Differential Tick Salivary Protein Profiles and Human Immune Responses to Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum) From the Wild vs. a Laboratory Colony

Abstract

Ticks are a growing concern to human and animal health worldwide and they are leading vectors of arthropod-borne pathogens in the United States. Ticks are pool blood feeders that can attach to the host skin for days to weeks using their saliva to counteract the host defenses. Tick saliva, as in other hematophagous arthropods, contains pharmacological and immunological active compounds, which modulate local and systemic immune responses and induce antibody production. In the present study, we explore differences in the salivary gland extract (SGE) protein content of Amblyomma americanum ticks raised in a laboratory colony (CT) vs. those collected in the field (FT). First, we measured the IgG antibody levels against SGE in healthy volunteers residing in Kansas. ELISA test showed higher IgG antibody levels when using the SGE from CT as antigen. Interestingly, antibody levels against both, CT-SGE and FT-SGE, were high in the warm months (May–June) and decreased in the cold months (September–November). Immunoblot testing revealed a set of different immunogenic bands for each group of ticks and mass spectrometry data revealed differences in at 19 proteins specifically identified in the CT-SGE group and 20 from the FT-SGE group. Our results suggest that differences in the salivary proteins between CT-SGE and FT-SGE may explain the differential immune responses observed in this study.

IgG antibody response against Anopheles salivary gland proteins in asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in Narino, Colombia

“…Similar trend has been observed in other studies measuring antibody responses against mosquito salivary antigens and has been associated with the development of tolerance against certain mosquito allergens [35,40,41]. Recent studies revealed important differences in salivary content in arthropods collected in the field when compared to the same species maintained in a colony [33]. Also, a previous study suggests the possibility of two An.…”

“…darlingi were maintained under insectary conditions until salivary gland dissection. Based on recent studies suggesting that time of colonization has an influence on arthropod salivary gland content [33], and that two different An. albimanus lineages are circulating in two geographically distant regions of Colombia, the potential differences in antibody responses against salivary content of two different strains of An.…”

IgG antibody response against Anopheles salivary gland proteins in asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in Narino, Colombia

“…Three of these species (An. Our recent studies revealed important differences in salivary content in arthropods collected in the field when compared to the same species maintained in a colony (34). Also, a previous study suggests This study has several limitations.…”

“…darlingi were maintained under insectary conditions until salivary gland dissection. based on our recent studies suggesting that time of colonization has an influence on arthropod salivary gland content (34), and that two different An. (Nys.)…”

IgG antibody response against Anopheles salivary gland proteins in asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in Narino, Colombia

“…Recent studies revealed important differences in salivary content in arthropods collected in the field when compared to the same species maintained in a colony [33]. Also, a previous study suggests the possibility of two An.…”