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Reyes JB, McVicar M, Beniwal S, Sharma A, Tillett R, Petereit J, Nuss A, Gulia-Nuss M. A multi-omics approach for understanding blood digestion dynamics in Ixodes scapularis and identification of anti-tick vaccine targets. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102379. [PMID: 39033644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged tick, is a major arthropod vector that transmits the causative agents of Lyme disease and several other pathogens of human significance. The tick midgut is the main tissue involved in blood acquisition and digestion and the first organ to have contact with pathogens ingested through the blood meal. Gene expression in the midgut before, during, and after a blood meal may vary in response to the physiological changes due to blood feeding. A systems biology approach based on RNA and protein sequencing was used to gain insight into the changes in tick midgut transcripts and proteins during blood ingestion (unfed and partially fed) and digestion (1-, 2-, 7-, and 14 days post detachment from the host) by the Ixodes scapularis female ticks. A total of 2,726 differentially expressed transcripts, and 449 proteins were identified across the time points. Genes involved in detoxification of xenobiotics, proteases, protease inhibitors, metabolism, and immunity were differentially expressed in response to blood feeding. Similarly, proteins corresponding to the same groups were also differentially expressed. Nine genes from major gene categories were chosen as potential vaccine candidates, and, using RNA interference, the effect of these gene knockdowns on tick biology was investigated. Knockdown of these genes had variable negative impacts on tick physiology, such as the inability to engorge fully and to produce eggs and increased mortality. These and additional gene targets provide opportunities to explore novel tick control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah B Reyes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557; Nevada Bioinformatics Center, University of Nevada Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Molly McVicar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Saransh Beniwal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557; Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Arvind Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Richard Tillett
- Nevada Bioinformatics Center, University of Nevada Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Juli Petereit
- Nevada Bioinformatics Center, University of Nevada Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Andrew Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557; Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Science, University of Nevada Reno, USA, 89557
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA, 89557.
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Li Y, Cheng R, Liu XY, Mihaljica D, Cheng TY. The effect of feeding on different hosts on the egg proteins in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis tick. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:197. [PMID: 38668762 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The majority of ixodid ticks display host-specificity to varying extents. Feeding on different hosts affects their development and reproduction. Consequences can be analyzed at the level of the egg, as it is the initial stage of tick development. Tick egg proteins are abundant and diverse, providing nutrients for embryonic development. However, studies on tick egg profiles are scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether feeding Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks on the yaks (Bos grunniens) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has an impact on the variety and variability of the egg proteome. Detached engorged females were used to lay eggs, which were then collected, dewaxed, and subjected to protein extraction. The extracted egg proteins were enzymatically digested using Filter-Aided Sample Preparation (FASP), and the unique peptides were separated and detected by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The MS data were searched against the previously constructed whole tick transcriptome library of H. qinghaiensis, and the UniProt database for the identification of tick-derived egg proteins. The analysis revealed 49 and 53 high-confidence proteins identified in eggs collected from B. grunniens (EggBg) and O. aries (EggOa), respectively. Of these, 46 high-confidence proteins were common to both egg types, while three were unique to EggBg and seven to EggOa. All the identified proteins mainly belonged to enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, transporters, and proteins with unknown functions. The differential abundance analysis showed that nine proteins were significantly more present in EggBg, while six were significantly more present in EggOa. Overall, enzymes were the most diverse group, while vitellogenin (Vg) was the most abundant. Blood meal uptake on different hosts has a certain effect on the egg proteome composition and the abundance of some proteins, but it may also lead to compensation of protein roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Li
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province 410128, Changsha, China
| | - Rong Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province 410128, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province 410128, Changsha, China
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food- and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province 410128, Changsha, China.
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Kozelková T, Dyčka F, Lu S, Urbanová V, Frantová H, Sojka D, Šíma R, Horn M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Insight Into the Dynamics of the Ixodes ricinus Nymphal Midgut Proteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100663. [PMID: 37832788 PMCID: PMC10665701 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood and have an impressive ability to consume and process enormous amounts of host blood, allowing extremely long periods of starvation between blood meals. The central role in the parasitic lifestyle of ticks is played by the midgut. This organ efficiently stores and digests ingested blood and serves as the primary interface for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, we used a label-free quantitative approach to perform a novel dynamic proteomic analysis of the midgut of Ixodesricinus nymphs, covering their development from unfed to pre-molt stages. We identified 1534 I. ricinus-specific proteins with a relatively low proportion of host proteins. This proteome dataset, which was carefully examined by manual scrutiny, allowed precise annotation of proteins important for blood meal processing and their dynamic changes during nymphal ontogeny. We focused on midgut molecules related to lipid hydrolysis, storage, and transport, opening a yet unexplored avenue for studying lipid metabolism in ticks. Further dynamic profiling of the tick's multi-enzyme digestive network, protease inhibitors, enzymes involved in redox homeostasis and detoxification, antimicrobial peptides, and proteins responsible for midgut colonization by Borrelia spirochetes promises to uncover new targets for targeting tick nymphs, the most critical life stage for transmission the pathogens that cause tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Dyčka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Frantová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Bioptic Laboratory, Ltd, Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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Farhat S, Modica MV, Puillandre N. Whole Genome Duplication and Gene Evolution in the Hyperdiverse Venomous Gastropods. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad171. [PMID: 37494290 PMCID: PMC10401626 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity of venomous organisms and the toxins they produce have been increasingly investigated, but taxonomic bias remains important. Neogastropods, a group of marine predators representing almost 22% of the known gastropod diversity, evolved a wide range of feeding strategies, including the production of toxins to subdue their preys. However, whether the diversity of these compounds is at the origin of the hyperdiversification of the group and how genome evolution may correlate with both the compounds and species diversities remain understudied. Among the available gastropods genomes, only eight, with uneven quality assemblies, belong to neogastropods. Here, we generated chromosome-level assemblies of two species belonging to the Tonnoidea and Muricoidea superfamilies (Monoplex corrugatus and Stramonita haemastoma). The two obtained high-quality genomes had 3 and 2.2 Gb, respectively, and 92-89% of the total assembly conformed 35 pseudochromosomes in each species. Through the analysis of syntenic blocks, Hox gene cluster duplication, and synonymous substitutions distribution pattern, we inferred the occurrence of a whole genome duplication event in both genomes. As these species are known to release venom, toxins were annotated in both genomes, but few of them were found in homologous chromosomes. A comparison of the expression of ohnolog genes (using transcriptomes from osphradium and salivary glands in S. haemastoma), where both copies were differentially expressed, showed that most of them had similar expression profiles. The high quality of these genomes makes them valuable reference in their respective taxa, facilitating the identification of genome-level processes at the origin of their evolutionary success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farhat
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Maria Vittoria Modica
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Roma, Italy
| | - Nicolas Puillandre
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
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Cheng R, Li D, Duan DY, Parry R, Cheng TY, Liu L. Egg protein profile and dynamics during embryogenesis in Haemaphysalis flava ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102180. [PMID: 37011496 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Tick eggs contain all essential proteins for embryogenesis, and egg proteins are a potential reservoir of tick-protective antigens. However, the protein profile and dynamics during embryonic development remain unknown. This study aimed to depict the protein profile and dynamics in tick embryogenesis, further providing protein candidates for targeted interventions. Eggs from Haemaphysalis flava ticks were incubated at 28 °C and 85% relative humidity. On days 0 (newly laid eggs without incubation), 7, 14 and 21, eggs were collected, dewaxed and subject to protein extraction. Extracted proteins were digested by filter-aided sample preparation and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). MS data were searched against an in-house H. flava protein database for tick-derived protein identification. Abundances of 40 selected high-confidence proteins were further quantified by LC-parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)/MS analysis throughout egg incubation. A total of 93 high-confidence proteins were identified in eggs on 0-day incubation. Identified proteins belonged to seven functional categories: transporters, enzymes, proteinase inhibitors, immunity-related proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, heat shock proteins and uncharacterized proteins. The enzyme category contained the most types of proteins. Neutrophil elastase inhibitors represented the most abundant proteins in terms of intensity-based absolute-protein-quantification. LC-PRM/MS revealed that the abundances of 20 proteins increased including enolase, calreticulin, actin, GAPDH et cetera, and the abundances of 11 proteins decreased including vitellogenins, neutrophil elastase inhibitor, carboxypeptidase Q, et cetera from 0- to 21-day incubation. This study provides the most comprehensive egg protein profile and dynamics during tick embryogenesis. Further investigations are needed to test the tick-control efficacy by targeting the egg proteins.
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Liu L, Cheng R, Mao SQ, Duan DY, Feng LL, Cheng TY. Saliva proteome of partially- and fully-engorged adult female Haemaphysalis flava ticks. Vet Parasitol 2023; 318:109933. [PMID: 37043866 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick saliva is a reservoir of bioactive proteins. Saliva protein compositions change dynamically during blood-feeding. Decipherment of protein profiles in different blood-feeding stages may bring deeper insight into tick feeding physiology and provide targets for immunologic control alternatives. However, having the infancy of tick genome sequencing, assembly, annotation, and limited knowledge of tick salivary proteins restrain the data interpretation. Here, we aimed to depict the saliva protein profile in partially- (PE) and fully-engorged (FE) Haemaphysalis flava ticks, with a special focus on the analysis of those uncharacterized proteins. Saliva was collected from PE and FE adult female H. flava ticks. Saliva proteins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS-MS). MS data were searched against an in-house salivary gland transcriptome library for identification of tick-derived proteins. Abundances of proteins were compared between PE and FE ticks. The uncharacterized proteins detected in saliva were further bioinformatically analyzed. In total, 614 proteins were identified including 94 host proteins and 520 tick-derived proteins. The 226 tick-derived high-confidence proteins were classified into 10 categories: transporters, enzymes, protease inhibitors, immunity-related proteins, lipocalins, glycine-rich proteins, muscle proteins, secreted proteins, uncharacterized proteins and others. A total of 98 proteins were shared in both PE and FE with 74 only in PE and 54 only in FE. Abundances of 24 shared proteins were significantly higher in PE. The profile of top 15 most abundant proteins was also different between PE and FE ticks. The 65 uncharacterized proteins detected in tick saliva were branched into subclusters 1 A, 1B, 2, 3 A, 3B and 3 C based on particular motifs like RGD, LRR, indicating their diverse predicted functions like anti-coagulation, regulation of innate immune, or other functions. This study provides and compares saliva proteomes of H. flava ticks in two feeding stages with special cluster analysis on the uncharacterized proteins. Further investigations are needed to confirm the roles of these uncharacterized proteins in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Rong Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Si-Qing Mao
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Li-Li Feng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
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Liu L, Yan F, Zhang L, Wu ZF, Duan DY, Cheng TY. Protein profiling of hemolymph in Haemaphysalis flava ticks. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:179. [PMID: 35610668 PMCID: PMC9128142 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05287-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick hemolymph bathes internal organs, acts as an exchange medium for nutrients and cellular metabolites, and offers protection against pathogens. Hemolymph is abundant in proteins. However, there has been limited integrated protein analysis in tick hemolymph thus far. Moreover, there are difficulties in differentiating tick-derived proteins from the host source. The aim of this study was to profile the tick/host protein components in the hemolymph of Haemaphysalis flava. Methods Hemolymph from adult engorged H. flava females was collected by leg amputation from the Erinaceus europaeus host. Hemolymph proteins were extracted by a filter-aided sample preparation protocol, digested by trypsin, and assayed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). MS raw data were searched against the UniProt Erinaceidae database and H. flava protein database for host- and tick-derived protein identification. Protein abundance was further quantified by intensity-based absolute quantification (iBAQ). Results Proteins extracted from hemolymph unevenly varied in size with intense bands between 100 and 130 kDa. In total, 312 proteins were identified in the present study. Therein 40 proteins were identified to be host-derived proteins, of which 18 were high-confidence proteins. Top 10 abundant host-derived proteins included hemoglobin subunit-α and subunit-β, albumin, serotransferrin-like, ubiquitin-like, haptoglobin, α-1-antitrypsin-like protein, histone H2B, apolipoprotein A-I, and C3-β. In contrast, 169 were high-confidence tick-derived proteins. These proteins were classified into six categories based on reported functions in ticks, i.e., enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, transporters, immune-related proteins, muscle proteins, and heat shock proteins. The abundance of Vg, microplusin and α-2-macroglobulin was the highest among tick-derived proteins as indicated by iBAQ. Conclusions Numerous tick- and host-derived proteins were identified in hemolymph. The protein profile of H. flava hemolymph revealed a sophisticated protein system in the physiological processes of anticoagulation, digestion of blood meal, and innate immunity. More investigations are needed to characterize tick-derived proteins in hemolymph. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05287-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Fen Yan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Zhi-Feng Wu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors (RCPV), College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
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Song R, Zhai X, Fan X, Li Y, Ge T, Li C, Li M, He W, Zheng H, Gan L, Zhang Y, Chahan B. Prediction and validation of cross-protective candidate antigen of Hyalomma asiaticum cathepsin L between H. asiaticum and H. anatolicum. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:283-298. [PMID: 35133525 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00689-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Hyalomma asiaticum and H. anatolicum are tick species in Eurasia and Africa with major medical and veterinary significance. Beside their direct pathogenic effects, H. asiaticum and H. anatolicum are vectors of important diseases of livestock and in some instances of zoonoses. In search of ways to address the increasing incidence of global acaricide resistance, tick control through vaccination is regarded as a sustainable alternative approach. Cathepsin L-like cysteine protease (CPL) is a potent hemoglobinase, and plays important roles in the digestion of blood acquired from a host. CPL from H. anatolicum (HanCPL) with high similarity (> 90%) for H. asiaticum CPL (HasCPL) were aligned by in silico analysis. After further in vitro validation, the anti-HasCPL sera have cross-reactivity between the different total native protein of life stages and tissues for H. asiaticum and H. anatolicum. Furthermore, we further confirmed that recombinant HasCPL (rHasCPL) immunized rabbits were partially cross-protected (54.8%) by H. anatolicum infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Song
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xuejie Zhai
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xinli Fan
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yongchang Li
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Ting Ge
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Caishan Li
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Min Li
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wenwen He
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Huizhen Zheng
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Lu Gan
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bayin Chahan
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
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Liu Q, Deng Y, Song A, Xiang Y, Chen D, Wei L. Comparative analysis of mite genomes reveals positive selection for diet adaptation. Commun Biol 2021; 4:668. [PMID: 34083730 PMCID: PMC8175442 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02173-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diet is a powerful evolutionary force for species adaptation and diversification. Acari is one of the most abundant clades of Arachnida, exhibiting diverse dietary types, while the underlying genetic adaptive mechanisms are not fully understood. Based on comparative analyses of 15 Acari genomes, we found genetic bases for three specialized diets. Herbivores experienced stronger selection pressure than other groups; the olfactory genes and gene families involving metabolizing toxins showed strong adaptive signals. Genes and gene families related to anticoagulation, detoxification, and haemoglobin digestion were found to be under strong selection pressure or significantly expanded in the blood-feeding species. Lipid metabolism genes have a faster evolutionary rate and been subjected to greater selection pressures in fat-feeding species; one positively selected site in the fatty-acid amide hydrolases 2 gene was identified. Our research provides a new perspective for the evolution of Acari and offers potential target loci for novel pesticide development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhua Deng
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - An Song
- ShaanXi JunDa Forensic Medicine Expertise Station, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yifan Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - De Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Braden LM, Monaghan SJ, Fast MD. Salmon immunological defence and interplay with the modulatory capabilities of its ectoparasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12731. [PMID: 32403169 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Lsal) is an ectoparasitic copepod that exerts immunomodulatory and physiological effects on its host Atlantic salmon. Over 30 years of research on louse biology, control, host responses and the host-parasite relationship has provided a plethora of information on the intricacies of host resistance and parasite adaptation. Atlantic salmon exhibit temporal and spatial impairment of the immune system and wound healing ability during infection. This immunosuppression may render Atlantic salmon less tolerant to stress and other confounders associated with current management strategies. Contrasting susceptibility of salmonid hosts exists, and early pro-inflammatory Th1 type responses are associated with resistance. Rapid cellular responses to larvae appear to tip the balance of the host-parasite relationship in favour of the host, preventing severe immune-physiological impacts of the more invasive adults. Immunological, transcriptomic, genomic and proteomic evidence suggests pathological impacts occur in susceptible hosts through modulation of host immunity and physiology via pharmacologically active molecules. Co-evolutionary and farming selection pressures may have incurred preference of Atlantic salmon as a host for Lsal reflected in their interactome. Here, we review host-parasite interactions at the primary attachment/feeding site, and the complex life stage-dependent molecular mechanisms employed to subvert host physiology and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Braden
- AquaBounty Canada, Bay Fortune, PEI, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College-UPEI, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
| | - Sean J Monaghan
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Mark D Fast
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College-UPEI, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
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Wang M, Hu Y, Li M, Xu Q, Zhang X, Wang X, Xue X, Xiao Q, Liu J, Wang H. A proteomics analysis of the ovarian development in females of Haemaphysalis longicornis. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 80:289-309. [PMID: 31919614 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis is an ixodid tick that can spread a wide variety of pathogens, affecting humans, livestock and wildlife health. The high reproductive capability of this species is initiated by the ingestion of a large amount of blood ingested by the engorged female tick. The degree of ovarian development is proportional to the number of eggs laid. Studying the regulatory mechanism of tick ovary development is relevant for the development of novel tick control methods. In this study, we used quantitative proteomics to study the dynamic changes in protein expression and protein phosphorylation during ovarian development of engorged female H. longicornis ticks. Synergistic action of many proteins (n = 3031) is required to achieve ovarian development and oocyte formation rapidly. Through bioinformatics analysis, changes in protein expressions and phosphorylation modifications in regulating the ovarian development of female ticks are described. Many proteins play an essential role during ovarian development. Also, protein phosphorylation appeared an important reproductive strategy to enable ticks to efficiently convert large amounts of blood in the ovaries into egg-producing components and ultimately produce many eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjing Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Yuhong Hu
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Mengxue Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Qianqian Xu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiaomin Xue
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Qi Xiao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Jingze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
- , Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
- , Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
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12
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Giachetto PF, Cunha RC, Nhani A, Garcia MV, Ferro JA, Andreotti R. Gene Expression in the Salivary Gland of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Fed on Tick-Susceptible and Tick-Resistant Hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 9:477. [PMID: 32039052 PMCID: PMC6985549 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of cattle tick fixation largely depends on the secretion of substances that alter the immune response of the host. The majority of these substances are expressed by the parasite salivary gland and secreted in tick saliva. It is known that hosts can mount immune responses against ticks and bovine European breeds, and bovine industrial crossbreeds are more susceptible to infestations than are Bos indicus cattle. To identify candidates for the development of novel control strategies for the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, a salivary gland transcriptome analysis of engorged females fed on susceptible or resistant hosts was performed. Using RNA-Seq, transcriptomes were de novo assembled and produced a total of 235,451 contigs with 93.3% transcriptome completeness. Differential expression analysis identified 137 sequences as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ticks raised on tick-susceptible or tick-resistant cattle. DEGs predicted to be secreted proteins include innexins, which are transmembrane proteins that form gap junction channels; the transporters Na+/dicarboxylate, Na+/tricarboxylate, and phosphate transporter and a putative monocarboxylate transporter; a phosphoinositol 4-phosphate adaptor protein; a cysteine-rich protein containing a trypsin inhibitor-like (TIL) domain; a putative defense protein 3 containing a reeler domain; and an F-actin-uncapping protein LRRC16A with a CARMIL_C domain; these genes were upregulated in ticks fed on tick-susceptible cattle. DEGs predicted to be non-secreted proteins included a small heat shock protein and the negative elongation factor B-like, both acting in a coordinated manner to increase HSP transcript levels in the salivary glands of the ticks fed on tick-susceptible cattle; the 26S protease regulatory subunit 6B and another chaperone with similarity to calnexin, also upregulated in ticks fed on tick-susceptible cattle; an EF-hand calcium binding protein and a serine carboxypeptidase (SCP), both involved in the blood coagulation cascade and upregulated in ticks fed on tick-susceptible cattle; and two ribosomal proteins, the 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2 and the 60S ribosomal protein L19. These results help to characterize cattle tick salivary gland gene expression in tick-susceptible and tick-resistant hosts and suggest new putative targets for the control of tick infestations, as those genes involved in the mechanism of stress response during blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo Casquero Cunha
- Bolsista do CNPq (157460/2018-5), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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13
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Kim D, Jaworski DC, Cheng C, Nair AD, Ganta RR, Herndon N, Brown S, Park Y. The transcriptome of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, reveals molecular changes in response to infection with the pathogen, Ehrlichia chaffeensis. JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 21:852-863. [PMID: 34316264 PMCID: PMC8312692 DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is an obligatory ectoparasite of many vertebrates and the primary vector of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis. This study aimed to investigate the comparative transcriptomes of A. americanum underlying the processes of pathogen acquisition and of immunity towards the pathogen. Differential expression of the whole body transcripts in six different treatments were compared: females and males that were E. chaffeensis non-exposed, E. chaffeensis-exposed/uninfected, and E. chaffeensis-exposed/infected. The Trinity assembly pipeline produced 140,574 transcripts from trimmed and filtered total raw sequence reads (approximately 117M reads). The gold transcript set of the transcriptome data was established to minimize noise by retaining only transcripts homologous to official peptide sets of Ixodes scapularis and A. americanum ESTs and transcripts covered with high enough frequency from the raw data. Comparison of the gene ontology term enrichment analyses for the six groups tested here revealed an up-regulation of genes for defense responses against the pathogen and for the supply of intracellular Ca++ for pathogen proliferation in the pathogen-exposed ticks. Analyses of differential expression, focused on functional subcategories including immune, sialome, neuropeptides, and G protein-coupled receptor, revealed that E. chaffeensis-exposed ticks exhibited an upregulation of transcripts involved in the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, antimicrobial peptides, Kunitz, an insulin-like peptide, and bursicon receptor over unexposed ones, while transcripts for metalloprotease were down-regulated in general. This study found that ticks exhibit enhanced expression of genes responsible for defense against E. chaffeensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghun Kim
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Deborah C. Jaworski
- Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Chuanmin Cheng
- Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Arathy D.S. Nair
- Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Roman R. Ganta
- Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Nic Herndon
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Susan Brown
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Yoonseong Park
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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14
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Bensaoud C, Nishiyama MY, Ben Hamda C, Lichtenstein F, Castro de Oliveira U, Faria F, Loiola Meirelles Junqueira-de-Azevedo I, Ghedira K, Bouattour A, M'Ghirbi Y, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM. De novo assembly and annotation of Hyalomma dromedarii tick (Acari: Ixodidae) sialotranscriptome with regard to gender differences in gene expression. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:314. [PMID: 29793520 PMCID: PMC5968504 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2874-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hard ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites characterized by their long-term feeding. The saliva that they secrete during their blood meal is their crucial weapon against host-defense systems including hemostasis, inflammation and immunity. The anti-hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory activities carried out by tick saliva molecules warrant their pharmacological investigation. The Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844 tick is a common parasite of camels and probably the best adapted to deserts of all hard ticks. Like other hard ticks, the salivary glands of this tick may provide a rich source of many compounds whose biological activities interact directly with host system pathways. Female H. dromedarii ticks feed longer than males, thereby taking in more blood. To investigate the differences in feeding behavior as reflected in salivary compounds, we performed de novo assembly and annotation of H. dromedarii sialotranscriptome paying particular attention to variations in gender gene expression. RESULTS The quality-filtered Illumina sequencing reads deriving from a cDNA library of salivary glands led to the assembly of 15,342 transcripts. We deduced that the secreted proteins included: metalloproteases, glycine-rich proteins, mucins, anticoagulants of the mandanin family and lipocalins, among others. Expression analysis revealed differences in the expression of transcripts between male and female H. dromedarii that might explain the blood-feeding strategies employed by both genders. CONCLUSIONS The annotated sialome of H. dromedarii helps understand the interaction of tick-host molecules during blood-feeding and can lead to the discovery of new pharmacologically active proteins of ticks of the genus Hyalomma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaima Bensaoud
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03, Service d'entomologie médicale, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Milton Yutaka Nishiyama
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Cherif Ben Hamda
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT09, Laboratoire de Bioinformatique, Biomathematique et biostatiqtiques, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Flavio Lichtenstein
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Ursula Castro de Oliveira
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Faria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Kais Ghedira
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT09, Laboratoire de Bioinformatique, Biomathematique et biostatiqtiques, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03, Service d'entomologie médicale, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie.
| | - Youmna M'Ghirbi
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03, Service d'entomologie médicale, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
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15
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Functional characterization of candidate antigens of Hyalomma anatolicum and evaluation of its cross-protective efficacy against Rhipicephalus microplus. Vaccine 2017; 35:5682-5692. [PMID: 28911904 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus microplus seriously affect dairy animals and immunization of host is considered as a sustainable option for the management of the tick species. Identification and validation of protective molecules are the major challenges in developing a cross-protective vaccine. The subolesin (SUB), calreticulin (CRT) and cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase (CathL) genes of H. anatolicum were cloned, sequenced and analysed for sequence homology. Both Ha-SUB and Ha-CRT genes showed very high level of homogeneity within the species (97.6-99.4% and 98.2-99.7%) and among the tick species (77.3-99.3% and 85.1-99.7%) while for Ha-CathL the homogeneity was lower among ticks (57.5-89.5%). Besides tick species, both Ha-SUB and Ha- CRT genes showed high level of homogeneity with dipterans (47.2-53.4% and 72.0-74.4%) and nematodes (64.0% by CRT). The level of expression of the conserved genes in different stages of the tick species was studied. The differences in fold change of expression (FCE) of the targeted genes in life stages of tick were not statistically significant except Ha-SUB in eggs and in frustrated females, Ha-CRT in fed male and Ha-CathL in unfed and frustrated females where highest FCE was recorded. The functional properties of the genes were studied by RNAi technology and a significant level of gene suppression (p<0.05) resulted in very low percentage of engorgement of treated ticks viz., 3.7%, 11.1% and 30.0% in Ha-SUB, Ha-CRT and Ha-CathL respectively, in comparison to control was recorded. The recombinant proteins rHa-SUB, rHa-CRT and rHa-CathL encoded by the genes were expressed in prokaryotic expression system. They were evaluated for cross-protective efficacy and found to be respectively, 65.4%, 41.3% and 30.2% protective against H. anatolicum and 54.0%, 37.6% and 22.2%, against R. microplus infestations.
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16
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Martins LA, Galletti MFBDM, Ribeiro JM, Fujita A, Costa FB, Labruna MB, Daffre S, Fogaça AC. The Distinct Transcriptional Response of the Midgut of Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum Ticks to Rickettsia rickettsii Correlates to Their Differences in Susceptibility to Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:129. [PMID: 28503490 PMCID: PMC5409265 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia rickettsii is a tick-borne obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). In Brazil, two species of ticks in the genus Amblyomma, A. sculptum and A. aureolatum, are incriminated as vectors of this bacterium. Importantly, these two species present remarkable differences in susceptibility to R. rickettsii infection, where A. aureolatum is more susceptible than A. sculptum. In the current study, A. aureolatum and A. sculptum ticks were fed on suitable hosts previously inoculated with R. rickettsii, mimicking a natural infection. As control, ticks were fed on non-infected animals. Both midgut and salivary glands of all positively infected ticks were colonized by R. rickettsii. We did not observe ticks with infection restricted to midgut, suggesting that important factors for controlling rickettsial colonization were produced in this organ. In order to identify such factors, the total RNA extracted from the midgut (MG) was submitted to next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The majority of the coding sequences (CDSs) of A. sculptum differentially expressed by infection were upregulated, whereas most of modulated CDSs of A. aureolatum were downregulated. The functional categories that comprise upregulated CDSs of A. sculptum, for instance, metabolism, signal transduction, protein modification, extracellular matrix, and immunity also include CDSs of A. aureolatum that were downregulated by infection. This is the first study that reports the effects of an experimental infection with the highly virulent R. rickettsii on the gene expression of two natural tick vectors. The distinct transcriptional profiles of MG of A. sculptum and A. aureolatum upon infection stimulus strongly suggest that molecular factors in this organ are responsible for delineating the susceptibility to R. rickettsii. Functional studies to determine the role played by proteins encoded by differentially expressed CDSs in the acquisition of R. rickettsii are warranted and may be considered as targets for the development of strategies to control the tick-borne pathogens as well as to control the tick vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa A Martins
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria F B de Melo Galletti
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - José M Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesRockville, MD, USA
| | - André Fujita
- Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa C Fogaça
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
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17
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Santiago PB, de Araújo CN, Motta FN, Praça YR, Charneau S, Bastos IMD, Santana JM. Proteases of haematophagous arthropod vectors are involved in blood-feeding, yolk formation and immunity - a review. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:79. [PMID: 28193252 PMCID: PMC5307778 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2005-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks, triatomines, mosquitoes and sand flies comprise a large number of haematophagous arthropods considered vectors of human infectious diseases. While consuming blood to obtain the nutrients necessary to carry on life functions, these insects can transmit pathogenic microorganisms to the vertebrate host. Among the molecules related to the blood-feeding habit, proteases play an essential role. In this review, we provide a panorama of proteases from arthropod vectors involved in haematophagy, in digestion, in egg development and in immunity. As these molecules act in central biological processes, proteases from haematophagous vectors of infectious diseases may influence vector competence to transmit pathogens to their prey, and thus could be valuable targets for vectorial control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Beatriz Santiago
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Carla Nunes de Araújo
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.,Faculdade de Ceilândia, Universidade de Brasília, Centro Metropolitano, Conjunto A, Lote 01, 72220-275, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Flávia Nader Motta
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.,Faculdade de Ceilândia, Universidade de Brasília, Centro Metropolitano, Conjunto A, Lote 01, 72220-275, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Yanna Reis Praça
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.,Programa Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Izabela M Dourado Bastos
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Jaime M Santana
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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18
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Braden LM, Sutherland BJG, Koop BF, Jones SRM. Enhanced transcriptomic responses in the Pacific salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis oncorhynchi to the non-native Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar suggests increased parasite fitness. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:110. [PMID: 28137252 PMCID: PMC5282744 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3520-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Outcomes of infections with the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis vary considerably among its natural hosts (Salmo, Oncorhynchus spp.). Host-parasite interactions range from weak to strong host responses accompanied by high to low parasite abundances, respectively. Parasite behavioral studies indicate that the louse prefers the host Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), which is characterized by a weak immune response, and that this results in enhanced parasite reproduction and growth rates. Furthermore, parasite-derived immunosuppressive molecules (e.g., proteases) have been detected at higher amounts in response to the mucus of Atlantic Salmon relative to Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). However, the host-specific responses of the salmon louse have not been well characterized in either of the genetically distinct sub-species that occur in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Results We assessed and compared the transcriptomic feeding response of the Pacific salmon louse (L. salmonis oncorhynchi,) while parasitizing the highly susceptible Atlantic Salmon and Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) or the more resistant Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) using a 38 K oligonucleotide microarray. The response of the louse was enhanced both in the number of overexpressed genes and in the magnitude of expression while feeding on the non-native Atlantic Salmon, compared to either Coho or Sockeye Salmon. For example, putative virulence factors (e.g., cathepsin L, trypsin, carboxypeptidase B), metabolic enzymes (e.g., cytochrome B, cytochrome C), protein synthesis enzymes (e.g., ribosomal protein P2, 60S ribosomal protein L7), and reproduction-related genes (e.g., estrogen sulfotransferase) were overexpressed in Atlantic-fed lice, indicating heightened parasite fitness with this host species. In contrast, responses in Coho- or Sockeye-fed lice were more similar to those of parasites deprived of a host. To test for host acclimation by the parasite, we performed a reciprocal host transfer experiment and determined that the exaggerated response to Atlantic Salmon was independent of the initial host species, confirming our conclusion that the Pacific salmon louse exhibits an enhanced response to Atlantic Salmon. Conclusions This study characterized global transcriptomic responses of Pacific salmon lice during infection of susceptible and resistant hosts. Similar parasite responses during infection of Coho or Sockeye Salmon, despite differences in natural immunity to infection between these host species, indicate that host susceptibility status alone does not drive the parasite response. We identified an enhanced louse response after feeding on Atlantic Salmon, characterized by up-regulation of virulence factors, energy metabolism and reproductive-associated transcripts. In contrast, the responses of lice infecting Coho or Sockeye Salmon were weaker, with reduced expression of virulence factors. These observations indicate that the response of the louse is independent of host susceptibility and suggest that co-evolutionary host-parasite relationships may influence contemporary host-parasite interactions. This research improves our understanding of the susceptibility of Atlantic Salmon and may assist in the development of novel control measures against the salmon louse. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3520-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Braden
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Present Address: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Ben J G Sutherland
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Present Address: Département de biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Ben F Koop
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Simon R M Jones
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
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19
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Perner J, Provazník J, Schrenková J, Urbanová V, Ribeiro JMC, Kopáček P. RNA-seq analyses of the midgut from blood- and serum-fed Ixodes ricinus ticks. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36695. [PMID: 27824139 PMCID: PMC5099782 DOI: 10.1038/srep36695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult females of the genus Ixodes imbibe blood meals exceeding about 100 times their own weight within 7‒9 days. During this period, ticks internalise components of host blood by endocytic digest cells that line the tick midgut epithelium. Using RNA-seq, we aimed to characterise the midgut transcriptome composition in adult Ixodes ricinus females during early and late phase of engorgement. To address specific adaptations to the haemoglobin-rich diet, we compared the midgut transcriptomes of genetically homogenous female siblings fed either bovine blood or haemoglobin-depleted serum. We noted that tick gut transcriptomes are subject to substantial temporal-dependent expression changes between day 3 and day 8 of feeding. In contrast, the number of transcripts significantly affected by the presence or absence of host red blood cells was low. Transcripts relevant to the processes associated with blood-meal digestion were analysed and involvement of selected encoded proteins in the tick midgut physiology discussed. A total of 7215 novel sequences from I. ricinus were deposited in public databases as an additional outcome of this study. Our results broaden the current knowledge of tick digestive system and may lead to the discovery of potential molecular targets for efficient tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Provazník
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Schrenková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Xu T, Lew-Tabor A, Rodriguez-Valle M. Effective inhibition of thrombin by Rhipicephalus microplus serpin-15 (RmS-15) obtained in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:180-187. [PMID: 26530984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) affects cattle industries in tropical and subtropical countries because it is the vector of babesiosis and anaplasmosis which constitutes a threat to the health of cattle. During blooding feeding, ticks secrete saliva containing a complex of bioactive molecules into the injured site to evade host's defensive responses. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are important anti-haemostatic molecules present in tick saliva that are necessary for a successful blood feeding. Several serpin sequences have been reported in R. microplus but there is a gap of information about their functions during host-parasite interactions. In this study, the RmS-15 expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris was characterised using kinetic assays and in vitro analysis. The inhibitory enzymatic assays conducted showed that RmS-15 is a physiological inhibitor of thrombin with a stoichiometric inhibition (SI) of 1.5 and high inhibition affinity with ka=9.3±0.5×104M(-1)s(-1). RmS-15 delayed the clotting of plasma in a dose-dependent manner as determined in a recalcification time assay. Significant elevated ELISA titres were observed in tick resistant and susceptible cattle on day 28 after the tick infestation (p<0.001). This data suggests direct contact of RmS-15 with the immune system of the host at the tick-feeding site. The present study contributed to the understanding of the biological functions of R. microplus serpins during host-parasite interactions which contributes to the design of future innovative methods for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia
| | - Ala Lew-Tabor
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia; Murdoch University, Centre for Comparative Genomics, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Manuel Rodriguez-Valle
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia.
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Galay RL, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Mochizuki M, Fujisaki K, Tanaka T. Iron metabolism in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): the antidote to their toxic diet. Parasitol Int 2014; 64:182-9. [PMID: 25527065 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are notorious parasitic arthropods, known for their completely host-blood-dependent lifestyle. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) feed on their hosts for several days and can ingest blood more than a hundred times their unfed weight. Their blood-feeding habit facilitates the transmission of various pathogens. It is remarkable how hard ticks cope with the toxic nature of their blood meal, which contains several molecules that can promote oxidative stress including iron. While it is required in several physiological processes, high amounts of iron can be dangerous because iron can also participate in the formation of free radicals that may cause cellular damage and death. Here we review the current knowledge on heme and inorganic iron metabolism in hard ticks and compare it with that in vertebrates and other arthropods. We briefly discuss the studies on heme transport, storage and detoxification, and the transport and storage of inorganic iron, with emphasis on the functions of tick ferritins. This review points out other aspects of tick iron metabolism that warrant further investigation, as compared to mammals and other arthropods. Further understanding of this physiological process may help in formulating new control strategies for tick infestation and the spread of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remil Linggatong Galay
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan; Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Masami Mochizuki
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan; Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kozo Fujisaki
- National Agricultural and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Department of Pathological and Preventive Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan; Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
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22
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Radulović ŽM, Kim TK, Porter LM, Sze SH, Lewis L, Mulenga A. A 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:518. [PMID: 24962723 PMCID: PMC4099483 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple tick saliva proteins, the majority of which are unknown, confer tick resistance in repeatedly infested animals. The objective of this study was to identify the 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. The 24-48 h tick-feeding phase is critical to tick parasitism as it precedes important events in tick biology, blood meal feeding and disease agent transmission. Fed male, 24 and 96 h fed female phage display cDNA expression libraries were biopanned using rabbit antibodies to 24 and 48 h fed A. americanum female tick saliva proteins. Biopanned immuno-cDNA libraries were subjected to next generation sequencing, de novo assembly, and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS More than 800 transcripts that code for 24-48 h fed A. americanum immuno-proteins are described. Of the 895 immuno-proteins, 52% (464/895) were provisionally identified based on matches in GenBank. Of these, ~19% (86/464) show high level of identity to other tick hypothetical proteins, and the rest include putative proteases (serine, cysteine, leukotriene A-4 hydrolase, carboxypeptidases, and metalloproteases), protease inhibitors (serine and cysteine protease inhibitors, tick carboxypeptidase inhibitor), and transporters and/or ligand binding proteins (histamine binding/lipocalin, fatty acid binding, calreticulin, hemelipoprotein, IgG binding protein, ferritin, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, and evasin). Others include enzymes (glutathione transferase, cytochrome oxidase, protein disulfide isomerase), ribosomal proteins, and those of miscellaneous functions (histamine release factor, selenoproteins, tetraspanin, defensin, heat shock proteins). CONCLUSIONS Data here demonstrate that A. americanum secretes a complex cocktail of immunogenic tick saliva proteins during the first 24-48 h of feeding. Of significance, previously validated immunogenic tick saliva proteins including AV422 protein, calreticulin, histamine release factor, histamine binding/lipocalins, selenoproteins, and paramyosin were identified in this screen, supporting the specificity of the approach in this study. While descriptive, this study opens opportunities for in-depth tick feeding physiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Željko M Radulović
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Tae K Kim
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Lindsay M Porter
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- />Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX77843 USA
- />Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Lauren Lewis
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
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Tirloni L, Reck J, Terra RMS, Martins JR, Mulenga A, Sherman NE, Fox JW, Yates JR, Termignoni C, Pinto AFM, da Silva Vaz I. Proteomic analysis of cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus saliva: a comparison between partially and fully engorged females. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94831. [PMID: 24762651 PMCID: PMC3998978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most harmful parasites affecting bovines. Similarly to other hematophagous ectoparasites, R. microplus saliva contains a collection of bioactive compounds that inhibit host defenses against tick feeding activity. Thus, the study of tick salivary components offers opportunities for the development of immunological based tick control methods and medicinal applications. So far, only a few proteins have been identified in cattle tick saliva. The aim of this work was to identify proteins present in R. microplus female tick saliva at different feeding stages. Proteomic analysis of R. microplus saliva allowed identifying peptides corresponding to 187 and 68 tick and bovine proteins, respectively. Our data confirm that (i) R. microplus saliva is complex, and (ii) that there are remarkable differences in saliva composition between partially engorged and fully engorged female ticks. R. microplus saliva is rich mainly in (i) hemelipoproteins and other transporter proteins, (ii) secreted cross-tick species conserved proteins, (iii) lipocalins, (iv) peptidase inhibitors, (v) antimicrobial peptides, (vii) glycine-rich proteins, (viii) housekeeping proteins and (ix) host proteins. This investigation represents the first proteomic study about R. microplus saliva, and reports the most comprehensive Ixodidae tick saliva proteome published to date. Our results improve the understanding of tick salivary modulators of host defense to tick feeding, and provide novel information on the tick-host relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Tirloni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - José Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Renata Maria Soares Terra
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
- CAPES, Ministério da Educação do Brasil, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - João Ricardo Martins
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nicholas E. Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jay W. Fox
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - John R. Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Antônio F. M. Pinto
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
- CAPES, Ministério da Educação do Brasil, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Yamaji K, Miyoshi T, Hatta T, Matsubayashi M, Alim MA, Anisuzzaman, Kushibiki S, Fujisaki K, Tsuji N. HlCPL-A, a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, modulated midgut proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors during blood meal digestion. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 16:206-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sojka D, Franta Z, Horn M, Caffrey CR, Mareš M, Kopáček P. New insights into the machinery of blood digestion by ticks. Trends Parasitol 2013; 29:276-85. [PMID: 23664173 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 04/06/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Blood-protein digestion is a key physiological process providing essential nutrients for ticks and is a prerequisite for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Recently, substantial progress has been made in determining the proteolytic machinery in tick gut tissue, which is based on a dynamic multienzyme network capable of processing a vast amount of host blood. In this article we summarize our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of tick hematophagy and their similarities to those of Platyhelminthes, nematodes, and Plasmodium. Future research perspectives, including the potential for rational control of ticks and transmitted diseases, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, CZ 370 05, Czech Republic
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26
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Hatta T, Miyoshi T, Matsubayashi M, Islam MK, Alim MA, Anisuzzaman, Yamaji K, Fujisaki K, Tsuji N. Semi-artificial mouse skin membrane feeding technique for adult tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:263. [PMID: 23153119 PMCID: PMC3514109 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An in vitro artificial feeding technique for hard ticks is quite useful for studying the tick-pathogen interactions. Here, we report a novel semi-artificial feeding technique for the adult parthenogenetic tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, using mouse skin membrane. FINDINGS Skin with attached adult ticks was removed from the mouse body at 4 to 5 days post-infestation for the construction of the feeding system. This system supplied with rabbit blood was kept in >95% relative humidity at 30°C during the feeding, and ticks were fully engorged (artificially engorged, AE) within 12 to 48 h. For comparison, ticks were fed to engorgement solely on rabbit or mouse for 5 days as controls (naturally engorged on rabbit, NEr, or mouse, NEm). Blood digestion-related gene expression in the midgut and reproductive fitness were compared. Body weight, egg mass weight, egg conversion ratio, and hatchability of eggs did not show any significant differences. We analyzed transcription profiles of selected genes assayed by quantitative RT-PCR and revealed similar patterns of expression between NEr and AE but some differences between NEm and AE or NEm and NEr. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that this semi-artificial feeding technique mimics natural feeding processes of ticks and can be utilized as a standardized method to inoculate pathogens, especially Babesia protozoa, into H. longicornis and possibly other tick species as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hatta
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0856, Japan
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Mulenga A, Erikson K. A snapshot of the Ixodes scapularis degradome. Gene 2011; 482:78-93. [PMID: 21596113 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2011] [Revised: 03/04/2011] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic encoded proteases are essential to regulating interactions between parasites and their hosts and thus they represent attractive anti-parasitic druggable and/or vaccine target. We have utilized annotations of Ixodes scapularis proteases in gene bank and version 9.3 MEROPS database to compile an index of at least 233 putatively active and 150 putatively inactive protease enzymes that are encoded by the I. scapularis genome. The 233 putatively active protease homologs hereafter referred to as the degradome (the full repertoire of proteases encoded by the I. scapularis genome) represent ~1.14% of the 20485 putative I. scapularis protein content. Consistent with observations in other animals, the content of the I. scapularis degradome is ~6.0% (14/233) aspartic, ~19% (44/233) cysteine, ~40% (93/233) metallo, ~28.3% (66/233) serine and ~6.4% (15/233) threonine proteases. When scanned against other tick sequences, ~11% (25/233) of I. scapularis putatively active proteases are conserved in other tick species with ≥ 60% amino acid identity levels. The I. scapularis genome does not apparently encode for putatively inactive aspartic proteases. Of the 150 putative inactive protease homologs none are from the aspartic protease class, ~8% (12/150) are cysteine, ~58.7% (88/150) metallo, 30% (45/150) serine and ~3.3% (5/150) are threonine proteases. The I. scapularis tick genome appears to have evolutionarily lost proteolytic activity of at least 6 protease families, C56 and C64 (cysteine), M20 and M23 (metallo), S24 and S28 (serine) as revealed by a lack of the putatively active proteases in these families. The overall protease content is comparable to other organisms. However, the paucity of the S1 chymotrypsin/trypsin-like serine protease family in the I. scapularis genome where it is ~12.7% (28/233) of the degradome as opposed to ~22-48% content in other blood feeding arthropods, Pediculus humanus humanus, Anopheles gambiae, Aedes Aegypti and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus is notable. The data is presented as a one-stop index of proteases encoded by the I. scapularis genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Mulenga
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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28
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Cruz CE, Fogaça AC, Nakayasu ES, Angeli CB, Belmonte R, Almeida IC, Miranda A, Miranda MTM, Tanaka AS, Braz GR, Craik CS, Schneider E, Caffrey CR, Daffre S. Characterization of proteinases from the midgut of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus involved in the generation of antimicrobial peptides. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:63. [PMID: 20663211 PMCID: PMC2921360 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemoglobin is a rich source of biologically active peptides, some of which are potent antimicrobials (hemocidins). A few hemocidins have been purified from the midgut contents of ticks. Nonetheless, how antimicrobials are generated in the tick midgut and their role in immunity is still poorly understood. Here we report, for the first time, the contribution of two midgut proteinases to the generation of hemocidins. RESULTS An aspartic proteinase, designated BmAP, was isolated from the midgut of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus using three chromatographic steps. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that BmAP is restricted to the midgut. The other enzyme is a previously characterized midgut cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase designated BmCL1. Substrate specificities of native BmAP and recombinant BmCL1 were mapped using a synthetic combinatorial peptide library and bovine hemoglobin. BmCL1 preferred substrates containing non-polar residues at P2 subsite and polar residues at P1, whereas BmAP hydrolysed substrates containing non-polar amino acids at P1 and P1'. CONCLUSIONS BmAP and BmCL1 generate hemocidins from hemoglobin alpha and beta chains in vitro. We postulate that hemocidins may be important for the control of tick pathogens and midgut flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Cruz
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil.
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Yamaji K, Tsuji N, Miyoshi T, Hatta T, Alim MA, Anisuzzaman, Kushibiki S, Fujisaki K. Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2 are potential inhibitors of HlCPL-A in the midgut of the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. J Vet Med Sci 2010; 72:599-604. [PMID: 20103991 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.09-0561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the actions of cysteine proteases are controlled in part by endogenous tight-binding cysteine protease inhibitors from the cystatin superfamily, regulatory mechanisms used by ticks to control protease activities are unknown. We report here the interaction of 2 endogenous midgut cysteine protease inhibitors, Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2, with an endogenous midgut cysteine protease, HlCPL-A in Haemaphysalis longicornis. In vitro inhibition assays demonstrated that the hydrolytic activity of HlCPL-A was inhibited by Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2 in dose dependent manner. Immunofluorescent studies revealed that Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2 are co-localized with HlCPL-A in the epithelial cells of the midgut. The hemoglobin degradation activity of HlCPL-A was dose-dependently inhibited by Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2. These results strongly indicate that, Hlcyst-1 and Hlcyst-2 are possible inhibitor of HlCPL-A and play a key role in regulatory mechanisms of hemoglobin degradation process in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayoko Yamaji
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572
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30
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Horn M, Nussbaumerová M, Sanda M, Kovárová Z, Srba J, Franta Z, Sojka D, Bogyo M, Caffrey CR, Kopácek P, Mares M. Hemoglobin digestion in blood-feeding ticks: mapping a multipeptidase pathway by functional proteomics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 16:1053-63. [PMID: 19875079 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2009.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2009] [Revised: 08/20/2009] [Accepted: 09/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobin digestion is an essential process for blood-feeding parasites. Using chemical tools, we deconvoluted the intracellular hemoglobinolytic cascade in the tick Ixodes ricinus, a vector of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. In tick gut tissue, a network of peptidases was demonstrated through imaging with specific activity-based probes and activity profiling with peptidic substrates and inhibitors. This peptidase network is induced upon blood feeding and degrades hemoglobin at acidic pH. Selective inhibitors were applied to dissect the roles of the individual peptidases and to determine the peptidase-specific cleavage map of the hemoglobin molecule. The degradation pathway is initiated by endopeptidases of aspartic and cysteine class (cathepsin D supported by cathepsin L and legumain) and is continued by cysteine amino- and carboxy-dipeptidases (cathepsins C and B). The identified enzymes are potential targets to developing novel anti-tick vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic
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Hemoglobinase activity of a cysteine protease from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasitol Int 2009; 58:232-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2009] [Revised: 04/21/2009] [Accepted: 05/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Alim MA, Tsuji N, Miyoshi T, Islam MK, Hatta T, Yamaji K, Fujisaki K. Developmental stage- and organ-specific expression profiles of asparaginyl endopeptidases/legumains in the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. J Vet Med Sci 2009; 70:1363-6. [PMID: 19122407 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.70.1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified two cDNAs from the midgut of adult Haemaphysalis longicornis that encode asparaginyl endopeptidases/legumains, HlLgm and HlLgm2. Functionally, both recombinant HlLgm and HlLgm2 efficiently digested blood proteins, haemoglobin and bovine serum albumin. Here, we investigated the expression profiles of legumain genes in the developmental stages in the life cycle of H. longicornis and in different tissues of adult ticks. Both HlLgm and HlLgm2 were well expressed in larvae, nymphs and adults. Legumain transcripts were expressed specifically in the midgut and were localized in some digestive vacuoles of gut epithelial cells. Furthermore, expression of either transcript was up-regulated by blood feeding in larvae and nymphs, suggesting the important roles of legumains in blood feeding and blood-meal digestion in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Abdul Alim
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
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HATTA T, TSUJI N, MIYOSHI T, ALIM MA, ISLAM MK, FUJISAKI K. Leucine Aminopeptidase in the Ixodid Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis: Endogenous Expression Profiles in Midgut. J Vet Med Sci 2009; 71:589-94. [DOI: 10.1292/jvms.71.589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi HATTA
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization
| | - Naotoshi TSUJI
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization
| | - Takeharu MIYOSHI
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization
| | - M. Abdul ALIM
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization
| | - M. Khyrul ISLAM
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization
| | - Kozo FUJISAKI
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
- Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Frontier Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
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Anderson JM, Sonenshine DE, Valenzuela JG. Exploring the mialome of ticks: an annotated catalogue of midgut transcripts from the hard tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). BMC Genomics 2008; 9:552. [PMID: 19021911 PMCID: PMC2644717 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2007] [Accepted: 11/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks are obligate blood feeders. The midgut is the first major region of the body where blood and microbes ingested with the blood meal come in contact with the tick's internal tissues. Little is known about protein expression in the digestive tract of ticks. In this study, for analysis of global gene expression during tick attachment and feeding, we generated and sequenced 1,679 random transcripts (ESTs) from cDNA libraries from the midguts of female ticks at varying stages of feeding. Results Sequence analysis of the 1,679 ESTs resulted in the identification of 835 distinct transcripts, from these, a total of 82 transcripts were identified as proteins putatively directly involved in blood meal digestion, including enzymes involved in oxidative stress reduction/antimicrobial activity/detoxification, peptidase inhibitors, protein digestion (cysteine-, aspartic-, serine-, and metallo-peptidases), cell, protein and lipid binding including mucins and iron/heme metabolism and transport. A lectin-like protein with a high match to lectins in other tick species, allergen-like proteins and surface antigens important in pathogen recognition and/or antimicrobial activity were also found. Furthermore, midguts collected from the 6-day-fed ticks expressed twice as many transcripts involved in bloodmeal processing as midguts from unfed/2-day-fed ticks. Conclusion This tissue-specific transcriptome analysis provides an opportunity to examine the global expression of transcripts in the tick midgut and to compare the gut response to host attachment versus blood feeding and digestion. In contrast to those in salivary glands of other Ixodid ticks, most proteins in the D. variabilis midgut cDNA library were intracellular. Of the total ESTs associated with a function, an unusually large number of transcripts were associated with peptidases, cell, lipid and protein binding, and oxidative stress or detoxification. Presumably, this is consistent with their role in intracellular processing of the blood meal and response to microbial infections. The presence of many proteins with similar functions is consistent with the hypothesis that gene duplication contributed to the successful adaptation of ticks to hematophagy. Furthermore, these transcripts may be useful to scientists investigating the role of the tick midgut in blood-meal digestion, antimicrobial activity or the transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Anderson
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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A set of serine proteinase paralogs are required for blood-digestion in the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasitol Int 2008; 57:499-505. [PMID: 18775510 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2008.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2008] [Revised: 07/10/2008] [Accepted: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We present evidence demonstrating that genes encoding enzymes essential for successful blood-feeding are differentially induced in the midgut of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Three serine proteinase genes (HlSP, HlSP2 and HlSP3) isolated from H. longicornis midgut exhibit protein sequence similarity with other trypsin-like serine proteinases reported from arthropods and vertebrate animal species. The endogenous enzymes were mainly detected in the midgut epithelial cells and in the lumen of an adult tick. The recombinant enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli efficiently hydrolyzed synthetic substrates specific for serine proteinases over a broad range of pH and temperature values. Notably, the transcript levels of HlSP2 and HlSP3 were detected to significantly increase at 96 h post infestation, while the transcript of HlSP was induced in the earlier stage of blood-feeding. Further, silencing of HlSP, HlSP2 and HlSP3 genes by RNA interference led to a significant reductions in the engorged tick body weight, suggesting synergetic roles of these serine proteinases in blood-feeding and digestion.
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Rachinsky A, Guerrero FD, Scoles GA. Proteomic profiling of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus midgut responses to infection with Babesia bovis. Vet Parasitol 2008; 152:294-313. [PMID: 18243558 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2007] [Revised: 12/07/2007] [Accepted: 12/17/2007] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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