A NONHUMAN PRIMATE MODEL OF TICK IMMUNITY

这个子项目是许多利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 肩胛硬蜱是莱姆病、立克次体病、无形体病、巴贝虫病和蜱传脑炎病原体的重要媒介。 对于针对这些病原体的安全有效的疫苗存在未满足的需求。 针对蜱虫载体的疫苗可能会针对蜱虫传播的多种病原体。 在获得血液的过程中，蜱传播它们携带的病原体。蜱的唾液腺成分参与蜱取食的建立和调节以及病原体的传播。 针对这些唾液成分的免疫力可能会阻止蜱虫进食和病原体传播。 然而，确定这些关键的唾液成分仍然是一项艰巨的任务，蜱疫苗，难以捉摸。 获得性蜱免疫是一种现象，其中脊椎动物宿主在反复蜱侵染后，在蜱附着后12-24小时内有效地排斥蜱，并且还阻断病原体传播。针对关键蜱唾液抗原的宿主免疫力可能在蜱排斥和随后的病原体传播障碍中起着关键作用。定义引发蜱免疫的蜱唾液抗原提供了一种鉴定"关键的“蜱唾液抗原的方法，所述抗原可作为疫苗靶点以阻止蜱摄食和阻断病原体传播。该试点提案的重点是评估非人灵长类动物（NHP）在莱姆病病原体伯氏疏螺旋体传播背景下的获得性蜱免疫。 目前还没有一种动物模型既能证明蜱免疫力又能证明莱姆病。 我们假设NHP可以作为这样的动物模型。证明这一假设将明显加强旨在确定蜱唾液抗原的研究，这些抗原对引发蜱免疫和病原体传播至关重要。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The tick Ixodes scapularis is an important vector for pathogens responsible for Lyme disease, rickettsial disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and tick-borne encephalitis. There is an unmet need for safe and effective vaccines against these pathogens. Vaccines directed against the tick vector would potentially target multiple pathogens transmitted by the tick. During the process of obtaining a blood meal, ticks transmit the pathogens they harbor. Tick salivary gland components are involved in the establishment and regulation of tick feeding as well as pathogen transmission. Immunity directed against these salivary components may block tick feeding and pathogen transmission. However defining these crucial salivary components remains a daunting task and a tick vaccine, elusive. Acquired tick immunity is a phenomenon whereby the vertebrate host, upon repeated tick infestation, effectively rejects ticks within 12-24 hours after tick attachment and also blocks pathogen transmission. Host immunity directed against crucial tick salivary antigens presumably plays a pivotal role in tick rejection and in the consequent impairment of pathogen transmission. Defining tick salivary antigens that elicit tick immunity provides an approach to identify 'the' crucial tick salivary antigens that can serve as vaccine targets to thwart tick feeding and to block pathogen transmission. The focus of this pilot proposal is to assess acquired tick-immunity in non-human primate (NHP) in the context of transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. An animal model that demonstrates both tick immunity and Lyme disease does not currently exist. We hypothesize that the NHP may serve as such an animal model. Proving this hypothesis would clearly enhance studies aimed at defining tick salivary antigens that are crucial for eliciting tick-immunity and for pathogen transmission.