Systems Biology of Tissue-Specific Response to Anaplasma phagocytophilum Reveals Differentiated Apoptosis in the Tick Vector Ixodes scapularis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005120
• Publication Date: 2015-03-29T02:35:33Z
• Authors: Nieves Ayllón; Margarita Villar; Ruth C. Galindo; Katherine M. Kocan; Radek Šíma; Juan A. López; Jesús Vázquez; Pilar Alberdi; Alejandro Cabezas...; Petr Kopáček; José de la Fuente
• Keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Ixodes scapularis; Dermacentor variabilis

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging pathogen that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Infection with this zoonotic affects cell function in both vertebrate host and the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. Global tissue-specific response apoptosis signaling pathways were characterized I. scapularis nymphs adult female midguts salivary glands infected A. using a systems biology approach combining transcriptomics proteomics. Apoptosis was selected for pathway-focused analysis due to its role bacterial infection of cells. The results showed differences revealed differentiated regulation pathways. impact more pronounced than glands, probably reflecting developmental cycle. All described other organisms identified scapularis, except absence Perforin ortholog. Functional characterization RNA interference Porin knockdown significantly increases colonization by phagocytophilum. produced complex alterations transcript protein levels. In nymphs, suggested possible effect on inhibition immune response. midguts, inhibited facilitate establish through up-regulation JAK/STAT pathway. Bacterial intrinsic pathway down-regulating expression resulted Cytochrome c release as anti-apoptotic mechanism infection. However, may promote limit induction extrinsic These dynamic changes transcriptome proteome demonstrated complexity will contribute characterize gene ticks.