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Evasins: Tick Salivary Proteins that Inhibit Mammalian Chemokines.

ABSTRACT: Ticks are hematophagous arachnids that parasitize mammals and other hosts, feeding on their blood. Ticks secrete numerous salivary factors that enhance host blood flow or suppress the host inflammatory response. The recruitment of leukocytes, a hallmark of inflammation, is regulated by chemokines, which activate chemokine receptors on the leukocytes. Ticks target this process by secreting glycoproteins called Evasins, which bind to chemokines and prevent leukocyte recruitment. This review describes the recent discovery of numerous Evasins produced by ticks, their classification into two structural and functional classes, and the efficacy of Evasins in animal models of inflammatory diseases. The review also proposes a standard nomenclature system for Evasins and discusses the potential of repurposing or engineering Evasins as therapeutic anti-inflammatory agents.

SUBMITTER: Bhusal RP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7322545 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evasins: Tick Salivary Proteins that Inhibit Mammalian Chemokines.

Bhusal Ram Prasad RP Eaton James R O JRO Chowdhury Sayeeda T ST Power Christine A CA Proudfoot Amanda E I AEI Stone Martin J MJ Bhattacharya Shoumo S

Trends in biochemical sciences 20191101 2

Ticks are hematophagous arachnids that parasitize mammals and other hosts, feeding on their blood. Ticks secrete numerous salivary factors that enhance host blood flow or suppress the host inflammatory response. The recruitment of leukocytes, a hallmark of inflammation, is regulated by chemokines, which activate chemokine receptors on the leukocytes. Ticks target this process by secreting glycoproteins called Evasins, which bind to chemokines and prevent leukocyte recruitment. This review descri ...[more]

PMID: 31679840

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