Parasitology Research最新文献

{"title":"Trends in insecticide resistance in natural populations of Culex quinquefasciatus and its impact on mosquito fitness in Dschang, West Cameroon.","authors":"Yacouba Poumachu, Michel Lontsi-Demano, Jehan Zeb, Joel Djoufounna, Borel Djiappi-Tchamen, Abeer Hashem, Reem Atalla Alajmi, Christelle Layelle Mochie, Herman Parfait Awono-Ambene, Christophe Antonio-Nkondjio, Timoléon Tchuinkam, Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08457-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08457-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Specific information about the dispersion of Culex quinquefasciatus from Dschang in western Cameroon is scarce, and evidence-based interventions are needed. Common use of larvicides and adulticides conduct to the development of vectors resistance which can lead to deep biological changes, including fitness costs. We assessed the profile of insecticide resistance in field populations of Cx. quiquefasciatus and its potential fitness cost in a lineage selected for deltamethrin and permethrin resistance in the laboratory for two generations. The resistance intensity of the Cx. quinquefasciatus population was moderated when the population was exposed to deltamethrin at 10 × . Preexposure to PBO led to the restoration of full susceptibility to both deltamethrin and permethrin. Compared with that of the control group, female fecundity rates, egg hatchability, and pupation rates were significantly lower in the insecticide exposed groups. Larval development time and adults emergence rates were comparable between insecticide-exposed groups and the control. Insecticide-exposed adults lived longer than control adults did. Our findings suggest that the mechanisms selected for pyrethroid resistance are associated with negative impacts on different life-trait parameters and support the hypothesis that insecticide resistance is related to a high fitness cost.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 2","pages":"17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11785645/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why has the 'miracidium' of Notocotylidae (Trematoda: Digenea) lost all stage-specific traits?","authors":"Peter A Smirnov, Anna Gonchar","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08448-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08448-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digeneans of the family Notocotylidae differ from other digeneans in their peculiar eggs. The eggs feature a pair of long filaments extending from their poles, and their contents differ significantly from what we expect to observe in the eggs of digeneans. Instead of a ciliated miracidium larva, the notocotylid egg contains a tiny few-celled mother sporocyst. This sporocyst infects a snail host following accidental ingestion of the egg. Previous transmission electron microscope studies elucidated the structure of the sporocyst and proposed a mechanism of the injection relying on the structure called the opercular cord, but the data were insufficient to describe certain details. Here, we present ultrastructural data on the egg of Paramonostomum, clarifying the nature of the injection apparatus and providing the missing details of the in-egg mother sporocyst structure. We found the opercular cord to be part of the eggshell associated with the vitelline membrane. We also elucidated the intertwining connection between the germ cells and the sporocyst's tegument and explored 'nuage' granules present in the cytoplasm of the germ cells, providing evidence for identification of these cells as the germ ones. We discuss our findings in the context of transition of miracidia to a passive strategy of snail infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 2","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11782358/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human-biting behaviour of Leptoconops irritans (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a touristic area of the Balearic Islands (Spain).","authors":"Mikel Alexander González, Carlos Barceló, Aroa Rodríguez-López, Jordi Figuerola, Miguel Ángel Miranda","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08447-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08447-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biting midges of genus Leptoconops Skuse 1889 are small blood-feeding insects recognized as highly irritating diurnal pests in certain regions around the globe. In Europe, their presence is poorly documented, except in France and Italy. Following reports of human discomfort in a tourist area of Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain), a small-scale study was conducted to identify the biting species and assess their preferred biting sites using a human-landing assay along a habitat gradient in a coastal dune area. Leptoconops irritans (Noé, 1905) was identified based on morphological features and DNA barcoding. This species reached high densities (average rates of 3.3 landings/min), particularly near coastal dune vegetation. No statistically significant differences were found among the four main body sites for landings of L. irritans (F_3,6.023 = 1.80, p = 0.250): head (n = 91, 53.8%), lower extremities (n = 39, 23.1%), upper extremities (n = 37, 21.9%), and other covered areas (n = 2, 1.2%). Landing preferences varied among the three volunteers, and bites progressed differently. This study represents the second documented case of Leptoconops midges causing human discomfort in Spain. We hope this research will stimulate further interest in this understudied genus, which has been largely overlooked across much of Europe.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 2","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11782385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-infections of rickettsiales in clinically healthy, Leishmania infantum seropositive and seronegative dogs: a systematic literature review and new findings from Southern Italy.","authors":"Oana Gusatoaia, Livia Perles, Maria Alfonsa Cavalera, Annamaria Uva, Floriana Gernone, Domenico Otranto, Andrea Zatelli","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08458-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08458-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a widespread vector-borne disease. In Italy, an endemic region for CanL, overlapping transmission of L. infantum and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) like Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia canis is increasingly reported. Dogs with clinical leishmaniosis often show higher co-infection rates and pronounced clinicopathological abnormalities. This study presents a systematic literature review and new findings from southern Italy, focusing on co-infections with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum in clinically healthy L. infantum seropositive and seronegative dogs. The systematic review identified two eligible studies. The first reported 34/488 (7%) dogs L. infantum seropositive, with 11.8% also seropositive for A. phagocytophilum. Among 454 seronegative dogs, 3% were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum and 2.4% for E. canis. The second study identified 154/1260 (12.2%) dogs L. infantum seropositive, with co-infection rates of 0.6% and 1.9% for A. phagocytophilum and E. canis, respectively. Among 1106 seronegative dogs, 1.3% were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum and 2.3% for E. canis. In the retrospective study from southern Italy, 90/154 (58.4%) dogs were L. infantum seropositive, with co-infection rates of 4.4% for A. phagocytophilum and 2.2% for A. phagocytophilum and E. canis. Among 64 seronegative dogs, 1.6% showed similar co-infections. This is the first systematic review in Italy, documenting low and comparable co-infection rates with A. phagocytophilum and E. canis in clinically healthy dogs, regardless of L. infantum serostatus. These findings suggest that co-infections may occur independently, offering insights into vector-borne disease dynamics in endemic areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 2","pages":"14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11779695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term symptoms in children after a Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak in Sweden: a 10-year follow-up.","authors":"Marije Boks, Mikael Lilja, Anna Lindam, Micael Widerström, Angelica Persson, Pontus Karling, Malin Sjöström","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08455-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08455-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2010, a Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak resulted in 27,000 clinical cryptosporidiosis cases (45% of the population) in Östersund, Sweden. Long-term abdominal and joint symptoms are common following cryptosporidiosis in adults, and it can affect the development of children in low-income countries. We investigated the potential consequences for children in a high-income setting. In 2011, we prospectively surveyed 600 randomly selected children aged 0-5 years from Östersund. Cases were defined as respondents reporting new episodes of diarrhoea during the outbreak. After 10 years, respondents received a follow-up questionnaire about long-term symptoms (n = 423). We used X² and Mann-Whitney U tests to assess between-group differences in demographics and the mean number of symptoms. Logistic regressions adjusted for sex, age, and prior issues with loose stools were used to examine associations between case status and symptoms reported at follow-up. We retrieved data on healthcare visits from patient records. In total, 121 cases and 174 non-cases responded to the follow-up questionnaire (69.7%). Cases reported 1.74 (median 1.00, range 0-14) symptoms and non-cases 1.37 (median 0.00, range 0-11) symptoms (p = 0.029). Cases were more likely to report joint symptoms (aOR 4.0, CI 1.3-12.0) and fatigue (aOR 1.9, CI 1.1-3.4), but numbers were generally low. We found no between-group differences in abdominal symptoms, healthcare utilization, or disease diagnoses. Children aged 0-5 years from high-income countries may experience long-term symptoms after cryptosporidiosis, but may not be affected to the same extent as adults or their peers living in low-income countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11762772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143040968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunomodulatory activity of Trypanosoma cruzi recombinant antigen combination TSA-1-C4 and Tc24-C4 induce activation of macrophages and CD8⁺ T cells.","authors":"Victor Manuel Dzul-Huchim, Miguel Rosado-Vallado, Antonio Euan-Canto, Julio Torres-Romero, Jaime Ortega-Lopez, Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan, Liliana Estefania Villanueva-Lizama, Victor Arana-Argáez","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08453-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08453-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chagas disease is a chronic infection caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, with limited benefits of the currently available anti-parasitic chemotherapeutic approaches to halt the progression of heart disease. Recombinant TSA-1-C4 and Tc24-C4 proteins have been developed as promising antigen candidates for therapeutic vaccines, leading to propose them in combination as a bivalent recombinant protein strategy. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effect of the combined TSA-1-C4 and Tc24-C4 recombinant proteins by in vitro assays using murine macrophages. Macrophages from naïve Balb/c mice were isolated and stimulated with TSA-1-C4 plus Tc24-C4 recombinant proteins, hence, supernatants were recovered to measure host NO, H₂O₂, as well as, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 cytokine responses. Later, stimulated macrophages were co-cultured with CD8⁺ T cells from naïve mice, and inflammatory cytokine-profiles were measured from supernatants. We observed that combining both antigens promotes the activation of host macrophages by NO and H₂O₂ release; moreover, these macrophages also induced considerable pro-inflammatory immune-responses mediated by TNF-, IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines compared to either TSA-1-C4 or Tc24-C4 stimulated macrophages. In addition, naïve CD8⁺ T cells in presence of TSA-1-C4 plus Tc24-C4 stimulated-macrophages similarly boosted the pro-inflammatory immune profile by significant production of IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokines. These results support immunological advantages for the use of TSA-1-C4 and Tc24-C4 combination as vaccine candidates against T. cruzi.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11761814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) therapeutic and prophylactic role in rats experimentally infected with Blastocystis subtype 3 (ST3).","authors":"Sara Fathy Hamed Alkady, Heba Mohamed Awad El Naggar, Hala Sobhy Thabet, Hoda S El-Sayed, Mona Magdy, Iman Ahmed Fahmy, Hanan Mahmoud Abou-Seri","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08444-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08444-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blastocystis, an eukaryote, inhabits the intestinal tract of humans and animals worldwide. Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), a probiotic, has been reported to be effective against blastocystosis. The present study evaluated the therapeutic and prophylactic effectiveness of L. acidophilus compared to metronidazole (MTZ) in rats experimentally infected with Blastocystis subtype 3 (ST3). Four groups of Blastocystis ST3-infected rats received MTZ, L. acidophilus, both MTZ and L. acidophilus, or prophylactic L. acidophilus. Non-infected and infected control groups were included. The effectiveness of treatment and prevention was evaluated using parasitological monitoring, histopathological examination, immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α and IgA expression, and immunological testing for TNF-α and IL-10. In the L. acidophilus-treated group, a 76% reduction in the mean fecal parasitic count and a 67% clearance in the intestinal wash were achieved aligning closely with outcomes observed in the MTZ-treated group. An immunomodulatory impact via upregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was demonstrated as well. Combined administration of MTZ and L. acidophilus exhibited superior efficacy with a 99% decrease in the mean fecal parasitic count and a 98% decrease in the intestinal fluid parasitic count. Additionally, the lowest TNF-α and the highest IL-10 serum levels. Prophylactic use of L. acidophilus for 7 days neither prevented infection nor reduced its severity. Furthermore, no significant differences were detected in serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 following post-prophylaxis and post-treatment with L. acidophilus. Accordingly, L. acidophilus might be recommended as an adjuvant treatment alongside MTZ for improved efficacy against blastocystosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and molecular characteristics of swine coccidia based on single oocyst isolation.","authors":"Nanhao Wang, Yingying Zhang, Shuqi Cheng, Xinyi Chen, Yufeng Liu, Fa Shan, Wei Su, Xiaoying Li, Longxian Zhang, Sumei Zhang, Junqiang Li","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08456-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08456-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Swine coccidiosis is a host-specific protozoan disease caused by Cystoisospora suis and various Eimeria species, leading to diarrhea or subclinical signs in pigs. In this study, 3296 fecal samples from 55 farms across six provinces in China were collected and examined to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of swine coccidia. The single oocyst isolation technique (SOIT) and molecular characterization identified nine coccidian species, with an overall infection prevalence of 13.83%. Infection rates varied by locations, host age groups, and sampling seasons. Among the positive swine coccidia samples, Cystoisospora suis showed the highest prevalence at 58.77%, followed by eight Eimeria spp_. species. SOIT along with molecular characterization of C. suis at the SSU rRNA and ITS rRNA gene loci revealed the sequence homology from 99.8 to 100.0%. Additionally, the eight species of Eimeria_. exhibited a high degree of sequence homology at the SSU rRNA and COX I gene loci. Due to the limitation of single molecular marker genes, this study introduced SOIT for DNA extraction, followed by nested PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA, ITS rRNA, and COX I gene loci to identify swine coccidia. This study is the first to systematically evaluate the prevalence and genetic diversity of coccidia in Chinese pig farms by SOIT, offering a method for accurately identifying swine coccidiosis and a scientific foundation for its effective prevention and control.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11750924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143009333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Activation of the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 cascade through the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to Angiostrongylus cantonensis-induced eosinophilic meningoencephalitis.","authors":"Ke-Min Chen, Cheng-You Lu, Shih-Chan Lai","doi":"10.1007/s00436-025-08454-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-025-08454-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) is synthesised by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1). PGE-2 exhibits pro-inflammatory properties in inflammatory conditions. However, there remains limited understanding of the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 pathway in Angiostrongylus cantonensis-induced meningoencephalitis. This study revealed several key findings regarding the activation of the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 pathway and its correlation with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis induced by A. cantonensis infection. Immunostaining revealed an increase in the expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 in the subarachnoid space and glial cells compared to control subjects. Inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome by small interfering RNA (siRNA) blocked extracellular secretory proteins (ESPs) stimulated COX-2, mPGES-1 and PGE-2 in microglia. MCC950, an NLRP3 inhibitor, inhibited the levels of the COX-2, mPGES-1, and PGE-2 proteins induced by A. cantonensis in mice. Treatment of mice infected with A. cantonensis with the COX-2 inhibitor NS398 significantly reduced the levels of mPGES-1, PGE-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels. Similarly, the mPGES-1 inhibitor MF63 significantly reduced PGE-2 and MMP-9 levels in A. cantonensis-infected mice. Administration of MCC950, NS398, or MF63 resulted in marked attenuation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and eosinophil counts in A. cantonensis-infected mice. These findings highlight the critical role of the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 pathway and its regulation by the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis induced by A. cantonensis infection. Furthermore, pharmacological interventions targeting this pathway, such as MCC950, NS398, and MF63, show promising therapeutic potential in mitigating associated inflammatory responses and disruption of the BBB. The results indicate that blocking NLRP3 using pharmacological (MCC950) and gene silencing (siNLRP3) methods emphasised the crucial involvement of NLRP3 in the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 pathway. This suggests that the activation of the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE-2 axis in response to A. cantonensis infection may be mediated through a mechanism involving the NLRP3 inflammasome.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11753341/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143009326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tick salivary cystatin Iristatin limits the virus replication in skin of tick-borne encephalitis virus-infected mice.","authors":"Helena Langhansová, Zuzana Beránková, Ritesh Khanna, Jan Kotál, Michail Kotsyfakis, Martin Palus, Jaroslava Lieskovská","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08441-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08441-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is flavivirus transmitted to the host via tick saliva which contains various molecules with biological impacts. One of such molecules is Iristatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor from Ixodes ricinus that has been shown to have immunomodulatory properties. To characterize Iristatin in the relation to TBEV, we investigate whether this tick inhibitor has any capacity to influence TBEV infection. Mice were intradermally infected by TBEV with or without Iristatin and the viral multiplication was determined in skin and brain tissues by RT-PCR two and 5 days after infection. The viral RNA was detected in both intervals in skin and increased by time. The application of Iristatin caused a reduction in viral RNA in skin but not in the brain of infected mice 5 days post-infection. Moreover, anti-viral effect of Iristatin on skin was accompanied by a significant decline of interferon-stimulated gene 15 gene expression. The effect of Iristatin on TBEV replication was tested also in vitro in primary macrophages and dendritic cells; however, no changes were observed suggesting no direct interference of Iristatin with virus replication. Still, the Iristatin caused a suppression of Erk1/2 phosphorylation in TBEV-infected dendritic cells and had the anti-apoptotic effect. This is the first report showing that a tick cystatin decreases the viral RNA in the host skin, likely indirectly through creating skin environment that is less supportive for TBEV replication. Assuming, that viral RNA reflects the amount of infectious virus, decline of TBEV in host skin could influence the tick biology or virus transmission during cofeeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"124 1","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11739226/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143009523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}