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Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: August 25, 2018
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Cross-Species Interferon Signaling Boosts Microbicidal Activity within the Tick Vector
Alexis A Smith1, Nicolas Navasa2, Xiuli Yang1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Cell Host & Microbe
|July 5, 2016
Summary
Ticks detect Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease bacteria) via mouse interferon-gamma (IFNγ). This triggers an antimicrobial response in ticks, identifying a novel interspecies communication pathway.
Area of Science:
- Vector-borne disease research
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hematophagous parasites, like ticks, likely evolved host communication mechanisms.
- Understanding tick-host interactions is crucial for controlling vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the signaling pathway in Ixodes ticks in response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection in mice.
- To identify molecular mechanisms underlying tick antimicrobial responses.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing gene expression in Ixodes ticks feeding on Borrelia burgdorferi-infected or naive mice.
- Utilizing gene knockdown (IGTPase) and knockout (IFNγ, STAT) models.
- Microinjection of Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) into ticks.
Main Results:
- Ixodes ticks upregulate I. scapularis Rho-like GTPase (IGTPase) when feeding on Borrelia burgdorferi-infected mice.
- IFNγ from infected mice induces IGTPase expression in ticks, while IFNγ knockout or STAT-deficient ticks fail to upregulate it.
- IGTPase controls Borrelia burgdorferi survival within ticks and induces antimicrobial peptides like Dae2.
Conclusions:
- A novel interspecies signaling cascade allows ticks to detect Borrelia burgdorferi via host-derived IFNγ.
- This pathway enables ticks to mount microbicidal responses, impacting pathogen survival within the vector.
