Anti-tick vaccines in the omics era

Abstract

Tick vaccines have been available for more than 20 years. They are useful and effective control agents when used properly. However, no new products have emerged since the Bm86-based Gavac vaccine was commercialized. Acaricide resistance is a problem with no abatement in sight and anti-tick vaccines are likely to be relied upon even more in the coming years. As human medicine and plant agriculture has embraced the various technologies, the search for anti-tick vaccines would be well served to follow; so that new vaccine antigens and adjuvants might be developed to assist tick control programs. However, the simple outward appearance of ticks and their life cycle belies the complexity of their genomes which are computationally challenging to sequence and annotate. We review various research efforts in light of research on anti-tick vaccines.

Cocktail Anti-Tick Vaccines: The Unforeseen Constraints and Approaches toward Enhanced Efficacies

“…Since the inception of tick vaccines against Ixodid [ 26 ] and Argasid [ 28 ] ticks, numerous antigens have been identified [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. and the respective proteins (tick antigens) have been expressed in different systems.…”

“…Based on the evidence that native protein extracts induce an acquired resistance against ticks [ 26 ], various tick recombinant antigens have been identified [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. With the exception of Bm86 [ 34 , 35 ], few antigens have shown potential to be applied under field conditions.…”

“…For these reasons, alternative approaches to tick control have been suggested [ 18 ], of which vaccination or immunological control is regarded the most promising, environmentally friendly, and sustainable strategy. To date, numerous antigens have been reported to induce protection against Ixodid ticks [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] and less against Argasids [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Earlier, Willadsen [ 25 ] questioned whether combining antigens toward enhanced efficacy is a valid hypothesis.…”

“…Building on these observations, numerous recombinant tick antigens have been identified against Ixodid ticks [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], of which Bm86 is still the most successful under field conditions [ 34 , 35 ]. Additionally, Bm86 is shown to induce cross-protection against different tick species, but not against species such as Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus which affect livestock in Africa [ 36 ].…”

Kyasanur Forest Disease in India: innovative options for intervention

“…The reverse vaccinological approaches may be attempted by exploring the valuable genomic information available for ticks in order to identify highly immunogenic multiple antigenic peptides, as the promising efforts are already underway. 17 The proposed strategy of developing a common edible KFD vaccine with a dual-purpose, i.e., immunizing nonhuman primates and humans would be advantageous over the conventional strategy of a vaccine targeting human only in the view of the cost, and time required. The combined China effect of vaccinating non-human primates would also help in decreasing the death of monkeys as well as curtailing further KFDV transmission to humans.…”