Characterization of a novel cystatin type 2 from Rhipicephalus microplus midgut

A longitudinal transcriptomic analysis of Rhipicephalus microplus midgut upon feeding

Rhipicephalus microplus, a highly host-specific tick that primarily feeds on cattle, posing a significant threat to livestock production. The investigation of tick physiology is crucial for identifying potential targets in tick control. Of particular interest adult female ticks undergo a significant expansion of the midgut during feeding, leading to an over 100-fold increase in body weight. Beyond the functions of storing and digesting blood meals, the tick midgut plays a crucial role in acquiring and transmitting pathogens. However, our understanding of tick midgut physiology remains limited. In this study we conducted a comprehensive longitudinal transcriptome analysis of the midgut from adult female R. microplus ticks collected at various feeding stages, providing an overview of the transcriptional modulation in this organ as feeding progress. By employing a de novo assembly approach followed by coding-sequences (CDS) extraction, 60,599 potential CDS were identified. In preparation for functional annotation and differential expression analysis, transcripts that showed an average transcript per million (TPM) ≥ 3 in at least one of the biological conditions were extracted. This selection process resulted in a total of 10,994 CDS, which were categorized into 24 functional classes. Notably, our differential expression analysis revealed three main transcriptional profiles. In the first one, representing the slow-feeding stage, the most abundant functional classes were the "protein synthesis" and "secreted" groups, reflecting the highly active state of the tick midgut. The second profile partially accounts for the rapid-feeding stage, in which a high number of differentially expressed transcripts was observed. Lastly, the third transcriptional profile represents post-detached ticks. Notably the highest number of modulated transcripts was observed up to 48 h post-detachment (hpd), however no major differences was observed up to 168 hpd. Overall, the data presented here offers a temporal insight into tick midgut physiology, contributing to the identification of potential targets for the development of anti-tick control strategies.

A longitudinal transcriptomic analysis from unfed to post-engorgement midguts of adult female Ixodes scapularis

The hematophagy behavior has evolved independently several times within the Arthropoda phylum. Interestingly, the process of acquiring a blood meal in ticks is considerably distinct from that observed in other blood-feeding arthropods. Instead of taking seconds to minutes to complete a blood meal, an adult female Ixodes scapularis tick can remain attached to its host for numerous days. During this extended feeding period, the tick undergoes drastic morphological changes. It is well established that the tick midgut plays a pivotal role not only in blood meal digestion but also in pathogen acquisition and transmission. However, our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in these events remains limited. To expedite tick research, we conducted a comprehensive longitudinal RNA-sequencing of the tick midgut before, during, and after feeding. By collecting ticks in different feeding stages (unfed, slow feeding, rapid feeding, and early post-detached), we obtained a comprehensive overview of the transcripts present in each stage and the dynamic transcriptional changes that occur between them. This provides valuable insights into tick physiology. Additionally, through unsupervised clustering, we identified transcripts with similar patterns and stage-specific sequences. These findings serve as a foundation for selecting targets in the development of anti-tick control strategies and facilitate a better understanding of how blood feeding and pathogen infection impact tick physiology.

Novel Cysteine Protease Inhibitor Derived from the Haementeria vizottoi Leech: Recombinant Expression, Purification, and Characterization

Cathepsin L (CatL) is a lysosomal cysteine protease primarily involved in the terminal degradation of intracellular and endocytosed proteins. More specifically, in humans, CatL has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis, as well as coronary artery diseases and others. Given this, the search for potent CatL inhibitors is of great importance. In the search for new molecules to perform proteolytic activity regulation, salivary secretions from hematophagous animals have been an important source, as they present protease inhibitors that evolved to disable host proteases. Based on the transcriptome of the Haementeria vizzotoi leech, the cDNA of Cystatin-Hv was selected for this study. Cystatin-Hv was expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified by two chromatographic steps. The kinetic results using human CatL indicated that Cystatin-Hv, in its recombinant form, is a potent inhibitor of this protease, with a K_i value of 7.9 nM. Consequently, the present study describes, for the first time, the attainment and the biochemical characterization of a recombinant cystatin from leeches as a potent CatL inhibitor. While searching out for new molecules of therapeutic interest, this leech cystatin opens up possibilities for the future use of this molecule in studies involving cellular and in vivo models.

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of Enolase in the Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Rhipicephalus microplus is the main blooding-sucking ectoparasite of bovines and is regarded as important vectors of animal diseases such as Babesiosis. Mining protective antigens of R. microplus to develop antitick vaccine is the most potential tick control strategy. In this study, the specific primers were designed according to the conserved nucleotide sequence of enolase gene in Haemaphysalis flava, Ixodes ricinus, and Ornithodoros moubata. The fragment of enolase gene was obtained by PCR using cDNA template from fully engorged female R. microplus. The full-length cDNA of enolase gene was amplified using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Expression pattern of enolase gene in different tissues of R. microplus was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Results showed that the full-length enolase cDNA containing 2052 bp was obtained successfully. The complete cDNA included an ORF of 1305 nucleotides encoding a protein of 434 amino acids. The enolase exhibited 85.0% amino acid identity to the enolase of H. flava, 81.1% to I. ricinus enolase, and 81.3% to O. moubata enolase. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the enolase had the highest expression in the salivary gland of R. microplus.

Kinetic characterization of a novel cysteine peptidase from the protozoan Babesia bovis, a potential target for drug design

C1A cysteine peptidases have been shown to play an important role during apicomplexan invasion and egress of host red blood cells (RBCs) and therefore have been exploited as targets for drug development, in which peptidase specificity is deterministic. Babesia bovis genome is currently available and from the 17 putative cysteine peptidases annotated four belong to the C1A subfamily. In this study, we describe the biochemical characterization of a C1A cysteine peptidase, named here BbCp (B. bovis cysteine peptidase) and evaluate its possible participation in the parasite asexual cycle in host RBCs. The recombinant protein was obtained in bacterial inclusion bodies and after a refolding process, presented typical kinetic features of the cysteine peptidase family, enhanced activity in the presence of a reducing agent, optimum pH between 6.5 and 7.0 and was inhibited by cystatins from R. microplus. Moreover, rBbCp substrate specificity evaluation using a peptide phage display library showed a preference for Val > Leu > Phe. Finally, antibodies anti-rBbCp were able to interfere with B. bovis growth in vitro, which highlights the BbCp as a potential target for drug design.

Rhipicephalus microplus cystatin as a potential cross-protective tick vaccine against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the brown ear tick, is an important disease vector of livestock in eastern, central and southern Africa. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus acaricide resistance requires the search for alternative methods for its control. Cystatins constitute a superfamily of cysteine peptidase inhibitors vital for tick blood feeding and development. These inhibitors were proposed as antigens in anti-tick vaccines. In this work, we applied structural and biochemical approaches to characterize a new cystatin named R. appendiculatus cystatin 2a (Racys2a). Structural modeling showed that this new protein possesses characteristic type 2 cystatin motifs, besides conservation of other structural patterns along the protein. Peptidase inhibitory assays with recombinant Racys2a showed modulation of tick and host cathepsins involved in blood digestion and immune system responses, respectively. A heterologous tick challenge with R. appendiculatus in rabbits immunized with recombinant Rhipicephalus microplus cystatin 2c (rBmcys2c) was performed to determine cross-reactivity. Histological staining showed that rBmcys2c vaccination caused damage to the gut, salivary gland and ovary tissues in R. appendiculatus. Furthermore, cystatin vaccine reduced the number of fully engorged adult females in 11.5 %. Consequently, strategies to increase the protection rate are necessary, including the selection of two or more antigens to compose a vaccine cocktail.

A novel type 1 cystatin involved in the regulation of Rhipicephalus microplus midgut cysteine proteases

Rhipicephalus microplus is a cattle ectoparasite found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world with great impact on livestock production. R. microplus can also harbor pathogens, such as Babesia sp. and Anaplasma sp. which further compromise cattle production. Blood meal acquisition and digestion are key steps for tick development. In ticks, digestion takes place inside midgut cells and is mediated by aspartic and cysteine peptidases and, therefore, regulated by their inhibitors. Cystatins are a family of cysteine peptidases inhibitors found in several organisms and have been associated in ticks with blood acquisition, blood digestion, modulation of host immune response and tick immunity. In this work, we characterized a novel R. microplus type 1 cystatin, named Rmcystatin-1b. The inhibitor transcripts were found to be highly expressed in the midgut of partially and fully engorged females and they appear to be modulated at different days post-detachment. Purified recombinant Rmcystatin-1b displayed inhibitory activity towards typical cysteine peptidases with high affinity. Moreover, rRmcystatin-1b was able to inhibit native R. microplus cysteine peptidases and RNAi-mediated knockdown of the cystatin transcripts resulted in increased proteolytic activity. Moreover, rRmcystatin-1b was able to interfere with B. bovis growth in vitro. Taken together our data strongly suggest that Rmcystatin-1b is a regulator of blood digestion in R. microplus midgut.

The Anti-Angiogenic Activity of a Cystatin F Homologue from the Buccal Glands of Lampetra morii

Cystatins are a family of cysteine protease inhibitors which are associated with a variety of physiological and pathological processes in vivo. In the present study, the cDNA sequence of a cystatin F homologue called Lm-cystatin F was cloned from the buccal glands of Lampetra morii. Although Lm-cystatin F shares a lower homology with cystatin superfamily members, it is also composed of a signal peptide and three highly conserved motifs, including the G in the N-terminal, QXVXG, as well as the PW in the C-terminal of the sequence. After sequence optimization and recombination, the recombinant protein was expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli with a molecular weight of 19.85 kDa. Through affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis, the purified protein was identified as a recombinant Lm-cystatin F (rLm-cystatin F). Additionally, rLm-cystatin F could inhibit the activity of papain. Based on MTT assay, rLm-cystatin F inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dose dependently with an IC₅₀ of 5 μM. In vitro studies show that rLm-cystatin F suppressed the adhesion, migration, invasion, and tube formation of HUVECs, suggesting that rLm-cystatin F possesses anti-angiogenic activity, which provides information on the feeding mechanisms of Lampetra morii and insights into the application of rLm-cystatin F as a potential drug in the future.