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Rickettsial Pathogen Perturbs Tick Circadian Gene to Infect the Vertebrate Host

Supreet Khanal1, Vikas Taank1, John F Anderson2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum alters tick circadian clock genes, impacting its transmission to hosts. Disrupting these clock genes increases bacterial spread and affects tick feeding behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • * Vector-borne disease research
  • * Tick biology and pathogen transmission
  • * Circadian rhythms in arthropods

Background:

  • * Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit pathogens like Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
  • * Ticks are exposed to environmental factors, including light-dark cycles.
  • * Circadian pathways regulate organismal responses to environmental changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate the role of arthropod circadian genes in Anaplasma phagocytophilum transmission.
  • * To determine how A. phagocytophilum affects tick circadian gene expression.
  • * To assess the impact of circadian gene modulation on tick feeding and pathogen transmission.

Main Methods:

  • * Exposure of ticks and tick cells to light:dark cycles to observe circadian gene expression.
  • * Quantification of arthropod clock, bmal1, period, and timeless gene expression.
  • * RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down clock gene expression in ticks.
  • * Monitoring of bacterial transmission to a murine host and tick engorgement.

Main Results:

  • * Circadian oscillation of tick clock, bmal1, period, and timeless genes observed under light:dark conditions.
  • * A. phagocytophilum significantly modulated the expression patterns of these circadian genes.
  • * Knockdown of clock gene expression reduced immune gene (jak, pelle) expression, increasing bacterial transmission.
  • * Clock-deficient ticks exhibited delayed feeding and reduced engorgement.

Conclusions:

  • * Anaplasma phagocytophilum manipulates tick circadian clock genes for successful transmission.
  • * Circadian gene expression is crucial for tick blood feeding and pathogen transmission to vertebrate hosts.
  • * Targeting tick circadian pathways could offer novel strategies for disease control.
Keywords:
Anaplasma phagocytophilumCLOCKIxodes scapularisRickettsial pathogensblood feedingcircadian oscillationcircadian rhythmimmune regulationticks

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