TY - JOUR
T1 - Ferritin 1 silencing effect in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari Ixodidae) during experimental infection with Ehrlichia canis
AU - Ferrolho, Joana
AU - Antunes, Sandra
AU - Sanches, Gustavo S.
AU - Couto, Joana
AU - Évora, Patrícia M.
AU - Rosa, Catarina
AU - André, Marcos R.
AU - Machado, Rosângela Z.
AU - Bechara, Gervásio H.
AU - Domingos, Ana
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is a very common ectoparasite of domestic dogs able to transmit several pathogens of human and veterinary importance. Tick infestations and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain a serious and persistent problem, due to the lack of efficient control measures. It is therefore vital that novel approaches to control are pursued. Whilst vaccination is recognised as a potential control method to reduce tick infestation, no anti-R. sanguineus vaccine is available. Ticks depend on their blood meals to obtain nutrients and to achieve sexual maturity, which exposes them to vast amounts of iron. Although an essential molecule for several biological processes, its excess can lead to oxidative stress. Iron homeostasis is achieved with the help of iron-binding proteins called ferritins, among others, present in several tick tissues and developmental stages. These evolutionarily conserved proteins regulate iron homeostasis by storing and releasing iron in a controlled manner. In this study the R. sanguineus ferritin 1 gene was silenced through RNA interference (RNAi) in adult females exposed to an experimental infection with Ehrlichia canis. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of this protein in tick feeding, ovary development, oogenesis, and pathogen acquisition. Our data has shown that silencing ferritin 1 alters tick competence to normally engorge and causes morphologic and histochemical changes in the ovaries (OV) and oocytes. Furthermore, our data revealed that no E. canis DNA was found in either experimental group. Determining the function of molecules that act in key biological processes, such as blood digestion or reproduction, and that could be considered potential tick antigens will contribute towards the improvement of current control measures against these ectoparasites and the pathogens they vector.
AB - Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is a very common ectoparasite of domestic dogs able to transmit several pathogens of human and veterinary importance. Tick infestations and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain a serious and persistent problem, due to the lack of efficient control measures. It is therefore vital that novel approaches to control are pursued. Whilst vaccination is recognised as a potential control method to reduce tick infestation, no anti-R. sanguineus vaccine is available. Ticks depend on their blood meals to obtain nutrients and to achieve sexual maturity, which exposes them to vast amounts of iron. Although an essential molecule for several biological processes, its excess can lead to oxidative stress. Iron homeostasis is achieved with the help of iron-binding proteins called ferritins, among others, present in several tick tissues and developmental stages. These evolutionarily conserved proteins regulate iron homeostasis by storing and releasing iron in a controlled manner. In this study the R. sanguineus ferritin 1 gene was silenced through RNA interference (RNAi) in adult females exposed to an experimental infection with Ehrlichia canis. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of this protein in tick feeding, ovary development, oogenesis, and pathogen acquisition. Our data has shown that silencing ferritin 1 alters tick competence to normally engorge and causes morphologic and histochemical changes in the ovaries (OV) and oocytes. Furthermore, our data revealed that no E. canis DNA was found in either experimental group. Determining the function of molecules that act in key biological processes, such as blood digestion or reproduction, and that could be considered potential tick antigens will contribute towards the improvement of current control measures against these ectoparasites and the pathogens they vector.
KW - Ehrlichia canis
KW - ferritin 1
KW - Oogenesis
KW - Ovaries
KW - Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l
KW - RNAi
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85002396928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.10.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 27825659
AN - SCOPUS:85002396928
SN - 1877-959X
VL - 8
SP - 174
EP - 184
JO - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
JF - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
IS - 1
ER -