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
2012
Postgenomic Analyses Reveal Development of Infectious Anaplasma phagocytophilum during Transmission from Ticks to Mice
Mastronunzio JE, Kurscheid S, Fikrig E. Postgenomic Analyses Reveal Development of Infectious Anaplasma phagocytophilum during Transmission from Ticks to Mice. Journal Of Bacteriology 2012, 194: 2238-2247. PMID: 22389475, PMCID: PMC3347074, DOI: 10.1128/jb.06791-11.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpen reading frameA. phagocytophilum genomeObligate intracellular bacteriaBlood-feeding arthropodsCell surface proteinsMammalian cell cultureRickettsiales orderUncharacterized proteinsRibosomal proteinsEssential proteinsTranscriptome sequencingBacterial adaptationA. phagocytophilumDNA replicationTick salivary glandsPostgenomic analysisReading frameMammalian hostsAnaplasma phagocytophilumDevelopmental transitionsDC-specific markerIntracellular bacteriaTransmission feedingSurface proteinsProtein
2011
A Tick Mannose-Binding Lectin Inhibitor Interferes with the Vertebrate Complement Cascade to Enhance Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent
Schuijt TJ, Coumou J, Narasimhan S, Dai J, DePonte K, Wouters D, Brouwer M, Oei A, Roelofs JJ, van Dam AP, van der Poll T, Veer C, Hovius JW, Fikrig E. A Tick Mannose-Binding Lectin Inhibitor Interferes with the Vertebrate Complement Cascade to Enhance Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent. Cell Host & Microbe 2011, 10: 136-146. PMID: 21843870, PMCID: PMC3170916, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2011.06.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBorrelia burgdorferiCell Migration AssaysCloning, MolecularComplement Membrane Attack ComplexComplement Pathway, Mannose-Binding LectinFemaleGene SilencingHemolysisHumansImmunization, PassiveImmunotherapy, ActiveInsect ProteinsIxodesLarvaLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C3HMolecular Sequence DataNeutrophilsNymphPhagocytosisRabbitsRecombinant ProteinsSalivaSalivary Proteins and PeptidesSequence AlignmentConceptsComplement cascadeLyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferiImpaired neutrophil phagocytosisTick salivary proteinsVector-borne pathogensLyme disease agentMammalian infectionVector colonizationVertebrate hostsTick midgutAlternative complement pathwayBorrelia transmissionComplement-mediated killingVector proteinNeutrophil phagocytosisEssential rolePathway inhibitorComplement pathwayDisease agentsSalivary proteinsBorrelia burgdorferiLectin inhibitorsProteinCascadeIxodes ticks
2001
OspA Immunization Decreases Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi Spirochetes from Infected Peromyscus leucopus Mice to Larval Ixodes scapularis Ticks
Tsao J, Barbour A, Luke C, Fikrig E, Fish D. OspA Immunization Decreases Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi Spirochetes from Infected Peromyscus leucopus Mice to Larval Ixodes scapularis Ticks. Vector-Borne And Zoonotic Diseases 2001, 1: 65-74. PMID: 12653137, DOI: 10.1089/153036601750137705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnimals, WildAntibodies, BacterialAntigens, SurfaceArachnid VectorsBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBacterial VaccinesBorrelia burgdorferiDisease ReservoirsDose-Response Relationship, ImmunologicEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFluorescent Antibody Technique, DirectHost-Parasite InteractionsIxodesLarvaLipoproteinsLyme DiseasePeromyscusConceptsControl miceUninfected larval ticksInfection prevalenceLarval Ixodes scapularis ticksB. burgdorferiNumber of spirochetesEnzyme-linked immunosorbentBorrelia burgdorferi spirochetesLevel of immunizationReservoir hostsConcentration of antibodyBorrelia burgdorferi transmissionIxodes scapularis ticksSecond vaccinationImmunized miceInfected miceLarval ticksPrior infectionVaccination programSubsequent riskDecrease transmissionOspA vaccinationDirect immunofluorescenceImmune responseXenodiagnostic ticks
2000
Arthropod- and Host-Specific Borrelia burgdorferi bbk32 Expression and the Inhibition of Spirochete Transmission
Fikrig E, Feng W, Barthold S, Telford S, Flavell R. Arthropod- and Host-Specific Borrelia burgdorferi bbk32 Expression and the Inhibition of Spirochete Transmission. The Journal Of Immunology 2000, 164: 5344-5351. PMID: 10799897, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.164.10.5344.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSpirochete transmissionLyme borreliosisB. burgdorferi infectionB. burgdorferi transmissionMechanisms of immunityIxodes scapularis ticksCutaneous sitesImmunized miceSpirochete numbersBurgdorferi infectionMurine infectionMurine hostMiceInfectionMRNA levelsScapularis ticksB. burgdorferiTick engorgementMurine tissuesVector-borne diseasesBorreliosisAdult ticksAntiserumBBK32Regulated expression
1998
Prevention 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
1997
OspA antibodies inhibit the acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi by Ixodes ticks
de Silva AM, Fish D, Burkot TR, Zhang Y, Fikrig E. OspA antibodies inhibit the acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi by Ixodes ticks. Infection And Immunity 1997, 65: 3146-3150. PMID: 9234767, PMCID: PMC175444, DOI: 10.1128/iai.65.8.3146-3150.1997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOspA antibodiesB. burgdorferiPassive antibody transferB. burgdorferi infectionIxodes ticksSurface protein ABurgdorferi-infected miceB. burgdorferi-infected miceLarval infection ratesOuter surface protein AAntibody transferAntibody responseBurgdorferi infectionInfection rateInfected ticksMiceInhibitory effectAntibodiesLarval infectionBorrelia burgdorferiBurgdorferiInfectionLarval ticksReservoir competenceSpirochetes