Nirmal Sangwan

Sexual alteration in antioxidant response and esterase profile in Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks

The objective of the study was to reveal physiological link between sex specific engorgement pattern and evading mechanism of ticks against oxidative stress as well as acaricides. Quantitative determination of nitric oxide radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations in salivary gland and gut extracts of male and female Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks established significant variation in antioxidant responses between two sexes of the ticks. Higher activity of these antioxidants and GSH depletion in females clearly indicate stronger antioxidant defense in female ticks which is to combat host mediated oxidative assault during feeding for greater engorgement and reproductive stress. The females are also better equipped with the mechanism of acaricide resistance as evidenced by higher expression of esterases than males in unfed whole tick extracts in current study.

Partial characterization of a novel anti-inflammatory protein from salivary gland extract of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum 77Acari: Ixodidae) ticks.

Aim: Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks transmit Theileria annulata, causative agent of tropical theileriosis to cattle and buffaloes causing a major economic loss in terms of production and mortality in tropical countries. Ticks have evolved several immune evading strategies to circumvent hosts’ rejection and achieve engorgement. Successful feeding of ticks relies on a pharmacy of chemicals located in their complex salivary glands and secreted saliva. These chemicals in saliva could inhibit host inflammatory responses through modulating cytokine secretion and detoxifying reactive oxygen species. Therefore, the present study was aimed to characterize anti-inflammatory peptides from salivary gland extract (SGE) of H. a. anatolicum ticks with a view that this information could be utilized in raising vaccines, designing synthetic peptides or peptidomimetics which can further be developed as novel therapeutics. Materials and Methods: Salivary glands were dissected out from partially fed adult female H. a. anatolicum ticks and homogenized under the ice to prepare SGE. Gel filtration chromatography was performed using Sephadex G-50 column to fractionate the crude extract. Protein was estimated in each fraction and analyzed for identification of anti-inflammatory activity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was run for further characterization of protein in desired fractions. Results: A novel 28 kDa protein was identified in H. a. anatolicum SGE with pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: Purification and partial characterization of H. a. anatolicum SGE by size-exclusion chromatography and SDS-PAGE depicted a 28 kDa protein with prominent anti-inflammatory activity.

Comparative study of esterases in deltamethrin and diazinon resistant Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum ticks collected from the Trans-Gangetic plains of India

A comparative analysis of esterases in susceptible and resistant ticks revealed six types of esterases (EST-1b, EST-2b, EST-3b, EST-4b, EST-5b and EST-6b) in Rhipicephalus microplus and four types (EST-1h, EST-2h, EST-3h, EST-4h) in Hyalomma anatolicum using α-naphthyl acetate substrate. Inhibition studies with eserine sulfate, p-chloromercuribenzoate, copper sulphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride revealed a marked variation in band intensity between susceptible and resistant ticks, with the latter being more intense. Qualitative expression of EST-4b along with an extra band of EST-5b and EST-6b were indicative of deltamethrin and diazinon resistance in R. microplus, whereas qualitative expression of EST-4h was probably responsible for diazinon resistance in H. anatolicum. The data suggest that increased esterase activity may represent a detoxification strategy leading to the development of resistance in these tick populations.

Molecular Characterization and Immunogenicity Analysis of 4D8 Protective Antigen of Hyalomma anatolicum Ticks Collected from Western India

Vector-borne diseases, mainly transmitted by ticks, have a significant impact on the productivity and health of the animals in the developing countries. The quest for vaccine candidates to control these arthropod vectors remains pivotal and only rationale approach in controlling these diseases. Several candidate antigens have been screened over the years of which 4D8 tick protective antigen have shown promising results in controlling ixodid tick infestations. The 4D8 tick protective antigen is a structural and functional ortholog of insect subolesin/akirin and an evolutionary conserved protein, associated with multiple essential cellular processes in tick biology. Variable efficacy of recombinant subolesin/4D8 vaccine in field trials propels the approach towards synthetic peptide vaccine through reverse vaccinology. Advancement in reverse vaccinology has opened a new paradigm in the search of a perfect candidate antigen. The present study focused on full length amplification, cloning and sequencing of the 4D8 gene from Hyalomma antolicum. Combination of bioinformatics analysis and computational modeling tools identified linear as well as conformational B-cell and MHC class II epitopes conserved in many ixodid ticks which may be useful to design an universal synthetic peptide vaccine against multiple tick species. Western blot analysis using rabbit antisera against recombinant 4D8 protein has also confirmed the immunogenic potential of the candidate.

Inhibition of bovine platelets aggregation in response to Hyalomma anatolicum salivary gland proteins/peptides.

Aim: Ticks are obligate ectoparasites that have an impact on wide range of vertebrates and also act as a potential vector for the transmission of tropical theileriosis, babesiosis, etc., causing significant loss to livestock production worldwide. While feeding, they introduce their saliva containing different bioactive molecules into the host. These molecules have the capability to counteract the host hemostatic mechanism to suck host blood successfully. Therefore, the study was aimed to isolate anti-platelet aggregating peptides from salivary gland extract (SGE) of Hyalomma anatolicum ticks, a commonly available tick in India. Materials and Methods: Female H. anatolicum salivary glands were dissected out and SGE was prepared by homogenizing it in a suitable buffer under ice. Extract so obtained was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography using Sephacryl S-200 column. Total protein concentration in fractions was estimated and bovine platelets were isolated, stimulated with thrombin (positive control), treated with Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro amide (negative control) and with salivary gland fractions for identification of proteins/peptides having anti-platelet aggregating activities. Results: Proteins/peptides present in various salivary gland fractions inhibited the bovine platelet aggregation and the percent inhibition ranged between 33% and 35.8%. Conclusion: The results suggests that the fractions of H. anatolicum salivary glands possess thrombin-induced anti-platelet aggregating activity and which could be further exploited for raising anti-tick vaccine and also for therapeutic purpose.