Role of immune cell subsets in the establishment of vector‐borne infections

Abstract

Many of the pathogens responsible for diseases that result in both economic and global health burdens are transmitted by arthropod vectors in the course of a blood meal. In the past, these vectors were viewed mainly as simple delivery vehicles but the appreciation of the role that factors in the saliva of vectors play during pathogen transmission is increasing. Vector saliva proteins alter numerous physiological events in the skin; in addition, potent immunomodulatory properties are attributed to arthropod saliva. The description of specific factors responsible for these activities and their mechanisms of action have thus far remained mostly anecdotal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) sponsored a workshop in May 2012 to explore novel approaches aimed at identifying how vector saliva components affect the function of various immune cell subsets and the subsequent impact on the transmission of vector-borne pathogens. Such knowledge could guide the development of novel drugs, vaccines and other strategies to block the transmission of vector-borne pathogens. This meeting report summarizes the discussions of the gaps/challenges which represent attractive research opportunities with significant translational potential.

SalivaryAsHPX12influence pre-blood meal associated behavioral properties in the mosquitoAnopheles stephensi

“…The harmonious actions of the neuro-olfactory system drive mosquito's successful navigation towards a vertebrate host (11), but it is the salivary gland that facilitates rapid blood meal uptake from the respective host (12). The mosquito's salivary cocktail contains crucial bioactive molecules having antihomeostatic (13)(14)(15), anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties (16)(17)(18)(19), which counteract the host defense for rapid blood meal acquisition, usually in less than two minutes.…”

Association of Salivary Cholinesterase With Arthropod Vectors of Disease

“…Arthropod vector control has been predominantly dependent on use of chemical pesticides; however, the development and widespread establishment of pesticide resistance have increasingly compromised efficacy of most insecticides and acaricides used in vector control (Mallet 1989, Angus 1996, Styer et al 2011, Abbas et al 2014, Dudley et al 2017, Klafke et al 2017, Hancock et al 2018, WHO 2018. Salivary-assisted transmission of vector-borne disease is a well-known phenomenon in which pathogen transmission and establishment in the afflicted host is promoted by the presence of saliva from the vector (Jones et al 1992;Kovár 2004;Labuda 2004, 2008;Andrade et al 2005Andrade et al , 2007Thangamani et al 2010;Fontaine et al 2011;Styer et al 2011;Leitner et al 2011Leitner et al , 2012Surasombatpattana et al 2012;Kazimirova and Stibraniova 2013;Briant et al 2014;Schmid et al 2016;Wichit 2016;Pingen et al 2016Pingen et al , 2017Narasimhan et al 2017;Kazimírová et al 2017;Pinheiro et al 2018); however, the salivary components and mechanisms responsible for salivary-assisted transmission have not been fully elucidated and might be specific to different vector, pathogen, and host combinations. Temeyer and Tuckow (2016) reported acetylcholinesterase (AChE) presence in tick saliva and hypothesized that tick salivary AChE could affect the host immune response to parasitism and infection.…”

Does the Arthropod Microbiota Impact the Establishment of Vector-Borne Diseases in Mammalian Hosts?

“…We would like to thank Wolfgang Leitner for his insights and thorough reading of the manuscript, as well as all those who participated in the discussions at the NIH-funded workshop entitled “Role of immune-cell subsets in the establishment of vector-borne infections” held in 2012 [ 44 ].…”