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Gut transcriptome of replete adult female cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, feeding upon a Babesia bovis-infected bovine host

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Abstract

As it feeds upon cattle, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is capable of transmitting a number of pathogenic organisms, including the apicomplexan hemoparasite Babesia bovis, a causative agent of bovine babesiosis. The R. microplus female gut transcriptome was studied for two cohorts: adult females feeding on a bovine host infected with B. bovis and adult females feeding on an uninfected bovine. RNA was purified and used to generate a subtracted cDNA library from B. bovis-infected female gut, and 4,077 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were sequenced. Gene expression was also measured by a microarray designed from the publicly available R. microplus gene index: BmiGI Version 2. We compared gene expression in the tick gut from females feeding upon an uninfected bovine to gene expression in tick gut from females feeding upon a splenectomized bovine infected with B. bovis. Thirty-three ESTs represented on the microarray were expressed at a higher level in female gut samples from the ticks feeding upon a B. bovis-infected calf compared to expression levels in female gut samples from ticks feeding on an uninfected calf. Forty-three transcripts were expressed at a lower level in the ticks feeding upon B. bovis-infected female guts compared with expression in female gut samples from ticks feeding on the uninfected calf. These array data were used as initial characterization of gene expression associated with the infection of R. microplus by B. bovis.

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Acknowledgments

AH participated in the bioinformatic analysis of the subtracted library and drafted the manuscript. FDG conceived the study, participated in the design, data collection, and analysis of the study and helped draft the manuscript. KGB participated in the data collection, data analysis, and designed the RT-PCR verification study. LS, SED, and CG participated in analysis of the microarray data; GAS participated in the overall study design and collection of tick materials. VN, SED, and AD participated in the study design and coordinated the sequencing phases. KAB participated in the study design and microarray experimental design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. LS was supported by the National Research Initiative of the USDA CSREES grant #2005-35604-15440 (to KAB and FDG). This article reports the results of research only. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation of endorsement by the USDA. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Knipling-Bushland US Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028, USA

    Andrew M. Heekin, Felix D. Guerrero & Kylie G. Bendele

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    Leo Saldivar

  3. Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Glen A. Scoles

  4. Molecular Research, 503 Clovis Road, Shallowater, TX, 79363, USA

    Scot E. Dowd

  5. The Institute for Genetics and Bioinformatics, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Cedric Gondro

  6. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya

    Vishvanath Nene & Appolinaire Djikeng

  7. Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Kelly A. Brayton

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  1. Andrew M. Heekin
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  2. Felix D. Guerrero
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  3. Kylie G. Bendele
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  8. Vishvanath Nene
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  9. Appolinaire Djikeng
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  10. Kelly A. Brayton
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Correspondence to Felix D. Guerrero.

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Heekin, A.M., Guerrero, F.D., Bendele, K.G. et al. Gut transcriptome of replete adult female cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, feeding upon a Babesia bovis-infected bovine host. Parasitol Res 112, 3075–3090 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3482-4

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