2024
Salp14 epitope-based mRNA vaccination induces early recognition of a tick bite
Cui Y, Cibichakravarthy B, Tang X, Alameh M, Dwivedi G, Weissman D, Fikrig E. Salp14 epitope-based mRNA vaccination induces early recognition of a tick bite. Vaccine 2024, 42: 126304. PMID: 39236403, PMCID: PMC11416896, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126304.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTick bite siteGuinea pigsMRNA-LNPMRNA vaccinesBite siteImmunized guinea pigsTiters of IgGIxodes scapularis ticksDevelopment of erythemaLipid nanoparticlesSkin of guinea pigsI. scapularisTicksErythemaHistamine activityPigsTick bitesCarboxyl terminusRepeated exposureExposure of animalsAmino acidsSalivary proteinsVaccineMRNAGuineaVaccination to Prevent Lyme Disease: A Movement Towards Anti-Tick Approaches
Johnson E, Hart T, Fikrig E. Vaccination to Prevent Lyme Disease: A Movement Towards Anti-Tick Approaches. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2024, 230: s82-s86. PMID: 39140718, PMCID: PMC11322886, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransmission of tick-borne pathogensTick-borne pathogensIxodes spp ticksInhibited tick feedingTick feedingDisease vaccineTick vectorWildlife reservoirsOuter surface protein ALyme disease vaccineLyme diseaseTicksBorrelia burgdorferiLyme disease casesPreventing Lyme diseasePathogensFood and Drug AdministrationSurface protein AOspA-based vaccinesVaccineFeedingLymeProtein AFoodPrevent transmission
2023
A ticking time bomb hidden in plain sight
Narasimhan S, Fish D, Pedra J, Pal U, Fikrig E. A ticking time bomb hidden in plain sight. Science Translational Medicine 2023, 15: eadi7829. PMID: 37851823, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi7829.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsDevelopment of an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine against Lyme disease
Pine M, Arora G, Hart T, Bettini E, Gaudette B, Muramatsu H, Tombácz I, Kambayashi T, Tam Y, Brisson D, Allman D, Locci M, Weissman D, Fikrig E, Pardi N. Development of an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine against Lyme disease. Molecular Therapy 2023, 31: 2702-2714. PMID: 37533256, PMCID: PMC10492027, DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.07.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme diseaseImmune responseCell-mediated immune responsesLyme disease vaccinePotent immune responsesProtein subunit vaccinesSARS-CoV-2Surface protein AVector-borne infectious diseasesMRNA-LNP vaccineOuter surface protein ASingle immunizationProtective efficacyMRNA vaccinesClinical vaccinesDisease vaccineNanoparticle vaccineSubunit vaccineVaccine developmentVaccineBacterial infectionsMRNA-LNPInfectious diseasesDiseaseMRNA platformA mosquito AgTRIO mRNA vaccine contributes to immunity against malaria
Chuang Y, Alameh M, Abouneameh S, Raduwan H, Ledizet M, Weissman D, Fikrig E. A mosquito AgTRIO mRNA vaccine contributes to immunity against malaria. Npj Vaccines 2023, 8: 88. PMID: 37286568, PMCID: PMC10244833, DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00679-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHumoral responseFuture malaria vaccinesMosquito saliva proteinsRobust humoral responseImmunization of miceVector antigensIsotype antibodiesIgG titersImmunized miceMalaria vaccinePassive immunizationIgG2a isotypesMRNA vaccinesPlasmodium infectionMosquito bitesMRNA lipid nanoparticlesVaccineMRNA-LNPPlasmodium sporozoitesMalariaMiceImmunizationSaliva proteinsPotential usefulnessVertebrate hostsMosquito Salivary Proteins and Arbovirus Infection: From Viral Enhancers to Potential Targets for Vaccines
Marín-López A, Raduwan H, Chen T, Utrilla-Trigo S, Wolfhard D, Fikrig E. Mosquito Salivary Proteins and Arbovirus Infection: From Viral Enhancers to Potential Targets for Vaccines. Pathogens 2023, 12: 371. PMID: 36986293, PMCID: PMC10054260, DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030371.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMosquito salivary proteinsImmune responseImportant public health challengeAdaptive immune responsesHost immune responsePublic health challengeNon-endemic areasSalivary proteinsSerious complicationsLicensed vaccineNeurological alterationsMosquito salivaClinical signsMosquito bitesHemorrhagic feverInfection outcomesRapid onsetArbovirus infectionExplosive outbreaksHealth challengesVaccineDifferent arbovirusesArboviral diseasesArthropod salivaPotential target
2021
mRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent
Sajid A, Matias J, Arora G, Kurokawa C, DePonte K, Tang X, Lynn G, Wu MJ, Pal U, Strank NO, Pardi N, Narasimhan S, Weissman D, Fikrig E. mRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent. Science Translational Medicine 2021, 13: eabj9827. PMID: 34788080, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj9827.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick-borne infectionsTick-borne infectious diseaseEngorgement weightDisease agentsTicksTick exposureLyme disease agentGuinea pigsTick biteNormal blood mealBlood mealNucleoside-modified mRNALyme diseasePigsLocal rednessMRNA vaccinationMRNA vaccinesBite siteSalivary proteinsPrevents transmissionInfectious diseasesDiseaseVaccineResistanceEffective inductionA Mosquito AgTRIO Monoclonal Antibody Reduces Early Plasmodium Infection of Mice
Chuang YM, Tang XD, Fikrig E. A Mosquito AgTRIO Monoclonal Antibody Reduces Early Plasmodium Infection of Mice. Infection And Immunity 2021, 90: e00359-21. PMID: 34724388, PMCID: PMC8788779, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00359-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMonoclonal antibodiesFuture malaria vaccinesInfection of miceIsotype monoclonal antibodyVector antigensProtective immunityPassive immunizationMalaria vaccinePlasmodium infectionPassive transferProtein monoclonal antibodySignificant protectionSynergistic protectionMiceInfectionAntibodiesFc regionAntiserumVertebrate hostsProtein TrioImmunizationVaccineMalariaAntigenImmunityProbing an Ixodes ricinus salivary gland yeast surface display with tick-exposed human sera to identify novel candidates for an anti-tick vaccine
Trentelman JJA, Tomás-Cortázar J, Knorr S, Barriales D, Hajdusek O, Sima R, Ersoz JI, Narasimhan S, Fikrig E, Nijhof AM, Anguita J, Hovius JW. Probing an Ixodes ricinus salivary gland yeast surface display with tick-exposed human sera to identify novel candidates for an anti-tick vaccine. Scientific Reports 2021, 11: 15745. PMID: 34344917, PMCID: PMC8333314, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92538-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick salivary gland proteinsLyme borreliosisVaccination studiesTick biteTick-borne encephalitis virusB. burgdorferi transmissionMultiple tick bitesYeast surface display libraryHuman infectious diseasesImmunization of rabbitsVaccination platformAnti-tick effectsAnti-tick vaccinesEncephalitis virusImmunodominant antigensInfectious diseasesNon-natural hostsTick immunityTick feedingImmunityBorreliosisBiteVaccineAntigenHuman serum
2020
Fractionation of tick saliva reveals proteins associated with the development of acquired resistance to Ixodes scapularis
Černý J, Lynn G, DePonte K, Ledizet M, Narasimhan S, Fikrig E. Fractionation of tick saliva reveals proteins associated with the development of acquired resistance to Ixodes scapularis. Vaccine 2020, 38: 8121-8129. PMID: 33168347, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.10.087.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick-borne pathogensTick immunityTick salivaTick vaccinesMultiple tick-borne pathogensIxodes scapularisGuinea pig modelTick salivary antigensTick rejectionTick Ixodes scapularisPig modelTick feedingNortheast USASalivary antigensGlobal medical problemDevelopment of vaccinesTicksMain vectorPathogensSaliva fractionsScapularisMedical problemsImmunityVaccineSalivaTRiC/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
Protective Immunity and New Vaccines for Lyme Disease
Gomes-Solecki M, Arnaboldi PM, Backenson PB, Benach JL, Cooper CL, Dattwyler RJ, Diuk-Wasser M, Fikrig E, Hovius JW, Laegreid W, Lundberg U, Marconi RT, Marques AR, Molloy P, Narasimhan S, Pal U, Pedra JHF, Plotkin S, Rock DL, Rosa P, Telford SR, Tsao J, Yang XF, Schutzer SE. Protective Immunity and New Vaccines for Lyme Disease. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2019, 70: 1768-1773. PMID: 31620776, PMCID: PMC7155782, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz872.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme diseaseCommon tick-borne illnessTick-borne illnessB. burgdorferi infectionBorrelia burgdorferi sensu latoMechanism of actionDirect vaccinationB. burgdorferi proteinsProtective immunityBurgdorferi sensu latoVaccination strategiesBurgdorferi infectionFirst vaccineImmune pathwaysNew vaccinesNumber of casesTick immunityDiseaseVaccineB. burgdorferiHuman hostTick proteinsInfectionImmunityPathogen transmission
2018
A potent prolyl tRNA synthetase inhibitor antagonizes Chikungunya and Dengue viruses
Hwang J, Jiang A, Fikrig E. A potent prolyl tRNA synthetase inhibitor antagonizes Chikungunya and Dengue viruses. Antiviral Research 2018, 161: 163-168. PMID: 30521835, PMCID: PMC6345585, DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.11.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDengue virusSignificant morbiditySafe vaccineSynthetase inhibitionEndemic areasSynthetase inhibitorFlavivirus genusMosquito-bornePotent antagonistHost factorsGroup of pathogensVirusMultiple virusesChikungunyaHematophagous arthropod vectorsAedes sppArthropod vectorsEpidemic pathogensAdditional approachesMorbidityPathogensVaccineAntagonistMortalityHuman populationAltered vector competence in an experimental mosquito-mouse transmission model of Zika infection
Uraki R, Hastings AK, Gloria-Soria A, Powell JR, Fikrig E. Altered vector competence in an experimental mosquito-mouse transmission model of Zika infection. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2018, 12: e0006350. PMID: 29505571, PMCID: PMC5854422, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006350.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZIKV transmissionZika virus infectionNatural transmission routeInfected miceZIKV infectionZika infectionTesting vaccinesVirus infectionIntrathoracic injectionAnimal modelsZIKVInfectionMiceTransmission routesBlood mealVector competenceVector competencyMosquitoesTransmission modelVertebrate hostsMosquito modelPathogenesisVaccine
2015
Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein
Londono-Renteria B, Troupin A, Conway MJ, Vesely D, Ledizet M, Roundy CM, Cloherty E, Jameson S, Vanlandingham D, Higgs S, Fikrig E, Colpitts TM. Dengue Virus Infection of Aedes aegypti Requires a Putative Cysteine Rich Venom Protein. PLOS Pathogens 2015, 11: e1005202. PMID: 26491875, PMCID: PMC4619585, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDENV infectionVirus infectionDengue virusCysteine-rich venom proteinsSpecific antiviral therapyDengue virus infectionMosquito-borne flavivirusAedes aegypti cellsAntiviral therapyFlavivirus infectionMultiple flavivirusesTherapeutic measuresNew treatmentsAedes aegyptiInfectionGene targetsSerious human diseasesAegypti cellsMosquito vectorsVaccineVenom proteinsFlavivirusesHuman diseasesMosquitoesAntiserum inhibits
2011
Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Binds Core Histones and Inhibits Nucleosome Formation in Human Liver Cells
Colpitts TM, Barthel S, Wang P, Fikrig E. Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Binds Core Histones and Inhibits Nucleosome Formation in Human Liver Cells. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e24365. PMID: 21909430, PMCID: PMC3164731, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024365.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDENV infectionDENV CHuman liver cellsDengue virusLiver cellsDengue virus infectionTime-dependent mannerSpecific antiviralsVirus infectionInfectionAlters levelsSerious human diseasesInteresting new roleViral RNANuclear presenceMature virus particlesVirus particlesHuman diseasesFlaviviral replicationCellsCellular responsesCapsid proteinStructural proteinsVaccine
2010
Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future
Schuijt TJ, Hovius JW, van der Poll T, van Dam AP, Fikrig E. Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future. Trends In Parasitology 2010, 27: 40-47. PMID: 20594913, DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.06.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato groupPrevalent arthropod-borne diseaseAnti-tick vaccinesLyme borreliosisArthropod-borne diseaseSensu lato groupTick proteinsTick vectorIxodes ticksNovel vaccination strategiesTicksMammalian hostsVaccination strategiesLyme diseaseVaccine candidatesBorreliosisBorrelia antigensVaccineAntigenDiseaseBorreliaOuter membrane proteinsWestern worldFuture candidatesSpirochetes
2008
A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells
Bonafé N, Rininger JA, Chubet RG, Foellmer HG, Fader S, Anderson JF, Bushmich SL, Anthony K, Ledizet M, Fikrig E, Koski RA, Kaplan P. A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells. Vaccine 2008, 27: 213-222. PMID: 18996430, PMCID: PMC2651515, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.10.046.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine candidatesClinical adverse effectsProtein vaccine candidateRecombinant vaccine candidateWNV vaccineAntibody titersHumoral immunityProtective efficacySafe vaccineWNV infectionChallenge modelVaccine antigensAnimal modelsViral protectionHigh dosesProtein antigensAdverse effectsImmunogenicitySerum-free cultureAntigenCell linesNaïve foalsVaccineAluminum hydroxideInfection
2005
The Lyme disease agent exploits a tick protein to infect the mammalian host
Ramamoorthi N, Narasimhan S, Pal U, Bao F, Yang XF, Fish D, Anguita J, Norgard MV, Kantor FS, Anderson JF, Koski RA, Fikrig E. The Lyme disease agent exploits a tick protein to infect the mammalian host. Nature 2005, 436: 573-577. PMID: 16049492, PMCID: PMC4306560, DOI: 10.1038/nature03812.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2004
Immunity to West Nile virus
Wang T, Fikrig E. Immunity to West Nile virus. Current Opinion In Immunology 2004, 16: 519-523. PMID: 15245749, DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2004.05.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWN virus infectionWest Nile virusVirus infectionImportant public health concernWN virusNile virusPublic health concernActive immunizationPassive transferEffective vaccineT cellsMurine susceptibilityHealth concernExperimental modelEnvelope proteinVirusInfectionImmunityRecent studiesImmunotherapyImmunizationPathogenesisTherapyVaccine