A Vaccinomics Approach for the Identification of Tick Protective Antigens for the Control of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus Infestations in Companion Animals
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Date
2019-07-26Author
Contreras Rojo, Marinela
Villar-Rayo, Margarita M.
Fuente García, José de Jesús de la
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Show full item recordAbstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens affect health and welfare of companion animals
worldwide, and some human tick-borne diseases are associated with exposure
to domestic animals. Vaccines are the most environmentally friendly alternative to
acaracides for the control of tick infestations, and to reduce the risk for tick-borne
diseases affecting human and animal health. However, vaccines have not been
developed or successfully implemented for most vector-borne diseases. The main
limitation for the development of effective vaccines is the identification of protective
antigens. To address this limitation, in this study we used an experimental approach
combining vaccinomics based on transcriptomics and proteomics data with vaccination
trials for the identification of tick protective antigens. The study was focused on
Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus that infest humans, companion animals
and other domestic and wild animals, and transmit disease-causing pathogens. Tick
larvae and adult salivary glands were selected for analysis to target tick organs and
developmental stages playing a key role during tick life cycle and pathogen infection
and transmission. Two I. ricinus (heme lipoprotein and uncharacterized secreted
protein) and five D. reticulatus (glypican-like protein, secreted protein involved in
homophilic cell adhesion, sulfate/anion exchanger, signal peptidase complex subunit
3, and uncharacterized secreted protein) proteins were identified as the most effective
protective antigens based on the criteria of vaccine E > 80%. The putative function
of selected protective antigens, which are involved in different biological processes,
resulted in vaccines affecting multiple tick developmental stages. These results
suggested that the combination of some of these antigens might be considered to
increase vaccine efficacy through antigen synergy for the control of tick infestations
and potentially affecting pathogen infection and transmission. These antigens were
proposed for commercial vaccine development for the control of tick infestations in
companion animals, and potentially in other hosts for these tick species.