Microarray analysis of gene expression changes in feeding female and male lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L).

ABSTRACT: A collection of EST clones from female tick Amblyomma americanum salivary glands was hybridized to RNA from different feeding stages of female tick salivary glands and from unfed or feeding adult male ticks. In the female ticks, the expression patterns changed dramatically upon starting feeding, then changed again towards the end of feeding. On beginning feeding, genes possibly involved in survival on the host increased in expression as did many housekeeping genes. As feeding progressed, some of the survival genes were downregulated, while others were upregulated. When the tick went into the rapid feeding phase, many of the survival genes were downregulated, while a number of transport-associated genes and genes possibly involved in organ degeneration increased. In the males, the presence

SUBMITTER: Aljamali MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2740618 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature