Journal article
Identification of Rhipicephalus microplus genes that modulate the infection rate of the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale
PloS one, Vol.9(3), pp.e91062-e91062
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/117270
PMCID: PMC3946687
PMID: 24608654
Abstract
Arthropod vectors transmit a diversity of animal and human pathogens, ranging from RNA viruses to protozoal parasites. Chemotherapeutic control of pathogens has classically focused either on insecticides that kill the vector itself or antimicrobials for infected patients. The limitation of the former is that it targets both infected and uninfected vectors and selects for resistant populations while the latter requires prompt and accurate diagnosis. An alternative strategy is to target vector molecules that permit the pathogen to establish itself, replicate, and/or develop within the vector. Using the rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale and its tropical tick vector, Rhipicephalus microplus, as a model, we tested whether silencing specific gene targets would affect tick infection rates (the % of fed ticks that are infected with the pathogen) and pathogen levels within infected ticks. Silencing of three R. microplus genes, CK187220, CV437619 and TC18492, significantly decreased the A. marginale infection rate in salivary glands, whereas gene silencing of TC22382, TC17129 and TC16059 significantly increased the infection rate in salivary glands. However in all cases of significant difference in the infection rate, the pathogen levels in the ticks that did become infected, were not significantly different. These results are consistent with the targeted genes affecting the pathogen at early steps in infection of the vector rather than in replication efficiency. Identifying vector genes and subsequent determination of the encoded functions are initial steps in discovery of new targets for inhibiting pathogen development and subsequent transmission.
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Details
- Title
- Identification of Rhipicephalus microplus genes that modulate the infection rate of the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale
- Creators
- Ricardo F Mercado-Curiel - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of AmericaMaría L Ávila-Ramírez - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of AmericaGuy H Palmer - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of AmericaKelly A Brayton - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.9(3), pp.e91062-e91062
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R37 AI044005 / NIAID NIH HHS GR075800M / Wellcome Trust Wellcome Trust AI044005 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI044005 / NIAID NIH HHS 35604-15440 / PHS HHS
- Identifiers
- 99900547845101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article