title: Immunity-related genes in Ixodes scapularis--perspectives from genome information.
abstract: Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the deer tick, transmits a wide array of human and animal pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi. Despite substantial advances in our understanding of immunity in model arthropods, including other disease vectors, precisely how I. scapularis immunity functions and influences persistence of invading pathogens remains largely unknown. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recently sequenced I. scapularis genome for the occurrence of immune-related genes and related pathways. We will also discuss the potential influence of immunity-related genes on the persistence of tick-borne pathogens with an emphasis on the Lyme disease pathogen B. burgdorferi. Further enhancement of our knowledge of tick immune responses is critical to understanding the molecular basis of the persistence of tick-borne pathogens and development of novel interventions against the relevant infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D049750:Genome, Insect; D023281:Genomics; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D018884:Ixodes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Ixodes scapularis; genomics; immunity-related genes; innate response; ticks