Author:
Qiu Zhao-Xi,Li Yuan,Li Meng-Meng,Wang Wen-Ying,Zhang Tian-Tian,Liu Jing-Ze
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis exhibits two separate reproductive populations: bisexual and parthenogenetic, which have diploid and triploid karyotypes, respectively. The parthenogenetic population can undergo engorgement without copulation and produce viable female-only offspring with a longer incubation period than the bisexual population. Three enzymes, cathepsin B, cathepsin D and acid phosphatase, were found to be involved in vitellin degradation during the embryonic development of bisexual H. longicornis. However, the expression and activity profiles of these enzymes during the embryonic development of parthenogenetic ticks remain unknown. In the present study, the transcriptional expression profile, enzyme activity and roles in embryogenesis of the three enzymes during the embryonic development of parthenogenetic H. longicornis were investigated.
Methods
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence detection were used to analyze the dynamic changes in the three enzymes during embryogenesis. The roles of the three enzymes during embryogenesis were also explored using RNA interference (RNAi).
Results
The three enzymes were all expressed during embryonic development in parthenogenetic H. longicornis. The expression of cathepsin B was highest on day 15, whereas that of cathepsin D was highest on day 3 and the peak of acid phosphatase expression occurred on day 9. The activity of cathepsin B was highest on day 3 and lowest on day 5, then gradually increased and remained stable. Cathepsin D activity was highest on day 1 and showed a gradually decreasing trend, whereas acid phosphatase showed the opposite trend and reached a peak on day 23. RNA interference experiments in engorged female ticks revealed that there was no significant difference in the number of eggs laid, but the hatching rate of the eggs was significantly decreased.
Conclusion
The three enzymes all play important roles in embryonic development of H. longicornis, but the expression patterns and changes in the activity of the enzymes in the bisexual and parthenogenetic populations are different. The results will help a better understanding of the similarities and differences underlying embryonic development in the bisexual and parthenogenetic populations and contribute to the future exploration of the development of the parthenogenetic population of H. longicornis.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Department of Education of Hebei Province
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Parasitology
Reference56 articles.
1. Zhang YK, Zhang XY, Liu JZ. Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) in China: geographical distribution, host diversity, and specificity. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2019;11:e21544.
2. Sonenshine DE, Roe RM. Biology of ticks. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1991.
3. Yu ZJ, Wang H, Wang TH, Sun WY, Yang XL, Liu JZ. Tick-borne pathogens and the vector potential of ticks in China. Parasites Vectors. 2015;8:24.
4. Yu XJ, Liang MF, Zhang SY, Liu Y, Li JD, Sun YL, et al. Fever with thrombocytopenia associated with a novel bunyavirus in China. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:1523–32.
5. Feldmann H. Truly emerging—a new disease caused by a novel virus. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:1561–3.
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献