Title: Temporal dynamic interplay of mouse proteome during protozoan Babesia microti infection alone or co-infection with Borrelia burgdorferi

ABSTRACT: Apicomplexan protozoan parasite Babesia microti (Bm) and spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi are tick-transmitted pathogens that cause babesiosis and Lyme disease, respectively and increasingly cause co-infections in the endemic regions of the United States. More severe manifestations of Lyme disease are displayed during these co-infections relative to that by B. burgdorferi alone, suggesting differential host responses could play roles during these host-microbes interactions. In C3H mouse model, we confirmed Bm parasitemia by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears while live-imaging of mice infected with our bioluminescent B. burgdorferi N40 strain allowed monitoring of disseminated infection levels. Gradation of temporal host genes expression was unveiled by proteomic analyses of blood samples. At 2 weeks post-infection, in naive versus N40+Bm, N40, and Bm infected mice, 31, 96, 76, and 22 unique proteins, respectively were detected while a convergence of 3,359 common proteins were identified across all groups. Notably, the proteomic landscape showed a significant overlap between naive and Bm infected mice and their most pronounced differences observed with the co-infected group. Using Volcano plots, upregulation of proteins associated with cellular and metabolic processes particularly in the N40+Bm co-infected mice were observed. At 4 weeks post-infection, distinct proteomic profile among naive, Bm, and co-infection mice emphasizes stimulation of distinct host responses after peak burden of pathogens. Host proteins overlap diminished significantly during the persistent infection at 16 weeks. Principal component analysis underscores stage-specific protein clustering. These findings illuminate intricate interactions between pathogens and host proteome dynamics that could provide insight into changes occurring throughout infection, especially during co-infection.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

TISSUE(S): Blood Cell, Blood

DISEASE(S): Parasitic Infectious Disease

SUBMITTER: Tong Liu  

LAB HEAD: Nikhat Parveen

PROVIDER: PXD054200 | Pride | 2025-07-14

REPOSITORIES: pride