title: Ticks elicit variable fibrinogenolytic activities upon feeding on hosts with different immune backgrounds.
abstract: Ticks secrete several anti-hemostatic factors in their saliva to suppress the host innate and acquired immune defenses against infestations. Using Ixodes scapularis ticks and age-matched mice purchased from two independent commercial vendors with two different immune backgrounds as a model, we show that ticks fed on immunodeficient animals demonstrate decreased fibrinogenolytic activity in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Reduced levels of D-dimer (fibrin degradation product) were evident in ticks fed on immunodeficient animals in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Increased engorgement weights were noted for ticks fed on immunodeficient animals in comparison to ticks fed on immunocompetent animals. Furthermore, the LC-MS/MS and quantitative real-time-PCR analysis followed by inhibitor and antibody-blocking assays revealed that the arthropod HSP70-like molecule contributes to differential fibrinogenolysis during tick feeding. Collectively, these results not only indicate that ticks elicit variable fibrinogenolysis upon feeding on hosts with different immune backgrounds but also provide insights for the novel role of arthropod HSP70-like molecule in fibrinogenolysis during blood feeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vora
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Taank
authors.affiliation: Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Sucharita M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Durland
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sonenshine
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.|School of Medical Diagnostic and Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Catravas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.|Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Hameeda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.|Center for Molecular Medicine, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neelakanta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000187:drug effects; D018884:Ixodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011684:Purine Nucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D011684:Purine Nucleosides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C550733:VER 155008; D005340:Fibrinogen; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases