title: Resistance of the tick dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) following challenge with the bacterium Escherichia coli (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae).
abstract: In addition to a soluble response, many invertebrates control bacterial infections by means of phagocytosis or melanotic encapsulation. In some insects, Escherichia coli growth is reported to be inhibited by aggregation/encapsulation. Soluble and phagocytic responses to bacterial challenge have been reported in ticks, but evidence of an aggregation / encapsulation response was reported only for inanimate (araldite) implants. Ticks were challenged by direct inoculation of bacteria into the hemocoel cavity. By plating, no viable E. coli were detected 6 h postinoculation. A direct fluorescence assay (DFA) revealed aggregated bacteria 1 h postinoculation. Furthermore, DFA showed aggregated bacteria at 6,24, and 48 h postinoculation associated with masses of tissue, presumably of cellular origin, suggesting events similar to those described as nodulation. These findings suggest that encapsulation/ nodulation may be an important component of the immune response in ticks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.
authors.forename: Shane M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ceraul
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sonenshine
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hynes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006434:Hemocytes; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins