Francisella tularensis novicida infection competence differs in cell lines derived from United States populations of Dermacentor andersoni and Ixodes scapularis.

ABSTRACT: In the United States, Dermacentor spp. are common vectors of Francisella tularensis subspecies (ssp.), while Ixodes scapularis is not, though the geographic distribution and host range of pathogen and tick overlap. To examine if differences in infection competence at the cellular level underpin these ecological differences, we evaluated the competence of D. andersoni (DAE100) and I. scapularis (ISE6) cell lines to support F. tularensis ssp. novicida (F. novicida) infection. Importantly, D. andersoni is a vector for both F. tularensis spp. tularensis, and F. novicida. We hypothesized F. novicida infection would be more productive in D. andersoni than in I. scapularis cells. Specifically, we determined if there are differences in F. novicida i) invasion, ii) replication, or iii) tick cell vi

SUBMITTER: Reif KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6107653 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature