Differential Expression of Putative Ornithodoros turicata Defensins Mediated by Tick Feeding.

ABSTRACT: Additional research on soft ticks in the family Argasidae is needed to bridge the knowledge gap relative to hard ticks of the family Ixodidae; especially, the molecular mechanisms of Ornithodoros biology. Ornithodoros species are vectors of human and animal pathogens that include tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes and African swine fever virus. Soft tick vector-pathogen interactions involving components of the tick immune response are not understood. Ticks utilize a basic innate immune system consisting of recognition factors and cellular and humoral responses to produce antimicrobial peptides, like defensins. In the present study, we identified and characterized the first putative defensins of Ornithodoros turicata, an argasid tick found primarily in the southwest

SUBMITTER: Armstrong BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7232577 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature