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Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
From Local to Systemic: The Journey of Tick Bite Biomarkers in Australian Patients
International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(4), 1520
2025
Abstract
Tick bites and tick-related diseases are on the rise. Diagnostic tests that identify well-characterised tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) possess limited capacity to address the causation of symptoms associated with poorly characterised tick-related illnesses, such as debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks (DSCATT) in Australia. Identification of local signals in tick-bitten skin that can be detected systemically in blood would have both clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) and research (mechanistic insight) utility, as a blood sample is more readily obtainable than tissue biopsies. We hypothesised that blood samples may reveal signals which reflect relevant local (tissue) events and that the time course of these signals may align with local pathophysiology. As a first step towards testing this hypothesis, we compared molecular signatures in skin biopsies taken from the tick-bite location of human participants, as published in our previous study, together with peripheral blood signatures obtained concurrently. This approach captures differentially expressed molecules across multiple omics datasets derived from peripheral blood (including cellular and cell-free transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and DNA methylation), and skin biopsies (spatial transcriptomics). Our original data revealed that extracellular matrix organisation and platelet degranulation pathways were upregulated in the skin within 72 h of a tick bite. The same signals appeared in blood, where they then remained elevated for three months, displaying longitudinally consistent alterations of biological functions. Despite the limited sample size, these data represent proof-of-concept that molecular events in the skin following a tick bite can be detectable systemically. This underscores the potential value of blood samples, akin to a liquid biopsy, to capture biomarkers reflecting local tissue processes.
Details
- Title
- From Local to Systemic: The Journey of Tick Bite Biomarkers in Australian Patients
- Authors/Creators
- Wenna LeeAmanda D. Barbosa - Murdoch University, Centre for Biosecurity and One HealthAmy Huey-Yi LeeAndrew Currie - Murdoch UniversityDavid Martino - The University of Western AustraliaJohn Stenos - Barwon HealthMichelle Long - Barwon HealthMiles Beaman - The University of Western AustraliaNathan T. Harvey - The University of Western AustraliaNina Kresoje - The University of Western AustraliaPatrycja SkutPeter J. Irwin - Murdoch UniversityPrasad Kumarasinghe - The University of Western AustraliaRoy A. Hall - The University of QueenslandRym Ben-OthmanStephen Graves - Barwon HealthTobias R. Kollmann - Dalhousie UniversityCharlotte L. Oskam - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- International journal of molecular sciences, Vol.26(4), 1520
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Number of pages
- 24
- Grant note
- Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) ScholarshipNHMRC: GNT1169949
This paper is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship to W.L. and funding support from NHMRC GNT1169949 to P.J.I., S.G., C.L.O. & M.B.
- Identifiers
- 991005742492707891
- Copyright
- © 2025 by the authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Environmental and Life Sciences; Harry Butler Institute; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics; Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; School of Veterinary Medicine; School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.199 Lung Cancer
- 1.199.1633 Circulating Tumor Biomarkers
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
- ESI research areas
- Chemistry