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
2021
Aedes aegypti SNAP and a calcium transporter ATPase influence dengue virus dissemination
Marin-Lopez A, Jiang J, Wang Y, Cao Y, MacNeil T, Hastings AK, Fikrig E. Aedes aegypti SNAP and a calcium transporter ATPase influence dengue virus dissemination. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009442. PMID: 34115766, PMCID: PMC8195420, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009442.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary gland proteinsSuccessful viral transmissionNew mammalian hostDengue virusWild habitatsHabitat expansionGland proteinsA. aegypti vectorMammalian hostsUbiquitous expressionDENV infectionGene expressionMosquito midgutProtein componentsATPase proteinVector proteinProteinSalivary glandsBlood mealViral cycleAedes aegypti mosquitoesSusceptible hostsAedes aegyptiMosquitoesHost
2019
Anopheles gambiae Lacking AgTRIO Inefficiently Transmits Plasmodium berghei to Mice
Chuang YM, Freudzon M, Yang J, Dong Y, Dimopoulos G, Fikrig E. Anopheles gambiae Lacking AgTRIO Inefficiently Transmits Plasmodium berghei to Mice. Infection And Immunity 2019, 87: 10.1128/iai.00326-19. PMID: 31285253, PMCID: PMC6704594, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00326-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBite siteControl mosquitoesMosquito salivary proteinsInfectivity of sporozoitesMosquito salivary glandsProinflammation cytokinesSporozoite infectionRNA interference-mediated silencingPlasmodium bergheiMiceSalivary glandsSporozoitesTNFExpression of genesMosquitoesSalivary proteinsBurdenExpressionVertebrate hostsSplenocytesCytokinesInfectionCell adhesionLiverBerghei
2018
Immunization with AgTRIO, a Protein in Anopheles Saliva, Contributes to Protection against Plasmodium Infection in Mice
Dragovic SM, Agunbiade TA, Freudzon M, Yang J, Hastings AK, Schleicher TR, Zhou X, Craft S, Chuang YM, Gonzalez F, Li Y, Hrebikova G, Tripathi A, Mlambo G, Almeras L, Ploss A, Dimopoulos G, Fikrig E. Immunization with AgTRIO, a Protein in Anopheles Saliva, Contributes to Protection against Plasmodium Infection in Mice. Cell Host & Microbe 2018, 23: 523-535.e5. PMID: 29649443, PMCID: PMC5998332, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.03.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPlasmodium infectionBerghei infectionMosquito salivary gland antigensPlasmodium berghei infectionPlasmodium circumsporozoite proteinSalivary gland antigensAnopheles salivaHumanized miceActive immunizationLiver burdenVaccine candidatesInfected mosquitoesCircumsporozoite proteinHost responseMurine dermisInfectionPlasmodium falciparumMiceSalivary glandsSaliva componentsImmunizationAnopheline mosquitoesMalariaAntiserumAntibodies
2015
Ixodes scapularis dystroglycan-like protein promotes Borrelia burgdorferi migration from the gut
Coumou J, Narasimhan S, Trentelman JJ, Wagemakers A, Koetsveld J, Ersoz JI, Oei A, Fikrig E, Hovius JW. Ixodes scapularis dystroglycan-like protein promotes Borrelia burgdorferi migration from the gut. Journal Of Molecular Medicine 2015, 94: 361-370. PMID: 26594018, PMCID: PMC4803822, DOI: 10.1007/s00109-015-1365-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsB. burgdorferi transmissionTick gutLyme borreliosisTick feedingMurine modelVaccine targetsUninfected ticksRNA interferenceInfected ticksSalivary glandsBorrelia burgdorferiPotential targetGut tissueB. burgdorferiCausative agentIxodes ticksGutPrevious screeningTick proteinsGut cellsBurgdorferiMiceTicks resultsBorreliosisConfocal microscopy
2013
Anopheles gambiae Circumsporozoite Protein–Binding Protein Facilitates Plasmodium Infection of Mosquito Salivary Glands
Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhao YO, Li MW, Zhang L, Dragovic S, Abraham NM, Fikrig E. Anopheles gambiae Circumsporozoite Protein–Binding Protein Facilitates Plasmodium Infection of Mosquito Salivary Glands. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2013, 208: 1161-1169. PMID: 23801601, PMCID: PMC3762383, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit284.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMosquito salivary glandsCircumsporozoite proteinSalivary glandsPlasmodium organismsPlasmodium circumsporozoite proteinMosquito-borne diseasePlasmodium life cycleSubstantial morbidityPlasmodium infectionMosquito bitesFed bloodGut wallPlasmodium sporozoitesSalivary gland proteinsPlasmodium speciesParasite loadGlandBlood mealInfectionGland proteinsVertebrate hostsVivo bioassaySporozoitesInvasionProtein
2012
Ixodes scapularis JAK-STAT Pathway Regulates Tick Antimicrobial Peptides, Thereby Controlling the Agent of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis
Liu L, Dai J, Zhao YO, Narasimhan S, Yang Y, Zhang L, Fikrig E. Ixodes scapularis JAK-STAT Pathway Regulates Tick Antimicrobial Peptides, Thereby Controlling the Agent of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2012, 206: 1233-1241. PMID: 22859824, PMCID: PMC3448968, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis484.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsJAK-STAT pathwayTick salivary glandsA. phagocytophilum infectionAntimicrobial peptidesElectrophoretic mobility shift assaysPeptide-encoding genesMobility shift assaysPhagocytophilum infectionHuman granulocytic anaplasmosisGene familyTransducer activatorMammalian hostsRNA interferenceShift assaysTranscription pathwayGene expressionJAK-STATJanus kinaseGranulocytic anaplasmosisSalivary glandsPathwayGenesCritical roleAnaplasma phagocytophilumKey role
2011
Ixodes scapularis salivary gland protein P11 facilitates migration of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from the tick gut to salivary glands
Liu L, Narasimhan S, Dai J, Zhang L, Cheng G, Fikrig E. Ixodes scapularis salivary gland protein P11 facilitates migration of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from the tick gut to salivary glands. EMBO Reports 2011, 12: 1196-1203. PMID: 21921936, PMCID: PMC3207102, DOI: 10.1038/embor.2011.177.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2009
Inhibition of Neutrophil Function by Two Tick Salivary Proteins
Guo X, Booth CJ, Paley MA, Wang X, DePonte K, Fikrig E, Narasimhan S, Montgomery RR. Inhibition of Neutrophil Function by Two Tick Salivary Proteins. Infection And Immunity 2009, 77: 2320-2329. PMID: 19332533, PMCID: PMC2687334, DOI: 10.1128/iai.01507-08.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPolymorphonuclear leukocytesPMN functionNumber of PMNPMN integrinsPMN adherenceNeutrophil functionSpirochete burdenTick salivary proteinsTick salivaLyme diseaseTick attachmentSalivary glandsBorrelia burgdorferiTick feedingCausative agentReduced levelsInhibitory proteinSalivaBlood mealAntihemostatic activityInfectionInhibitionSalivary proteinsHematophagous arthropodsTick Ixodes scapularis
2006
An Ixodes scapularis protein required for survival of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in tick salivary glands
Sukumaran B, Narasimhan S, Anderson JF, DePonte K, Marcantonio N, Krishnan MN, Fish D, Telford SR, Kantor FS, Fikrig E. An Ixodes scapularis protein required for survival of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in tick salivary glands. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2006, 203: 1507-1517. PMID: 16717118, PMCID: PMC2118316, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20060208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsA. phagocytophilum-infected miceRNA interference-mediated silencingA. phagocytophilumTick salivary proteinsI. scapularis salivary glandsRickettsia-like pathogensTick salivary glandsMammalian hostsGenus RickettsiaAnaplasma phagocytophilumGene expressionSalivary glandsIntracellular organismsArthropodsSalivary proteinsPathogensProteinPhagocytophilumExpressionTicksHuman anaplasmosisSilencingGenesOrganismsAnaplasma
2004
Disruption of Ixodes scapularis anticoagulation by using RNA interference
Narasimhan S, Montgomery RR, DePonte K, Tschudi C, Marcantonio N, Anderson JF, Sauer JR, Cappello M, Kantor FS, Fikrig E. Disruption of Ixodes scapularis anticoagulation by using RNA interference. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2004, 101: 1141-1146. PMID: 14745044, PMCID: PMC337020, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307669100.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-factor Xa activityNumerous infectious diseasesIxodes scapularis ticksRNA interferenceMultiple anticoagulantsReduction of mRNAXa activityVaccine candidatesInfectious diseasesTick salivaAnticoagulantsBabesia microtiPhysiologic functionI. scapularis salivaSalivary glandsBorrelia burgdorferiTick feedingScapularis ticksAnticoagulant activityAnaplasma phagocytophilumTick engorgementSuch interventionsEngorgement weightEngorgementKey targetOspC facilitates Borrelia burgdorferi invasion of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands
Pal U, Yang X, Chen M, Bockenstedt LK, Anderson JF, Flavell RA, Norgard MV, Fikrig E. OspC facilitates Borrelia burgdorferi invasion of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2004, 113: 220-230. PMID: 14722614, PMCID: PMC311436, DOI: 10.1172/jci19894.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActinsAnimalsAntigens, BacterialBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBorrelia burgdorferiDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayGenetic VectorsImmunoglobulin Fab FragmentsIxodesLipoproteinsLyme DiseaseMiceMice, SCIDMicroscopy, ConfocalModels, GeneticPlasmidsRecombinant ProteinsReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionSalivary GlandsSpirochaetalesTime FactorsUp-RegulationConceptsTick salivary glandsWild-type B. burgdorferiArthropod vectorsWild-type spirochetesTransmission of spirochetesB. burgdorferiMajor surface lipoproteinMammalian hostsGene expressionSalivary glandsOspC geneSurface lipoproteinsSalivary gland colonizationInfectious cloneOuter surface protein CGland colonizationSurface protein CTick gutMutantsOspCUnfed ticksInvasionCritical stepBorrelia burgdorferiSpirochetes
2002
Differential Expression of the p44 Gene Family in the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis
IJdo JW, Wu C, Telford SR, Fikrig E. Differential Expression of the p44 Gene Family in the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis. Infection And Immunity 2002, 70: 5295-5298. PMID: 12183586, PMCID: PMC128253, DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.9.5295-5298.2002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsP44 geneDifferential expressionHuman granulocytic ehrlichiosisGene familyAntigenic variationHGE bacteriaTransmission feedingGranulocytic ehrlichiosisGenesHypervariable regionInfected C3H miceP44 expressionTick transmissionExpressionSCID miceC3H miceHGE infectionMurine modelInfected ticksSalivary glandsNymphal ticksMiceTicksEhrlichiosisBacteria
1999
Influence of Outer Surface Protein A Antibody onBorrelia burgdorferi within Feeding Ticks
de Silva A, Zeidner N, Zhang Y, Dolan M, Piesman J, Fikrig E. Influence of Outer Surface Protein A Antibody onBorrelia burgdorferi within Feeding Ticks. Infection And Immunity 1999, 67: 30-35. PMID: 9864192, PMCID: PMC96273, DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.1.30-35.1999.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntibody levelsSalivary glandsAntibody titersOspA antibodiesBorrelia burgdorferiLow antibody levelsNumber of spirochetesDensity of spirochetesEnzyme-linked immunosorbentFeeding ticksSurface protein AAbility of spirochetesOuter surface protein AProtective epitopesCompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbentOuter surface proteinsSpirochetal agentLyme diseaseAntibodiesB. burgdorferiTitersIxodes ticksGlandBurgdorferiSpirochetes
1996
Borrelia burgdorferi OspA is an arthropod-specific transmission-blocking Lyme disease vaccine.
de Silva AM, Telford SR, Brunet LR, Barthold SW, Fikrig E. Borrelia burgdorferi OspA is an arthropod-specific transmission-blocking Lyme disease vaccine. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 1996, 183: 271-275. PMID: 8551231, PMCID: PMC2192397, DOI: 10.1084/jem.183.1.271.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibodies, BacterialAntigens, BacterialAntigens, SurfaceArachnid VectorsBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBacterial VaccinesBorrelia burgdorferi GroupDigestive SystemFluorescent Antibody TechniqueImmunotherapy, AdoptiveIxodesLipoproteinsLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C3HSalivary GlandsConceptsOspA antibodiesTick attachmentUnfed nymphal ticksLyme disease vaccineB. burgdorferi infectionBlood mealMechanism of protectionTick blood mealSpirochete infectionBurgdorferi infectionDisease vaccineGland invasionExpression of OspAOuter surface proteinsSpirochetal agentLyme diseaseMiceSalivary gland invasionAntibodiesSalivary glandsBorrelia burgdorferiIxodes ticksOspA expressionTick gutVaccine
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