Kocan Katherine M, de la Fuente Jose, Blouin Edmour F
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Front Biosci. 2008 May 1;13:7032-45. doi: 10.2741/3208.
The genus Anaplasma includes a diverse group of tick-borne pathogens found exclusively within membrane-bound vacuoles in host cells. While A. marginale, A. centrale and A. ovis, vectored by Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus ticks, are host-specific for ruminants, A. phagocytophilum, vectored by Ixodes spp., infects a wide range of hosts. In ticks Anaplasma undergoes a developmental cycle that is coordinated with the tick feeding cycle. Although research at the tick/Anaplasma interface is in its infancy, recent studies have provided evidence that Anaplasma infection and transmission is mediated by a molecular mechanism involving both tick cell and pathogen genes. Application of a growing array of molecular approaches, such as RNA interference, genomics and proteomics, are rapidly expanding our knowledge of the tick/pathogen interface. Targeting key tick cell molecules required for pathogen development in vaccine strategies may compromise the vector capacity of ticks for Anaplasma, thus reducing transmission and infection of vertebrates. Collectively, this information will likely lead to the development of dual target vaccines designed to protect vertebrates against tick infestations and prevent the transmission of pathogens.
无形体属包括一类多样的蜱传播病原体，它们仅存在于宿主细胞内的膜结合液泡中。虽然由革蜱属和璃眼蜱属蜱传播的边缘无形体、中央无形体和绵羊无形体对反刍动物具有宿主特异性，但由硬蜱属传播的嗜吞噬细胞无形体可感染多种宿主。在蜱中，无形体经历一个与蜱进食周期相协调的发育循环。尽管蜱与无形体界面的研究尚处于起步阶段，但最近的研究提供了证据，表明无形体的感染和传播是由一种涉及蜱细胞和病原体基因的分子机制介导的。越来越多的分子方法，如RNA干扰、基因组学和蛋白质组学的应用，正在迅速扩展我们对蜱与病原体界面的认识。在疫苗策略中针对病原体发育所需的关键蜱细胞分子可能会损害蜱传播无形体的能力，从而减少对脊椎动物的传播和感染。总体而言，这些信息可能会导致开发出双靶点疫苗，旨在保护脊椎动物免受蜱虫侵扰并防止病原体传播。
