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Papers by Ana Oleaga

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of two-thirds hepatectomy on sulfobromophthalein handling by the rat liver

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 1987

The modifications in the hepatic transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) were studied after partia... more The modifications in the hepatic transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) were studied after partial hepatectomy (p.h.) in Wistar rats. The biliary excretion of BSP, injected i.v. at 150 mumol/kg, decreased in the early periods after p.h., with a disappearance of the choleretic effect induced by the dye in sham-operated animals. The impairment in the biliary BSP excretion corresponded to the conjugated fraction and was accompanied by a lowered glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver.

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Research paper thumbnail of Outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica (France): an epidemiological case study

The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2016

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic in several tropical and subtropical co... more Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic in several tropical and subtropical countries. However, in the summer of 2013, an unexpected outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis occurred in Corsica, with more than 120 local people or tourists infected. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the epidemiology of urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica, aiming to elucidate the origin of the outbreak. We did parasitological and malacological surveys at nine potential sites of infection. With the snails found, we carried out snail-parasite compatibility experiments by exposing snails to schistosome larvae recovered from the urine of a locally infected Corsican patient. Genetic analysis of both mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) DNA data from the Schistosoma eggs or miracidia recovered from the infected patients was conducted to elucidate the epidemiology of this outbreak. We identified two main infection foci along the Cavu River, with many Bulinus truncatus snails found in both locations. Of the 3544 snails recovered across all sites, none were naturally infected, but laboratory-based experimental infections confirmed their compatibility with the schistosomes isolated from patients. Molecular characterisation of 73 eggs or miracidia isolated from 12 patients showed infection with Schistosoma haematobium, S haematobium-Schistosoma bovis hybrids, and S bovis. Further sequence data analysis also showed that the Corsican schistosomes were closely related to those from Senegal in west Africa. The freshwater swimming pools of the Cavu River harbour many B truncatus snails, which are capable of transmitting S haematobium-group schistosomes. Our molecular data suggest that the parasites were imported into Corsica by individuals infected in west Africa, specifically Senegal. Hybridisation between S haematobium and the cattle schistosome S bovis had a putative role in this outbreak, showing how easily and rapidly urogenital schistosomiasis can be introduced and spread into novel areas where Bulinus snails are endemic, and how hybridisation could increase the colonisation potential of schistosomes. Furthermore our results show the potential risk of schistosomiasis outbreaks in other European areas, warranting close monitoring and surveillance of all potential transmission foci. WHO, ANSES, RICET, and the Ministry of Health and Consumption.

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Research paper thumbnail of Carbohydrate profiling and protein identification of tegumental and excreted/secreted glycoproteins of adult Schistosoma bovis worms

Veterinary Parasitology, Mar 15, 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Las técnicas de proteómica aplicadas al estudio de las relaciones parásito/hospedador en la dilofilariosis animal y humana

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Research paper thumbnail of Proteoma de la superficie endotelial de la vena porta en ratones infectados con Schitosoma bovis

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Research paper thumbnail of Pathogenicity of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi to Ornithodoros erraticus and Ornithodoros moubata (Acari: Argasidae)

Veterinary Parasitology, Oct 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Detection and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium bovis–Like Isolate From a Newborn Lamb in Spain

The Journal of Parasitology, 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Aplicación de ecualizadores de proteínas para la identificación de antígenos minoritarios de la saliva Ornithodoros moubata

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Research paper thumbnail of African swine fever virus transmission cycles in Central Europe: Evaluation of wild boar-soft tick contacts through detection of antibodies against Ornithodoros erraticus saliva antigen

BMC Veterinary Research, 2016

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most complex viral diseases affecting both domestic and w... more African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most complex viral diseases affecting both domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by ASF virus (ASFV), the only DNA virus which can be efficiently transmitted by an arthropod vector, soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. These ticks can be part of ASFV-transmission cycles, and in Europe, O. erraticus was shown to be responsible for long-term maintenance of ASFV in Spain and Portugal. In 2014, the disease has been reintroduced into the European Union, affecting domestic pigs and, importantly, also the Eurasian wild boar population. In a first attempt to assess the risk of a tick-wild boar transmission cycle in Central Europe that would further complicate eradication of the disease, over 700 pre-existing serum samples from wild boar hunted in four representative German Federal States were investigated for the presence of antibodies directed against salivary antigen of Ornithodoros erraticus ticks using an indirect ELISA format. Out of these samples, 16 reacted with moderate to high optical densities that could be indicative of tick bites in sampled wild boar. However, these samples did not show a spatial clustering (they were collected from distant geographical regions) and were of bad quality (hemolysis/impurities). Furthermore, all positive samples came from areas with suboptimal climate for soft ticks. For this reason, false positive reactions are likely. In conclusion, the study did not provide stringent evidence for soft tick-wild boar contact in the investigated German Federal States and thus, a relevant involvement in the epidemiology of ASF in German wild boar is unlikely. This fact would facilitate the eradication of ASF in the area, although other complex relations (wild boar biology and interactions with domestic pigs) need to be considered.

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Research paper thumbnail of Construcción de microarrays de proteínas a partir de genotecas de expresión para el estudio de la interfase molecular garrapata-hospedador

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Research paper thumbnail of Midgut proteome of an argasid tick, Ornithodoros erraticus: a comparison between unfed and engorged females

Parasites & vectors, 2015

The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several... more The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several Borrelia species that cause human relapsing fever in the Iberian Peninsula. The tick midgut is part of the ectoparasite-host interface and expresses proteins that are vital for the survival of the tick. Midgut proteins are therefore potential targets for drug and/or vaccine design aimed at the development of new strategies for tick control. Thus, the aim of this work was the characterization of the proteome of the O. erraticus midgut before and after a blood meal trying to elucidate the induced changes upon blood feeding. Midgut tissues from unfed and engorged O. erraticus females were dissected and proteins were fractionated by centrifugation and SDS-PAGE, and the corresponding gel pieces analysed by LC-MS/MS. The identified proteins were classified according to their Protein Class and Molecular Function and the differences between fed and unfed specimens were analysed. Overall 555 tic...

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Research paper thumbnail of Midgut proteome of an argasid tick, Ornithodoros erraticus: a comparison between unfed and engorged females

Parasites & Vectors, 2015

The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several... more The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several Borrelia species that cause human relapsing fever in the Iberian Peninsula. The tick midgut is part of the ectoparasite-host interface and expresses proteins that are vital for the survival of the tick. Midgut proteins are therefore potential targets for drug and/or vaccine design aimed at the development of new strategies for tick control. Thus, the aim of this work was the characterization of the proteome of the O. erraticus midgut before and after a blood meal trying to elucidate the induced changes upon blood feeding. Midgut tissues from unfed and engorged O. erraticus females were dissected and proteins were fractionated by centrifugation and SDS-PAGE, and the corresponding gel pieces analysed by LC-MS/MS. The identified proteins were classified according to their Protein Class and Molecular Function and the differences between fed and unfed specimens were analysed. Overall 555 tick proteins were identified: 414 in the midgut of the unfed specimens and 376 in the fed specimens, of which 235 were present in both groups. The proteins with catalytic, binding and structural functions were the most numerous and abundant, consistent with their role in the intracellular processing of the blood meal. The analysis of some groups of proteins putatively involved directly in blood meal digestion, including protein digestion (peptidase activity), iron metabolism, enzymes involved in oxidative stress and detoxification and membrane traffic and transport proteins, detected some differences between the fed and unfed ticks This work reports for the first time the collection and analysis of the midgut proteome of an argasid tick species and provides molecular information about the argasid machinery involved in blood digestion. This information represents a starting point for the identification and selection of new targets for the development of alternative control strategies.

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Research paper thumbnail of New salivary anti-haemostatics containing protective epitopes from Ornithodoros moubata ticks: assessment of their individual and combined vaccine efficacy

Veterinary Parasitology, 2015

Ornithodoros moubata is the main vector of the pathogens causing African swine fever and human re... more Ornithodoros moubata is the main vector of the pathogens causing African swine fever and human relapsing fever in Africa. The development of an efficient vaccine against this tick would facilitate its control and the prevention of the diseases it transmits to a considerable extent. Previous efforts to identify vaccine target candidates led us to the discovery of novel salivary proteins that probably act as anti-haemostatics at the host-tick interface, including a secreted phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a 7DB-like protein (7DB-like), a riboprotein 60S L10 (RP-60S), an apyrase (APY), and a new platelet aggregation inhibitor peptide, designated mougrin (MOU). In this work, the corresponding recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and their individual vaccine efficacy was tested in rabbit vaccination trials. All of them, except the less immunogenic RP-60S, induced strong humoral responses that reduced tick feeding and survival, providing vaccine efficacies of 44.2%, 43.2% and 27.2%, 19.9% and 17.3% for PLA2, APY, MOU, RP-60S and 7DB-like, respectively. In the case of the more protective recombinant antigens (PLA2, APY and MOU), the immunodominant protective linear B-cell epitopes were identified and their combined vaccine efficacy was tested in a second vaccine trial using different adjuvants. In comparison with the best efficacy of individual antigens, the multicomponent vaccine increased vaccine efficacy by 13.6%, indicating additive protective effects rather than a synergistic effect. Tick saliva inoculated during natural tick-host contacts had a boosting effect on vaccinated animals, increasing specific antibody levels and protection.

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Research paper thumbnail of Vaccination of sheep against Fasciola hepatica with homologous fatty acid binding proteins

Veterinary parasitology, Jan 9, 2001

The current study was designed to test the immunoprophylactic properties of native (nFh12) and re... more The current study was designed to test the immunoprophylactic properties of native (nFh12) and recombinant (rFh15) antigens from Fasciola hepatica in sheep subsequently infected with the fluke. Thirty lambs were divided into six groups according to various patterns of immunisation and times of infection and necropsy. The antigens were emulsified in Freund's adjuvant. Levels of specific anti-nFh12 and anti-rFh15 antibodies rose rapidly by 2 weeks after the first immunisation and were always significantly higher in immunised-infected sheep than in control-infected sheep. On completion of the trial there was no difference in fluke burden between groups vaccinated with either of the antigens and non-immunised controls. However, worm size and faecal egg counts were significantly diminished in the sheep vaccinated with either of the antigens, suggesting an anti-fecundity effect. This is the first report of experimental vaccination of sheep against F. hepatica with purified native and ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Distribution and biology of Ornithodoros erraticus in parts of Spain affected by African swine fever

The Veterinary record, Jan 13, 1990

Ornithodoros erraticus was found in 30.7 per cent, 35.0 per cent and 71.0 per cent of the pig-pen... more Ornithodoros erraticus was found in 30.7 per cent, 35.0 per cent and 71.0 per cent of the pig-pens sampled in the provinces of Salamanca, Badajoz and Huelva in which African swine fever is a problem in the rearing of Iberian pigs. Between 38 and 65 per cent of the pig-pens in these areas are now abandoned and their populations of O erraticus are extinct or becoming so because they can no longer feed on pigs, which in Spain are their main hosts. The abandonment of pig-pens has resulted in the elimination of most soft ticks infected with the virus of African swine fever, and means that the distribution of ticks is now irregular and focal. Another factor affecting their distribution is the kind of soil on which the pig-pens are located. In abandoned pig-pens, the adults and large nymphs survive for about five years or longer when animals occasionally enter them. Hungry tick populations may transmit African swine fever when feeding in winter, whereas the populations that have continuous...

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Research paper thumbnail of Molecular and functional characterization of a Schistosoma bovis annexin: Fibrinolytic and anticoagulant activity

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Research paper thumbnail of Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium sp. from Animals in Spain

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Research paper thumbnail of Development of vaccines against Ornithodoros soft ticks: an update

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2015

Ticks are parasites of great medical and veterinary importance since they are vectors of numerous... more Ticks are parasites of great medical and veterinary importance since they are vectors of numerous pathogens that affect humans, livestock and pets. Among the argasids, several species of the genus Ornithodoros transmit serious diseases such as tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African Swine Fever (ASF). In particular, Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of these two diseases in the Mediterranean while O. moubata is the main vector in Africa. The presence of these Ornithodoros ticks in domestic and peridomestic environments may greatly hinder the eradication of TBRF and ASF from endemic areas. In addition, there is a constant threat of reintroduction and spreading of ASF into countries from where it has been eradicated (Spain and Portugal) or where it was never present (the Caucasus, Russia and Eastern Europe). In these countries, the presence of Ornithodoros vectors could have a tremendous impact on ASF transmission and long-term maintenance. Therefore, elimination of these ticks from at least synanthropic environments would contribute heavily to the prevention and control of the diseases they transmit. Tick control is a difficult task and although several methods for such control have been used, none of them has been fully effective against all ticks and the problems they cause. Nevertheless, immunological control using anti-tick vaccines offers an attractive alternative to the traditional use of acaricides. The aim of the present paper is to offer a brief overview of the current status in control measure development for Ornithodoros soft ticks, paying special attention to the development of vaccines against O. erraticus and O. moubata. Thus, our contribution includes an analysis of the chief attributes that the ideal antigens for an anti-tick vaccine should have, an exhaustive compilation and analysis of the scant anti-soft tick vaccine trials carried out to date using both concealed and salivary antigens and, finally, a brief description of the new reverse vaccinology approaches currently used to identify new and more effective protective tick antigens.

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Research paper thumbnail of Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium sp. from animals in Spain

The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Identification of immunoreactive proteins from the dog heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) differentially recognized by the sera from dogs with patent or occult infections

Molecular and biochemical parasitology, 2009

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts. Moreover, the pa... more Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts. Moreover, the parasite can infect humans, causing pulmonary dirofilariosis. Most affected dogs have patent infections with circulating microfilariae in peripheral blood, although infected dogs sometimes develop occult infections characterized by the absence of microfilariae. Microfilaremic infections (mf+) are associated with a predominant Th2-type immune response, whereas a Th1-type response predominates in amicrofilaremic infections (mf-), suggesting a role for this response in the suppression of circulating microfilariae. However, nothing is known about the molecules involved in the immune regulation of these infections. The objective of the present work was to identify the parasite proteins recognized differentially by the immune response of dogs with patent or occult infections, using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Nineteen proteins of D. immitis were identified, of which 6 ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Effects of two-thirds hepatectomy on sulfobromophthalein handling by the rat liver

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 1987

The modifications in the hepatic transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) were studied after partia... more The modifications in the hepatic transport of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) were studied after partial hepatectomy (p.h.) in Wistar rats. The biliary excretion of BSP, injected i.v. at 150 mumol/kg, decreased in the early periods after p.h., with a disappearance of the choleretic effect induced by the dye in sham-operated animals. The impairment in the biliary BSP excretion corresponded to the conjugated fraction and was accompanied by a lowered glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver.

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Research paper thumbnail of Outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica (France): an epidemiological case study

The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2016

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic in several tropical and subtropical co... more Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic in several tropical and subtropical countries. However, in the summer of 2013, an unexpected outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis occurred in Corsica, with more than 120 local people or tourists infected. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the epidemiology of urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica, aiming to elucidate the origin of the outbreak. We did parasitological and malacological surveys at nine potential sites of infection. With the snails found, we carried out snail-parasite compatibility experiments by exposing snails to schistosome larvae recovered from the urine of a locally infected Corsican patient. Genetic analysis of both mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) DNA data from the Schistosoma eggs or miracidia recovered from the infected patients was conducted to elucidate the epidemiology of this outbreak. We identified two main infection foci along the Cavu River, with many Bulinus truncatus snails found in both locations. Of the 3544 snails recovered across all sites, none were naturally infected, but laboratory-based experimental infections confirmed their compatibility with the schistosomes isolated from patients. Molecular characterisation of 73 eggs or miracidia isolated from 12 patients showed infection with Schistosoma haematobium, S haematobium-Schistosoma bovis hybrids, and S bovis. Further sequence data analysis also showed that the Corsican schistosomes were closely related to those from Senegal in west Africa. The freshwater swimming pools of the Cavu River harbour many B truncatus snails, which are capable of transmitting S haematobium-group schistosomes. Our molecular data suggest that the parasites were imported into Corsica by individuals infected in west Africa, specifically Senegal. Hybridisation between S haematobium and the cattle schistosome S bovis had a putative role in this outbreak, showing how easily and rapidly urogenital schistosomiasis can be introduced and spread into novel areas where Bulinus snails are endemic, and how hybridisation could increase the colonisation potential of schistosomes. Furthermore our results show the potential risk of schistosomiasis outbreaks in other European areas, warranting close monitoring and surveillance of all potential transmission foci. WHO, ANSES, RICET, and the Ministry of Health and Consumption.

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Research paper thumbnail of Carbohydrate profiling and protein identification of tegumental and excreted/secreted glycoproteins of adult Schistosoma bovis worms

Veterinary Parasitology, Mar 15, 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Las técnicas de proteómica aplicadas al estudio de las relaciones parásito/hospedador en la dilofilariosis animal y humana

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Research paper thumbnail of Proteoma de la superficie endotelial de la vena porta en ratones infectados con Schitosoma bovis

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Research paper thumbnail of Pathogenicity of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi to Ornithodoros erraticus and Ornithodoros moubata (Acari: Argasidae)

Veterinary Parasitology, Oct 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Detection and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium bovis–Like Isolate From a Newborn Lamb in Spain

The Journal of Parasitology, 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Aplicación de ecualizadores de proteínas para la identificación de antígenos minoritarios de la saliva Ornithodoros moubata

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Research paper thumbnail of African swine fever virus transmission cycles in Central Europe: Evaluation of wild boar-soft tick contacts through detection of antibodies against Ornithodoros erraticus saliva antigen

BMC Veterinary Research, 2016

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most complex viral diseases affecting both domestic and w... more African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most complex viral diseases affecting both domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by ASF virus (ASFV), the only DNA virus which can be efficiently transmitted by an arthropod vector, soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. These ticks can be part of ASFV-transmission cycles, and in Europe, O. erraticus was shown to be responsible for long-term maintenance of ASFV in Spain and Portugal. In 2014, the disease has been reintroduced into the European Union, affecting domestic pigs and, importantly, also the Eurasian wild boar population. In a first attempt to assess the risk of a tick-wild boar transmission cycle in Central Europe that would further complicate eradication of the disease, over 700 pre-existing serum samples from wild boar hunted in four representative German Federal States were investigated for the presence of antibodies directed against salivary antigen of Ornithodoros erraticus ticks using an indirect ELISA format. Out of these samples, 16 reacted with moderate to high optical densities that could be indicative of tick bites in sampled wild boar. However, these samples did not show a spatial clustering (they were collected from distant geographical regions) and were of bad quality (hemolysis/impurities). Furthermore, all positive samples came from areas with suboptimal climate for soft ticks. For this reason, false positive reactions are likely. In conclusion, the study did not provide stringent evidence for soft tick-wild boar contact in the investigated German Federal States and thus, a relevant involvement in the epidemiology of ASF in German wild boar is unlikely. This fact would facilitate the eradication of ASF in the area, although other complex relations (wild boar biology and interactions with domestic pigs) need to be considered.

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Research paper thumbnail of Construcción de microarrays de proteínas a partir de genotecas de expresión para el estudio de la interfase molecular garrapata-hospedador

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Research paper thumbnail of Midgut proteome of an argasid tick, Ornithodoros erraticus: a comparison between unfed and engorged females

Parasites & vectors, 2015

The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several... more The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several Borrelia species that cause human relapsing fever in the Iberian Peninsula. The tick midgut is part of the ectoparasite-host interface and expresses proteins that are vital for the survival of the tick. Midgut proteins are therefore potential targets for drug and/or vaccine design aimed at the development of new strategies for tick control. Thus, the aim of this work was the characterization of the proteome of the O. erraticus midgut before and after a blood meal trying to elucidate the induced changes upon blood feeding. Midgut tissues from unfed and engorged O. erraticus females were dissected and proteins were fractionated by centrifugation and SDS-PAGE, and the corresponding gel pieces analysed by LC-MS/MS. The identified proteins were classified according to their Protein Class and Molecular Function and the differences between fed and unfed specimens were analysed. Overall 555 tic...

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Research paper thumbnail of Midgut proteome of an argasid tick, Ornithodoros erraticus: a comparison between unfed and engorged females

Parasites & Vectors, 2015

The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several... more The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the vector of African swine fever virus and of several Borrelia species that cause human relapsing fever in the Iberian Peninsula. The tick midgut is part of the ectoparasite-host interface and expresses proteins that are vital for the survival of the tick. Midgut proteins are therefore potential targets for drug and/or vaccine design aimed at the development of new strategies for tick control. Thus, the aim of this work was the characterization of the proteome of the O. erraticus midgut before and after a blood meal trying to elucidate the induced changes upon blood feeding. Midgut tissues from unfed and engorged O. erraticus females were dissected and proteins were fractionated by centrifugation and SDS-PAGE, and the corresponding gel pieces analysed by LC-MS/MS. The identified proteins were classified according to their Protein Class and Molecular Function and the differences between fed and unfed specimens were analysed. Overall 555 tick proteins were identified: 414 in the midgut of the unfed specimens and 376 in the fed specimens, of which 235 were present in both groups. The proteins with catalytic, binding and structural functions were the most numerous and abundant, consistent with their role in the intracellular processing of the blood meal. The analysis of some groups of proteins putatively involved directly in blood meal digestion, including protein digestion (peptidase activity), iron metabolism, enzymes involved in oxidative stress and detoxification and membrane traffic and transport proteins, detected some differences between the fed and unfed ticks This work reports for the first time the collection and analysis of the midgut proteome of an argasid tick species and provides molecular information about the argasid machinery involved in blood digestion. This information represents a starting point for the identification and selection of new targets for the development of alternative control strategies.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of New salivary anti-haemostatics containing protective epitopes from Ornithodoros moubata ticks: assessment of their individual and combined vaccine efficacy

Veterinary Parasitology, 2015

Ornithodoros moubata is the main vector of the pathogens causing African swine fever and human re... more Ornithodoros moubata is the main vector of the pathogens causing African swine fever and human relapsing fever in Africa. The development of an efficient vaccine against this tick would facilitate its control and the prevention of the diseases it transmits to a considerable extent. Previous efforts to identify vaccine target candidates led us to the discovery of novel salivary proteins that probably act as anti-haemostatics at the host-tick interface, including a secreted phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a 7DB-like protein (7DB-like), a riboprotein 60S L10 (RP-60S), an apyrase (APY), and a new platelet aggregation inhibitor peptide, designated mougrin (MOU). In this work, the corresponding recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and their individual vaccine efficacy was tested in rabbit vaccination trials. All of them, except the less immunogenic RP-60S, induced strong humoral responses that reduced tick feeding and survival, providing vaccine efficacies of 44.2%, 43.2% and 27.2%, 19.9% and 17.3% for PLA2, APY, MOU, RP-60S and 7DB-like, respectively. In the case of the more protective recombinant antigens (PLA2, APY and MOU), the immunodominant protective linear B-cell epitopes were identified and their combined vaccine efficacy was tested in a second vaccine trial using different adjuvants. In comparison with the best efficacy of individual antigens, the multicomponent vaccine increased vaccine efficacy by 13.6%, indicating additive protective effects rather than a synergistic effect. Tick saliva inoculated during natural tick-host contacts had a boosting effect on vaccinated animals, increasing specific antibody levels and protection.

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Research paper thumbnail of Vaccination of sheep against Fasciola hepatica with homologous fatty acid binding proteins

Veterinary parasitology, Jan 9, 2001

The current study was designed to test the immunoprophylactic properties of native (nFh12) and re... more The current study was designed to test the immunoprophylactic properties of native (nFh12) and recombinant (rFh15) antigens from Fasciola hepatica in sheep subsequently infected with the fluke. Thirty lambs were divided into six groups according to various patterns of immunisation and times of infection and necropsy. The antigens were emulsified in Freund's adjuvant. Levels of specific anti-nFh12 and anti-rFh15 antibodies rose rapidly by 2 weeks after the first immunisation and were always significantly higher in immunised-infected sheep than in control-infected sheep. On completion of the trial there was no difference in fluke burden between groups vaccinated with either of the antigens and non-immunised controls. However, worm size and faecal egg counts were significantly diminished in the sheep vaccinated with either of the antigens, suggesting an anti-fecundity effect. This is the first report of experimental vaccination of sheep against F. hepatica with purified native and ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Distribution and biology of Ornithodoros erraticus in parts of Spain affected by African swine fever

The Veterinary record, Jan 13, 1990

Ornithodoros erraticus was found in 30.7 per cent, 35.0 per cent and 71.0 per cent of the pig-pen... more Ornithodoros erraticus was found in 30.7 per cent, 35.0 per cent and 71.0 per cent of the pig-pens sampled in the provinces of Salamanca, Badajoz and Huelva in which African swine fever is a problem in the rearing of Iberian pigs. Between 38 and 65 per cent of the pig-pens in these areas are now abandoned and their populations of O erraticus are extinct or becoming so because they can no longer feed on pigs, which in Spain are their main hosts. The abandonment of pig-pens has resulted in the elimination of most soft ticks infected with the virus of African swine fever, and means that the distribution of ticks is now irregular and focal. Another factor affecting their distribution is the kind of soil on which the pig-pens are located. In abandoned pig-pens, the adults and large nymphs survive for about five years or longer when animals occasionally enter them. Hungry tick populations may transmit African swine fever when feeding in winter, whereas the populations that have continuous...

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Research paper thumbnail of Molecular and functional characterization of a Schistosoma bovis annexin: Fibrinolytic and anticoagulant activity

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium sp. from Animals in Spain

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Research paper thumbnail of Development of vaccines against Ornithodoros soft ticks: an update

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2015

Ticks are parasites of great medical and veterinary importance since they are vectors of numerous... more Ticks are parasites of great medical and veterinary importance since they are vectors of numerous pathogens that affect humans, livestock and pets. Among the argasids, several species of the genus Ornithodoros transmit serious diseases such as tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African Swine Fever (ASF). In particular, Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of these two diseases in the Mediterranean while O. moubata is the main vector in Africa. The presence of these Ornithodoros ticks in domestic and peridomestic environments may greatly hinder the eradication of TBRF and ASF from endemic areas. In addition, there is a constant threat of reintroduction and spreading of ASF into countries from where it has been eradicated (Spain and Portugal) or where it was never present (the Caucasus, Russia and Eastern Europe). In these countries, the presence of Ornithodoros vectors could have a tremendous impact on ASF transmission and long-term maintenance. Therefore, elimination of these ticks from at least synanthropic environments would contribute heavily to the prevention and control of the diseases they transmit. Tick control is a difficult task and although several methods for such control have been used, none of them has been fully effective against all ticks and the problems they cause. Nevertheless, immunological control using anti-tick vaccines offers an attractive alternative to the traditional use of acaricides. The aim of the present paper is to offer a brief overview of the current status in control measure development for Ornithodoros soft ticks, paying special attention to the development of vaccines against O. erraticus and O. moubata. Thus, our contribution includes an analysis of the chief attributes that the ideal antigens for an anti-tick vaccine should have, an exhaustive compilation and analysis of the scant anti-soft tick vaccine trials carried out to date using both concealed and salivary antigens and, finally, a brief description of the new reverse vaccinology approaches currently used to identify new and more effective protective tick antigens.

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The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Identification of immunoreactive proteins from the dog heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) differentially recognized by the sera from dogs with patent or occult infections

Molecular and biochemical parasitology, 2009

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts. Moreover, the pa... more Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts. Moreover, the parasite can infect humans, causing pulmonary dirofilariosis. Most affected dogs have patent infections with circulating microfilariae in peripheral blood, although infected dogs sometimes develop occult infections characterized by the absence of microfilariae. Microfilaremic infections (mf+) are associated with a predominant Th2-type immune response, whereas a Th1-type response predominates in amicrofilaremic infections (mf-), suggesting a role for this response in the suppression of circulating microfilariae. However, nothing is known about the molecules involved in the immune regulation of these infections. The objective of the present work was to identify the parasite proteins recognized differentially by the immune response of dogs with patent or occult infections, using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Nineteen proteins of D. immitis were identified, of which 6 ...

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