Evaluation of the biological function of ribosomal protein S18 from cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus

Autor(es)

Costa, Gabriel C. A. ; Silva, Fernando A. A. ; Torquato, Ricardo J. S. ; Vaz, Itabajara Silva ; Parizi, Luis F. ; Tanaka, Aparecida S.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES; v. 15, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2024-03-23.

Resumo

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus , also known as the cattle tick, causes severe parasitism and transmits different pathogens to vertebrate hosts, leading to massive economic losses. In the present study, we performed a functional characterization of a ribosomal protein from R. microplus to investigate its importance in blood feeding, egg production and viability. Ribosomal protein S18 (RPS18) is part of the 40S subunit, associated with 18S rRNA, and has been previously pointed to have a secondary role in different organisms. Rhipicephalus microplus RPS18 (RmRPS18) gene expression levels were modulated in female salivary glands during blood feeding. Moreover, mRNA levels in this tissue were 10 times higher than those in the midgut of fully engorged female ticks. Additionally, recombinant RmRPS18 was recognized by IgG antibodies from sera of cattle naturally or experimentally infested with ticks. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the RmRPS18 gene was performed in fully engorged females, leading to a significant (29 %) decrease in egg production. Additionally, egg hatching was completely impaired, suggesting that no viable eggs were produced by the RmRPS18-silenced group. Furthermore, antimicrobial assays revealed inhibitory activities against gram -negative Escherichia coli and gram -positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, affecting bacterial growth. Data presented here show the important role of RmRPS18 in tick physiology and suggest that RmRPS18 can be a potential target for the development of novel strategies for tick control. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/03657-8 - Inibidores e proteases de ectoparasitas: relação de estrutura-função e identificação do papel dessas moléculas na interação de vetores de doenças e seus agentes etiológicos
• Beneficiário: Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 20/02433-5 - Construção de uma biblioteca de fragmentos de cDNA de enzimas proteolíticas (peptidases) e serpinas de R. microplus na superfície de fagos filamentosos
• Beneficiário: Gabriel Cerqueira Alves Costa
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 19/03779-5 - Uso de phage display como ferramenta no diagnóstico e controle de doenças transmitidas por vetores hematófagos
• Beneficiário: Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático