Mateos-Hernandez L, Wu-Chuang A, Maitre A, Rego ROM, Abuin-Denis L, et al.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases •
The gut microbiome undergoes natural selection pressure, likely because it can affect infection resistance by stimulating natural antibody (NAb) production, notably against the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal). In our study, we explored whether particular glycans, such as α-Gal, from specific host microbiota components could trigger NAbs that, once ingested by Ixodes ricinus ticks during the blood meal, are capable of cross-reacting with bacterial strains in the tick microbiota that share these glycans. Such interactions might alter the tick microbiota and reduce Borrelia afzelii colonization in ticks. When mice were orally administered various Escherichia coli strains, it triggered the stimulation of NAbs and resulted in strain-specific alterations in the tick microbiota. These changes effectively decreased Borrelia colonization in the tick vector. Additionally, vaccination with the glycan α-Gal induced notable shifts in the tick microbiota and similarly reduced Borrelia colonization. Reduced Borrelia colonization was associated with shifts in bacterial diversity, abundance, and microbial network properties. The study provides evidence that natural mechanisms, such as the production of NAb in response to the host gut microbiome, can modulate the microbiota of disease vectors and reduce pathogen colonization within the vector. These findings offer new insights into potential strategies for reducing the transmission of vector-borne diseases through modulation of the host gut microbiome.
de la Fuente J, Estrada-Peña A, Gortázar C, Vaz-Rodrigues R, Sánchez I, et al.
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) •
Lyme borreliosis (LB) caused by lato complex spirochetes is one of the tick-borne diseases with high prevalence and social/economic burden in the United States, Spain, and other European countries. The objective is to address limited information available about the incidence, prevalence, and symptoms of LB, current prevention, and treatment interventions that are not adequately focused and thus not very effective against this disease. To address these limitations, in this study, we used a citizen science approach to evaluate the LB-associated risks and implementation of control interventions in Spain. A total of 405 participants in the survey were included in the analysis. Responses to the questionnaire were received during January-July 2022. The questionnaire contained qualitative and quantitative questions. Homogeneity among binary variables was analyzed using a Fisher's exact test. Despite limitations of the study associated with response to the questionnaire and information on tick species, the results evidenced the effect of factors such as age, gender, tick bites, disease clinical signs, comorbidities such as alpha-gal syndrome, health care services, and treatment effectiveness affecting LB. The main conclusions of the study highlight the need for better surveillance of tick infestations, pathogen infection, and diagnosis of LB and related comorbidities. To advance in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, new interventions need to be developed and implemented in both public and private health care services. Providing access to these results to the society, health care system, and scientists is important to further advance in disease surveillance, diagnosis, control, and prevention.