Article
Microbiology
Nina S. Smirnova, Alexey Kostarnoy, Alexey Kondratev, Petya G. Gancheva, Daniil A. Grumov, Alexander L. Gintsburg
Summary: The diagnostic value of IgA antibody determination was investigated in patients with tick-borne spotted fever. The analysis of both IgA and IgM can significantly enhance the accuracy of diagnostics of tick-borne spotted fever rickettsiosis.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Victor Arahirwa, Katherine Tyrlik, Haley Abernathy, Caitlin Cassidy, Aidin Alejo, Odai Mansour, Dana Giandomenico, Amanda Brown Marusiak, Ross M. Boyce
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. A retrospective cohort study found that the probability of treatment delay increased significantly in the post-COVID period, but there was no significant difference in the probability of diagnosis delay. These findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the timeliness of treatment for tick-borne diseases.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Li-Feng Du, Ming-Zhu Zhang, Ting-Ting Yuan, Xue-Bing Ni, Wei Wei, Xiao-Ming Cui, Ning Wang, Tao Xiong, Jie Zhang, Yu-Sheng Pan, Dai-Yun Zhu, Liang-Jing Li, Luo-Yuan Xia, Tian-Hong Wang, Ran Wei, Hong-Bo Liu, Yi Sun, Lin Zhao, Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam, Wu-Chun Cao, Na Jia
Summary: This study demonstrates that the host skin microbiome may be a new factor determining the transmission of rickettsial pathogens through ticks. While pathogenic rickettsiae infect vertebrate hosts during blood-feeding by the tick, they may also manipulate the maturation of the tick through changing the functional potential of its microbiota over the tick's life stages. The findings here might spur the development of new-generation control methods for ticks and tick-borne pathogens.
Article
Microbiology
Monirul I. I. Sajib, Pooja Lamba, Eric D. D. Spitzer, Luis A. A. Marcos
Summary: Cases of RMSF are increasing in Long Island, New York. A high number of referrals with positive RMSF IgG test results have been seen in a tick-borne disease clinic, but most of them do not have a clinical picture consistent with RMSF. False-positive serologies may be due to other spotted fever rickettsioses in the area, and further studies are needed to investigate the presence of other Rickettsia spp. in this area that may affect humans.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Liliane Silva Duraes, Karla Bitencourth, Frederico Rodrigues Ramalho, Mario Cirio Nogueira, Emilia de Carvalho Nunes, Gilberto Salles Gazeta
Summary: Spotted Fever Rickettsioses (SFR) are diseases caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia, mainly transmitted by ticks. The eco-epidemiological dynamics of SFR in Brazil, particularly in the state of Parana, show a complex relationship with environmental factors and socio-economic indicators. Public health initiatives are needed to better understand the vulnerability factors and dynamics of SFR in Parana.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
A. Salpietro, M. Fusco, M. C. Mercuri, S. Sestito, L. Oreto, G. F. Parisi, G. Ceravolo, F. Borgia, R. De Sarro, I Ceravolo, R. Chimenz, C. Cuppari
Summary: Tick-borne diseases are increasing, with various clinical conditions and symptoms similar to common childhood illnesses. Identifying exposure location, rash features, and tick vectors can help in disease recognition, treatment, and prevention.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Luke Helminiak, Smruti Mishra, Hwan Keun Kim
Summary: Rickettsiae are Gram-negative microbial species that have an obligatory intracellular lifecycle between mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors. Infections caused by arthropod-borne Rickettsia continue to be a significant public health concern due to environmental changes and increased exposure to humans. However, the technical difficulties in studying Rickettsia have hindered our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in rickettsial pathogenesis and disease transmission. Recent advances in genetic tools for Rickettsia have allowed researchers to identify virulence genes, uncover molecular functions, and investigate host responses to rickettsial determinants. Therefore, ongoing efforts to identify virulence genes and their biological functions will enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms associated with arthropod-borne rickettsioses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guo-Ping Zhao, Yi-Xing Wang, Zheng-Wei Fan, Yang Ji, Ming-jin Liu, Wen-Hui Zhang, Xin-Lou Li, Shi-Xia Zhou, Hao Li, Song Liang, Wei Liu, Yang Yang, Li-Qun Fang
Summary: Understanding the ecological niches of major tick species and prevalent tick-borne pathogens is crucial for efficient surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases. The study in China reveals that Haemaphysalis longicornis harbors the highest variety of tick-borne agents among various tick species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Julian W. Bakker, Hannah L. M. Begemann, Manoj Fonville, Helen J. Esser, Willem F. de Boer, Hein Sprong, Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt
Summary: Vertically transmitted symbionts are associated with increased tick weight, while horizontally transmitted symbionts are associated with lower weight and lipid fraction. Horizontally transmitted symbionts are also associated with increased tick activity, which may benefit pathogen transmission and increase tick-borne disease hazard.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sally J. Cutler, Muriel Vayssier-Taussat, Agustin Estrada-Pena, Aleksandar Potkonjak, Andrei D. Mihalca, Herve Zeller
Summary: Although multiple pathogens have been reported to be tick-borne, our understanding of the interactions of these agents within ticks and vertebrate hosts remains limited, especially in humans. Research on co-infections is scarce, and there is a need to further investigate the interactions of pathogen combinations between vertebrate hosts and tick vectors.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Naokatsu Ando, Satoshi Kutsuna, Saho Takaya, Yuichi Katanami, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This study reports three new cases of African tick bite fever (ATBF) in Japan and provides a literature review. The findings contribute to the understanding of the epidemiological and clinical profiles of ATBF patients in Japan, and offer important insights for diagnosis and prevention of this disease in the region.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Giovanni Sgroi, Roberta Iatta, Riccardo Paolo Lia, Nicola D'Alessio, Ranju Ravindran Santhakumari Manoj, Vincenzo Veneziano, Domenico Otranto
Summary: A study in southern Italy investigated the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in wild boars and their ticks, finding that wild boars are commonly infested by ticks, with some ticks carrying SFG Rickettsia species. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated management for wild boar population control and prevention of zoonotic pathogen transmission.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yongli Xiao, Paul A. Beare, Sonja M. Best, David M. Morens, Marshall E. Bloom, Jeffery K. Taubenberger
Summary: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, which was detected in an unopened bottle of vaccine developed before 1944 using DNA analysis. The vaccine contained DNA from the tick vector, the complete genome of Rickettsia rickettsii, as well as the complete genome of another pathogen, Coxiella burnetii. The study suggests that this early vaccine was likely a bivalent vaccine for RMSF and Q-fever, and provides valuable insights into the history of vaccine development.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Eun-Ha Kim, Su-Jin Park
Summary: This review summarizes the latest research on SFTSV, including its molecular characteristics, transmission pathways, and advances in vaccine and antiviral drug development.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nikolaos Spernovasilis, Ioulia Markaki, Michail Papadakis, Nikolaos Mazonakis, Despo Ierodiakonou
Summary: Mediterranean spotted fever is an emerging tick-borne rickettsiosis in the Mediterranean basin, caused by Rickettsia conorii subspecies conorii. The brown dog tick is the arthropod vector of this bacterium. Typical symptoms include fever, rash, and eschar, with atypical features and severe complications also possible.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Xinyi Cao, Dayong Zhao, Chaoran Li, Lisa Roettjers, Karoline Faust, Hongjie Zhang
Summary: The study reveals that the composition and ecological assembly processes of bacterioplankton community significantly diverge during the regime shift from MDR to PDR. The alpha diversity of bacterioplankton community decreases continuously with the shift, while beta diversity shows different patterns. The contribution of deterministic processes to the assembly of bacterioplankton community initially decreases and then increases again along the regime shift, likely due to differences in nutrient concentration.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lisa Roettjers, Karoline Faust
Summary: Mako is a software tool that converts microbiome data and networks into a graph database, allowing users to carry out network-based queries without programming knowledge. It is accompanied by a database compiled from 60 microbiome studies, and users can easily extend it with their own data. This work demonstrates Mako's strengths through examples of association partners linked to propionate production and comparison of network motifs across different habitat types.
Correction
Biochemical Research Methods
Lisa Rottjers, Karoline Faust
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tinh Van Nguyen, Tomeu Viver, Jonah Mortier, Bin Liu, Ilse Smets, Kristel Bernaerts, Karoline Faust, Rob Lavigne, Laurent Poughon, Claude-Gilles Dussap, Dirk Springael
Summary: A thermophilic bacterium, strain MDTJ8, was isolated from an anaerobic digestor and shown to produce n-caproate from carbohydrates at high temperatures. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of genes responsible for chain elongation and energy conservation in MDTJ8, opening up possibilities for thermophilic bioprocesses targeting anaerobic digestion. The ability of MDTJ8 to convert various carbohydrates to n-caproate suggests its potential applications in value-added chemical production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Karin Persson Waller, Kerstin Dahlgren, Giulio Grandi, Maya Louise Holding, Katarina Naslund, Anna Omazic, Hein Sprong, Karin Ullman, Mikael Leijon
Summary: A disease outbreak in a Swedish cattle herd may be caused by an unusual type of Mycoplasma in combination with immune suppression due to granulocytic anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The latter bacterium is widespread in the herd and also found in wild deer and ticks.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Charlotte van de Velde, Clemence Joseph, Kenneth Simoens, Jeroen Raes, Kristel Bernaerts, Karoline Faust
Summary: Synthetic communities grown in well-controlled conditions are important for understanding community dynamics. We used an automated fermentation system to study a synthetic human gut bacterial community and found that technical variability is the main source of variability in community profiling with 16S rRNA sequencing. HPLC and flow cytometry data showed low variability, suggesting a highly deterministic system.
Article
Microbiology
Tryntsje Cuperus, Ankje de Vries, Ryanne I. I. Jaarsma, Hein Sprong, Miriam Maas
Summary: This study found the presence of multiple (tick-borne) zoonotic pathogens in European moles, including spotted fever Rickettsia, Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp., and Hantaviridae. However, no pathogens relevant to humans were found. Although the zoonotic risk from moles appears limited, our results indicate that these animals do play a role in multiple host-pathogen cycles.
Review
Parasitology
Clara Florentine Kohler, Maya Louise Holding, Hein Sprong, Patrick A. Jansen, Helen J. Esser
Summary: Biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases are major global challenges. Restoring ecosystems needs to take into account the risk of tick-borne diseases and the interaction between vertebrate diversity and pathogen transmission. Long-term surveillance of wildlife communities, ticks, and their pathogens is crucial to prevent tick-borne diseases from increasing during nature restoration.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Claude Saegerman, Marie-France Humblet, Marc Leandri, Gaelle Gonzalez, Paul Heyman, Hein Sprong, Monique L'Hostis, Sara Moutailler, Sarah I. Bonnet, Nadia Haddad, Nathalie Boulanger, Stephen Leib, Thierry Hoch, Etienne Thiry, Laure Bournez, Jana Kerlik, Aurelie Velay, Solveig Jore, Elsa Jourdain, Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont, Katharina Brugger, Julia Geller, Marie Studahl, Natasa Knap, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Daniel P. Ruzek, Tizza Zomer, Rene Bodker, Thomas F. H. Berger, Sandra Martin-Latil, Nick De Regge, Alice A. Raffetin, Sandrine Lacour, Matthias Klein, Tinne Lernout, Elsa Quillery, Zdenek Hubalek, Francisco Ruiz-Fons, Agustin Estrada-Pena, Philippe Fravalo, Pauline Kooh, Florence Etore, Celine M. Gossner, Bethan Purse
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an endemic viral disease in Eurasia, primarily transmitted to humans through ticks and occasionally through unpasteurized milk products. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported an increase in TBE incidence over the years, as well as its emergence in new areas. Through expert knowledge elicitation, we identified nine key drivers for TBE emergence and increased incidence, including changes in human behavior, eating habits, landscape, humidity, difficulty in controlling reservoirs and vectors, temperature, wildlife compartments, increase in autochthonous wild mammals, and distribution of tick species vectors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Rios Garza, Didier Gonze, Haris Zafeiropoulos, Bin Liu, Karoline Faust
Summary: The human gut is a complex ecosystem with hundreds of microbial species interacting with each other and the human host. Mathematical models of the gut microbiome have been used to explain observations, but the traditional Lotka-Volterra model lacks interaction mechanisms and metabolic flexibility. Recent models that describe gut microbial metabolite production and consumption have been used to study the factors shaping gut microbial composition and their impact on metabolite concentrations in diseases. This review discusses how these models are built, what we have learned so far, and the current challenges and future directions.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Aitor Garcia-Vozmediano, Daniele De Meneghi, Hein Sprong, Aranzazu Portillo, Jose A. Oteo, Laura Tomassone
Summary: We analyzed the surveillance systems in the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy to identify the ideal elements for monitoring and preventing tick-borne diseases (TBD). The Dutch initiative showed a high level of transdisciplinary collaboration, while Italy and Spain's surveillance systems were based on compulsory notification. The Dutch initiative yielded measurable outcomes, such as a reduction in tick bites and the discovery of new pathogens. However, the initiatives characterized by transdisciplinary collaboration may be more effective in surveillance and prevention of TBD.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Charlotte C. van de Velde, Clemence Joseph, Anais Biclot, Geert R. B. Huys, Vitor B. Pinheiro, Kristel Bernaerts, Jeroen Raes, Karoline Faust
Summary: A new approach is proposed for high-throughput and high-quality enumeration of human gut bacteria, combining flow cytometry and supervised classification. The method performs equally well or better than 16S rRNA gene sequencing in cocultures and agrees with sequencing data on the most abundant species in a community.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)