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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2022; 11(12); 1478; doi: 10.3390/pathogens11121478

Differential Expression of Immune Genes in the Rhipicephalus microplus Gut in Response to Theileria equi Infection.

Abstract: is the only tick species known to serve as a biological vector of for horses and other equids in Brazil. The protozoan is one of the causal agents of equine piroplasmosis, a major threat in horse breeding systems. Vector competence is closely linked to the pathogens' ability to evade tick defense mechanisms. However, knowledge of tick immune response against infections by hemoparasites of the genus is scarce. In the present study, the expression of genes involved in immune signaling pathways of adults' guts when challenged with a high or low parasitic load of was evaluated. This research demonstrates divergences in the immune gene expression pattern linked to infection in since the Toll, IMD, and JNK signaling pathways were transcriptionally repressed in the guts of adult ticks infected with . Moreover, the results showed that different infectious doses of induce differential gene expression of key components of immune signaling cascades in gut, suggesting a link between the intensity of infection and the activation of tick immunity response. The present study adds knowledge to elucidate the gut immune signaling response of to infection. In addition, the generated data can serve as a basis for further investigations to develop strategies for controlling and preventing equine piroplasmosis.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-06 PubMed ID: 36558812PubMed Central: PMC9782190DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121478Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study focuses on how tick defense mechanisms respond to Theileria equi, a parasite implicated in equine piroplasmosis, a significant threat to horse breeding in Brazil. The study particularly investigates the patterns of immune gene expression in the gut of adult Rhipicephalus microplus ticks when exposed to different parasitic loads of the protozoan.

Objective and Background of the Study

  • The study revolves around Rhipicephalus microplus, a tick species known as the principal vector for Theileria equi, a harmful parasite that instigates equine piroplasmosis. This disease poses a serious hazard to horse breeding programs, especially in Brazil.
  • The effectiveness of the tick as a vector is linked to the ability of the pathogen to evade the tick’s defense mechanisms, implying that the tick’s immune response plays a significant role in the spread of the disease.
  • Given this implication, the study sought to fill the knowledge gap associated with the tick’s immune response by assessing the expression of genes involved in its immune signaling pathways when challenged with varying levels of Theileria equi infection.

Methods and Findings

  • The researchers investigated the effect of different parasitic loads of Theileria equi on the gut gene expression in adult Rhipicephalus microplus ticks.
  • The study revealed that immune gene expression varies according to the intensity of Theileria equi infection. Specifically, immune signaling pathways like Toll, IMD, and JNK were transcriptionally repressed in infected ticks’ guts.
  • It was found out that different infectious doses of Theileria equi could induce differential gene expression of crucial components of immune signaling cascades.

Significance and Implications of the Research

  • The research is key in enhancing the understanding of the gut immune signaling response of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks to Theileria equi infection.
  • The findings underscore the link between the severity of infection and activation of the tick’s immunity response. As such, the study adds to the pool of knowledge that can be used to inform strategies aimed at controlling and preventing equine piroplasmosis.
  • The dataset generated from the study can act as a basis for additional investigations towards developing effective control and preventative measures against this disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Paulino PG, Peckle M, Mendonça LP, Massard CL, Antunes S, Couto J, Domingos A, Guedes Junior DDS, Cabezas-Cruz A, Santos HA. (2022). Differential Expression of Immune Genes in the Rhipicephalus microplus Gut in Response to Theileria equi Infection. Pathogens, 11(12), 1478. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121478

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 12
PII: 1478

Researcher Affiliations

Paulino, Patrícia Gonzaga
  • Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica 23890-000, Brazil.
Peckle, Maristela
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica 23890-000, Brazil.
Mendonça, Leo Paulis
  • Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica 23890-000, Brazil.
Massard, Carlos Luiz
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica 23890-000, Brazil.
Antunes, Sandra
  • Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
Couto, Joana
  • Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
Domingos, Ana
  • Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
Guedes Junior, Daniel da Silva
  • Vaccine Complex, Quality Department-Biomolecular and Immunocytochemistry Tests Section, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro
  • UMR BIPAR INRAE-ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
Santos, Huarrisson Azevedo
  • Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica 23890-000, Brazil.

Grant Funding

  • E-26/201.342/2021 / Fundau00e7u00e3o Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
  • 313753/2021-0 / National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsors had no role in the study’s design, experimental procedures, analyses, interpretation of data, writing of the manuscript, or decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Szczotko M, Antunes S, Domingos A, Dmitryjuk M. Investigation of genes expression of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway and AMPs in the presence of Borrelia spirochetes in Ixodes ricinus. Sci Rep 2025 Jan 22;15(1):2869.
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