Immunity-related Genes in Ixodes Scapularis--perspectives from Genome Information

Overview

Journal Front Cell Infect Microbiol

Specialties Cell Biology
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2014 Sep 10

PMID 25202684

Citations 51

Authors

Alexis A Smith

Utpal Pal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the deer tick, transmits a wide array of human and animal pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi. Despite substantial advances in our understanding of immunity in model arthropods, including other disease vectors, precisely how I. scapularis immunity functions and influences persistence of invading pathogens remains largely unknown. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recently sequenced I. scapularis genome for the occurrence of immune-related genes and related pathways. We will also discuss the potential influence of immunity-related genes on the persistence of tick-borne pathogens with an emphasis on the Lyme disease pathogen B. burgdorferi. Further enhancement of our knowledge of tick immune responses is critical to understanding the molecular basis of the persistence of tick-borne pathogens and development of novel interventions against the relevant infections.

Citing Articles

A review of filarial nematodes parasitizing tick vectors: unraveling global patterns in species diversity, host associations, and interactions with tick-borne pathogens.

Ajileye O, Verocai G, Light J Parasit Vectors. 2025; 18(1):50.

PMID: 39940033 PMC: 11818015. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06690-6.

Identification and characterization of a Relish-type NF-κB, DvRelish, in in response to infection.

Fongsaran C, Verhoeve V, Jirakanwisal K, Harris E, Macaluso K Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024; 14:1494450.

PMID: 39735256 PMC: 11682715. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1494450.

A metalloprotease secreted by an environmentally acquired gut bacterium hinders colonization in .

Hodzic A, Veinovic G, Alic A, Seki D, Kunert M, Nikolov G Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024; 14:1476266.

PMID: 39450335 PMC: 11499241. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1476266.

A multi-omics approach for understanding blood digestion dynamics in Ixodes scapularis and identification of anti-tick vaccine targets.

Reyes J, McVicar M, Beniwal S, Sharma A, Tillett R, Petereit J Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2024; 15(6):102379.

PMID: 39033644 PMC: 11793013. DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102379.

Potential mechanisms implied in tick infection by arboviruses and their transmission to vertebrate hosts.

Yuan C, Xu Q, Ning Y, Xia Q Integr Zool. 2024; 20(2):315-330.

PMID: 39016029 PMC: 11897945. DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12875.

References

Buchon N, Broderick N, Lemaitre B . Gut homeostasis in a microbial world: insights from Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2013; 11(9):615-26. DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3074. View

Kopacek P, Hajdusek O, Buresova V, Daffre S . Tick innate immunity. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2011; 708:137-62. View

Gupta L, Molina-Cruz A, Kumar S, Rodrigues J, Dixit R, Zamora R . The STAT pathway mediates late-phase immunity against Plasmodium in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Cell Host Microbe. 2009; 5(5):498-507. PMC: 2701194. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2009.04.003. View

Lemaitre B . The road to Toll. Nat Rev Immunol. 2004; 4(7):521-7. DOI: 10.1038/nri1390. View

Bubici C, Papa S, Dean K, Franzoso G . Mutual cross-talk between reactive oxygen species and nuclear factor-kappa B: molecular basis and biological significance. Oncogene. 2006; 25(51):6731-48. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209936. View

Valanne S, Wang J, Ramet M . The Drosophila Toll signaling pathway. J Immunol. 2011; 186(2):649-56. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002302. View

Baxter R, Steinert S, Chelliah Y, Volohonsky G, Levashina E, Deisenhofer J . A heterodimeric complex of the LRR proteins LRIM1 and APL1C regulates complement-like immunity in Anopheles gambiae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010; 107(39):16817-22. PMC: 2947905. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1010575107. View

Inoue N, Hanada K, Tsuji N, Igarashi I, Nagasawa H, Mikami T . Characterization of phagocytic hemocytes in Ornithodoros moubata (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol. 2001; 38(4):514-9. DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585-38.4.514. View

Fujita T . Evolution of the lectin-complement pathway and its role in innate immunity. Nat Rev Immunol. 2002; 2(5):346-53. DOI: 10.1038/nri800. View

10.

Zambon R, Nandakumar M, Vakharia V, Wu L . The Toll pathway is important for an antiviral response in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102(20):7257-62. PMC: 1129099. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0409181102. View

11.

Macpherson A, Harris N . Interactions between commensal intestinal bacteria and the immune system. Nat Rev Immunol. 2004; 4(6):478-85. DOI: 10.1038/nri1373. View

12.

Dam T, Brewer C . Lectins as pattern recognition molecules: the effects of epitope density in innate immunity. Glycobiology. 2009; 20(3):270-9. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwp186. View

13.

De Gregorio E, Spellman P, Tzou P, Rubin G, Lemaitre B . The Toll and Imd pathways are the major regulators of the immune response in Drosophila. EMBO J. 2002; 21(11):2568-79. PMC: 126042. DOI: 10.1093/emboj/21.11.2568. View

14.

Tokunaga F, Nakamura T, Morita T, Kuma K, Miyata T, Iwanaga S . Lipopolysaccharide-sensitive serine-protease zymogen (factor C) of horseshoe crab hemocytes. Identification and alignment of proteolytic fragments produced during the activation show that it is a novel type of serine protease. Eur J Biochem. 1987; 167(3):405-16. DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1987.tb13352.x. View

15.

Enkhbayar P, Kamiya M, Osaki M, Matsumoto T, Matsushima N . Structural principles of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins. Proteins. 2004; 54(3):394-403. DOI: 10.1002/prot.10605. View

16.

Wikel S . Host immunity to ticks. Annu Rev Entomol. 1996; 41:1-22. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.41.010196.000245. View

17.

Mishra S, Schneider D . Interactions between the cellular and humoral immune responses in Drosophila. Curr Biol. 2000; 10(13):781-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0960-9822(00)00569-8. View

18.

Theopold U, Schmidt O, Soderhall K, Dushay M . Coagulation in arthropods: defence, wound closure and healing. Trends Immunol. 2004; 25(6):289-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2004.03.004. View

19.

Muleng A, Sugino M, Nakajim M, Sugimoto C, Onuma M . Tick-Encoded serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins); potential target antigens for tick vaccine development. J Vet Med Sci. 2001; 63(10):1063-9. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.63.1063. View

20.

Fraser C, Casjens S, Huang W, Sutton G, Clayton R, Lathigra R . Genomic sequence of a Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Nature. 1997; 390(6660):580-6. DOI: 10.1038/37551. View