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Current Issues in Molecular Biology 2021Being able to vizualize a pathogen at a site of interaction with a host is an aesthetically appealing idea and the resulting images can be both informative as well as... (Review)
Review
Being able to vizualize a pathogen at a site of interaction with a host is an aesthetically appealing idea and the resulting images can be both informative as well as enjoyable to view. Moreover, the approaches used to derive these images can be powerful in terms of offering data unobtainable by other methods. In this article, we review three primary modalities for live imaging spirochetes: whole animal imaging, intravital microscopy and live cell imaging. Each method has strengths and weaknesses, which we review, as well as specific purposes for which they are optimally utilized. Live imaging borriliae is a relatively recent development and there was a need of a review to cover the area. Here, in addition to the methods themselves, we also review areas of spirochete biology that have been significantly impacted by live imaging and present a collection of images associated with the forward motion in the field driven by imaging studies.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Borrelia; Humans; Microscopy; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 33310914
DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.385 -
Current Topics in Microbiology and... 2018The spirochetes Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi and Borrelia hermsii, the etiologic agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever, respectively, cycle in nature between... (Review)
Review
The spirochetes Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi and Borrelia hermsii, the etiologic agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever, respectively, cycle in nature between an arthropod vector and a vertebrate host. They have extraordinarily unusual genomes that are highly segmented and predominantly linear. The genetic analyses of Lyme disease spirochetes have become increasingly more sophisticated, while the age of genetic investigation in the relapsing fever spirochetes is just dawning. Molecular tools available for B. burgdorferi and related species range from simple selectable markers and gene reporters to state-of-the-art inducible gene expression systems that function in the animal model and high-throughput mutagenesis methodologies, despite nearly overwhelming experimental obstacles. This armamentarium has empowered borreliologists to build a formidable genetic understanding of the cellular physiology of the spirochete and the molecular pathogenesis of Lyme disease.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; Genetic Engineering; Lyme Disease; Molecular Biology; Relapsing Fever
PubMed: 28918538
DOI: 10.1007/82_2017_51 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2018Relapsing fever still remains a neglected disease and little is known on its reservoir, tick vector and physiopathology in the vertebrate host. The disease occurs in... (Review)
Review
Relapsing fever still remains a neglected disease and little is known on its reservoir, tick vector and physiopathology in the vertebrate host. The disease occurs in temperate as well as tropical countries. Relapsing fever borreliae are spirochaetes, members of the family which also contain Lyme disease spirochaetes. They are mainly transmitted by soft ticks, but some species are vectored by ixodid ticks. Traditionally a species is associated with a specific vector in a particular geographical area. However, new species are regularly described, and taxonomical uncertainties deserve further investigations to better understand vector/host adaptation. The medical importance of , transmitted by spp., has recently spawned new interest in this bacterial group. In this review, recent data on tick-host-pathogen interactions for tick-borne relapsing fevers is presented, with special focus on .
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ixodes; Neglected Diseases; Relapsing Fever; Spirochaetaceae; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 29670860
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00098 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Nov 2022Lyme spirochetes have coevolved with ticks to optimize transmission to hosts using tick salivary molecules (TSMs) to counteract host defenses. TSMs modulate various...
Lyme spirochetes have coevolved with ticks to optimize transmission to hosts using tick salivary molecules (TSMs) to counteract host defenses. TSMs modulate various molecular events at the tick-host interface. Lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTβR) is a vital immune receptor and plays protective roles in host immunity against microbial infections. We found that knockout mice were more susceptible to Lyme disease spirochetes, suggesting the involvement of LTβR signaling in tick-borne infection. Further investigation showed that a 15-kDa TSM protein from ( salivary protein; IpSAP) functioned as an immunosuppressant to facilitate the transmission and infection of Lyme disease spirochetes. IpSAP directly interacts with LTβR to block its activation, thus inhibiting the downstream signaling and consequently suppressing immunity. IpSAP immunization provided mice with significant protection against mediated infection. Notably, the immunization showed considerable cross-protection against other infections mediated by other ixodid ticks. One of the IpSAP homologs from other ixodid ticks showed similar effects on Lyme spirochete transmission. Together, our findings suggest that LTβR signaling plays an important role in blocking the transmission and pathogenesis of tick-borne Lyme disease spirochetes, and that IpSAP and its homologs are promising candidates for broad-spectrum vaccine development.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Borrelia burgdorferi; Lyme Disease; Saliva; Ixodes; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Lymphotoxin beta Receptor
PubMed: 36383602
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208274119 -
Nihon Saikingaku Zasshi. Japanese... 2014Spirochetes have flagella within the cell body and swim by wriggling the spiral cell body. Besides they have been known to be critical agents causing various infectious... (Review)
Review
Spirochetes have flagella within the cell body and swim by wriggling the spiral cell body. Besides they have been known to be critical agents causing various infectious diseases, their eccentric appearances and motilities have been attracting many scientists in a wide variety of fields other than bacteriologists. Unlike externally flagellated bacteria that swim by using flagella as a screw propeller, spirochetes progress in a liquid by changing their cell shapes. To understand the unique motion mechanism of spirochetes, many experiments and theoretical studies are being carried out. In this review, I will summarize morphological and motile properties of various species of spirochete, such as Borrelia, Treponema and Brachyspira. I will also expound on the motion mechanism of Leptospira with our latest results obtained by high-resolution optical photometry.
Topics: Borrelia; Brachyspira; Flagella; Leptospira; Microscopy; Movement; Spirochaetales; Treponema
PubMed: 25186643
DOI: 10.3412/jsb.69.527 -
Journal of Medical Entomology Mar 2022Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and most commonly transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the most common tick-borne...
Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and most commonly transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland. Because B. burgdorferi s.s. is maintained in enzootic cycles among wild mice (Peromyscus spp) and Ixodes spp ticks, differing patterns of parasitism of ticks on mice could impact the infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi. We determined the infection prevalence of Peromyscus spp as well as questing and partially engorged nymphal ticks collected at six sites on private land in five counties in Maryland from May to August 2020. Questing nymph infection prevalence (NIP) was 14%. We trapped 1258 mice and collected 554 ticks and 413 ear tissue samples. The prevalence of infested Peromyscus spp varied based on host age and sex, with older and male mice more likely to be infested. We detected a significant difference amongst the proportion of attached Ixodes and the location of trapping. Similarly, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi infected Peromyscus spp mice varied between locations (average mouse infection prevalence was 40%), with the highest prevalence in locations where Ixodes were the most commonly found ticks. The B. burgdorferi infection prevalence in partially engorged I. scapularis nymphs retrieved from Peromyscus spp was ~36% which lends further support to the host infection prevalence. Local differences in distribution of infected vectors and reservoirs are important factors to consider when planning interventions to reduce Lyme disease risk.
Topics: Animals; Borrelia burgdorferi; Ixodes; Lyme Disease; Male; Maryland; Nymph; Peromyscus; Prevalence; Rodent Diseases; Spirochaetaceae
PubMed: 34971369
DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab206 -
Cell Host & Microbe Nov 2021Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is on the rise. Current treatment relies on broad-spectrum antibiotics that perturb the gut...
Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is on the rise. Current treatment relies on broad-spectrum antibiotics that perturb the gut microbiome. In a recent paper in Cell, Leimer et al. demonstrate the utility of a long-forgotten antibiotic, Hygromycin A, as a spirochete-specific antibacterial that is conducive to gut health.
Topics: Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Cinnamates; Humans; Hygromycin B; Lyme Disease
PubMed: 34762823
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.10.007 -
Journal of Medical Entomology Jul 2023Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from 432 locations across New York State (NYS) during the summer and autumn of 2015-2020 to...
Spatiotemporal distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfection with other tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) from New York State, USA.
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from 432 locations across New York State (NYS) during the summer and autumn of 2015-2020 to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfections with other tick-borne pathogens. A total of 48,386 I. scapularis were individually analyzed using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to simultaneously detect the presence of Bo. miyamotoi, Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). Overall prevalence of Bo. miyamotoi in host-seeking nymphs and adults varied geographically and temporally at the regional level. The rate of polymicrobial infection in Bo. miyamotoi-infected ticks varied by developmental stage, with certain co-infections occurring more frequently than expected by chance. Entomological risk of exposure to Bo. miyamotoi-infected nymphal and adult ticks (entomological risk index [ERI]) across NYS regions in relation to human cases of Bo. miyamotoi disease identified during the study period demonstrated spatial and temporal variation. The relationship between select environmental factors and Bo. miyamotoi ERI was explored using generalized linear mixed effects models, resulting in different factors significantly impacting ERI for nymphs and adult ticks. These results can inform estimates of Bo. miyamotoi disease risk and further our understanding of Bo. miyamotoi ecological dynamics in regions where this pathogen is known to occur.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Ixodes; Coinfection; Ixodidae; Spirochaetaceae; New York; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; Nymph
PubMed: 37156099
DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad054 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2022Yaws is a chronic, highly contagious skin and bone infection affecting children living in impoverished, remote communities. It is caused by Treponema pallidum subsp....
BACKGROUND
Yaws is a chronic, highly contagious skin and bone infection affecting children living in impoverished, remote communities. It is caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue. We report the prevalence of active yaws among elementary schoolchildren based on clinical and serological criteria in selected municipalities of Southern Philippines.
METHODS
From January to March 2017, exploratory cross-sectional surveys and screening of skin diseases were conducted in the Liguasan Marsh area of the provinces Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato. We included 9 municipalities and randomly selected one public elementary school per municipality. Members of students' households and the communities were also examined and treated. Yaws suspects and contacts had blood tests for treponemal and non-treponemal antibodies using Dual Pathway Platform and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) tests.
RESULTS
A total of 2779 children and adults were screened for any skin disease: 2291 students, 393 household members, and 95 community members. Among 210 yaws suspects and contacts, 150 consented to serologic tests. The estimated prevalence of active yaws among schoolchildren screened was 1 out of 2291 (0.04%). Among 2532 children who were 14 years old and younger, 4 (0.2%) had active yaws. Eight adult household contacts and community members had latent yaws and 2 had past yaws. Five out of 9 municipalities were endemic for yaws.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed that the Philippines is endemic for yaws but at a low level in the schools surveyed. This is an under-estimation due to the limited sampling. The lack of proper disease surveillance after the eradication campaign in the 1960's has made yaws a forgotten disease and has led to its resurgence. Yaws surveillance is needed to determine the extent of yaws in the Philippines and to help develop a strategy to eradicate yaws by 2030.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Philippines; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Treponema; Treponema pallidum; Yaws
PubMed: 35648735
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010447 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021The oral spirochete is a keystone periodontal pathogen that, in association with members of a complex polymicrobial oral biofilm, contributes to tissue damage and... (Review)
Review
The oral spirochete is a keystone periodontal pathogen that, in association with members of a complex polymicrobial oral biofilm, contributes to tissue damage and alveolar bone loss in periodontal disease. Virulence-associated behaviors attributed to include disruption of the host cell extracellular matrix, tissue penetration and disruption of host cell membranes accompanied by dysregulation of host immunoregulatory factors. dentilisin is associated with several of these behaviors. Dentilisin is an outer membrane-associated complex of acylated subtilisin-family PrtP protease and two other lipoproteins, PrcB and PrcA, that are unique to oral spirochetes. Dentilisin is encoded in a single operon consisting of -. We employ multiple approaches to study mechanisms of dentilisin assembly and PrtP protease activity. To determine the role of each protein in the protease complex, we have made targeted mutations throughout the protease locus, including polar and nonpolar mutations in each gene (, , ) and deletions of specific PrtP domains, including single base mutagenesis of key PrtP residues. These will facilitate distinguishing between host cell responses to dentilisin protease activity and its acyl groups. The boundaries of the divergent promoter region and the relationship between dentilisin and the adjacent iron transport operon are being resolved by incremental deletions in the sequence immediately 5' to the protease locus. Comparison of the predicted three-dimensional structure of PrtP to that of other subtilisin-like proteases shows a unique PrtP C-terminal domain of approximately 250 residues. A survey of global gene expression in the presence or absence of protease gene expression reveals potential links between dentilisin and iron uptake and homeostasis in . Understanding the mechanisms of dentilisin transport, assembly and activity of this unique protease complex may lead to more effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatments for periodontal disease.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Chymotrypsin; Peptide Hydrolases; Treponema denticola
PubMed: 34084756
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.668287