2024
The human CD47 checkpoint is targeted by an immunosuppressive Aedes aegypti salivary factor to enhance arboviral skin infectivity
Marin-Lopez A, Huck J, Esterly A, Azcutia V, Rosen C, Garcia-Milian R, Sefik E, Vidal-Pedrola G, Raduwan H, Chen T, Arora G, Halene S, Shaw A, Palm N, Flavell R, Parkos C, Thangamani S, Ring A, Fikrig E. The human CD47 checkpoint is targeted by an immunosuppressive Aedes aegypti salivary factor to enhance arboviral skin infectivity. Science Immunology 2024, 9: eadk9872. PMID: 39121194, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adk9872.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuppress antiviral responsesArthropod proteinsPathogen replicationAntiviral responseProtein AVertebrate hostsMosquito salivary proteinsUp-regulatedBlood feedingHuman macrophagesPleomorphic effectsSkin infectionsZika virus disseminationInhibit proinflammatory responsesSalivary proteinsProteinNatural ligandWhite blood cellsHuman skin explantsProinflammatory responseMosquito salivaVirus disseminationHuman CD47Salivary factorsArbovirus infection
2019
Aedes 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 proteinsVirusAntibodiesMosquitoesAntiserum
2009
Toll-Like Receptors 1 and 2 Heterodimers Alter Borrelia burgdorferi Gene Expression in Mice and Ticks
Fikrig E, Narasimhan S, Neelakanta G, Pal U, Chen M, Flavell R. Toll-Like Receptors 1 and 2 Heterodimers Alter Borrelia burgdorferi Gene Expression in Mice and Ticks. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2009, 200: 1331-1340. PMID: 19754309, PMCID: PMC2846271, DOI: 10.1086/605950.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene expressionMicroarray analysisB. burgdorferi gene expressionQuantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysisToll-like receptor 1Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysisReceptor 1Expression profilesWild-type animalsHost TLRsArthropod vectorsMessenger RNA levelsPolymerase chain reaction analysisChain reaction analysisB. burgdorferi-infected ticksGenesBurgdorferi-infected ticksRNA levelsExpressionMurine hostBorrelia burgdorferiReaction analysisWild-type miceAnimalsHeterodimersThe Urokinase Receptor (uPAR) Facilitates Clearance of Borrelia burgdorferi
Hovius JW, Bijlsma MF, van der Windt GJ, Wiersinga WJ, Boukens BJ, Coumou J, Oei A, de Beer R, de Vos AF, van 't Veer C, van Dam AP, Wang P, Fikrig E, Levi MM, Roelofs JJ, van der Poll T. The Urokinase Receptor (uPAR) Facilitates Clearance of Borrelia burgdorferi. PLOS Pathogens 2009, 5: e1000447. PMID: 19461880, PMCID: PMC2678258, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000447.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsArthritis, InfectiousBorrelia burgdorferiCell MovementHeartHistocytochemistryHumansLeukocytesLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMyocarditisPhagocytosisReceptors, Urokinase Plasminogen ActivatorSkinStatistics, NonparametricUp-RegulationUrinary BladderUrokinase-Type Plasminogen ActivatorConceptsB. burgdorferi numbersWT controlsPhagocytotic capacityC3H/HeN backgroundIL-1beta mRNA expressionBorrelia burgdorferiB. burgdorferi infectionRole of uPARSevere carditisBurgdorferi infectionImmune responseLeukocyte functionSpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiFibrinolytic systemPAI-1Facilitate clearanceMRNA expressionHuman leukocytesLyme borreliosisMiceB. burgdorferiCausative agentProteinase receptorUPARAdequate eradicationInhibition 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
2004
Protective Niche for Borrelia burgdorferi to Evade Humoral Immunity
Liang FT, Brown EL, Wang T, Iozzo RV, Fikrig E. Protective Niche for Borrelia burgdorferi to Evade Humoral Immunity. American Journal Of Pathology 2004, 165: 977-985. PMID: 15331421, PMCID: PMC1618599, DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)63359-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic infectionHumoral immunityProtective nicheB. burgdorferiDecorin expressionLower decorin expressionDecorin-deficient miceWild-type miceStrong immune responseDecorin-binding protein ASpirochete burdenUrinary bladderImmune responsePersistent infectionMurine infectionEarly infectionInfectionExtracellular microbesDbpA expressionLyme disease spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferiC expressionTargeted disruptionBurgdorferiMice
1998
Differential Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes during Erythema Migrans and Lyme Arthritis
Fikrig E, Feng W, Aversa J, Schoen R, Flavell R. Differential Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes during Erythema Migrans and Lyme Arthritis. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 1998, 178: 1198-1201. PMID: 9806060, DOI: 10.1086/515684.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme arthritisLyme diseaseHuman infectionsPhase III clinical trialsMurine Lyme borreliosisRNA polymerase chain reactionErythema migrans biopsiesErythema migransProtective immunityClinical trialsVaccine candidatesTissue specimensLyme borreliosisPatientsGene expressionBorrelia burgdorferiDiseaseFirst direct demonstrationB. burgdorferiChain reactionArthritisInfectionBorrelia burgdorferi genesOspAB. burgdorferi gene expressionPrevention of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in guinea pigs by tick immunity.
Nazario S, Das S, de Silva AM, Deponte K, Marcantonio N, Anderson JF, Fish D, Fikrig E, Kantor FS. Prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in guinea pigs by tick immunity. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 1998, 58: 780-5. PMID: 9660463, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1998.58.780.Peer-Reviewed Original Research