TY - JOUR
T1 - Tick-Borne pathogens and defensin genes expression
T2 - A closer look at Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus
AU - Szczotko, Magdalena
AU - Antunes, Sandra
AU - Domingos, Ana
AU - Kubiak, Katarzyna
AU - Dmitryjuk, Małgorzata
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Science Development Fund of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland [No.12.610.012-110].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - The immune system of ticks, along with that of other invertebrates, is comparatively simpler than that of vertebrates, relying solely on innate immune responses. Direct antimicrobial defence is provided by the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including defensins. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in defensin genes expression between questing and engorged Ixodes ricinus (def1 and def2) and Dermacentor reticulatus (defDr) ticks, in the presence of selected pathogens: Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis in the natural environment. After pathogen screening by PCR/qPCR, the expression of defensin genes in pathogen positive ticks and ticks without any of the tested pathogens, was analysed by reverse transcription qPCR. The results showed an increased expression of defensin genes in I. ricinus ticks after blood feeding and I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks during in cases of co-infection. In particular, the expression of defensins genes was higher in questing D. reticulatus than in questing and engorged I. ricinus ticks, when borreliae were detected. This study contributes to uncovering the expression patterns of defensin genes in the presence of several known tick pathogens, the occurrence of these pathogens and possible regulatory mechanisms of defensins in tick vector competence.
AB - The immune system of ticks, along with that of other invertebrates, is comparatively simpler than that of vertebrates, relying solely on innate immune responses. Direct antimicrobial defence is provided by the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including defensins. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in defensin genes expression between questing and engorged Ixodes ricinus (def1 and def2) and Dermacentor reticulatus (defDr) ticks, in the presence of selected pathogens: Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis in the natural environment. After pathogen screening by PCR/qPCR, the expression of defensin genes in pathogen positive ticks and ticks without any of the tested pathogens, was analysed by reverse transcription qPCR. The results showed an increased expression of defensin genes in I. ricinus ticks after blood feeding and I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks during in cases of co-infection. In particular, the expression of defensins genes was higher in questing D. reticulatus than in questing and engorged I. ricinus ticks, when borreliae were detected. This study contributes to uncovering the expression patterns of defensin genes in the presence of several known tick pathogens, the occurrence of these pathogens and possible regulatory mechanisms of defensins in tick vector competence.
KW - Defensins
KW - Innate immune system
KW - Tick-borne pathogens
KW - Ticks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199148421&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105231
DO - 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105231
M3 - Article
C2 - 39043336
AN - SCOPUS:85199148421
SN - 0145-305X
VL - 160
JO - Developmental and Comparative Immunology
JF - Developmental and Comparative Immunology
M1 - 105231
ER -