The Tick Cell Biobank: A global resource for in vitro research on ticks, other arthropods and the pathogens they transmit

Abstract

Tick cell lines are increasingly used in many fields of tick and tick-borne disease research. The Tick Cell Biobank was established in 2009 to facilitate the development and uptake of these unique and valuable resources. As well as serving as a repository for existing and new ixodid and argasid tick cell lines, the Tick Cell Biobank supplies cell lines and training in their maintenance to scientists worldwide and generates novel cultures from tick species not already represented in the collection. Now part of the Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool, the Tick Cell Biobank has embarked on a new phase of activity particularly targeted at research on problems caused by ticks, other arthropods and the diseases they transmit in less-developed, lower- and middle-income countries. We are carrying out genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of selected cell lines derived from tropical tick species. We continue to expand the culture collection, currently comprising 63 cell lines derived from 18 ixodid and argasid tick species and one each from the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis and the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis, and are actively engaging with collaborators to obtain starting material for primary cell cultures from other midge species, mites, tsetse flies and bees. Outposts of the Tick Cell Biobank will be set up in Malaysia, Kenya and Brazil to facilitate uptake and exploitation of cell lines and associated training by scientists in these and neighbouring countries. Thus the Tick Cell Biobank will continue to underpin many areas of global research into biology and control of ticks, other arthropods and vector-borne viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens.

Keywords: Arthropod; Intracellular bacteria; Midge; Mite; Sand fly; Tick cell line.

Fig. 1

Impact of tick cell lines and the Tick Cell Biobank in global tick and tick-borne disease research. A. Number of publications reporting generation and/or use of tick cell lines over the past 45 years. Data from https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health/research/tick-cell-biobank/bibliography/. B. Selected reviews and original research papers illustrating the broad spectrum of research topics in which tick cell lines play a role: Antunes et al. (2014), Bell-Sakyi and Attoui (2013), Bell-Sakyi and Attoui (2016), Blouin et al. (2002), Cabezas-Cruz et al. (2017), Contreras et al. (2017), Cossio-Bayugar et al. (2002a), Cossio-Bayugar et al. (2002b), de Abreu et al. (2013), Grabowski et al. (2017), Gulia-Nuss et al. (2016), Hoffmann et al. (1970), Johnson (2017), Kenney et al. (2014), Kurscheid et al. (2009), Kurtti et al. (2015), Kurtti et al. (2008), Magunda et al. (2016), Mansfield et al. (2017), Marayuma et al. (2014), Mattila et al. (2006), Mediannikov et al. (2014), Morimoto et al. (2006), Nakao et al. (2017), Oltean et al. (2013), Passos (2012), Rosa et al. (2016), Schnettler et al. (2014), Simser et al. (2004), Simser et al. (2001), Smith et al. (2016), Socolovschi et al. (2009), Sterba et al. (2014), Tonk et al. (2014a), Tonk et al. (2014b) and Truchan et al. (2016). C. Locations of institutes working with tick cell lines supplied by the Tick Cell Biobank (due to the small scale, it is not possible to indicate all the institutes in UK and Europe individually).

Fig. 2

The disparity between the proportion of tick cell culture research related to LMIC ticks and associated problems and where this research is carried out. A. Numbers of publications using tick cell culture between 1973 and 2017 relating to high-income countries (HIC, grey bands) and lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC, black bands). B. Proportions of the total number of publications that emananted from laboratories in HIC (grey bands) and LMIC (black bands) institutes. Data from https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health/research/tick-cell-biobank/bibliography/.