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.
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
Lesley
L
Bell-Sakyi
Erich
E
Zweygarth
Edmour F
EF
Blouin
Ernest A
EA
Gould
Frans
F
Jongejan
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*