Wolbachia Impacts Anaplasma Infection in Ixodes scapularis Tick Cells

The specific interactions of members of tick bacterial microbiota and their effects on pathogen transmission remains relatively unexplored. Here, we introduced a novel Wolbachia infection type into Ixodes scapularis tick cells and examined the antipathogenic effects on the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. An increase in A. phagocytophilum replication was observed in Wolbachia-infected tick cells. However, Wolbachia infection densities decreased when cells were serially passaged and ultimately the infection was lost. Host-cell immune response was also examined as an additional factor that could have affected A. phagocytophilum replication in Wolbachia-infected cells. In early passages post-Wolbachia infection, a decreased immune response was observed, but in later passages of cells with low Wolbachia densities, there was no change in the immune response. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of studying the interactions of the tick microbiota, the host cell, and the pathogen and the development of novel tick and tick-borne disease-control approaches.

Automated summary

This study explores the specific interactions between members of tick bacterial microbiota, host cells, and pathogens. The introduction of Wolbachia infection into tick cells increases replication of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, but the infection is eventually lost with serial passage. The study also examines the impact of Wolbachia infection on host-cell immune responses. These findings highlight the importance of studying tick microbiota, host cells, and pathogens in developing novel approaches for tick-borne disease control.