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A salivary cystatin, HlSC-1, from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis play roles in the blood-feeding processes

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Abstract

Ticks feed exclusively on blood to obtain their nutrients, but the gene products that mediate blood-sucking processes in ticks are still unknown. We report here the molecular characterization and possible biological function of a cysteine protease inhibitor (HlSC-1) identified in the salivary gland of the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. The HlSC-1 cDNA contains 423 bp that code for 140 amino acids with a predictable molecular weight of 12 kDa. The recombinant HlSC-1 expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to inhibit the activity of papain and cathepsin L, while cathepsin B activity was unaffected. Immunolocalization studies detected the endogenous enzyme in the salivary gland type II acini of an adult tick. Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of HlSC-1 transcripts was associated with blood-feeding processes and was highly up-regulated in the early phase of feeding. Our results strongly suggest that HlSC-1 may play pivotal roles in the blood-feeding processes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grant-in-Aids (to N.T. and K.F.) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan. This work was also supported by a grant (to N.T. and K.F.) for Promotion of Basic Research Activities for Innovative Biosciences from the Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0856, Japan

    Kayoko Yamaji, Naotoshi Tsuji, Takeharu Miyoshi, M. Khyrul Islam, Takeshi Hatta, M. Abdul Alim & M. Anisuzzaman

  2. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Kayoko Yamaji & Shiro Kushibiki

  3. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan

    Naotoshi Tsuji & M. Anisuzzaman

  4. National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ikenodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0901, Japan

    Shiro Kushibiki

  5. National Research Center of Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan

    Kozo Fujisaki

  6. Department of Frontier Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Kozo Fujisaki

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  1. Kayoko Yamaji
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  2. Naotoshi Tsuji
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  3. Takeharu Miyoshi
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  4. M. Khyrul Islam
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  5. Takeshi Hatta
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  6. M. Abdul Alim
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  7. M. Anisuzzaman
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  8. Shiro Kushibiki
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  9. Kozo Fujisaki
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Correspondence to Naotoshi Tsuji.

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Yamaji, K., Tsuji, N., Miyoshi, T. et al. A salivary cystatin, HlSC-1, from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis play roles in the blood-feeding processes. Parasitol Res 106, 61–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1626-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1626-3

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