森林革蜱、草原革蜱感染和经期传播莱姆病螺旋体的实验研究

以实验室培育的非感染森林革蜱Dermacentor silvarum、草原革蜱D. nuttalli刺叮人工感染21天后的阳性KM鼠,利用分离培养和PCR方法检测蜱对螺旋体的保持能力以及体内螺旋体对敏感动物的感染能力。结果如下：非感染幼蜱均可以通过吸血获得莱姆病螺旋体,饱血森林革蜱和草原革蜱幼蜱PCR阳性率均为50.0%而分离阳性率都为20.0%。饱血脱落后,这些幼蜱只能在饱血后2天内分离到莱姆病螺旋体。PCR检测阳性也只能持续到4天,均不能跨越蜕皮阶段。蜕化为若蜱后,若蜱以及分别受到这些若蜱刺叮的KM鼠均未发现阳性感染。非感染若蜱吸食感染的KM鼠后,饱血森林革蜱和草原革蜱获得了莱姆病螺旋体,PCR检测阳性率分别为50.0%和20.0%。分离阳性率分别达到33.3%和60.0%。这些若蜱分别于饱血后2天和3天可以分离到莱姆病螺旋体,PCR扩增阳性也只能分别持续到饱血后4天和6天,均不能跨越蜕皮阶段;蜕化为成蜱后,成蜱以及受到它们攻击的KM鼠均未获阳性检测结果。同种蜱不同地理株在感染和保持莱姆病螺旋体的能力上也没有差异。森林革蜱、草原革蜱的幼蜱和若蜱虽可以吸血感染但均不具备经期传播莱姆病螺旋体Borrelia garinii CHNM4的能力,作为莱姆病媒介的可能性不大。     

中华硬蜱和二棘血蜱的交叉免疫反应

本文首次比较了经中华硬蜱(Ixodes sinensis)叮咬三次后再经二棘血蜱(Haemaphysalisbispinosa)叮咬的家兔与仅经二棘血蜱叮咬的家兔的交叉免疫抗性。二棘血蜱叮咬被中华硬蜱致敏的家兔时,吸血增重为:143.12±32.67mg,但二棘血蜱在正常家兔体上寄生,初次吸血增重为:181.30±44.35mg,两者之间有显著性差异(P<0.01)。中华硬蜱和二棘血蜱唾液腺提取物(SGE)经十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE),显示两者分别有24条和22条电泳带,中华硬蜱主带有6条,分子量分别为142、105、94、66/65、64和56kD,而二棘血蜱主带有5条,分子量分别为:215、114、105、66/65和58kD,经中华硬蜱叮咬致敏的家兔血清和经二棘血蜱叮咬致敏的家兔血清作免疫印渍,均显示出105kD这一电泳带。该实验表明中华硬蜱和二棘血蜱叮咬家兔两者之间存在着交叉免疫反应,提示105kD蛋白质抗原可能是两者的共同抗原。     

华硬蜱和二棘血蜱的交叉免疫反应

本文首次比较了经中华硬蜱(Ixodes sinensis)叮咬三次后再经二棘血蜱(Haimaphysalis bispinosa)叮咬的家兔与仅经二棘血蜱叮咬的家兔的交叉免疫抗性。二棘血蜱叮咬被中华硬蜱致敏的家兔时,吸血增重为：143.12±32.67mg,但二棘血蜱在正常家兔体上寄生,初次吸血增重为：181.30±44.35mg,两者之间有显著性差异(P<0.01)。中华硬蜱和二棘血蜱唾液腺提取物(SGE)经十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE),显示两者分别有24条和22条电泳带,中华硬蜱主带有6条,分子量分别为142、105、94、66/65、64和56kD,而二棘血蜱主带有5条,分子量分别为：215、114、105、66/65和58kn,经中华硬蜱叮咬致敏的家兔血清和经二棘血蜱叫‘咬致敏的家兔血清作免疫印渍,均显示出105kD这一电泳带。该实验表明中华硬蜱和二棘血蜱叮咬家兔两者之间存在着交叉免疫反应,提示105kD蛋白质抗原可能是两者的共同抗原。     

长角血蜱不同发育期盾窝超微结构的比较研究

为阐明蜱类盾窝及其发育特点,用扫描电镜观察了长角血蜱Haemaphysalis longicornis不同发育期盾窝的结构,并分析了血餐对盾窝发育的影响.结果表明：幼蜱仅具1对盾窝原基,且每个盾窝原基有1个盾窝孔;若蜱盾窝有了一定的发育,面积（长径×短径）增大且盾窝孔数增多（2~6个）;成蜱盾窝面积最大,且盾窝孔数达21~35个.盾窝的发育主要在幼蜱蜕皮阶段及若蜱的吸血和蜕皮阶段,雌蜱盾窝孔径显著大于雄蜱（P<0.01）,成蜱、若蜱和幼蜱的盾窝孔孔径在吸血过程中（交配雌蜱除外）各虫期均无显著变化 （P>0.05）.综合分析成蜱与未成熟蜱盾窝孔径,发现它们之间无显著差异 （P>0.05）,这在一定程度上说明蜱类的盾窝孔径在未成熟期可能已经有了雌雄分化.     

银盾革蜱的中肠上皮变化与血餐消化

用光学显微镜及电子显微镜对不同生理状况下银盾革蜱Dermacentor niveus Neumann雌虫中肠上皮及血餐消化进行了研究.饿蜱的中肠只由一种干细胞组成,脂滴作为饿蜱营养的贮藏形式.非滞育蜱消化分三个阶段,即第一连续消化阶段,减慢消化阶段及第二连续消化阶段.吸血后中肠上皮共观察到四种细胞类型,即替代细胞、分泌细胞、消化细胞及卵赞原细胞.滞育蜱第一连续消化阶段延长.饱血后60天到120天,消化作用几近停止,为停滞消化阶段.卵黄原细胞的超微结构有明显改变.滞育解除后,开始进行减慢消化阶段及第二连续消化阶段.     

蜱类血淋巴的收集方法

建立一种收集蜱类血淋巴的有效方法。饥饿雌蜱切割边缘体壁收集,每只雌蜱可收集血淋巴0.4μL;吸血、饱血雌蜱切割附肢收集,每只饱血雌蜱可收集8.0μL血淋巴。该方法操作简单、快速、收集量较大。     

实验室条件下长角血蜱的生物学特性研究

实验室条件[(27±1)℃;75%RH;6L：18D]下,长角血蜱完成其生活史需135.8d：卵的孵化期为38.5d：幼虫吸血前期、吸血期和蜕皮前期分别为5.3d,3.8d和13.9d;若虫吸血前期、吸血期和蜕皮前期分别为7.2d,5.4d和16.9d;成虫吸血前期、吸血期、产卵前期和产卵期分别为7.6d,9.4d,7.8d和20.0d。雌虫饱食体重与产卵量之间存在非常显著的正相关(r＝0.9496,P<0.001)。雌虫的生殖效率指数REI＝11.06,生殖适合度指 数RFI＝7.19。生活周期在不同季节无明显变化。雄虫吸血期受雌虫吸引而成功地交配,这一过程是在吸引性信息素的作用下完成的。     

中华硬蜱凝血酶抑制剂的分离纯化与活性

通过凝胶过滤和反相高压液相层析。从200只半饱吸血的中华硬蜱(Ixodide sinesis)唾液腺中分离纯化得到一凝血酶抑制剂。用飞行质谱测定其分子量为6．356kDa,与其他蜱类来源的凝血酶抑制剂分子量不同,提示为一新蛋白分子。该抑制剂对凝血酶有强烈的抑制活性,对激活的第X因子和胰蛋白酶有微弱的抑制活性。其发现将为发展疫苗、生物控制中华硬蜱提供资料和目标抗原。     

长角血蜱若虫发育期20——羟基蜕皮酮含量变化与表皮发生的关系

用高效液相色谱和放射免疫分析对长角血蜱Haemaphysalislongicornis若虫发育期整体蜕皮激素(20-E)含量变化进行了测定,并用扫描电镜对其表皮结构及其发生进行了观察.20-E存在于若虫整个发育期,饥饿、吸血和饱血后前4天,激素水平低(0.71～1.30ng/头);饱血后6天明显增加,此时皮层溶离开始,蜕皮间隙形成;饱血后7天继续增加;饱血后8天,20-E含量达到高峰(8.70ng/头),此时若虫开始沉积新的上表皮;高峰后,20-E含量急剧下降,直到蜕皮前保持低水平,此期内沉积新的原表皮,旧表皮被部分吸收.上述结果显示出20-E含量急剧增加及其高峰分别与启动皮层溶离和新的上表皮沉积相吻合,20-E与新的原表皮沉积无关.     

中华硬蜱叮咬不同免疫力新西兰兔后中肠上皮组织的形态动态变化

通过光镜和电镜观察了中华硬蜱Ixodes sinensis叮咬初次和再次感染宿主新西兰兔后不同时间（叮咬后24 h、48 h、72 h以及第 5天、第8天）中肠上皮组织的形态学动态变化。结果显示： 中华硬蜱叮咬前中肠上皮主要由替代细胞和少量体积较大的消化细胞构成;替代细胞数量多、体积小、呈圆形、胞质染色浅 。中华硬蜱叮咬初次感染宿主后,消化细胞随叮咬时间延长而增多增大,微绒毛较密集,排列整齐,胞质内细胞器丰富,各单位膜结构清晰,并出现顶端小管、小泡、大量脂滴和高铁血红素颗粒;近基膜的细胞膜内褶形成发达的基底迷路系统。中华硬蜱叮咬再次感染宿主后,中肠可发生一系列明显的病理变化,中肠基膜出现变薄、松散和断裂现象,消化细胞破裂、空泡化,消化细胞数量减少;消化细胞微绒毛减少、变短、排列不整,线粒体肿大,体嵴减少、变短甚至髓样变,粗面内质网扩张,脂粒及高铁血红素颗粒减少,细胞膜吞饮、吞噬现象减弱,消化细胞内结构紊乱和破坏。该研究结果提示初次叮咬导致了宿主的免疫抗性,再次叮咬后蜱中肠是宿主免疫力的主要作用部位。     

Ability of Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Dermacentor silvarum ticks to acquire and transstadially transmit Borrelia garinii

In China, the ability of Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Dermacentor silvarum to transmit Borrelia spirochetes was determined under laboratory conditions. Results showed that all three tick species can acquire spirochetes by feeding on infected mice. However, the capability of the three species to maintain spirochetes was different. Only I. persulcatus is able to maintain spirochetes alive during molting, and subsequent tick stages transmitted the infection to naive mice. In H. concinna and D. silvarum ticks, spirochetes could not survive after the digestion period of blood and after the molting process was finished, spirochetes were no longer detected. Contrary to H. concinna and D. silvarum, I. persulcatus should be considered the principal vector of Lyme disease in north China.     

Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii alters the course of murine Lyme borreliosis

Ixodes ricinus ticks and mice can be infected with both Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii. The effect of coinfection with these two Borrelia species on the development of murine Lyme borreliosis is unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether coinfection with the nonarthritogenic B. garinii strain PBi and the arthritogenic B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strain B31 alters murine Lyme borreliosis. Mice simultaneously infected with PBi and B31 showed significantly more paw swelling and arthritis, long-standing spirochetemia, and higher numbers of B31 spirochetes than did mice infected with B31 alone. However, the number of PBi spirochetes was significantly lower in coinfected mice than in mice infected with PBi alone. In conclusion, simultaneous infection with B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto results in more severe Lyme borreliosis. Moreover, we suggest that competition of the two Borrelia species within the reservoir host could have led to preferential maintenance, and a rising prevalence, of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in European I. ricinus populations.     

Whole-genome sequences of two Borrelia afzelii and two Borrelia garinii Lyme disease agent isolates

Human Lyme disease is commonly caused by several species of spirochetes in the Borrelia genus. In Eurasia these species are largely Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi, and B. bavariensis sp. nov. Whole-genome sequencing is an excellent tool for investigating and understanding the influence of bacterial diversity on the pathogenesis and etiology of Lyme disease. We report here the whole-genome sequences of four isolates from two of the Borrelia species that cause human Lyme disease, B. afzelii isolates ACA-1 and PKo and B. garinii isolates PBr and Far04.     

Solving a sticky problem: new genetic approaches to host cell adhesion by the Lyme disease spirochete

The Lyme disease spirochetes, comprised of at least three closely related species, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii, are fascinating and enigmatic bacterial pathogens. They are maintained by tick-mediated transmission between mammalian hosts, usually small rodents. The ability of these bacteria, which have relatively small genomes, to survive and disseminate in both an immunocompetent mammal and in an arthropod vector suggests that they have evolved elegant and indispensable strategies for interacting with their hosts. Recognition of specific mammalian and tick tissues is likely to be essential for successful completion of the enzootic life cycle but, given the historical difficulties in genetic manipulation of these organisms, characterization of factors promoting cell adhesion has until recently largely been confined to either the manipulation of host cells or the analysis of potential bacterial ligands in the form of recombinant proteins. These studies have led to the identification of several mammalian receptors for Lyme disease spirochetes, including glycosaminoglycans, decorin, fibronectin and integrins, as well as a tick receptor for the bacterium, and also candidate cognate bacterial ligands. Recent advances in our ability to genetically manipulate Lyme disease spirochetes, particularly B. burgdorferi, are now providing us with firm evidence that these ligands indeed do promote bacterial adherence to host cells, and with new insights into the roles of these multifacted Borrelia-host cell interactions during mammalian and arthropod infection.     

Effect of Prior Exposure to Noninfected Ticks on Susceptibility of Mice to Lyme Disease Spirochetes

To determine whether prior exposure to Nearctic Ixodes vector ticks protects native reservoir mice from tick-borne infection by Lyme disease spirochetes, we compared their infectivities for white-footed mice and laboratory mice that had been repeatedly infested by noninfected deer ticks. Nymphal ticks readily engorged on tick-exposed laboratory mice, but their feeding success on white-footed mice progressively declined. Tick-borne spirochetes readily infected previously tick-infested mice. Thus, prior infestation by Nearctic ticks does not protect sympatric reservoir mice or Palearctic laboratory mice from infection by sympatric tick-borne spirochetes.     

An investigation of binding ability of Ixodes persulcatus Schulze Salp15 with Lyme disease spirochetes

Salp15, a 15-kDa tick salivary gland protein, has several suppressive modes of activity against host immunity and plays a critical role in the transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes in Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes ricinus, major vectors of Lyme disease in North America and Western Europe. Salp15 adheres to Borrelia burgdorferi and specifically interacts with its outer surface protein C (OspC), protecting the spirochete from antibody-mediated cytotoxicity and facilitating infection in the mice. Recently, we identified two Salp15 homologues, IperSalp15-1 and IperSalp15-2, in Ixodes persulcatus, a vector for Lyme disease in Japan. Here we describe the function of IperSalp15 in the transmission of Lyme borreliosis. To investigate the function of IperSalp15, recombinant IperSalp15-1 and IperSalp15-2 were prepared in bacterial and insect cells. Both were identified in the sera of tick-immunized hamsters, indicating that these are secretory proteins in exposed host animals. Solid-phase overlay and indirect fluorescence assays showed that IperSalp15 binds to OspC from B. burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii. Importantly, this binding likely protected the spirochete from antibody-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. In addition, IperSalp15 tended to facilitate infection in mice. Thus, further characterization of tick molecules, including IperSalp15, could lead to the development of new strategies to prevent the transmission of tick-borne diseases.     

Prevalence of Lyme disease Borrelia spp. in ticks from migratory birds on the Japanese mainland

Borrelia sp. prevalence in ticks on migratory birds was surveyed in central Japan. In autumn, a total of 1,733 birds representing 40 species were examined for ticks. A total of 361 ticks were obtained from 173 birds of 15 species, and these ticks were immature Haemaphysalis flava (94.4%), Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes columnae, Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes turdus, and an unidentified Ixodes species. Of these, 27 juveniles of H. flava on Turdus pallidus, Turdus cardis, or Emberiza spodocephala, 2 juveniles of I. persulcatus on T. pallidus, and 1 female H. flava molted from a T. pallidus-derived nymph were positive for the presence of Borrelia by Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly culture passages. In spring, a total of 16 ticks obtained from 102 birds of 21 species were negative for the spirochete. Isolates from 15 ticks were characterized by 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis; all isolates were identified as Borrelia garinii with pattern B/B' based on the previous patterning. According to the intergenic spacer sequences, 2 of 15 isolates, strains Fi14f and Fi24f, were highly similar to B. garinii strains 935T of Korea and ChY13p of Inner Mongolia, China, respectively. These findings indicate that Lyme disease-causing B. garinii may have been introduced to Japan by migratory birds from northeastern China via Korea. Additionally, a case of transstadial transmission of B. garinii from nymph to adult H. flava suggests that the infected H. flava may transmit Borrelia to large animals.     

Arthropod- and host-specific Borrelia burgdorferi bbk32 expression and the inhibition of spirochete transmission

Antisera to BBK32 (a Borrelia burgdorferi fibronectin-binding protein) and BBK50, two Ags synthesized during infection, protect mice from experimental syringe-borne Lyme borreliosis. Therefore, B. burgdorferi bbk32 and bbk50 expression within Ixodes scapularis ticks and the murine host, and the effect of BBK32 and BBK50 antisera on spirochetes throughout the vector-host life cycle were investigated. bbk32 and bbk50 mRNA and protein were first detected within engorged ticks, demonstrating regulated expression within the vector. Then bbk32 expression increased in mice at the cutaneous site of inoculation. During disseminated murine infection, bbk32 and bbk50 were expressed in several murine tissues, and mRNA levels were greatest in the heart and spleen at 30 days. BBK32 antisera protected mice from tick-borne B. burgdorferi infection and spirochete numbers were reduced by 90% within nymphs that engorged on immunized mice. Moreover, 75% of these ticks did not retain spirochetes upon molting, and subsequent B. burgdorferi transmission by adult ticks was impaired. Larval acquisition of B. burgdorferi by I. scapularis was also inhibited by BBK32 antisera. These data demonstrate that bbk32 and bbk50 are expressed during tick engorgement and that BBK32 antisera can interfere with spirochete transmission at various stages of the vector-host life cycle. These studies provide insight into mechanisms of immunity to Lyme borreliosis and other vector-borne diseases.     

Occurrence of multiple infections with different Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies in Danish Ixodes ricinus nymphs

The pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi causes Lyme Borreliosis in human and animals world-wide. In Europe the pathogen is transmitted to the host by the vector Ixodes ricinus. The nymph is the primary instar for transmission to humans. We here study the infection rate of five Borrelia genospecies: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. lusitaniae in nymphs, by IFA and PCR. 600 nymphs were collected in North Zealand of Denmark. Each nymph was first analysed by IFA. If positive for spirochaetal infection, the genospecies was determined by PCR. The infection rate of B. burgdorferi sensu lato was 15.5%, with the primary genospecies being B. afzelii (64.3%), B. garinii (57.1%), and B. lusitaniae (26.8%). It is the first time B. lusitaniae is documented in Denmark. Even though, the highest infection rate was discovered for B. afzelii and B. garinii, mixed infections are more common than single infections. Fifty-one percent (29/56) of these were infected with two genospecies, 7.1% (4/56) with three, and 5.3% (3/56) with four. We try to explain the high infection rate and the peculiar number of multiple infections, with a discussion of changes host abundance and occurrence of different transmission patterns.