AUTHOR=Smith Alexis A. , Pal Utpal 

TITLE=Immunity-related genes in Ixodes scapularis—perspectives from genome information

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2014.00116

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2014.00116

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Ixodes scapularis</italic>, commonly known as the deer tick, transmits a wide array of human and animal pathogens including <italic>Borrelia burgdorferi</italic>. Despite substantial advances in our understanding of immunity in model arthropods, including other disease vectors, precisely how <italic>I. scapularis</italic> immunity functions and influences persistence of invading pathogens remains largely unknown. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recently sequenced <italic>I. scapularis</italic> genome for the occurrence of immune-related genes and related pathways. We will also discuss the potential influence of immunity-related genes on the persistence of tick-borne pathogens with an emphasis on the Lyme disease pathogen <italic>B. burgdorferi.</italic> Further enhancement of our knowledge of tick immune responses is critical to understanding the molecular basis of the persistence of tick-borne pathogens and development of novel interventions against the relevant infections.</p>