2021
The Lyme Disease agent co-opts adiponectin receptor-mediated signaling in its arthropod vector
Tang X, Cao Y, Arora G, Hwang J, Sajid A, Brown CL, Mehta S, Marín-López A, Chuang YM, Wu MJ, Ma H, Pal U, Narasimhan S, Fikrig E. The Lyme Disease agent co-opts adiponectin receptor-mediated signaling in its arthropod vector. ELife 2021, 10: e72568. PMID: 34783654, PMCID: PMC8639152, DOI: 10.7554/elife.72568.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsReceptor-mediated signalingAdiponectin receptorsAdiponectinLyme disease agentLyme disease spirochetePhospholipid metabolismPhosphatidylserine synthase ITick gutReceptor-like proteinMammalian homeostasisArthropod vectorsDisease agentsRNAi assaysRNA interferenceAlternative pathwaySynthase IPathwayMetabolic pathwaysTicksInfection
2020
Ixodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance
Narasimhan S, Kurokawa C, Diktas H, Strank NO, Černý J, Murfin K, Cao Y, Lynn G, Trentleman J, Wu MJ, DePonte K, Kantor F, Anguita J, Hovius J, Fikrig E. Ixodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2020, 11: 101369. PMID: 31924502, PMCID: PMC7382422, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick-borne diseasesSalivary antigensAnti-tick vaccine candidatesIxodes scapularisTick salivary antigensTransmission of pathogensTick infestationTick rejectionTick proteinsViable vaccine targetsTick feedingPathogen transmissionRise worldTicksHost immune responseUrgent public health needScapularisMammalian hostsPathogensPublic health needsVaccine candidatesImmune responseSalivary glycoproteinsFeedingVaccine targeting
2019
Borrelia burgdorferi chemotaxis toward tick protein Salp12 contributes to acquisition
Murfin KE, Kleinbard R, Aydin M, Salazar SA, Fikrig E. Borrelia burgdorferi chemotaxis toward tick protein Salp12 contributes to acquisition. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2019, 10: 1124-1134. PMID: 31204044, PMCID: PMC7792743, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.002.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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 ResearchConceptsTerminal 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
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
2014
A Tick Gut Protein with Fibronectin III Domains Aids Borrelia burgdorferi Congregation to the Gut during Transmission
Narasimhan S, Coumou J, Schuijt TJ, Boder E, Hovius JW, Fikrig E. A Tick Gut Protein with Fibronectin III Domains Aids Borrelia burgdorferi Congregation to the Gut during Transmission. PLOS Pathogens 2014, 10: e1004278. PMID: 25102051, PMCID: PMC4125277, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004278.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
Characterization of Ixophilin, A Thrombin Inhibitor from the Gut of Ixodes scapularis
Narasimhan S, Perez O, Mootien S, DePonte K, Koski RA, Fikrig E, Ledizet M. Characterization of Ixophilin, A Thrombin Inhibitor from the Gut of Ixodes scapularis. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e68012. PMID: 23874485, PMCID: PMC3706618, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick gutBlood mealVertebrate hostsTick gut proteinsPathogen transmissionBorrelia burgdorferi transmissionAnticoagulation strategiesThrombin inhibitory activityHemostatic mechanismThrombin inhibitorsMammalian coagulationIxodes scapularisMammalian hostsTick salivaLyme diseaseKey enzymeGut proteinsBorrelia burgdorferiTick feedingHost bloodHours of feedingGutFunctional suiteTick proteinsHuman pathogensFactor Xa Activation of Factor V Is of Paramount Importance in Initiating the Coagulation System
Schuijt TJ, Bakhtiari K, Daffre S, DePonte K, Wielders SJ, Marquart JA, Hovius JW, van der Poll T, Fikrig E, Bunce MW, Camire RM, Nicolaes GA, Meijers JC, van ‘t Veer C. Factor Xa Activation of Factor V Is of Paramount Importance in Initiating the Coagulation System. Circulation 2013, 128: 254-266. PMID: 23817575, PMCID: PMC3826089, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.113.003191.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnticoagulantsArthropod ProteinsBlood CoagulationBlood Coagulation TestsDose-Response Relationship, DrugFactor VFactor XaFactor Xa InhibitorsFeeding BehaviorFibrinogenHumansIxodesMutagenesisProtein Structure, TertiaryRabbitsRecombinant ProteinsSalivary Proteins and PeptidesSurface Plasmon ResonanceThrombin
2012
Immunization with adenoviral-vectored tick salivary gland proteins (SALPs) in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis
Ullmann AJ, Dolan MC, Sackal CA, Fikrig E, Piesman J, Zeidner NS. Immunization with adenoviral-vectored tick salivary gland proteins (SALPs) in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2012, 4: 160-163. PMID: 23141105, PMCID: PMC4306421, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.08.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenoviridaeAnimalsArthropod ProteinsHeartIxodesLyme DiseaseMiceSalivary Proteins and PeptidesTick InfestationsUrinary BladderVaccinesConceptsTick salivary proteinsBorrelia burgdorferi infectionSalivary proteinsTick salivary gland proteinsSalivary gland proteinsTh1 responseImmunized miceSpecific immunityBurgdorferi infectionMurine modelSpirochete loadLyme borreliosisPrior exposureAdenovirus expression systemAdenoviral vectorTick challengeVaccinationMammalian hostsIxodes scapularisVertebrate hosts