Project description:Background: Hyalomma asiaticum, which acts as a vector of zoonotic pathogens, relies on its innate immune system for defense. Methods: This study employed comparative transcriptomics to investigate defensin expression and immune pathway activation in ticks exposed to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Unfed adult female ticks were injected with bacteria, followed by RNA-Seq analysis after 24 h. Results: De novo assembly generated 195,132 unigenes. A total of 15 defensin genes were identified. Functional enrichment demonstrated pathogen-specific immune responses: E. coli challenge led to significant enrichment of the IMD pathway, while S. aureus stimulation resulted in enrichment of the Toll pathway. A shared response to both E. coli and S. aureus infection was the significant up-regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway (P < 0.01). Key defensin isoforms showed significant differential up-regulation, up to 8-12-fold, suggesting functional diversification. Beyond direct antimicrobial activity, defensin-associated genes were enriched in apoptosis and oxidative stress responses. Conclusions: These findings reveal distinct signaling mechanisms underlying H. asiaticum antibacterial defense and highlight defensins as multifunctional effector molecules. This study offers a preliminary reference for comprehending immune mechanisms of H. asiaticum.
Project description:Background: Hyalomma anatolicum is a multi-host ectoparasite that carrys and transmits a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Understanding the immune response of ticks to bacterial infections is of research significance for deciphering their immune defense mechanisms and harnessing tick - derived molecules. Methods: In the current study, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on H. anatolicum injected with Staphylococcus aureus (SA group), Proteus mirabilis (PM group) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS group) were performed. Results: In pairwise comparisons among the experimental groups, we identified 9,776 (SA/PBS), 10,230 (PM/PBS), and 1,309 (SA/PM) differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 175 (SA/PBS), 277 (PM/PBS), and 223 (SA/PM) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), respectively. Subsequent KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs and DEPs were significantly enriched in a range of pertinent pathways, including the immune system and apoptosis, Toll and IMD signaling pathways, MAPK signaling pathway, and NF - κB signaling pathway. The RT - qPCR detection data exhibited a concordant trend with the RNA - seq data, indicating a substantial alignment in the observed results. Notably, the defensin and lectin gene families emerged as potentially pivotal components within the innate immune defense system of ticks. Conclusion: Overall, in this study, genes, proteins, and signaling pathways integral to the immune defense of H. anatolicum were identified, offering substantial potential for future research focused on harnessing its intricate immune defense mechanisms for antimicrobial applications.