Publications

role of migratory birds in introduction and range expansion of ixodes scapularis ticks and of borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum in canada.	during the spring in 2005 and 2006, 39,095 northward-migrating land birds were captured at 12 bird observatories in eastern canada to investigate the role of migratory birds in northward range expansion of lyme borreliosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and their tick vector, ixodes scapularis. the prevalence of birds carrying i. scapularis ticks (mostly nymphs) was 0.35% (95% confidence interval [ci] = 0.30 to 0.42), but a nested study by experienced observers suggested a more realistic infe ...	2008	18245258
molecular method for discrimination between francisella tularensis and francisella-like endosymbionts.	environmental studies on the distribution of francisella spp. are hampered by the frequency of francisella-like endosymbionts that can produce a misleading positive result. a new, efficient molecular method for detection of francisella tularensis and its discrimination from francisella-like endosymbionts, as well as two variants associated with human disease (unusual f. tularensis strain fnsp1 and f. tularensis subsp. novicida-like strain 3523), is described. the method is highly specific and se ...	2008	18650358
rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis and its clinical distinction from rocky mountain spotted fever.	rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, a recently identified spotted fever transmitted by the gulf coast tick (amblyomma maculatum), was first described in 2004. we summarize the clinical and epidemiological features of 12 patients in the united states with confirmed or probable disease attributable to r. parkeri and comment on distinctions between r. parkeri rickettsiosis and other united states rickettsioses.	2008	18808353
borrelia carolinensis sp. nov., a new (14th) member of the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex from the southeastern region of the united states.	approximately 118 borrelia isolates were cultured from a variety of rodents, birds, and ticks collected in the southern united states. in addition to a highly diverse group of borrelia bissettii strains and a homogenous group of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains, a group of 16 isolates with unusual characteristics was found. the isolates were cultured from ear biopsy samples of the rodents peromyscus gossypinus and neotoma floridana trapped at five localities in south carolina. a multil ...	2009	19020062
exploring the mialome of ticks: an annotated catalogue of midgut transcripts from the hard tick, dermacentor variabilis (acari: ixodidae).	ticks are obligate blood feeders. the midgut is the first major region of the body where blood and microbes ingested with the blood meal come in contact with the tick's internal tissues. little is known about protein expression in the digestive tract of ticks. in this study, for analysis of global gene expression during tick attachment and feeding, we generated and sequenced 1,679 random transcripts (ests) from cdna libraries from the midguts of female ticks at varying stages of feeding.	2008	19021911
rickettsia parkeri in argentina.	clinical reports of an eschar-associated rickettsiosis in the paraná river delta of argentina prompted an evaluation of amblyomma triste ticks in this region. when evaluated by pcr, 17 (7.6%) of 223 questing adult a. triste ticks, collected from 2 sites in the lower paraná river delta, contained dna of rickettsia parkeri.	2008	19046514
new developments in canine hepatozoonosis in north america: a review.	abstract : canine hepatozoonosis is caused by hepatozoon canis and hepatozoon americanum, apicomplexan parasites transmitted to dogs by ingestion of infectious stages. although the two agents are phylogenetically related, specific aspects, including characteristics of clinical disease and the natural history of the parasites themselves, differ between the two species. until recently, h. canis infections had not been clearly documented in north america, and autochthonous infection with h. america ...	2009	19426444
genetic variation in 12s and 16s mitochondrial rdna genes of four geographically isolated populations of gulf coast ticks (acari: ixodidae).	single-strand conformation polymorphism (sscp) analysis was examined in a 303-bp region of the 16s and 12s mitochondrial rdna genes to study haplotype frequencies among populations of gulf coast ticks collected from refugio co., tx, payne co., ok, and two sites in osage co., ks. seven haplotypes were identified from the 16s rdna gene fragment, whereas only two haplotypes were detected from the 12s fragment. only the results from the 16s rdna fragment are discussed. haplotype diversity was greate ...	2009	19496417
alternate pathway of infection with hepatozoon americanum and the epidemiologic importance of predation.	the range of american canine hepatozoonosis (ach) is expanding from the southern usa northward. transmission of hepatozoon americanum occurs by ingestion of infected gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum. the source of the protozoan for the tick remains undetermined; infected dogs are unusual hosts for the tick.	2009	19709355
directed evolution of a filamentous fungus for thermotolerance.	filamentous fungi are the most widely used eukaryotic biocatalysts in industrial and chemical applications. consequently, there is tremendous interest in methodology that can use the power of genetics to develop strains with improved performance. for example, metarhizium anisopliae is a broad host range entomopathogenic fungus currently under intensive investigation as a biologically based alternative to chemical pesticides. however, it use is limited by the relatively low tolerance of this spec ...	2009	19709419
efficacy of a topical ectoparasiticide containing dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen, and permethrin against amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) and amblyomma maculatum (gulf coast tick) on dogs.	amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) and amblyomma maculatum (gulf coast tick) are important disease vectors for both dogs and humans. this article describes two studies conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a new topical spot-on ectoparasiticide containing dinotefuran, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen (vectra 3d, summit vetpharm) against a. maculatum and a. americanum in dogs. dogs were treated on day 0 and infested on days -1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 with approximately 40 ticks each day. live tick coun ...	2009	19742444
rickettsia parkeri in amblyomma americanum ticks, tennessee and georgia, usa.	to determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from tennessee and georgia, usa. using pcr and sequence analysis, we identified r. parkeri in 2 amblyomma americanum ticks. this rickettsiosis may be underdiagnosed in the eastern united states.	2009	19788817
proteomic analysis of rickettsia parkeri strain portsmouth.	rickettsia parkeri, a recently recognized pathogen of human, is one of several rickettsia spp. in the united states that causes a spotted fever rickettsiosis. to gain insights into its biology and pathogenesis, we applied the proteomics approach to establish a two-dimensional gel proteome reference map and combined this technique with cell surface biotinylation to identify surface-exposed proteins of a low-passage isolate of r. parkeri obtained from a patient. we identified 91 proteins by matrix ...	2009	19797064
prevalence of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in ticks from tennessee.	human ehrlichiosis is the second most common tick-borne disease reported in tennessee after rocky mountain spotted fever. two closely related ehrlichiae, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii, are both causative agents of human disease and are transmitted by amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick. prevalence rates and distribution patterns of these pathogens among ticks in tennessee are currently unknown. to understand prevalence and exposure risk of ehrlichia spp., we tested 616 ticks ( ...	2010	19877819
effects of photoperiod on reproduction, nymphal developmental timing, and diapause in amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae).	female engorgement weight, oviposition, and molting times of larvae and nymphs of amblyomma maculatum koch (acari: ixodidae) were studied at various photoperiods under constant humidity and temperature in the laboratory. ticks were held at photoperiods of 0:24, 10:14, 12:12, or 14:10 (l:d) h from egg through unfed nymphal stage and then at either the same or a different regime from fed nymphs to adults. no significant effects were observed on oviposition, female engorgement weights, survival, or ...	2009	19960673
wide dispersal and possible multiple origins of low-copy-number plasmids in rickettsia species associated with blood-feeding arthropods.	plasmids are mobile genetic elements of bacteria that can impart important adaptive traits, such as increased virulence or antibiotic resistance. we report the existence of plasmids in rickettsia (rickettsiales; rickettsiaceae) species, including rickettsia akari, "candidatus rickettsia amblyommii," r. bellii, r. rhipicephali, and reis, the rickettsial endosymbiont of ixodes scapularis. all of the rickettsiae were isolated from humans or north and south american ticks. r. parkeri isolates from b ...	2010	20097813
endemic tickborne infectious diseases in louisiana and the gulf south.	most emerging infectious diseases today, such as west nile virus and sudden acute respiratory distress syndrome (sars), arise from zoonotic reservoirs and many are transmitted by arthropod vectors. ticks are among the most competent and versatile arthropod vectors of infectious diseases because ticks of all ages and both sexes remain infectious for generations without having to reacquire infections from reservoir hosts. today, ticks transmit the most common arthropod-borne infectious disease in ...	2009	20108827
detection of "candidatus rickettsia sp. strain argentina"and rickettsia bellii in amblyomma ticks (acari: ixodidae) from northern argentina.	ixodid ticks were collected from vegetation and from humans, wild and domestic mammals in a rural area in the semi-arid argentine chaco in late spring 2006 to evaluate their potential role as vectors of spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae. a total of 233 adult ticks, identified as amblyomma parvum, amblyomma tigrinum and amblyomma pseudoconcolor, was examined for rickettsia spp. we identified an sfg rickettsia of unknown pathogenicity, "candidatus rickettsia sp. strain argentina", in a. parvum ...	2010	20186466
a 60-year meta-analysis of tick paralysis in the united states: a predictable, preventable, and often misdiagnosed poisoning.	tick paralysis (tp) is a neurotoxic poisoning primarily afflicting young girls in endemic regions. recent case series of tp have described increasing misdiagnoses of tp as the guillain-barré syndrome (gbs). a meta-analysis of the scientific literature was conducted using internet search engines to assess the evolving epidemiology of tp. fifty well-documented cases of tp were analyzed over the period 1946-2006. cases were stratified by demographics, clinical manifestations, and outcomes. misdiagn ...	2010	20186584
meeting the challenges of on-host and off-host water balance in blood-feeding arthropods.	in this review, we describe water balance requirements of blood-feeding arthropods, particularly contrasting dehydration tolerance during the unfed, off-host state and the challenges of excess water that accompany receipt of the bloodmeal. most basic water balance characteristics during the off-host stage are applicable to other terrestrial arthropods, as well. a well-coordinated suite of responses enable arthropods to conserve water resources, enhance their desiccation tolerance, and increase t ...	2010	20206630
isolation of rickettsia parkeri and identification of a novel spotted fever group rickettsia sp. from gulf coast ticks (amblyomma maculatum) in the united states.	until recently, amblyomma maculatum (the gulf coast tick) had garnered little attention compared to other species of human-biting ticks in the united states. a. maculatum is now recognized as the principal vector of rickettsia parkeri, a pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsia (sfgr) that causes an eschar-associated illness in humans that resembles rocky mountain spotted fever. a novel sfgr, distinct from other recognized rickettsia spp., has also been detected recently in a. maculatum specime ...	2010	20208020
ddt to control the gulf coast tick.		1947	20264487
ddt to control the gulf coast tick.		1947	20271895
novel technique for quantifying adhesion of metarhizium anisopliae conidia to the tick cuticle.	the present study describes an accurate quantitative method for quantifying the adherence of conidia to the arthropod cuticle and the dynamics of conidial germination on the host. the method was developed using conidia of metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (metschn.) sorokin (hypocreales: clavicipitaceae) and engorged rhipicephalus annulatus (say) (arachnida: ixodidae) females and was also verified for m. anisopliae var. acridum driver et milner (hypocreales: clavicipitaceae) and alphitobius ...	2010	20363785
rickettsiae in gulf coast ticks, arkansas, usa.	to determine the cause of spotted fever cases in the southern united states, we screened gulf coast ticks (amblyomma maculatum) collected in arkansas for rickettsiae. of the screened ticks, 30% had pcr amplicons consistent with rickettsia parkeri or candidatus rickettsia amblyommii.	2010	20409375
rickettsia infection in dogs and rickettsia parkeri in amblyomma tigrinum ticks, cochabamba department, bolivia.	only few published data are available on ticks and tick-borne zoonotic pathogens in bolivia. to evaluate rickettsial seroprevalence and infection in dogs and ticks, during february-april 2007, we collected whole blood, sera, and ticks from dogs living in the rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of cochabamba, bolivia. dog sera were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test to detect igg antibodies against rickettsia rickettsii and 68.2% of samples were found to be positive (n = 30; 95% c ...	2010	20426684
host associations of dermacentor, amblyomma, and ixodes (acari: ixodidae) ticks in tennessee.	from april 2007 to september 2008, 1,793 adult and nymphal ixodid ticks were collected from 49 counties in tennessee. six species were identified, including dermacentor variabilis (say), amblyomma americanum (l.), ixodes texanus (banks), ixodes cookei packard, ixodes scapularis (say), and amblyomma maculatum koch, from 13 medium- to large-sized mammalian hosts and dragging through vegetation. raccoons were the most common vertebrate source (198 captures), accounting for 60% of ticks collected. d ...	2010	20496589
human ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.	human ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are acute febrile tick-borne diseases caused by various members of the genera ehrlichia and anaplasma (anaplasmataceae). human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis has become one of the most prevalent life-threatening tick-borne disease in the united states. ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are becoming more frequently diagnosed as the cause of human infections, as animal reservoirs and tick vectors have increased in number and humans have inhabited areas where reservoir ...	2010	20513551
host selection by questing female amblyomma maculatum koch, to cattle with feeding male ticks in southern texas.	the feeding associations among male and female gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum koch, were examined using archived data obtained from untreated free-ranging cattle pastured on native rangeland. there was significant evidence of a relationship between male and female tick presence on hosts (p-value <0.0001), suggesting that a. maculatum females will more frequently be attracted and attach to grazing cattle with feeding males than those without. seasonal data were tested to develop prediction ...	2010	20627588
amblyomma triste (acari: ixodidae): new north american collection records, including the first from the united states.	new distribution records for the neotropical tick, amblyomma triste koch, are identified from 27 specimens in 18 separate collections. these collections originated from six now recognized geographical foci in two states in the united states (cochise and santa cruz counties, arizona, and brewster and jeff davis counties, texas) and from import cattle, bos taurus l., presented for entry at the united states border and originating in three mexican states (coahuila, durango, and sonora). for at leas ...	2010	20695268
absence of rickettsia rickettsii and occurrence of other spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks from tennessee.	rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) is the most common tick-borne illness in tennessee. little is known about the occurrence of r. rickettsii, the causative agent, in ticks in tennessee. to better understand the prevalence and distribution of rickettsial agents in ticks, we tested 1,265 amblyomma, dermacentor, and ixodes adult and nymphal ticks. additionally, we tested 231 amblyomma americanum larvae. ticks were collected from 49 counties from humans, wild animals, domestic canines, and flannel ...	2010	20810834
progress and obstacles in vaccine development for the ehrlichioses.	ehrlichia are tick-borne obligately intracellular bacteria that cause significant diseases in veterinary natural hosts, including livestock and companion animals, and are now considered important zoonotic pathogens in humans. vaccines are needed for these veterinary and zoonotic human pathogens, but many obstacles exist that have impeded their development. these obstacles include understanding genetic and antigenic variability, influence of the host on the pathogen phenotype and immunogenicity, ...	2010	20822349
cattle and the natural history of rickettsia parkeri in mississippi.	abstract cattle have been recognized as hosts for amblyomma maculatum, the gulf coast tick, for over 100 years. for nearly as long, a. maculatum have been known to harbor the spotted fever group rickettsia (sfgr), now known as rickettsia parkeri. however, human infection with r. parkeri was not documented until 2004. results presented herein describe a laboratory and a field study evaluating cattle and the natural history of a. maculatum and r. parkeri in mississippi. in the laboratory study, se ...	2011	20846012
molecular detection of persistent francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in natural waters.	tularemia, caused by the bacterium francisella tularensis, where f. tularensis subspecies holarctica has long been the cause of endemic disease in parts of northern sweden. despite this, our understanding of the natural life-cycle of the organism is still limited. during three years, we collected surface water samples (n = 341) and sediment samples (n = 245) in two areas in sweden with endemic tularemia. real-time pcr screening demonstrated the presence of f. tularenis lpna sequences in 108 (32% ...	2010	20885922
the gulf coast tick: a review of the life history, ecology, distribution, and emergence as an arthropod of medical and veterinary importance.	the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum koch (acari: ixodidae), is a unique univoltine ectoparasite of seven vertebrate host classes in the western hemisphere that is increasingly recognized as a pest of livestock and wildlife, a vector of pathogens to humans and canines, and a putative vector of ehrlichia ruminantium, the causal agent of heartwater, a fatal foreign animal disease of ruminants resident in the caribbean. this review assembles current and historical literature encompassing the bi ...	2010	20939363
ddt to control hornflies and gulf coast ticks on range cattle in florida.		1946	21024818
infrequency of rickettsia rickettsii in dermacentor variabilis removed from humans, with comments on the role of other human-biting ticks associated with spotted fever group rickettsiae in the united states.	abstract from 1997 to 2009, the tick-borne disease laboratory of the u.s. army public health command (usaphc) (formerly the u.s. army center for health promotion and preventive medicine) screened 5286 dermacentor variabilis ticks removed from department of defense (dod) personnel, their dependents, and dod civilian personnel for spotted fever group rickettsiae using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. rickettsia montanensis (171/5286 = 3.2%) and ricke ...	2010	21142953
the legacy of dr. ralph seal paffenbarger, jr. - past, present, and future contributions to physical activity research.		0	21253445
an acarologic survey and amblyomma americanum distribution map with implications for tularemia risk in missouri.	in the united states, tickborne diseases occur focally. missouri represents a major focus of several tickborne diseases that includes spotted fever rickettsiosis, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis. our study sought to determine the potential risk of human exposure to human-biting vector ticks in this area. we collected ticks in 79 sites in southern missouri during june 7-10, 2009, which yielded 1,047 adult and 3,585 nymphal amblyomma americanum, 5 adult amblyomma maculatum, 19 adult dermacentor variab ...	2011	21363979
the afhsc-division of geis operations predictive surveillance program: a multidisciplinary approach for the early detection and response to disease outbreaks.	the armed forces health surveillance center, division of global emerging infections surveillance and response system operations (afhsc-geis) initiated a coordinated, multidisciplinary program to link data sets and information derived from eco-climatic remote sensing activities, ecologic niche modeling, arthropod vector, animal disease-host/reservoir, and human disease surveillance for febrile illnesses, into a predictive surveillance program that generates advisories and alerts on emerging infec ...	2011	21388561
gotch ear in a goat: a case report.	abstract a 1-year-old castrated male saanen goat was observed to have drooping and edema of the left ear consistent with published accounts of gotch ear in cattle associated with a tick bite. the goat's left ear was edematous from the tip of the pinna to the base of the ear. no signs of trauma or infectious processes were observed. three engorged gulf coast ticks (amblyomma maculatum) were observed attached inside the ear. ticks were removed and the ear biopsied at tick attachment sites. the aff ...	2011	21395411
tick paralysis caused by amblyomma maculatum on the mexican pacific coast.	tick paralysis is a rare entity in which it is necessary to identify the cause and remove the arthropod to have a rapid remission of symptoms. in the absence of an early diagnosis, the outcome can be fatal, as toxins are released from the tick's saliva as it feeds. to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first clinical report of the disease in mexico and latin america. a 22-year-old man from a rural area, who was in contact with cattle, developed ascending flaccid paralysis secondary ...	2011	21395426
tick paralysis in australia caused by ixodes holocyclus neumann.	ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites of various animals, including humans, and are abundant in temperate and tropical zones around the world. they are the most important vectors for the pathogens causing disease in livestock and second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens causing human disease. ticks are formidable arachnids, capable of not only transmitting the pathogens involved in some infectious diseases but also of inducing allergies and causing toxicoses and paralysis, wit ...	2011	21396246
the immunopathology of canine vector-borne diseases.	abstract: the canine vector-borne infectious diseases (cvbds) are an emerging problem in veterinary medicine and the zoonotic potential of many of these agents is a significant consideration for human health. the successful diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these infections is dependent upon firm understanding of the underlying immunopathology of the diseases in which there are unique tripartite interactions between the microorganism, the vector and the host immune system. although signific ...	2011	21489234
transstadial transmission of francisella tularensis holarctica in mosquitoes, sweden.	in sweden, human cases of tularemia caused by francisella tularensis holarctica are assumed to be transmitted by mosquitoes, but how mosquito vectors acquire and transmit the bacterium is not clear. to determine how transmission of this bacterium occurs, mosquito larvae were collected in an area where tularemia is endemic, brought to the laboratory, and reared to adults in their original pond water. screening of adult mosquitoes by real-time pcr demonstrated f. tularensis lpna sequences in 14 of ...	2011	21529386
rickettsia parkeri in gulf coast ticks, southeastern virginia, usa.	we report evidence that amblyomma maculatum tick populations are well established in southeastern virginia. we found that 43.1% of the adult gulf coast ticks collected in the summer of 2010 carried rickettsia parkeri, suggesting that persons living in or visiting southeastern virginia are at risk for infection with this pathogen.	2011	21529406
perspectives on canine and feline hepatozoonosis.	two species of hepatozoon are currently known to infect dogs and cause distinct diseases. hepatozoon canis prevalent in africa, asia, southern europe, south america and recently shown to be present also in the usa causes infection mainly of hemolymphoid organs, whereas hepatozoon americanum prevalent in the southeastern usa causes myositis and severe lameness. h. americanum is transmitted by ingestion of the gulf coast tick amblyomma maculatum and also by predation on infected prey. h. canis is ...	2011	21620568
distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in select tissues of experimentally infected and field-collected gulf coast ticks.	salivary glands, midgut, malpighian tubules, and ovaries were dissected from infected, colony-derived amblyomma maculatum (gulf coast ticks) injected as nymphs with either rickettsia parkeri (a spotted fever group rickettsia [sfgr]; treatment) or phosphate-buffered saline (negative control). for comparison, similar tissues were dissected from hemolymph-positive, field-collected ticks. tissues were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody (ifa) tests. all phosphate-buffered saline-injected ticks ...	2011	21661331
rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, argentina.	rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified cause of spotted fever rickettsiosis in the united states, has been found in amblyomma triste ticks in several countries of south america, including argentina, where it is believed to cause disease in humans. we describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of 2 patients in argentina with confirmed r. parkeri infection and 7 additional patients with suspected r. parkeri rickettsiosis identified at 1 hospital during 2004-2009. the frequency and ...	2011	21762568
efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene for treatment and control of induced infestations with four north american tick species (dermacentor variabilis, ixodes scapularis, amblyomma americanum and amblyomma maculatum) on dogs.	five laboratory studies were conducted to confirm that a single topical dose of the novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene, certifect™ (merial limited, ga, usa), is efficacious for the rapid control of pre-existing infestations and the prevention of new infestations with ixodes scapularis, dermacentor variabilis, amblyomma americanum and amblyomma maculatum for at least 28 days on dogs. in each study, 8 male and 8 female purpose-bred, laboratory beagles were randomly assigned ...	2011	21777734
high rates of rickettsia parkeri infection in gulf coast ticks (amblyomma maculatum) and identification of "candidatus rickettsia andeanae" from fairfax county, virginia.	the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum, is a vector of rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified human pathogen that causes a disease with clinical symptoms that resemble a mild form of rocky mountain spotted fever. because the prevalence of r. parkeri infection in geographically distinct populations of a. maculatum is not fully understood, a. maculatum specimens collected as part of a tick and pathogen surveillance system in fairfax county, virginia, were screened to determine pathogen infect ...	2011	21867421
Infection prevalences of common tick-borne pathogens in adult lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in Kentucky.	Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases that are reported annually in Kentucky. We conducted a survey to describe infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected in Kentucky. During 2007-2008, we collected 287 ticks (179 D. variabilis and 108 A. americanum) from canine, feral hog, horse, raccoon, white-tailed deer, and human hosts in six counties in Kentucky. Ticks were screened for Ricke ...	2011	21976578
Detection of Rickettsia parkeri and Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast Ticks Collected from Humans in the United States.	Abstract Rickettsia parkeri, a spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsia recently found to be pathogenic to humans, causes an eschar-associated febrile illness. The R. parkeri rickettsiosis, Tidewater spotted fever, has been misdiagnosed as Rocky Mountain spotted fever due to serologic cross reactivity and the lack of specific diagnostic methods. Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, also a SFG rickettsia, is a recently described agent of unknown pathogenicity originally identified in ticks collected fro ...	2011	22022815
gotch ear: a poorly described, local, pathologic condition of livestock associated primarily with the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum.	gotch ear is a condition in animals in which the ear is swollen, deformed, curled, drooped, possibly necrotic, and is usually associated with attachment by the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum. little is known of the etiology or epidemiology of gotch ear in livestock. reports generally describe the condition in cattle, but it has also been reported in horses and mules and more recently in a goat. this review explores the history and etymology of the term "gotch ear" and reports on current st ...	2011	22047764
in vitro propagation of candidatus rickettsia andeanae isolated from amblyomma maculatum.	candidatus rickettsia andeanae was identified during an investigation of a febrile outbreak in northwestern peru (2002). dna sequencing from two ticks (amblyomma maculatum, ixodes boliviensis) collected during the investigation revealed a novel rickettsia agent with similarity to the spotted fever group rickettsiae. since then, candidatus r. andeanae has been detected in a. maculatum ticks collected in the southeastern and southcentral united states, argentina, and peru. to date, candidatus r. a ...	2011	22098316
rickettsia parkeri in amblyomma maculatum ticks, north carolina, usa, 2009-2010.	we detected rickettsia parkeri in 20%-33% of amblyomma maculatum ticks sampled in north carolina. results highlight the high frequencies of r. parkeri-infected ticks in the state with the highest annual incidence of rocky mountain spotted fever. epidemiologic studies are needed to definitively link r. parkeri to cases of spotted fever rickettsiosis.	2011	22172164
a deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum.	saliva of blood sucking arthropods contains compounds that antagonize their hosts' hemostasis, which include platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction and blood clotting; saliva of these organisms also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodullatory properties. perhaps because hosts mount an active immune response against these compounds, the diversity of these compounds is large even among related blood sucking species. because of these properties, saliva helps blood feeding as well as help the establ ...	2011	22216098
evolution, expansion and expression of the kunitz/bpti gene family associated with long-term blood feeding in ixodes scapularis.	abstract: background: recent studies of the tick saliva transcriptome have revealed the profound role of salivary proteins in blood feeding. kunitz/bpti proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, such as inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. however, kunitz/bpti proteins in soft and hard ticks have different functions and molecular mechanisms. how these differences emerged and whet ...	2012	22244187
a third amblyomma species and the first tick-borne rickettsia in chile.	during november 2010, three ticks were collected from three dogs living in the rural area of arica, northern chile. morphological analyses of the ticks in the laboratory revealed that they were most similar to amblyomma maculatum koch and amblyomma triste koch. however, because of unique metatarsal spurs, neither of the chilean specimens could be assigned with certainty to a. maculatum or a. triste, based on external morphology. the mitochondrial 16s rrna gene partial sequences obtained from two ...	2012	22308792
cyp52x1, representing new cytochrome p450 subfamily, displays fatty acid hydroxylase activity and contributes to virulence and growth on insect cuticular substrates in entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana.	infection of insects by the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana proceeds via attachment and penetration of the host cuticle. the outermost epicuticular layer or waxy layer of the insect represents a structure rich in lipids including abundant amounts of hydrocarbons and fatty acids. a member of a novel cytochrome p450 subfamily, cyp52x1, implicated in fatty acid assimilation by b. bassiana was characterized. b. bassiana targeted gene knockouts lacking bbcyp52x1 displayed reduced virulence ...	2012	22393051
crystallization and preliminary crystallographic characterization of the n-terminal kunitz domain of boophilin.	boophilin is a tight-binding thrombin inhibitor composed of two canonical kunitz-type domains in a tandem arrangement. thrombin-bound boophilin can inhibit a second trypsin-like serine proteinase, most likely through the reactive loop of its n-terminal kunitz domain. here, the crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the isolated n-terminal domain of boophilin is reported. the crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group p2(1)2(1)2(1) and diffracted to beyond 1.8 å resol ...	2012	22505414
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs.	the studies reported here were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of imidacloprid/flumethrin incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against infestations of dogs by fleas, ticks, mites and lice. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, the ticks rhipicephalus sanguineus, ixodes ricinus, ixodes scapularis, dermacentor reticulatus and dermacentor variabilis, the mite sarcoptes scabiei and the biting louse trichodectes canis.	2012	22647530
co2 flagging - an improved method for the collection of questing ticks.	most epidemiological studies on tick-borne pathogens involve collection of ticks from the environment. an efficient collection method is essential for large sample pools. our main aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a new method, where traditional flagging was enhanced by the use of co2 dispersed into the white flannel. the co2 was spread through a rubber hose network inserted into the flag blanket. the research was conducted in spring, in march-april 2011 in two locations from cluj county, roma ...	2012	22720872
survey of borreliae in ticks, canines, and white-tailed deer from arkansas, u.s.a.	in the eastern and upper midwestern regions of north america, ixodes scapularis (l.) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans and the primary vector of b. burgdorferi, whereas in the southeastern region amblyomma americanum (say) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans but cannot transmit b. burgdorferi. surveys of borreliae in ticks have been conducted in the southeastern united states and often these surveys identify b. lonestari as the primary borrelia species, ...	2012	22781030
"scanning mutagenesis" of the amino acid sequences flanking phosphorylation site 1 of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.	the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mtpdc) is regulated by reversible seryl-phosphorylation of the e1α subunit by a dedicated, intrinsic kinase. the phospho-complex is reactivated when dephosphorylated by an intrinsic pp2c-type protein phosphatase. both the position of the phosphorylated ser-residue and the sequences of the flanking amino acids are highly conserved. we have used the synthetic peptide-based kinase client (kic) assay plus recombinant pyruvate dehydrogenase e1α and e1 ...	2012	22811682
analysis of babesia bovis infection-induced gene expression changes in larvae from the cattle tick, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus.	cattle babesiosis is a tick-borne disease of cattle that has severe economic impact on cattle producers throughout the world's tropical and subtropical countries. the most severe form of the disease is caused by the apicomplexan, babesia bovis, and transmitted to cattle through the bite of infected cattle ticks of the genus rhipicephalus, with the most prevalent species being rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus. we studied the reaction of the r. microplus larval transcriptome in response to infe ...	2012	22871314
identification of endosymbionts in ticks by broad-range polymerase chain reaction and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.	many organisms, such as insects, filarial nematodes, and ticks, contain heritable bacterial endosymbionts that are often closely related to transmissible tickborne pathogens. these intracellular bacteria are sometimes unique to the host species, presumably due to isolation and genetic drift. we used a polymerase chain reaction/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry assay designed to detect a wide range of vectorborne microorganisms to characterize endosymbiont genetic signatures from amblyomm ...	2012	22897044
rickettsia parkeri and candidatus rickettsia andeanae in gulf coast ticks, mississippi, usa.		0	23018026
bioinformatics and expression analyses of the ixodes scapularis tick cystatin family.	the cystatins are inhibitors of papain- and legumain-like cysteine proteinases, classified in merops subfamilies i25a-i25c. this study shows that 84 % (42/50) of tick cystatins are putatively extracellular in subfamily i25b and the rest are putatively intracellular in subfamily i25a. on the neighbor joining phylogeny guide tree, subfamily i25a members cluster together, while subfamily i25b cystatins segregate among prostriata or metastriata ticks. two ixodes scapularis cystatins, aay66864 and is ...	2012	23053911
rubber elongation factor (ref), a major allergen component in hevea brasiliensis latex has amyloid properties.	ref (hevb1) and srpp (hevb3) are two major components of hevea brasiliensis latex, well known for their allergenic properties. they are obviously taking part in the biosynthesis of natural rubber, but their exact function is still unclear. they could be involved in defense/stress mechanisms after tapping or directly acting on the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. the structure of these two proteins is still not described. in this work, it was discovered that ref has amyloid properties, contrary t ...	2012	23133547
evidence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae in small mammals and quail from mississippi.	rickettsia parkeri is a recently recognized human pathogen primarily associated with the gulf coast tick amblyomma maculatum, with immature stages of this tick reported from wild vertebrates. to better understand the role of vertebrates in the natural history of this bacterium, we evaluated small mammals and ground-dwelling birds for evidence of infection with r. parkeri or exposure to the organism. we sampled small mammals (n=39) and passerines (n=47) in both north-central and southeast mississ ...	2012	23199266
detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto ospc alleles associated with human lyme borreliosis worldwide in non-human-biting tick ixodes affinis and rodent hosts in southeastern united states.	comparative analysis of ospc genes from 127 borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains collected in european and north american regions where lyme disease is endemic and where it is not endemic revealed a close relatedness of geographically distinct populations. ospc alleles a, b, and l were detected on both continents in vectors and hosts, including humans. six ospc alleles, a, b, l, q, r, and v, were prevalent in europe; 4 of them were detected in samples of human origin. ten ospc alleles, a, ...	2013	23263953
choice of a stable set of reference genes for qrt-pcr analysis in amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae).	quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qrt-pcr) is a widely used laboratory tool to quantify mrna levels of target genes involved in various biological processes. the most commonly used method for analyzing qrt-pcr data are the normalizing technique where a housekeeping gene is used to determine the transcriptional regulation of the target gene. the choice of a reliable internal standard is pivotal for relative gene expression analysis to obtain reproducible resu ...	2012	23270161
detection of human bacterial pathogens in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus luteolus).	there are 4 major human-biting tick species in the northeastern united states, which include: amblyomma americanum, amblyomma maculatum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis. the black bear is a large mammal that has been shown to be parasitized by all the aforementioned ticks. we investigated the bacterial infections in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus subspecies luteolus). eighty-six ticks were collected from 17 black bears in louisiana from june 2010 to ma ...	2013	23415850
targeting of insect epicuticular lipids by the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana: hydrocarbon oxidation within the context of a host-pathogen interaction.	broad host range entomopathogenic fungi such as beauveria bassiana attack insect hosts via attachment to cuticular substrata and the production of enzymes for the degradation and penetration of insect cuticle. the outermost epicuticular layer consists of a complex mixture of non-polar lipids including hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and wax esters. long chain hydrocarbons are major components of the outer waxy layer of diverse insect species, where they serve to protect against desiccation and microb ...	2013	23422735
deorphanization and target validation of cross-tick species conserved novel amblyomma americanum tick saliva protein.	we previously identified a cross-tick species conserved tick feeding stimuli responsive amblyomma americanum (aam) av422 gene. this study demonstrates that aamav422 belongs to a novel group of arthropod proteins that is characterized by 14 cysteine amino acid residues: c(23)-x7/9-c(33)-x23/24-c(58)-x8-c(67)-x7-c(75)-x23-c(99)-x15-c(115)-x10-c(126)-x24/25/33-c(150)c(151)-x7-c(159)-x8-c(168)-x23/24-c(192)-x9/10-c(202) predicted to form seven disulfide bonds. we show that aamav422 protein is a ubiq ...	2013	23428900
rna interference-mediated depletion of n-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein and synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kda results in the inhibition of blood feeding of the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum.	the signalling pathways in tick salivary glands that control 'sialo-secretome' secretion at the tick-host interface remain elusive; however, this complex process is essential for successful feeding and manipulation of the host haemostatic response. exocytosis of the sialo-secretome in the salivary glands requires a core of soluble n-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion (nsf) attachment proteins (snaps) and receptor proteins (snares). snares have been identified as the key components in regulating the ...	2013	23437815
detection of rickettsia parkeri from within piura, peru, and the first reported presence of candidatus rickettsia andeanae in the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus.	domestic farm animals (n=145) were sampled for the presence of ectoparasites in northwestern peru during march, 2008. ninety domestic animals (62%) were positive for the presence of an ectoparasite(s) and produced a total collection of the following: 728 ticks [amblyomma maculatum, anocentor nitens, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, rhipicephalus sanguineus, and otobius megnini], 12 lice (haematopinus suis), and 3 fleas (ctenocephalides felis). a rickettsia genus-specific qpcr assay was perfo ...	2013	23488453
experimental infection of cotton rats and bobwhite quail with rickettsia parkeri.	amblyomma maculatum is the primary vector for rickettsia parkeri, a spotted fever group rickettsia (sfgr) and human pathogen. cotton rats and quail are known hosts for larval and nymphal a. maculatum; however, the role of these hosts in the ecology of r. parkeri is unknown.	2013	23497681
molecular characterization and functional significance of the vti family of snare proteins in tick salivary glands.	exocytosis involves membrane fusion between secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane. the soluble n-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment proteins (snaps) and their receptor proteins (snares) interact to fuse vesicles with the membrane and trigger the release of their sialosecretome out of the tick salivary gland cells. in this study, we examined the functional significance of the vti family of snare proteins of blood-feeding amblyomma maculatum and amblyomma americanum. vti1a and vti1b h ...	2013	23499931
amblyomma americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitor 6 is a cross-class inhibitor of serine proteases and papain-like cysteine proteases that delays plasma clotting and inhibits platelet aggregation.	we previously demonstrated that amblyomma americanum tick serine protease inhibitor 6 (aams6) was secreted into the host during tick feeding and that both its mrna and protein were ubiquitously and highly expressed during the first 3 days of tick feeding. this study demonstrates that aams6 is a cross-class inhibitor of both serine- and papain-like cysteine proteases that has apparent antihaemostatic functions. consistent with the typical inhibitory serpin characteristics, enzyme kinetics analyse ...	2013	23521000
what is the risk for exposure to vector-borne pathogens in united states national parks?	united states national parks attract > 275 million visitors annually and collectively present risk of exposure for staff and visitors to a wide range of arthropod vector species (most notably fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks) and their associated bacterial, protozoan, or viral pathogens. we assessed the current state of knowledge for risk of exposure to vector-borne pathogens in national parks through a review of relevant literature, including internal national park service documents and organismal ...	2013	23540107
the effects of solenopsis invicta (hymenoptera: formicidae) and burned habitat on the survival of amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae) and amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae).	identifying ways in which humans can reduce tick populations is important for preventing the spread and emergence of diseases. during a recent study on effects of long-term prescribed burning on ticks, differences in species composition were observed with lone star ticks, amblyomma americanum (l.), preferring unburned habitats and gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum (koch), preferring burned habitats. interestingly, the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren, is found predominantly in ...	2013	23540113
redescription of hepatozoon felis (apicomplexa: hepatozoidae) based on phylogenetic analysis, tissue and blood form morphology, and possible transplacental transmission.	a hepatozoon parasite was initially reported from a cat in india in 1908 and named leucocytozoon felis domestici. although domestic feline hepatozoonosis has since been recorded from europe, africa, asia and america, its description, classification and pathogenesis have remained vague and the distinction between different species of hepatozoon infecting domestic and wild carnivores has been unclear. the aim of this study was to carry out a survey on domestic feline hepatozoonosis and characteriz ...	2013	23587213
activating transcription factor 4 and x box binding protein 1 of litopenaeus vannamei transcriptional regulated white spot syndrome virus genes wsv023 and wsv083.	in response to endoplasmic reticulum (er) stress, the signaling pathway termed unfolded protein response (upr) is activated. to investigate the role of upr in litopenaeus vannamei immunity, the activating transcription factor 4 (designated as lvatf4) which belonged to a branch of the upr, the [protein kinase rna (pkr)-like er kinase, (perk)]-[eukaryotic initiation factor 2 subunit alpha (eif2α)] pathway, was identified and characterized. the full-length cdna of lvatf4 was 1972 bp long, with an o ...	2013	23638122
detecting rickettsia parkeri infection from eschar swab specimens.	the typical clinical presentation of several spotted fever group rickettsia infections includes eschars. clinical diagnosis of the condition is usually made by analysis of blood samples. we describe a more sensitive, noninvasive means of obtaining a sample for diagnosis by using an eschar swab specimen from patients infected with rickettsia parkeri.	0	23647926
molecular characterization of tick salivary gland glutaminyl cyclase.	glutaminyl cyclase (qc) catalyzes the cyclization of n-terminal glutamine residues into pyroglutamate. this post-translational modification extends the half-life of peptides and, in some cases, is essential in binding to their cognate receptor. due to its potential role in the post-translational modification of tick neuropeptides, we report the molecular, biochemical and physiological characterization of salivary gland qc during the prolonged blood feeding of the black-legged tick (ixodes scapul ...	2013	23770496
prevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsia spp. and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes (canis latrans) in oklahoma and texas, usa.	coyotes (canis latrans) are commonly infested with ticks, including amblyomma americanum, the predominant vector of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii; dermacentor variabilis, an important vector of rickettsia rickettsii; and amblyomma maculatum, a major vector of rickettsia parkeri, a spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsia. to determine the degree to which coyotes are infected with or exposed to tick-borne bacterial disease agents, serum samples collected from coyotes in oklahoma and tex ...	2013	23778619
population analyses of amblyomma maculatum ticks and rickettsia parkeri using single-strand conformation polymorphism.	gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum, and the zoonotic agents they transmit, rickettsia parkeri, are expanding into areas in the united states where they were not previously reported, and are emerging threats for public and veterinary health. the dynamics of this tick-pathogen system and implications for disease transmission are still unclear. to assess genetic variation of tick and rickettsial populations, we collected adult a. maculatum from 10 sites in mississippi, 4 in the northern, one in ...	2013	23856472
comparative evaluation of infected and noninfected amblyomma triste ticks with rickettsia parkeri, the agent of an emerging rickettsiosis in the new world.	the distribution of rickettsia parkeri in south america has been associated with amblyomma triste ticks. the present study evaluated under laboratory conditions two colonies of a. triste: one started from engorged females that were naturally infected by r. parkeri (designated as infected group); the other started from noninfected females (designated as control group). both colonies were reared in parallel for five consecutive generations. tick-naïve domestic rabbits were used for feeding of each ...	2013	23936795
recent molecular insights into rickettsial pathogenesis and immunity.	human infections with arthropod-borne rickettsia species remain a major global health issue, causing significant morbidity and mortality. epidemic typhus due to rickettsia prowazekii has an established reputation as the 'scourge of armies', and as a major determinant of significant 'historical turning points'. no suitable vaccines for human use are currently available to prevent rickettsial diseases. the unique lifestyle features of rickettsiae include obligate intracellular parasitism, intracyt ...	2013	24059918
update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach.	tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus rickettsia. these zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. however, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that wer ...	0	24092850
a confirmed case of rickettsia parkeri infection in a traveler from uruguay.	the first confirmed case of rickettsia parkeri infection in uruguay is reported. to date, in south america, molecularly confirmed cases of human infection have been found in argentina and probably, brazil. our patient returned to spain after a 7-day trip to colonia suiza (southwestern uruguay). he presented fever (39°c), chills, and two eschars (tache noire-like) surrounded by an indurated, erythematous halo on the inner side of the left ankle besides a maculopapular rash on the legs. after trea ...	2013	24166040
isolation of "candidatus rickettsia andeanae" (rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae) in embryonic cells of naturally infected amblyomma maculatum (ixodida: ixodidae).	the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum koch, has become increasingly important in public health for its role as a vector of the recently recognized human pathogen, rickettsia parkeri. more recently, these ticks were also found to harbor a novel spotted fever group rickettsia, "candidatus rickettsia andeanae." first identified in peru, and subsequently reported in ticks collected in the united states, chile, and argentina, "ca. r. andeanae" remains largely uncharacterized, in part because of th ...	2013	24180118
single-tube real-time pcr assay for differentiation of ixodes affinis and ixodes scapularis.	ixodes affinis neumann (1899) and ixodes scapularis say (1821) are tick vectors of the etiologic agent of lyme disease, borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. ixodes affinis and i. scapularis are morphologically very similar, and as they are sympatric in the mid- and south-atlantic u.s. coastal states, their accurate identification is crucial to studies of disease and vector ecology in this area. this work describes a rapid, single-tube sybr(®) green-based real-time pcr assay for differentiation of ...	2013	24192510
ticks and spotted fever group rickettsiae of southeastern virginia.	the incidence of tick-borne rickettsial disease in the southeastern united states has been rising steadily through the past decade, and the range expansions of tick species and tick-borne infectious agents, new and old, has resulted in an unprecedented mix of vectors and pathogens. the results of an ongoing 4-year surveillance project describe the relative abundance of questing tick populations in southeastern virginia. since 2009, more than 66,000 questing ticks of 7 species have been collected ...	2013	24201057
episodes of horizontal gene-transfer and gene-fusion led to co-existence of different metal-ion specific glyoxalase i.	glyoxalase pathway plays an important role in stress adaptation and many clinical disorders. the first enzyme of this pathway, glyoxalase i (glxi), uses methylglyoxal as a substrate and requires either ni(ii)/co(ii) or zn(ii) for activity. here we have investigated the origin of different metal ion specificities of glxi and subsequent pattern of inheritance during evolution. our results suggest a primitive origin of single-domain ni dependent glxi [ni-glxi]. this subsequently evolved into zn act ...	2013	24220130
importation of exotic ticks and tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsiae into the united states by migrating songbirds.	birds are capable of carrying ticks and, consequently, tick-transmitted microorganisms over long distances and across geographical barriers such as oceans and deserts. ticks are hosts for several species of spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr), which can be transmitted to vertebrates during blood meals. in this study, the prevalence of this group of rickettsiae was examined in ticks infesting migratory songbirds by using polymerase chain reaction (pcr). during the 2009 and 2010 spring migratio ...	2013	24252263
knockdown of selenocysteine-specific elongation factor in amblyomma maculatum alters the pathogen burden of rickettsia parkeri with epigenetic control by the sin3 histone deacetylase corepressor complex.	selenocysteine is the 21st naturally-occurring amino acid. selenoproteins have diverse functions and many remain uncharacterized, but they are typically associated with antioxidant activity. the incorporation of selenocysteine into the nascent polypeptide chain recodes the tga stop codon and this process depends upon a number of essential factors including the selenocysteine elongation factor (sef). the transcriptional expression of sef did not change significantly in tick midguts throughout the ...	2013	24282621
functional characterisation of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunit from the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus.	ticks and tick-borne diseases have a major impact on human and animal health worldwide. current control strategies rely heavily on the use of chemical acaricides, most of which target the cns and with increasing resistance, new drugs are urgently needed. nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nachrs) are targets of highly successful insecticides. we isolated a full-length nachr α subunit from a normalised cdna library from the synganglion (brain) of the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. phyl ...	2013	24291321