Tick borne diseases continue to emerge in the United States. Powassan virus (POWV), transmitted by the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis, is a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) complex. It causes encephalitis, including fatal neuroinvasive disease in approximately 10% of cases, and long-lasting neurological sequelae have been documented in 50% of survivors. POWV has recently re-emerged, as evident by the increase in number and expanding geographic range of confirmed cases (USGS, 2015; CDC). POWV transmitted to humans by infected ticks, and successful transmission of POWV can occur within three hours of Ixodes scapularis attachment. Successful tick feeding is facilitated by a collection of pharmacologically active factors/proteins in tick saliva, which are secreted into the feeding pool that the tick creates on the vertebrate host. The skin serves as the interface of host-virus-tick interactions; therefore, the objective of this proposal is to investigate cutaneous host immunomodulation by POWV-infected ticks while examining components of tick saliva that lead to a more favorable environment for virus transmission, and identify salivary components that enhances POWV infection. We will test our hypothesis by exploring the following specific aims: (1) Investigate the role of POWV infected tick saliva in modulating immune responses at the bite site to facilitate POWV transmission and dissemination; (2) Identify the specific tick salivary protein/s that potentiate POWV transmission. The proposed research is innovative and novel because we, for the first time, will examine the molecular mechanisms involved in potentiation of a tick borne virus at the tick-host interface. We will also investigate concurrently both host and vector attributes of POWV infection using a systems biology approach. This has never been attempted before. The proposed project will also identify POWV infected cells at the site of tick feeding using Laser Scanning Cytometer that will provide us with precise identification of the type, number, time, and location of immune cells associated with early tick feeding time points. We will also identify the salivary protein/s that enhances POWV infection and dissemination, and also check if antibodies to these proteins will attenuate virus infection. This proposed work will make a significant contribution to the field because it will employ systems biology approach, cutting-edge technologies and innovative ideas to understand the mechanisms and identify salivary components that lead to a more favorable environment for tick-borne virus transmission. Overall, these studies will fill the gaps in our current knowledge/understanding of tick-borne viral infection that continues to increase in prevalence, and provide a new line of investigation of the tick-pathogen-host interface. This, in turn, will lead to development of countermeasures that will attenuate the virus infection.

Public Health Relevance

Our application will systematically investigate the tick-virus-host interface during the first 6 hours of tick feeding, and will identify specific salivary components facilitating POWV transmission. The information gained from this application will build a foundation towards the future development of salivary protein immunogens that will lead to development of countermeasures that will attenuate the virus infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01AI127771-03
Application #
9852172
Study Section
Vector Biology Study Section (VB)
Program Officer
Alarcon, Rodolfo M
Project Start
2019-05-01
Project End
2022-04-30
Budget Start
2019-05-01
Budget End
2020-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Upstate Medical University
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
058889106
City
Syracuse
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
13210
Hermance, Meghan E; Thangamani, Saravanan (2018) Tick?Virus?Host Interactions at the Cutaneous Interface: The Nidus of Flavivirus Transmission. Viruses 10:
Kenney, Joan L; Anishchenko, Michael; Hermance, Meghan et al. (2018) Generation of a Lineage II Powassan Virus (Deer Tick Virus) cDNA Clone: Assessment of Flaviviral Genetic Determinants of Tick and Mosquito Vector Competence. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 18:371-381
Hermance, Meghan E; Thangamani, Saravanan (2017) Powassan Virus: An Emerging Arbovirus of Public Health Concern in North America. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 17:453-462
Kazimírová, Mária; Thangamani, Saravanan; Bartíková, Pavlína et al. (2017) Tick-Borne Viruses and Biological Processes at the Tick-Host-Virus Interface. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:339
Thangamani, Saravanan; Hermance, Meghan E; Santos, Rodrigo I et al. (2017) Transcriptional Immunoprofiling at the Tick-Virus-Host Interface during Early Stages of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:494