Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2009):

Spitting image: tick saliva assists the causative agent of Lyme disease in evading host skin's innate immune response.

Full Abstract

Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted through ticks. Inhibition of host skin's innate immune response might be instrumental to both tick feeding and B. burgdorferi transmission. The article by Marchal et al. describes how tick saliva suppresses B. burgdorferi-induced antimicrobial peptide production. This inhibition directly facilitates survival of the spirochete and might lead to diminished chemotaxis of leukocytes toward the site of the tick bite.

Author information

Author/s: Hovius, Joppe W R (JW);

Affiliation: Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comment; Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of investigative dermatology (J Invest Dermatol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 129 (issue 10) : pp 2337-9

Dates: Created 2009/09/14; Completed 2009/09/24;

PMID: 19749783, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 9/24/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentOn: J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Oct;129(10):2515-7. (PMID: 19340008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Animals Antibodies, Bacterial - metabolism Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - metabolism Borrelia burgdorferi - physiology Humans

Immunity, Innate - physiology Immunosuppression Lyme Disease - physiopathology Saliva - physiology Skin - immunology

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Antibodies, Bacterial (0) ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides (0)

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