Effects of Live and Peptide-Based Antimicrobiota Vaccines on <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> Fitness, Microbiota, and Acquisition of Tick-Borne Pathogens.

ABSTRACT: This study explored the effects of antimicrobiota vaccines on the acquisition of Borrelia and Rickettsia, and on the microbiota composition of Ixodes ricinus ticks. Using a murine model, we investigated the immunological responses to live Staphylococcus epidermidis and multi-antigenic peptide (MAP) vaccines. Immunized mice were infected with either Borrelia afzelii or Rickettsia helvetica, and subsequently infested with pathogen-free I. ricinus nymphs. We monitored the tick feeding behavior, survival rates, and infection levels. Additionally, we employed comprehensive microbiota analyses, including the alpha and beta diversity assessments and microbial co-occurrence network construction. Our results indicate that both live S. epidermidis<

SUBMITTER: Maitre A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11945021 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature