Differential interactions of Rickettsia species with tick microbiota in Rh. sanguineus and Rh. turanicus

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-09, Vol.14 (1), p.20674-14, Article 20674
• Main Authors: Maitre, Apolline, Kratou, Myriam, Corona-Guerrero, Ivan, Abuin-Denis, Lianet, Mateos-Hernández, Lourdes, Mosqueda, Juan, Almazan, Consuelo, Said, Mourad Ben, Piloto-Sardiñas, Elianne, Obregon, Dasiel, Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326/2565/2134; 631/326/2565/2142; 631/326/2565/855; Animals; Arachnids; Bacteria; Community composition; Gram-negative bacteria; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Microbiology and Parasitology; Microbiota; multidisciplinary; Relative abundance; Rhipicephalus sanguineus - microbiology; Rickettsia; Rickettsia - physiology; Rickettsia Infections - microbiology; Rickettsia Infections - transmission; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Species; Tick-borne diseases; Tick-Borne Diseases - microbiology; Tick-Borne Diseases - transmission; Ticks - microbiology; Topology; Vectors
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71539-4

Tick-borne rickettsioses, caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the Rickettsia genus, pose a growing global threat, with various arthropod vectors contributing to their transmission. Understanding the complex interactions within tick microbiota, including the role of Rickettsia species, is crucial for elucidating the dynamics of rickettsial diseases. Here, we investigate the taxonomic profiles and co-occurrence networks of Rickettsia in Rh. sanguineus sensus lato (s.l.) and Rh. turanicus ticks, revealing significant differences in community composition and local connectivity of Rickettsia species. While the microbiota of both tick species share common taxa, distinct differences in relative abundance and network topology suggest unique ecological niches. Moreover, robustness analysis demonstrates varying resilience to perturbations, indicating different strategies for network organization. Our findings also highlight metabolic differences between tick species, suggesting potential implications for Rickettsia interactions. Overall, this study provides insights into the intricate microbial landscape within ticks, shedding light on the functional redundancy and metabolic pathways associated with Rickettsia , thus advancing our understanding of tick-borne diseases.