Proteomic changes in various organs of Haemaphysalis longicornis under long-term starvation

Abstract

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann), a tick of public health and veterinary importance, spend the major part of their life cycle off-host, especially the adult host-seeking period. Thus, they have to contend with prolonged starvation. Here, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of tick starvation endurance in the salivary glands, midguts, ovaries, and Malpighian tubules of starved H. longicornis ticks using the data-independent acquisition quantitative proteomic approach to study the proteome changes. Essential synthases such as glutamate synthase, citrate synthase, and ATP synthase were up-regulated probably due to increased proteolysis and amino acid catabolism during starvation. The up-regulation of succinate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase, cytochrome c oxidase, and ADP/ATP translocase closely fits with an increased oxidative phosphorylation function during starvation. The differential expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin, and peroxiredoxin indicated fasting-induced oxidative stress. The up-regulation of heat shock proteins could imply the activation of a protective mechanism that checks excessive protein breakdown during starvation stress. The results of this study could provide useful information about the vulnerabilities of ticks that could aid in tick control efforts.

Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi have increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth

“…, 2022a). I. scapularis , like other ticks, have physiological adaptations (e.g., autophagy) that allow them to survive extended nonfeeding periods (Wang & Cull, 2022). Similarly, ticks also have physiological adaptations that help them survive cold temperatures, such as the production of cryoprotectant molecules (e.g., I. scapularis [Neelakanta et al.…”

“…Ticks have adaptations to survive both. In a related tick, Haemophysalis longicornis, nonfeeding periods induce a suite of protective cellular stress responses, including the production of heat shock proteins (Wang et al, 2022a). I. scapularis, like other ticks, have physiological adaptations (e.g., autophagy) that allow them to survive extended nonfeeding periods (Wang & Cull, 2022).…”