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Characterization of flavivirus infection in salivary gland cultures from male Ixodes scapularis ticks
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 14, Iss 10, p e0008683 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2020.
-
Abstract
- Infected Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) transmit a host of serious pathogens via their bites, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, and tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFVs), such as Powassan virus (POWV). Although the role of female I. scapularis ticks in disease transmission is well characterized, the role of male ticks is poorly understood. Because the pathogens are delivered in tick saliva, we studied the capacity of male salivary glands (SGs) to support virus replication. Ex vivo cultures of SGs from unfed male I. scapularis were viable for more than a week and maintained the characteristic tissue architecture of lobular ducts and acini. When SG cultures were infected with the TBFVs Langat virus (LGTV) or POWV lineage II (deer tick virus), the production of infectious virus was demonstrated. Using a green fluorescent protein-tagged LGTV and confocal microscopy, we demonstrated LGTV infection within SG acinus types II and III. The presence of LGTV in the acini and lobular ducts of the cultures was also shown via immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the identification by in situ hybridization of both positive and negative strand LGTV RNA confirmed that the virus was indeed replicating. Finally, transmission electron microscopy of infected SGs revealed virus particles packaged in vesicles or vacuoles adjacent to acinar lumina. These studies support the concept that SGs of male I. scapularis ticks support replication of TBFVs and may play a role in virus transmission, and further refine a useful model system for developing countermeasures against this important group of pathogens.<br />Author summary Powassan disease has greatly increased in frequency since its discovery in Powassan, Ontario in 1958. Powassan virus (lineage I; POWV) and Powassan virus lineage II (deer tick virus; DTV) are endemic to North America and there were 133 reported cases between 2009 and 2018, the majority since 2016. Nymphal and adult Ixodes scapularis ticks are thought to be the primary vectors of POWV/DTV to humans. However, little is known regarding DTV infection of male Ixodes ticks or their potential as vectors. In this study we characterized LGTV, a model tick-borne flavivirus, and DTV infection and propagation in male I. scapularis salivary gland cultures using an ex vivo organ culture system. This work provides insight into potential flavivirus transmission by the male I. scapularis tick.
- Subjects :
- Male
0301 basic medicine
Langat virus
Physiology
RC955-962
Disease Vectors
Biochemistry
Salivary Glands
Medical Conditions
Ticks
0302 clinical medicine
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Medicine and Health Sciences
Electron Microscopy
Powassan virus
Antisense RNA
Microscopy
biology
Eukaryota
Body Fluids
Nucleic acids
Flavivirus
Infectious Diseases
Ixodes scapularis
Biological Cultures
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Anatomy
Research Article
Arthropoda
030231 tropical medicine
Tick
Research and Analysis Methods
Microbiology
Virus
Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne
Flavivirus Infections
03 medical and health sciences
Exocrine Glands
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
stomatognathic system
Virology
Arachnida
parasitic diseases
Animals
Saliva
Ixodes
Organisms
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Biology and Life Sciences
Cell Cultures
biology.organism_classification
Invertebrates
Viral Replication
Deer tick virus
Species Interactions
030104 developmental biology
Microscopy, Fluorescence
RNA
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Zoology
Digestive System
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19352735
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c540570b7004554cf69bd3b54e6062a5