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16 results on '"Michael L Levin"'

1. Predicting the northward expansion of tropical lineage Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in the United States and its implications for medical and veterinary health.

Author

Emily L Pascoe, Santiago Nava, Marcelo B Labruna, Christopher D Paddock, Michael L Levin, Matteo Marcantonio, and Janet E Foley

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

The tropical lineage within the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species complex is cause for growing concern in the U.S. based on its prominent role in creating and perpetuating multiple recently identified outbreaks of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This lineage is undergoing a northward range expansion in the United States, necessitating the need for enhanced surveillance for Rh. sanguineus. To inform more focused surveillance efforts we use species distribution models (SDMs) to predict current (2015-2019) and future (2021-2040) habitat for the tropical lineage. Models using the MaxEnt algorithm were informed using geolocations of ticks genetically confirmed to be of the tropical lineage, for which data on 23 climatic and ecological variables were extracted. Models predicted that suitability was optimal where temperatures are relatively warm and stable, and there is minimal precipitation. This translated into habitat being predicted along much of the coast of southern states including California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Although the endophilic nature of tropical Rh. sanguineus somewhat violates the assumptions of SDMs, our models correctly predicted known locations of this tick and provide a starting point for increased surveillance efforts. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of using molecular methods to distinguish between ticks in the Rh. sanguineus species complex.

Published
2022
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2. Assessment of Domestic Goats as Models for Experimental and Natural Infection with the North American Isolate of Rickettsia slovaca.

Author

Nicole Lukovsky-Akhsanov, M Kelly Keating, Pamela Spivey, George W Lathrop, Nathaniel Powell, and Michael L Levin

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

Rickettsia slovaca is a tick-borne human pathogen that is associated with scalp eschars and neck lymphadenopathy known as tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) or Dermacentor-borne necrosis erythema and lymphadenopathy (DEBONEL). Originally, R. slovaca was described in Eastern Europe, but since recognition of its pathogenicity, human cases have been reported throughout Europe. European vertebrate reservoirs of R. slovaca remain unknown, but feral swine and domestic goats have been found infected or seropositive for this pathogen. Recently, a rickettsial pathogen identical to R. slovaca was identified in, and isolated from, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. In previous experimental studies, this organism was found infectious to guinea pigs and transovarially transmissible in ticks. In this study, domestic goats (Capra hircus) were experimentally inoculated with the North American isolate of this R. slovaca-like agent to assess their reservoir competence-the ability to acquire the pathogens and maintain transmission between infected and uninfected ticks. Goats were susceptible to infection as demonstrated by detection of the pathogen in skin biopsies and multiple internal tissues, but the only clinical sign of illness was transient fever noted in three out of four goats, and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. On average, less than 5% of uninfected ticks acquired the pathogen while feeding upon infected goats. Although domestic goats are susceptible to the newly described North American isolate of R. slovaca, they are likely to play a minor role in the natural transmission cycle of this pathogen. Our results suggest that goats do not propagate the North American isolate of R. slovaca in peridomestic environments and clinical diagnosis of infection could be difficult due to the brevity and mildness of clinical signs. Further research is needed to elucidate the natural transmission cycle of R. slovaca both in Europe and North America, as well as to identify a more suitable laboratory model.

Published
2016
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3. Relative sensitivity of conventional and real-time PCR assays for detection of SFG Rickettsia in blood and tissue samples from laboratory animals.

Author

Galina E Zemtsova, Merrill Montgomery, and Michael L Levin

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

Studies on the natural transmission cycles of zoonotic pathogens and the reservoir competence of vertebrate hosts require methods for reliable diagnosis of infection in wild and laboratory animals. Several PCR-based applications have been developed for detection of infections caused by Spotted Fever group Rickettsia spp. in a variety of animal tissues. These assays are being widely used by researchers, but they differ in their sensitivity and reliability. We compared the sensitivity of five previously published conventional PCR assays and one SYBR green-based real-time PCR assay for the detection of rickettsial DNA in blood and tissue samples from Rickettsia- infected laboratory animals (n = 87). The real-time PCR, which detected rickettsial DNA in 37.9% of samples, was the most sensitive. The next best were the semi-nested ompA assay and rpoB conventional PCR, which detected as positive 18.4% and 14.9% samples respectively. Conventional assays targeting ompB, gltA and hrtA genes have been the least sensitive. Therefore, we recommend the SYBR green-based real-time PCR as a tool for the detection of rickettsial DNA in animal samples due to its higher sensitivity when compared to more traditional assays.

Published
2015
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4. Clinical presentation, convalescence, and relapse of rocky mountain spotted fever in dogs experimentally infected via tick bite.

Author

Michael L Levin, Lindsay F Killmaster, Galina E Zemtsova, Jana M Ritter, and Gregory Langham

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne disease caused by R. rickettsii in North and South America. Domestic dogs are susceptible to infection and canine RMSF can be fatal without appropriate treatment. Although clinical signs of R. rickettsii infection in dogs have been described, published reports usually include descriptions of either advanced clinical cases or experimental infections caused by needle-inoculation of cultured pathogen rather than by tick bite. The natural progression of a tick-borne R. rickettsii infection has not been studied in sufficient detail. Here, we provide a detailed description of clinical, hematological, molecular, and serological dynamics of RMSF in domestic dogs from the day of experimental exposure to infected ticks through recovery. Presented data indicate that neither the height/duration of fever nor detection of rickettsial DNA in dogs' blood by PCR are good indicators for clinical prognosis. Only the apex and subsequent subsidence of neutrophilia seem to mark the beginning of recovery and allow predicting a favorable outcome in Rickettsia-infected dogs, even despite the continuing persistence of mucosal petechiae and skin rash. On the other hand the appropriate (doxycycline) antibiotic therapy of sufficient duration is crucial in prevention of RMSF relapses in dogs.

Published
2014
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5. The phenology of ticks and the effects of long-term prescribed burning on tick population dynamics in southwestern Georgia and northwestern Florida.

Author

Elizabeth R Gleim, L Mike Conner, Roy D Berghaus, Michael L Levin, Galina E Zemtsova, and Michael J Yabsley

Subjects
Medicine, Science
Abstract

Some tick populations have increased dramatically in the past several decades leading to an increase in the incidence and emergence of tick-borne diseases. Management strategies that can effectively reduce tick populations while better understanding regional tick phenology is needed. One promising management strategy is prescribed burning. However, the efficacy of prescribed burning as a mechanism for tick control is unclear because past studies have provided conflicting data, likely due to a failure of some studies to simulate operational management scenarios and/or account for other predictors of tick abundance. Therefore, our study was conducted to increase knowledge of tick population dynamics relative to long-term prescribed fire management. Furthermore, we targeted a region, southwestern Georgia and northwestern Florida (USA), in which little is known regarding tick dynamics so that basic phenology could be determined. Twenty-one plots with varying burn regimes (burned surrounded by burned [BB], burned surrounded by unburned [BUB], unburned surrounded by burned [UBB], and unburned surrounded by unburned [UBUB]) were sampled monthly for two years while simultaneously collecting data on variables that can affect tick abundance (e.g., host abundance, vegetation structure, and micro- and macro-climatic conditions). In total, 47,185 ticks were collected, of which, 99% were Amblyomma americanum, 0.7% were Ixodes scapularis, and fewer numbers of Amblyomma maculatum, Ixodes brunneus, and Dermacentor variabilis. Monthly seasonality trends were similar between 2010 and 2011. Long-term prescribed burning consistently and significantly reduced tick counts (overall and specifically for A. americanum and I. scapularis) regardless of the burn regimes and variables evaluated. Tick species composition varied according to burn regime with A. americanum dominating at UBUB, A. maculatum at BB, I. scapularis at UBB, and a more even composition at BUB. These data indicate that regular prescribed burning is an effective tool for reducing tick populations and ultimately may reduce risk of tick-borne disease.

Published
2014
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6. Vector competence of the tick Ixodes ricinus for transmission of Bartonella birtlesii.

Author

Caroline Reis, Martine Cote, Danielle Le Rhun, Benoit Lecuelle, Michael L Levin, Muriel Vayssier-Taussat, and Sarah I Bonnet

Subjects
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine, RC955-962, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
Abstract

Bartonella spp. are facultative intracellular vector-borne bacteria associated with several emerging diseases in humans and animals all over the world. The potential for involvement of ticks in transmission of Bartonella spp. has been heartily debated for many years. However, most of the data supporting bartonellae transmission by ticks come from molecular and serological epidemiological surveys in humans and animals providing only indirect evidences without a direct proof of tick vector competence for transmission of bartonellae. We used a murine model to assess the vector competence of Ixodes ricinus for Bartonella birtlesii. Larval and nymphal I. ricinus were fed on a B. birtlesii-infected mouse. The nymphs successfully transmitted B. birtlesii to naïve mice as bacteria were recovered from both the mouse blood and liver at seven and 16 days after tick bites. The female adults successfully emitted the bacteria into uninfected blood after three or more days of tick attachment, when fed via membrane feeding system. Histochemical staining showed the presence of bacteria in salivary glands and muscle tissues of partially engorged adult ticks, which had molted from the infected nymphs. These results confirm the vector competence of I. ricinus for B. birtlesii and represent the first in vivo demonstration of a Bartonella sp. transmission by ticks. Consequently, bartonelloses should be now included in the differential diagnosis for patients exposed to tick bites.

Published
2011
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7. Risk of COVID-19 after natural infection or vaccinationResearch in context

Author

Anne-Marie Rick, Matthew B. Laurens, Ying Huang, Chenchen Yu, Thomas C.S. Martin, Carina A. Rodriguez, Christina A. Rostad, Rebone M. Maboa, Lindsey R. Baden, Hana M. El Sahly, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Glenda E. Gray, Cynthia L. Gay, Peter B. Gilbert, Holly E. Janes, James G. Kublin, Yunda Huang, Brett Leav, Ian Hirsch, Frank Struyf, Lisa M. Dunkle, Kathleen M. Neuzil, Lawrence Corey, Paul A. Goepfert, Stephen R. Walsh, Dean Follmann, Karen L. Kotloff, Atoya Adams, Eric Miller, Bruce G. Rankin, Steven Shinn, Marshall Nash, Sinikka L. Green, Colleen Jacobsen, Jayasree Krishnankutty, Sikhongi Phungwayo, Richard M. Glover, II, Stacy Slechta, Troy Holdeman, Robyn Hartvickson, Amber Grant, Terry L. Poling, Terry D. Klein, Thomas C. Klein, Tracy R. Klein, William B. Smith, Richard L. Gibson, Jennifer Winbigler, Elizabeth Parker, Priyantha N. Wijewardane, Eric Bravo, Jeffrey Thessing, Michelle Maxwell, Amanda Horn, Catherine Mary Healy, Christine Akamine, Laurence Chu, R. Michelle Chouteau, Michael J. Cotugno, George H. Bauer, Jr., Greg Hachigian, Masaru Oshita, Michael Cancilla, Kristen Kiersey, William Seger, Mohammed Antwi, Allison Green, Anthony Kim, Michael Desjardins, Jennifer A. Johnson, Amy Sherman, Judith Borger, Nafisa Saleem, Joel Solis, Martha Carmen Medina, Westly Keating, Edgar Garcia, Cynthia Bueno, Nathan Segall, Douglas S. Denham, Thomas Weiss, Ayoade Avworo, Parke Hedges, Cynthia Becher Strout, Rica Santiago, Yvonne Davis, Patty Howenstine, Alison Bondell, Kristin Marks, Tina Wang, Timothy Wilkin, Mary Vogler, Carrie Johnston, Michele P. Andrasik, Jessica G. Andriesen, Gail Broder, Niles Eaton, Huub G. Gelderblom, Rachael McClennen, Nelson Michael, Merlin Robb, Carrie Sopher, Vicki E. Miller, Fredric Santiago, Blanca Gomez, Insiya Valika, Amy Starr, Valeria D. Cantos, Sheetal Kandiah, Carlos del Rio, Nadine Rouphael, Srilatha Edupuganti, Evan J. Anderson, Andres Camacho-Gonzalez, Satoshi Kamidani, Meghan Teherani, David J. Diemert, Elissa Malkin, Marc Siegel, Afsoon Roberts, Gary Simon, Bindu Balani, Carolene Stephenson, Steven Sperber, Cristina Cicogna, Marcus J. Zervos, Paul Kilgore, Mayur Ramesh, Erica Herc, Kate Zenlea, Abram Burgher, Ann M. Milliken, Joseph D. Davis, Brendan Levy, Sandra Kelman, Matthew W. Doust, Denise Sample, Sandra Erickson, Shane G. Christensen, Christopher Matich, James Longe, John Witbeck, James T. Peterson, Alexander Clark, Gerald Kelty, Issac Pena-Renteria, Michael J. Koren, Darlene Bartilucci, Alpa Patel, Carolyn Tran, Christina Kennelly, Robert Brownlee, Jacob Coleman, Hala Webster, Carlos A. Fierro, Natalia Leistner, Amy Thompson, Celia Gonzalez, Lisa A. Jackson, Janice Suyehira, Milton Haber, Maria M. Regalado, Veronica Procasky, Alisha Lutat, Carl P. Griffin, Ripley R. Hollister, Jeremy Brown, Melody Ronk, Wayne L. Harper, Lisa Cohen, Lynn Eckert, Matthew Hong, Rambod Rouhbakhsh, Elizabeth Danford, John Johnson, Richard Calderone, Shishir K. Khetan, Oyebisi Olanrewaju, Nan Zhai, Kimberly Nieves, Allison O'Brien, Paul S. Bradley, Amanda Lilienthal, Jim Callis, Adam B. Brosz, Andrea Clement, Whitney West, Luke Friesen, Paul Cramer, Frank S. Eder, Ryan Little, Victoria Engler, Heather Rattenbury-Shaw, David J. Ensz, Allie Oplinger, Brandon J. Essink, Jay Meyer, Frederick Raiser, III, Kimberly Mueller, Keith W. Vrbicky, Charles Harper, Chelsie Nutsch, Wendell Lewis, III, Cathy Laflan, Jordan L. Whatley, Nicole Harrell, Amie Shannon, Crystal Rowell, Christopher Dedon, Mamodikoe Makhene, Gregory M. Gottschlich, Kate Harden, Melissa Gottschlich, Mary Smith, Richard Powell, Murray A. Kimmel, Simmy Pinto, Timothy P. Vachris, Mark Hutchens, Stephen Daniels, Margaret Wells, Mimi Van Der Leden, Peta-Gay Jackson-Booth, Mira Baron, Pamela Kane, Shannen Seversen, Mara Kryvicky, Julia Lord, Jamshid Saleh, Matthew Miles, Rafael Lupercio, John W. McGettigan, Jr., Walter Patton, Riemke Brakema, Karin Choquette, Jonlyn McGettigan, Judith L. Kirstein, Marcia Bernard, Mary Beth Manning, Joan Rothenberg, Toby Briskin, Denise Roadman, Sharita Tedder-Edwards, Howard I. Schwartz, Surisday Mederos, Shobha Swaminathan, Amesika Nyaku, Tilly Varughese, Michelle DallaPiazza, Sharon E. Frey, Irene Graham, Getahun Abate, Daniel Hoft, Leland N. Allen, III, Leslie A. Edwards, William S. Davis, Jr., Jessica M. Mena, Mark E. Kutner, Jorge Caso, Maria Hernandez Moran, Marianela Carvajal, Janet Mendez, Larkin T. Wadsworth, III, Michael R. Adams, Leslie Iverson, Joseph L. Newberg, Laura Pearlman, Paul J. Nugent, Michele D. Reynolds, Jennifer Bashour, Robert Schmidt, Neil P. Sheth, Kenneth Steil, Ramy J. Toma, William Kirby, Pink Folmar, Samantha Williams, Paul Pickrell, Stefanie Mott, Carol Ann Linebarger, Hussain Malbari, David Pampe, Veronica G. Fragoso, Lisa Holloway, Cecilia McKeown-Bragas, Teresa Becker, Barton G. Williams, William H. Jones, Jesse L. Clark, Steven Shoptaw, Michele Vertucci, Will Hernandez, Stephen A. Spector, Amaran Moodley, Jill Blumenthal, Lisa Stangl, Karen Deutsch, Kathleen M. Mullane, David Pitrak, Cheryl Nuss, Judy Pi, Carl Fichtenbaum, Margaret Powers-Fletcher, Michelle Saemann, Sharon Kohrs, Thomas B. Campbell, Andrew Lauria, Jose C. Mancilla, Hillary Dunlevy, Richard M. Novak, Andrea Wendrow, Scott Borgetti, Ben Ladner, Lisa Chrisley, Cheryl Young, Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, Maria L. Alcaide, Jose Gonzales-Zamora, Stephen Morris, David Wohl, Joseph Eron, Jr., Ian Frank, Debora Dunbar, David Metzger, Florence Momplaisir, Judith Martin, Alejandro Hoberman, Timothy Shope, Gysella Muniz, Richard Rupp, Amber Stanford, Megan Berman, Laura Porterfield, Michael Lewis, Elham Ghadishah, Joseph Yusin, Mai Pham, Clarence B. Creech, II, Shannon Walker, Stephanie Rolsma, Robert Samuels, Isaac Thomsen, Spyros A. Kalams, Greg Wilson, Gregg H. Lucksinger, Kevin Parks, Ryan Israelsen, Jaleh Ostovar, Kary Kelly, Jeffrey S. Overcash, Hanh Chu, Kia Lee, Luis I. De La Cruz, Steve Clemons, Elizabeth Everette, Suzanna Studdard, Gowdhami Mohan, Stefanie Tyson, Alyssa-Kay Peay, Danyel Johnson, Gregory J. Feldman, May-Yin Suen, Jacqueline Muenzner, Joseph Boscia, Farhan Siddiqui, John Sanders, James Peacock, Julio Nasim, Michael L. Levin, Julie Hussey, Marcy Kulic, Mark M. McKenzie, Teresa Deese, Erica Osmundsen, Christy Sweet, Valentine M. Ebuh, Elwaleed Elnagar, Georgette Ebuh, Genevieve Iwuala, Laurie J. Han-Conrad, Todd Simmons, Denis Tarakjian, Jeremy Ackermann, Mark S. Adams, José O. Alemán, Mohamed S. Al-Ibrahim, David R. Andes, Jeb Andrews, Roberto C. Arduino, Martín Bäcker, Diana Badillo, Emma Bainbridge, Teresa A. Batteiger, Jose A. Bazan, Roger J. Bedimo, Jorge A. Benitez, Annette R. Bennett, David I. Bernstein, Kristin Bialobok, Rebecca Boas, Judith Brady, Cynthia Brown, Catherine A. Bunce, Robert S. Call, Wesley Campbell, Ellie Carmody, Christopher Carpenter, Steven E. Carsons, Marvin Castellon, Mario Castro, Hannah Catan, Jennifer Chang, Mouna G. Chebib, Corey M. Chen, Margaret Cheng, Brian D.W. Chow, Annie Ciambruschini, Joseph P. Connor, James H. Conway, Maureen Cooney, Marcel Curlin, Claudia De La Matta Rodriguez, Jon F. Dedon, Emily Degan, Michelle Dickey, Craig Dietz, Jennifer L. Dong, Brenda Dorcely, Michael P. Dube, Carmel B. Dyer, Benjamin Eckhardt, Edward Ellerbeck, Evan C. Ewers, Amy Falk, Brittany Feijoo, Uriel R. Felsen, Tom Fiel, David Fitz-Patrick, Charles M. Fogarty, Stacy Ford, Lina M. Forero, Elizabeth Formentini, Doris Franco-Vitteri, Robert W. Frenck, Jr., Elie Gharib, Suzanne Gharib, Rola G. Rucker, James N. Goldenberg, Luis H. González, Brett Gray, Rusty Greene, Robert M. Grossberg, Juan V. Guanira-Carranza, Alfredo Gilberto Guerreros Benavides, Clint C. Guillory, Shauna H. Gunaratne, David Halpert, Holli Hamilton, William R. Hartman, Sheryl L. Henderson, Ramin Herati, Laura Hernandez Guarin, Robin Hilder, Ken Ho, Leila Hojat, Sybil G. Hosek, Jeffrey M. Jacobson, Melanie Jay, Diane H. Johnson, Kathleen S. Jones, Edward C. Jones-López, Jessica E. Justman, Scott Kahney, Lois Katz, Melinda Katz, Daniel Kaul, Michael C. Keefer, Ashley Kennedy, Jennifer Knishinsky, Laura Kogelman, Susan L. Koletar, Angelica Kottkamp, Maryrose Laguio-Vila, Raphael J. Landovitz, Jessica L. Lee, Albert Liu, Eneyda Giuvanela Llerena Zegarra, Anna S. Lok, James Lovell, Ronald Lubelchek, John Lucaj, Gary Luckasen, Annie Luetkemeyer, Njira Lucia Lugogo, Janine Maenza, Carlos Malvestutto, Monica Mauri, Ryan C. Maves, Kenneth H. Mayer, Michael J. McCartney, Margaret E. McCort, M. Juliana McElrath, Meredith McNairy, Fernando L. Merino, Eric A. Meyerowitz, Carol L. Mitchell, Cynthia L. Monaco, Sauda Muhammad, Sigridh Muñoz-Gómez, Sonal Munsiff, Paul Nee, Nicole L. Nollen, Asif Noor, Claudio Nuñez Lagos, Jason F. Okulicz, Patrick A. Oliver, Jessica Ortega, Steven Palmer, Lalitha Parameswaran, Purvi Parikh, Susan Parker, Reza Parungao, Juana R. Pavie, Rebecca P. Madan, Henry Peralta, Jennifer Petts, Kristen K. Pierce, E. Javier Pretell Alva, Lawrence J. Purpura, Vanessa Raabe, Sergio E. Recuenco, Tamara Richards, Sharon A. Riddler, Barbara Rizzardi, Rachel Rokser, Charlotte-Paige Rolle, Adam Rosen, Jeffrey Rosen, Lena R. Freese, María E. Santolaya, Linda M. Schipani, Adam Schwartz, Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt, Hyman Scott, Beverly E. Sha, Shivanjali Shankaran, Adrienne E. Shapiro, Stephan C. Sharp, Bo Shopsin, Matthew D. Sims, Stephanie Skipper, Derek M. Smith, Michael J. Smith, M. Mahdee Sobhanie, Brit Sovic, Stephanie Sterling, Robert Striker, Karla Beatriz Tafur Bances, Kawsar R. Talaat, Edward M. Tavel, Jr., Hong V. Tieu, Christian Tomaszewski, Ryan Tomlinson, Juan P. Torres, Julian A. Torres, John J. Treanor, Sade Tukuru, Robert J. Ulrich, Gregory C. Utz, Veronica Viar, Roberto A. Viau Colindres, Edward E. Walsh, Mary C. Walsh, Emmanuel B. Walter, Jessica L. Weidler, Yi H. Wu, Kinara S. Yang, Juan Luis Yrivarren Giorza, Arthur L. Zemanek, Kevin Zhang, Barry S. Zingman, Richard Gorman, Carmen A. Paez, Edith Swann, Simbarashe G. Takuva, Alex Greninger, Pavitra Roychoudhury, Robert W. Coombs, Keith R. Jerome, Flora Castellino, Xiaomi Tong, Corrina Pavetto, Teletha Gipson, Tina Tong, Marina Lee, James Zhou, Michael Fay, Kelly McQuarrie, Chimeremma Nnadi, Obiageli Sogbetun, Nina Ahmad, Ian De Proost, Cyrus Hoseyni, Paul Coplan, Najat Khan, Peter Ronco, Dawn Furey, Jodi Meck, Johan Vingerhoets, Boerries Brandenburg, Jerome Custers, Jenny Hendriks, Jarek Juraszek, Anne Marit de Groot, Griet Van Roey, Dirk Heerwegh, Ilse Van Dromme, Jorge F. Méndez Galván, Monica B. Carrascal, Adriana Sordo Duran, Laura Ruy Sanchez Guerrero, Martha Cecilia Gómora Madrid, Alejandro Quintín Barrat Hernández, Sharzhaad Molina Guizar, Denisse Alejandra González Estrada, Silvano Omar Martínez Pérez, Zindy Yazmín Zárate Hinojosa, Guillermo Miguel Ruiz-Palacios, Aurelio Cruz-Valdez, Janeth Pacheco-Flores, Anyela Lara, Secia Díaz-Miralrio, María José Reyes Fentanes, Jocelyn Zuleica Olmos Vega, Daniela Pineda Méndez, Karina Cano Martínez, Winniberg Stephany Alvarez León, Vida Veronica Ruiz Herrera, Eduardo Gabriel Vázquez Saldaña, Laura Julia Camacho Choza, Karen Sofia Vega Orozco, Sandra Janeth Ortega Domínguez, Jorge A. Chacón, Juan J. Rivera, Erika A. Cutz, Maricruz E. Ortegón, María I. Rivera, David Browder, Cortney Burch, Terri Moye, Paul Bondy, Lesley Browder, Rickey D. Manning, James W. Hurst, Rodney E. Sturgeon, Paul H. Wakefield, John A. Kirby, James Andersen, Szheckera Fearon, Rosa Negron, Amy Medina, John M. Hill, Vivek Rajasekhar, Hayes Williams, LaShondra Cade, Rhodna Fouts, Connie Moya, Corey G. Anderson, Naomi Devine, James Ramsey, Ashley Perez, David Tatelbaum, Michael Jacobs, Kathleen Menasche, Vincent Mirkil, Peter J. Winkle, Amina Z. Haggag, Michelle Haynes, Marysol Villegas, Sabina Raja, Robert Riesenberg, Stanford Plavin, Mark Lerman, Leana Woodside, Maria Johnson, C. Mary Healy, Jennifer A. Whitaker, Wendy A. Keitel, Robert L. Atmar, Gary Horwith, Robin Mason, Lisa Johnson, Tambra Dora, Deborah Murray, Logan Ledbetter, Beverly Ewing, Kathryn E. Stephenson, Chen S. Tan, Rebecca Zash, Jessica L. Ansel, Kate Jaegle, Caitlin J. Guiney, Jeffrey A. Henderson, Marcia O'Leary, Kendra Enright, Jill Kessler, Pete Ducheneaux, Asha Inniss, Donald M. Brandon, William B. Davis, Daniel T. Lawler, Yaa D. Oppong, Ryan P. Starr, Scott N. Syndergaard, Rozeli Shelly, Mashrur Islam Majumder, Danny Sugimoto, Jeffrey Dugas, Sr., Dolores Rijos, Sandra Shelton, Stephan Hong, Howard Schwartz, Nelia Sanchez-Crespo, Jennifer Schwartz, Terry Piedra, Barbara Corral, Carmen Medina, Michael E. Dever, Mitul Shah, Michael Delgado, Tameika Scott, Lisa S. Usdan, Lora J. McGill, Valerie K. Arnold, Carolyn Scatamacchia, Codi M. Anthony, Rajan Merchant, Anelgine C. Yoon, Janet Hill, Lucy Ng-Price, Teri Thompson-Seim, Ronald Ackerman, Jamie Ackerman, Florida Aristy, Nzeera Ketter, Jon Finley, Mildred Stull, Monica Murray, Zainab Rizvi, Sonia Guerrero, Yogesh K. Paliwal, Amit Paliwal, Sarah Gordon, Bryan Gordon, Cynthia Montano-Pereira, Christopher Galloway, Candice Montros, Lily Aleman, Samira Shairi, Wesley Van Ever, George H. Freeman, Esther L. Harmon, Marshall A. Cross, Kacie Sales, Catherine Q. Gular, Matthew Hepburn, Nathan Alderson, Shana Harshell, Siham Mahgoub, Celia Maxwell, Thomas Mellman, Karl M. Thompson, Glenn Wortman, Jeff Kingsley, April Pixler, LaKondria Curry, Sarah Afework, Austin Swanson, Jeffry Jacqmein, Maggie Bowers, Dawn Robison, Victoria Mosteller, Janet Garvey, Mary Easley, Rebecca J. Kurnat, Raymond Cornelison, Shanda Gower, William Schnitz, Destiny S. Heinzig-Cartwright, Derek Lewis, Fred E. Newton, Aeiress Duhart, Breanz Watkins, Brandy Ball, Jill York, Shelby Pickle, David B. Musante, William P. Silver, Linda R. Belhorn, Nicholas A. Viens, David Dellaero, Priti Patel, Kendra Lisec, Beth Safirstein, Luz Zapata, Lazaro Gonzalez, Evelyn Quevedo, Farah Irani, Joseph Grillo, Amy Potts, Julie White, Patrick Flume, Gary Headden, Brandie Taylor, Ashley Warden, Amy Chamberlain, Robert Jeanfreau, Susan Jeanfreau, Paul G. Matherne, Amy Caldwell, Jessica Stahl, Mandy Vowell, Lauren Newhouse, Vladimir Berthaud, Zudi-Mwak Takizala, Genevieve Beninati, Kimberly Snell, Sherrie Baker, James Walker, Tavane Harrison, Meagan Miller, Janet Otto, Roni Gray, Christine Wilson, Tiffany Nemecek, Hannah Harrington, Sally Eppenbach, Wendell Lewis, Tana Bourgeois, Lyndsea Folsom, Gregory Holt, Mehdi Mirsaeidi, Rafael Calderon, Paola Lichtenberger, Jalima Quintero, Becky Martinez, Lilly Immergluck, Erica Johnson, Austin Chan, Norberto Fas, LaTeshia Thomas-Seaton, Saadia Khizer, Jonathan Staben, Tatiana Beresnev, Maryam Jahromi, Mary A. Marovich, Julia Hutter, Martha Nason, Julie Ledgerwood, John Mascola, Mark Leibowitz, Fernanda Morales, Mike Delgado, Rosario Sanchez, Norma Vega, Germán Áñez, Gary Albert, Erin Coston, Chinar Desai, Haoua Dunbar, Mark Eickhoff, Jenina Garcia, Margaret Kautz, Angela Lee, Maggie Lewis, Alice McGarry, Irene McKnight, Joy Nelson, Patrick Newingham, Patty Price-Abbott, Patty Reed, Diana Vegas, Bethanie Wilkinson, Katherine Smith, Wayne Woo, Iksung Cho, Gregory M. Glenn, Filip Dubovsky, David L. Fried, Lynne A. Haughey, Ariana C. Stanton, Lisa Stevens Rameaka, David Rosenberg, Lee Tomatsu, Viviana Gonzalez, Millie Manalo, Bernard Grunstra, Donald Quinn, Phillip Claybrook, Shelby Olds, Amy Dye, Kevin D. Cannon, Mesha M. Chadwick, Bailey Jordan, Morgan Hussey, Hannah Nevarez, Colleen F. Kelley, Michael Chung, Caitlin Moran, Paulina Rebolledo, Christina Bacher, Elizabeth Barranco-Santana, Jessica Rodriguez, Rafael Mendoza, Karen Ruperto, Odette Olivieri, Enrique Ocaña, Paul E. Wylie, Renea Henderson, Natasa Jenson, Fan Yang, Amy Kelley, Kenneth Finkelstein, David Beckmann, Tanya Hutchins, Sebastian Garcia Escallon, Kristen Johnson, Teresa S. Sligh, Parul Desai, Vincent Huynh, Carlos Lopez, Erika Mendoza, Jeffrey Adelglass, Jerome G. Naifeh, Kristine J. Kucera, Waseem Chughtai, Shireen H. Jaffer, Matthew G. Davis, Jennifer Foley, Michelle L. Burgett, Tammi L. Shlotzhauer, Sarah M. Ingalsbe-Geno, Daniel Duncanson, Kelly Kush, Lori Nesbitt, Cora Sonnier, Jennifer McCarter, Michael B. Butcher, James Fry, Donna Percy, Karen Freudemann, Bruce C. Gebhardt, Padma N. Mangu, Debra B. Schroeck, Rajesh K. Davit, Gayle D. Hennekes, Benjamin J. Luft, Melissa Carr, Sharon Nachman, Alison Pellecchia, Candace Smith, Bruno Valenti, Maria I. Bermudez, Noris Peraita, Ernesto Delgado, Alicia Arrazcaeta, Natalie Ramirez, Carmen Amador, Horacio Marafioti, Lyly Dang, Lauren Clement, Jennifer Berry, Mohammed Allaw, Georgettea Geuss, Chelsea Miles, Zachary Bittner, Melody Werne, Cornell Calinescu, Shannon Rodman, Joshua Rindt, Erin Cooksey, Kristina Harrison, Deanna Cooper, Manisha Horton, Amanda Philyaw, William Jennings, Hilario Alvarado, Michele Baka, Malina Regalado, Linda Murray, Sherif Naguib, Justin Singletary, Sha-Wanda Richmond, Sarah Omodele, Emily Oppenheim, Reuben Martinez, Victoria Andriulis, Leonard Singer, Jeanne Blevins, Meagan Thomas, Christine Hull, Isabel Pereira, Gina Rivero, Tracy Okonya, Frances Downing, Paulina Miller, Margaret Rhee, Katherine Stapleton, Jeffrey Klein, Rosamond Hong, Suzanne Swan, Tami Wahlin, Elizabeth Bennett, Amy Salzl, Sharine Phan, Jewel J. White, Amanda Occhino, Ruth Paiano, Morgan McLaughlin, Elisa Swieboda, Veronica Garcia-Fragoso, Maria G. Becerra, Toni White, Christine B. Turley, Andrew McWilliams, Tiffany Esinhart, Natasha Montoya, Shamika Huskey, Leena Paul, Karen Tashima, Jennie Johnson, Marguerite Neill, Martha Sanchez, Natasha Rybak, Maria Mileno, Stuart H. Cohen, Monica Ruiz, Dean M. Boswell, Elizabeth E. Robison, Trina L. Reynolds, Sonja Neumeister, Carmen D. Zorrilla, Juana Rivera, Jessica Ibarra, Iris García, Dianca Sierra, Wanda Ramon, Suzanne Fiorillo, Rebecca Pitotti, Victoria R. Anderson, Jose Castillo Mancilla, Nga Le, Patricia L. Winokur, Dilek Ince, Theresa Hegmann, Jeffrey Meier, Jack Stapleton, Laura Stulken, Monica McArthur, Andrea Berry, Milagritos Tapia, Elizabeth Hammershaimb, Toni Robinson, Rosa MacBryde, Susan Kline, Joanne L. Billings, Winston Cavert, Les B. Forgosh, Timothy W. Schacker, Tyler D. Bold, Dima Dandachi, Taylor Nelson, Andres Bran, Grant Geiger, S. Hasan Naqvi, Diana F. Florescu, Richard Starlin, David Kline, Andrea Zimmer, Anum Abbas, Natasha Wilson, Joseph J. Eron, Michael Sciaudone, A. Lina Rosengren, John S. Kizer, Sarah E. Rutstein, Elizabeth Bruce, Claudia Espinosa, Lisa J. Sanders, Kami Kim, Denise Casey, Barbara S. Taylor, Thomas Patterson, Ruth S. Pinilla, Delia Bullock, Philip Ponce, Jan Patterson, R. Scott McClelland, Dakotah C. Lane, Anna Wald, Frank James, Elizabeth Duke, Kirsten Hauge, Jessica Heimonen, Erin A. Goecker, Youyi Fong, Carol Kauffman, Kathleen Linder, Kimberly Nofz, Andrew McConnell, Robert J. Buynak, Angella Webb, Taryn Petty, Stephanie Andree, Erica Sanchez, Nolan Mackey, Clarisse Baudelaire, Sarah Dzigiel, Adrienna Marquez, Kim Quillin, Michelle King, Vanessa Abad, Jennifer Knowles, Michael Waters, Karla Zepeda, Jordan Coslet, Dalia Tovar, Marian E. Shaw, Mark A. Turner, Cory J. Huffine, Esther S. Huffine, Julie A. Ake, Elizabeth Secord, Eric McGrath, Phillip Levy, Brittany Stewart, Charnell Cromer, Ayanna Walters, Grant Ellsworth, Caroline Greene, Sarah Galloway, Shashi Kapadia, Elliot DeHaan, Clint Wilson, Jason Milligan, Danielle Raley, Joseph Bocchini, Bruce McClenathan, Mary Hussain, Evelyn Lomasney, Evelyn Hall, Sherry Lamberth, Christy Schmeck, Vickie Leathers, Deborah A. Theodore, Angela R. Branche, Daniel S. Graciaa, Timothy J. Hatlen, Jacqueline Miller, Jerald Sadoff, Ann R. Falsey, and Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk

Subjects
COVID-19, Natural infection, Hybrid immunity, Vaccination, Medicine, Medicine (General), R5-920
Abstract

Summary: Background: While vaccines have established utility against COVID-19, phase 3 efficacy studies have generally not comprehensively evaluated protection provided by previous infection or hybrid immunity (previous infection plus vaccination). Individual patient data from US government-supported harmonized vaccine trials provide an unprecedented sample population to address this issue. We characterized the protective efficacy of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against COVID-19 early in the pandemic over three-to six-month follow-up and compared with vaccine-associated protection. Methods: In this post-hoc cross-protocol analysis of the Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, we allocated participants into four groups based on previous-infection status at enrolment and treatment: no previous infection/placebo; previous infection/placebo; no previous infection/vaccine; and previous infection/vaccine. The main outcome was RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 >7–15 days (per original protocols) after final study injection. We calculated crude and adjusted efficacy measures. Findings: Previous infection/placebo participants had a 92% decreased risk of future COVID-19 compared to no previous infection/placebo participants (overall hazard ratio [HR] ratio: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05–0.13). Among single-dose Janssen participants, hybrid immunity conferred greater protection than vaccine alone (HR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.10). Too few infections were observed to draw statistical inferences comparing hybrid immunity to vaccine alone for other trials. Vaccination, previous infection, and hybrid immunity all provided near-complete protection against severe disease. Interpretation: Previous infection, any hybrid immunity, and two-dose vaccination all provided substantial protection against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 through the early Delta period. Thus, as a surrogate for natural infection, vaccination remains the safest approach to protection. Funding: National Institutes of Health.

Published
2023
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8. Extensive Ethnic Variation and Linkage Disequilibrium at the FCGR2/3 Locus: Different Genetic Associations Revealed in Kawasaki Disease

Author

Sietse Q. Nagelkerke, Carline E. Tacke, Willemijn B. Breunis, Michael W. T. Tanck, Judy Geissler, Eileen Png, Long T. Hoang, Joris van der Heijden, Ahmad N. M. Naim, Rae S. M. Yeung, Michael L. Levin, Victoria J. Wright, David P. Burgner, Anne-Louise Ponsonby, Justine A. Ellis, Rolando Cimaz, Chisato Shimizu, Jane C. Burns, Karin Fijnvandraat, C. Ellen van der Schoot, Timo K. van den Berg, Martin de Boer, Sonia Davila, Martin L. Hibberd, Taco W. Kuijpers, The International Kawasaki Disease Genetics Consortium, Nagib Dahdah, Isabelle Kone-Paut, Molecular cell biology and Immunology, Pediatric surgery, APH - Aging & Later Life, General Paediatrics, Paediatric Oncology, Epidemiology and Data Science, APH - Methodology, Paediatric Haematology, ARD - Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Landsteiner Laboratory, General Internal Medicine, and Paediatric Infectious Diseases / Rheumatology / Immunology

Subjects
lcsh:Immunologic diseases. Allergy, 0301 basic medicine, Linkage disequilibrium, GAMMA RECEPTOR POLYMORPHISMS, MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY, FCGR3A, Immunology, IDENTIFIES 3, Single-nucleotide polymorphism, Locus (genetics), Genome-wide association study, SUSCEPTIBILITY, Biology, IGG RECEPTORS, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Immunology and Allergy, SYSTEMIC-LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS, GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION, Allele, Allele frequency, COPY NUMBER VARIATION, Genetics, Science & Technology, Haplotype, Fc-gamma receptor, immunogenetics, Minor allele frequency, 030104 developmental biology, FCGR polymorphism, Kawasaki disease (KD), RISK-FACTORS, International Kawasaki Disease Genetics Consortium, lcsh:RC581-607, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, linkage disequilibrium, 030215 immunology
Abstract

The human Fc-gamma receptors (FcγRs) link adaptive and innate immunity by binding immunoglobulin G (IgG). All human low-affinity FcγRs are encoded by the FCGR2/3 locus containing functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene copy number variants. This locus is notoriously difficult to genotype and high-throughput methods commonly used focus on only a few SNPs. We performed multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for all relevant genetic variations at the FCGR2/3 locus in >4,000 individuals to define linkage disequilibrium (LD) and allele frequencies in different populations. Strong LD and extensive ethnic variation in allele frequencies was found across the locus. LD was strongest for the FCGR2C-ORF haplotype (rs759550223+rs76277413), which leads to expression of FcγRIIc. In Europeans, the FCGR2C-ORF haplotype showed strong LD with, among others, rs201218628 (FCGR2A-Q27W, r 2 = 0.63). LD between these two variants was weaker (r 2 = 0.17) in Africans, whereas the FCGR2C-ORF haplotype was nearly absent in Asians (minor allele frequency 2 = 0.08) in Europeans. We evaluated the importance of ethnic variation and LD in Kawasaki Disease (KD), an acute vasculitis in children with increased incidence in Asians. An association of rs1801274 with KD was previously shown in ethnically diverse genome-wide association studies. Now, we show in 1,028 European KD patients that the FCGR2C-ORF haplotype, although nearly absent in Asians, was more strongly associated with susceptibility to KD than rs1801274 in Europeans. Our data illustrate the importance of interpreting findings of association studies concerning the FCGR2/3 locus with knowledge of LD and ethnic variation.

Published
2019
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9. Acquisition of Coinfection and Simultaneous Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila by Ixodes scapularis Ticks

Author

Durland Fish and Michael L. Levin

Subjects
Nymph, Immunology, Ehrlichia, Tick, Microbiology, Mice, Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi Group, Borrelia, parasitic diseases, medicine, Animals, Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme Disease, biology, Ixodes, Ehrlichiosis, Bacterial Infections, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, bacterial infections and mycoses, Virology, Tick Infestations, Infectious Diseases, Ixodes scapularis, Parasitology, Ixodidae
Abstract

The agents of Lyme disease ( Borrelia burgdorferi ) and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis ( Ehrlichia phagocytophila ) are both transmitted by the tick Ixodes scapularis . In nature, ticks are often infected with both agents simultaneously. We studied whether previous infection with either Borrelia or Ehrlichia in ticks would affect acquisition and transmission of a second pathogen. Ehrlichia -infected I. scapularis nymphs were fed upon Borrelia -infected mice, and Borrelia -infected I. scapularis nymphs were fed upon Ehrlichia -infected mice. The efficiency with which previously infected nymphal ticks acquired a second pathogen from infected hosts was compared to that of uninfected ticks. An average of 51% ± 15% of ticks acquired Ehrlichia from infected mice regardless of their prior infection status with Borrelia . An average of 85% ± 10% of ticks acquired Borrelia from infected mice regardless of their prior infection status with Ehrlichia . Also, we assessed the efficiency with which individual nymphs could transmit either agent alone, or both agents simultaneously, to individual susceptible hosts. An average of 76% ± 9% of Borrelia -infected ticks and 84% ± 10% of Ehrlichia -infected ticks transmitted these agents to mice regardless of the presence of the other pathogen. There was no evidence of interaction between the agents of Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in I. scapularis ticks. The presence of either agent in the ticks did not affect acquisition of the other agent from an infected host. Transmission of the agents of Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis by individual ticks was equally efficient and independent. Dually infected ticks transmitted each pathogen to susceptible hosts as efficiently as ticks infected with only one pathogen.

Published
2000

14. Tick extracellular vesicles enable arthropod feeding and promote distinct outcomes of bacterial infection

Author

Adela S. Oliva Chávez, Xiaowei Wang, Liron Marnin, Nathan K. Archer, Holly L. Hammond, Erin E. McClure Carroll, Dana K. Shaw, Brenden G. Tully, Amanda D. Buskirk, Shelby L. Ford, L. Rainer Butler, Preeti Shahi, Kateryna Morozova, Cristina C. Clement, Lauren Lawres, Anya J. O’ Neal, Choukri Ben Mamoun, Kathleen L. Mason, Brandi E. Hobbs, Glen A. Scoles, Eileen M. Barry, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Utpal Pal, Jesus G. Valenzuela, Marcelo B. Sztein, Marcela F. Pasetti, Michael L. Levin, Michail Kotsyfakis, Steven M. Jay, Jason F. Huntley, Lloyd S. Miller, Laura Santambrogio, and Joao H. F. Pedra

Subjects
Science
Abstract

Extracellular vesicles have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens from the arthropod to the human host. Here the authors show that tick-derived extracellular vesicles play a role in feeding and modulate the outcome of bacterial infection.

Published
2021
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15. Rickettsiales in Ticks Removed from Outdoor Workers, Southwest Georgia and Northwest Florida, USA

Author

Elizabeth R. Gleim, L. Mike Conner, Galina E. Zemtsova, Michael L. Levin, Pamela Wong, Madeleine A. Pfaff, and Michael J. Yabsley

Subjects
ticks, tick bites, tickborne infections, vectorborne infections, outdoor workers, Ricketsiales, Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

We determined the prevalence of selected Rickettsiales in 362 ticks removed from outdoor workers in southwest Georgia and northwest Florida, USA. Persons submitted an average of 1.1 ticks/month. We found Ehrlichia chaffeensis in an Amblyomma maculatum tick, and Panola Mountain Ehrlichia sp. in 2 A. maculatum ticks and 1 Dermacentor variabilis tick.

Published
2019
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16. Disparity in the Natural Cycles of Borrelia burgdorferi and the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis

Author

Michael L. Levin, Franka des Vignes, and Durland Fish

Subjects
United States, Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

We studied the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) among questing nymphal and adult Ixodes scapularis ticks of the same generation and the infectivity of wild white-footed mice for ticks feeding on them. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection in host-seeking ticks increased less than twofold from nymphal (31% to 33%) to adult (52% to 56%) stage, and 52% of white-footed mice were infected. Prevalence of the agent of HGE increased 4.5- to 10.6-fold from nymphal (1.5% to 1.8%) to adult stage (7.6% to 19.0%), while only 18% of mice were infectious to ticks. B. burgdorferi infection was more common in mouse-fed ticks than in ticks collected from vegetation, whereas the agent of HGE was half as common in mouse-fed ticks as in ticks collected from vegetation. The different prevalence in nature of these pathogens in ticks suggests that their maintenance cycles are also different.

Published
1999
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