Vector-borne infectious diseases

A lipid-binding protein in black-legged tick saliva selectively recognizes Borrelia burgdorferi lipids

The paper identifies a tick saliva protein that specifically binds to Borrelia burgdorferi lipids, suggesting a potential role in pathogen recognition.

Genome-wide CRISPR knockout cell screening platform for the disease vector tick species Ixodes scapularis

The paper develops a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening platform for Ixodes scapularis ticks and identifies genes associated with cellular fitness and drug resistance.

Heritable Immunization Establishes a New Model for Pathogen Control

This study genetically engineers mice to produce a protective antibody against Lyme disease, demonstrating heritable immunity that interrupts pathogen transmission.

Evaluating Acridones as Novel Therapeutics for Human Babesiosis

This study evaluates acridone derivatives as potential treatments for babesiosis, finding strong in vitro activity but limited in vivo efficacy.

Selective Activation of Macrophage Innate Signaling Pathways and Inflammatory Responses to Orientia tsutsugamushi Karp and Gilliam Strains

This study compares immune responses to Orientia tsutsugamushi Karp and Gilliam strains in macrophages, identifying strain-specific transcriptional signatures and differential effects on inflammation and host resistance.

A Broadly Conserved Protective Epitope on the Lyme Disease Vaccine Antigen, OspA

This paper identifies a conserved epitope on OspA that is broadly protective against multiple Borrelia genospecies, suggesting a basis for a universal Lyme disease vaccine.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) regulates skin eschar lesions, bacterial persistence, and inflammatory resolution in mouse models of scrub typhus

This study investigates the role of iNOS in regulating skin lesions, bacterial persistence, and inflammation resolution during scrub typhus in mice, showing its dual function in antimicrobial defense and inflammation control.

Efficacy of Purified Borrelial Lipoproteins (PBL) as an oral formulation in reducing transmission of Lyme spirochetes from reservoir hosts to Ixodes scapularis ticks

This study evaluates an oral vaccine formulation of purified Borrelial Lipoproteins (PBL) with adjuvants to reduce Lyme disease transmission from reservoir hosts to ticks.

Preliminary genomic data on five Orientia tsutsugamushi strains isolated in Vellore, India

This paper reports the first whole-genome sequences of Orientia tsutsugamushi from India, revealing higher repeat content than previously observed.

Phenology of questing Ixodes frontalis nymphs reveals a late-winter to early-spring activity peak

The paper surveys Ixodes frontalis nymphs across France to identify population dynamics, finding a main peak in March and an additional peak in August at one site.

Divergent Rickettsia species exhibit distinct mechanisms of actin-based motility

This study compares actin-based motility mechanisms in Rickettsia species, finding distinct roles and structures of Sca2 orthologs in R. parkeri and R. bellii.

Deer tick virus genotypes are perpetuated by different modes of transmission

The paper investigates how different genotypes of Deer tick virus (DTV) are perpetuated through various transmission modes, finding that some genotypes are linked to specific host associations while others are not.

Insights into tick-pathogen interactions - a single cell RNA sequencing approach of transcriptional changes during ehrlichial infection

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze transcriptional changes in ISE6 tick cells during Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis infection, revealing distinct cell states and time-dependent gene expression patterns.

Targeted mutagenesis in Ehrlichia canis deleting the phage head-to-tail connector protein gene and its assessment as a vaccine candidate preventing canine ehrlichiosis

This study deletes the phtcp gene in E. canis using targeted mutagenesis and shows the mutant induces immunity against wild-type infection in dogs.

An Fc-silent OspA monoclonal antibody passively protects mice from tick and intradermal Borrelia burgdorferi challenge

This study shows that an Fc-silent variant of the monoclonal antibody LA-2 provides equivalent passive protection against Borrelia burgdorferi in mice, suggesting its protective mechanism is independent of complement.

Ecological and socioeconomic factors associated with globally reported tick-borne viruses

This study identifies ecological and socioeconomic factors influencing the reporting of tick-borne viruses globally using machine learning on a comprehensive database.

An integrative framework identifies cooperative targeting of host pathways by tick salivary miRNAs

The paper identifies conserved miRNA-mRNA interactions in ticks that cooperatively target host genes involved in immune and tissue responses.

Comparative analysis of the EF-1α Intergenic Region in Babesia divergens isolates: Insights into TA Repeat Variation and Potential Regulatory Implications

This study compares the EF-1α intergenic region across Babesia divergens isolates, identifying TA repeat variation and its potential regulatory impact on gene expression.

Single cell immunophenotyping identifies CD8+ GZMK+ IFNG+ T cells as a key immune population in cutaneous Lyme disease

The paper uses scRNA-seq to analyze T cell responses in cutaneous Lyme disease, identifying CD8+ GZMK+ IFNG+ T cells as a key immune population with inflammatory properties.

Making the best of a sticky situation: Infection-mediated endothelial activation promotes new interactions with adhesins of the host-adapted Lyme disease spirochete

This study identifies eleven new adhesins in Borrelia burgdorferi that mediate interactions with activated endothelial cells during infection, revealing a dynamic network involved in spirochete transmigration.

Insights into the genetic diversity and population structure of prevalent Theileria orientalis in Bangladesh

This study assesses the prevalence, genetic diversity, and evolutionary divergence of Theileria orientalis in Bangladesh using MPSP gene analysis from bovine blood samples.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction from malaria rapid diagnostic tests to detect Borrelia crocidurae in febrile patients in Mali

This study detects Borrelia crocidurae DNA in febrile patients in Mali using malaria RDTs, finding 6% prevalence in negative RDTs from Kayes region.

A unifying theoretical framework for tick-borne disease risk to explain conflicting results of exclosure experiments across scales

The paper presents a spatial model explaining conflicting exclosure experiment results on tick-borne disease risk by incorporating host-mediated tick dispersal across scales.

A Humanized IFN-γ Mouse Model Reveals Skin Eschar Formation, Enhanced Susceptibility and Scrub Typhus Pathogenesis

This study develops a humanized IFN-γ mouse model that shows increased susceptibility to Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, skin eschar formation, and immune dysregulation, mimicking human scrub typhus pathogenesis.

Borrelia Burgdorferi binds Serum Amyloid A and Modulates Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Immune Signaling

This study shows Borrelia burgdorferi binds serum amyloid A and modulates immune signaling in subcutaneous adipose tissue, identifying SAA as a host defense factor.

Discovery of an Adaptive Neuroimmune Response Driving Itch and Fast Tick Removal with Implications for Preventing Pathogen Transmission

The paper identifies a neuroimmune response that enables rapid tick removal in guinea pigs and humans, independent of antibodies, offering a new strategy for preventing tick-borne diseases.

Seasonal changes in the population structure of Australpavlovskyella gurneyi, the kangaroo soft tick, associated with seasonal changes in the wallowing behaviour of the Osphranter rufus, the red kangaroo, and the weather

This study examines the seasonal population dynamics of Australpavlovskyella gurneyi ticks in relation to red kangaroo wallowing behavior and environmental conditions.

Diverse Lyme disease spirochete species evade restriction by human complement

This study evaluates how human complement sensitivity varies among 10 Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genospecies and shows age and sex-dependent differences in complement-mediated killing.

Temporal variation and drivers of Ixodiphagus hookeri parasitisation in Ixodes ricinus ticks in northern Europe

The paper presents a longitudinal study of Ixodiphagus hookeri parasitisation of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Finland, finding increasing parasitisation rates linked to global warming and factors like host and pathogen associations.

Relapsing fever Borrelia puertoricensis in migratory Mexican free-tailed bats, Oklahoma, USA, 2022-2023

The paper detects Borrelia puertoricensis in migratory Mexican free-tailed bats in Oklahoma, indicating potential role in dispersal of tick-borne pathogens.