New way to bump off ticks: Dry up their saliva

Summary

In this ACS briefing, Dr. Daniel Swarm from LSU discusses a novel approach to controlling ticks by targeting their salivary glands and potassium ion channels. His team’s research shows that blocking these channels prevents ticks from feeding, thereby halting pathogen transmission like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This method also induces tick mortality by disrupting osmoregulation, making the blood meal toxic. Although still in the proof-of-concept stage, this research could lead to innovative treatments for livestock and pets, offering new strategies to combat tick-borne diseases.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ticks are significant vectors for diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which are on the rise due to challenges in controlling ticks.
• 😀 The current insecticides used for tick control are often ineffective due to resistance in tick populations.
• 😀 Dr. Daniel Swarm's lab is studying a new way to combat ticks by targeting specific ion channels in their salivary glands.
• 😀 The focus is on a potassium ion channel, the inward-rectifier potassium channel, which plays a role in regulating cell functions.
• 😀 Blocking these ion channels in tick salivary glands could stop the production of saliva, preventing ticks from feeding and transmitting diseases.
• 😀 The salivary gland is a critical organ for ticks, not only for saliva production but also for osmoregulation, balancing potassium and sodium levels.
• 😀 Disrupting the function of the salivary gland can lead to mortality in ticks, as they cannot handle the sodium and potassium levels from the blood meal.
• 😀 Lab experiments show that shutting down tick salivation leads to a significant reduction in blood ingestion and eventually causes tick death.
• 😀 The potential for targeting salivary glands suggests a novel approach to preventing tick-borne disease transmission.
• 😀 The compounds could be delivered through oral treatments for companion animals or injectables for livestock, with additional research needed for other methods of delivery.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Dr. Daniel Swarm's research?

Dr. Daniel Swarm's research focuses on a new approach to controlling ticks by targeting their salivary glands, specifically by drying up the saliva, which prevents ticks from feeding and transmitting pathogens.

Why is targeting the salivary gland of ticks important?

The salivary gland is crucial for ticks to feed on blood. It produces saliva that allows the tick to suck blood and also plays a role in osmoregulation. If the salivary gland is targeted, ticks cannot feed or transmit diseases.

What diseases are ticks responsible for transmitting?

Ticks are significant vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other rickettsial diseases.

How does Dr. Swarm's team plan to stop ticks from feeding?

Dr. Swarm's team is working to block specific potassium ion channels in the tick's salivary glands. This action stops saliva production, preventing the tick from feeding and, ultimately, killing it.

What is the role of potassium ion channels in ticks?

Potassium ion channels, specifically the inward rectifier potassium channels, are responsible for maintaining membrane properties in cells, including those in the tick's salivary glands. Blocking these channels disrupts the function of the gland.

What happens when the salivary glands of ticks are blocked?

When the salivary glands are blocked, the tick cannot produce saliva, which prevents it from feeding on blood. This disruption also leads to the accumulation of toxic salts in the tick, eventually causing its death.

What is the potential outcome of using compounds to block tick feeding?

Using compounds to block tick feeding can reduce blood ingestion and lead to significant tick mortality, with around 75% mortality observed within 12 hours of treatment.

How might these compounds be administered to ticks?

The compounds could be administered via injectable treatments for livestock or oral treatments for companion animals like dogs. However, for humans, the focus would be on preventing tick feeding through population control.

Could these compounds be used in a spray to kill ticks?

No, a spray wouldn't be effective in this case because the compounds target the salivary glands and do not have a neurotoxic action like typical insecticides. The compounds need to be ingested by the tick through feeding to be effective.

Are these compounds effective against other pests besides ticks?

Yes, the compounds have been shown to be effective against other arthropods, including certain fly species, and may have potential for controlling other insect vectors, though the research is still ongoing.