Chapter 10 - Tick-Borne Viruses and Host Skin Interface

Abstract

Ticks are vectors of viruses that cause diseases in humans and animals. Tick-borne viruses are maintained in nature through circulation between ticks and vertebrate hosts, but the molecular mechanisms by which viruses switch between infecting tick and vertebrate cells are largely unknown. During their blood meal, ticks counteract multiple host defense responses by a wide array of biologically active salivary molecules. Vertebrate host skin provides the first line of defense to injury and infection by viruses. The early interactions between host immunity and initial tick-mediated immunomodulation at the tick–host skin interface are suggested to be essential for transmission of viruses. Although promotion of transmission of viruses by tick saliva has been reported, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood, especially at the skin interface during early transmission. Future research should be aimed at the identification of the key tick salivary components enhancing virus transmission and the molecular mechanisms of the tick–host–virus interactions.