2024
mRNA vaccination of rabbits alters the fecundity, but not the attachment, of adult Ixodes scapularis
Matias J, Cui Y, Lynn G, DePonte K, Mesquita E, Muramatsu H, Alameh M, Dwivedi G, Tam Y, Pardi N, Weissman D, Fikrig E. mRNA vaccination of rabbits alters the fecundity, but not the attachment, of adult Ixodes scapularis. Scientific Reports 2024, 14: 496. PMID: 38177212, PMCID: PMC10766947, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50389-6.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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 hostsBulk 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 consequencesSpecific mRNA lipid nanoparticles and acquired resistance to ticks
Matias J, Cui Y, Tang X, Sajid A, Arora G, Wu M, DePonte K, Muramatsu H, Tam Y, Narasimhan S, Pardi N, Weissman D, Fikrig E. Specific mRNA lipid nanoparticles and acquired resistance to ticks. Vaccine 2023, 41: 4996-5002. PMID: 37407406, PMCID: PMC10530371, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.081.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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