Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of one of the most severe tick-borne diseases in the United States. The compounding factors of rickettsial pathogenicity and route of tick transmission (horizontal and vertical) influence the ecology and epidemiology of human rickettsioses. Our long term goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that are central to rickettsial transmission by ticks. The bacterial-derived molecular determinants of rickettsial infection of vertebrate cells have been described using various in vitr models. Our research indicates that rickettsial infection of tick hosts also utilizes similar processes described for infection of vertebrate host cells. However, the role of rickettsial proteins in tick infection is unknown. Likewise, although the tick actively responds to the infecting rickettsiae, the central mechanisms orchestrating the tick-derived response are not known. Thus, the experimental focus of this application emphasizes the roles of pathogenic determinants underlying rickettsial infection and the bacterial-induced alterations of the tick immune response mediating successful rickettsial colonization of the vector. The following specific aims will provide a better understanding of the constituents of rickettsial infection and transmission in arthropod vectors. 1) Defining the contribution of conserved surface cell antigens (Sca) to SFG Rickettsia infection of the tick vector. Sca proteins are known to be essential to rickettsial infection and dissemination in vertebrate cells. We hypothesize that there will be a distinct profile associated with infection of the arthropod vector. The objective of this aim is to define the role for rickettsial proteins during the infection process in the tick host. 2 To determine how the tick immune response to SFG Rickettsia correlates to vector competence. A vigorous tick response to SFG Rickettsia supports a species-specific host response to rickettsial infection. Therefore we hypothesize that a central molecule, Relish, is responsible for the balance between successful rickettsial colonization and clearance from the arthropod host. The objective of this aim is to delineate the IMD immune signaling system focusing on the production of active Relish in the tick host.
Despite the overlapping distribution of ticks with multiple Rickettsia species, in nature, individual tick species are not infected with a diverse range of rickettsial species. We will examine the specificity of tick/Rickettsia relationships and delineate the molecular mechanisms of tick vector competence for spotted fever group Rickettsia to better understand the ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne rickettsial diseases.
| Harris, Emma K; Jirakanwisal, Krit; Verhoeve, Victoria I et al. (2018) The role of Sca2 and RickA in the dissemination of Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma maculatum. Infect Immun : |
| Sonenshine, Daniel E; Macaluso, Kevin R (2017) Microbial Invasion vs. Tick Immune Regulation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:390 |
| Harris, Emma K; Verhoeve, Victoria I; Banajee, Kaikhushroo H et al. (2017) Comparative vertical transmission of Rickettsia by Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 8:598-604 |
| Banajee, K H; Verhoeve, V I; Harris, E K et al. (2016) Effect of Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) Saliva on the Acute Cutaneous Immune Response to Rickettsia parkeri Infection in a Murine Model. J Med Entomol 53:1252-1260 |
| Petchampai, Natthida; Sunyakumthorn, Piyanate; Banajee, Kaikhushroo H et al. (2015) Identification of host proteins involved in rickettsial invasion of tick cells. Infect Immun 83:1048-55 |
| Riley, Sean P; Macaluso, Kevin R; Martinez, Juan J (2015) Electrotransformation and Clonal Isolation of Rickettsia Species. Curr Protoc Microbiol 39:3A.6.1-20 |
| Banajee, Kaikhushroo H; Embers, Monica E; Langohr, Ingeborg M et al. (2015) Correction: Amblyomma maculatum Feeding Augments Rickettsia parkeri Infection in a Rhesus Macaque Model: A Pilot Study. PLoS One 10:e0137598 |
| Pornwiroon, Walairat; Bourchookarn, Apichai; Paddock, Christopher D et al. (2015) Immunoproteomic profiling of Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia amblyommii. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 6:829-35 |
| Brown, Lisa D; Christofferson, Rebecca C; Banajee, Kaikhushroo H et al. (2015) Cofeeding intra- and interspecific transmission of an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen. Mol Ecol 24:5475-89 |
| Banajee, Kaikhushroo H; Embers, Monica E; Langohr, Ingeborg M et al. (2015) Amblyomma maculatum Feeding Augments Rickettsia parkeri Infection in a Rhesus Macaque Model: A Pilot Study. PLoS One 10:e0135175 |
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