Tick salivary gland extract inhibits killing of Borrelia afzelii spirochetes by mouse macrophages

Authors
Kuthejlova, M Kopecky, J Stepanova, G Macela, A
Citation
M. Kuthejlova et al., Tick salivary gland extract inhibits killing of Borrelia afzelii spirochetes by mouse macrophages, INFEC IMMUN, 69(1), 2001, pp. 575-578
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
ISSN journal
00199567 → ACNP
Volume
69
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
575 - 578
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-9567(200101)69:1<575:TSGEIK>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ixodes ricinus ticks inhibited: the killi ng of Borrelia afzelii spirochetes by murine macrophages. SGE also reduced the production of two major defense molecules of phagocytes, superoxide and nitric oxide. It is likely that the suppression of macrophage microbicidal mechanisms contributes to the inhibitory effect of tick saliva on the kill ing of B. afzelii spirochetes, thus facilitating the transmission of this i mportant pathogen.