TY - JOUR
T1 - The troublesome ticks research protocol
T2 - developing a comprehensive, multidiscipline research plan for investigating human tick-associated disease in Australia
AU - Barbosa, Amanda D.
AU - Long, Michelle
AU - Lee, Wenna
AU - Austen, Jill M.
AU - Cunneen, Mike
AU - Ratchford, Andrew
AU - Burns, Brian
AU - Kumarasinghe, Prasad
AU - Ben-Othman, Rym
AU - Kollmann, Tobias R.
AU - Stewart, Cameron R.
AU - Beaman, Miles
AU - Parry, Rhys
AU - Hall, Roy
AU - Tabor, Ala
AU - O’Donovan, Justine
AU - Faddy, Helen M.
AU - Collins, Marjorie
AU - Cheng, Allen C.
AU - Stenos, John
AU - Graves, Stephen
AU - Oskam, Charlotte L.
AU - Ryan, Una M.
AU - Irwin, Peter J.
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2022/11/3
Y1 - 2022/11/3
N2 - In Australia, there is a paucity of data about the extent and impact of zoonotic tick-related illnesses. Even less is understood about a multifaceted illness referred to as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). Here, we describe a research plan for investigating the aetiology, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of human tick-associated disease in Australia. Our approach focuses on the transmission of potential pathogens and the immunological responses of the patient after a tick bite. The protocol is strengthened by prospective data collection, the recruitment of two external matched control groups, and sophisticated integrative data analysis which, collectively, will allow the robust demonstration of associations between a tick bite and the development of clinical and pathological abnormalities. Various laboratory analyses are performed including metagenomics to investigate the potential transmission of bacteria, protozoa and/or viruses during tick bite. In addition, multi-omics technology is applied to investigate links between host immune responses and potential infectious and non-infectious disease causations. Psychometric profiling is also used to investigate whether psychological attributes influence symptom development. This research will fill important knowledge gaps about tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, we hope the results will promote improved diagnostic outcomes, and inform the safe management and treatment of patients bitten by ticks in Australia.
AB - In Australia, there is a paucity of data about the extent and impact of zoonotic tick-related illnesses. Even less is understood about a multifaceted illness referred to as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). Here, we describe a research plan for investigating the aetiology, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of human tick-associated disease in Australia. Our approach focuses on the transmission of potential pathogens and the immunological responses of the patient after a tick bite. The protocol is strengthened by prospective data collection, the recruitment of two external matched control groups, and sophisticated integrative data analysis which, collectively, will allow the robust demonstration of associations between a tick bite and the development of clinical and pathological abnormalities. Various laboratory analyses are performed including metagenomics to investigate the potential transmission of bacteria, protozoa and/or viruses during tick bite. In addition, multi-omics technology is applied to investigate links between host immune responses and potential infectious and non-infectious disease causations. Psychometric profiling is also used to investigate whether psychological attributes influence symptom development. This research will fill important knowledge gaps about tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, we hope the results will promote improved diagnostic outcomes, and inform the safe management and treatment of patients bitten by ticks in Australia.
KW - biomarkers
KW - DSCATT
KW - Lyme disease-like illness
KW - tick-borne disease
KW - tick-borne infection
KW - ticks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149955927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/pathogens11111290
DO - 10.3390/pathogens11111290
M3 - Article
C2 - 36365042
AN - SCOPUS:85149955927
SN - 2076-0817
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - Pathogens
JF - Pathogens
IS - 11
M1 - 1290
ER -