2022
Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to the murine host is not influenced by environmentally acquired midgut microbiota
Narasimhan S, Rajeevan N, Graham M, Wu MJ, DePonte K, Marion S, Masson O, O’Neal A, Pedra JHF, Sonenshine DE, Fikrig E. Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to the murine host is not influenced by environmentally acquired midgut microbiota. Microbiome 2022, 10: 173. PMID: 36253842, PMCID: PMC9575305, DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01378-w.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Repeat tick exposure elicits distinct immune responses in guinea pigs and mice
Kurokawa C, Narasimhan S, Vidyarthi A, Booth CJ, Mehta S, Meister L, Diktas H, Strank N, Lynn GE, DePonte K, Craft J, Fikrig E. Repeat tick exposure elicits distinct immune responses in guinea pigs and mice. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2020, 11: 101529. PMID: 32993942, PMCID: PMC7530331, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGuinea pigsElicit distinct immune responsesDistinct immune responsesGuinea pig modelLocal blood flowImmune animalsInflammatory pathwaysTick rejectionMechanisms of resistanceImmune responseMouse modelVaccine candidatesBite siteBlood flowPig modelCoagulation pathwayComplement activationAcquired ResistanceProtective antigenTick detachmentTick proteinsBlood mealMiceTick infestationRNA sequencingIxodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance
Narasimhan S, Kurokawa C, Diktas H, Strank NO, Černý J, Murfin K, Cao Y, Lynn G, Trentleman J, Wu MJ, DePonte K, Kantor F, Anguita J, Hovius J, Fikrig E. Ixodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2020, 11: 101369. PMID: 31924502, PMCID: PMC7382422, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick-borne diseasesSalivary antigensAnti-tick vaccine candidatesIxodes scapularisTick salivary antigensTransmission of pathogensTick infestationTick rejectionTick proteinsViable vaccine targetsTick feedingPathogen transmissionRise worldTicksHost immune responseUrgent public health needScapularisMammalian hostsPathogensPublic health needsVaccine candidatesImmune responseSalivary glycoproteinsFeedingVaccine targeting
2019
Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases
Sanchez-Vicente S, Tagliafierro T, Coleman J, Benach J, Tokarz R, Azad A, Fikrig E, Munderloh U, Telford S. Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases. MBio 2019, 10: e02055-19. PMID: 31506314, PMCID: PMC6737246, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02055-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPolymicrobial infectionsClinical spectrumTick-borne diseasesFatal infectionPowassan virusDisproportionate incidenceTick-borne diseaseDifficult diagnosisNew pathogensNew agentsPolymicrobial natureDisease severityInfectionDiseaseLyme diseasePrevalent pathogenBorreliaHigh rateIncidenceDiagnosisSeverityRickettsiaTick vectorVirusClimate change
2018
Host-specific expression of Ixodes scapularis salivary genes
Narasimhan S, Booth CJ, DePonte K, Wu MJ, Liang X, Mohanty S, Kantor F, Fikrig E. Host-specific expression of Ixodes scapularis salivary genes. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2018, 10: 386-397. PMID: 30545615, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVector-host interactionsTick infestationI. scapularisReservoir hostsNon-reservoir hostsHost-specific expressionRodent reservoir hostsInfected ticksPathogen transmissionZoonotic cycleSalivary genesIxodes scapularisTicksNatural hostScapularisInfestationTick biteLyme diseaseBorrelia burgdorferiLarval stagesPathogensHostPeromyscus leucopusStrong immune responseSalivary transcriptome
2012
Activation of the RpoN-RpoS regulatory pathway during the enzootic life cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi
Ouyang Z, Narasimhan S, Neelakanta G, Kumar M, Pal U, Fikrig E, Norgard MV. Activation of the RpoN-RpoS regulatory pathway during the enzootic life cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi. BMC Microbiology 2012, 12: 44. PMID: 22443136, PMCID: PMC3320556, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-44.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRpoN-RpoS regulatory pathwayRpoN-RpoS pathwayExpression of rpoSEnzootic life cycleMammalian infectionRegulatory pathwaysTranscription of rpoSOuter membrane lipoproteinLife cycleB. burgdorferiKey environmental stimuliLyme disease pathogenesisDiverse nichesMembrane lipoproteinMammalian hostsTarget genesTranscription levelsMicrobial survivalLipoprotein geneRpoSOrganism adaptationInfectious cycleFed larvaeIntermolt larvaeSustained transcriptionPostgenomic Analyses Reveal Development of Infectious Anaplasma phagocytophilum during Transmission from Ticks to Mice
Mastronunzio JE, Kurscheid S, Fikrig E. Postgenomic Analyses Reveal Development of Infectious Anaplasma phagocytophilum during Transmission from Ticks to Mice. Journal Of Bacteriology 2012, 194: 2238-2247. PMID: 22389475, PMCID: PMC3347074, DOI: 10.1128/jb.06791-11.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpen reading frameA. phagocytophilum genomeObligate intracellular bacteriaBlood-feeding arthropodsCell surface proteinsMammalian cell cultureRickettsiales orderUncharacterized proteinsRibosomal proteinsEssential proteinsTranscriptome sequencingBacterial adaptationA. phagocytophilumDNA replicationTick salivary glandsPostgenomic analysisReading frameMammalian hostsAnaplasma phagocytophilumDevelopmental transitionsDC-specific markerIntracellular bacteriaTransmission feedingSurface proteinsProtein
2011
A Tick Mannose-Binding Lectin Inhibitor Interferes with the Vertebrate Complement Cascade to Enhance Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent
Schuijt TJ, Coumou J, Narasimhan S, Dai J, DePonte K, Wouters D, Brouwer M, Oei A, Roelofs JJ, van Dam AP, van der Poll T, Veer C, Hovius JW, Fikrig E. A Tick Mannose-Binding Lectin Inhibitor Interferes with the Vertebrate Complement Cascade to Enhance Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent. Cell Host & Microbe 2011, 10: 136-146. PMID: 21843870, PMCID: PMC3170916, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2011.06.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBorrelia burgdorferiCell Migration AssaysCloning, MolecularComplement Membrane Attack ComplexComplement Pathway, Mannose-Binding LectinFemaleGene SilencingHemolysisHumansImmunization, PassiveImmunotherapy, ActiveInsect ProteinsIxodesLarvaLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C3HMolecular Sequence DataNeutrophilsNymphPhagocytosisRabbitsRecombinant ProteinsSalivaSalivary Proteins and PeptidesSequence AlignmentConceptsComplement cascadeLyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferiImpaired neutrophil phagocytosisTick salivary proteinsVector-borne pathogensLyme disease agentMammalian infectionVector colonizationVertebrate hostsTick midgutAlternative complement pathwayBorrelia transmissionComplement-mediated killingVector proteinNeutrophil phagocytosisEssential rolePathway inhibitorComplement pathwayDisease agentsSalivary proteinsBorrelia burgdorferiLectin inhibitorsProteinCascadeIxodes ticksIdentification and Characterization of Ixodes scapularis Antigens That Elicit Tick Immunity Using Yeast Surface Display
Schuijt TJ, Narasimhan S, Daffre S, DePonte K, Hovius JW, Veer C, van der Poll T, Bakhtiari K, Meijers JC, Boder ET, van Dam AP, Fikrig E. Identification and Characterization of Ixodes scapularis Antigens That Elicit Tick Immunity Using Yeast Surface Display. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e15926. PMID: 21246036, PMCID: PMC3016337, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015926.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary antigensTick salivary antigensPotential vaccine candidatesAnti-coagulant activityTick biteImmunization studiesVaccine candidatesAnti-complement activityTick antigensRepeated exposureTick immunityAntigenRabbit serumHall markTicks resultsImmunitySerumYeast surface display libraryRabbitsDisplay libraryIxodes scapularisDrosophila expression systemP19Surface display libraryP8
2009
Passage through Ixodes scapularis Ticks Enhances the Virulence of a Weakly Pathogenic Isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi
Adusumilli S, Booth CJ, Anguita J, Fikrig E. Passage through Ixodes scapularis Ticks Enhances the Virulence of a Weakly Pathogenic Isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection And Immunity 2009, 78: 138-144. PMID: 19822652, PMCID: PMC2798202, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00470-09.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIxodes scapularis ticksCommon tick-borne illnessScapularis ticksTick-borne illnessB. burgdorferi sensu strictoC3H miceBurgdorferi sensu strictoLyme diseaseMiceHigh expression levelsBorrelia burgdorferiB. burgdorferiTick engorgementExpression levelsSpirochetesDiseaseArray analysisSyringe inoculationBurgdorferiPathogenic isolatesIsolatesI. scapularisArthritisVirulencePathogenesis
2006
The Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi requires BB0690, a Dps homologue, to persist within ticks
Li X, Pal U, Ramamoorthi N, Liu X, Desrosiers DC, Eggers CH, Anderson JF, Radolf JD, Fikrig E. The Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi requires BB0690, a Dps homologue, to persist within ticks. Molecular Microbiology 2006, 63: 694-710. PMID: 17181780, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05550.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDisruption of the salivary protein 14 in Ixodes scapularis nymphs and impact on pathogen acquisition.
Pedra JH, Narasimhan S, Deponte K, Marcantonio N, Kantor FS, Fikrig E. Disruption of the salivary protein 14 in Ixodes scapularis nymphs and impact on pathogen acquisition. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2006, 75: 677-82. PMID: 17038693, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2006.75.677.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsScapularis nymphsProtein 14Adult Ixodes scapularisIxodes scapularis nymphsI. scapularisBorrelia burgdorferiTick feedingI. scapularis nymphsB. burgdorferiFamily expressionEngorgement weightTick weightPhysiological rolePathogen acquisitionBurgdorferiIxodes scapularisRNA interferenceExpressionDifferent mechanismsFeedingScapularis
1998
Prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in guinea pigs by tick immunity.
Nazario S, Das S, de Silva AM, Deponte K, Marcantonio N, Anderson JF, Fish D, Fikrig E, Kantor FS. Prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in guinea pigs by tick immunity. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 1998, 58: 780-5. PMID: 9660463, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1998.58.780.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1995
Growth and migration of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ticks during blood feeding.
De Silva AM, Fikrig E. Growth and migration of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ticks during blood feeding. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 1995, 53: 397-404. PMID: 7485694, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1995.53.397.Peer-Reviewed Original Research