2-4 and an immunostimulating complex developed high antibody titers against the respective antigen. Upon challenge with E. chaffeensis-infected A. americanum ticks, E. chaffeensis was undetectable in the blood of rOMP-1B or rVirB2-4 immunized dogs on day 3 or 6 post-tick attachment and for the duration of the experiment, whereas dogs sham-vaccinated with the complex alone were persistently infected for the duration of the experiment. E. chaffeensis exponentially replicates in blood-feeding ticks to facilitate transmission. Previously infected ticks removed from OMP-1B-immunized dogs showed significantly lower bacterial load relative to ticks removed from sham-immunized dogs, suggesting in-tick neutralization. Peripheral blood leukocytes from rVirB2-4-vaccinated dogs secreted significantly elevated amounts of interferon-γ soon after tick attachment by ELISpot assay and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, suggesting interferon-γ-mediated Ehrlichia inhibition. Thus, Ehrlichia surface-exposed proteins OMP-1B and VirB2-4 represent new potential vaccine candidates for blocking tick-borne ehrlichial transmission. IMPORTANCE Ehrlichia are tick-borne pathogens that cause a potentially fatal illness-ehrlichiosis-in animals and humans worldwide. Currently, no vaccine is available for ehrlichiosis, and treatment options are limited. Ticks are biological vectors of Ehrlichia, i.e., Ehrlichia exponentially replicates in blood-sucking ticks before infecting animals. Ticks also inoculate immunomodulatory substances into animals. Thus, it is important to study effects of candidate vaccines on Ehrlichia infection in both animals and ticks and the immune responses of animals shortly after infected tick challenge. Here, we investigated the efficacy of vaccination with functionality-defined two surface-exposed outer membrane proteins of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, OMP-1B and VirB2-4, in a mouse infection model and then in a dog-tick transmission model. Our results begin to fill gaps in our understanding of Ehrlichia-derived protective antigens against tick-transmission and immune correlates and mechanisms that could help future development of vaccines for immunization of humans and animals to counter tick-transmitted ehrlichiosis.
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11
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Remesar S, Castro-Scholten S, Morrondo P, Díaz P, Jiménez-Martín D, Rouco C, Camacho-Sillero L, Cano-Terriza D, García-Bocanegra I. Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks parasitizing wild lagomorphs from Spain: characterization of a novel Ehrlichia species. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:467. [DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05600-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Several species belonging to the genus Ehrlichia are considered pathogenic for animals and humans. Although wildlife are known to play an important role in the epidemiology of these bacteria, information on the role of wild lagomorphs in their sylvatic cycle is limited. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks collected from wild lagomorphs in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.
Methods
A total of 1122 pooled ticks (254 pools) collected from 506 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 29 Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) were analysed using a nested PCR assay targeting the partial groEL gene. Ehrlichia spp.-positive samples were further subjected to a second PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA.
Results
Three (1.2%) tick pools comprising Rhipicephalus pusillus collected from nine wild rabbits were positive for Ehrlichia spp. All the Ehrlichia DNA sequences were identical, and use of sequence and phylogenetic analyses allowed us to identify a novel Ehrlichia species.
Conclusions
We provide evidence that a novel Ehrlichia species, named herein as ‘Candidatus Ehrlichia andalusi’, which may be of concern for animal and public health, is circulating in R. pusillus in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems. Further studies are warranted to assess the epidemiology, pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of this Ehrlichia species.
Graphical Abstract
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12
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Oren A, Garrity GM. Validation List no. 206. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2022; 72. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M. Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
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13
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Ismail N, Sharma A, Soong L, Walker DH. Review: Protective Immunity and Immunopathology of Ehrlichiosis. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2022; 2:10.15212/zoonoses-2022-0009. [PMID: 35876763 PMCID: PMC9300479 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2022-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis, a tick transmitted infection, ranges in severity from apparently subclinical to a fatal toxic shock-like fatal disease. Models in immunocompetent mice range from an abortive infection to uniformly lethal depending on the infecting Ehrlichia species, dose of inoculum, and route of inoculation. Effective immunity is mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes and gamma interferon. Lethal infection occurs with early overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and overproduction of TNF alpha and IL-10 by CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, fatal ehrlichiosis is associated with signaling via TLR 9/MyD88 with upregulation of several inflammasome complexes and secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and IL-18 by hepatic mononuclear cells, suggesting activation of canonical and noncanonical inflammasome pathways, a deleterious role for IL-18, and the protective role for caspase 1. Autophagy promotes ehrlichial infection, and MyD88 signaling hinders ehrlichial infection by inhibiting autophagy induction and flux. Activation of caspase 11 during infection of hepatocytes by the lethal ehrlichial species after interferon alpha receptor signaling results in the production of inflammasome-dependent IL-1 beta, extracellular secretion of HMGB1, and pyroptosis. The high level of HMGB1 in lethal ehrlichiosis suggests a role in toxic shock. Studies of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages infected by highly avirulent or mildly avirulent ehrlichiae reveal divergent M1 and M2 macrophage polarization that links with generation of pathogenic CD8 T cells, neutrophils, and excessive inflammation or with strong expansion of protective Th1 and NKT cells, resolution of inflammation and clearance of infection, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahed Ismail
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medicine, University of Illinois Hospitals & Health Science System, Chicago, IL
| | - Aditya Sharma
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medicine, University of Illinois Hospitals & Health Science System, Chicago, IL
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - David H. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
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Félix ML, Muñoz-Leal S, Carvalho LA, Queirolo D, Remesar S, Armúa-Fernández MT, Venzal JM. Characterization of " Candidatus Ehrlichia Pampeana" in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Ticks and Gray Brocket Deer ( Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2165. [PMID: 34683486 PMCID: PMC8538733 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human ehrlichiosis are scantily documented in Uruguay. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and in a gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay. The presence of Ehrlichia DNA was investigated in free-living H. juxtakochi in five localities of southeast and northeast Uruguay, as well as blood, spleen, and ticks retrieved from a M. gouazoubira. Ehrlichia spp. DNA was detected in six out of 99 tick pools from vegetation, in the spleen of M. gouazoubira, and in one out of five pools of ticks feeding on this cervid. Bayesian inference analyses for three loci (16S rRNA, dsb, and groEL) revealed the presence of a new rickettsial organism, named herein as "Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana". This new detected Ehrlichia is phylogenetically related to those found in ticks from Asia, as well as Ehrlichia ewingii from USA and Cameroon. Although the potential pathogenicity of "Ca. E. pampeana" for humans is currently unknown, some eco-epidemiological factors may be relevant to its possible pathogenic role, namely: (i) the phylogenetic closeness with the zoonotic agent E. ewingii, (ii) the evidence of H. juxtakochi parasitizing humans, and (iii) the importance of cervids as reservoirs for zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. The molecular detection of "Ca. E. pampeana" represents the third Ehrlichia genotype described in Uruguay.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte—Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, Salto 50000, Uruguay; (M.T.A.-F.); (J.M.V.)
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Casilla 537, Chillán 3780000, Chile;
| | - Luis Andrés Carvalho
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand;
| | - Diego Queirolo
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Vertebrados, CENUR Noreste, Universidad de la República, Ituzaingó 667, Rivera 40000, Uruguay;
| | - Susana Remesar
- INVESAGA Group, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - María Teresa Armúa-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte—Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, Salto 50000, Uruguay; (M.T.A.-F.); (J.M.V.)
| | - José Manuel Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte—Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, Salto 50000, Uruguay; (M.T.A.-F.); (J.M.V.)
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Gomez-Chamorro A, Hodžić A, King KC, Cabezas-Cruz A. Ecological and evolutionary perspectives on tick-borne pathogen co-infections. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100049. [PMID: 35284886 PMCID: PMC8906131 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogen co-infections are common in nature. Co-infecting pathogens interact with each other and the tick microbiome, which influences individual pathogen fitness, and ultimately shapes virulence, infectivity, and transmission. In this review, we discuss how tick-borne pathogens are an ideal framework to study the evolutionary dynamics of co-infections. We highlight the importance of inter-species and intra-species interactions in vector-borne pathogen ecology and evolution. We also propose experimental evolution in tick cell lines as a method to directly test the impact of co-infections on pathogen evolution. Experimental evolution can simulate in real-time the long periods of time involved in within-vector pathogen interactions in nature, a major practical obstacle to cracking the influence of co-infections on pathogen evolution and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gomez-Chamorro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire D’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kayla C. King
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire D’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
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