Defending the fort: a role for defensin-2 in limiting Rickettsia montanensis infection of Dermacentor variabilis

The importance of tick defensins is evidenced by their expression in a wide variety of tick tissues and prevalence across many tick genera. To date, the functional and biological significance of defensin‐2 as a rickettsiastatic or rickettsiacidal antimicrobial peptide has not been addressed. In a pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insect molecular biology 2014-08, Vol.23 (4), p.457-465
Main Authors: Pelc, R. S., McClure, J. C., Sears, K. T., Chung, A., Rahman, M. S., Ceraul, S. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Infective Agents - metabolism
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Cell Membrane Permeability
defensin
Defensins - biosynthesis
Defensins - immunology
Defensins - metabolism
Dermacentor - immunology
Dermacentor - metabolism
Dermacentor - microbiology
Dermacentor variabilis
Immunity, Innate - immunology
innate immunity
Ixodidae
Original
Rickettsia
Rickettsia - immunology
Rickettsia - physiology
Rickettsia Infections - physiopathology
tick
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Summary:The importance of tick defensins is evidenced by their expression in a wide variety of tick tissues and prevalence across many tick genera. To date, the functional and biological significance of defensin‐2 as a rickettsiastatic or rickettsiacidal antimicrobial peptide has not been addressed. In a previous study, defensin‐2 transcription was shown to increase in Dermacentor variabilis ticks challenged with Rickettsia montanensis. In the present study, the hypothesis that defensin‐2 is functional as a rickettsiastatic and/or rickettsiacidal antimicrobial peptide is tested. We show that defensin‐2 plays a role in reducing burden after acquisition of Rickettsia montanensis through capillary feeding. Moreover, defensin‐2 is shown to associate with R. montanensis in vitro and in vivo, causing cytoplasmic leakiness.
ISSN:0962-1075
1365-2583
DOI:10.1111/imb.12094