2023
Signaling between mammalian adiponectin and a mosquito adiponectin receptor reduces Plasmodium transmission
Chuang Y, Stone H, Abouneameh S, Tang X, Fikrig E. Signaling between mammalian adiponectin and a mosquito adiponectin receptor reduces Plasmodium transmission. MBio 2023, 15: e02257-23. PMID: 38078744, PMCID: PMC10790699, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02257-23.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlood mealComplex life cycleMosquito fitnessMammalian hostsMammalian adiponectinPathogen infectivityLipid transportersVertebrate hostsAdiponectin receptorsHematophagous arthropodsFemale mosquitoesPlasmodium transmissionLife cycleMosquitoesImportant lipid transporterPathwayHostInfectious agentsVector-borne infectious agentsArthropodsAdiponectinReceptorsInfectionTransportersMeal
2010
Tick Histamine Release Factor Is Critical for Ixodes scapularis Engorgement and Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent
Dai J, Narasimhan S, Zhang L, Liu L, Wang P, Fikrig E. Tick Histamine Release Factor Is Critical for Ixodes scapularis Engorgement and Transmission of the Lyme Disease Agent. PLOS Pathogens 2010, 6: e1001205. PMID: 21124826, PMCID: PMC2991271, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001205.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBiomarkers, TumorBlotting, WesternBorrelia burgdorferiFeeding BehaviorFemaleHistamineHumansImmunizationIxodesLyme DiseaseMiceMice, Inbred C3HReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA, MessengerRNA, Small InterferingSalivaTick InfestationsTumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1ConceptsTick-borne pathogensB. burgdorferi transmissionTick engorgementB. burgdorferi burdenHistamine-releasing factorRapid feeding phaseBurgdorferi-infected ticksAnimal healthTick feedingTick salivaDiverse infectious agentsDisease agentsTicksIxodes scapularisLyme disease agentRNA interferenceFeeding phaseVaccine potentialQuantitative reverse transcription PCRReverse transcription-PCRHistamine releaseEffective vaccineVascular permeabilityBlood flowInfectious agentsTLR9-Targeted Biodegradable Nanoparticles as Immunization Vectors Protect against West Nile Encephalitis
Demento SL, Bonafé N, Cui W, Kaech SM, Caplan MJ, Fikrig E, Ledizet M, Fahmy TM. TLR9-Targeted Biodegradable Nanoparticles as Immunization Vectors Protect against West Nile Encephalitis. The Journal Of Immunology 2010, 185: 2989-2997. PMID: 20660705, PMCID: PMC3753007, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000768.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBiodegradable nanoparticlesUnmodified nanoparticlesImmune responseNanoparticlesCell-mediated immune responsesRobust humoral responseTh1 immune responseEffector T cellsAg-specific lymphocytesTh2-biased responsesAdjuvant aluminum hydroxideWest Nile encephalitisVirus encephalitisWest Nile virusAgHumoral responseCpG oligodeoxynucleotideT cellsMouse modelLive virusInfectious agentsProtein AgVaccine developmentWN virusNile virus