36 research outputs found
Functional perspectives on the evolution of argasid tick salivary gland protein superfamilies
Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentThesis (PhD (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2002.Biochemistryunrestricte
Chemical equilibrium at the tick-host feeding interface : a critical examination of biological relevance in hematophagous behavior
Ticks secrete hundreds to thousands of proteins into the feeding site, that presumably
all play important functions in the modulation of host defense mechanisms. The current
review considers the assumption that tick proteins have functional relevance during
feeding. The feeding site may be described as a closed system and could be treated
as an ideal equilibrium system, thereby allowing modeling of tick–host interactions in
an equilibrium state. In this equilibrium state, the concentration of host and tick proteins
and their affinities will determine functional relevance at the tick–host interface. Using this
approach, many characterized tick proteins may have functional relevant concentrations
and affinities at the feeding site. Conversely, the feeding site is not an ideal closed
system, but is dynamic and changing, leading to possible overestimation of tick protein
concentration at the feeding site and consequently an overestimation of functional
relevance. Ticks have evolved different possible strategies to deal with this dynamic
environment and overcome the barrier that equilibrium kinetics poses to tick feeding.
Even so, cognisance of the limitations that equilibrium binding place on deductions
of functional relevance should serve as an important incentive to determine both the
concentration and affinity of tick proteins proposed to be functional at the feeding site.The Economic Competitive
Support Programme (30/01/V010), the National Research
Foundation (NRF) Incentive Funding (IFR2011032400016) for
Rated Researchers (NRF-Mans), and the National Research
Foundation (NRF) Competitive Funding for Rated Researchers
(CPRR180101296400).http://www.frontiersin.org/Physiologyam2019Veterinary Tropical Disease
Quantitative visions of reality at the tick-host interface: biochemistry, genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics as measures of complete inventories of the tick sialoverse
Species have definitive genomes. Even so, the transcriptional and translational products
of the genome are dynamic and subject to change over time. This is especially true for
the proteins secreted by ticks at the tick-host feeding interface that represent a complex
system known as the sialoverse. The sialoverse represent all of the proteins derived
from tick salivary glands for all tick species that may be involved in tick-host interaction
and the modulation of the host’s defense mechanisms. The current study contemplates
the advances made over time to understand and describe the complexity present in
the sialoverse. Technological advances at given periods in time allowed detection of
functions, genes, and proteins enabling a deeper insight into the complexity of the
sialoverse and a concomitant expansion in complexity with as yet, no end in sight. The
importance of systematic classification of the sialoverse is highlighted with the realization
that our coverage of transcriptome and proteome space remains incomplete, but that
complete descriptions may be possible in the future. Even so, analysis and integration of
the sialoverse into a comprehensive understanding of tick-host interactions may require
further technological advances given the high level of expected complexity that remains
to be uncoveredNational Research Foundation of South Africahttp://frontiersin.org/Cellular_and_Infection_Microbiologypm2020Veterinary Tropical Disease
An exotic souvenir on a German traveler returning from South Africa
The study reports the finding of a nymph attached to a German tourist during a holiday in South Africa. The nymph specimen was morphologically identified and confirmed by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes. The nymph was identified as Rhipicephalus maculatus, a rare tick reported in humans. Screening using the pan-Rickettsia-PCR for infection gave a negative result.https://link.springer.com/journal/436hj2023Veterinary Tropical Disease
An insight into the sialome of blood feeding Nematocera
Within the Diptera and outside the suborder Brachycera, the blood feeding habit occurred at least
twice, producing the present day sand flies, and the Culicomorpha, including the mosquitoes (Culicidae),
black flies (Simulidae), biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) and frog feeding flies (Corethrellidae).
Alternatives to this scenario are also discussed. Successful blood feeding requires adaptations to
antagonize the vertebrate’s mechanisms of blood clotting, platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, pain and
itching, which are triggered by tissue destruction and immune reactions to insect products. Saliva of these
insects provides a complex pharmacological armamentarium to block these vertebrate reactions. With the
advent of transcriptomics, the sialomes (from the Greek word sialo=saliva) of at least two species of each
of these families have been studied (except for the frog feeders), allowing an insight into the diverse
pathways leading to today’s salivary composition within the Culicomorpha, having the sand flies as an
outgroup. This review catalogs 1,288 salivary proteins in 10 generic classes comprising over 150 different
protein families, most of which we have no functional knowledge. These proteins and many sequence
comparisons are displayed in a hyperlinked spreadsheet that hopefully will stimulate and facilitate the
task of functional characterization of these proteins, and their possible use as novel pharmacological
agents and epidemiological markers of insect vector exposure
Editorial : Soft ticks as parasites and vectors
Soft ticks are interesting ectoparasites due to their ecological habits and unique
blood-feeding biology. The wide-ranging nature of research into these parasites is
reflected in the diverse set of papers captured in this special issue. Fundamental
questions are addressed in the 9 articles included in this Research Topic that
focuses on ecology, tick-host interaction, host associations, geographic distribution, and
microbial endosymbionts.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-scienceam2023Veterinary Tropical Disease
Virulence of Trypanosoma congolense strains isolated from cattle and African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax are major species that infect cattle in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Of the two genetically distinct types of T. congolense, Savannah and Kilifi sub-groups, isolated from cattle and tsetse flies in KZN, the former is more prevalent and thought to be responsible for African animal trypanosomosis outbreaks in cattle. Furthermore, variation in pathogenicity within the Savannah sub-group is ascribed to strain differences and seems to be related to geographical locations. The objective of the present study was to compare the virulence of T. congolense strains isolated from African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and from cattle on farms near wildlife parks ( 10 km) from parks. To obtain T. congolense isolates, blood of known parasitologically positive cattle or cattle symptomatically suspect with trypanosomosis, as well as isolates from buffaloes kept inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park were passaged in inbred BALB/c mice. A total of 26 T. congolense isolates were obtained: 5 from buffaloes, 13 from cattle kept near parks and 8 from cattle distant from parks. Molecular characterisation revealed 80% and 20% of isolates to belong to T. congolense Savannah and Kilifi, respectively. To compare virulence, each isolate was inoculated into a group of six mice. No statistical differences were observed in the mean pre-patent period, maximum parasitaemia or drop in packed cell volume (PCV). Significant differences were found in days after infection for the drop in PCV, the patent period and the survival time. These differences were used to categorise the isolates as being of high, moderate or low virulence. Based on the virulence, 12 of 26 (46%) isolates were classified as highly virulent and 27% each as either of moderate or of low virulence. Whilst 11 of 12 high virulent strains were from buffaloes or cattle near the park, only 1 of 7 low virulent strains was from these animals. All the Kilifi T. congolense types were less virulent than the Savannah types. These results confirmed the higher virulence of T. congolense Savannah type compared to Kilifi type and indicated the prevalence of highly virulent strains to be higher in wildlife parks and in cattle near the parks than on farms further away. The geographical location of these strains in relation to the wildlife parks in the area was discussed.Department of Science and Technology,
the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the ARC.http://www.ojvr.orgtm201
Gene duplication and protein evolution in tick-host interactions
Ticks modulate their hosts' defense responses by secreting a biopharmacopiea of hundreds to thousands of proteins and bioactive chemicals into the feeding site (tick-host interface). These molecules and their functions evolved over millions of years as ticks adapted to blood-feeding, tick lineages diverged, and host-shifts occurred. The evolution of new proteins with new functions is mainly dependent on gene duplication events. Central questions around this are the rates of gene duplication, when they occurred and how new functions evolve after gene duplication. The current review investigates these questions in the light of tick biology and considers the possibilities of ancient genome duplication, lineage specific expansion events, and the role that positive selection played in the evolution of tick protein function. It contrasts current views in tick biology regarding adaptive evolution with the more general view that neutral evolution may account for the majority of biological innovations observed in ticks.The Economic Competitive
Support Programme (30/01/V010) and the National
Research Foundation (NRF) Incentive Funding
(IFR2011032400016) for Rated Researchers (NRF-Mans).
MdC was supported by an NRF/Department of Science
and Technology—Professional Development Program
(NRF/DST-PDP) studentship.http://www.frontiersin.org/Cellular_and_Infection_Microbiologyam2017Veterinary Tropical Disease
Geographic distribution of Theileria sp. (buffalo) and Theileria sp. (bougasvlei) in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in southern Africa : implications for speciation
Strict control measures apply to movement of buffalo in South Africa including testing for Theileria parva, the causative
agent of Corridor disease in cattle. The official test is a real-time hybridization PCR assay that amplifies the 18S rRNA V4
hyper-variable region of T. parva, T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Mixed infections with the latter organisms affect
diagnostic sensitivity due to PCR suppression. While the incidence of mixed infections in the Corridor disease endemic
region of South Africa is significant, little information is available on the specific distribution and prevalence of T. sp.
(buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei). Specific real-time PCR assays were developed and a total of 1211 samples known to
harbour these parasites were screened. Both parasites are widely distributed in southern Africa and the incidence of mixed
infections with T. parva within the endemic region is similar (25–50%). However, a significant discrepancy exists in
regard to mixed infections of T. sp. (buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) (10%). Evidence for speciation between T. sp.
(buffalo) and T. sp. (bougasvlei) is supported by phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene, and their designation as different
species. This suggests mutual exclusion of parasites and the possibility of hybrid sterility in cases of mixed infections.The Theileria Diagnostics
project of Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (project
number 15/08/1P01) and a contract grant from the
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (grant number
OV21/03/C148).http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PARam201
A remarkable assemblage of ticks from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber
DATA: The data reported in this paper are detailed in the main text.Four fossil ticks (Arachnida: Parasitiformes: Ixodida) are described from mid-Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) Burmese amber of Myanmar. Ixodes antiquorum sp. nov. (Ixodidae) is the first Mesozoic record of Ixodes and the oldest representative of the most species-rich extant tick genus. Its affinities appear to lie with modern Australian forms, consistent with the hypothesis that Burmese amber hosted Gondwanan faunal elements. Even more remarkable is Khimaira fossus gen. et sp. nov. which combines a body resembling that of a soft tick (Argasidae) with a basis capitulum more like that of a hard tick (Ixodidae). We refer it to Khimairidae fam. nov. as a possible transitional form between the two main families of ticks alive today. Another member of the extinct Deinocrotonidae is described as Deinocroton copia sp. nov., while the first described adult female for Cornupalpatum burmanicum is associated with a dinosaur feather barb.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/parasitologyhj2023Veterinary Tropical Disease