Experimental and Applied Acarology

, Volume 71, Issue 1, pp 71–85 | Cite as

Identification and anticoagulant activity of a novel Kunitz-type protein HA11 from the salivary gland of the tick Hyalomma asiaticum

  • Houshuang Zhang
  • Ruiqiong Qiao
  • Haiyan Gong
  • Jie Cao
  • Yongzhi Zhou
  • Jinlin Zhou
Article
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Abstract

Kunitz/bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, including inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. In this study, we identified a novel gene designated HA11 (Hyalomma asiaticum 11 kDa protein) from the salivary gland of the tick H. asiaticum. HA11 is encoded by a gene with an open reading frame of 306 bp that is translated into a deduced 101 amino acid 11 kDa protein that shares 27% sequence identity with a Kunitz-like protease inhibitor precursor in Amblyomma variegatum. Bioinformatic analysis confirmed HA11 as a member of the Kunitz-type family of inhibitors. Real time-PCR detected HA11 mRNA transcripts in tick larvae and nymphae stages, with levels highest in salivary gland tissue, and transcription was induced by blood feeding. HA11 anticoagulant activity was demonstrated by its ability to delay normal clotting of rabbit plasma in an activated partial thromboplastin time assay. Furthermore, RNA interference confirmed that HA11 influences H. asiaticum development and blood feeding, and the recombinant protein exerted low hemolytic activity. These results suggest HA11 is a novel Kunitz-type anticoagulant protein involved in tick blood feeding that may have potential as an anticoagulant drug or vaccine.

Keywords

Hyalomma asiaticum Salivary gland Kunitz-type anticoagulant protein HA11 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

Project support was provided by the National Key Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (Grant No. 2015CB150300) and the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (ASTIP) of China.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Houshuang Zhang
    • 1
  • Ruiqiong Qiao
    • 1
  • Haiyan Gong
    • 1
  • Jie Cao
    • 1
  • Yongzhi Zhou
    • 1
  • Jinlin Zhou
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Shanghai Veterinary Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesShanghaiChina
  2. 2.Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and ZoonosesYangzhouChina

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