Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Han Wu, Dan Zhao, Xiao-Chang Guo, Zhao-Rui Liu, Rui-Jun Li, Xiu-Jun Lu, Wei Guo
Summary: Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can accelerate the conversion of chitin to chitosan, influencing the mechanical properties and permeability of the cuticle structures and the peritrophic membrane (PM) in insects. Putative Group V CDAs were identified and characterized from beet armyworm larvae. The expression of these CDAs was found to be regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone analog. Silencing of Group V CDAs resulted in compacted and evenly distributed intestinal wall cell layer, fragmented or disappeared vesicles, scarce PM structure, and loose and chaotic chitin microfilament structure. These results indicate the essential role of Group V CDAs in the growth and structuring of the midgut in beet armyworm larvae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
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
Microbiology
Richard S. Ostfeld, Sahar Adish, Stacy Mowry, William Bremer, Shannon Duerr, Andrew S. Evans Jr, Ilya R. Fischhoff, Fiona Keating, Jennifer Pendleton, Ashley Pfister, Marissa Teator, Felicia Keesing
Summary: Acaricides are thought to reduce human risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens by decreasing tick abundance and infection prevalence. However, the use of acaricides targeted at small-mammal hosts showed no reduction in infection prevalence, while spraying a fungal biocide on vegetation led to lower infection prevalence with one pathogen. Although there were significant differences in infection prevalence between years, only one pathogen showed a cumulative reduction. Therefore, reservoir-targeted and broadcast acaricides might not effectively disrupt pathogen transmission or reduce human risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens.
Article
Microbiology
Amber R. Paulson, Stephen C. Lougheed, David Huang, Robert I. Colautti
Summary: Blacklegged ticks can transmit zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease, and their range is expanding in Canada, increasing disease risk. Current research on the transmission risk of these ticks in Canada primarily focuses on targeted screening, with little understanding of natural variation in the tick microbiome. This study used multiomics methods to examine the microbial communities associated with blacklegged ticks in a Lyme disease hot spot in Ontario, Canada, revealing diverse endosymbiotic and potentially pathogenic microbes, with greater diversity in the bacteria of tick salivary glands and midguts compared to whole ticks.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samira P. Ibrahim, Renata O. Dias, Clelia Ferreira, Carlos P. Silva, Walter R. Terra
Summary: This study investigates the midgut structure of Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera) and suggests that the peritrophic gel found in the midgut may be a vertebrate-like mucus. Through histochemistry and gene expression analysis, mucins and peritrophins were identified along the midgut. The results show that peritrophins are mainly expressed in the posterior midgut, while mucins are expressed along the entire midgut. These findings contribute to our understanding of the functionality of the insect digestive system.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Matthew T. Milholland, Lars Eisen, Robyn M. Nadolny, Andrias Hojgaard, Erika T. Machtinger, Jennifer M. Mullinax, Andrew Y. Li
Summary: The study focused on a 5-year tick suppression study in Maryland, collecting ticks and rodent reservoirs and testing them for pathogens. The results showed that ticks carried various pathogens related to Lyme disease, highlighting the importance of developing integrated control strategies.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
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
Parasitology
Fanny Olsthoorn, Hein Sprong, Manoj Fonville, Mara Rocchi, Jolyon Medlock, Lucy Gilbert, Jaboury Ghazoul
Summary: This study in Wester Ross, Northwest Scotland, identified the occurrence and prevalence of several pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Babesia from clade X, Rickettsia helvetica, and Spiroplasma ixodetis. The prevalence of these pathogens varied compared to other regions, providing important insights for disease surveillance and management.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
A-Tai Truong, Jinhyeong Noh, Yeojin Park, Hyun-Ji Seo, Keun-Ho Kim, Subin Min, Jiyeon Lim, Mi-Sun Yoo, Heung-Chul Kim, Terry A. Klein, Hyunkyoung Lee, Soon-Seek Yoon, Yun Sang Cho
Summary: This large-scale study in the Republic of Korea investigated ticks collected from dogs and their environments, detecting six prevalent tick-borne pathogens. The results emphasize the importance of tick-borne disease surveillance and control in dogs in South Korea.
Article
Entomology
Sarah Schwartz, Elizabeth Calvente, Emily Rollinson, Destiny Sample Koon Koon, Nicole Chinnici
Summary: This study conducted a 2-year surveillance in Pike County, Pennsylvania, collecting over a thousand ticks and detected five distinct tick-borne pathogens. It highlights the human risk for tick-borne diseases within small geographical areas.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Erdal Polat, Serdar Mehmet Altinkum, Yasar Bagdatli, Onur Baykara
Summary: The study in Istanbul found that Rickettsia is the most common pathogen carried by ticks in the area, with a higher infection rate compared to other pathogens such as Borrelia and Babesia.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Victoria I. Verhoeve, Tyesha D. Fauntleroy, Riley G. Risteen, Timothy P. Driscoll, Joseph J. Gillespie
Summary: This study identified a symbiotic Rickettsia species called Rickettsia buchneri that blocks tick superinfection with other Rickettsia pathogens. The researchers also identified a gene that can be used to assess R. buchneri infection frequency in tick populations.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Erik Foster, Sarah A. Maes, Karen M. Holcomb, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: The majority of vector-borne diseases in the United States are caused by blacklegged ticks. The geographic range of these ticks and their associated human pathogens has expanded, putting more communities at risk for tick-borne infections. A national tick surveillance program was initiated by the CDC to monitor changes in tick distribution and the prevalence of human pathogens. The study found that the prevalence of pathogens was highest in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Upper Midwest regions where Lyme disease is commonly reported.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Douglas T. Munn, L. Robbin Lindsay, Antonia Dibernardo, Joseph J. Nocera
Summary: The ruffed grouse may act as an alternative host for blacklegged ticks, which are vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. However, testing for active and previous infections of tick-borne pathogens in ruffed grouse did not yield positive results. Alternative methods should be explored to further investigate this relationship.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2022)