Biomaterial Database

Acquired resistance to ticks: expression of resistance by C4-deficient guinea pigs. 1979

S K Wikel

Hartley and C4-deficient guinea pigs developed resistance to the ixodid tick. Dermacentor andersoni, after one infestation. Resistance was characterized by resistant animals of both groups allowing significantly fewer larvae (5--25%) to engorge during a second infestation than during an initial infestation (70--90%). Resistant animals in both groups developed cutaneous reactions at the site of tick attachment which were characterized by intraepidermal vesicles containing numerous basophils. In previous studies, tick-resistant Hartley guinea pigs depleted of complement by cobra venom factor were not able to express the resistance response and the skin reactions at the tick attachment sites were depleted of basophils. The use of cobra venom factor as an anti-complement probe could not distinguish the relative importance of the classical and/or alternate pathways of complement activation in the expression of tick resistance. The present study reports that C4-deficient guinea pigs, those with a total deficiency in the classical pathway of complement activation, but with an intact alternate pathway, can acquire and display tick resistance in a fashion similar to Hartley guinea pigs. This finding provides evidence that the alternate pathway of complement activation is important in the expression of tick resistance.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007110	Immunity, Active	Resistance to a disease agent resulting from the production of specific antibodies by the host, either after exposure to the disease or after vaccination.	Active Immune Response,Active Immune Responses,Active Immunities,Active Immunity,Immune Response, Active,Immune Responses, Active,Immunities, Active,Response, Active Immune,Responses, Active Immune
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D003171	Complement Pathway, Classical	Complement activation initiated by the binding of COMPLEMENT C1 to ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEXES at the COMPLEMENT C1Q subunit. This leads to the sequential activation of COMPLEMENT C1R and COMPLEMENT C1S subunits. Activated C1s cleaves COMPLEMENT C4 and COMPLEMENT C2 forming the membrane-bound classical C3 CONVERTASE (C4B2A) and the subsequent C5 CONVERTASE (C4B2A3B) leading to cleavage of COMPLEMENT C5 and the assembly of COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX.	Classical Complement Pathway,Classical Complement Activation Pathway,Complement Activation Pathway, Classical
D003181	Complement C4	A glycoprotein that is important in the activation of CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. C4 is cleaved by the activated COMPLEMENT C1S into COMPLEMENT C4A and COMPLEMENT C4B.	C4 Complement,C4 Complement Component,Complement 4,Complement C4, Precursor,Complement Component 4,Pro-C4,Pro-complement 4,C4, Complement,Complement Component, C4,Complement, C4,Component 4, Complement,Component, C4 Complement,Pro C4,Pro complement 4
D003870	Dermacentor	A widely distributed genus of TICKS, in the family IXODIDAE, including a number that infest humans and other mammals. Several are vectors of diseases such as TULAREMIA; ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER; COLORADO TICK FEVER; and ANAPLASMOSIS.	Dermacentor andersoni,Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013984	Tick Infestations	Infestations with soft-bodied (Argasidae) or hard-bodied (Ixodidae) ticks.	Infestation, Tick,Infestations, Tick,Tick Infestation