Protease Inhibitors in Tick Saliva: The Role of Serpins and Cystatins in Tick-host-Pathogen Interaction

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

l, Jan¹  Kotsyfakis, Michail¹  , Helena²  Kotá²  Chmelař, Jindřich³  Langhansová³ 

[1] Budějovice, Czechia;Budějovice, ČeskéFaculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in ČeskéInstitute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, České

关键词: Tick-host interaction;    Immunomodulation;    Protease Inhibitors;    Serpins;    Cystatins;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcimb.2017.00216

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The publication of the first tick sialome (salivary gland transcriptome) heralded a new era of research of tick protease inhibitors, which represent important constituents of the proteins secreted via tick saliva into the host. Three major groups of protease inhibitors are secreted into saliva: Kunitz inhibitors, serpins, and cystatins. Kunitz inhibitors are anti-hemostatic agents and tens of proteins with one or more Kunitz domains are known to block host coagulation and/or platelet aggregation. Serpins and cystatins are also anti-hemostatic effectors, but intriguingly, from the translational perspective, also act as pluripotent modulators of the host immune system. Here we focus especially on this latter aspect of protease inhibition by ticks and describe the current knowledge and data on secreted salivary serpins and cystatins and their role in tick-host-pathogen interaction triad. We also discuss the potential therapeutic use of tick protease inhibitors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY