The impact of volatiles on tick-host interaction and vector competence
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Cited by 4 publications
References 38 publications
Carbon dioxide shapes parasite-host interactions in a human-infective nematode
Skin-penetrating nematodes infect nearly one billion people worldwide. The developmentally arrested infective larvae (iL3s) seek out hosts, invade hosts via skin penetration, and resume development inside the host in a process called activation. Activated infective larvae (iL3as) traverse the host body, ending up as parasitic adults in the small intestine. Skin-penetrating nematodes respond to many chemosensory cues, but how chemosensation contributes to host seeking, intra-host development, and intra-host navigation - three crucial steps of the parasite-host interaction - remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in promoting parasite-host interactions in the human-infective threadwormStrongyloides stercoralis. We show thatS. stercoralisexhibits life-stage-specific preferences for CO2: iL3s are repelled, non-infective larvae and adults are neutral, and iL3as are attracted. CO2repulsion in iL3s may prime them for host seeking by stimulating dispersal from host feces, while CO2attraction in iL3as may direct worms toward high-CO2areas of the body such as the lungs and intestine. We also identify sensory neurons that detect CO2; these neurons are depolarized by CO2in iL3s and iL3as. In addition, we demonstrate that the receptor guanylate cyclaseSs-GCY-9 is expressed specifically in CO2-sensing neurons and is required for CO2-evoked behavior.Ss-GCY-9 also promotes activation, indicating that a single receptor can mediate both behavioral and physiological responses to CO2. Our results illuminate chemosensory mechanisms that shape the interaction between parasitic nematodes and their human hosts and may aid in the design of novel anthelmintics that target the CO2-sensing pathway.
Carbon dioxide shapes parasite-host interactions in a human-infective nematode
Skin-penetrating nematodes infect nearly one billion people worldwide. The developmentally arrested infective larvae (iL3s) seek out hosts, invade hosts via skin penetration, and resume development inside the host in a process called activation. Activated infective larvae (iL3as) traverse the host body, ending up as parasitic adults in the small intestine. Skin-penetrating nematodes respond to many chemosensory cues, but how chemosensation contributes to host seeking, intra-host development, and intra-host navigation - three crucial steps of the parasite-host interaction - remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in promoting parasite-host interactions in the human-infective threadwormStrongyloides stercoralis. We show thatS. stercoralisexhibits life-stage-specific preferences for CO2: iL3s are repelled, non-infective larvae and adults are neutral, and iL3as are attracted. CO2repulsion in iL3s may prime them for host seeking by stimulating dispersal from host feces, while CO2attraction in iL3as may direct worms toward high-CO2areas of the body such as the lungs and intestine. We also identify sensory neurons that detect CO2; these neurons are depolarized by CO2in iL3s and iL3as. In addition, we demonstrate that the receptor guanylate cyclaseSs-GCY-9 is expressed specifically in CO2-sensing neurons and is required for CO2-evoked behavior.Ss-GCY-9 also promotes activation, indicating that a single receptor can mediate both behavioral and physiological responses to CO2. Our results illuminate chemosensory mechanisms that shape the interaction between parasitic nematodes and their human hosts and may aid in the design of novel anthelmintics that target the CO2-sensing pathway.
Exploring the dynamic ticks-camel-pathogens interaction
The ability of ticks to interact and adapt to different ecologies and hosts determines their vectorial competence for various pathogens, however ticks-livestock-pathogens interaction studies are limited. With our ticks-hosts-pathogens interface studies, we found 14 species of ticks feeding on various livestock. Ticks showed a strong preference for one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). The camel nostril was the most preferred predilection site. The most prevalent tick species on camels was Hyalomma rufipes. We found two novel Amblyomma gemma variants which are distinct both morphologically and genetically from previously described Amblyomma gemma. The signature odors from camel breath and body were attractive to H. rufipes; demonstrating ticks utilize camel-derived metabolites to find their host. Our research shows that H. rufipes and camel hosts have unique and shared pathogens showing H. rufipes’ vector and camel’s reservoir host qualities. Our study unravels the dynamic interactions between ticks, pathogens, and camels that all influence the likelihood of pathogen adaptation and transmission dynamics.
Exploring the dynamic adult hard ticks-camel-pathogens interaction
The ability of ticks to interact and adapt to different ecologies and hosts determines their vectorial competence for various pathogens; however, ticks-livestock-pathogens interaction studies are limited. With our ticks-hosts-pathogens interface studies, we found 14 species of hard ticks feeding on various livestock. Ticks showed a strong preference for one-humped camels ( Camelus dromedarius ). The camel nostril was the most preferred predilection site. The most prevalent tick species on camels was Hyalomma rufipes . We found two novel Amblyomma gemma variants which are distinct both morphologically and genetically from previously described Amblyomma gemma . The signature odors from camel breath and body were attractive to adult H. rufipes , demonstrating ticks utilize camel-derived metabolites to find their host. Our research shows that H. rufipes and camel hosts have unique and shared pathogens showing H. rufipes ’ vector and dromedary camel’s reservoir host qualities. Our study unravels the dynamic interactions between hard ticks, pathogens, and host camels that all influence the likelihood of pathogen adaptation and transmission dynamics. IMPORTANCE Ticks are obligatory hematophagous arachnids, serving as vectors for a wide array of pathogens that can be transmitted to animals and humans. The ability of ticks to acquire and transmit various pathogens depends on their attraction to quality reservoir hosts and the survival of the pathogens in ticks’ gut and other tissues. However, the complex dynamics of tick-pathogen interaction and host-seeking behavior remain understudied. This investigation revealed notable variation in tick preference for domestic animals, with camel being the most preferred host. Moreover, our spatial analysis of tick attachment sites showed nostrils are the most preferred sites by various tick species. Our epidemiology data showed variation in the pathogens harbored by camel (host) and vector ( Hyalomma rufipes ), demonstrating the camel’s efficiency as reservoir host and ticks’ vector competence for various pathogens. With our behavioral experiment using H. rufipes and its preferred host’s (camel) breath and body signature odors, we identified novel attractants for H. rufipes , thus offering new avenues for combating tick-borne diseases. Overall, our study presents novel insights into how multiple factors shape tick-host-pathogen interaction.
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