2021
Immunomodulation by Mosquito Salivary Protein AgSAP Contributes to Early Host Infection by Plasmodium
Arora G, Sajid A, Chuang YM, Dong Y, Gupta A, Gambardella K, DePonte K, Almeras L, Dimopolous G, Fikrig E. Immunomodulation by Mosquito Salivary Protein AgSAP Contributes to Early Host Infection by Plasmodium. MBio 2021, 12: e03091-21. PMID: 34903042, PMCID: PMC8669493, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03091-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLocal inflammatory responsePlasmodium berghei sporozoitesSalivary antigensInflammatory responseBerghei sporozoitesPlasmodium falciparumMosquito salivary proteinsPrevention of malariaLocal host responseAnopheline mosquitoesVertebrate hostsHost responseSaliva secretionVaccine developmentMalariaEpidemiological analysisGenerate antibodiesAntigenArthropod salivaDisease prevalenceInfectionSaliva componentsSporozoitesVector-borne diseasesDisease
2020
CXCL10 Signaling Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Arthritogenic Alphaviruses
Lin T, Geng T, Harrison AG, Yang D, Vella AT, Fikrig E, Wang P. CXCL10 Signaling Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Arthritogenic Alphaviruses. Viruses 2020, 12: 1252. PMID: 33147869, PMCID: PMC7692144, DOI: 10.3390/v12111252.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChikungunya virusAlphaviral arthritisArthritogenic alphavirusesLargest immune cell populationMacrophages/T cellsImmune cell populationsInflammatory immune responseLow viral loadWild-type miceO'nyong-nyong virusWild-type animalsRheumatic manifestationsImmune infiltratesViral loadT cellsImmune responseAlphaviral diseaseArthritic diseasesTherapeutic targetCXCL10PathogenesisViral RNACell populationsArthritisFootpadMacrophage scavenger receptor 1 controls Chikungunya virus infection through autophagy in mice
Yang L, Geng T, Yang G, Ma J, Wang L, Ketkar H, Yang D, Lin T, Hwang J, Zhu S, Wang Y, Dai J, You F, Cheng G, Vella AT, Flavell RA, Fikrig E, Wang P. Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 controls Chikungunya virus infection through autophagy in mice. Communications Biology 2020, 3: 556. PMID: 33033362, PMCID: PMC7545163, DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01285-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage scavenger receptor 1Scavenger receptor 1Chikungunya virusReceptor 1Antiviral roleType I IFN responseChikungunya virus infectionLow-density lipoproteinImportant antiviral roleI IFN responseMarkers of autophagyCHIKV infectionViral loadArthritogenic alphavirusesVirus infectionCHIKV replicationATG5-ATG12Antiviral actionKnockout miceMSR1 expressionIFN responseInfectionMiceNsp1 proteinAutophagic function
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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnophelesCytokinesDisease Models, AnimalImmunization, PassiveInsect ProteinsMalariaMiceMice, Inbred C57BLPlasmodium bergheiConceptsBite siteControl mosquitoesMosquito salivary proteinsInfectivity of sporozoitesMosquito salivary glandsProinflammation cytokinesSporozoite infectionRNA interference-mediated silencingPlasmodium bergheiMiceSalivary glandsSporozoitesTNFExpression of genesMosquitoesSalivary proteinsBurdenExpressionVertebrate hostsSplenocytesCytokinesInfectionCell adhesionLiverBergheiAedes aegypti NeSt1 Protein Enhances Zika Virus Pathogenesis by Activating Neutrophils
Hastings AK, Uraki R, Gaitsch H, Dhaliwal K, Stanley S, Sproch H, Williamson E, MacNeil T, Marin-Lopez A, Hwang J, Wang Y, Grover JR, Fikrig E. Aedes aegypti NeSt1 Protein Enhances Zika Virus Pathogenesis by Activating Neutrophils. Journal Of Virology 2019, 93: 10.1128/jvi.00395-19. PMID: 30971475, PMCID: PMC6580965, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00395-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVirus infectionBite siteMosquito salivaImmune cellsZika virusLocal immune environmentMosquito bite siteZika virus pathogenesisEarly viral replicationZika virus infectionFactor 1Pathogenesis of flavivirusesVirus-infected mosquitoesVirus-induced pathogenesisCXCL2 expressionImmune environmentPassive immunizationZIKV pathogenesisImmune microenvironmentAntibody responseZIKV replicationVirus pathogenesisMosquito bitesPrimary mouse neutrophilsImmune systemAedes aegypti AgBR1 antibodies modulate early Zika virus infection of mice
Uraki R, Hastings AK, Marin-Lopez A, Sumida T, Takahashi T, Grover JR, Iwasaki A, Hafler DA, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E. Aedes aegypti AgBR1 antibodies modulate early Zika virus infection of mice. Nature Microbiology 2019, 4: 948-955. PMID: 30858571, PMCID: PMC6533137, DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0385-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZika virus infectionVirus infectionZika virusAegypti salivary proteinsGuillain-Barre syndromeEarly inflammatory responseSkin of micePrevention of mosquitoInflammatory responseAedes aegypti mosquitoesTherapeutic measuresSalivary factorsSalivary proteinsMosquito-borneInfectionMiceSubstantial mortalityRecent epidemicProtein 1Aegypti mosquitoesAntigenic proteinsVirusAntibodiesMosquitoesAntiserumThe role of Mannose Binding Lectin in the immune response against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
Coumou J, Wagemakers A, Narasimhan S, Schuijt TJ, Ersoz JI, Oei A, de Boer OJ, Roelofs JJTH, Fikrig E, Hovius JW. The role of Mannose Binding Lectin in the immune response against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Scientific Reports 2019, 9: 1431. PMID: 30723261, PMCID: PMC6363739, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37922-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMannose-Binding LectinB. burgdorferiImmune responseComplement systemRole of MBLMBL-deficient miceWhole blood stimulationIgG serum antibodiesB. burgdorferi infectionB. burgdorferi numbersHost complement systemMechanism warrants further investigationSerum-sensitive isolatesBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato groupWarrants further investigationBorrelia burgdorferi sensu latoLater time pointsBinding lectinsSevere courseBlood stimulationDetectable antibodiesBurgdorferi sensu latoSerum antibodiesMBL deficiencyDeficient mice
2018
Host-specific expression of Ixodes scapularis salivary genes
Narasimhan S, Booth CJ, DePonte K, Wu MJ, Liang X, Mohanty S, Kantor F, Fikrig E. Host-specific expression of Ixodes scapularis salivary genes. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2018, 10: 386-397. PMID: 30545615, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVector-host interactionsTick infestationI. scapularisReservoir hostsNon-reservoir hostsHost-specific expressionRodent reservoir hostsInfected ticksPathogen transmissionZoonotic cycleSalivary genesIxodes scapularisTicksNatural hostScapularisInfestationTick biteLyme diseaseBorrelia burgdorferiLarval stagesPathogensHostPeromyscus leucopusStrong immune responseSalivary transcriptomeMiR-221 negatively regulates innate anti-viral response
Du H, Cui S, Li Y, Yang G, Wang P, Fikrig E, You F. MiR-221 negatively regulates innate anti-viral response. PLOS ONE 2018, 13: e0200385. PMID: 30089112, PMCID: PMC6082502, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200385.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntagomirsDNA-Binding ProteinsDown-RegulationHEK293 CellsHerpesvirus 1, HumanHumansImmunity, InnateInterferon-betaMacrophagesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMicroRNAsPromoter Regions, GeneticProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesRhabdoviridae InfectionsTranscription FactorsVesiculovirusConceptsAntiviral responseMiR-221Innate anti-viral responseInitial antiviral responseImmune cell activationMiR-221 expressionAnti-viral responseInnate antiviral responseInnate immune systemAnti-viral defenseIFNβ productionVirus infectionMultiple candidate targetsImmune systemCell activationCandidate targetsInfectionRNA-seq analysisCritical roleDirect bindingResponseMicroRNA regulatorsCircadian Rhythms Influence the Severity of Sepsis in Mice via a TLR2-Dependent, Leukocyte-Intrinsic Mechanism
Heipertz EL, Harper J, Lopez CA, Fikrig E, Hughes ME, Walker WE. Circadian Rhythms Influence the Severity of Sepsis in Mice via a TLR2-Dependent, Leukocyte-Intrinsic Mechanism. The Journal Of Immunology 2018, 201: ji1701677. PMID: 29760192, PMCID: PMC9351006, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701677.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune cellsZT 19C57BL/6 miceWorse outcomesTLR2 agonist lipoteichoic acidCircadian rhythmTLR2 knockout miceFemale C57BL/6 miceMale C57BL/6 miceSeverity of sepsisBone marrow chimerasTLR2-dependent mechanismIL-6 productionTLR2-DependentSepsis severityCecal ligationSepsis phenotypesSepsisC57BL/6 cellsSimilar outcomesMiceMouse cecumLipoteichoic acidMurine macrophagesCLPType I interferons instigate fetal demise after Zika virus infection
Yockey LJ, Jurado KA, Arora N, Millet A, Rakib T, Milano KM, Hastings AK, Fikrig E, Kong Y, Horvath TL, Weatherbee S, Kliman HJ, Coyne CB, Iwasaki A. Type I interferons instigate fetal demise after Zika virus infection. Science Immunology 2018, 3 PMID: 29305462, PMCID: PMC6049088, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aao1680.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZika virus infectionZIKV infectionI IFNsI interferonType I interferonGrowth restrictionFetal demiseVirus infectionSevere fetal growth restrictionType I IFNsChorionic villous explantsAdverse fetal outcomesCongenital viral infectionFetal growth restrictionMaternal-fetal barrierType IFunctional type IPlacental damageFetal outcomesPregnancy complicationsEarly pregnancyFetal resorptionZIKV diseasePregnant damsSpontaneous abortion
2017
Nlrp9b inflammasome restricts rotavirus infection in intestinal epithelial cells
Zhu S, Ding S, Wang P, Wei Z, Pan W, Palm NW, Yang Y, Yu H, Li HB, Wang G, Lei X, de Zoete MR, Zhao J, Zheng Y, Chen H, Zhao Y, Jurado KA, Feng N, Shan L, Kluger Y, Lu J, Abraham C, Fikrig E, Greenberg HB, Flavell RA. Nlrp9b inflammasome restricts rotavirus infection in intestinal epithelial cells. Nature 2017, 546: 667-670. PMID: 28636595, PMCID: PMC5787375, DOI: 10.1038/nature22967.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsApoptosis Regulatory ProteinsCARD Signaling Adaptor ProteinsCaspase 1DEAD-box RNA HelicasesEpithelial CellsFemaleImmunity, InnateInflammasomesInterleukin-18Intestinal MucosaIntestinesIntracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLPhosphate-Binding ProteinsPyroptosisReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledRNA, Double-StrandedRotavirusRotavirus Infections
2016
Interleukin-17A Promotes CD8+ T Cell Cytotoxicity To Facilitate West Nile Virus Clearance
Acharya D, Wang P, Paul AM, Dai J, Gate D, Lowery JE, Stokic DS, Leis AA, Flavell RA, Town T, Fikrig E, Bai F. Interleukin-17A Promotes CD8+ T Cell Cytotoxicity To Facilitate West Nile Virus Clearance. Journal Of Virology 2016, 91: 10.1128/jvi.01529-16. PMID: 27795421, PMCID: PMC5165211, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01529-16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrainCytotoxicity, ImmunologicFemaleGene ExpressionHumansInterleukin-17MiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeuronsPrimary Cell CultureReceptors, Interleukin-17Recombinant ProteinsSurvival AnalysisT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicTreatment OutcomeViral LoadVirus ReplicationWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusConceptsT cell cytotoxicityRecombinant IL-17AWest Nile virus infectionWNV-infected miceIL-17AT cellsViral burdenWNV infectionCell cytotoxicityInterleukin-17AVirus infectionMicrobial infectionsIL-17A-deficient miceT cell-mediated clearanceHigh viral burdenT-cell axisLethal WNV infectionSurvival of miceDay 6 postinfectionT cell functionWild-type miceDiverse immune functionsIL-17A.Proinflammatory cytokinesAutoimmune diseases
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 virusMyD88 Deficiency Markedly Worsens Tissue Inflammation and Bacterial Clearance in Mice Infected with Treponema pallidum, the Agent of Syphilis
Silver AC, Dunne DW, Zeiss CJ, Bockenstedt LK, Radolf JD, Salazar JC, Fikrig E. MyD88 Deficiency Markedly Worsens Tissue Inflammation and Bacterial Clearance in Mice Infected with Treponema pallidum, the Agent of Syphilis. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e71388. PMID: 23940747, PMCID: PMC3734110, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071388.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyD88-deficient miceTreponema pallidumMyD88-deficient animalsResistance of miceToll-like receptorsWild-type miceMyD88-deficient macrophagesMacrophage-mediated clearanceHigh pathogen burdenMyD88 deficiencySpirochete Treponema pallidumWT miceTissue infiltratesBacterial clearanceExtensive inflammationTissue inflammationPlasma cellsControl animalsWT macrophagesMost TLRsAnimal modelsMixed mononuclearPathogen burdenMiceT. pallidum
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 diseasesSemaphorin 7A Contributes to West Nile Virus Pathogenesis through TGF-β1/Smad6 Signaling
Sultana H, Neelakanta G, Foellmer HG, Montgomery RR, Anderson JF, Koski RA, Medzhitov RM, Fikrig E. Semaphorin 7A Contributes to West Nile Virus Pathogenesis through TGF-β1/Smad6 Signaling. The Journal Of Immunology 2012, 189: 3150-3158. PMID: 22896629, PMCID: PMC3496209, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRole of Sema7AWNV infectionSemaphorin 7ATGF-β1Lethal West Nile virus infectionViral pathogenesisBlood-brain barrier permeabilityWest Nile Virus PathogenesisWest Nile virus infectionMurine cortical neuronsPrimary human macrophagesViral burdenWNV pathogenesisCortical neuronsBarrier permeabilityFlaviviral infectionsVirus infectionVirus pathogenesisNervous systemImmune systemPathogenesisInfectionHuman macrophagesSema7AMiceIL-22 Signaling Contributes to West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis
Wang P, Bai F, Zenewicz LA, Dai J, Gate D, Cheng G, Yang L, Qian F, Yuan X, Montgomery RR, Flavell RA, Town T, Fikrig E. IL-22 Signaling Contributes to West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e44153. PMID: 22952908, PMCID: PMC3429482, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044153.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWild-type miceCentral nervous systemIL-22Viral loadNeutrophil migrationType miceWest Nile virus encephalitisSimilar viral loadsLethal WNV infectionIL-22 signalingHost immune responseWNV neuroinvasionVirus encephalitisCXCR2 ligandsLeukocyte infiltrateProinflammatory cytokinesChemokine receptorsImmune responseWNV infectionViral infectionNervous systemSignaling contributesExtracellular pathogensNon-redundant roleWT leukocytesAntibodies against the Envelope Glycoprotein Promote Infectivity of Immature Dengue Virus Serotype 2
da Silva Voorham JM, Rodenhuis-Zybert IA, Nuñez N, Colpitts TM, van der Ende-Metselaar H, Fikrig E, Diamond MS, Wilschut J, Smit JM. Antibodies against the Envelope Glycoprotein Promote Infectivity of Immature Dengue Virus Serotype 2. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e29957. PMID: 22431958, PMCID: PMC3303773, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029957.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntibody-dependent enhancementImmature DENVAnti-prM antibodiesStructural proteins prMSevere dengue diseaseDengue virus antibodiesDengue virus serotype 2Dose-dependent mannerImmature particlesStandard virus preparationsVirus preparationsVirus antibodiesPrecursor membrane proteinVirus serotype 2Lethal infectionMouse modelDengue diseaseImmune serumDENV particlesProtein prMInfection studiesAntibodiesEnhanced infectivityInfectionSerotype 2The Circadian Clock Controls Toll-like Receptor 9-Mediated Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Silver AC, Arjona A, Walker WE, Fikrig E. The Circadian Clock Controls Toll-like Receptor 9-Mediated Innate and Adaptive Immunity. Immunity 2012, 36: 251-261. PMID: 22342842, PMCID: PMC3315694, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.12.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsToll-like receptor 9Receptor 9Adaptive immune responsesInnate immune systemCircadian molecular clockSepsis inductionTLR9 expressionTLR9 ligandsImmune responseVaccination modelAdaptive immunityMouse modelImmune systemDisease severityHomeostatic processesCircadian rhythmBiologic processesDirect molecular linkMolecular linkRhythmSepsisImmunotherapyImmunoprophylaxisExpressionInnate