The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding

During feeding on vertebrate hosts, ticks secrete saliva composed of a rich cocktail of bioactive molecules modulating host immune responses. Although most of the proteinaceous fraction of tick saliva is of little immunogenicity, repeated feeding of ticks on mammalian hosts may lead to impairment of...

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Main Authors: Jan Perner, Dominic Helm, Per Haberkant, Tereza Hatalova, Sara Kropackova, Jose M. Ribeiro, Petr Kopacek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.563349/full
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author Jan Perner
Dominic Helm
Per Haberkant
Tereza Hatalova
Sara Kropackova
Jose M. Ribeiro
Petr Kopacek
author_facet Jan Perner
Dominic Helm
Per Haberkant
Tereza Hatalova
Sara Kropackova
Jose M. Ribeiro
Petr Kopacek
author_sort Jan Perner
collection DOAJ
description During feeding on vertebrate hosts, ticks secrete saliva composed of a rich cocktail of bioactive molecules modulating host immune responses. Although most of the proteinaceous fraction of tick saliva is of little immunogenicity, repeated feeding of ticks on mammalian hosts may lead to impairment of tick feeding, preventing full engorgement. Here, we challenged rabbits with repeated feeding of both Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults and observed the formation of specific antibodies against several tick salivary proteins. Repeated feeding of both I. ricinus stages led to a gradual decrease in engorged weights. To identify the salivary antigens, isolated immunoglobulins from repeatedly infested rabbits were utilized for a protein pull-down from the saliva of pilocarpine-treated ticks. Eluted antigens were first identified by peptide mass fingerprinting with the aid of available I. ricinus salivary gland transcriptomes originating from early phases of tick feeding. To increase the authenticity of immunogens identified, we also performed, for the first time, de novo assembly of the sialome from I. ricinus females fed for six days, a timepoint used for pilocarpine-salivation. The most dominant I. ricinus salivary immunogens identified in our study were zinc-dependent metalloproteases of three different families. To corroborate the role of metalloproteases at the tick/host interface, we fed ticks micro-injected with a zinc metalloprotease inhibitor, phosphoramidon, on a rabbit. These ticks clearly failed to initiate feeding and to engorge. However, neither feeding to ticks immune blood of repeatedly infested rabbits, nor phosphoramidon injection into ticks, prevented their engorgement when fed in vitro on an artificial membrane system. These data show that Zn metalloproteases play a decisive role in the success of tick feeding, mediated by complex molecular interactions between the host immune, inflammatory, and hemostatic processes, which are absent in in vitro feeding. This basic concept warrants further investigation and reconsideration of the current strategies towards the development of an effective “anti-tick” vaccine.
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spelling doaj.art-c010d216359f42d1b1e4fd67b03aeb4b2022-12-21T23:11:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882020-11-011010.3389/fcimb.2020.563349563349The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick FeedingJan Perner0Dominic Helm1Per Haberkant2Tereza Hatalova3Sara Kropackova4Jose M. Ribeiro5Petr Kopacek6Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, CzechiaProteomics Core Facility, The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, GermanyProteomics Core Facility, The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, GermanyInstitute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, CzechiaInstitute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, CzechiaLaboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United StatesInstitute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, CzechiaDuring feeding on vertebrate hosts, ticks secrete saliva composed of a rich cocktail of bioactive molecules modulating host immune responses. Although most of the proteinaceous fraction of tick saliva is of little immunogenicity, repeated feeding of ticks on mammalian hosts may lead to impairment of tick feeding, preventing full engorgement. Here, we challenged rabbits with repeated feeding of both Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults and observed the formation of specific antibodies against several tick salivary proteins. Repeated feeding of both I. ricinus stages led to a gradual decrease in engorged weights. To identify the salivary antigens, isolated immunoglobulins from repeatedly infested rabbits were utilized for a protein pull-down from the saliva of pilocarpine-treated ticks. Eluted antigens were first identified by peptide mass fingerprinting with the aid of available I. ricinus salivary gland transcriptomes originating from early phases of tick feeding. To increase the authenticity of immunogens identified, we also performed, for the first time, de novo assembly of the sialome from I. ricinus females fed for six days, a timepoint used for pilocarpine-salivation. The most dominant I. ricinus salivary immunogens identified in our study were zinc-dependent metalloproteases of three different families. To corroborate the role of metalloproteases at the tick/host interface, we fed ticks micro-injected with a zinc metalloprotease inhibitor, phosphoramidon, on a rabbit. These ticks clearly failed to initiate feeding and to engorge. However, neither feeding to ticks immune blood of repeatedly infested rabbits, nor phosphoramidon injection into ticks, prevented their engorgement when fed in vitro on an artificial membrane system. These data show that Zn metalloproteases play a decisive role in the success of tick feeding, mediated by complex molecular interactions between the host immune, inflammatory, and hemostatic processes, which are absent in in vitro feeding. This basic concept warrants further investigation and reconsideration of the current strategies towards the development of an effective “anti-tick” vaccine.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.563349/fullticksacquired resistanceantigenimmunoprecipitationvaccineIxodes ricinus
spellingShingle Jan Perner
Dominic Helm
Per Haberkant
Tereza Hatalova
Sara Kropackova
Jose M. Ribeiro
Petr Kopacek
The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
ticks
acquired resistance
antigen
immunoprecipitation
vaccine
Ixodes ricinus
title The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
title_full The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
title_fullStr The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
title_full_unstemmed The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
title_short The Central Role of Salivary Metalloproteases in Host Acquired Resistance to Tick Feeding
title_sort central role of salivary metalloproteases in host acquired resistance to tick feeding
topic ticks
acquired resistance
antigen
immunoprecipitation
vaccine
Ixodes ricinus
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.563349/full
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