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Host blood meal identity modifies vector gene expression and competency.

Kacie Ring1, Lisa I Couper2, Anne L Sapiro3

  • 1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA.

Molecular Ecology
|March 1, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lizard blood meals enhance the ability of Ixodes pacificus ticks to acquire Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and alter their gene expression. This finding impacts our understanding of Lyme disease ecology and transmission dynamics.

Keywords:
Borrelia burgdorferiIxodes pacificuscommunity ecologyhost parasite Interactionstranscriptomicsvector competency

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Vector-borne disease research
  • Tick biology

Background:

  • Vector competency, influenced by host interactions, is crucial for pathogen transmission.
  • Ixodes pacificus ticks transmit Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) in the western U.S., feeding on various hosts including rodents, birds, and lizards.
  • Lizards are refractory to Bb and possess borreliacidal properties, but the effect of their bloodmeal on tick competency is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally determine how the host identity of a larval bloodmeal affects the Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) acquisition by nymphal Ixodes pacificus.
  • To investigate the impact of larval bloodmeal source on gene regulation in Ixodes pacificus.

Main Methods:

  • Larval Ixodes pacificus ticks were fed on either lizards or mice.
  • After molting, nymphs from both groups were fed on Bb-infected mice.
  • RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on whole-bodied ticks to analyze gene expression.

Main Results:

  • Larval ticks fed on lizards were significantly more likely to acquire Bb during their subsequent nymphal bloodmeal compared to those fed on mice.
  • RNA-seq analysis revealed significant upregulation of tick antioxidants and antimicrobial peptides in the lizard-fed group.
  • Lizard bloodmeal significantly alters vector competency and gene regulation in Ixodes pacificus.

Conclusions:

  • The host bloodmeal identity plays a critical role in modulating tick vector competency and susceptibility to pathogens.
  • Lizard bloodmeals enhance Bb acquisition and alter gene expression in Ixodes pacificus, challenging previous assumptions about their role in Lyme disease ecology.
  • These findings underscore the importance of host-pathogen-vector interactions in disease transmission dynamics.