Article
Microbiology
Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez, Natalia Pipova, Eleonore Allain, Celine Henry, Clotilde Rouxel, Anne-Claire Lagree, Nadia Haddad, Henri-Jean Boulouis, James J. Valdes, Pilar Alberdi, Jose de la Fuente, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Ladislav Simo
Summary: Neuropeptides are small signaling molecules expressed in the tick central nervous system, with the Ixodes scapularis ISE6 cell line being an effective tool for studying tick-pathogen interactions. This study identified and validated six neuropeptide genes in ISE6 cells, with a focus on tachykinin-related peptide (TRP) expression in response to Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. The presence and localization of TRP in both ISE6 cells and synganglion suggest its potential role in tick physiology and interactions with tick-borne pathogens, paving the way for further in vivo experiments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juraj Koci, Sandhya Bista, Payal Chirania, Xiuli Yang, Chrysoula Kitsou, Vipin Singh Rana, Ozlem Buyuktanir Yas, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Utpal Pal
Summary: I. scapularis ticks produce multiple orthologs for the widely studied tick gut protein Bm86, termed as Is86, which features at least three identifiable regions with EGF-like domains. Immunization with specific recombinant EGF antigens in murine hosts marginally reduced spirochete loads in the skin during B. burgdorferi infection, but the impact of EGF immunization on tick engorgement and pathogen survival in the vector is limited. Further investigations of Is86 and other tick antigens would enrich our understanding of tick biology and contribute to the development of anti-tick measures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Vikas Taank, Frank A. Lattanzio, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta
Summary: This study reports the presence of two anuses in a laboratory-reared I. scapularis nymph, confirming the rare occurrence of double anus in this species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Harjeet Singh, Samer A. Srour, Denai R. Milton, Jessica McCarty, Cuiping Dai, Mahmoud R. Gaballa, Mariam Ammari, Simon Olivares, Helen Huls, Eleanor De Groot, David Marin, Demetrios Petropoulos, Amanda L. Olson, Paolo Anderlini, Jin S. Im, Issa Khouri, Chitra M. Hosing, Katayoun Rezvani, Richard E. Champlin, Elizabeth J. Shpall, Laurence J. N. Cooper, Partow Kebriaei
Summary: CAR T-cell therapy is an effective treatment for relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma. The modified SB CD19 CAR construct has shown improved efficacy and safety, with encouraging anti-tumor activity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jonathan D. Oliver, Lisa D. Price, Nicole Y. Burkhardt, Chan C. Heu, Benedict S. Khoo, Cody J. Thorpe, Timothy J. Kurtti, Ulrike G. Munderloh
Summary: This study describes the growth of symbiotic Rickettsia buchneri in Ixodes scapularis ticks throughout their life cycle and provides methods for eliminating R. buchneri from the ticks using ciprofloxacin antibiotics through injection or membrane feeding. These methods were effective in clearing the bacteria from most offspring of exposed females.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chantal B. F. Vogels, Doug E. Brackney, Alan P. Dupuis Ii, Rebecca M. Robich, Joseph R. Fauver, Anderson F. Brito, Scott C. Williams, John F. Anderson, Charles B. Lubelczyk, Rachel E. Lange, Melissa A. Prusinski, Laura D. Kramer, Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, Laura B. Goodman, Guy Baele, Robert P. Smith, Philip M. Armstrong, Alexander T. Ciota, Simon Dellicour, Nathan D. Grubaugh
Summary: This study investigated the transmission patterns and ecology of Powassan virus, an emerging tick-borne virus. It was found that the virus is mainly transmitted by ticks and has a highly focal geographical distribution. The study also revealed a slowing down of virus spread in recent years, possibly due to the expansion of white-tailed deer and Ixodes scapularis tick populations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Xiaotian Tang, Yongguo Cao, Gunjan Arora, Jesse Hwang, Andaleeb Sajid, Courtney L. Brown, Sameet Mehta, Alejandro Marin-Lopez, Yu-Min Chuang, Ming-Jie Wu, Hongwei Ma, Utpal Pal, Sukanya Narasimhan, Erol Fikrig
Summary: This study identified that ticks carry an adiponectin receptor-like protein (ISARL) but lack adiponectin, suggesting activation by alternative pathways. The ISARL signaling may be co-opted by the Lyme disease agent, as its expression is significantly upregulated in the tick gut after Borrelia burgdorferi infection.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Johanna Strobl, Verena Muendler, Sophie Mueller, Anna Gindl, Sara Berent, Anna-Margarita Schoetta, Lisa Kleissl, Clement Staud, Anna Redl, Luisa Unterluggauer, Ana E. Aguilar Gonzalez, Sophie T. Weninger, Denise Atzmueller, Romana Klasinc, Gerold Stanek, Mateusz Markowicz, Hannes Stockinger, Georg Stary
Summary: This study evaluated the immunological consequences of tick feeding on human skin and developed a human skin explant model to simulate tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infection. The results showed rapid patterns of immunomodulation upon tick attachment, as well as strain-specific immune responses and close relationships between macrophages and spirochetes. The study also found that preincubation of spirochetes with tick salivary gland extracts inhibited immune cell accumulation and increased spirochete loads.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Brittany A. Armstrong, Kevin S. Brandt, Irina Goodrich, Robert D. Gilmore
Summary: This study evaluated the response of different mouse strains and pathogen strains to B. miyamotoi infection and found that there is no mouse model that can fully mimic the infection. These findings underscore the challenges in establishing an experimental B. miyamotoi infection model.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric Kontowicz, Grant Brown, James Torner, Margaret Carrel, Kelly K. Baker, Christine A. Petersen
Summary: Lyme disease is the most reported vector-borne disease in the United States, with a focus on the Northeast and upper Midwest regions. Current federal surveillance strategies lead to reporting lags, making it challenging for public health agencies to assess and plan for the disease burden. This study developed nowcasting models using Google Trends and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, providing a means for accurate monitoring and decision-making regarding Lyme disease burden.
Article
Parasitology
Joe Prullage, Anthony Pfefferkorn, Martin Knaus, Justin Frost, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Tielemans
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of a novel formulation of esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel against experimental infestations of Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis in cats, showing strong evidence of sustained high efficacy for at least one month post-treatment.
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)
Article
Microbiology
Julie Lewis, Andrea M. Kirby, Kami Dawn Harris, Cory L. Filiaggi, Alexandra Foley-Eby, Malcolm Mann, David Lieske, Vett K. Lloyd
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of ticks and B. burgdorferi infection prevalence in three Canadian Maritime provinces from 2012-2020 using a community science approach. Results showed that I. scapularis was the most common tick species, with the highest infection rate in Nova Scotia. The primary hosts were dogs, cats, and humans. Over the course of the study, tick recoveries increased in New Brunswick, with a general increase in Borrelia infection prevalence in the province.
Review
Immunology
Jannelle Couret, Samantha Schofield, Sukanya Narasimhan
Summary: This review focuses on environmental factors that influence tick biology and tick-pathogen interactions, highlighting the impact of temperature, humidity, and environmental microbiota on tick parasitism and the transmission of tick-borne diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Keith J. Price, Christine B. Graham, Bryn J. Witmier, Holly A. Chapman, Brooke L. Coder, Christian N. Boyer, Erik Foster, Sarah E. Maes, Ying Bai, Rebecca J. Eisen, Andrew D. Kyle
Summary: Ticks of Haemaphysalis longicornis collected from southeastern Pennsylvania were tested for pathogens, with 1 adult female testing positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, resulting in an infection rate of 0.4%. It is crucial to continue monitoring this invasive tick species to assess its impact on public health.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Joshua T. Mattila, Pauline Maiello, Tao Sun, Laura E. Via, JoAnne L. Flynn
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Biology
Hayley C. Warsinske, Robert M. DiFazio, Jennifer J. Linderman, JoAnne L. Flynn, Denise E. Kirschner
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Immunology
Finja Schweitzer, Rebecca Tarantelli, Emily Rayens, Heather M. Kling, Joshua T. Mattila, Karen A. Norris
AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES
(2019)
Review
Immunology
Joseph M. Cicchese, Stephanie Evans, Caitlin Hult, Louis R. Joslyn, Timothy Wessler, Jess A. Millar, Simeone Marino, Nicholas A. Cilfone, Joshua T. Mattila, Jennifer J. Linderman, Denise E. Kirschner
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2018)
Article
Immunology
Simeone Marino, Nicholas A. Cilfone, Joshua T. Mattila, Jennifer J. Linderman, JoAnne L. Flynn, Denise E. Kirschner
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2015)
Article
Microbiology
Sharie Keanne C. Ganchua, Anthony M. Cadena, Pauline Maiello, Hannah P. Gideon, Amy J. Myers, Beth F. Junecko, Edwin C. Klein, Philana Ling Lin, Joshua T. Mattila, JoAnne L. Flynn
Article
Immunology
Hannah P. Gideon, Jiayao Phuah, Beth A. Junecko, Joshua T. Mattila
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Eileen A. Wong, Stephanie Evans, Carolyn R. Kraus, Kathleen D. Engelman, Pauline Maiello, Walter J. Flores, Anthony M. Cadena, Edwin Klein, Kayla Thomas, Alexander G. White, Chelsea Causgrove, Brianne Stein, Jaime Tomko, Joshua T. Mattila, Hannah Gideon, P. Ling Lin, Keith A. Reimann, Denise E. Kirschner, JoAnne L. Flynn
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Jess A. Millar, J. Russell Butler, Stephanie Evans, Joshua T. Mattila, Jennifer J. Linderman, JoAnne L. Flynn, Denise E. Kirschner
Summary: Tuberculosis is a global health issue, and understanding the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is crucial for successful interventions. Research suggests that the structural organization of lung granulomas and recruitment of non-specific T cells may contribute to reduced T cell responsiveness in TB infections.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Allexa Dow, Preeti Sule, Timothy J. O'Donnell, Andrew Burger, Joshua T. Mattila, Brandi Antonio, Kevin Vergara, Endrei Marcantonio, L. Garry Adams, Nicholas James, Philip G. Williams, Jeffrey D. Cirillo, Sladjana Prisic
Summary: This study suggests that zinc ion availability may influence the bacterial heterogeneity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to changes in gene expression patterns and increased resistance to oxidative stress in vivo. This could have implications for host-pathogen interactions and the ability of Mtb to adapt to different environmental conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Joshua T. Mattila, Wissam Beaino, Alexander G. White, Lea Nyiranshuti, Pauline Maiello, Jaime Tomko, L. James Frye, Daniel Fillmore, Charles A. Scanga, Philana Ling Lin, JoAnne L. Flynn, Carolyn J. Anderson
Summary: Neutrophilic inflammation is associated with severe tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A specific PET probe targeting neutrophils has been tested in macaques, showing correlation with granulomas and potential applications in TB imaging but with some issues to be addressed before human use.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Caitlin Hult, Joshua T. Mattila, Hannah P. Gideon, Jennifer J. Linderman, Denise E. Kirschner
Summary: The study reveals that neutrophils play a complex role in tuberculosis granulomas, both promoting and inhibiting bacterial growth. Neutrophils can facilitate local dissemination of granulomas and enable the spread of infection, posing challenges for therapeutic interventions.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Hannah P. Gideon, Travis K. Hughes, Constantine N. Tzouanas, Marc H. Wadsworth, Ang Andy Tu, Todd M. Gierahn, Joshua M. Peters, Forrest F. Hopkins, Jun-Rong Wei, Conner Kummerlowe, Kievershen Nargan, Jia Yao Phuah, H. Jacob Borish, Pauline Maiello, Alexander G. White, Caylin G. Winchell, Sarah K. Nyquist, Sharie Keanne C. Ganchua, Amy Myers, Kush V. Patel, Cassaundra L. Ameel, Catherine T. Cochran, Samira Ibrahim, Jaime A. Tomko, Lonnie James Frye, Jacob M. Rosenberg, Angela Shih, Michael Chao, Edwin Klein, Charles A. Scanga, Jose Ordovas-Montanes, Bonnie Berger, Joshua T. Mattila, Rajhmun Madansein, J. Christopher Love, Philana Ling Lin, Alasdair Leslie, Samuel M. Behar, Bryan Bryson, JoAnne L. Flynn, Sarah M. Fortune, Alex K. Shalek
Summary: This study focuses on tuberculosis lung infection and its complex multicellular structure, the granuloma. Through various techniques, the study identifies factors that influence bacterial control in granulomas. It shows that granulomas with bacterial persistence are enriched with different cell types that communicate through immune and wound-healing pathways. On the other hand, granulomas that drive bacterial control are characterized by diverse cell populations engaged in pro-inflammatory signaling networks. The study also finds that granulomas that arise later in infection display characteristics of restrictive granulomas and are more effective at killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Nicole L. Grant, Pauline Maiello, Edwin Klein, Philana Ling Lin, H. Jacob Borish, Jaime Tomko, L. James Frye, Alexander G. White, Denise E. Kirschner, Joshua T. Mattila, JoAnne L. Flynn
Summary: This study investigates the differences in pathological, cellular, and functional aspects of lung granulomas at different time points post-infection in Chinese cynomolgus macaques. The findings suggest that T-bet(+) adaptive T cells play a critical role in controlling Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and vaccines promoting the development and migration of T-bet(+)T cells could enhance mycobacterial control.
Article
Immunology
Priyanka Talukdar, Beth F. Junecko, Daniel S. Lane, Pauline Maiello, Joshua T. Mattila
Summary: IFN-λ is expressed in granulomas and may influence myeloid cell function and immunity in tuberculosis. The expression of IFN-λ varies in different granuloma microenvironments, primarily expressed by macrophages and neutrophils, with differences in subcellular localization.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)