Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-85624-5
Publication Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
6095 (1-13)
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit multiple pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, and encode many proteins harboring epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. We show that I. scapularis produces multiple orthologs for Bm86, a widely studied tick gut protein considered as a target of an anti-tick vaccine, herein termed as Is86. We show that Is86 antigens feature at least three identifiable regions harboring EGF-like domains (termed as EGF-1, EGF-2, and EGF-3) and are differentially upregulated during B. burgdorferi infection. Although the RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Is86 genes did not show any influences on tick engorgement or B. burgdorferi sensu stricto persistence, the immunization of murine hosts with specific recombinant EGF antigens marginally reduced spirochete loads in the skin, in addition to affecting tick blood meal engorgement and molting. However, given the borderline impact of EGF immunization on tick engorgement and pathogen survival in the vector, it is unlikely that these antigens, at least in their current forms, could be developed as potential vaccines. Further investigations of the biological significance of Is86 (and other tick antigens) would enrich our knowledge of the intricate biology of ticks, including their interactions with resident pathogens, and contribute to the development of anti-tick measures to combat tick-borne illnesses.
Rights
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.
Original Publication Citation
Koči, J., Bista, S., Chirania, P., Yang, X., Kitsou, C., Rana, V. S., Yas, O. B., Sonenshine, D. E., & Pal, U. (2021). Antibodies against EGF-like domains in Ixodes scapularis BM86 orthologs impact tick feeding and survival of Borrelia burgdorferi. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-13, Article 6095. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85624-5
Repository Citation
Koči, Juraj; Bista, Sandhya; Chirania, Payal; Yang, Xiuli; Kitsou, Chrysoula; Rana, Vipin Singh; Yas, Ozlem Buyuktanir; Sonenshine, Daniel E.; and Pal, Utpal, "Antibodies Against EGF-Like Domains in Ixodes scapularis BM86 Orthologs Impact Tick Feeding and Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi" (2021). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 466.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/466
ORCID
0000-0001-9370-918X (Sonenshine)