Biology subjects

Kriko, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Kriko, E..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

A climatically representative analysis of Hungarian Ixodes ricinus tick bacteriome

BackgroundThe microbial communities of disease vectors may represent a key feature in several biological functions and thus deserve special attention in light of climate change and the consequent need to develop novel control strategies. Nevertheless, vector-borne microbial networks are still poorly understood. Assessing vectors microbial interactions and climatic dependencies may contribute to better-estimating pathogen transmission characteristics, public health risks and the urgency for control steps to be taken. MethodsIn a climatically representative country-wide survey, Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from 17 locations in Hungary. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, the bacteriome composition was analyzed by investigating the relationship between the abundances of nymphs and females in various climatic environments. ResultsBacterial composition on the genus level revealed a significant difference between the samples from females and nymphs. Within the core bacteriome, females and nymphs showed significant variation in the following genera: Arsenophonus, Bacillus, Candidatus Midichloria, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Wolbachia. Among females, according to temperature strata, the following were found differentiating: Curtobacterium, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas. There was no genus with a significant difference in precipitation categories for females. In the nymphs, Curtobacterium showed significant variation between temperature and Bacillus and Curtobacterium for various precipitation levels. Based on the full sample set, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia correlated positively which we assumed to have occurred due to the presence of I. hookeri. ConclusionsThe composition of vector-borne bacteriome members showed significant alterations at sampling points with different climatic conditions and development stages of the tick hosts. Our findings not only pave the way towards understanding tick-borne bacterial networks and interdependencies but also shed light on the high potential for the presence of a possible biological tick control species, the tick parasitoid, Ixodiphagus hookeri based on related bacteriome patterns. The results of conscious tick microbiome assessment studies may contribute to precision tick control strategies of the future.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

First detection of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from multiple locations of Hungary

The parasiotid wasp, Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is the natural enemy of a wide range of hard and soft tick species. While these encyrtid wasps are supposed to be distributed worldwide, only few studies report about its actual appearance patterns around the globe. Within a shotgun sequencing based metagenome analysis, the occurrence of I. hookeri was screened at multiple Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) tick sampling points of Hungary, to contribute to the assessment of the appearance patterns of the parasitoid wasps in Central Europe. To our knowledge, the first report of the species in Hungary and the description of the southernmost I. hookeri associated geoposition in Central Europe took place within our study. I. hookeri infested I. ricinus nymphs were detected at five sampling points of Hungary. The results show that the exact distribution range of I. hookeri is still barely studied. At the same time, unprecedented public health issues being brought by climate change might require steps towards the exploitation of the tick biocontrol potential or ecological bioindicator role of the parasitoid wasp in the future.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Raw milk for human consumption may carry antimicrobial resistance genes

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health. The widespread use of antibiotics is increasingly shortening the time it takes for resistant strains to develop. More and more multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains cause life-threatening infections and the death of tens of thousands of people each year. Beyond disease control animals are often given antibiotics for growth promotion or increased feed efficiency, which further increase the chance of the development of multi-resistant strains. After the consumption of unprocessed animal products, these strains may meet the human bacteriota. Among the foodborne and the human populations, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) may be shared by horizontal gene transfer. This study aims to test the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in milk metagenome, investigate their genetic position and their linkage to mobile genetic elements. ResultsWe have analyzed raw milk samples from public markets sold for human consumption. The milk samples contained genetic material from various bacterial species and the detailed analysis uncovered the presence of several antimicrobial resistance genes. The samples contained complete ARGs influencing the effectiveness of acridine dye, cephalosporin, cephamycin, fluoroquinolone, penam, peptide antibiotics and tetracycline. One of the ARGs, PC1 beta-lactamase may also be a mobile element that facilitates the transfer of resistance genes to other bacteria, e.g. to the ones living in the human gut. ConclusionBesides the animal products antibiotic residuals, their potentially transmissible antimicrobial resistance gene content may also contribute to the development of human pathogenic bacterias antimicrobial resistance.

genomics↗