«CANDIDATUS MIDICHLORIA MITOCHONDRII»: A NEW MEMBER OF ORDER RICKETTSIALES, ENDOSYMBIONT OF IXODES RICINUS TICK

Abstract

Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii is the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus endosymbiont. This unique bacteria can occupy and persist within the mitochondria of animals. I. ricinus is an important vector of human pathogens in natural focal of infections. Candidatus M. mitochondrii found in the intermembrane space of mitochondria and in the cytoplasm of ovarian cells in 100% females of I. ricinus. The bacteria contain flagella in the salivary glands of ticks. Candidatus M. mitochondrii has two groups of unique genes for the members of the order Rickettsiales (cbb3 cytochrome oxidase and flagellin), which allows it to play an important role in embryogenesis of the I. ricinus ticks and cause seroconversion in 58% of patients after ticks bloodsucking. This bacterium formed MALOs group (midichloria and like organisms) with genetically closely related organisms which demonstrated a association with a wide range of host from arthropods to ciliates, amoebae, sponges, fish and various animals and humans. Now there is no data about replication the Candidatus M. mitochondrii in humans and pathogenicity of this microorganism. Although a high percentage of seropositive samples obtained from patients after bloodsucking of I. ricinus in anamnesis, this bacterium cannot yet be regarded as responsible for the pathology as known human pathogenic from order Rickettsi-ales (Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp.). Needed to reconsider the attitude to an immune response to the saliva of I. ricinus, taking into account the potential impact of Candidatus M. mitochondrii. It is considered highly possible role of this bacterium in the immune response and immunomodulation in humans with bloodsucking of I. ricinus in anamnesis. DNA of Candidatus M. mitochondrii was the first time detected in I. ricinus ticks from European part of Russia.