Immunomodulatory Proteins in Tick Saliva From a Structural Perspective.

ABSTRACT: To feed successfully, ticks must bypass or suppress the host's defense mechanisms, particularly the immune system. To accomplish this, ticks secrete specialized immunomodulatory proteins into their saliva, just like many other blood-sucking parasites. However, the strategy of ticks is rather unique compared to their counterparts. Ticks' tendency for gene duplication has led to a diverse arsenal of dozens of closely related proteins from several classes to modulate the immune system's response. Among these are chemokine-binding proteins, complement pathways inhibitors, ion channels modulators, and numerous poorly characterized proteins whose functions are yet to be uncovered. Studying tick immunomodulatory proteins would not only help to elucidate tick-host relationships but would also prov

SUBMITTER: Denisov SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8548845 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature