Detection and identification of putative bacterial endosymbionts and endogenous viruses in tick cell lines

Alberdi, M.P., Dalby, M.J. , Rodriguez-Andres, J., Fazakerley, J.K., Kohl, A. and Bell-Sakyi, L. (2012) Detection and identification of putative bacterial endosymbionts and endogenous viruses in tick cell lines. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 3(3), pp. 137-146. (doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.05.002)

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Abstract

As well as being vectors of many viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, ticks harbour a variety of microorganisms which are not known to be pathogenic for vertebrate hosts. Continuous cell lines established from ixodid and argasid ticks could be infected with such endosymbiotic bacteria and endogenous viruses, but to date very few cell lines have been examined for their presence. DNA and RNA extracted from over 50 tick cell lines deposited in the Roslin Wellcome Trust Tick Cell Biobank (http://tickcells.roslin.ac.uk) were screened for presence of bacteria and RNA viruses, respectively. Sequencing of PCR products amplified using pan-16S rRNA primers revealed the presence of DNA sequences from bacterial endosymbionts in several cell lines derived from Amblyomma and Dermacentor spp. ticks. Identification to species level was attempted using Rickettsia- and Francisella-specific primers. Pan-Nairovirus primers amplified PCR products of uncertain specificity in cell lines derived from Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Ixodes, Carios, and Ornithodoros spp. ticks. Further characterisation attempted with primers specific for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus segments confirmed the absence of this arbovirus in the cells. A set of pan-Flavivirus primers did not detect endogenous viruses in any of the cell lines. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of endogenous reovirus-like viruses in many of the cell lines; only 4 of these lines gave positive results with primers specific for the tick Orbivirus St Croix River virus, indicating that there may be additional, as yet undescribed ‘tick-only’ viruses inhabiting tick cell lines.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Proceedings of the 7th International Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP7) Conference Zaragosa, Spain, August 28th-September 2nd, 2011
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Alberdi, Dr Maria and Dalby, Professor Matthew and Rodriguez-Andres, Mr Julio and Kohl, Professor Alain
Authors: Alberdi, M.P., Dalby, M.J., Rodriguez-Andres, J., Fazakerley, J.K., Kohl, A., and Bell-Sakyi, L.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
Journal Name:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
ISSN:1877-959X

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