Targeting the tick-pathogen interface for novel control strategies.
Ticks are ectoparasites of wild and domestic animals and humans that most notably impact global health by transmitting disease-causing pathogens. While information on the molecular interactions between ticks and pathogens that facilitate pathogen infection, development and transmission is limited, a comprehensive understanding of the tick-pathogen interface would be fundamental toward development of new and novel measures for control of both tick infestations and tick-borne pathogens. Recently, vaccine studies using key tick antigens and characterization of tick gene function by RNA interference (RNAi) have provided new information on genes that impact the tick-pathogen interface. In this review we summarize current research and prospects of tick vaccines and genetic manipulation of ticks targeted to the tick-pathogen interface. The knowledge gained from these collective studies will be fundamental toward understanding of tick-pathogen interactions and for formulation of control methods targeted at both ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Use of these molecular approaches will likely contribute to control measures that will notably reduce tick populations and tick-borne diseases in the future.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. jose.de_la_fuente@okstate.edu
Jose
J
de la Fuente
Katherine M
KM
Kocan
Consuelo
C
Almazan
Edmour F
EF
Blouin
D000818:Animals; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000276:immunology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013987:Ticks / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014612:Vaccines