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Thorpe CJ, Wang XR, Munderloh UG, Kurtti TJ. Tick Cell Culture Analysis of Growth Dynamics and Cellular Tropism of Rickettsia buchneri, an Endosymbiont of the Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis. Insects 2021; 12:968. [PMID: 34821769 PMCID: PMC8626015 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, a species of significant importance to human and animal health, harbors an endosymbiont Rickettsia buchneri sensu stricto. The symbiont is largely restricted to the ovaries, but all life stages can harbor various quantities or lack R. buchneri entirely. The endosymbiont is cultivable in cell lines isolated from embryos of Ixodes ticks. Rickettsia buchneri most readily grows and is maintained in the cell line IRE11 from the European tick, Ixodes ricinus. The line was characterized by light and electron microscopy and used to analyze the growth dynamics of wildtype and GFPuv-expressing R. buchneri. qPCR indicated that the genome copy doubling time in IRE11 was >7 days. Measurements of fluorescence using a plate reader indicated that the amount of green fluorescent protein doubled every 11 days. Two 23S rRNA probes were tested via RNA FISH on rickettsiae grown in vitro and adapted to evaluate the tissue tropism of R. buchneri in field-collected female I. scapularis. We observed strong positive signals of R. buchneri in the ovaries and surrounding the nucleus of the developing oocytes. Tissue tropism in I. scapularis and in vitro growth dynamics strengthen the contemporary understanding of R. buchneri as a transovarially transmitted, non-pathogenic endosymbiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Thorpe
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA; (X.-R.W.); (U.G.M.)
| | | | | | - Timothy J. Kurtti
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA; (X.-R.W.); (U.G.M.)
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Salata C, Moutailler S, Attoui H, Zweygarth E, Decker L, Bell-Sakyi L. How relevant are in vitro culture models for study of tick-pathogen interactions? Pathog Glob Health 2021; 115:437-455. [PMID: 34190676 PMCID: PMC8635668 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1944539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although tick-borne infectious diseases threaten human and animal health worldwide, with constantly increasing incidence, little knowledge is available regarding vector-pathogen interactions and pathogen transmission. In vivo laboratory study of these subjects using live, intact ticks is expensive, labor-intensive, and challenging from the points of view of biosafety and ethics. Several in vitro models have been developed, including over 70 continuous cell lines derived from multiple tick species and a variety of tick organ culture systems, facilitating many research activities. However, some limitations have to be considered in the translation of the results from the in vitro environment to the in vivo situation of live, intact ticks, and vertebrate hosts. In this review, we describe the available in vitro models and selected results from their application to the study of tick-borne viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, where possible comparing these results to studies in live, intact ticks. Finally, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of in vitro tick culture models and their essential role in tick-borne pathogen research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Salata
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Laboratoire De Santé Animale, Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Houssam Attoui
- Department of Animal Health, UMR1161 Virologie, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Erich Zweygarth
- The Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lygia Decker
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Wass L, Grankvist A, Bell-Sakyi L, Bergström M, Ulfhammer E, Lingblom C, Wennerås C. Cultivation of the causative agent of human neoehrlichiosis from clinical isolates identifies vascular endothelium as a target of infection. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019; 8:413-425. [PMID: 30898074 PMCID: PMC6455172 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1584017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Candidatus (Ca.) Neoehrlichia mikurensis is the cause of neoehrlichiosis, an emerging tick-borne infectious disease characterized by fever and vascular events. The bacterium belongs to the Anaplasmataceae, a family of obligate intracellular pathogens, but has not previously been cultivated, and it is uncertain which cell types it infects. The goals of this study were to cultivate Ca. N. mikurensis in cell lines and to identify possible target cells for human infection. Blood components derived from infected patients were inoculated into cell lines of both tick and human origin. Bacterial growth in the cell cultures was monitored by real-time PCR and imaging flow cytometry. Ca. N. mikurensis was successfully propagated from the blood of immunocompromised neoehrlichiosis patients in two Ixodes spp. tick cell lines following incubation periods of 7-20 weeks. Human primary endothelial cells derived from skin microvasculature as well as pulmonary artery were also susceptible to infection with tick cell-derived bacteria. Finally, Ca. N. mikurensis was visualized within circulating endothelial cells of two neoehrlichiosis patients. To conclude, we report the first successful isolation and propagation of Ca. N. mikurensis from clinical isolates and identify human vascular endothelial cells as a target of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Wass
- a Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden.,b Department of Clinical Microbiology , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Anna Grankvist
- a Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden.,b Department of Clinical Microbiology , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- c Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health , University of Liverpool , Liverpool , UK
| | - Malin Bergström
- a Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Erik Ulfhammer
- d The Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Christine Lingblom
- a Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden.,b Department of Clinical Microbiology , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Göteborg , Sweden
| | - Christine Wennerås
- a Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Göteborg , Sweden.,b Department of Clinical Microbiology , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Göteborg , Sweden
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Billeter SA, Diniz PPVP, Battisti JM, Munderloh UG, Breitschwerdt EB, Levy MG. Infection and replication of Bartonella species within a tick cell line. Exp Appl Acarol 2009; 49:193-208. [PMID: 19242658 PMCID: PMC4465226 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-009-9255-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2008] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Bartonella species are fastidious, gram negative bacteria, some of which are transmitted by arthropod vectors, including fleas, sandflies, and lice. There is very little information regarding the interaction and/or transmission capabilities of Bartonella species by ticks. In the present study, we demonstrate successful infection of the Amblyomma americanum cell line, AAE12, by seven Bartonella isolates and three Candidatus Bartonella species by electron or light microscopy. With the exception of Bartonella bovis, infection with all other examined Bartonella species induced cytopathic effects characterized by heavy cellular vacuolization and eventually cell lysis. Furthermore, using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), we demonstrated significant amplification of two B. henselae genotype I isolates in the A. americanum cell line over a 5 days period. Ultimately, tick-cell derived Bartonella antigens may prove useful for the development of more sensitive diagnostic reagents and may assist in the development of an effective vaccine to prevent the further spread of disease caused by these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Billeter
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Room 456, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Pedro Paulo V. P. Diniz
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Room 456, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - James M. Battisti
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | | | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Room 456, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Michael G. Levy
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Room 456, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
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