Tick Salivary Proteins Metalloprotease and Allergen-like P23 Are Associated with Response to Glycan α-Gal and Mycobacterium Infection

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2025 Mar 15

PMID 40087469

Authors

Rita Vaz-Rodrigues

Lorena Mazuecos

Marinela Contreras

Almudena Gonzalez-Garcia

Marta Rafael

Margarita Villar

Jose de la Fuente

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS) evolved as a catastrophic selection associated with anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG protective response against pathogen infection and tick-borne food allergy caused by IgE-type antibodies against this glycan present in glycoproteins and glycolipids from mammalian meat and derived products. The immune response to α-Gal is modulated by tick salivary proteins with and without α-Gal modifications in combination with tick saliva non-protein fraction. Herein, we characterized the role of tick salivary proteins, metalloprotease and allergen-like p23 in AGS and protection against tuberculosis in the AGS zebrafish animal model. Metalloprotease and p23 are involved in allergic reactions after mammalian meat consumption through upregulation of pro-inflammatory protein-coding genes prkdc, tlr2, tnfα and il1b. Challenge with Mycobacterium marinum activated Th1-mediated immune protective response with reduced pathogen infection, ameliorating Th2-associated allergic reactions associated with AGS. These results highlight molecular mechanisms modulated by tick proteins in response to α-Gal and provide insights to reduce AGS impact on human health.

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