The authors acknowledge the help from the staff of Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno. MM received funding from Nevada INBRE.

O protocolo (Número-00682) descrito a seguir é aprovado pelo Comitê Institucional de Animal Care and Use (IACUC) da Universidade de Nevada Reno e segue as diretrizes da Universidade de Nevada, animal comitê de ética em pesquisa do Reno. Resumidamente, os ratinhos foram anestesiados com isoflurano e um cone de ponta foi utilizada para manter os níveis de isoflurano contínua durante 20 min. Uma pomada veterinário foi usado para evitar a secagem dos olhos sob anestesia. pitada dedo do pé foi usada para determinar o nível de anestesia e a taxa de respiração foi medido ao longo do procedimento. Ratos foram mantidos em gaiolas individuais e monitorados até que a consciência foi recuperado. Os ratinhos foram usados ​​apenas uma vez para a alimentação carrapato e foram sacrificados recuperação da carraça. A eutanásia foi realizada pelo Laboratório de pessoal da equipe Medicina Animal. CO 2 e deslocamento cervical foram utilizados para a eutanásia de animais. NOTA: Trabalhando em carrapatos requer o uso de eq de protecção individual completouipment. Para a contagem carrapatos imaturos, usar revestimentos brancos de laboratório, luvas de borracha nitrílica longos para cobrir a abertura da manga do revestimento do laboratório tapado com elásticos, e sapatos fechados. Para infestando ratos com carrapatos, use uma rede de cabelo, macacões descartáveis, luvas de manga comprida sobre as mangas, e tampas do pé. Utilizar combinações de cor branca ou luz para detectar carrapatos rebeldes. Verifique periodicamente luvas e mangas para carrapatos. 1. Quarto Preparação para o alojamento dos animais <ol><li> Designar uma sala separada a ratinhos de casas infestadas com carraças. Coloque uma esteira ou fita adesiva de dupla face tapete pegajoso fora e dentro da porta para evitar a fuga acidental carrapato. </li></ol> 2. Contagem Carrapatos para Mouse Infestação <ol><li> Colocar fita de face dupla em todo as bordas superiores de um x 5&quot; x 14&quot; recipiente de plástico 7&quot; e encher com água a cerca de 2 cm. </li><li> Colocar uma outra pequena caixa ou uma placa de Petri, no centro do recipiente e encher com água a 1 cm a criação de um &amp;# 34; fosso&quot; em torno deste recipiente </li><li> Armazenar o frasco contendo larvas ou ninfas dentro da placa de Petri. </li><li> Use um pincel fino para remover as larvas ou ninfas do frasco e contar sob o microscópio. Contagem de 50 larvas ou ninfas 25 em frascos de cintilação separados. Cobrir os frascos imediatamente com malha de nylon ou de tela de tecido organdy e fechar com bandas de borracha. </li></ol> 3. Infestando ratos com Imaturo Os carrapatos <ol><li> Use uma bancada de trabalho de cor branca ou luz e cole fita dupla face em torno do perímetro da área de trabalho. </li><li> Anestesiar rato com isoflurano. Verifique o nível de anestesia por pitada dedo do pé. Uma vez anestesiados, transferir o mouse para uma almofada de aquecimento coberta com toalhas de papel e anexar a um cone de nariz para o abastecimento de isoflurano continuou. </li><li> Aplique de petróleo à base de gelatina pomada para evitar a secura. Nota o padrão de respiração do rato para ajustar os níveis de isoflurano (80 -. 230 respirações por minuto é normal, reduz-se o nível de isoflurano brÉ inferior a 80 respirações por minuto para evitar a morte do animal). </li><li> Tome um frasco de 50 larvas ou 25 ninfas e coloque carrapatos sob a pele na cabeça entre as orelhas com um pincel ( Figura 1 ). Mantenha o rato sob anestesia durante 20 minutos após a colocação para dar tempo suficiente para as carraças se fixarem. </li><li> Mova o mouse para um padrão, caixa de plástico sapato-tipo gaiola descartável do mouse com tampas estáticas e cama branca. Fornecer brinquedos, água e alimentos ad libitum como por cuidado normal do mouse. </li><li> Armazene a gaiola do mouse dentro de uma gaiola de rato ou gerbil maior alinhada com fita adesiva dupla face em torno das bordas superiores. Encha a gaiola exterior com 3 cm de água ( Figura 2 ). </li></ol> 4. Coleta de carrapatos de ratos <ol><li> Os carrapatos imaturos destacam-se entre os dias 3 e 6 da alimentação. Verifique as gaiolas e fossos de água para carrapatos engorged todos os dias após o dia 3. </li><li> Colete tiques isolados da gaiola entre os dias 4 e 6. Use uma dort escova ou fórceps suaves para pegar carrapatos ingurgitadas e armazenar em frascos de cintilação limpas cobertas com pano de malha de nylon protegido com bandas de borracha. </li><li> Anestesiar e vá rato no dia 7 para qualquer restantes carrapatos anexas. </li><li> Verifique a roupa de cama, calha de alimentação, e uma garrafa de água por carrapatos ingurgitadas em ratinhos dia 7. eutanásia seguindo o processo como descrito acima. Autoclave o descartável gaiolas, cama, garrafa de água, e comida calha para evitar carrapatos em jejum escapando. </li></ol> 5. Armazenamento de Fed Carrapatos <ol><li> Manter carrapatos ingurgitadas a 90% de humidade, 20 ° C, e uma luz 0:12: escuro ciclo, num incubador de humidade e temperatura controladas até que muda ocorre. Isto pode demorar cerca de 12 a 18 semanas para ocorrer. </li><li> Enquanto humidade elevada promove a sobrevivência carrapato, que também faz com que os carrapatos propensas ao crescimento de fungos. Verificar alimentado carrapatos sob o microscópio, pelo menos, uma vez por semana para o molde. Se for detectada, lavar sobreviventes em 70% de etanol durante 5Min., Enxaguar em água, transferir para um papel de filtro para secar e transferir para novos frascos limpos. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Gleim, E. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Factors+associated+with+tick+bites+and+pathogen+prevalence+in+ticks+parasitizing+humans+in+Georgia,+USA.">Factors associated with tick bites and pathogen prevalence in ticks parasitizing humans in Georgia, USA.</a> Parasites &amp;amp; Vectors. 9 (125), 1-13 (2016).</li><li>Krober, T., Guerin, P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+feeding+assays+for+hard+ticks.">In vitro feeding assays for hard ticks.</a> Trends Parasitol. 23 (9), 445-449 (2007).</li><li>Kuhnert, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Feeding+of+Hard+Ticks+In+Vitro:+New+Perspectives+for+Rearing+and+for+the+Identification+of+Systemic+Acaricides.">Feeding of Hard Ticks In Vitro: New Perspectives for Rearing and for the Identification of Systemic Acaricides.</a> ALTEX. 13 (2), 76-87 (1996).</li><li>Voigt, W. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+feeding+of+instars+of+the+ixodid+tick+Amblyomma+variegaturn+on+skin+membranes+and+its+application+to+the+transmission+of+Theileria+mutans+and+Cowdria+ruminantium.">In vitro feeding of instars of the ixodid tick Amblyomma variegaturn on skin membranes and its application to the transmission of Theileria mutans and Cowdria ruminantium.</a> Parasitol. 107, 257-263 (1993).</li><li>Gregson, J. D., Smith, C. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ticks.">Ticks.</a> Insect Colonization and Mass Production. , 49-72 (1966).</li><li>Sonenshine, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Biology of Ticks. 2, (1993).</li><li>Bouchard, K. R., Wikel, S. K., Marquaedt, W. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Care,+maintenance,+and+experimental+infestation+of+ticks+in+the+laboratory+setting.">Care, maintenance, and experimental infestation of ticks in the laboratory setting.</a> Biology of Disease Vectors. , 705-711 (2005).</li><li>Schumaker, T. S., Barros, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Life+cycle+of+Ornithodoros+(Alectorobius)+talaje.+(Acari:Argasidae)+in+laboratory.">Life cycle of Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) talaje. (Acari:Argasidae) in laboratory.</a> J Med Entomol. 32, 249-254 (1995).</li><li>Banks, C. W., Oliver, J. H., Hopla, C. E., Dotson, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laboratory+life+cycle+of+Ixodes+woodi+(Acari:Ixodidae).">Laboratory life cycle of Ixodes woodi (Acari:Ixodidae).</a> J. Med. Entomol. 35, 177-179 (1998).</li><li>James, A. M., Oliver, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Feeding+and+host+preference+of+immature+Ixodes+dammini,I.scapularis,and+I.pacificus.(Acari:Ixodidae).">Feeding and host preference of immature Ixodes dammini,I.scapularis,and I.pacificus.(Acari:Ixodidae).</a> J. Med. Entomol. 27, 324-330 (1990).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Passos críticos dentro do Protocolo É importante ter vários níveis de medidas de segurança quando a criação carrapatos para evitar fuga acidental. Uso de fita adesiva e um fosso de água são fundamentais para garantir a segurança. É importante para manter o rato anestesiado em uma almofada de aquecimento para manter a temperatura constante do corpo. Nós também descobrimos que raspar o mouse não fornece qualquer benefício extra para fixação do carrapato. Um ratinho individual pod...

Os carrapatos são ectoparasitas hematófagos obrigatórios de vertebrados e são distribuídos em todo o mundo. Nos Estados Unidos, pelo menos 11 espécies de carrapatos são vetores de patógenos de importância para a saúde pública 1 . Ixodes scapularis é responsável pela transmissão de vários patógenos, tais como os agentes causadores da doença de Lyme ( Borrelia burgdorferi ), febre recidivante ( B. miyamotoi), anaplasmose granulocítica humana ( Anaplasma phagocytophilum ) e babesiose (Babesia spp.). Apesar da importância de I. scapularis como vetor de doença, a coleta desses aracnídeos em abundância da natureza para estudos no laboratório nem sempre é viável. Portanto, a produção de carrapatos saudáveis ​​criados em laboratório é essencial para estudos de biologia de carrapatos e interações de carrapatos-patógenos. O ciclo de vida de todos os carrapatos duros (família Ixodidae), incluindo I. scapularis, consiste no ovo e em três activE estádios: larva, ninfa e adulto. Cada estágio ativo se alimenta de um hospedeiro vertebrado. As interações complexas que ocorrem entre os carrapatos e seus hospedeiros ao longo de vários dias de apego e alimentação são quase impossíveis de replicar usando alimentadores artificiais, e é improvável que fornecem números suficientes de carrapatos alimentados para a criação em massa 2 , 3 , 4 . Portanto, ratos vivos e coelhos são usados ​​mais freqüentemente como hospedeiros para a criação de imaturos (larvas e ninfas) e estádios maduros (adultos) de carrapatos, respectivamente. A necessidade de múltiplos hospedeiros para alimentação de sangue durante cada estágio de desenvolvimento complica a criação de carrapatos e é tempo e custo intensivo 5 , 6 , 7 . A maioria dos protocolos de criação de carrapatos requerem manter os ratos em uma gaiola 7 , 8 ou em umge de tais dimensões que o animal não pode mover-se livremente e se lamber 6, 9, 10. Estas gaiolas cilíndricas são depois transferidos para uma gaiola de caixa de sapatos com uma grelha de arame. Ingurgitadas, carrapatos destacadas são depois recolhidos a partir da água por baixo. No entanto, este método resulta em expor alimentado carrapatos à água contaminada com fezes e urina que pode aumentar o crescimento de fungos e carrapatos mortalidade 9. Além disso, aumenta a possibilidade de fuga carrapato a partir da calha de água, bem como fazendo com que o stress a ratinhos. Para contornar estes problemas, que aqui demonstrar alimentação carrapato larval em ratinhos dentro de plástico do tipo caixa de sapatos gaiolas descartáveis. Este método permite que o comportamento normal dos ratos, os aumentos ingurgitadas recuperação carraça, e reduz a mortalidade carrapato devido a contaminação.

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rearing ixodes scapularis, the black-legged tick: feeding immature stages on mice

Ixodes scapularis , o vetor da doença de Lyme, é um dos vetores de doenças mais importantes no Leste e no Centro-Oeste dos Estados Unidos. Esta espécie é um carrapato de três hospedeiros que requer uma refeição de sangue de um hospedeiro vertebrado para cada estágio de desenvolvimento, e as fêmeas adultas requerem uma refeição de sangue para reprodução. Os carrapatos larvalos ligam-se ao seu hospedeiro durante 3-5 dias para alimentação e deixam o hospedeiro quando totalmente engorgado. Esta dependência de vários hospedeiros diferentes e o tempo de ligação prolongado para ingurgitamento complica a criação de carraças no ambiente laboratorial. No entanto, para entender a biologia das carraças e as interações do carrapato-patógeno, a produção de carrapatos saudáveis ​​criados em laboratório é essencial. Aqui, demonstramos um protocolo simples e econômico para a alimentação de carrapatos imaturos em camundongos. Modificamos os protocolos existentes para diminuição do estresse em camundongos e aumento do sucesso e sobrevivência da alimentação de carrapatos usando gaiolas descartáveis ​​sem fundo de malha para evitar o contato de carrapatos.Água contaminada com urina e fezes de ratos.

Modificamos os protocolos existentes de criação de carrapatos 6 , 10 para melhorar a eficiência alimentar e reduzir o estresse no hospedeiro do mouse. Os resultados demonstram que as gaiolas padrão de mouse estilo estilo sapato são bem adequados para a criação de carrapatos. A roupa branca forneceu um bom contraste para fácil coleta de carrapatos alimentados. A maioria dos carrapatos subiu as paredes dos recipientes após...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rearing Ixodes scapularis, the Black-legged Tick: Feeding Immature Stages on Mice at JoVE.com

Rearing Ixodes scapularis, the Black-legged Tick: Feeding Immature Stages on Mice

A produção de carrapatos criadas em laboratório saudáveis ​​é essencial para estudos sobre a biologia carrapato, e carrapato-patógeno interações. Aqui demonstramos um protocolo simples para a alimentação carrapato imaturo que é rentável e menos stressante para ratinhos.

Criação<em&gt; Ixodes scapularis,</em&gt; O Ticked Black-legged: Alimentando estágios imaturos em ratos

Ixodes scapularis, the vector of Lyme disease, is one of the most important disease vectors in the eastern and Midwestern United States. This species is a ...

rearing-ixodes-scapularis-black-legged-tick-feeding-immature-stages

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Rearing Ixodes scapularis, the Black-legged Tick: Feeding Immature Stages on Mice

11.9K visualizações.  University of Nevada, Reno.  A produção de carrapatos criadas em laboratório saudáveis ​​é essencial para estudos sobre a biologia carrapato, e carrapato-patógeno interações. Aqui demonstramos um protocolo simples para a alimentação carrapato imaturo que é rentável e menos stressante para ratinhos. 

Vídeo: Rearing Ixodes scapularis, the Black-legged Tick: Feeding Immature Stages on Mice

Methods for Rapid Transfer and Localization of Lyme Disease Pathogens Within the Tick Gut

Lyme disease is caused by infection with the spirochete pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, which is maintained in nature by a tick-rodent infection cycle 1. A tick-borne murine model 2 has been developed to study Lyme disease in the laboratory. While na&iacute;ve ticks can be infected with B. burgdorferi by feeding them on infected mice, the molting process takes several weeks to months to complete. Therefore, development of more rapid and efficient tick infection techniques, such as a microinjection-based procedure, is an important tool for the study of Lyme disease 3,4. The procedure requires only hours to generate infected ticks and allows control over the delivery of equal quantities of spirochetes in a cohort of ticks. This is particularly important as the generation of B. burgdorferi infected ticks by the natural feeding process using mice fails to ensure 100% infection rate and potentially results in variation of pathogen burden amongst fed ticks. Furthermore, microinjection can be used to infect ticks with B. burgdorferi isolates in cases where an attenuated strain is unable to establish infection in mice and thus can not be naturally acquired by ticks 5. This technique can also be used to deliver a variety of other biological materials into ticks, for example, specific antibodies or double stranded RNA 6. In this article, we will demonstrate the microinjection of nymphal ticks with in vitro-grown B. burgdorferi. We will also describe a method for localization of Lyme disease pathogens in the tick gut using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.

Lyme disease research studies often require generation of ticks infected with the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, a process that typically takes several weeks. Here we demonstrate a microinjection-based tick infection procedure that can be accomplished within hours. We also demonstrate an immunofluorescence method for in situ localization of B. burgdorferi within ticks.

Métodos para a transferência rápida e localização de Patógenos Doença de Lyme no intestino Tick

Lyme disease is caused by infection with the spirochete pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, which is maintained in nature by a tick-rodent infection cycle 1.  ...

Imunologia e Infecção

Saliva, Salivary Gland, and Hemolymph Collection from Ixodes scapularis Ticks

Ticks are found worldwide and afflict humans with many tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are vectors for pathogens that cause Lyme disease and tick-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia spp.), Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. equi), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), encephalitis (tick-borne encephalitis virus), babesiosis (Babesia spp.), Colorado tick fever (Coltivirus), and tularemia (Francisella tularensis) 1-8. To be properly transmitted into the host these infectious agents differentially regulate gene expression, interact with tick proteins, and migrate through the tick 3,9-13. For example, the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, adapts through differential gene expression to the feast and famine stages of the tick's enzootic cycle 14,15. Furthermore, as an Ixodes tick consumes a bloodmeal Borrelia replicate and migrate from the midgut into the hemocoel, where they travel to the salivary glands and are transmitted into the host with the expelled saliva 9,16-19.
As a tick feeds the host typically responds with a strong hemostatic and innate immune response 11,13,20-22. Despite these host responses, I. scapularis can feed for several days because tick saliva contains proteins that are immunomodulatory, lytic agents, anticoagulants, and fibrinolysins to aid the tick feeding 3,11,20,21,23. The immunomodulatory activities possessed by tick saliva or salivary gland extract (SGE) facilitate transmission, proliferation, and dissemination of numerous tick-borne pathogens 3,20,24-27. To further understand how tick-borne infectious agents cause disease it is essential to dissect actively feeding ticks and collect tick saliva. This video protocol demonstrates dissection techniques for the collection of hemolymph and the removal of salivary glands from actively feeding I. scapularis nymphs after 48 and 72 hours post mouse placement. We also demonstrate saliva collection from an adult female I. scapularis tick.

Saliva, Salivary Gland, and Hemolymph Collection from Ixodes scapularis Ticks

The collection of infected tick hemolymph, salivary glands, and saliva is important to study how tick-borne pathogens cause disease. In this protocol we demonstrate how to collect hemolymph and salivary glands from feeding Ixodes scapularis nymphs. We also demonstrate saliva collection from female I. scapularis adults.

A saliva, glândula salivar, e Coleta de hemolinfa de carrapatos Ixodes scapularis

Ticks are found worldwide and afflict humans with many tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are vectors for pathogens that cause Lyme disease and tick-borne ...

Rearing and Injection of Manduca sexta Larvae to Assess Bacterial Virulence

Manduca sexta, commonly known as the tobacco hornworm, is considered a significant agricultural pest, feeding on solanaceous plants including tobacco and tomato. The susceptibility of M. sexta larvae to a variety of entomopathogenic bacterial species1-5, as well as the wealth of information available regarding the insect's immune system6-8, and the pending genome sequence9 make it a good model organism for use in studying host-microbe interactions during pathogenesis. In addition, M. sexta larvae are relatively large and easy to manipulate and maintain in the laboratory relative to other susceptible insect species. Their large size also facilitates efficient tissue/hemolymph extraction for analysis of the host response to infection.
The method presented here describes the direct injection of bacteria into the hemocoel (blood cavity) of M. sexta larvae. This approach can be used to analyze and compare the virulence characteristics of various bacterial species, strains, or mutants by simply monitoring the time to insect death after injection. This method was developed to study the pathogenicity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species, which typically associate with nematode vectors as a means to gain entry into the insect. Entomopathogenic nematodes typically infect larvae via natural digestive or respiratory openings, and release their symbiotic bacterial contents into the insect hemolymph (blood) shortly thereafter10. The injection method described here bypasses the need for a nematode vector, thus uncoupling the effects of bacteria and nematode on the insect. This method allows for accurate enumeration of infectious material (cells or protein) within the inoculum, which is not possible using other existing methods for analyzing entomopathogenesis, including nicking11 and oral toxicity assays12. Also, oral toxicity assays address the virulence of secreted toxins introduced into the digestive system of larvae, whereas the direct injection method addresses the virulence of whole-cell inocula.
The utility of the direct injection method as described here is to analyze bacterial pathogenesis by monitoring insect mortality. However, this method can easily be expanded for use in studying the effects of infection on the M. sexta immune system. The insect responds to infection via both humoral and cellular responses. The humoral response includes recognition of bacterial-associated patterns and subsequent production of various antimicrobial peptides7; the expression of genes encoding these peptides can be monitored subsequent to direct infection via RNA extraction and quantitative PCR13. The cellular response to infection involves nodulation, encapsulation, and phagocytosis of infectious agents by hemocytes6. To analyze these responses, injected insects can be dissected and visualized by microscopy13, 14.

Rearing and Injection of Manduca sexta Larvae to Assess Bacterial Virulence

The method described here utilizes direct injection of entomopathogenic bacteria into the hemocoel of Manduca sexta insect larvae. M. sexta is a commercially available and well-studied insect. Thus, this method represents a simple approach to analyzing host-bacterial interactions from the perspective of one or both partners.

Criação e injeção de<em&gt; Manduca sexta</em&gt; As larvas para avaliar a virulência bacteriana

Manduca sexta, commonly known as the tobacco hornworm, is considered a significant agricultural pest, feeding on solanaceous plants including tobacco and ...

Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research

Transmission of the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, occurs by the attachment and blood feeding of Ixodes species ticks on mammalian hosts. In nature, this zoonotic bacterial pathogen may use a variety of reservoir hosts, but the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is the primary reservoir for larval and nymphal ticks in North America. Humans are incidental hosts most frequently infected with B. burgdorferi by the bite of ticks in the nymphal stage. B. burgdorferi adapts to its hosts throughout the enzootic cycle, so the ability to explore the functions of these spirochetes and their effects on mammalian hosts requires the use of tick feeding. In addition, the technique of xenodiagnosis (using the natural vector for detection and recovery of an infectious agent) has been useful in studies of cryptic infection. In order to obtain nymphal ticks that harbor B. burgdorferi, ticks are fed live spirochetes in culture through capillary tubes. Two animal models, mice and nonhuman primates, are most commonly used for Lyme disease studies involving tick feeding. We demonstrate the methods by which these ticks can be fed upon, and recovered from animals for either infection or xenodiagnosis.

Lyme disease is the most commonly-reported vector-borne disease in North America. The causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Transmission and detection of infection in animal models is optimized by the use of tick feeding, which we describe here.

Alimentação dos Carrapatos em Animais de Transmissão e Xenodiagnóstico em Lyme Disease Research

Transmission of the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, occurs by the  attachment and blood feeding of Ixodes species ticks on ...

Measuring Local Anaphylaxis in Mice

Allergic responses are the result of the activation of mast cells and basophils, and the subsequent release of vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators. Exposure to an allergen in a sensitized individual can result in clinical symptoms that vary from minor erythema to life threatening anaphylaxis. In the laboratory, various animal models have been developed to understand the mechanisms driving allergic responses. Herein, we describe a detailed method for measuring changes in vascular permeability to quantify localized allergic responses. The local anaphylaxis assay was first reported in the 1920s, and has been adapted from the technique published by Kojima et al. in 20071. In this assay, mice sensitized to OVA are challenged in the left ear with vehicle and in the right ear with OVA. This is followed by an intravenous injection of Evans Blue dye. Ten min after injecting Evans Blue, the animal is euthanized and the dye that has extravasated into the ears is extracted overnight in formamide. The absorbance of the extracted dye is then quantified with a spectrophotometer. This method reliably results in a visual and quantifiable manifestation of a local allergic response.

Allergic responses, characterized by the activation of mast cells and basophils, are driven by the cross-linking of IgE and release of proinflammatory mediators. A quantitative assessment of allergic responses can be achieved by using Evans Blue dye to monitor changes in vascular permeability after allergen challenge.

Medindo Anafilaxia locais em Ratos

Allergic responses are the result of the activation of mast cells and basophils, and the subsequent release of vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators. ...

Generation of Immature, Mature and Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells with Differing Metabolic Phenotypes

Immune response results from a complex interplay between the antigen non-specific innate immune system and the antigen specific adaptive immune system. The immune system is a constant balance in maintaining tolerance to self-molecules and reacting rapidly to pathogens. Dendritic cells (DCs) are powerful professional antigen presenting cells that link the innate immune system to the adaptive immune system and balance the adaptive response between self and non-self. Depending on the maturation signals, immature dendritic cells can be selectively stimulated to differentiate into immunogenic or tolerogenic DCs. Immunogenic dendritic cells provide proliferation signals to antigen-specific T cells for clonal expansion; while tolerogenic dendritic cells regulate tolerance by antigen-specific T-cell deletion or clonal expansion of regulatory T-cells. Due to this unique property, dendritic cells are highly sought after as therapeutic agents for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Dendritic cells can be loaded with specific antigens in vitro and injected into the human body to mount a specific immune response both immunogenic and tolerogenic. This work presents a means to generate in vitro from monocytes, immature monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDCs), tolerogenic and mature moDCs that differ in surface marker expression, function and metabolic phenotypes.

Immature dendritic cells can be selectively differentiated into tolerogenic or mature dendritic cells to regulate the balance between immunity and tolerance. This work presents a means to generate from immature monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDCs), in vitro tolerogenic and mature moDCs that differ in metabolic phenotypes.

Geração de imatura, madura e tolerogênicas células dendríticas com diferentes fenótipos Metabolic

Immune response results from a complex interplay between the antigen non-specific innate immune system and the antigen specific adaptive immune system. ...

Exposição humana a carrapatos larvais para pesquisa de doenças transmitidas por carrapatos

A Model for Experimental Exposure of Humans to Larval Ixodes scapularis Ticks

Tickborne diseases are a significant public health problem in the United States and worldwide. Ticks are obligate blood-feeding arthropods; an ixodid tick must remain attached to the skin of the host and complete its multi-day feeding process to acquire its blood meal. Exposing animals to ticks is a common practice for studying host responses to tick bites and tickborne diseases. We developed the procedure, conducted the first human research study, and published the findings on exposing human volunteers to uninfected larval Ixodes scapularis ticks. This article describes the methodology used to construct the containment dressing, how to apply and secure the ticks to the host, how to maintain the dressing, and how to remove the ticks from the host. Exposing volunteers to tick bites is an experimental procedure and must be performed under a clinical research protocol approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities. This method allows for translational research to better understand the human response to tick bites and foster the development of diagnostics, prevention, and therapies for tickborne diseases.

Autor em destaque: Modelo de exposição humana controlada para pesquisa de carrapatos e estudos da doença de Lyme

This article presents the methodology for exposing humans to larval Ixodes scapularis for clinical research. The technique is relatively simple, tolerable by the research volunteers, and can be modified according to experimental needs. Such research involving human subjects must be conducted under clinical study protocols approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities.

Um modelo para exposição experimental de humanos a larvas de carrapatos Ixodes scapularis

Tickborne diseases are a significant public health problem in the United States and worldwide. Ticks are obligate blood-feeding arthropods; an ixodid tick ...

A Capsule-Based Model for Immature Hard Tick Stages Infestation on Laboratory Mice

Ticks are obligatory blood feeding parasites at all stages of development (except eggs) and are recognized as vectors of various pathogens. The use of mouse models in tick research is critical for understanding their biology and tick-host-pathogen interactions. Here we demonstrate a non-laborious technique for the feeding of immature stages of hard ticks on laboratory mice. The benefit of the method is its simplicity, short duration, and the ability to monitor or collect ticks at different time points of an experiment. In addition, the technique allows attachment of two individual capsules on the same mouse, which is beneficial for a variety of experiments where two different groups of ticks are required to feed on the same animal. The non-irritating and flexible capsule is made from easily accessible materials and minimizes the discomfort of the experimental animals. Furthermore, euthanasia is not necessary, mice recover completely after the experiment and are available for re-use.

In this study, a feeding system for nymphal and larval stages of hard tick was developed using a capsule attached to laboratory mouse. The feeding capsule is made from flexible materials and remains firmly attached to the mouse for at least one week and allows comfortable monitoring of tick feeding.

Um modelo baseado em cápsulas para infestação de estágios de carrapato duro imaturo em ratos de laboratório

Ticks are obligatory blood feeding parasites at all stages of development (except eggs) and are recognized as vectors of various pathogens. The use of ...

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Um modelo baseado em cápsulas para infestação de estágios de carrapato duro imaturo em ratos de laboratório