Background: Ticks, hematophagous Acari, pose a significant threat by transmitting various pathogens to their vertebrate hosts during feeding. Despite advances in tick genomics, high-quality genomes were lacking until recently, particularly in the genus Ixodes, which includes the main vectors of Lyme disease.
Results: Here, we present the genome sequences of four tick species, derived from a single female individual, with a particular focus on the European species Ixodes ricinus, achieving a chromosome-level assembly.
The vector competence of blood-feeding arthropods is influenced by the interaction between pathogens and the immune system of the vector. The Toll and IMD (immune deficiency) signaling pathways play a key role in the regulation of innate immunity in both the Drosophila model and blood-feeding insects. However, in ticks (chelicerates), immune determination for pathogen acquisition and transmission has not yet been fully explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by spirochetes, poses a significant threat to public health. While acaricides effectively control ticks on pets and livestock, their impact on pathogen transmission is often unclear. This study investigated the acaricidal efficacy of fipronil against ticks and its potential to block transmission.
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August 2024
The structure and biochemical properties of protease inhibitors from the thyropin family are poorly understood in parasites and pathogens. Here, we introduce a novel family member, Ir-thyropin (IrThy), which is secreted in the saliva of ticks, vectors of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. The IrThy molecule consists of two consecutive thyroglobulin type-1 (Tg1) domains with an unusual disulfide pattern.
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