Recombinant Calreticulin Binds Complement Proteins but Does Not Protect from Complement Killing.

is a blood-feeding obligate ectoparasite responsible for transmitting the Lyme disease (LD) agent, . During the feeding process, injects into the host along with its saliva, facilitating the transmission and colonization of the LD agent. Tick calreticulin (CRT) is one of the earliest tick saliva proteins identified and is currently utilized as a biomarker for tick bites.

A tick saliva serpin, IxsS17 inhibits host innate immune system proteases and enhances host colonization by Lyme disease agent.

Lyme disease (LD) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is among the most important human vector borne diseases for which there is no effective prevention method. Identification of tick saliva transmission factors of the LD agent is needed before the highly advocated tick antigen-based vaccine could be developed. We previously reported the highly conserved Ixodes scapularis (Ixs) tick saliva serpin (S) 17 (IxsS17) was highly secreted by B.

Recent Advancements in Antimycobacterial and Antifungal Drugs: A Patent Perspective.

Background: Infections caused by Mycobacterium and pathogenic fungi have risen drastically over the past few decades. Moreover, with the increase in the number of immunocompromised (burn, organ transplant, chemotherapy, HIV) patients, these bacterial and fungal infections have led to alarming mortality rates. The drugs currently in use have become relatively ineffective due to ever increasing phenomenon of multidrug resistance.