“…Additionally, a decrease in Sphingomonas was observed in A. phagocytophilum-positive larva samples compared with non-infected larva samples, as shown in Figure 2B. This result seems to align with a previous finding on competition between A. phagocytophilum and Sphingomonas in the tick Ixodes scapularis (Mazuecos et al 2023). Other studies have suggested that unfed wild hard ticks harbor a limited internal microbiome, and the mid gut of hard ticks may be an environment that is largely inhospitable for bacterial growth (Ross et al 2018), owing to nutrient limitation and desiccation (Radolf et al 2012;Sonenshine et al 2014;Zhang et al 2017).…”
The Korea Combat Training Center (KCTC), located in Gangwon Province, is a restricted military training facility where research on the environmental conditions and health risks to military personnel has been limited. In this study, using iSeq 100, we investigated the bacterial abundance and microbiome of Haemaphysalis longicornis specimens collected at the KCTC from June to August 2022, to assess current and potential public health risks to military personnel. Our results show that adult ticks had significantly greater species richness compared with larvae and nymphs, with no notable differences in diversity across developmental stages. Principal coordinate analysis of the microbial communities did not show differences attributable to any single factor, such as collection location or date. Coxiella‐like endosymbionts (AB001519) were identified in all 13 samples, and Jatrophihabitans, Sphingomonas, and Spirosoma were consistently found across all samples. In addition, iSeq 100 also identified Rickettsia rickettsii and Borrelia spp., which were not detected with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
“…Additionally, a decrease in Sphingomonas was observed in A. phagocytophilum-positive larva samples compared with non-infected larva samples, as shown in Figure 2B. This result seems to align with a previous finding on competition between A. phagocytophilum and Sphingomonas in the tick Ixodes scapularis (Mazuecos et al 2023). Other studies have suggested that unfed wild hard ticks harbor a limited internal microbiome, and the mid gut of hard ticks may be an environment that is largely inhospitable for bacterial growth (Ross et al 2018), owing to nutrient limitation and desiccation (Radolf et al 2012;Sonenshine et al 2014;Zhang et al 2017).…”
The Korea Combat Training Center (KCTC), located in Gangwon Province, is a restricted military training facility where research on the environmental conditions and health risks to military personnel has been limited. In this study, using iSeq 100, we investigated the bacterial abundance and microbiome of Haemaphysalis longicornis specimens collected at the KCTC from June to August 2022, to assess current and potential public health risks to military personnel. Our results show that adult ticks had significantly greater species richness compared with larvae and nymphs, with no notable differences in diversity across developmental stages. Principal coordinate analysis of the microbial communities did not show differences attributable to any single factor, such as collection location or date. Coxiella‐like endosymbionts (AB001519) were identified in all 13 samples, and Jatrophihabitans, Sphingomonas, and Spirosoma were consistently found across all samples. In addition, iSeq 100 also identified Rickettsia rickettsii and Borrelia spp., which were not detected with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
“…Thus, the bacteria genera herein appointed as associated with the MCV group, such as Escherichia-Shigella and Francisella , could help us, until a certain point, diminish the vectorial competence for several pathogens of a PCV tick species. As an example, such an approach can be performed as recently proposed by Mazuecos and collaborators ( 19 ) where modified symbiont Sphingomonas promoted a reduction of A. phagocytophilum in I. scapularis ticks. Thus, changing the tick’s microbiota using the abovementioned bacteria associated with mono-competent vector ticks could be a method to reduce such a broad vector competence.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Moreover, a point of view from tick species that are competent to transmit several pathogens in comparison with those that have a narrower vector competence could bring us insights into control mechanisms to decrease such a broad competence. For instance, the introduction of modified symbiont Sphingomonas in tick microbiota has been demonstrated to reduce Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in I. scapularis ticks ( 19 ). Along these lines, the first group of ticks could be assigned as being pluri-competent vectors (PVC) while the second group of ticks as being mono-competent vectors (MCV).…”
Ticks harbor and transmit many different pathogens. While some species are competent vectors of a single pathogen, mono-competent vectors (MCV), other species are proven to be competent vectors of several pathogens, pluri-competent vectors (PCV). Such a difference in vector competence might be related to the microbiome. To better comprehend its influence on the vector competence of ticks for one or several pathogens, a data-driven approach using publicly available databases was applied on bacterial 16S rRNA from MCV and PCV tick species. Alpha and beta diversity, co-occurrence networks, and functional profiles were analyzed. A differential analysis was performed to identify bacterial genera associated with PCV ticks. These tick species presented higher richness, and the bacterial composition showed a significant difference between MCV and PCV ticks. The bacteria genera of PCV ticks demonstrated fewer correlations within each other in comparison with MCV ticks. The differential analysis revealed 14 bacteria genera related to PCV tick species, such as
Rickettsia
,
Staphylococcus
, and
Corynebacterium
. Using 24 differently abundant genera, tick samples from another data set could be classified into either PCV or MCV with high accuracy and concordance. Moreover, pathway regulation related to reactive oxygen species detoxification, β-Lactam resistance, and dTDP-L-rhamnose biosynthesis could be participating in the competence of PCV ticks for several tick-borne pathogens. These findings enlighten our understanding of the bacteria community’s role on some tick species’ broad vector competence.
IMPORTANCE
Some tick species are competent to transmit more than one pathogen while other species are, until now, known to be competent to transmit only one single or any pathogen. Such a difference in vector competence for one or more pathogens might be related to the microbiome, and understanding what differentiates these two groups of ticks could help us control several diseases aiming at the bacteria groups that contribute to such a broad vector competence. Using 16S rRNA from tick species that could be classified into these groups, genera such as Rickettsia and Staphylococcus seemed to be associated with such a broad vector competence. Our results highlight differences in tick species when they are divided based on the number of pathogens they are competent to transmit. These findings are the first step into understanding the relationship between one single tick species and the pathogens it transmits.
“… Figure 6 Flow cytometry analysis of Franken Sphingomonas -HSP70 and Franken Sphingomonas -MSP4 after 6 h of induction time with 250 μM Vanillate Represented data have been obtained from experimental assay described by Mazuecos et al. 1 Abbreviations: ab, antibody; FrankenSp, Franken Sphingomonas . Note: A FACSCalibur cytometer (BD Biosciences) was used for the flow cytometry analysis.…”
Section: Step-by-step Methods Detailsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“… Represented data have been obtained from experimental assay described by Mazuecos et al. 1 Abbreviations: ab, antibody; FrankenSp, Franken Sphingomonas . …”
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