Tick cell lines: tools for tick and tick-borne disease research.
Over 40 cell lines are currently available from 13 ixodid and one argasid tick species. The successful isolation and propagation of several economically important tick-borne pathogens in tick cell lines has created a useful model to study interactions between tick cells and these viral and bacterial disease agents. Tick cell lines have already proved to be a useful tool in helping to define the complex nature of the host-vector-pathogen relationship. With the availability of genomics tools, tick cell lines will become increasingly important as a complement to tick and tick-borne disease research in vivo once genetic transformation and gene silencing using RNA interference become routine.
Bell-Sakyi
Lesley
L
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. L.Sakyi@ed.ac.uk
Zweygarth
Erich
E
Blouin
Edmour F
EF
Gould
Ernest A
EA
Jongejan
Frans
F
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line / Q000469:parasitology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D012106:Research; D013045:Species Specificity; D013983:Tick Control / Q000379:methods*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D013987:Ticks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*