Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
4.5
Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0
share announcement

Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2024 | Viewed by 3463

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Galina N. Leonova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Natural Focal Transmissible Infections, Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
Interests: tick-borne diseases; Ixodid ticks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maxim Khasnatinov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
FSPSI Scientific Centre for family health and human reproduction problems (SC FHHRP), Irkutsk, Russian Federation
Interests: tick-borne diseases; Ixodid ticks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of the Special Issue "Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases (https://www.mdpi.com/si/microorganisms/tick_borne_disease)".

Recently, in addition to the long-known vector-borne diseases associated with tick bites, previously unknown infections have begun to appear. These can be caused by genetic variability of not only long-studied, but also new pathogens of a viral and bacterial nature. Such processes can be caused both by climatic and geographical changes and the growing global human economic activity.

As a Guest Editor of this Special Issue, I invite you to submit research and review articles and short communications related to the study of the tick-borne infections, the ecology and biology of ticks and the processes of interactions between pathogens, ticks and vertebrate hosts during mono- and co-infection. Original research on the diagnosis, prevention, clinical characterization, and therapy of tick-borne infections is also welcome. In addition, review articles, including opinions on future prospects for the study of pathogens and the ecology of their vectors, are welcome. Topics of interest include the following:

  • Diversity, distribution and ecology of ticks and tick-borne infections;
  • Control of tick populations, anti-tick vaccines, and genetic modifications of ticks;
  • Interactions between viruses, bacteria, ticks and vertebrate hosts;
  • Recent advances in animal and cell line models of tick-borne infections;
  • Recent advances and novel approaches in monitoring and surveillance of tick-borne infections of humans and animals.
  • Development of antivirals and antibiotics against tick-borne pathogens;
  • Novel approaches to the detection of tick-borne pathogens, diagnostics, therapy and prevention of tick-borne diseases;

We hope that experts from different fields will contribute to this project.

Dr. Galina N. Leonova
Dr. Maxim Khasnatinov
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ticks
  • tick-borne viruses and bacteria
  • ecology
  • epidemiology
  • diagnostics
  • clinical manifestations
  • therapy

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

9 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ticks Blood-Feeding on Migratory Birds in Sweden
by Peter Wilhelmsson, Malin Lager, Thomas G. T. Jaenson, Jonas Waldenström, Björn Olsen and Per-Eric Lindgren
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040735 - 03 Apr 2024
Viewed by 520
Abstract
Migratory birds play a dual role as potential reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, and potential dispersers of pathogen-containing ticks during their migratory journeys. Ixodes ricinus, a prevalent tick species in Northern and Western Europe, serves as a primary vector for Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a [...] Read more.
Migratory birds play a dual role as potential reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, and potential dispersers of pathogen-containing ticks during their migratory journeys. Ixodes ricinus, a prevalent tick species in Northern and Western Europe, serves as a primary vector for Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a bacterium with implications for human and animal health. There is limited information available regarding A. phagocytophilum in birds. Our investigation focused on A. phagocytophilum prevalence in ticks collected from migratory birds in southeastern Sweden. The identification of ticks involved both molecular analyses for species determination and morphological classification to ascertain the developmental stage. The presence of A. phagocytophilum was determined using real-time PCR. Of the 1115 ticks analyzed from 4601 birds, 0.9% (n = 10), including I. ricinus and Ixodes frontalis, tested positive for A. phagocytophilum. Notably, common blackbirds (Turdus merula) yielded the highest number of A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks. The findings suggest that A. phagocytophilum is present in a small proportion of ticks infesting migratory birds in southeastern Sweden. Consequently, the role of birds as hosts for ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum appears to be low, suggesting that birds seem to play a minor indirect role in the geographic dispersal of A. phagocytophilum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0)
17 pages, 10431 KiB  
Article
Untranslated Regions of a Segmented Kindia Tick Virus Genome Are Highly Conserved and Contain Multiple Regulatory Elements for Viral Replication
by Anastasia A. Tsishevskaya, Daria A. Alkhireenko, Roman B. Bayandin, Mikhail Yu. Kartashov, Vladimir A. Ternovoi and Anastasia V. Gladysheva
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020239 - 23 Jan 2024
Viewed by 661
Abstract
Novel segmented tick-borne RNA viruses belonging to the group of Jingmenviruses (JMVs) are widespread across Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. In this work, we obtained whole-genome sequences of two Kindia tick virus (KITV) isolates and performed modeling and the functional annotation of the [...] Read more.
Novel segmented tick-borne RNA viruses belonging to the group of Jingmenviruses (JMVs) are widespread across Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. In this work, we obtained whole-genome sequences of two Kindia tick virus (KITV) isolates and performed modeling and the functional annotation of the secondary structure of 5′ and 3′ UTRs from JMV and KITV viruses. UTRs of various KITV segments are characterized by the following points: (1) the polyadenylated 3′ UTR; (2) 5′ DAR and 3′ DAR motifs; (3) a highly conserved 5′-CACAG-3′ pentanucleotide; (4) a binding site of the La protein; (5) multiple UAG sites providing interactions with the MSI1 protein; (6) three homologous sequences in the 5′ UTR and 3′ UTR of segment 2; (7) the segment 2 3′ UTR of a KITV/2017/1 isolate, which comprises two consecutive 40 nucleotide repeats forming a Y-3 structure; (8) a 35-nucleotide deletion in the second repeat of the segment 2 3′ UTR of KITV/2018/1 and KITV/2018/2 isolates, leading to a modification of the Y-3 structure; (9) two pseudoknots in the segment 2 3′ UTR; (10) the 5′ UTR and 3′ UTR being represented by patterns of conserved motifs; (11) the 5′-CAAGUG-3′ sequence occurring in early UTR hairpins. Thus, we identified regulatory elements in the UTRs of KITV, which are characteristic of orthoflaviviruses. This suggests that they hold functional significance for the replication of JMVs and the evolutionary similarity between orthoflaviviruses and segmented flavi-like viruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7448 KiB  
Article
Whole Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of the First Ehrlichia canis Isolate in China
by Jilei Zhang, Jiawei Wang and Chengming Wang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010125 - 08 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1168
Abstract
Ehrlichia canis, a prominent tick-borne pathogen causing canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), is one of the six recognized Ehrlichia species worldwide. Despite its widespread presence in ticks and host dogs in China, comprehensive genomic information about this pathogen remains limited. This study focuses [...] Read more.
Ehrlichia canis, a prominent tick-borne pathogen causing canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), is one of the six recognized Ehrlichia species worldwide. Despite its widespread presence in ticks and host dogs in China, comprehensive genomic information about this pathogen remains limited. This study focuses on an in-depth analysis of E. canis YZ-1, isolated and cultured from an infected dog in China. The complete genome of E. canis YZ-1 was sequenced (1,314,789 bp, 1022 genes, 29% GC content, and 73% coding bases), systematically characterizing its genomic elements and functions. Comparative analysis with representative genomes of Ehrlichia species, including E. canis strain Jake, E. chaffeensis, Ehrlichia spp., E. muris, E. ruminantium, and E. minasensis, revealed conserved genes, indicating potential evolutionary connections with E. ruminantium. The observed reduction in virulence-associated genes, coupled with a type IV secretion system (T4SS), suggests an intricate balance between pathogenicity and host adaptation. The close relationship with E. canis Jake and E. chaffeensis, alongside nuanced genomic variations with E. ruminantium and E. mineirensis, underscores the need to explore emerging strains and advancements in sequencing technologies continuously. This genetic insight opens avenues for innovative medications, studies on probiotic resistance, development of new detection markers, and progress in vaccine development for ehrlichiosis. Further investigations into the functional significance of identified genes and their role in host–pathogen interactions will contribute to a more holistic comprehension of Ehrlichia’s biology and its implications for pathogenicity and transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2105 KiB  
Communication
The Molecular Detection of Bacterial Infections of Public Health Importance in Hard Tick (Ixodidae) Nymphs Collected from the Forest Fringes of Western Ghats in the Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra States of India
by Gnanasekar Ragini, Hari Kishan Raju, Ranganathan Krishnamoorthi, Ayyanar Elango, Subramanian Muthukumaravel and Ashwani Kumar
Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010052 - 28 Dec 2023
Viewed by 908
Abstract
A survey was conducted to determine the human tick-borne bacterial infections in the nymphs which were collected from Western Ghats’ fringe forest areas. Tick nymphs were collected using the flagging method from the villages where cases Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) were previously reported [...] Read more.
A survey was conducted to determine the human tick-borne bacterial infections in the nymphs which were collected from Western Ghats’ fringe forest areas. Tick nymphs were collected using the flagging method from the villages where cases Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) were previously reported in the states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. A total of 200 tick pools consisting of 4587 nymphs were tested by PCR for the detection of bacteria of public health importance, such as Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. Of these, four pools (4.8%) in Karnataka and three pools (4.4%) in Maharashtra were positive for Coxiella burnetii, while none of the samples from Goa state were positive. Rickettsia spp. were positively obtained from Maharashtra (51.5%), Goa (35.42%) and Karnataka (26.19%). The sequence results of Rickettsia spp. showed similarity to the spotted fever group Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii, Rickettsia conorii subsp. heilongjiangensis and Rickettsia spp. strain koreansis. Individuals are entering into the forest areas for various reasons are more likely to infect with Coxiella burnetii. and Rickettsia spp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2.0)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop