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Researchers from the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (Irnasa-Csic) and the National Research Institute on Agriculture, Food and Environment (Inrae) of France are testing a vaccine against soft ticks.
This study is based on proteins present in the bacteria of their intestinal and salivary microbiota, a novel and promising approach to control these ticks, which represent a threat to public health in Sub-Saharan Africa by being transmitters of diseases that affect both people. like cattle.
The work has focused on the Ornithodorosmoubata tick, which acts as a vector of diseases such as Human Relapsing Fever (HRF), of bacterial origin and which has a high perinatal mortality (in an advanced state of gestation or in newborns) in the regions of East Africa where it is persistently found.
It is also found in African Swine Fever (ASF), a viral pandemic that wreaks havoc on pig farms in 50 countries and four continents, with a mortality rate that can reach 100%.
As detailed by Irnasa-Csic researcher Ana Laura Cano Argüelles, O. moubata “spends most of its biological cycle hidden in the burrow of its hosts, but it is also capable of colonizing people’s residences and the environments where domestic animals are found”.
Its control and eradication is now extremely complex, since traditional strategies based on chemical insecticides are increasingly less effective, with the emergence of resistant strains, to which is added a growing concern about the contamination of the environment and animal products. .
“It is urgent to look for alternatives and vaccines against ticks have emerged as a very promising strategy,” he emphasizes. Irnasa-Csic works along this line from different approaches.
One of them is to take advantage of the salivary and intestinal microbiota of O. moubata to identify bacterial strains that can be used as vaccine targets, with the aim of inducing an immune response against these bacteria capable of causing damage to the physiology of the tick and its ability to transmit pathogens.
Analysis and tests
The team of researchers has carried out a strategy that combines ‘in silico’ (computational) and ‘in vivo’ analyzes (vaccination trials in rabbits) with the aim of proving that “by directing the immune response against key species of that microbiome we can generate some harmful effect on the tick,” says Cano Argüelles.
The researchers identified Pseudomonas as a key bacterial genus in the intestinal and salivary microbiome of O. moubata and this led them to perform rabbit vaccination experiments using this taxon.
Along with Pseudomonas, they have also vaccinated rabbits against Lactobacillus, a taxon equally abundant in this tick, evaluating the effects of both vaccines on the physiology of O. moubata and on the diversity and architecture of its microbial communities.
They determined that antimicrobial vaccination targeting Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus has different effects on tick physiology: while vaccination against Pseudomonas significantly limits female survival, vaccination against Lactobacillus significantly reduces egg laying and fertility.
“With the decreasing effectiveness of insecticides, harnessing the tick microbiota through innovative approaches such as microbiota-based vaccines emerges as a promising strategy for sustainable and specific disease control,” details the study, published in the magazine ‘Molecular Ecology’.
This study is part of the doctoral thesis of Ana Laura Cano Argüelles within the Livestock Parasitosis and Parasitic Zoonoses Group of Irnasa-Csic, under the supervision of researchers Ricardo Pérez Sánchez and Ana Oleaga Pérez.
It has funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency (AEI), the European Regional Development Fund – ERDF and the CSIC (grant 22AEP1), as well as the Project “CLU-2019-05 – Research Unit Excelencia Irnasa-Csic, co-financed by the Government of Castilla y León and co-financed by the European Union (ERDF “Europe drives our growth”).
The Battle of the Ticks: A Promising Vaccine Emerges!
Related News
In an enlightening tale straight out of a science-fiction novel, researchers from the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (Irnasa-Csic) and the National Research Institute on Agriculture, Food and Environment (Inrae) of France are testing a vaccine against soft ticks. Yes, you heard that right—soft ticks! The little critters that cause havoc not just for your pets, but for good old Mother Nature herself.
This study hinges on proteins found in the bacteria of the soft tick’s intestinal and salivary microbiota. It’s a fresh and avant-garde approach to dealing with these minute beasts, which are not merely nature’s little nuisances but actual public health threats in Sub-Saharan Africa. These ticks are like your friend’s overbearing mother—good at showing up uninvited and spreading all sorts of unpleasantness!
The focus here is on the infamous Ornithodoros moubata tick, a notorious vector of diseases such as Human Relapsing Fever (HRF). A bacterial infection that plays for keeps, especially in East Africa, where it claims the lives of people and livestock alike. In layman’s terms, it’s a bit like bringing a cold to a wedding: rhyme and reason go out the window and people end up regretting invites.
And if that’s not enough, the same tick is implicated in African Swine Fever (ASF), which is apparently the culinary equivalent of a meteor strike for pig farmers worldwide. With a mortality rate that can hit a chilling 100%, it’s enough to make any bacon-lover reconsider their breakfast. Ever seen “Babe” in horror movie clips? Now you know why.
Irnasa-Csic scientist Ana Laura Cano Argüelles has let us in on a little secret: these ticks love to hide. They’re like your inconsiderate neighbor who sneaks into your backyard to steal your fruit while you’re busy munching on chips. “O. moubata” is known to spend most of its life cycle nestled in the cozy burrows of its hosts, but it also has a fondness for residential areas. Talk about an unwanted house guest!
But controlling these devious little critters is no walk in the park—traditional methods relying on chemical insecticides are becoming as effective as a chocolate teapot, what with resistant strains popping up like unwanted lottery wins. Add concerns about contamination to the mix, and we’ve got ourselves quite the dilemma!
Enter the crusade for alternatives! Vaccines against ticks are emerging as a strategy more promising than your mate’s “get-rich-quick” scheme. Irnasa-Csic is all aboard this bandwagon, trying to outsmart the little bloodsuckers with innovative thinking.
One such innovative tactic involves identifying bacterial strains in the soft tick’s splendid little microbiota, with the goal of inducing an immune response that leaves the ticks feeling like they’ve lost their wild card. The idea is simple: mess with the tick’s symbiotic relationships, and maybe it won’t be so keen to party with pathogens anymore!
Analysis and Tests
The research team is combining both ‘in silico’ (think fancy computer simulations) and ‘in vivo’ (good old-fashioned experimentation with rabbits) to prove that they can generate some tick-trumping immune responses. Cano Argüelles reveals, “By steering the immune response toward key species in that microbiome, we can inflict some real medical revenge on the tick.” The Terminator of Ticks is upon us!
So which bacteria are the stars of this medical drama? Well, they’ve zeroed in on Pseudomonas, a top dog in the intestinal and salivary microbiome of O. moubata. It’s not just a name; it’s a science fest that led to rabbit vaccination experiments, which sounds like a bizarre pet care seminar. “No, Fluffy, we can’t just *eat* the ticks away!”
In addition to Pseudomonas, researcher juggles with Lactobacillus, an equally abundant friend of the tick, evaluating how both vaccines affect tick physiology. We’re talking attempts to make them even less eager to populate and party. Because if they can’t lay eggs, they can’t raise an army, and that’s good news for the rest of us!
Their experiment shows a dichotomy of results: While Pseudomonas vaccination limits the survival of females (sorry, no fairy-tale endings here!), Lactobacillus keeps the tick’s egg-laying ambitions in check. Who knew that tick control could hinge on a battle of bacteria as lively as a pub quiz showdown?
As our trusty researchers put it, “With insecticide effectiveness dwindling, leveraging the tick microbiota via microbiota-based vaccines is emerging as a sustainable and specific disease control strategy.” Don’t worry, we’ll write down your names for when they create that “Tick Novels” section at your local bookstore next!
This entire riveting escapade is part of Ana Laura Cano Argüelles’s doctoral thesis, conducted under the watchful eyes of her mentors, Ricardo Pérez Sánchez and Ana Oleaga Pérez. If only thesis defense days involved tick wrestling!
And, as with all grand endeavors in the name of science, this exploration is funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and other various organizations. A tip of the hat is due to the research backers, without whom we might still be throwing chemical insecticides like confetti at this problem!
Conclusion
So, dear readers, next time you hear a whisper about ticks and vaccines, remember the rabbit vaccines that might just save the day! Here’s to clean backyards free of these uninvited pests. And let’s all hope this research doesn’t crawl under the rug but instead leads to a high-flying success story as epic as a heart-thumping movie plot. Tick-tock, it’s time to take back control!
The findings are striking: targeting Pseudomonas with a vaccine significantly limits the survival of female ticks, while targeting Lactobacillus curtails egg-laying and fertility. It’s like playing Whac-A-Mole, but with microbes. The researchers have demonstrated that by tweaking the ticks’ own defenses against them, they can effectively hinder their reproduction and survival rates.
“As conventional insecticides continue to lag in effectiveness, exploring the tick microbiota with groundbreaking approaches like microbiota-based vaccines shows great promise for sustainable and targeted disease control,” Cano Argüelles elaborates. This research could be a game-changer for addressing the threats posed by ticks, especially in regions where tick-borne diseases flourish.
This study is woven into the doctoral thesis of Ana Laura Cano Argüelles, conducted under the guidance of researchers Ricardo Pérez Sánchez and Ana Oleaga Pérez, part of the Livestock Parasitosis and Parasitic Zoonoses Group at Irnasa-Csic.
Supported by various funding bodies, including the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, the State Research Agency (AEI), and the European Regional Development Fund, this research stands at the intersection of innovation and necessity, promising a new frontier in the battle against ticks and the diseases they transmit.
The Battle of the Ticks: A Promising Vaccine Emerges!
Related News
In an enlightening tale straight out of a science-fiction novel, researchers from the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (Irnasa-Csic) and the National Research Institute on Agriculture, Food and Environment (Inrae) of France are testing a vaccine against soft ticks. Yes, you heard that right—soft ticks! The little critters that cause havoc not just for your pets, but for good old Mother Nature herself.
This study hinges on proteins found in the bacteria of the soft tick’s intestinal and salivary microbiota. It’s a fresh and avant-garde approach to dealing with these minute beasts, which are not merely nature’s little nuisances but actual public health threats in Sub-Saharan Africa. These ticks are like your friend’s overbearing mother—good at showing up uninvited and spreading all sorts of unpleasantness!
The focus here is on the infamous Ornithodoros moubata tick, a notorious vector of diseases such as Human Relapsing Fever (HRF). A bacterial infection that plays for keeps, especially in East Africa, where it claims the lives of people and livestock alike. In layman’s terms, it’s a bit like bringing a cold to a wedding: rhyme and reason go out the window and people end up regretting invites.
And if that’s not enough, the same tick is implicated in African Swine Fever (ASF), which is apparently the culinary equivalent of a meteor strike for pig farmers worldwide. With a mortality rate that can hit a chilling 100%, it’s enough to make any bacon-lover reconsider their breakfast. Ever seen “Babe” in horror movie clips? Now you know why.
Irnasa-Csic scientist Ana Laura Cano Argüelles has let us in on a little secret: these ticks love to hide. They’re like your inconsiderate neighbor who sneaks into your backyard to steal your fruit while you’re busy munching on chips. “O. moubata” is known to spend most of its life cycle nestled in the cozy burrows of its hosts, but it also has a fondness for residential areas. Talk about an unwanted house guest!
But controlling these devious little critters is no walk in the park—traditional methods relying on chemical insecticides are becoming as effective as a chocolate teapot, what with resistant strains popping up like unwanted lottery wins. Add concerns about contamination to the mix, and we’ve got ourselves quite the dilemma!
Enter the crusade for alternatives! Vaccines against ticks are emerging as a strategy more promising than your mate’s “get-rich-quick” scheme. Irnasa-Csic is all aboard this bandwagon, trying to outsmart the little bloodsuckers with innovative thinking.
One such innovative tactic involves identifying bacterial strains in the soft tick’s splendid little microbiota, with the goal of inducing an immune response that leaves the ticks feeling like they’ve lost their wild card. The idea is simple: mess with the tick’s symbiotic relationships, and maybe it won’t be so keen to party with pathogens anymore!
Analysis and Tests
The research team is combining both ‘in silico’ (think fancy computer simulations) and ‘in vivo’ (good old-fashioned experimentation with rabbits) to prove that they can generate some tick-trumping immune responses. Cano Argüelles reveals, “By steering the immune response toward key species in that microbiome, we can inflict some real medical revenge on the tick.” The Terminator of Ticks is upon us!
So which bacteria are the stars of this medical drama? Well, they’ve zeroed in on Pseudomonas, a top dog in the intestinal and salivary microbiome of O. moubata. It’s not just a name; it’s a science fest that led to rabbit vaccination experiments, which sounds like a bizarre pet care seminar. “No, Fluffy, we can’t just *eat* the ticks away!”
In addition to Pseudomonas, researcher juggles with Lactobacillus, an equally abundant friend of the tick, evaluating how both vaccines affect tick physiology. We’re talking attempts to make them even less eager to populate and party. Because if they can’t lay eggs, they can’t raise an army, and that’s good news for the rest of us!