Frankenbacteriosis targeting interactions between pathogen and symbiont to control infection in the tick vector

Tick microbiota can be targeted for the control of tick-borne diseases such as hu-man granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by model pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Frankenbacteriosis is inspired by Frankenstein and defined here as paratransgenesis of tick symbiotic/commensal bacteria to mimic and compete with tick-borne pathogens. Interactions between A. phagocytophilum and symbiotic Sphingomonas identified by metaproteomics analysis in Ixodes scapularis midgut showed competition between both bacteria. Consequently, Sphingomonas was selected for frankenbacteriosis for the control of A. phagocytophilum infection and transmission. The results showed that Franken Sphingomonas producing A. phagocytophilum major surface protein 4 (MSP4) mimic pathogen and reduce infection in ticks by competition and interaction with cell receptor components of infection. Franken Sphingomonas-MSP4 trans-ovarial and trans-stadial transmission suggests that tick larvae with genetically modified Franken Sphingomonas-MSP4 could be produced in the laboratory and released in the field to compete and replace the wildtype populations with associated reduction in pathogen infection/transmission and HGA disease risks.

Automated summary

Tick microbiota can be manipulated to control tick-borne diseases by using genetically modified bacteria to compete with and mimic tick-borne pathogens. In this study, a genetically modified bacteria, Franken Sphingomonas, producing a major surface protein of the pathogen was shown to reduce infection in ticks and potentially decrease disease transmission risk.