Control of multiple arthropod vector infestations with subolesin/akirin vaccines

Diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and sand flies greatly impact human and animal health and thus their control is important for the eradication of vector-borne diseases (VBD). Vaccination is an environmentally friendly alternative for vector control that allows control of several VBD by targeting their common vector. Recent results have suggested that subolesin/akirin (SUB/AKR) is good candidate antigens for the control of arthropod vector infestations. Here we describe the comparative effect of vaccination with SUB, AKR and Q38 and Q41 chimeras containing SUB/AKR conserved protective epitopes on tick, mosquitoes and sand flies vector mortality, molting, oviposition and/or fertility. We demonstrated that SUB vaccination had the highest efficacy (E) across all vector species (54–92%), Q41 vaccination had the highest vaccine E in mosquitoes (99%) by reducing female survival and fertility, and Q38 vaccination had the highest effect on reducing mosquito (28%) and sand fly (26%) oviposition. The effect of vaccination on different developmental processes in several important arthropod vectors encourages the development of SUB/AKR universal vaccines for the control of multiple vector infestations and reduction of VBD.

► Chimeras Q38 and Q41 containing tick subolesin (SUB) and mosquito akirin (AKR) protective epitopes were made.
► Vaccination with SUB, AKR and SUB/AKR chimeras controls tick, mosquito and sand fly infestations in mice.
► Vaccination with SUB had the highest efficacy across all vector species.
► Vaccination with Q41 had the highest efficacy in mosquitoes by reducing female survival and fertility.
► Vaccination with Q38 had the highest effect on reducing mosquito and sand fly oviposition.