Amblyostatin-1, the first salivary cystatin with host immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties from the Neotropical tick <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i>, vector of Brazilian spotted fever.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The Neotropical tick Amblyomma sculptum is the primary vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Brazilian spotted fever, a disease associated with high fatality rates. Tick saliva, a complex mixture of bioactive molecules essential for successful blood feeding, facilitates pathogen transmission and modulates host immune responses. A comprehensive evaluation of the salivary gland transcriptome database reveals that protease inhibitors are abundantly expressed molecules in tick saliva during feeding. Thus, this study aims to describe and characterize the most expressed member of the cystatin family identified in Amblyomma sculptum salivary transcriptome, named Amblyostatin-1.

Methods

Bioinformatic tools were employed for in s

SUBMITTER: Molari WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12310653 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature