2023
Bulk and single-nucleus RNA sequencing highlight immune pathways induced in individuals during an Ixodes scapularis tick bite
Tang X, Lynn G, Cui Y, Cerny J, Arora G, Tomayko M, Craft J, Fikrig E. Bulk and single-nucleus RNA sequencing highlight immune pathways induced in individuals during an Ixodes scapularis tick bite. Infection And Immunity 2023, 91: e00282-23. PMID: 37846980, PMCID: PMC10652856, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00282-23.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRNA sequencingSingle-nucleus RNA sequencingBulk RNA sequencingInterleukin-17 signalingPlatelet activation pathwaysLaboratory guinea pigsSnRNA-seqHippo signalingIndividual genesPeripheral bloodTick biteAdaptive immunityAnti-tick vaccinesGuidance pathwayImmune pathwaysNew biomarkersHost responseGuinea pigsHematophagous arthropodsHost defenseCell adhesionTick attachmentNovel insightsTick feedingPhysiological consequencesCroquemort elicits activation of the immune deficiency pathway in ticks
O’Neal A, Singh N, Rolandelli A, Laukaitis H, Wang X, Shaw D, Young B, Narasimhan S, Dutta S, Snyder G, Samaddar S, Marnin L, Butler L, Mendes M, Paz F, Valencia L, Sundberg E, Fikrig E, Pal U, Weber D, Pedra J. Croquemort elicits activation of the immune deficiency pathway in ticks. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2208673120. PMID: 37155900, PMCID: PMC10193931, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208673120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune deficiency (IMD) pathwayIMD pathwayNon-insect arthropodsPeptidoglycan recognition proteinsJun N-terminal kinaseN-terminal kinaseArthropod immunityMembrane localizationRecognition proteinsLyme disease spirocheteEcdysteroid synthesisMicrobial moietiesDistinct mechanismsProteinArthropodsPathwayHost defenseElicit activationCroquemortPancrustaceaHomologInsectsActivationCrustaceansKinase
2019
ELF4 facilitates innate host defenses against Plasmodium by activating transcription of Pf4 and Ppbp
Wang D, Zhang Z, Cui S, Zhao Y, Craft S, Fikrig E, You F. ELF4 facilitates innate host defenses against Plasmodium by activating transcription of Pf4 and Ppbp. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2019, 294: 7787-7796. PMID: 30898878, PMCID: PMC6514618, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPlatelet factor 4Host defenseComponent of plateletsPro-platelet basic proteinKilling of parasitesFactor 4Innate immune moleculesInnate immune signalingInnate host defenseC chemokinesWT littermatesTranscription factor 4Control animalsImmune moleculesInnate immunityInfected erythrocytesImmune signalingInfectionExpression levelsMiceType IBasic proteinDefense peptidesPlateletsPlasmodium28 Host Defenses to Spirochetes
Navasa N, Fikrig E, Anguita J. 28 Host Defenses to Spirochetes. 2019, 403-411.e1. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6896-6.00028-4.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2012
Receptor interacting protein-2 contributes to host defense against Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection
Sukumaran B, Ogura Y, Pedra JH, Kobayashi KS, Flavell RA, Fikrig E. Receptor interacting protein-2 contributes to host defense against Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. Pathogens And Disease 2012, 66: 211-219. PMID: 22747758, PMCID: PMC3530031, DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.01001.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRip2-deficient miceHuman granulocytic anaplasmosisNOD-like receptorsPhagocytophilum infectionTick-borne infectious diseaseNOD1/NOD2Obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilumInflammatory protein-2Host immune responseInnate immune pathwaysProtein 2Anaplasma phagocytophilum infectionHuman primary neutrophilsBacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilumHigh bacterial loadWild-type controlsImmune controlIL-12Immune clearanceImmune responseImmune pathwaysHost responseKC responsesHost defenseInfectious diseases
2005
The Lyme disease agent exploits a tick protein to infect the mammalian host
Ramamoorthi N, Narasimhan S, Pal U, Bao F, Yang XF, Fish D, Anguita J, Norgard MV, Kantor FS, Anderson JF, Koski RA, Fikrig E. The Lyme disease agent exploits a tick protein to infect the mammalian host. Nature 2005, 436: 573-577. PMID: 16049492, PMCID: PMC4306560, DOI: 10.1038/nature03812.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2001
Exploitation of Interleukin-8-Induced Neutrophil Chemotaxis by the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis
Akkoyunlu M, Malawista S, Anguita J, Fikrig E. Exploitation of Interleukin-8-Induced Neutrophil Chemotaxis by the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis. Infection And Immunity 2001, 69: 5577-5588. PMID: 11500432, PMCID: PMC98672, DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.9.5577-5588.2001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman granulocytic ehrlichiosisInterleukin-8Granulocytic ehrlichiosisHGE bacteriaUpregulation of CXCR2IL-8 receptorsIL-8 productionIL-8 secretionSite of infectionInfected HL-60 cellsObligate intracellular bacteriumChemotaxis chamber assayNeutrophils migrateNeutrophil migrationNeutrophil chemotaxisImmunodeficient miceControl animalsBacterial disseminationHost defensePromyelocytic cell lineChamber assayIntracellular bacteriumHL-60 cellsRetinoic acidNeutrophil lineage
1993
Evasion of protective immunity by Borrelia burgdorferi by truncation of outer surface protein B.
Fikrig E, Tao H, Kantor FS, Barthold SW, Flavell RA. Evasion of protective immunity by Borrelia burgdorferi by truncation of outer surface protein B. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1993, 90: 4092-4096. PMID: 7683420, PMCID: PMC46452, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.9.4092.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsAntibodiesAntibodies, MonoclonalAntigens, BacterialAntigens, SurfaceBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBase SequenceBorrelia burgdorferi GroupCloning, MolecularCodonEpitopesEscherichia coliFemaleFluorescent Antibody TechniqueGenes, BacterialHumansLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C3HPolymerase Chain ReactionRecombinant Fusion ProteinsRecombinant ProteinsRestriction MappingTicksVaccines, SyntheticViral VaccinesConceptsProtective immune responseVaccination immunityProtective immunityProtective antibodiesAntibody responseImmune destructionImmune responseHost defenseOuter surface proteinsLyme diseaseOuter surface protein BBorrelia burgdorferiCausative agentOspBMicePolyclonal antibodiesImmunityAntibodiesPresent studyStrain B31Surface proteinsProtein BPrevious studiesVaccinationOspB.