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Šofranková L, Baňas M, Pipová N, Majláth I, Kurimský J, Cimbala R, Pavlík M, Mateos-Hernández L, Šimo L, Majláthová V. Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Neuropeptide Transcript Levels in the Synganglion of Ixodes ricinus. Pathogens 2023; 12:1398. [PMID: 38133283 PMCID: PMC10747470 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation is an important environmental factor affecting the functionality of biological systems. Sensitivity to various frequencies of electromagnetic radiation has been detected in ixodid ticks in the past. However, the physiological aspects of radiation effects have not yet been studied in ticks. In the presented experiment, 360 Ixodes ricinus ticks, 180 males and 180 females, were divided into 16 irradiated and 8 control groups. The irradiated groups were exposed to two different intensities of electromagnetic radiation with a frequency of 900 MHz at different lengths of exposure time. RT-PCR was utilized to determine the changes in mRNA levels in tick synganglia after irradiation. Four randomly selected neuropeptide genes were tested-allatotropin (at), FGLa-related allatostatins (fgla/ast), kinin, and arginine-vasopressin-like peptide (avpl). A significant decrease in transcript levels in all female groups exposed to higher intensity radiofrequency radiation for 1 to 3 h was found. After one hour of radiofrequency exposure, a significant downregulation in allatotropin expression in males was detected. A consistent downregulation of the at gene was detected in males irradiated with at a higher intensity. Unfortunately, the specific functions of the studied neuropeptides in ticks are not known yet, so a more comprehensive study is necessary to describe the effects of EMF on observed neuropeptides. This study represents the first report on the effects of the abiotic environment on tick neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Šofranková
- Department of Animal Physiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 04180 Košice, Slovakia; (L.Š.); (M.B.); (N.P.); (I.M.)
| | - Miroslav Baňas
- Department of Animal Physiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 04180 Košice, Slovakia; (L.Š.); (M.B.); (N.P.); (I.M.)
| | - Natália Pipová
- Department of Animal Physiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 04180 Košice, Slovakia; (L.Š.); (M.B.); (N.P.); (I.M.)
| | - Igor Majláth
- Department of Animal Physiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 04180 Košice, Slovakia; (L.Š.); (M.B.); (N.P.); (I.M.)
| | - Juraj Kurimský
- Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engeneering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Mäsiarska 74, 04120 Košice, Slovakia; (J.K.); (R.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Roman Cimbala
- Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engeneering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Mäsiarska 74, 04120 Košice, Slovakia; (J.K.); (R.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Marek Pavlík
- Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engeneering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Mäsiarska 74, 04120 Košice, Slovakia; (J.K.); (R.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Unitè Mixte de Recherche de Biologie Molèculaire et d’Immunologie Parasitaires (UMR BIPAR), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, INRAE, ANSES, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (L.M.-H.); (L.Š.)
| | - Ladislav Šimo
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Unitè Mixte de Recherche de Biologie Molèculaire et d’Immunologie Parasitaires (UMR BIPAR), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, INRAE, ANSES, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (L.M.-H.); (L.Š.)
| | - Viktória Majláthová
- Department of Animal Physiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 04180 Košice, Slovakia; (L.Š.); (M.B.); (N.P.); (I.M.)
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Cuevas-Caballé C, Ferrer Obiol J, Vizueta J, Genovart M, Gonzalez-Solís J, Riutort M, Rozas J. The First Genome of the Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) Provides a Valuable Resource for Conservation Genomics and Sheds Light on Adaptation to a Pelagic lifestyle. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evac067. [PMID: 35524941 PMCID: PMC9117697 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is the most threatened seabird in Europe and a member of the most speciose group of pelagic seabirds, the order Procellariiformes, which exhibit extreme adaptations to a pelagic lifestyle. The fossil record suggests that human colonisation of the Balearic Islands resulted in a sharp decrease of the Balearic shearwater population size. Currently, populations of the species continue to be decimated mainly due to predation by introduced mammals and bycatch in longline fisheries, with some studies predicting its extinction by 2070. Here, using a combination of short and long reads, we generate the first high-quality reference genome for the Balearic shearwater, with a completeness amongst the highest across available avian species. We used this reference genome to study critical aspects relevant to the conservation status of the species and to gain insights into the adaptation to a pelagic lifestyle of the order Procellariiformes. We detected relatively high levels of genome-wide heterozygosity in the Balearic shearwater despite its reduced population size. However, the reconstruction of its historical demography uncovered an abrupt population decline potentially linked to a reduction of the neritic zone during the Penultimate Glacial Period (∼194-135 ka). Comparative genomics analyses uncover a set of candidate genes that may have played an important role into the adaptation to a pelagic lifestyle of Procellariiformes, including those for the enhancement of fishing capabilities, night vision, and the development of natriuresis. The reference genome obtained will be the crucial in the future development of genetic tools in conservation efforts for this Critically Endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Cuevas-Caballé
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Ferrer Obiol
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano (UniMi), Milan, Italy
| | - Joel Vizueta
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
- Villum Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Meritxell Genovart
- Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA), CSIC-UIB & Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, Esporles, Spain
| | - Jacob Gonzalez-Solís
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Rozas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
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Pérez-Sánchez R, Carnero-Morán A, Luz Valero M, Oleaga A. A proteomics informed by transcriptomics insight into the proteome of Ornithodoros erraticus adult tick saliva. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:1. [PMID: 34980218 PMCID: PMC8722417 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05118-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African swine fever (ASF) in the Mediterranean Basin. The prevention and control of these diseases would greatly benefit from the elimination of O. erraticus populations, and anti-tick vaccines are envisaged as an effective and sustainable alternative to chemical acaricide usage for tick control. Ornithodoros erraticus saliva contains bioactive proteins that play essential functions in tick feeding and host defence modulation, which may contribute to host infection by tick-borne pathogens. Hence, these proteins could be candidate antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control and prevention of O. erraticus infestations and the diseases this tick transmits. The objective of the present work was to obtain and characterise the proteome of the saliva of O. erraticus adult ticks as a means to identify and select novel salivary antigen targets. METHODS A proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) approach was applied to analyse samples of female and male saliva separately using the previously obtained O. erraticus sialotranscriptome as a reference database and two different mass spectrometry techniques, namely liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in data-dependent acquisition mode and sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra MS (SWATH-MS). RESULTS Up to 264 and 263 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS in the saliva of O. erraticus female and male ticks, respectively, totalling 387 non-redundant proteins. Of these, 224 were further quantified by SWATH-MS in the saliva of both male and female ticks. Quantified proteins were classified into 23 functional categories and their abundance compared between sexes. Heme/iron-binding proteins, protease inhibitors, proteases, lipocalins and immune-related proteins were the categories most abundantly expressed in females, while glycolytic enzymes, protease inhibitors and lipocalins were the most abundantly expressed in males. Ninety-seven proteins were differentially expressed between the sexes, of which 37 and 60 were overexpressed in females and males, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The PIT approach demonstrated its usefulness for proteomics studies of O. erraticus, a non-model organism without genomic sequences available, allowing the publication of the first comprehensive proteome of the saliva of O. erraticus reported to date. These findings confirm important quantitative differences between sexes in the O. erraticus saliva proteome, unveil novel salivary proteins and functions at the tick-host feeding interface and improve our understanding of the physiology of feeding in O. erraticus ticks. The integration of O. erraticus sialoproteomic and sialotranscriptomic data will drive a more rational selection of salivary candidates as antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control of O. erraticus infestations and the diseases it transmits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Angel Carnero-Morán
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - M. Luz Valero
- Proteomics Section, Central Service for Experimental Research, University of Valencia, Carrer del Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Ana Oleaga
- Parasitology Laboratory, Spanish National Research Council Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (CSIC-IRNASA), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Proteomics Section, Central Service for Experimental Research, University of Valencia, Carrer del Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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rDromaserpin: A Novel Anti-Hemostatic Serpin, from the Salivary Glands of the Hard Tick Hyalomma dromedarii. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13120913. [PMID: 34941750 PMCID: PMC8703697 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13120913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemostatic disorders are caused either by platelet-related dysfunctions, defective blood coagulation, or by a combination of both, leading to an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other related illnesses. The unique specificity of anticoagulants from hematophagous arthropods, such as ticks, suggests that tick saliva holds great promise for discovering new treatments for these life-threatening diseases. In this study, we combined in silico and in vitro analyses to characterize the first recombinant serpin, herein called Dromaserpin, from the sialotranscriptome of the Hyalomma dromedarii tick. Our in silico data described Dromaserpin as a secreted protein of ~43 kDa with high similarities to previously characterized inhibitory serpins. The recombinant protein (rDromaserpin) was obtained as a well-structured monomer, which was tested using global blood coagulation and platelet aggregation assays. With this approach, we confirmed rDromaserpin anticoagulant activity as it significantly delayed plasma clotting in activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time assays. The profiling of proteolytic activity shows its capacity to inhibit thrombin in the micromolar range (0.2 to 1 μM) and in the presence of heparin this inhibition was clearly increased. It was also able to inhibit Kallikrein, FXIa and slightly FXIIa, with no significant effect on other factors. In addition, the rDromaserpin inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Taken together, our data suggest that rDromaserpin deserves to be further investigated as a potential candidate for developing therapeutic compounds targeting disorders related to blood clotting and/or platelet aggregation.
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Elhachimi L, Van Leeuwen T, Dermauw W, Rogiers C, Valcárcel F, Olmeda AS, Khatat SE, Daminet S, Sahibi H, Duchateau L. Variation of diazinon and amitraz susceptibility of Hyalomma marginatum (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region of Morocco. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101883. [PMID: 34894524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, the acaricide susceptibility status of Hyalomma marginatum in Morocco was investigated in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region using the Larval Packet Test. The overall LC50 value for diazinon and amitraz was 115 ppm (95% CI: [104; 125]) and 22 ppm (95% CI: [21; 23]), respectively. The LC50 values varied significantly between the nine sampled locations (P<0.001) ranging from 75 ppm (95% CI: [65; 84]) in Ouelmes to 179 ppm (95% CI: [139; 201]) in Jorf El Melha for diazinon and from 18 ppm (95% CI: [15; 21]) in Skhirat to 28 ppm (95% CI: [24; 31]) in Ouelmes for amitraz. Sequencing of the target-site of diazinon, acetylcholinesterase 1 (AChE1), indicated that previously reported resistance mutations in AChE1 were absent in ticks from Jorf El Melha surviving 500 ppm diazinon. This study is the first report on the H. marginatum susceptibilty status to the most frequently used acaricides in Morocco and indicates that acaricide tick resistance is emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latifa Elhachimi
- Département de parasitologie et santé publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, B.P. 6202 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco; Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Thomas Van Leeuwen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wannes Dermauw
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food (ILVO), Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carolien Rogiers
- Biometrics Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Animalario del Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angeles Sonia Olmeda
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarah Elhamiani Khatat
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Sylvie Daminet
- Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Hamid Sahibi
- Département de parasitologie et santé publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, B.P. 6202 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco
| | - Luc Duchateau
- Biometrics Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Reck J, Webster A, Dall'Agnol B, Pienaar R, de Castro MH, Featherston J, Mans BJ. Transcriptomic Analysis of Salivary Glands of Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão, 1923, the Agent of a Neotropical Tick-Toxicosis Syndrome in Humans. Front Physiol 2021; 12:725635. [PMID: 34421661 PMCID: PMC8378177 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.725635] [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: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick salivary glands produce and secrete a variety of compounds that modulate host responses and ensure a successful blood meal. Despite great progress made in the identification of ticks salivary compounds in recent years, there is still a paucity of information concerning salivary molecules of Neotropical argasid ticks. Among this group of ticks, considering the number of human cases of parasitism, including severe syndromes and hospitalization, Ornithodoros brasiliensis can be considered one of the major Neotropical argasid species with impact in public health. Here, we describe the transcriptome analysis of O. brasiliensis salivary glands (ObSG). The transcriptome yielded ~14,957 putative contigs. A total of 368 contigs were attributed to secreted proteins (SP), which represent approximately 2.5% of transcripts but ~53% expression coverage transcripts per million. Lipocalins are the major protein family among the most expressed SP, accounting for ~16% of the secretory transcripts and 51% of secretory protein abundance. The most expressed transcript is an ortholog of TSGP4 (tick salivary gland protein 4), a lipocalin first identified in Ornithodoros kalahariensis that functions as a leukotriene C4 scavenger. A total of 55 lipocalin transcripts were identified in ObSG. Other transcripts potentially involved in tick-host interaction included as: basic/acid tail secretory proteins (second most abundant expressed group), serine protease inhibitors (including Kunitz inhibitors), 5' nucleotidases (tick apyrases), phospholipase A2, 7 disulfide bond domain, cystatins, and tick antimicrobial peptides. Another abundant group of proteins in ObSG is metalloproteases. Analysis of these major protein groups suggests that several duplication events after speciation were responsible for the abundance of redundant compounds in tick salivary glands. A full mitochondrial genome could be assembled from the transcriptome data and confirmed the close genetic identity of the tick strain sampled in the current study, to a tick strain previously implicated in tick toxicoses. This study provides novel information on the molecular composition of ObSG, a Brazilian endemic tick associated with several human cases of parasitism. These results could be helpful in the understanding of clinical findings observed in bitten patients, and also, could provide more information on the evolution of Neotropical argasids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Anelise Webster
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Bruno Dall'Agnol
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ronel Pienaar
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Minique H de Castro
- Agricultural Research Council, Biotechnology Platform, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-borne Disease Research Programme, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Pérez-Sánchez R, Carnero-Morán Á, Soriano B, Llorens C, Oleaga A. RNA-seq analysis and gene expression dynamics in the salivary glands of the argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus along the trophogonic cycle. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:170. [PMID: 33743776 PMCID: PMC7980729 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04671-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The argasid tick Ornithodoros erraticus is the main vector of tick-borne human relapsing fever (TBRF) and African swine fever (ASF) in the Mediterranean Basin. Tick salivary proteins secreted to the host at the feeding interface play critical roles for tick feeding and may contribute to host infection by tick-borne pathogens; accordingly, these proteins represent interesting antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control and prevention of tick infestations and tick-borne diseases. METHODS To identify these proteins, the transcriptome of the salivary glands of O. erraticus was de novo assembled and the salivary gene expression dynamics assessed throughout the trophogonic cycle using Illumina sequencing. The genes differentially upregulated after feeding were selected and discussed as potential antigen candidates for tick vaccines. RESULTS Transcriptome assembly resulted in 22,007 transcripts and 18,961 annotated transcripts, which represent 86.15% of annotation success. Most salivary gene expression took place during the first 7 days after feeding (2088 upregulated transcripts), while only a few genes (122 upregulated transcripts) were differentially expressed from day 7 post-feeding onwards. The protein families more abundantly overrepresented after feeding were lipocalins, acid and basic tail proteins, proteases (particularly metalloproteases), protease inhibitors, secreted phospholipases A2, 5'-nucleotidases/apyrases and heme-binding vitellogenin-like proteins. All of them are functionally related to blood ingestion and regulation of host defensive responses, so they can be interesting candidate protective antigens for vaccines. CONCLUSIONS The O. erraticus sialotranscriptome contains thousands of protein coding sequences-many of them belonging to large conserved multigene protein families-and shows a complexity and functional redundancy similar to those observed in the sialomes of other argasid and ixodid tick species. This high functional redundancy emphasises the need for developing multiantigenic tick vaccines to reach full protection. This research provides a set of promising candidate antigens for the development of vaccines for the control of O. erraticus infestations and prevention of tick-borne diseases of public and veterinary health relevance, such as TBRF and ASF. Additionally, this transcriptome constitutes a valuable reference database for proteomics studies of the saliva and salivary glands of O. erraticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Ángel Carnero-Morán
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Beatriz Soriano
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Llorens
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Oleaga
- Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
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Oleaga A, Soriano B, Llorens C, Pérez-Sánchez R. Sialotranscriptomics of the argasid tick Ornithodoros moubata along the trophogonic cycle. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009105. [PMID: 33544727 PMCID: PMC7891743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The argasid tick Ornithodoros moubata is the main vector of human relapsing fever (HRF) and African swine fever (ASF) in Africa. Salivary proteins are part of the host-tick interface and play vital roles in the tick feeding process and the host infection by tick-borne pathogens; they represent interesting targets for immune interventions aimed at tick control. The present work describes the transcriptome profile of salivary glands of O. moubata and assesses the gene expression dynamics along the trophogonic cycle using Illumina sequencing. De novo transcriptome assembling resulted in 71,194 transcript clusters and 41,011 annotated transcripts, which represent 57.6% of the annotation success. Most salivary gene expression takes place during the first 7 days after feeding (6,287 upregulated transcripts), while a minority of genes (203 upregulated transcripts) are differentially expressed between 7 and 14 days after feeding. The functional protein groups more abundantly overrepresented after blood feeding were lipocalins, proteases (especially metalloproteases), protease inhibitors including the Kunitz/BPTI-family, proteins with phospholipase A2 activity, acid tail proteins, basic tail proteins, vitellogenins, the 7DB family and proteins involved in tick immunity and defence. The complexity and functional redundancy observed in the sialotranscriptome of O. moubata are comparable to those of the sialomes of other argasid and ixodid ticks. This transcriptome provides a valuable reference database for ongoing proteomics studies of the salivary glands and saliva of O. moubata aimed at confirming and expanding previous data on the O. moubata sialoproteome. The soft tick Ornithodoros moubata constitutes an important medical and veterinary problem in Africa because, in addition to being the vector of African swine fever, it transmits human relapsing fever (HRF), a hyper-endemic and lethal, but still neglected, tick-borne disease. Effective control of HRF requires eradicating its vector tick from domestic environments. As chemical acaricide application is ineffective against this tick, development of anti-tick vaccines seems the most promising method for tick control. Salivary proteins play essential functions for tick feeding and survival, which convert them in potential antigen targets for the development of tick vaccines. To know which these proteins are, we obtained the salivary transcriptome of O. moubata females and established, for the first time in a soft tick, the salivary gene transcription dynamics along its trophogonic cycle. Thereby, we have identified numerous genes encoding bioactive proteins essential for tick feeding. This information is essential to drive the selection of candidate antigens for anti-tick vaccine development and evaluate its protective potential in animal immunization trials. These data significantly enlarge the current repertory of known protein-coding sequences from soft tick salivary glands and establish a valuable reference database to improve our knowledge of the O. moubata salivary proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Oleaga
- Parasitology Laboratory, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, Salamanca, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Beatriz Soriano
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Llorens
- Biotechvana, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Parasitology Laboratory, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, Salamanca, Spain
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De novo assembled salivary gland transcriptome and expression pattern analyses for Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neuman, 1897 male and female ticks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1642. [PMID: 33452281 PMCID: PMC7810686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete proteins in their saliva that change over the course of feeding to modulate the host inflammation, immune responses, haemostasis or may cause paralysis. RNA next generation sequencing technologies can reveal the complex dynamics of tick salivary glands as generated from various tick life stages and/or males and females. The current study represents 15,115 Illumina sequenced contigs of the salivary gland transcriptome from male and female Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks of early, mid and late feeding stages from 1320 separate assemblies using three short read assemblers. The housekeeping functional class contributed to the majority of the composition of the transcriptome (80%) but with lower expression (51%), while the secretory protein functional class represented only 14% of the transcriptome but 46% of the total coverage. Six percent had an unknown status contributing 3% of the overall expression in the salivary glands. Platelet aggregation inhibitors, blood clotting inhibitors and immune-modulators orthologous to the ancestral tick lineages were confirmed in the transcriptome and their differential expression during feeding in both genders observed. This transcriptome contributes data of importance to salivary gland biology and blood feeding physiology of non-model organisms.
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10
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Martins LA, Bensaoud C, Kotál J, Chmelař J, Kotsyfakis M. Tick salivary gland transcriptomics and proteomics. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12807. [PMID: 33135186 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
'Omics' technologies have facilitated the identification of hundreds to thousands of tick molecules that mediate tick feeding and play a role in the transmission of tick-borne diseases. Deep sequencing methodologies have played a key role in this knowledge accumulation, profoundly facilitating the study of the biology of disease vectors lacking reference genomes. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the entire set of tick salivary effectors, the so-called tick 'sialome', now contain at least one order of magnitude more transcript sequences compared to similar projects based on Sanger sequencing. Tick feeding is a complex and dynamic process, and while the dynamic 'sialome' is thought to mediate tick feeding success, exactly how transcriptome dynamics relate to tick-host-pathogen interactions is still largely unknown. The identification and, importantly, the functional analysis of the tick 'sialome' is expected to shed light on this 'black box'. This information will be crucial for developing strategies to block pathogen transmission, not only for anti-tick vaccine development but also the discovery and development of new, pharmacologically active compounds for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kotál
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Chmelař
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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11
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Hu E, Meng Y, Ma Y, Song R, Hu Z, Li M, Hao Y, Fan X, Wei L, Fan S, Chen S, Zhai X, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Guo Q, Bayin C. De novo assembly and analysis of the transcriptome of the Dermacentor marginatus genes differentially expressed after blood-feeding and long-term starvation. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:563. [PMID: 33172483 PMCID: PMC7654163 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04442-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ixodid tick Dermacentor marginatus is a vector of many pathogens wide spread in Eurasia. Studies of gene sequence on many tick species have greatly increased the information on tick protective antigen which might have the potential to function as effective vaccine candidates or drug targets for eco-friendly acaricide development. In the current study, RNA-seq was applied to identify D. marginatus sequences and analyze differentially expressed unigenes. Methods To obtain a broader picture of gene sequences and changes in expression level, RNA-seq was performed to obtain the whole-body transcriptome data of D. marginatus adult female ticks after engorgement and long-term starvation. Subsequently, the real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to validate the RNA-seq data. Results RNA-seq produced 30,251 unigenes, of which 32% were annotated. Gene expression was compared among groups that differed by status as newly molted, starved and engorged female adult ticks. Nearly one third of the unigenes in each group were differentially expressed compared to the other two groups, and the most numerous were genes encoding proteins involved in catalytic and binding activities and apoptosis. Selected up-regulated differentially expressed genes in each group were associated to protein, lipids, carbohydrate and chitin metabolism. Blood-feeding and long-term starvation also caused genes differentially expressed in the defense response and antioxidant response. RT-qPCR results indicated 6 differentially expressed transcripts showed similar trends in expression changes with RNA-seq results confirming that the gene expression profiles in transcriptome data is in consistent with RT-qPCR validation. Conclusions Obtaining the sequence information of D. marginatus and characterizing the expression pattern of the genes involved in blood-feeding and during starvation would be helpful in understanding molecular physiology of D. marginatus and provides data for anti-tick vaccine and drug development for controlling the tick.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ercha Hu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Meng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqi Song
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengxiang Hu
- Bayingol Vocational and Technical College, Korla, 841000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunwei Hao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinli Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Liting Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Shilong Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Songqin Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejie Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongchang Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyong Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chahan Bayin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Mizushima D, Tabbabi A, Yamamoto DS, Kien LT, Kato H. Salivary gland transcriptome of the Asiatic Triatoma rubrofasciata. Acta Trop 2020; 210:105473. [PMID: 32505596 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Salivary gland transcriptome analysis of the Asiatic Triatoma rubrofasciata was performed by high-throughput RNA sequencing. This analysis showed that the majority of reads accounting for 85.38% FPKM (fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped fragments) were mapped with a secreted class. Of these, the most abundant subclass accounting for 89.27% FPKM was the lipocalin family. In the lipocalin family, the most dominant molecules making up 70.49% FPKM were homologues of procalin, a major allergen identified from T. protracta saliva, suggesting an important role in blood-sucking of T. rubrofasciata. Other lipocalins showed similarities to pallidipin and triplatin, inhibitors of collagen-induced platelet aggregation identified from T. pallidipennis and T. infestans, respectively, Td38 from T. dimidiata with unknown function, triatin-like lipocalin with unknown function, and triafestin, an inhibitor of the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system, identified from T. infestans saliva. Other than lipocalin family proteins, homologues of antigen-5 (3.38% FPKM), Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor (1.36% FPKM), inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (1.32% FPKM), and apyrase/5'-nucleotidase (0.64% FPKM) were identified as abundant molecules in T. rubrofasciata saliva. Through this study, de novo assembly of 42,580,822 trimmed reads generated 35,781 trinity transcripts, and a total of 1,272 coding sequences for the secreted class were deposited in GenBank. The results provide further insights into the evolution of salivary components in blood-sucking arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Mizushima
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Ahmed Tabbabi
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Daisuke S Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Le Trung Kien
- Department of Experimental Chemistry, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam
| | - Hirotomo Kato
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
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13
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Mans BJ. Quantitative Visions of Reality at the Tick-Host Interface: Biochemistry, Genomics, Proteomics, and Transcriptomics as Measures of Complete Inventories of the Tick Sialoverse. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:574405. [PMID: 33042874 PMCID: PMC7517725 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.574405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Species have definitive genomes. Even so, the transcriptional and translational products of the genome are dynamic and subject to change over time. This is especially true for the proteins secreted by ticks at the tick-host feeding interface that represent a complex system known as the sialoverse. The sialoverse represent all of the proteins derived from tick salivary glands for all tick species that may be involved in tick-host interaction and the modulation of the host's defense mechanisms. The current study contemplates the advances made over time to understand and describe the complexity present in the sialoverse. Technological advances at given periods in time allowed detection of functions, genes, and proteins enabling a deeper insight into the complexity of the sialoverse and a concomitant expansion in complexity with as yet, no end in sight. The importance of systematic classification of the sialoverse is highlighted with the realization that our coverage of transcriptome and proteome space remains incomplete, but that complete descriptions may be possible in the future. Even so, analysis and integration of the sialoverse into a comprehensive understanding of tick-host interactions may require further technological advances given the high level of expected complexity that remains to be uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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14
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Garcia GR, Chaves Ribeiro JM, Maruyama SR, Gardinassi LG, Nelson K, Ferreira BR, Andrade TG, de Miranda Santos IKF. A transcriptome and proteome of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus shaped by the genetic composition of its hosts and developmental stage. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12857. [PMID: 32732984 PMCID: PMC7393499 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69793-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is a monoxenous tick that co-evolved with indicine cattle on the Indian subcontinent. It causes massive damage to livestock worldwide. Cattle breeds present heritable, contrasting phenotypes of tick loads, taurine breeds carrying higher loads of the parasite than indicine breeds. Thus, a useful model is available to analyze mechanisms that determine outcomes of parasitism. We sought to gain insights on these mechanisms and used RNA sequencing and Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) to generate a transcriptome from whole larvae and salivary glands from nymphs, males and females feeding on genetically susceptible and resistant bovine hosts and their corresponding proteomes. 931,698 reads were annotated into 11,676 coding sequences (CDS), which were manually curated into 116 different protein families. Male ticks presented the most diverse armamentarium of mediators of parasitism. In addition, levels of expression of many genes encoding mediators of parasitism were significantly associated with the level and stage of host immunity and/or were temporally restricted to developmental stages of the tick. These insights should assist in developing novel, sustainable technologies for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo R Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.,Superintendence of the São Paulo State Technical and Scientific Police, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - José Marcos Chaves Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sandra Regina Maruyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.,Department of Genetics and Evolution, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz Gustavo Gardinassi
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.,Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Kristina Nelson
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Beatriz R Ferreira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.,Department of Maternal-Child Nursing and Public Health, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Thales Galdino Andrade
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.,Department of Maternal-Child Nursing and Public Health, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabel K Ferreira de Miranda Santos
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
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15
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Catalogue of stage-specific transcripts in Ixodes ricinus and their potential functions during the tick life-cycle. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:311. [PMID: 32546252 PMCID: PMC7296661 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus is an important vector of several clinically important diseases, whose prevalence increases with accelerating global climate changes. Characterization of a tick life-cycle is thus of great importance. However, researchers mainly focus on specific organs of fed life stages, while early development of this tick species is largely neglected. Methods In an attempt to better understand the life-cycle of this widespread arthropod parasite, we sequenced the transcriptomes of four life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult female), including unfed and partially blood-fed individuals. To enable a more reliable identification of transcripts and their comparison in all five transcriptome libraries, we validated an improved-fit set of five I. ricinus-specific reference genes for internal standard normalization of our transcriptomes. Then, we mapped biological functions to transcripts identified in different life stages (clusters) to elucidate life stage-specific processes. Finally, we drew conclusions from the functional enrichment of these clusters specifically assigned to each transcriptome, also in the context of recently published transcriptomic studies in ticks. Results We found that reproduction-related transcripts are present in both fed nymphs and fed females, underlining the poorly documented importance of ovaries as moulting regulators in ticks. Additionally, we identified transposase transcripts in tick eggs suggesting elevated transposition during embryogenesis, co-activated with factors driving developmental regulation of gene expression. Our findings also highlight the importance of the regulation of energetic metabolism in tick eggs during embryonic development and glutamate metabolism in nymphs. Conclusions Our study presents novel insights into stage-specific transcriptomes of I. ricinus and extends the current knowledge of this medically important pathogen, especially in the early phases of its development.![]()
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Martins LA, Kotál J, Bensaoud C, Chmelař J, Kotsyfakis M. Small protease inhibitors in tick saliva and salivary glands and their role in tick-host-pathogen interactions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1868:140336. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.140336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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De Novo RNA-seq and Functional Annotation of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Acta Parasitol 2019; 64:807-820. [PMID: 31418165 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00103-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) is a hematophagous tick widely distributed in northern China. It not only causes enormous economic loss to animal husbandry, but also as a vector and reservoir of various zoonotic pathogens, it spreads natural focal diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, seriously threatening human health. Lack of transcriptomic and genomic data from H. longicornis limits the study of this important medical vector. METHODS The engorged female H. longicornis from Gansu, China, was used for RNA extraction, de novo RNA-seq, functional annotation, and ORF prediction. RESULTS As a result, 53.09 million clean reads (98.88%) with a GC content of 54.29% were obtained. A total of 65,916 Unigenes were assembled, of which 34.59% (23,330) were successfully annotated. Of these Unigenes, 22,587 (34.27%) were annotated to species by NCBI non-redundant protein (nr). Ixodes scapularis, Limulus polyphemus, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, Stegodyphus mimosarum, and Metaseiulus occidentalis were the top BLAST hit species, accounting for 47.23%, 9.58%, 4.11%, 3.50%, and 2.69%, respectively. A total of 29,182 ORFs were predicted, and 35 complete ORFs for functional genes were identified, including ORFs involved in digestion (14), stress responses (8), anticoagulation (3), reproduction (3), antimicrobial (2), drug resistance (2), movement (2), autophagy (1), and immunity (1), respectively. The Unigene ORFs encoding cathepsin and heat shock proteins were further analyzed phylogenetically. CONCLUSION De novo RNA-seq and functional annotation of H. longicornis were successfully completed for the first time, providing a molecular data resource for further research on blood-sucking, pathogen transmission mechanisms, and effective prevention and control strategies.
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Bensaoud C, Aounallah H, Sciani JM, Faria F, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM, Bouattour A, M'ghirbi Y. Proteomic informed by transcriptomic for salivary glands components of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:675. [PMID: 31455241 PMCID: PMC6712667 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The hard tick Hyalomma dromedarii is one of the most injurious ectoparasites affecting camels and apparently best adapted to deserts. As long-term blood feeders, ticks are threatened by host defense system compounds that can cause them to be rejected and, ultimately, to die. However, their saliva contains a cocktail of bioactive molecules that enables them to succeed in taking their blood meal. A recent sialotranscriptomic study uncovered the complexity of the salivary composition of the tick H. dromedarii and provided a database for a proteomic analysis. We carried out a proteomic-informed by transcriptomic (PIT) to identify proteins in salivary glands of both genders of this tick species. Results We reported the array of 1111 proteins identified in the salivary glands of H. dromedarii ticks. Only 24% of the proteins were shared by both genders, and concur with the previously described sialotranscriptome complexity. The comparative analysis of the salivary glands of both genders did not reveal any great differences in the number or class of proteins expressed their enzymatic composition or functional classification. Indeed, few proteins in the entire proteome matched those predicted from the transcriptome while others corresponded to other proteins of other tick species. Conclusion This investigation represents the first proteomic study of H. dromedarii salivary glands. Our results shed light on the differences between the composition of H. dromedarii male and female salivary glands, thus enabling us to better understand the gender-specific strategy to feed successfully. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-6042-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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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. .,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czechia.
| | - Hajer Aounallah
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03, Service d'entomologie médicale, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Juliana Mozer Sciani
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil.,Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa, Universidade São Francisco, Av. São Francisco de Assis, 218, CEP 12916-900, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Faria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, CEP, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - 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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