2020
Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes.
Pal U, Kitsou C, Drecktrah D, Yaş ÖB, Fikrig E. Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Current Issues In Molecular Biology 2020, 42: 113-144. PMID: 33289683, PMCID: PMC8045411, DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.113.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsArachnid VectorsBorrelia burgdorferiHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansIxodesLife Cycle StagesLyme DiseaseNorthwestern United StatesTicksConceptsComplex enzootic life cycleEnzootic life cycleMammalian reservoir hostsMolecular interactionsLife cycleDiscrete molecular interactionsVariety of animalsRelated ticksVertebrate hostsLyme disease spirocheteArthropod vectorsSensu latoPathogen persistenceWild rodentsBacterial pathogensReservoir hostsCritical roleTick-transmitted infectionsMain vectorNortheastern United StatesPast discoveriesHostTicksArthropodsSpirochetesEpigenetic Regulation of Tick Biology and Vectorial Capacity
De S, Kitsou C, Sonenshine DE, Pedra JHF, Fikrig E, Kassis JA, Pal U. Epigenetic Regulation of Tick Biology and Vectorial Capacity. Trends In Genetics 2020, 37: 8-11. PMID: 33020021, PMCID: PMC8008791, DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.09.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsArthropod VectorsDisease Transmission, InfectiousEpigenesis, GeneticHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansTick-Borne DiseasesTicksTRiC/CCT Complex, a Binding Partner of NS1 Protein, Supports the Replication of Zika Virus in Both Mammalians and Mosquitoes
Wang Y, Uraki R, Hwang J, Fikrig E. TRiC/CCT Complex, a Binding Partner of NS1 Protein, Supports the Replication of Zika Virus in Both Mammalians and Mosquitoes. Viruses 2020, 12: 519. PMID: 32397176, PMCID: PMC7290343, DOI: 10.3390/v12050519.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZika virusZIKV replicationZIKV NS1 proteinGuillain-Barré syndromeNS1 proteinTRiC/CCT complexPromising therapeutic targetZIKV infectionCongenital microcephalySpecific treatmentTherapeutic targetHost factorsVirusMosquitoesSyndromeVaccineSymptomsInfectionMicrocephalyProteinReplicationImportant role
2019
Inhibition of Chikungunya Virus Replication in Primary Human Fibroblasts by Liver X Receptor Agonist
Hwang J, Wang Y, Fikrig E. Inhibition of Chikungunya Virus Replication in Primary Human Fibroblasts by Liver X Receptor Agonist. Antimicrobial Agents And Chemotherapy 2019, 63: 10.1128/aac.01220-19. PMID: 31307983, PMCID: PMC6709483, DOI: 10.1128/aac.01220-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntiviral AgentsApolipoproteins EATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1Chikungunya virusCholesterolFibroblastsGene Expression RegulationHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansIndazolesInterferonsLiver X ReceptorsPrimary Cell CultureRNA, Small InterferingSignal TransductionVirus ReplicationConceptsChikungunya virusLiver X receptor agonistMosquito-borne chikungunya virusX receptor agonistLiver X receptorChikungunya Virus ReplicationLXR-623Acute painJoint inflammationReceptor agonistCHIKV replicationPharmacological activationSynthetic agonistsAntiviral stateVirus replicationX receptorLarge epidemicsHost factorsAgonistsPrimary human fibroblastsVirusHuman fibroblastsPainInflammationGeographic areas
2017
Modulation of the tick gut milieu by a secreted tick protein favors Borrelia burgdorferi colonization
Narasimhan S, Schuijt TJ, Abraham NM, Rajeevan N, Coumou J, Graham M, Robson A, Wu MJ, Daffre S, Hovius JW, Fikrig E. Modulation of the tick gut milieu by a secreted tick protein favors Borrelia burgdorferi colonization. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 184. PMID: 28775250, PMCID: PMC5543126, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00208-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsB. burgdorferi colonizationTick gutImmune responseRNA interference-mediated silencingGut microbiomeLyme disease agentBorrelia burgdorferiB. burgdorferiGutTick proteinsVivo resultsBurgdorferiPixRAbrogationTick Ixodes scapularisArthropod vectorsDisease agentsGut proteinsIxodes scapularisAlterationsGut genesMicrobiomeTick biologyMiceBacterial biofilm formationTick Bioactive Molecules as Novel Therapeutics: Beyond Vaccine Targets
Murfin KE, Fikrig E. Tick Bioactive Molecules as Novel Therapeutics: Beyond Vaccine Targets. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2017, 7: 222. PMID: 28634573, PMCID: PMC5459892, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00222.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPathogen-mediated manipulation of arthropod microbiota to promote infection
Abraham NM, Liu L, Jutras BL, Yadav AK, Narasimhan S, Gopalakrishnan V, Ansari JM, Jefferson KK, Cava F, Jacobs-Wagner C, Fikrig E. Pathogen-mediated manipulation of arthropod microbiota to promote infection. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: e781-e790. PMID: 28096373, PMCID: PMC5293115, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613422114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnaplasma phagocytophilumAnimalsAntifreeze ProteinsArthropod ProteinsEhrlichiosisGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHost-Pathogen InteractionsIxodesMicePeptidoglycanConceptsTerminal D-alanine residueHuman pathogensPathogen-mediated manipulationNumerous human pathogensCapacity of bacteriaWay microbesArthropod microbiotaD-alanine residuesA. phagocytophilumAntibacterial proteinsPeritrophic matrixBacterial biofilm formationGut microbiotaMolecular mechanismsBacterial peptidoglycanPentapeptide chainBiofilm formationIAFGPIxodes scapularis ticksDiverse infectious agentsHuman granulocytic anaplasmosisMicrobiotaProteinAntifreeze glycoproteinsAnaplasma phagocytophilum
2015
Increased Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins Result in Resistance to R5-Tropic HIV-1 in a Subset of Elite Controllers
Walker WE, Kurscheid S, Joshi S, Lopez CA, Goh G, Choi M, Barakat L, Francis J, Fisher A, Kozal M, Zapata H, Shaw A, Lifton R, Sutton RE, Fikrig E. Increased Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins Result in Resistance to R5-Tropic HIV-1 in a Subset of Elite Controllers. Journal Of Virology 2015, 89: 5502-5514. PMID: 25740989, PMCID: PMC4442529, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00118-15.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesChemokine CCL3Chemokine CCL4Chemokine CCL5Chemokines, CCCohort StudiesFemaleGene DosageHIV InfectionsHIV Long-Term SurvivorsHIV-1Host-Pathogen InteractionsHumansMacrophage Inflammatory ProteinsMaleMiddle AgedReceptors, CCR5Receptors, CXCR4RNA, MessengerUp-RegulationConceptsElite controllersHIV-seropositive individualsAntiretroviral therapyT cellsMIP-1βMIP-1αHIV infectionSeropositive individualsAbsence of ARTR5-tropic HIV-1Macrophage inflammatory protein-1αR5-tropic HIVInflammatory protein-1αT cell resistancePandemic health problemRANTES chemokinesHIV replicationRare patientsHealthy controlsTherapeutic effectHIV entryHIV-1X4-tropicHealth problemsProtein-1α
2014
Gut Microbiota of the Tick Vector Ixodes scapularis Modulate Colonization of the Lyme Disease Spirochete
Narasimhan S, Rajeevan N, Liu L, Zhao YO, Heisig J, Pan J, Eppler-Epstein R, DePonte K, Fish D, Fikrig E. Gut Microbiota of the Tick Vector Ixodes scapularis Modulate Colonization of the Lyme Disease Spirochete. Cell Host & Microbe 2014, 15: 58-71. PMID: 24439898, PMCID: PMC3905459, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.12.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeritrophic matrixTranscription factor signal transducerPathogen colonizationLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiActivator of transcriptionGut microbiotaArthropod gutsSignal transducerLyme disease spirocheteFunctional linkArthropod vectorsMajor vectorKey glycoproteinsHuman pathogensSpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiGut epitheliumIxodes scapularis ticksColonizationGut epithelial barrierMicrobiotaExpressionGut lumenScapularis ticksBorrelia burgdorferiEpithelial barrier
2013
ELF4 is critical for induction of type I interferon and the host antiviral response
You F, Wang P, Yang L, Yang G, Zhao YO, Qian F, Walker W, Sutton R, Montgomery R, Lin R, Iwasaki A, Fikrig E. ELF4 is critical for induction of type I interferon and the host antiviral response. Nature Immunology 2013, 14: 1237-1246. PMID: 24185615, PMCID: PMC3939855, DOI: 10.1038/ni.2756.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell LineCells, CulturedDNA-Binding ProteinsHEK293 CellsHeLa CellsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansImmunoblottingInterferon Regulatory Factor-3Interferon Regulatory Factor-7Interferon-betaMembrane ProteinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMicroscopy, ConfocalProtein BindingReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA InterferenceSignal TransductionSurvival AnalysisTranscription FactorsTranscriptional ActivationWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusThe lipoprotein La7 contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi persistence in ticks and their transmission to naïve hosts
Yang X, Hegde S, Shroder DY, Smith AA, Promnares K, Neelakanta G, Anderson JF, Fikrig E, Pal U. The lipoprotein La7 contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi persistence in ticks and their transmission to naïve hosts. Microbes And Infection 2013, 15: 729-737. PMID: 23774694, PMCID: PMC3769513, DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComplex enzootic cycleInner membrane proteinB. burgdorferi persistenceProtein-protein interactionsOuter membrane lipoproteinNaïve hostsSpirochete life cycleCo-immunoprecipitation studiesMammalian infectivityMembrane proteinsRedundant rolesMolecular detailsMammalian hostsMembrane lipoproteinGene expressionWild typeInfection cycleLiquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysisPathogen survivalBiological significanceHost transmissionEnzootic cyclePathogen transmissionSpectrometry analysisLA7
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 diseasesWest Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection
Colpitts TM, Conway MJ, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E. West Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 2012, 25: 635-648. PMID: 23034323, PMCID: PMC3485754, DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00045-12.Peer-Reviewed Original Research