2024
Dual roles for a tick protein disulfide isomerase during the life cycle of the Lyme disease agent.
Tang X, Cui Y, Namarra U, Tian X, Rivas-Giorgi F, Fikrig E. Dual roles for a tick protein disulfide isomerase during the life cycle of the Lyme disease agent. MBio 2024, e0175424. PMID: 39470213, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01754-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProtein disulfide isomeraseLyme disease agentDisulfide isomeraseBlood-feeding vectorsExtracellular pathogensGene expressionInvasion of host cellsThiol-disulfide oxidoreductasesDisease agentsGroup of enzymesStages of bacterial infectionVirulence factorsLife cycleChaperone activityMammalian hostsHost cellsBlood-feeding ticksIsomeraseMicrobial infectionsColonized ticksPathogensDiverse infectionsMicrobial invasionInfection of miceVector-borne diseases
2023
Adiponectin in the mammalian host influences ticks’ acquisition of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia
Tang X, Cao Y, Booth C, Arora G, Cui Y, Matias J, Fikrig E. Adiponectin in the mammalian host influences ticks’ acquisition of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia. PLOS Biology 2023, 21: e3002331. PMID: 37862360, PMCID: PMC10619873, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002331.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdipocyte-derived hormoneBite siteAdiponectin-deficient miceInfiltration of neutrophilsTick bite sitePro-inflammatory responseWild-type animalsIxodes scapularis ticksIL-1βVascular leakageHistamine releaseTick biteAdiponectinInfectious diseasesLyme disease agentBlood feeding arthropodsBorrelia burgdorferiScapularis ticksAnimal infectious diseasesBlood feedingB. burgdorferi survivalHuman bloodHormonePathogen acquisitionMammalian hosts
2022
A tick C1q protein alters infectivity of the Lyme disease agent by modulating interferon γ
Tang X, Arora G, Matias J, Hart T, Cui Y, Fikrig E. A tick C1q protein alters infectivity of the Lyme disease agent by modulating interferon γ. Cell Reports 2022, 41: 111673. PMID: 36417869, PMCID: PMC9909562, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111673.Peer-Reviewed Original Research