Article
Immunology
Marta Wozinska, Kacper Toczylowski, Dawid Lewandowski, Ewa Bojkiewicz, Artur Sulik
Summary: This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices against tick-borne diseases (TBDs) among residents in northeastern Poland. The results showed that the internet and doctors were the main sources of knowledge, and participants had moderate knowledge and attitudes towards TBDs. However, there were misconceptions regarding Lyme borreliosis (LB) transmission, symptoms, and management. Higher risk perceptions were associated with the adoption of preventive behaviors. Healthcare professionals played a crucial role in communicating knowledge about TBDs.
Article
Immunology
Jamil N. Kanji, Abraam Isaac, Daniel Gregson, Monika Mierzejewski, Danny Shpeley, Pauline Tomlin, Michael Groeschel, L. Robbin Lindsay, Lisa Lachance, Kinga Kowalewska-Grochowska
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed tick species and quantity recovered from humans in Alberta over a 19-year period, and conducted molecular testing for pathogens associated with Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus. Dermacentor ticks were the most common, followed by Ixodes and Amblyomma. The risk of tick-borne pathogen exposure, such as Lyme disease, in Alberta remains low.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jacques Sevestre, Antoine Benichou, Vanessa Rio, Pascal Delaunay, Geraldine Gonfrier, Cecile Martaresche, Virginie Carlo, Sarah Nakam, Veronique Mondain, Michel Carles, Pierre Yves Jeandel, Jacques Durant
Summary: The study shows a high prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in the French Riviera region, but many patients with presumed Lyme borreliosis are actually diagnosed with other conditions. These findings are important for accurate diagnosis and treatment of Lyme borreliosis.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Guozhong Zhou, Xin Xu, Yu Zhang, Peng Yue, Shiqi Luo, Yuxin Fan, Jingjing Chen, Meixiao Liu, Yan Dong, Bingxue Li, Jing Kong, Shiyuan Wen, Aihua Liu, Fukai Bao
Summary: This study included 6 studies involving 3766 individuals. The use of antibiotics for preventing Lyme disease significantly reduced the rate of unfavorable events, especially in the single-dose doxycycline group. While the available evidence supports the use of antibiotics, further confirmation is still needed.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alejandra Wu-Chuang, Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez, Apolline Maitre, Ryan O. M. Rego, Radek Sima, Stefania Porcelli, Sabine Rakotobe, Angelique Foucault-Simonin, Sara Moutailler, Vaidas Palinauskas, Juste Azelyte, Ladislav Simo, Dasiel Obregon, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Summary: Research has found that infection with Borrelia afzelii causes changes to the microbiota composition, diversity, and structure in ticks. Anti-microbiota vaccines can alter the tick microbiota's ability to be infected by Borrelia and decrease the pathogen's load. Network analysis is a suitable tool for identifying properties of the vector microbiota associated with infection-refractory states.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jan Perner, Matej Kucera, Helena Frantova, Veronika Urbanova, Petr Kopacek, Radek Sima
Summary: It has been shown that targeting tRNA amino acid synthetases with drugs can be an effective strategy for treating various parasitic diseases. This study examines tRNA synthetases as potential drug targets in ticks. The knock-down of these synthetases in ticks resulted in a significant negative impact on their feeding process. The findings suggest that tRNA synthetases may serve as attractive anti-tick targets and selective inhibitors can be designed. Additionally, impaired ticks were still capable of transmitting Borrelia afzelii, leading to systemic infection in mice.
Review
Entomology
Lucy Gilbert
Summary: Ticks are widespread and carry pathogens, impacting by climate change; tick-borne disease systems are complex with diverse drivers, modeling can help understand changes; future research should focus on assessing the resilience of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to climate change.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY, VOL 66, 2021
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Molly McVicar, Isabella Rivera, Jeremiah B. Reyes, Monika Gulia-Nuss
Summary: Lyme disease, transmitted by the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), is the most important vector-borne disease in the US. This tick species is well adapted to the coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. It carries various pathogens, but our understanding of its ecology and transmission of these pathogens is still limited.
Article
Parasitology
Cindy Bregnard, Olivier Rais, Maarten Jeroen Voordouw
Summary: The abundance of infected nymphal ticks in Europe can be influenced by the seed production of deciduous trees, which in turn affects the risk of Lyme borreliosis.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Anne L. Sapiro, Beth M. Hayes, Regan F. Volk, Jenny Y. Zhang, Diane M. Brooks, Calla Martyn, Atanas Radkov, Ziyi Zhao, Margie Kinnersley, Patrick R. Secor, Balyn W. Zaro, Seemay Chou
Summary: This study longitudinally defined the global transcriptomic landscape of Bb inside nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks during a transmitting bloodmeal. It identified 192 Bb genes that substantially change expression during the bloodmeal, many of which encode proteins located in the cell envelope or proteins of unknown function. Mass spectrometry was used to identify candidate tick proteins that physically interact with Bb.
Article
Parasitology
Aleksandra Iwona Krawczyk, Sam Rottjers, Maria Joao Coimbra-Dores, Dieter Heylen, Manoj Fonville, Willem Takken, Karoline Faust, Hein Sprong
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between bacterial communities and horizontally transmitted human pathogens in Ixodes ricinus nymphs. The results revealed specific associations between microorganisms and the tick symbiont M. mitochondrii, as well as relationships between different pathogens. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tick-borne disease dynamics.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher B. Zinck, Prasobh Raveendran Thampy, Ryan O. M. Rego, Dustin Brisson, Nicholas H. Ogden, Maarten Voordouw
Summary: This study compared the infection prevalence and spirochete abundance of different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi in a rodent host. The results showed variations in tissue infection and spirochete load among strains, with differences observed between male and female mice. Furthermore, the study suggests that laboratory-based estimates of pathogen abundance can predict the strain composition of this tick-borne pathogen in nature.
Article
Infectious Diseases
M. G. Harms, A. Hofhuis, H. Sprong, S. C. Bennema, J. A. Ferreira, M. Fonville, A. Docters van Leeuwen, W. J. J. Assendelft, H. C. P. M. Van Weert, W. Van Pelt, C. C. Van den Wijngaard
Summary: This study showed that a single dose of 200 mg doxycycline can prevent the development of Lyme borreliosis after a tick bite, particularly in Europe.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karen D. D. McCoy, Celine Toty, Marlene Dupraz, Jeremy Tornos, Amandine Gamble, Romain Garnier, Sebastien Descamps, Thierry Boulinier
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on species in polar regions. The expansion of the seabird tick, Ixodes uriae, in the high Arctic has been linked to climate change. However, recent population genetic data and host serology suggest that the tick has been present in Svalbard for a long time, maintaining high population sizes and a transmission cycle of Lyme disease bacteria.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Dolores Genne, Whitney Jiricka, Anouk Sarr, Maarten J. Voordouw
Summary: Vector-borne pathogens can establish multiple-strain infections in both the host and the vector, but the impact of multiple-strain infections in the vector on strain-specific transmission to naive hosts is unclear.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
M. E. Baarsma, A. Vrijlandt, J. Ursinus, H. L. Zaaijer, S. Jurriaans, A. P. van Dam, J. W. Hovius
Summary: This study compared the diagnostic parameters of the ZEUS Borrelia VlsE1/pepC10 assay and C6-ELISA in European patients with Lyme borreliosis, healthy blood donors, and potentially cross-reactive controls. The specificity of both assays was similar in healthy blood donors, but C6-ELISA appeared to have slightly higher sensitivity in patients with early localized or disseminated Lyme borreliosis. The VlsE1/pepC10 assay showed significantly higher specificity in sera with potentially cross-reactive antibodies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Frederik R. van de Schoor, Hedwig D. Vrijmoeth, Michelle A. E. Brouwer, Hadewych J. M. ter Hofstede, Heidi L. M. Lemmers, Helga Dijkstra, Collins K. Boahen, Marije Oosting, Bart-Jan Kullberg, Joppe W. Hovius, Cees C. van den Wijngaard, Frank L. van de Veerdonk, Mihai G. Netea, Leo A. B. Joosten
Summary: This study investigates the regulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) during early Lyme borreliosis (LB) and provides insights into the host response to B. burgdorferi. The study finds that the addition of interleukin-12 (IL-12) amplifies the IFN-gamma response in cells exposed to B. burgdorferi, and the response is significantly higher in LB patients. The study also identifies a single nucleotide polymorphism associated with increased IFN-gamma production.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Laurence Geebelen, Tinne Lernout, Katrien Tersago, Sanne Terryn, Joppe W. Hovius, Arieke Docters van Leeuwen, Steven Van Gucht, Niko Speybroeck, Hein Sprong
Summary: This study investigates the occurrence and clinical manifestation of tick-borne infections in Belgium. Only a small number of patients with fever after a tick bite were identified. Although no tick-borne pathogens were detected, their presence cannot be ruled out due to the limited number of patients and current limitations in methodologies.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ursa Gubensek, Myrthe de Laat, Sunniva Foerster, Anders Boyd, Alje Pieter van Dam
Summary: This study assessed the impact of different antimicrobials on the growth of N. gonorrhoeae using time-kill assays. The results showed that ceftriaxone, ertapenem, and fosfomycin exhibited time-dependent activity, while gentamicin demonstrated concentration-dependent activity. These findings have implications for the treatment of N. gonorrhoeae infections.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fredrikke Christie Knudtzen, Thoger Gorm Jensen, Nanna Skaarup Andersen, Isik Somuncu Johansen, Joppe W. Hovius, Sigurdur Skarphedinsson
Summary: By conducting an educational intervention in general practice, we aimed to improve outcomes related to Lyme borreliosis, such as increasing hospital referrals, examining cerebrospinal fluid tests, decreasing serum-B. burgdorferi antibody tests, shortening delay in Lyme neuroborreliosis patients, and increasing knowledge among general practitioners. The intervention led to an increase in LB awareness and referrals, but had no effect on clinical outcomes of LNB.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Tal Azagi, Margriet Harms, Arno Swart, Manoj Fonville, Dieuwertje Hoornstra, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Joppe W. Hovius, Hein Sprong, Cees van den Wijngaard
Summary: The study found associations between the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks feeding on humans and self-reported symptoms. However, due to the subjective nature of such reports and the fact that infection was determined in the ticks and not in the patient samples, further prospective studies utilizing diagnostic modalities should be performed before any clinical outcome can be causally linked to infection with tick-borne pathogens.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
M. E. Baarsma, Freek R. van de Schoor, Stefanie A. Gauw, Hedwig D. Vrijmoeth, Jeanine Ursinus, Nienke Goudriaan, Calin D. Popa, Hadewych J. M. ter Hofstede, Mariska M. G. Leeflang, Kristin Kremer, Cees C. van den Wijngaard, Bart-Jan Kullberg, Leo A. B. Joosten, Joppe W. Hovius
Summary: This study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of three cellular tests for Lyme borreliosis and found that they had lower specificity compared to serological tests, leading to a high number of false-positive results. Therefore, these cellular tests are currently not suitable for clinical use.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Mariska Kerstholt, Freek R. van de Schoor, Marije Oosting, Simone J. C. F. M. Moorlag, Yang Li, Martin Jaeger, Wouter A. van der Heijden, Rahajeng N. Tunjungputri, Jessica C. dos Santos, Brenda Kischker, Hedwig D. Vrijmoeth, M. E. Baarsma, Bart-Jan Kullberg, Mihaela Lupse, Joppe W. Hovius, Cees C. van den Wijngaard, Mihai G. Netea, Quirijn de Mast, Leo A. B. Joosten
Summary: This study reveals that B. burgdorferi infection decreases cytokine production in cells and lowers glycolysis. MFAP3L gene is found to influence lactate production and mediate this effect through ERK2 activation and platelet degranulation. Platelet-derived factors, such as CXCL7, play important roles in B. burgdorferi-induced cytokine production.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Y. L. Verschoor, A. Vrijlandt, R. Spijker, R. M. van Hest, H. Ter Hofstede, K. van Kempen, A. J. Henningsson, J. W. Hovius
Summary: Lyme borreliosis is a diverse and debilitating disease caused by spirochetes transmitted by ticks. Antibiotic treatment is the common approach, but there is debate about the persistence of the infection after treatment. Animal studies provide insufficient evidence for the persistence of viable and infectious spirochetes after adequate antibiotic treatment, but Borrelial nucleic acids may persist.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Gunjan Arora, Geoffrey E. Lynn, Xiaotian Tang, Connor E. Rosen, Dieuwertje Hoornstra, Andaleeb Sajid, Joppe W. Hovius, Noah W. Palm, Aaron M. Ring, Erol Fikrig
Summary: This study identifies CD55 as a novel host binding partner of Borrelia crocidurae and Borrelia persica, the causative agents of relapsing fever in Africa and Eurasia. CD55, present on erythrocytes, plays a role in immune evasion and infection. Soluble recombinant CD55 inhibits erythrocyte rosette formation, and CD55-deficient mice have lower pathogen load and elevated proinflammatory cytokine and complement factor C5a levels.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joyce F. Braam, Helene C. A. Zondag, Alje P. van Dam, Henry J. C. de Vries, Clarissa Vergunst, David Hetem, Maarten F. Schim van der Loeff, Sylvia M. Bruisten
Summary: The prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance-associated mutations (QRAMs) in Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) among clients of two sexual health centres in the Netherlands was 9%. The most prevalent mutations were found in the parC gene (S83I and D87N) and factors associated with the presence of QRAM included men who have sex with men and Asian origin.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ellen J. Generaal, D. K. (Daniela) van Santen, Sophie Campman, Marjolein Booij, Dylan Price, Marcel M. Buster, Christa P. van Dijk, Anders Boyd, Sylvia Bruisten, Alje van Dam, Mariken van der Lubben, Yvonne T. H. P. van Duijnhoven, Maria Prins
Summary: There is a low prevalence of past and current SARS-CoV-2 infections among homeless people and staff in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This may be attributed to the implemented shelter policies, limited activities, and compliance with preventive measures. However, vaccine hesitancy and mistrust among visitors and staff could hinder vaccination uptake.
Letter
Health Care Sciences & Services
Cees C. van den Wijngaard, Jeanine Ursinus, Hedwig D. Vrijmoeth, Hans Knoop, Albert Wong, Leo A. B. Joosten, Joppe W. Hovius, Bart Jan Kullberg
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2022)
Article
Primary Health Care
M. E. Baarsma, S. A. Claassen, H. E. van der Horst, J. W. Hovius, J. M. Sanders
Summary: This study combines medical and communication science approaches to assess the experiences of patients with chronic Lyme-associated symptoms (CLD) and their interactions with the healthcare system. The findings suggest that patients often feel misunderstood and neglected, and their symptoms significantly impact their daily lives. The study highlights the importance of improving doctor-patient communication and provides potential ways to address the issues faced by CLD patients.
