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The Akirin family of transcription cofactors are involved throughout the metazoan in the regulation of different biological processes (BPs) such as immunity, interdigital regression, muscle and neural development. Akirin do not have catalytic or DNA-binding capability and exert its regulatory function primarily through interacting proteins such as transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, and RNA-associated proteins. In the present study, we focused on the human Akirin2 regulome and interactome in neutrophil-like model human Caucasian promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. Our hypothesis is that metazoan evolved to have Akirin2 functional complements and different Akirin2-mediated mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression. To address this hypothesis, experiments were conducted using transcriptomics, proteomics and systems biology approaches in akirin2 knockdown and wildtype (WT) HL60 cells to characterize Akirin2 gene/protein targets, functional complements and to provide evidence of different mechanisms that may be involved in Akirin2-mediated regulation of gene expression. The results revealed Akirin2 gene/protein targets in multiple BPs with higher representation of immunity and identified immune response genes as candidate Akirin2 functional complements. In addition to linking chromatin remodelers with transcriptional activation, Akirin2 also interacts with histone H3.1 for regulation of gene expression.
Sara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adrián Velázquez-Campoy; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente. Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Bioscience Reports 2021, 41, 1 .
AMA StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo, Margarita Villar, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Adrián Velázquez-Campoy, Pilar Alberdi, José de la Fuente. Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Bioscience Reports. 2021; 41 (7):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adrián Velázquez-Campoy; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells." Bioscience Reports 41, no. 7: 1.
The Akirin family of transcription cofactors are involved throughout the metazoan in the regulation of different biological processes such as immunity, interdigital regression, muscle and neural development. Akirin do not have catalytic or DNA-binding capability and exert its regulatory function primarily through interacting proteins such as transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, and RNA-associated proteins. In this study, we focused on the human Akirin2 regulome and interactome in neutrophil-like model human Caucasian promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. Our hypothesis is that metazoan evolved to have Akirin2 functional complements and different Akirin2-mediated mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression. To address this hypothesis, experiments were conducted using transcriptomics, proteomics and systems biology approaches in akirin2 knockdown and wildtype HL60 cells to characterize Akirin2 gene/protein targets, functional complements and to provide evidence of different mechanisms that may be involved in Akirin2-mediated regulation of gene expression. The results revealed Akirin2 gene/protein targets in multiple biological processes with higher representation of immunity and identified immune response genes as candidate Akirin2 functional complements. In addition to linking chromatin remodelers with transcriptional activation, Akirin2 also interacts with histone H3.1 for regulation of gene expression.
Sara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adrián Velázquez-Campoy; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente. Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Bioscience Reports 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo, Margarita Villar, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Adrián Velázquez-Campoy, Pilar Alberdi, José de la Fuente. Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells. Bioscience Reports. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adrián Velázquez-Campoy; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Function of cofactor Akirin2 in the regulation of gene expression in model human Caucasian neutrophil-like HL60 cells." Bioscience Reports , no. : 1.
Mycobacteriosis affects wild fish and aquaculture worldwide, and alternatives to antibiotics are needed for an effective and environmentally sound control of infectious diseases. Probiotics have shown beneficial effects on fish growth, nutrient metabolism, immune responses, disease prevention and control, and gut microbiota with higher water quality. However, the identification and characterization of the molecules and mechanisms associated with probiotics is a challenge that requires investigation. To address this challenge, herein we used the zebrafish model for the study of the efficacy and mechanisms of probiotic interventions against tuberculosis. First, bacteria from fish gut microbiota were identified with high content of the surface glycotope Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal) that has been shown to induce protective immune responses. The results showed that probiotics of selected bacteria with high α-Gal content, namely Aeromonas veronii and Pseudomonas entomophila, were biosafe and effective for the control of Mycobacterium marinum. Protective mechanisms regulating immunity and metabolism activated in response to α-Gal and probiotics with high α-Gal content included modification of gut microbiota composition, B-cell maturation, anti-α-Gal antibodies-mediated control of mycobacteria, induced innate immune responses, beneficial effects on nutrient metabolism and reduced oxidative stress. These results support the potential of probiotics with high α-Gal content for the control of fish mycobacteriosis and suggested the possibility of exploring the development of combined probiotic treatments alone and in combination with α-Gal for the control of infectious diseases.
Iván Pacheco; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Marinela Contreras; Margarita Villar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente. Probiotic Bacteria with High Alpha-Gal Content Protect Zebrafish against Mycobacteriosis. Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14, 635 .
AMA StyleIván Pacheco, Sandra Díaz-Sánchez, Marinela Contreras, Margarita Villar, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Christian Gortázar, José de la Fuente. Probiotic Bacteria with High Alpha-Gal Content Protect Zebrafish against Mycobacteriosis. Pharmaceuticals. 2021; 14 (7):635.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIván Pacheco; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Marinela Contreras; Margarita Villar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Probiotic Bacteria with High Alpha-Gal Content Protect Zebrafish against Mycobacteriosis." Pharmaceuticals 14, no. 7: 635.
José de la Fuente; Juan J. Pastor Comín; Christian Gortázar. The sound of host-SARS-CoV-2 molecular interactions. The Innovation 2021, 2, 100126 .
AMA StyleJosé de la Fuente, Juan J. Pastor Comín, Christian Gortázar. The sound of host-SARS-CoV-2 molecular interactions. The Innovation. 2021; 2 (3):100126.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé de la Fuente; Juan J. Pastor Comín; Christian Gortázar. 2021. "The sound of host-SARS-CoV-2 molecular interactions." The Innovation 2, no. 3: 100126.
Herein we review the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs), their impact on livestock health and on the economy, control and associated challenges in Uganda. Ticks are leading vectors of economically important pathogens and are widespread in Uganda due to suitable climatic conditions. Besides the physical injury inflicted on the animal host, ticks transmit a number of pathogens that can cause morbidity and mortality of livestock if untreated, resulting in economic losses. Uganda suffers an aggregated annual loss (direct and indirect) of over USD 1.1 billion in the TTBDs complex. East Coast fever (ECF) caused by a protozoan haemoparasite, Theileria parva, is the most prevalent and economically important tick-borne disease (TBD) in Uganda and its vector, the brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) widely distributed. Other prevalent TBDs in Uganda include anaplasmosis, babesiosis and heartwater. We highlight the role of agro-ecological zones (AEZs) and livestock management system in the distribution of TTBDs, citing warm and humid lowlands as being ideal habitats for ticks and endemic for TBDs. Control of TTBDs is a matter of great importance as far as animal health is concerned in Uganda. Indigenous cattle, which make up over 90% of the national herd are known to be more tolerant to TTBDs and most farms rely on endemic stability to TBDs for control. However, exotic cattle breeds are more capital intensive than indigenous breeds, but the increasing adoption of tick-susceptible exotic cattle breeds (especially dairy) in western and central Uganda demands intensive use of acaricides for tick control and prevention of TBDs. Such acaricide pressure has unfortunately led to selection of acaricide-resistant tick populations and the consequent acaricide resistance observed in the field. Vaccination against ECF, selective breeding for tick resistance and integrated tick control approaches that limit tick exposure, could be adopted to interrupt spread of acaricide resistance. We recommend increasing monitoring and surveillance for TTBDs and for emerging acaricide resistance, improved extension services and sensitization of farmers on tick control measures, appropriate acaricide use and the development and implementation of vaccines for the control of TTBDs as more sustainable and effective interventions. A tick control policy should be developed, taking into account variations of agro-ecological zones, farm circumstances and indigenous technical knowledge, and this should be incorporated into the overall animal health program.
Paul D. Kasaija; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Marinela Contreras; Halid Kirunda; José de la Fuente. Cattle ticks and tick-borne diseases: a review of Uganda's situation. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2021, 12, 101756 .
AMA StylePaul D. Kasaija, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Marinela Contreras, Halid Kirunda, José de la Fuente. Cattle ticks and tick-borne diseases: a review of Uganda's situation. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 2021; 12 (5):101756.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaul D. Kasaija; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Marinela Contreras; Halid Kirunda; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Cattle ticks and tick-borne diseases: a review of Uganda's situation." Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 12, no. 5: 101756.
Humans evolved by losing the capacity to synthesize the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal), which resulted in the development of a protective response mediated by anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG/IgA antibodies against pathogens containing this modification on membrane proteins. As an evolutionary trade-off, humans can develop the alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS), a recently diagnosed disease mediated by anti-α-Gal IgE antibodies and associated with allergic reactions to mammalian meat consumption and tick bites. However, the anti-α-Gal antibody response may be associated with other immune-mediated disorders such as those occurring in patients with COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Here, we provide a dataset (209 entries) on the IgE/IgM/IgG/IgA anti-α-Gal antibody response in healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with AGS, tick-borne allergies, GBS and COVID-19. The data allows correlative analyses of the anti-α-Gal antibody response with factors such as patient and clinical characteristics, record of tick bites, blood group, age and sex. These analyses could provide insights into the role of anti-α-Gal antibody response in disease symptomatology and possible protective mechanisms.
José de la Fuente; José Miguel Urra; Marinela Contreras; Iván Pacheco; Elisa Ferreras-Colino; Ernesto Doncel-Pérez; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Margarita Villar; Carmen M. Cabrera; Cesar Gómez Hernando; Eduardo Vargas Baquero; Javier Blanco García; Javier Rodríguez Gómez; Alberto Velayos Galán; Francisco Feo Brito; Elisa Gómez Torrijos; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar. A dataset for the analysis of antibody response to glycan alpha-Gal in individuals with immune-mediated disorders. F1000Research 2021, 9, 1366 .
AMA StyleJosé de la Fuente, José Miguel Urra, Marinela Contreras, Iván Pacheco, Elisa Ferreras-Colino, Ernesto Doncel-Pérez, Isabel G. Fernández de Mera, Margarita Villar, Carmen M. Cabrera, Cesar Gómez Hernando, Eduardo Vargas Baquero, Javier Blanco García, Javier Rodríguez Gómez, Alberto Velayos Galán, Francisco Feo Brito, Elisa Gómez Torrijos, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Christian Gortázar. A dataset for the analysis of antibody response to glycan alpha-Gal in individuals with immune-mediated disorders. F1000Research. 2021; 9 ():1366.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé de la Fuente; José Miguel Urra; Marinela Contreras; Iván Pacheco; Elisa Ferreras-Colino; Ernesto Doncel-Pérez; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Margarita Villar; Carmen M. Cabrera; Cesar Gómez Hernando; Eduardo Vargas Baquero; Javier Blanco García; Javier Rodríguez Gómez; Alberto Velayos Galán; Francisco Feo Brito; Elisa Gómez Torrijos; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar. 2021. "A dataset for the analysis of antibody response to glycan alpha-Gal in individuals with immune-mediated disorders." F1000Research 9, no. : 1366.
Ticks and the pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. The ability of some animal species to acquire resistance to blood-feeding by ticks after a single or repeated infestation is known as acquired tick resistance (ATR). This resistance has been associated to tick-specific IgE response, the generation of skin-resident memory CD4+ T cells, basophil recruitment, histamine release, and epidermal hyperplasia. ATR has also been associated with protection to tick-borne tularemia through allergic klendusity, a disease-escaping ability produced by the development of hypersensitivity to an allergen. In addition to pathogen transmission, tick infestation in humans is associated with the α-Gal syndrome (AGS), a type of allergy characterized by an IgE response against the carbohydrate Galα1-3Gal (α-Gal). This glycan is present in tick salivary proteins and on the surface of tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agents of Lyme disease and granulocytic anaplasmosis. Most α-Gal-sensitized individuals develop IgE specific against this glycan, but only a small fraction develop the AGS. This review summarizes our current understanding of ATR and its impact on the continuum α-Gal sensitization, allergy, and the AGS. We propose that the α-Gal-specific IgE response in humans is an evolutionary adaptation associated with ATR and allergic klendusity with the trade-off of developing AGS.
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Adnan Hodžić; Lourdes Mateos-Hernández; Marinela Contreras; José de la Fuente. Tick–human interactions: from allergic klendusity to the α-Gal syndrome. Biochemical Journal 2021, 478, 1783 -1794.
AMA StyleAlejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Adnan Hodžić, Lourdes Mateos-Hernández, Marinela Contreras, José de la Fuente. Tick–human interactions: from allergic klendusity to the α-Gal syndrome. Biochemical Journal. 2021; 478 (9):1783-1794.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Adnan Hodžić; Lourdes Mateos-Hernández; Marinela Contreras; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Tick–human interactions: from allergic klendusity to the α-Gal syndrome." Biochemical Journal 478, no. 9: 1783-1794.
Anti-tick microbiota vaccines have been shown to impact tick feeding but its specificity has not been demonstrated. In this study we aimed to investigate the impact of immune targeting of keystone microbiota bacteria on tick performance, and tick microbiota structure and function. Vaccination against Escherichia coli, the selected keystone taxon, increased tick engorgement weight and reduced bacterial diversity in Ixodes ricinus ticks compared to those that fed on mice immunized against Leuconostoc mesenteroides, a non-keystone taxon or mock-immunized group. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, but not Leuconostoc was significantly reduced in ticks fed on E. coli-immunized mice and this reduction was correlated with a significant increase in host antibodies (Abs) of the isotype IgM and IgG specific to E. coli proteins. This negative correlation was not observed between the abundance of Leuconostoc in ticks and anti-L. mesenteroides Abs in mice. We also demonstrated by co-occurrence network analysis, that immunization against the keystone bacterium restructure the hierarchy of the microbial community in ticks and that anti-tick microbiota vaccines reduced the resistance of networks to directed removal of taxa. Functional pathways analysis showed that immunization with a live bacterial vaccine can also induce taxon-specific changes in the abundance of pathways. Our results demonstrated that anti-tick microbiota vaccines can modulate the tick microbiome and that the modification is specific to the taxon chosen for host immunization. These results guide interventions for the control of tick infestations and pathogen infection/transmission.
Lourdes Mateos-Hernández; Dasiel Obregon; Alejandra Wu-Chuang; Jennifer Maye; Jeremie Bornères; Nicolas Versillé; José de la Fuente; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Luis G. Bermúdez-Humarán; Edgar Torres-Maravilla; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adnan Hodžić; Ladislav Šimo; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. Anti-microbiota vaccines modulate the tick microbiome in a taxon-specific manner. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleLourdes Mateos-Hernández, Dasiel Obregon, Alejandra Wu-Chuang, Jennifer Maye, Jeremie Bornères, Nicolas Versillé, José de la Fuente, Sandra Díaz-Sánchez, Luis G. Bermúdez-Humarán, Edgar Torres-Maravilla, Agustín Estrada-Peña, Adnan Hodžić, Ladislav Šimo, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. Anti-microbiota vaccines modulate the tick microbiome in a taxon-specific manner. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLourdes Mateos-Hernández; Dasiel Obregon; Alejandra Wu-Chuang; Jennifer Maye; Jeremie Bornères; Nicolas Versillé; José de la Fuente; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Luis G. Bermúdez-Humarán; Edgar Torres-Maravilla; Agustín Estrada-Peña; Adnan Hodžić; Ladislav Šimo; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. 2021. "Anti-microbiota vaccines modulate the tick microbiome in a taxon-specific manner." , no. : 1.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBD) represent a challenge for human and animal health worldwide. Climate change, distribution of tick hosts, and ecological and anthropogenically-induced changes contribute to the geographic expansion of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Traditional control methods are based on the use of acaricides to reduce tick infestations, but vaccines represent a more effective, sustainable and environmentally sound approach for the control of ticks and TBD. Recent application of omics technologies to the study of the mechanisms involved in tick-host-pathogen interactions have advanced the characterization of molecular mechanisms involved in TBD and the identification of candidate vaccine protective antigens. However, as discussed in this opinion paper, translational biotechnology may translate into novel interventions required to advance in addressing the challenge that ticks and TBD represent for world health and economy.
José de la Fuente. Translational biotechnology for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2021, 12, 101738 .
AMA StyleJosé de la Fuente. Translational biotechnology for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 2021; 12 (5):101738.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé de la Fuente. 2021. "Translational biotechnology for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases." Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 12, no. 5: 101738.
Coronavirus-like organisms have been previously identified in Arthropod ectoparasites (such as ticks and unfed cat flea). Yet, the question regarding the possible role of these arthropods as SARS-CoV-2 passive/biological transmission vectors is still poorly explored. In this study, we performed in silico structural and binding energy calculations to assess the risks associated with possible ectoparasite transmission. We found sufficient similarity between ectoparasite ACE and human ACE2 protein sequences to build good quality 3D-models of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike:ACE complex to assess the impacts of ectoparasite mutations on complex stability. For several species (e.g., water flea, deer tick, body louse), our analyses showed no significant destabilisation of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike:ACE complex, suggesting these species would bind the viral Spike protein. Our structural analyses also provide structural rationale for interactions between the viral Spike and the ectoparasite ACE proteins. Although we do not have experimental evidence of infection in these ectoparasites, the predicted stability of the complex suggests this is possible, raising concerns of a possible role in passive transmission of the virus to their human hosts.
Su Lam; Paul Ashford; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Margarita Villar; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente; Christine Orengo. Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE. Viruses 2021, 13, 708 .
AMA StyleSu Lam, Paul Ashford, Sandra Díaz-Sánchez, Margarita Villar, Christian Gortázar, José de la Fuente, Christine Orengo. Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE. Viruses. 2021; 13 (4):708.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSu Lam; Paul Ashford; Sandra Díaz-Sánchez; Margarita Villar; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente; Christine Orengo. 2021. "Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE." Viruses 13, no. 4: 708.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) represent a burden for human and animal health worldwide. Currently, vaccines constitute the safest and most effective approach to control ticks and TBDs. Subolesin (SUB) has been identified as a vaccine antigen for the control of tick infestations and pathogen infection and transmission. The characterization of the molecular function of SUB and the identification of tick proteins interacting with SUB may provide the basis for the discovery of novel antigens and for the rational design of novel anti-tick vaccines. In the present study, we used the yeast two-hybrid system (Y2H) as an unbiased approach to identify tick SUB-interacting proteins in an Ixodes ricinus cDNA library, and studied the possible role of SUB as a chromatin remodeler through direct interaction with histones. The Y2H screening identified Importin-α as a potential SUB-interacting protein, which was confirmed in vitro in a protein pull-down assay. The sub gene expression levels in tick midgut and fat body were significantly higher in unfed than fed female ticks, however, the importin-α expression levels did not vary between unfed and fed ticks but tended to be higher in the ovary when compared to those in other organs. The effect of importin-α RNAi was characterized in I. ricinus under artificial feeding conditions. Both sub and importin-α gene knockdown was observed in all tick tissues and, while tick weight was significantly lower in sub RNAi-treated ticks than in controls, importin-α RNAi did not affect tick feeding or oviposition, suggesting that SUB is able to exert its function in the absence of Importin-α. Furthermore, SUB was shown to physically interact with histone 4, which was corroborated by protein pull-down and western blot analysis. These results confirm that by interacting with numerous tick proteins, SUB is a key cofactor of the tick interactome and regulome. Further studies are needed to elucidate the nature of the SUB-Importin-α interaction and the biological processes and functional implications that this interaction may have.
Sara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Grégory Caignard; Damien Vitour; Jennifer Richardson; Sandrine Lacour; Houssam Attoui; Lesley Bell-Sakyi; Eleonore Allain; Ard Nijhof; Nina Militzer; Sophia Pinecki Socias; José de la Fuente. Tick Importin-α Is Implicated in the Interactome and Regulome of the Cofactor Subolesin. Pathogens 2021, 10, 457 .
AMA StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo, Margarita Villar, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Grégory Caignard, Damien Vitour, Jennifer Richardson, Sandrine Lacour, Houssam Attoui, Lesley Bell-Sakyi, Eleonore Allain, Ard Nijhof, Nina Militzer, Sophia Pinecki Socias, José de la Fuente. Tick Importin-α Is Implicated in the Interactome and Regulome of the Cofactor Subolesin. Pathogens. 2021; 10 (4):457.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Artigas-Jerónimo; Margarita Villar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Grégory Caignard; Damien Vitour; Jennifer Richardson; Sandrine Lacour; Houssam Attoui; Lesley Bell-Sakyi; Eleonore Allain; Ard Nijhof; Nina Militzer; Sophia Pinecki Socias; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Tick Importin-α Is Implicated in the Interactome and Regulome of the Cofactor Subolesin." Pathogens 10, no. 4: 457.
Current results do not provide conclusive evidence on the effect of BCG vaccination on COVID‐19 alone or in combination with other factors. To address this limitation, in this study we used a citizen science initiative on the COVID‐19 pandemic to collect data worldwide during October 2‐30, 2020 (1,233 individuals) in a structured way for analyzing factors and characteristics of affected individuals in relation to BCG vaccination. For the first time, the results of our study suggested that vaccination with BCG may increase the risk for COVID‐19 at certain age, particularly in individuals vaccinated at childhood. Childhood BCG vaccination increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with COVID‐19 fivefold in COVID‐19 low‐incidence countries and threefold in high‐incidence countries. A reasonable explanation for this effect is the activation of certain innate immunity mechanisms associated with inflammatory reactions. These factors should be considered when analyzing the risks associated with this global pandemic.
José de la Fuente; Octavio Armas; Luis Sánchez‐Rodríguez; Christian Gortázar; Alexander N. Lukashev; Consuelo Almazán; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Margarita Villar; Marinela Contreras; Elisa Ferreras‐Colino; Jānis Ancāns; Alejandro Cabezas‐Cruz; José M. Urra; Carmen M. Cabrera; Francisco J. Rodríguez del Río; Lorena Torres; Andrei Daniel Mihalca; Fredrick Kabi; Dibesh Karmacharya; Espiridión Ramos; Vidal Montoro; Katherine M. Kocan; Edmour F. Blouin; Hugo Fragoso; Sergio Bermúdez; Agustín Estrada‐Peña; Luis M. Hernández‐Triana; Michalis Kotsyfakis; Libor Grubhoffer; Gabriela de la Fuente; Karelia Deulofeu; Leticia Deulofeu; Anna Zelinska‐Fedorovych; Zorica Zivkovic; Ana Domingos; Anna Papa; Ard M. Nijhof; Mónica Florin‐Christensen; Lucas Domínguez; Mercedes Domínguez; Juan Mosqueda; Octavio Merino; Ala E. Tabor; Albert Mulenga; Ernesto Doncel‐Pérez; Gervacio H. Bechara; Srikant Ghosh; Alessandra Torina; Guido Sireci; Rodrigo Nova; Joao Queirós; COVID‐BCG Collaborative Working Group. Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID‐19. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleJosé de la Fuente, Octavio Armas, Luis Sánchez‐Rodríguez, Christian Gortázar, Alexander N. Lukashev, Consuelo Almazán, Isabel G. Fernández de Mera, Margarita Villar, Marinela Contreras, Elisa Ferreras‐Colino, Jānis Ancāns, Alejandro Cabezas‐Cruz, José M. Urra, Carmen M. Cabrera, Francisco J. Rodríguez del Río, Lorena Torres, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Fredrick Kabi, Dibesh Karmacharya, Espiridión Ramos, Vidal Montoro, Katherine M. Kocan, Edmour F. Blouin, Hugo Fragoso, Sergio Bermúdez, Agustín Estrada‐Peña, Luis M. Hernández‐Triana, Michalis Kotsyfakis, Libor Grubhoffer, Gabriela de la Fuente, Karelia Deulofeu, Leticia Deulofeu, Anna Zelinska‐Fedorovych, Zorica Zivkovic, Ana Domingos, Anna Papa, Ard M. Nijhof, Mónica Florin‐Christensen, Lucas Domínguez, Mercedes Domínguez, Juan Mosqueda, Octavio Merino, Ala E. Tabor, Albert Mulenga, Ernesto Doncel‐Pérez, Gervacio H. Bechara, Srikant Ghosh, Alessandra Torina, Guido Sireci, Rodrigo Nova, Joao Queirós, COVID‐BCG Collaborative Working Group. Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID‐19. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé de la Fuente; Octavio Armas; Luis Sánchez‐Rodríguez; Christian Gortázar; Alexander N. Lukashev; Consuelo Almazán; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Margarita Villar; Marinela Contreras; Elisa Ferreras‐Colino; Jānis Ancāns; Alejandro Cabezas‐Cruz; José M. Urra; Carmen M. Cabrera; Francisco J. Rodríguez del Río; Lorena Torres; Andrei Daniel Mihalca; Fredrick Kabi; Dibesh Karmacharya; Espiridión Ramos; Vidal Montoro; Katherine M. Kocan; Edmour F. Blouin; Hugo Fragoso; Sergio Bermúdez; Agustín Estrada‐Peña; Luis M. Hernández‐Triana; Michalis Kotsyfakis; Libor Grubhoffer; Gabriela de la Fuente; Karelia Deulofeu; Leticia Deulofeu; Anna Zelinska‐Fedorovych; Zorica Zivkovic; Ana Domingos; Anna Papa; Ard M. Nijhof; Mónica Florin‐Christensen; Lucas Domínguez; Mercedes Domínguez; Juan Mosqueda; Octavio Merino; Ala E. Tabor; Albert Mulenga; Ernesto Doncel‐Pérez; Gervacio H. Bechara; Srikant Ghosh; Alessandra Torina; Guido Sireci; Rodrigo Nova; Joao Queirós; COVID‐BCG Collaborative Working Group. 2021. "Citizen science initiative points at childhood BCG vaccination as a risk factor for COVID‐19." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases , no. : 1.
Rhipicephalus spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods, which constitute a model for the study of vector-host interactions. The chemical composition or elementome of salivary glands (SG) and cement provides information relevant for the study of protein-based complex multifunctional tissues with a key role in tick biology. In this study, we characterized the elementome of cement cones in Rhipicephalus sanguineus collected from naturally infested dogs and in SG and cement of R. bursa collected from experimentally infested rabbits at different feeding stages. The elementome was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed the identification of up to 14 chemical elements in the cement, and suggested tick/host-driven differences in the cement elementome between tick species and between SG and cement within the same species. By still unknown mechanisms, ticks may regulate cement elementome during feeding to affect various biological processes. Although these analyses are preliminary, the results suggested that N is a key component of the cement elementome with a likely origin in SG/salivary proteins (i.e., Glycine (C2H5NO2)-rich superfamily member proteins; GRPs) and other tick/host-derived components (i.e. NAPDH). Future research should be focused on tick elementome and its functional implications to better understand cement structure and function.
Iván Pacheco; Eduardo Prado; Sara Artigas-Jerónimo; José Francisco Lima-Barbero; Gabriela de la Fuente; Sandra Antunes; Joana Couto; Ana Domingos; Margarita Villar; José de la Fuente. Comparative analysis of Rhipicephalus tick salivary gland and cement elementome. Heliyon 2021, 7, e06721 .
AMA StyleIván Pacheco, Eduardo Prado, Sara Artigas-Jerónimo, José Francisco Lima-Barbero, Gabriela de la Fuente, Sandra Antunes, Joana Couto, Ana Domingos, Margarita Villar, José de la Fuente. Comparative analysis of Rhipicephalus tick salivary gland and cement elementome. Heliyon. 2021; 7 (4):e06721.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIván Pacheco; Eduardo Prado; Sara Artigas-Jerónimo; José Francisco Lima-Barbero; Gabriela de la Fuente; Sandra Antunes; Joana Couto; Ana Domingos; Margarita Villar; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Comparative analysis of Rhipicephalus tick salivary gland and cement elementome." Heliyon 7, no. 4: e06721.
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 likely emerged from a wildlife source with transmission to humans followed by rapid geographic spread throughout the globe and severe impacts on both human health and the global economy. Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been many instances of human-to-animal transmission involving companion, farmed and zoo animals, and limited evidence for spread into free-living wildlife. The establishment of reservoirs of infection in wild animals would create significant challenges to infection control in humans and could pose a threat to the welfare and conservation status of wildlife. We discuss the potential for exposure, onward transmission and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in an initial selection of wild mammals (bats, canids, felids, mustelids, great apes, rodents and cervids). Dynamic risk assessment and targeted surveillance are important tools for the early detection of infection in wildlife, and here we describe a framework for collating and synthesising emerging information to inform targeted surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife. Surveillance efforts should be integrated with information from public and veterinary health initiatives to provide insights into the potential role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.
R. J. Delahay; J. de la Fuente; G. C. Smith; K. Sharun; E. L. Snary; L. Flores Girón; J. Nziza; A. R. Fooks; S. M. Brookes; F. Z. X. Lean; A. C. Breed; C. Gortazar. Assessing the risks of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife. One Health Outlook 2021, 3, 1 -14.
AMA StyleR. J. Delahay, J. de la Fuente, G. C. Smith, K. Sharun, E. L. Snary, L. Flores Girón, J. Nziza, A. R. Fooks, S. M. Brookes, F. Z. X. Lean, A. C. Breed, C. Gortazar. Assessing the risks of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife. One Health Outlook. 2021; 3 (1):1-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. J. Delahay; J. de la Fuente; G. C. Smith; K. Sharun; E. L. Snary; L. Flores Girón; J. Nziza; A. R. Fooks; S. M. Brookes; F. Z. X. Lean; A. C. Breed; C. Gortazar. 2021. "Assessing the risks of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife." One Health Outlook 3, no. 1: 1-14.
Drug resistance has become a threat to global health, and new interventions are needed to control major infectious diseases. The composition of gut microbiota has been linked to human health and has been associated with severity of malaria. Fermented foods contribute to the community of healthy gut bacteria. Despite the studies connecting gut microbiota to the prevention of malaria transmission and severity, research on developing functional foods for the purpose of manipulating the gut microbiota for malaria control is limited. This review summarizes recent knowledge on the role of the gut microbiota in malaria prevention and treatment. This information should encourage the search for lactic acid bacteria expressing α-Gal and those that exhibit the desired immune stimulating properties for the development of functional food and probiotics for malaria control.
Timothy Bamgbose; Anupkumar R. Anvikar; Pilar Alberdi; Isa O. Abdullahi; Helen I. Inabo; Mohammed Bello; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; José de la Fuente. Functional Food for the Stimulation of the Immune System Against Malaria. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins 2021, 1 -13.
AMA StyleTimothy Bamgbose, Anupkumar R. Anvikar, Pilar Alberdi, Isa O. Abdullahi, Helen I. Inabo, Mohammed Bello, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, José de la Fuente. Functional Food for the Stimulation of the Immune System Against Malaria. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. 2021; ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTimothy Bamgbose; Anupkumar R. Anvikar; Pilar Alberdi; Isa O. Abdullahi; Helen I. Inabo; Mohammed Bello; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Functional Food for the Stimulation of the Immune System Against Malaria." Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins , no. : 1-13.
The control of cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is focused on repeated use of acaricides. However, due to growing acaricide resistance and residues problem, immunization of animals along with limited use of effective acaricides is considered a suitable option for the control of tick infestations. To date, more than fifty vaccine candidates have been identified and tested worldwide, but two vaccines were developed using the extensively studied candidate, Bm86. The main reason for limited vaccine commercialization in other countries is genetic diversity in the Bm86 gene leading to considerable variation in vaccine efficacy. India, with 193.46 million cattle population distributed in 28 states and 9 union territories, is suffering from multiple tick infestation dominated by R. microplus. As R. microplus has developed multi-acaricide resistance, an efficacious vaccine may provide a sustainable intervention for tick control. Preliminary experiments revealed that the presently available commercial vaccine based on the BM86 gene is not efficacious against Indian strain. In concert with the principle of reverse vaccinology, genetic polymorphism of the Bm86 gene within Indian isolates of R. microplus was studied. A 578 bp conserved nucleotide sequences of Bm86 from 65 R. microplus isolates collected from 9 Indian states was sequenced and revealed 95.6–99.8% and 93.2–99.5% identity in nucleotides and amino acids sequences, respectively. The identities of nucleotides and deduced amino acids were 94.7–99.8% and 91.8–99.5%, respectively, between full-length sequence (orf) of the Bm86 gene of IVRI-I strain and published sequences of vaccine strains. Six nucleotides deletion were observed in Indian Bm86 sequences. Four B-cell epitopes (D519-K554, H563-Q587, C598-T606, T609-K623), which are present in the conserved region of the IVRI-I Bm86 sequence, were selected. The results confirm that the use of available commercial Bm86 vaccines is not a suitable option against Indian isolates of R. microplus. A country-specific multi-epitope Bm86 vaccine consisting of four specific B-cell epitopes along with candidate molecules, subolesin and tropomyosin in chimeric/co-immunization format may provide a sustainable option for implementation in an integrated tick management system.
Balasamudram Parthasarathi; Binod Kumar; Gaurav Nagar; Haranahally Manjunathachar; José de la Fuente; Srikant Ghosh. Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Indian Isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus Based on Bm86 Gene Sequence. Vaccines 2021, 9, 194 .
AMA StyleBalasamudram Parthasarathi, Binod Kumar, Gaurav Nagar, Haranahally Manjunathachar, José de la Fuente, Srikant Ghosh. Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Indian Isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus Based on Bm86 Gene Sequence. Vaccines. 2021; 9 (3):194.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBalasamudram Parthasarathi; Binod Kumar; Gaurav Nagar; Haranahally Manjunathachar; José de la Fuente; Srikant Ghosh. 2021. "Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Indian Isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus Based on Bm86 Gene Sequence." Vaccines 9, no. 3: 194.
José De La Fuente; Christian Gortázar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. Immunity to glycan α-Gal and possibilities for the control of COVID-19. Immunotherapy 2021, 13, 185 -188.
AMA StyleJosé De La Fuente, Christian Gortázar, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. Immunity to glycan α-Gal and possibilities for the control of COVID-19. Immunotherapy. 2021; 13 (3):185-188.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé De La Fuente; Christian Gortázar; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz. 2021. "Immunity to glycan α-Gal and possibilities for the control of COVID-19." Immunotherapy 13, no. 3: 185-188.
Neuropeptides are small signaling molecules expressed in the tick central nervous system, i.e., the synganglion. The neuronal-like Ixodes scapularis embryonic cell line, ISE6, is an effective tool frequently used for examining tick–pathogen interactions. We detected 37 neuropeptide transcripts in the I. scapularis ISE6 cell line using in silico methods, and six of these neuropeptide genes were used for experimental validation. Among these six neuropeptide genes, the tachykinin-related peptide (TRP) of ISE6 cells varied in transcript expression depending on the infection strain of the tick-borne pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The immunocytochemistry of TRP revealed cytoplasmic expression in a prominent ISE6 cell subpopulation. The presence of TRP was also confirmed in A. phagocytophilum-infected ISE6 cells. The in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of TRP of I. scapularis synganglion revealed expression in distinct neuronal cells. In addition, TRP immunoreaction was detected in axons exiting the synganglion via peripheral nerves as well as in hemal nerve-associated lateral segmental organs. The characterization of a complete Ixodes neuropeptidome in ISE6 cells may serve as an effective in vitro tool to study how tick-borne pathogens interact with synganglion components that are vital to tick physiology. Therefore, our current study is a potential stepping stone for in vivo experiments to further examine the neuronal basis of tick–pathogen interactions.
Lourdes Mateos-Hernández; Natália Pipová; Eléonore Allain; Céline Henry; Clotilde Rouxel; Anne-Claire Lagrée; Nadia Haddad; Henri-Jean Boulouis; James Valdés; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Ladislav Šimo. Enlisting the Ixodes scapularis Embryonic ISE6 Cell Line to Investigate the Neuronal Basis of Tick—Pathogen Interactions. Pathogens 2021, 10, 70 .
AMA StyleLourdes Mateos-Hernández, Natália Pipová, Eléonore Allain, Céline Henry, Clotilde Rouxel, Anne-Claire Lagrée, Nadia Haddad, Henri-Jean Boulouis, James Valdés, Pilar Alberdi, José de la Fuente, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Ladislav Šimo. Enlisting the Ixodes scapularis Embryonic ISE6 Cell Line to Investigate the Neuronal Basis of Tick—Pathogen Interactions. Pathogens. 2021; 10 (1):70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLourdes Mateos-Hernández; Natália Pipová; Eléonore Allain; Céline Henry; Clotilde Rouxel; Anne-Claire Lagrée; Nadia Haddad; Henri-Jean Boulouis; James Valdés; Pilar Alberdi; José de la Fuente; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Ladislav Šimo. 2021. "Enlisting the Ixodes scapularis Embryonic ISE6 Cell Line to Investigate the Neuronal Basis of Tick—Pathogen Interactions." Pathogens 10, no. 1: 70.
We found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 6 of 71 ferrets (8.4%) and isolated the virus from one rectal swab. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection does occur in kept ferrets, at least under circumstances of high viral circulation in the human population. However, small ferret collections are probably unable to maintain prolonged virus circulation.
Christian Gortázar; Sandra Barroso-Arévalo; Elisa Ferreras-Colino; Julio Isla; Gabriela De La Fuente; Belén Rivera; Lucas Domínguez; José De La Fuente; José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in kept ferrets, Spain. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleChristian Gortázar, Sandra Barroso-Arévalo, Elisa Ferreras-Colino, Julio Isla, Gabriela De La Fuente, Belén Rivera, Lucas Domínguez, José De La Fuente, José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in kept ferrets, Spain. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristian Gortázar; Sandra Barroso-Arévalo; Elisa Ferreras-Colino; Julio Isla; Gabriela De La Fuente; Belén Rivera; Lucas Domínguez; José De La Fuente; José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno. 2021. "Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in kept ferrets, Spain." , no. : 1.
Humans evolved by losing the capacity to synthesize the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal), which resulted in the capacity to develop a protective response mediated by anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG antibodies against pathogens containing this modification on membrane proteins. As an evolutionary trade-off, humans can develop the alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS), a recently diagnosed disease mainly associated with allergic reactions to mammalian meat consumption. The etiology of the AGS is the exposure to tick bites and the IgE antibody response against α-Gal-containing glycoproteins and glycolipids. The objective of this study was to characterize the anti-α-Gal antibody response in association with the immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and compare it with different factors known to modulate the antibody response to α-Gal such as exposure to tick bites and development of allergic reactions in response to tick bites. The results showed a significant decrease in the IgM/IgG response to α-Gal in GBS patients when compared to healthy individuals. In contrast, the IgM/IgG levels to α-Gal did not change in patients with allergic reactions to tick bites. The IgE response was not affected in GBS patients, but as expected, the IgE levels significantly increased in individuals exposed to tick bites and patients with tick-associated allergies. These results suggest that the immune pathways of anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG and IgE production are independent. Further studies should consider the susceptibility to allergic reactions to tick bites in GBS patients.
Iván Pacheco; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Francisco Feo Brito; Elisa Gómez Torrijos; Margarita Villar; Marinela Contreras; José Francisco Lima-Barbero; Ernesto Doncel-Pérez; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente. Characterization of the anti-α-Gal antibody profile in association with Guillain-Barré syndrome, implications for tick-related allergic reactions. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2021, 12, 101651 .
AMA StyleIván Pacheco, Isabel G. Fernández de Mera, Francisco Feo Brito, Elisa Gómez Torrijos, Margarita Villar, Marinela Contreras, José Francisco Lima-Barbero, Ernesto Doncel-Pérez, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Christian Gortázar, José de la Fuente. Characterization of the anti-α-Gal antibody profile in association with Guillain-Barré syndrome, implications for tick-related allergic reactions. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 2021; 12 (3):101651.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIván Pacheco; Isabel G. Fernández de Mera; Francisco Feo Brito; Elisa Gómez Torrijos; Margarita Villar; Marinela Contreras; José Francisco Lima-Barbero; Ernesto Doncel-Pérez; Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz; Christian Gortázar; José de la Fuente. 2021. "Characterization of the anti-α-Gal antibody profile in association with Guillain-Barré syndrome, implications for tick-related allergic reactions." Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 12, no. 3: 101651.