Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shah Masood Khan, Mehran Khan, Abdulaziz Alouffi, Mashal M. Almutairi, Muhmmad Numan, Shafi Ullah, Muhammad Kashif Obaid, Zia Ul Islam, Haroon Ahmed, Tetsuya Tanaka, Abid Ali
Summary: This study genetically characterized three species of the Haemaphysalis genus infesting goats and sheep in the Hindu Kush Himalayan range of Pakistan. The results showed that ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis have the potential of harboring and/or transmitting Rickettsia spp. It is the first study to genetically characterize Haemaphysalis kashmirensis.
Article
Parasitology
Estefani T. Martinez-Sanchez, Marelid Cardona-Romero, Mateo Ortiz-Giraldo, William David Tobon-Escobar, Daniel Moreno-Lopez, Paula A. Ossa-Lopez, Jorge E. Perez-Cardenas, Marcelo B. Labruna, Thiago F. Martins, Gabriel J. Castano-Villa, Fredy A. Rivera-Paez
Summary: Several species of bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia can cause diseases in domestic and wild animals as well as humans. These bacteria are considered emerging or reemerging and are transmitted by ticks, fleas, and lice vectors. Recent research in Colombia found Rickettsia species in ticks collected from wild birds, indicating a possible role of birds in the spread of ticks infected with Rickettsia. The study also identified new Rickettsia species in ticks from wild birds, contributing to the understanding of Rickettsia infections in Colombia. This research provided the first evidence of R. amblyommatis infection in the genus Ixodes in South America, and the presence of Rickettsia at elevations above 3000 m a.s.l.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kathryn T. Duncan, Amber Grant, Britny Johnson, Kellee D. Sundstrom, Meriam N. Saleh, Susan E. Little
Summary: The study found that Dermacentor ticks in the United States carry a variety of Rickettsia species, and may also act as potential vectors for other pathogens. The implications of these findings on animal and human health remain unclear.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hejia Ma, Jingkai Ai, Ming Kang, Jixu Li, Yali Sun
Summary: This study described the life cycle of Dermacentor nuttalli from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau under laboratory conditions. Two species of spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia were detected in the midgut and salivary glands of both field-collected and first laboratory generation adults. The findings provide new insights into pathogen detection in ticks in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Julia Gonzalez, Dina M. Fonseca, Alvaro Toledo
Summary: People frequently use parks and forested areas for outdoor activities. This study monitored the seasonal dynamics of ticks in forest/meadow and forest/path ecotones in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The most abundant tick species collected was Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species. The presence of anthropophilic ticks suggests the need for specific control approaches, and the high numbers of H. longicornis collected highlight the importance of monitoring its expansion as a potential vector of diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Michiel Wijnveld, Anna-Margarita Schoetta, Theresa Stelzer, Georg Duscher, Michael Leschnik, Hannes Stockinger, Per-Eric Lindgren, Gerold Stanek
Summary: By screening ticks collected from dogs in 2008, the study found DNA from a Babesia sp. and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli, which are novel for Austria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuhisa Nakajima, Yasunari Shigeta, Alexandra Houssaye, Yuri D. Zakharov, Alexander M. Popov, P. Martin Sander
Summary: This study describes the fossils of Ichthyopterygia reptiles found in the early Spathian stage in South Primorye, Russian Far East. The fossils represent a basal ichthyopterygian and a humerus of an ichthyopterygian, suggesting rapid diversification and high aquatic adaptation in Ichthyopterygia after the end-Permian mass extinction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Barbara Cristina Felix Nogueira, Artur Kanadani Campos, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Adriano Pinter, Thiago Fernandes Martins
Summary: Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans are scarce in Brazil, mainly reported by researchers and professionals. A literature review was conducted including studies published from 1909 to 2022. The study identified nine species in the Argasidae family and 32 species in the Ixodidae family that have been reported biting humans in Brazilian biomes. The species with the highest number of parasitism records was Amblyomma sculptum. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred. Several species known for transmitting pathogens were also reported.
Article
Entomology
Fengjiao Li, Zhihua Gao, Kuang Wang, Yinan Zhao, Hui Wang, Meichen Zhao, Yawen Zhao, Lingqian Bai, Zhijun Yu, Xiaolong Yang
Summary: The novel defensin-like gene Ds-defensin contributes to antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity in the tick Dermacentor silvarum. It shows potent activity against gram-positive bacteria and displays significant antioxidant capacity. The gene may play an important role in tick defense and interaction with microorganisms.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Tingwei Pei, Tianai Zhang, Miao Zhang, Chuks F. Nwanade, Ruotong Wang, Zihao Wang, Ruwei Bai, Zhijun Yu, Jingze Liu
Summary: This study reveals the important role of histone acetyltransferases in the adaptation of ticks to low temperatures, laying the foundation for further understanding of the epigenetic regulation of histone acetylation in cold-stressed ticks.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sandor Hornok, Sandor Szekeres, Gabor Horvath, Nora Takacs, Katinka Beko, Jeno Kontschan, Miklos Gyuranecz, Barnabas Toth, Attila D. Sandor, Alexandra Juhasz, Relja Beck, Robert Farkas
Summary: This study found that various ticks carrying tick-borne pathogens were found on wild boars in peri-urban areas of Hungary, suggesting that wild boars may play a significant role in the transmission of tick-borne diseases.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Misbah Tariq, Jun-Won Seo, Da Young Kim, Merlin Jayalal Lawrence Panchali, Na Ra Yun, You Mi Lee, Choon-Mee Kim, Dong-Min Kim
Summary: The study reports the first detection of R. raoultii in ticks in South Korea, extending the geographical distribution of the pathogen. Screening human samples for this pathogen will provide insight into the prevalence of rickettsial infections in the region.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Iftikhar Ahmad, Shafi Ullah, Abdulaziz Alouffi, Mashal M. Almutairi, Muhammad Numan, Tetsuya Tanaka, Shun-Chung Chang, Chien-Chin Chen, Abid Ali, Clive J. C. Phillips, Francesca Mancianti, Simona Nardoni, Valentina Virginia Ebani
Summary: This study provides the first morphological and molecular confirmation of Dermacentor marginatus in Pakistan, along with the identification of associated pathogens Anaplasma marginale and Rickettsia raoultii. The findings are significant for understanding the ticks and associated pathogens in the northern areas of Pakistan.
Article
Parasitology
Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Ewa Julia Mierzejewska, Anna Bajer
Summary: The study confirmed stable populations of D. reticulatus in Eastern and Central Poland, with lower prevalence on rodents in the Western region. The absence of juvenile D. reticulatus in Niewiadow indicated the existence of a gap area without these ticks.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kathryn T. Duncan, Mostafa S. Elshahed, Kellee D. Sundstrom, Susan E. Little, Noha H. Youssef
Summary: This study investigates the impact of tick microbiome on pathogen acquisition, maintenance, and transmission. The results suggest that tick microbiome composition and diversity are influenced by the tick's life stage, sex, and geographic region. The most abundant genera identified were Allofrancisella and Francisella, and certain bacteria species were found to be more prevalent in different regions. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering tick microbiome in understanding tick-borne diseases.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Vera Morozova, Mikhail Fofanov, Nina Tikunova, Igor Babkin, Vitaliy V. Morozov, Artem Tikunov
Article
Virology
Vera Morozova, Ghadeer Jdeed, Yuliya Kozlova, Igor Babkin, Artem Tikunov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: A novel Enterobacter cloacae phage, EC151, has been isolated and characterized, showing a siphovirus-like virion morphology. The EC151 genome is 60,753 bp in size, containing 58 putative genes, with limited similarity to other phage genomes in the NCBI GenBank database. Comparative proteomic phylogenetic analysis places EC151 in a distinct branch within a group of sequences sharing clades with Seuratvirus, Nonagvirus, and Vidquintavirus genera.
Article
Virology
Anton Chechushkov, Yuliya Kozlova, Ivan Baykov, Vera Morozova, Bogdana Kravchuk, Tatyana Ushakova, Alevtina Bardasheva, Ekaterina Zelentsova, Lina Al Allaf, Artem Tikunov, Valentin Vlassov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: Bacteriophages can affect the immune system of mice, with pre-existing antibodies against certain phages in mice before immunization. After immunization, levels of anti-phage antibodies increase and mouse serum demonstrates neutralizing properties against specific phage morphotypes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yana Igolkina, Vera Rar, Elena Krasnova, Eugenia Filimonova, Artem Tikunov, Tamara Epikhina, Nina Tikunova
Summary: This study aimed to determine the etiologic agents of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia during three epidemiological seasons. The findings showed that Rickettsia raoultii is a common agent of tick-borne rickettsioses in Novosibirsk Province, and DNA from Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia slovaca was found in clinical samples of patients in the Russian Federation for the first time.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Alevtina Bardasheva, Artem Tikunov, Yuliya Kozlova, Elena Zhirakovskaia, Valeriya Fedorets, Natalya Fomenko, Tatyana Kalymbetova, Svetlana Chretien, Vitaliy Pavlov, Nina Tikunova, Vera Morozova
Summary: A study in Novosibirsk, Siberian Russia, characterized 394 strains of staphylococci from humans and pets in terms of antibiotic resistance and genes, revealing some sensitive isolates but prevalent methicillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant strains across all major species. Specific genes associated with resistance were identified, indicating a complex pattern of multidrug resistance, with additional antibiotic resistance genes found in MDR strains. Additionally, biofilm-producing abilities and genes related to virulence and pathogenicity were more prominent in MDR S. epidermidis compared to S. haemolyticus.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
A. Y. Tikunov, A. N. Shvalov, V. V. Morozov, I. Babkin, G. Seledtsova, I. O. Voloshina, I. P. Ivanova, A. Bardasheva, V. V. Morozova, V. V. Vlasov, N. Tikunova
Summary: The study compared the biodiversity of the gut microbiota in patients with IBS, UC, and BA with that of healthy volunteers. Dysbiosis was found in patient samples, with a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in IBS and UC samples, and an increase in Proteobacteria sequences in all patient samples.
VAVILOVSKII ZHURNAL GENETIKI I SELEKTSII
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yana Igolkina, Vera Rar, Valeriy Yakimenko, Artem Tikunov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: A new candidate species of the spotted fever group, Candidatus Rickettsia thierseensis, was found in Austria and its gene sequences were highly similar to Candidatus Rickettsia uralica identified in Russia. Comparative sequence analysis confirmed that Candidatus R. uralica and Candidatus R. thierseensis are likely the same species.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Vera Morozova, Yuliya Kozlova, Ghadeer Jdeed, Artem Tikunov, Tatyana Ushakova, Alevtina Bardasheva, Elena Zhirakovskaia, Yuliya Poletaeva, Elena Ryabchikova, Nina V. Tikunova
Summary: Aeromonas popoffii is an environmental species that can cause urinary tract infections. The discovery of the A. popoffii bacteriophage AerP_220 in river water suggests a potential new species within the Autographiviridae family.
Article
Virology
Andrey Matveev, Yana Khlusevich, Irina Kozlova, Leonid Matveev, Lyudmila Emelyanova, Artem Tikunov, Ivan Baykov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: In this study, a new protective antibody FVN-32 against tick-borne encephalitis virus was discovered. The antibody showed 37.5% protective efficacy in a mouse model, and its epitope was localized in the glycoprotein E domain I+II.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yana Igolkina, Aleksey Nikitin, Yulia Verzhutskaya, Natalia Gordeyko, Artem Tikunov, Tamara Epikhina, Nina Tikunova, Vera Rar
Summary: The discovery of Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii in 2016 in the Asian region has significant implications for the phylogeny of basal groups in Rickettsia spp.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Vera Morozova, Yuliya Kozlova, Artem Tikunov, Igor Babkin, Tatyana Ushakova, Alevtina Bardasheva, Ghadeer Jdeed, Elena Zhirakovskaya, Alina Mogileva, Sergei Netesov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: Two novel P. protegens bacteriophages, PseuP_222 and Pseu_224, were isolated along with their host P. protegens CEMTC 4060 from the Inya river in Siberia. These phages have a siphovirus morphology and belong to lambdoid phages. Comparative genome analysis revealed their low similarity to other lambdoid phages and indicated that they belong to a genetically diverse group of phages of environmental Pseudomonas spp. The substantial divergences in their genomes and proteomes suggest that these phages have evolved independently and have recently started using the same host.
Article
Microbiology
Yana Igolkina, Valeriy Yakimenko, Artem Tikunov, Tamara Epikhina, Aleksey Tancev, Nina Tikunova, Vera Rar
Summary: The prevalence and genetic diversity of Rickettsia spp. were investigated in Ixodes apronophorus, Ixodes persulcatus, and Ixodes trianguliceps ticks from the same habitats in Western Siberia. Rickettsia helvetica was found in I. apronophorus, while Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae dominated in I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps were infected with Candidatus Rickettsia uralica, R. helvetica, and Ca. R. tarasevichiae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the high genetic variability of R. helvetica.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrey Matveev, Oleg Pyankov, Yana Khlusevich, Olga Tyazhelkova, Lyudmila Emelyanova, Anna Timofeeva, Andrey Shipovalov, Anton Chechushkov, Natalia Zaitseva, Gleb Kudrov, Gaukhar Yusubalieva, Saule Yussubaliyeva, Oxana Zhukova, Vladimir Baklaushev, Sergey Sedykh, Galina Lifshits, Artem Tikunov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: This study identified the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) that can cause antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in a SARS-CoV-2 in vivo model. The mAb RS2 showed high affinity for SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated neutralizing ability in vitro. It was also found that severe COVID-19 patients had antibodies competing with mAb RS2.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Igor Babkin, Artem Tikunov, Vera Morozova, Andrey Matveev, Vitaliy V. Morozov, Nina Tikunova
Summary: In this study, a unique phage genome was discovered during the analysis of the human gut virome. Comparative analysis identified two similar phage genomes, indicating the presence of a new species within the proposed Phassvirus genus. Furthermore, a group of divergent phage genomes including the proposed Phassvirus genus was identified in metagenome data. These findings highlight the importance of using different translation tables when depositing phage genomes in GenBank.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Vera Morozova, Igor Babkin, Yuliya Kozlova, Artem Tikunov, Tatiana Ushakova, Alevtina Bardasheva, Valeria Fedorets, Elena Zhirakovskaya, Nina Tikunova
Summary: Aeromonas salmonicida is a causative agent of septicemia in fish, leading to significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. The emergence of antibiotic resistance requires the development of alternative treatment methods, such as phage therapy. In this study, a novel A. salmonicida jumbo phage, AerS_266, was isolated and characterized. It specifically infects mesophilic A. salmonicida strains and has a slow lytic life cycle. The phage's genome contains 253 putative genes, including genes encoding two multisubunit RNA polymerases, chimallin and PhuZ, making it a phiKZ-like phage. This is the first phiKZ-like phage found to infect A. salmonicida, although similar phages have been described for other Aeromonas species.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Doni Zivotofsky, Tsachi Even Tzur, Gad Baneth
Summary: This study describes the presentation, clinical signs, parasitemia levels, laboratory findings and treatment of dogs infected with B. negevi. Treatment with imidocarb dipropionate was helpful for recovery from clinical disease but did not facilitate parasite elimination, and it is therefore recommended to treat canine B. negevi infection with the combination of atovaquone and azithromycin.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gervillien Arnold Malonga, Almoustapha Issiaka Maiga, Dimitry Moudiongui Mboungou Malanda, Mahamadou Saliou, Juth ece Private Malanda-Kiminou, Oumar Dolo, Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba, Alhassane Ba, Robert Murphy, Jean Felix Peko, Anne-Genevieve Marcelin, Vincent Calvez, Stephane Marot
Summary: A serological survey in sub-urban areas of the capital cities of Congo and Mali reveals human contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) associated with previously described CCHFV risk factors.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aleksander Wymazal, Sabina Nowak, Robert W. Myslajek, Anna Bajer, Renata Welc-Faleciak, Maciej Szewczyk, Iga Kwiatkowska, Kinga M. Stepniak, Michal Figura, Agnieszka Kloch
Summary: The wolf population in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing, but their frequent contacts with humans make them a potential zoonotic reservoir. This study found a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wolves from Poland.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nannet D. Fabri, Hans Heesterbeek, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Frauke Ecke, Hein Sprong, Lonneke Nijhuis, Tim R. Hofmeester, Nienke Hartemink
Summary: In many parts of the northern hemisphere, different species of deer, small mammals, and birds coexist and their composition can strongly influence the outbreak potential of tick-borne pathogens. This study investigates how the abundance and composition of vertebrate communities affect the basic reproduction number R0 of tick-borne pathogens, and shows that species composition plays a substantial role in the outbreak potential of tick-borne diseases.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lynn M. Osikowicz, Maria R. Rizzo, Andrias Hojgaard, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: This article describes the prevalence and diversity of Lyme disease in the United States. By using different detection methods, the authors found various species of spirochetes present in specific tick species, revealing the potential transmission of pathogens among ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
El-Sayed El-Alfy, Ibrahim Abbas, Somaya Saleh, Rana Elseadawy, Ragab M. Fereig, Mohamed Abdo Rizk, Xuenan Xuan
Summary: Published data on tick-borne pathogens in camels worldwide have been collected, providing an overview of their global prevalence and species diversity. Evidence of natural infection of camels with certain tick-borne pathogens is limited, particularly because most of the camels were considered healthy at the time of sampling. More research is needed to understand the role of camels in maintaining and transmitting these pathogens.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Saana Sipari, Mikko Kiljunen, Minna Nylund, Eva R. Kallio
Summary: This study introduces a stable isotope analysis method to directly identify tick breeding hosts by sampling field collected larvae. The results show that stable isotope signatures can reflect the diet of the breeding host of the mother tick.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)