AUTHOR=de la Fuente José , Antunes Sandra , Bonnet Sarah , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro , Domingos Ana G. , Estrada-Peña Agustín , Johnson Nicholas , Kocan Katherine M. , Mansfield Karen L. , Nijhof Ard M. , Papa Anna , Rudenko Nataliia , Villar Margarita , Alberdi Pilar , Torina Alessandra , Ayllón Nieves , Vancova Marie , Golovchenko Maryna , Grubhoffer Libor , Caracappa Santo , Fooks Anthony R. , Gortazar Christian , Rego Ryan O. M. TITLE=Tick-Pathogen Interactions and Vector Competence: Identification of Molecular Drivers for Tick-Borne Diseases JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=7 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00114 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2017.00114 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=

Ticks and the pathogens they transmit constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. Vector competence is a component of vectorial capacity and depends on genetic determinants affecting the ability of a vector to transmit a pathogen. These determinants affect traits such as tick-host-pathogen and susceptibility to pathogen infection. Therefore, the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in tick-pathogen interactions that affect vector competence is essential for the identification of molecular drivers for tick-borne diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of tick-pathogen molecular interactions for bacteria, viruses, and protozoa affecting human and animal health. Additionally, the impact of tick microbiome on these interactions was considered. Results show that different pathogens evolved similar strategies such as manipulation of the immune response to infect vectors and facilitate multiplication and transmission. Furthermore, some of these strategies may be used by pathogens to infect both tick and mammalian hosts. Identification of interactions that promote tick survival, spread, and pathogen transmission provides the opportunity to disrupt these interactions and lead to a reduction in tick burden and the prevalence of tick-borne diseases. Targeting some of the similar mechanisms used by the pathogens for infection and transmission by ticks may assist in development of preventative strategies against multiple tick-borne diseases.