An Ixodes scapularis saliva mRNA vaccine induces tick resistance and prevents Borrelia burgdorferi infection in guinea pigs.

‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ is a plant pathogen affecting the families Solanaceae and Apiaceae in different parts of the world. ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ is a Gram-negative, fastidious α-proteobacterium that is vectored by different psyllid species. Plant-pathogenic bacteria are known for interfering with the host physiology or defense mechanisms, often by secreting bacterial effectors. Effector proteins are critical for virulence; therefore, the identification of effectors could help with disease management. In this study, we characterized the Sec-translocon-dependent ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’–hypothetical protein effector 1 (Lso-HPE1). We compared this protein sequence in the different ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes. We predicted the signal peptide and validated its function using Escherichia coli’s alkaline phosphatase fusion assay. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana demonstrated that Lso-HPE1 from ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes A and B were able to inhibit the induction of cell death in plants. We also compared gene expression of the Lso-HPE1- transcripts in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotypes A and B in tomato and in the vector Bactericera cockerelli. This work validates the identification of a Sec-translocon-dependent ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ protein possibly involved in suppression of plant cell death.

Despite the severe ecological damage and economic loss caused by invasive species, the factors contributing to successful invasion or displacement remain elusive. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is an important invasive agricultural pest worldwide, causing severe damage to numerous crops by feeding or transmitting plant viruses. In this study, we monitored the dynamics of two invasive whitefly cryptic species, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED), in Jiangsu, China, from 2005–2016. We found that B. tabaci MED quickly established and asserted dominance over MEAM1, resulting in their population displacement in Jiangsu in only three years (from 2005 to 2008). We further investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the successful invasion and competitive displacement from a genetic perspective. Based on sequencing of mitochondrial gene sequences from large numbers of whitefly samples, multiple invasion events of MED were validated by our genetic analyses. MED invaded Jiangsu starting from multiple introduction sites with secondary and/or subsequent invasive events. This may favor their invasion and displacement of MEAM1. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms that enabled the successful invasion of MED.

In North America, the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, is commonly transmitted by the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Tick saliva facilitates blood feeding and enhances pathogen survival and transmission. Here, we demonstrate that I. scapularis complement C1q-like protein 3 (IsC1ql3), a tick salivary protein, directly interacts with B. burgdorferi and is important during the initial stage of spirochetal infection of mice. Mice fed upon by B. burgdorferi-infected IsC1ql3-silenced ticks, or IsC1ql3-immunized mice fed upon by B. burgdorferi-infected ticks, have a lower spirochete burden during the early phase of infection compared with control animals. Mechanically, IsC1ql3 interacts with the globular C1q receptor present on the surface of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, resulting in decreased production of interferon γ. IsC1ql3 is a C1q-domain-containing protein identified in arthropod vectors and has an important role in B. burgdorferi infectivity as the spirochete transitions from the tick to vertebrate host.

Background: NDUFA4L2 is overexpressed in VHL-deficient cell lines and neuroblastoma. The clinical significance of NDUFA4L2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has not been well studied. Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic value of NDUFA4L2 in ccRCC patients. Methods: In our study, NDUFA4L2 expression in 86 cases of ccRCC and adjacent normal tissues was monitored by immunohistochemistry, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses. The relationship between NDUFA4L2 expression and the clinical features of ccRCC was assessed. Results: The results showed that NDUFA4L2 protein expression was found to be higher in ccRCC tissues 81.4% (70/86) than in normal tissues 26.7% (23/86) (p = 0.021). The average level of NDUFA4L2 mRNA expression was found to be 122.23 ± 6.018 and 21.34 ± 1.036 in ccRCC tissue and adjacent normal tissue (p < 0.001). NDUFA4L2 expression levels were correlated with some clinical features of ccRCC. Multivariate analysis showed NDUFA4L2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC patients. Conclusions: Our study has provided the significant clinical relevance of NDUFA4L2 in ccRCC and suggested that ccRCC patients with NDUFA4L2 overexpression may be suitable as a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC patients.