Project description:To understand the effect of Babesia infection on Rhipicephalus microplus hemocyte gene expression, we performed high throughput RNA-sequencing using samples collected from Rhipicephalus microplus uninfected tick hemolymph and infected with either Babesia bigemina or Babesia bovis. We evaluated gene expression differences that may be attributed to tick immune defense to babesial infection.
Project description:Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease that poses a significant economic threat to cattle industries in tropical and subtropical areas, and Babesia bovis is the most virulent causative agent of bovine babesiosis. This apicomplexan parasite infects erythrocytes of cattle causing severe hemolytic disease, and animals that survive acute infections become persistently infected for life. Young cattle (< 6 months of age) are resistant to infection while adult cattle (>1 year of age) are highly susceptible and succumb to acute infection; however, the immunological mechanisms associated with the age-resistance remain unclear. Protective host immunity involves peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) including natural killer (NK) and T cells, and activated macrophages that act to control the pathogen. In this study, we examined the transcriptional signatures of PBMCs from adult cattle (>1.5 years old) experimentally infected with the B. bovis virulent strain S74-T3Bo. Transcriptional signatures evident during the acute phase of babesiosis were categorized into immune-related and non-immune genes. We identified both upregulated and downregulated genes, with fold changes ranging from 2 to 263-fold. We discuss our findings in the context of immune responses to acute disease as a mechanism for adult host survival, with a focus on the molecular functions and biological processes involved in the response to B. bovis infection. In this RNA-Seq analysis, we identified genes related to the immune system, including cytokines and chemokines, complement, cell signaling pathways and surface molecules that may play a role in the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In addition, non-immune genes potentially involved in cell proliferation, cell migration, development, energy production, protein-protein interactions, molecular transport, and flagella assembly were also identified.
Project description:Babesia parasites transition between a mammalian host, where they cause babesiosis, and the tick vector that transmits them. This transition provides an environmental signal resulting in altered gene expression allowing the completion of the parasite’s life cycle. A comparison of the different life stages that occur within mammalian and tick hosts can provide insight into the adaptation of Babesia to these different environments. In this study, we used RNA-Seq to compare gene expression between Babesia bovis blood stages and tick derived kinetes.
Project description:To understand Babesia gene regulation during tick and mammalian host infection, we performed high throughput RNA-sequencing using samples collected from calves and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks infected with Babesia bigemina. We evaluated gene expression differences between B. bigemina kinetes and blood-stage parasites
Project description:This experiment was undertaken to document changes in gene expression in the skin of tick-resistant Brahman (Bos indicus) and tick-susceptible Holstein-Friesian (Bos taurus) cattle prior to, and following, infestation with the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Experiment Overall Design: RNA was extracted from skin samples of tick-naïve cattle (animals with no previous R.microplus exposure) and tick-infested cattle after a period of successive, heavy infestations with R. microplus. Skin samples taken from tick-infested animals were taken at sites where tick larvae (approximately 24 h old) were attached to the skin sample. Skin samples were of 8 mm diameter and full skin thickness (approximately 10 mm). RNA samples from 12 animals (3 tick-naive Holstein-Friesian, 3 tick-naive Brahman, 3 tick-infested Holstein-Friesian and 3 tick-infested Brahman) were processed and hybridised to individual slides.
Project description:This experiment was undertaken to document changes in gene expression in the skin of tick-resistant Brahman (Bos indicus) and tick-susceptible Holstein-Friesian (Bos taurus) cattle prior to, and following, infestation with the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Keywords: Disease state analysis
Project description:This project aimed to discover the protein-based biomarkers for tick resistance in cattle using cattle serum samples. The cattle were phenotyped into two groups, tick-resistant and susceptible after an artificial tick challenge. Mean tick scores were used to categorise cattle. The SWATH analysis was sued to measure the relative abundance of proteins in skin samples of the two groups at different time points.
Project description:This project aimed to discover the protein-based biomarkers for tick resistance in cattle using cattle skin samples. The cattle were phenotyped into two groups, tick-resistant and susceptible after artificial tick challenge. Mean tick scores were used to categorise cattle. The SWATH analysis was sued to measure the relative abundance of proteins in skin samples of the two groups at different time points.
