Arthropod autophagy molecules facilitate Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection of Ixodes scapularis tick cells.

ABSTRACT: Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit several medically important pathogens including Anaplasma phagocytophilum to humans and animals. In this study, we provide evidence that A. phagocytophilum modulates autophagy molecules for its survival in tick cells. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that A. phagocytophilum infection results in the upregulation of tyrosine phosphatase, shp-2, and serine/threonine-protein kinase, mTOR, in ticks and tick cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown of shp-2 or functional blocking with SHP-2 inhibitor resulted in significantly increased bacterial burden and reduced phospho-mTOR levels in A. phagocytophilum-infected tick cells. In addition, treatment of A. phagocytophilum-infected tick cells with rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) resulted in significantly increased bacterial burden and re

SUBMITTER: Turck JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11906822 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature