The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum).
The Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, transmits several bacterial pathogens including species of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Amblyomma americanum also hosts a number of non-pathogenic bacterial endosymbionts. Recent studies of other arthropod and insect vectors have documented that commensal microf...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4709196?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811338447486451712 |
|---|---|
| author | R T Trout Fryxell J M DeBruyn |
| author_facet | R T Trout Fryxell J M DeBruyn |
| author_sort | R T Trout Fryxell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, transmits several bacterial pathogens including species of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Amblyomma americanum also hosts a number of non-pathogenic bacterial endosymbionts. Recent studies of other arthropod and insect vectors have documented that commensal microflora can influence transmission of vector-borne pathogens; however, little is known about tick microbiomes and their possible influence on tick-borne diseases. Our objective was to compare bacterial communities associated with A. americanum, comparing Anaplasma/Ehrlichia -infected and uninfected ticks. Field-collected questing specimens (n = 50) were used in the analyses, of which 17 were identified as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia infected based on PCR amplification and sequencing of groEL genes. Bacterial communities from each specimen were characterized using Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries. There was a broad range in diversity between samples, with inverse Simpson's Diversity indices ranging from 1.28-89.5. There were no statistical differences in the overall microbial community structure between PCR diagnosed Anaplasma/Ehrlichia-positive and negative ticks, but there were differences based on collection method (P < 0.05), collection site (P < 0.05), and sex (P < 0.1) suggesting that environmental factors may structure A. americanum microbiomes. Interestingly, there was not always agreement between Illumina sequencing and PCR diagnostics: Ehrlichia was identified in 16S rRNA gene libraries from three PCR-negative specimens; conversely, Ehrlichia was not found in libraries of six PCR-positive ticks. Illumina sequencing also helped identify co-infections, for example, one specimen had both Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Other taxa of interest in these specimens included Coxiella, Borrelia, and Rickettsia. Identification of bacterial community differences between specimens of a single tick species from a single geographical site indicates that intra-species differences in microbiomes were not due solely to pathogen presence/absence, but may be also driven by vector life history factors, including environment, life stage, population structure, and host choice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:10:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1778c3e4d9ed421498bebc772a19778c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:10:53Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-1778c3e4d9ed421498bebc772a19778c2022-12-22T02:35:52ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01111e014665110.1371/journal.pone.0146651The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum).R T Trout FryxellJ M DeBruynThe Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, transmits several bacterial pathogens including species of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Amblyomma americanum also hosts a number of non-pathogenic bacterial endosymbionts. Recent studies of other arthropod and insect vectors have documented that commensal microflora can influence transmission of vector-borne pathogens; however, little is known about tick microbiomes and their possible influence on tick-borne diseases. Our objective was to compare bacterial communities associated with A. americanum, comparing Anaplasma/Ehrlichia -infected and uninfected ticks. Field-collected questing specimens (n = 50) were used in the analyses, of which 17 were identified as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia infected based on PCR amplification and sequencing of groEL genes. Bacterial communities from each specimen were characterized using Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries. There was a broad range in diversity between samples, with inverse Simpson's Diversity indices ranging from 1.28-89.5. There were no statistical differences in the overall microbial community structure between PCR diagnosed Anaplasma/Ehrlichia-positive and negative ticks, but there were differences based on collection method (P < 0.05), collection site (P < 0.05), and sex (P < 0.1) suggesting that environmental factors may structure A. americanum microbiomes. Interestingly, there was not always agreement between Illumina sequencing and PCR diagnostics: Ehrlichia was identified in 16S rRNA gene libraries from three PCR-negative specimens; conversely, Ehrlichia was not found in libraries of six PCR-positive ticks. Illumina sequencing also helped identify co-infections, for example, one specimen had both Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Other taxa of interest in these specimens included Coxiella, Borrelia, and Rickettsia. Identification of bacterial community differences between specimens of a single tick species from a single geographical site indicates that intra-species differences in microbiomes were not due solely to pathogen presence/absence, but may be also driven by vector life history factors, including environment, life stage, population structure, and host choice.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4709196?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | R T Trout Fryxell J M DeBruyn The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). PLoS ONE |
| title | The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). |
| title_full | The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). |
| title_fullStr | The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). |
| title_short | The Microbiome of Ehrlichia-Infected and Uninfected Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). |
| title_sort | microbiome of ehrlichia infected and uninfected lone star ticks amblyomma americanum |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4709196?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rttroutfryxell themicrobiomeofehrlichiainfectedanduninfectedlonestarticksamblyommaamericanum AT jmdebruyn themicrobiomeofehrlichiainfectedanduninfectedlonestarticksamblyommaamericanum AT rttroutfryxell microbiomeofehrlichiainfectedanduninfectedlonestarticksamblyommaamericanum AT jmdebruyn microbiomeofehrlichiainfectedanduninfectedlonestarticksamblyommaamericanum |