New insights into how ticks control deadly SFTS virus

A team of scientists from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has revealed key mechanisms by which ticks resist infection from severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), a dangerous virus spreading in parts of East Asia.

Their research [1], published in Nature Communications, focused on the tick species Rhipicephalus microplus, examining how its cells respond at the molecular level to SFTSV. The virus can cause severe illness and death in humans, and no approved treatment or vaccine exists. As climate change expands tick populations, understanding their role in disease spread is increasingly urgent.

By applying advanced gene and protein analysis techniques, the researchers identified two proteins - UPF1 and DHX9 - that act to limit viral replication inside tick cells. This suggests ticks have active antiviral defences, not just passive virus carriers.

Professor Alain Kohl from LSTM explained: “Ticks possess sophisticated systems to detect and control viruses, which could be targeted to break the chain of infection.”

Lead author Dr Marine Petit added: “Our findings challenge the notion that ticks are simply passive hosts. Instead, they use conserved proteins as antiviral defenders, opening new avenues for preventing virus transmission.”

The study also expanded knowledge of tick biology by identifying hundreds of previously unknown proteins, laying groundwork for further research into controlling tick-borne diseases.

This collaborative project included researchers from the University of Surrey, University of Glasgow, University of Liverpool, and University of Dundee.

More information online

1. Multi-omics analysis of SFTS virus infection in Rhipicephalus microplus cells reveals antiviral tick factors published in Nature Communications