The transcription factor Relish controls Anaplasma marginale infection in the bovine tick Rhipicephalus microplus

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology 2017-09, Vol.74, p.32-39
• Main Authors: Capelli-Peixoto, J., Carvalho, Danielle D., Johnson, Wendell C., Scoles, Glen A., Fogaça, Andrea C., Daffre, Sirlei, Ueti, Massaro W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaplasma; Anaplasma marginale - immunology; Anaplasmosis; Anaplasmosis - immunology; Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - genetics; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - metabolism; Arachnids; Bacterial infections; Cattle; Etiology; Gene expression; Glands; IMD; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity; Immunity, Innate; Infections; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; Jak/Stat; Male; Midgut; Oncogene Proteins v-rel - genetics; Oncogene Proteins v-rel - metabolism; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Receptor Cross-Talk; Rhipicephalus microplus; Rhipicephalus sanguineus - genetics; Rhipicephalus sanguineus - immunology; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA-mediated interference; Salivary glands; Salivary Glands - microbiology; Salivary Glands - physiology; Signal Transduction; Signaling; Signaling pathways; Tick; Ticks; Toll; Transcription factors
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.04.005

Rhipicephalus microplus is an important biological vector of Anaplasma marginale, the etiological agent of bovine anaplasmosis. The knowledge of tick immune responses to control bacterial infections remains limited. In this study, we demonstrate that transcription factor Relish from the IMD signaling pathway has an important role in the control of A. marginale infection in ticks. We found that RNA-mediated silencing of Relish caused a significant increase in the number of A. marginale in the midgut and salivary glands of R. microplus. In addition, the IMD pathway regulates the expression of the gene that encodes the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) microplusin. Moreover, microplusin expression was up-regulated in the midgut (2×) and salivary glands (8×) of A. marginale infected R. microplus. Therefore, it is plausible to hypothesize that microplusin may be involved in the A. marginale control. This study provides the first evidence of IMD signaling pathway participation on the A. marginale control in R. microplus. •The gene expression of AMP microplusin is regulated by Relish.•AMP microplusin might control A. marginale colonization.•Stat controls the gene expression of AMPs ixodidin, defensin and lysozyme.•Ticks might have crosstalk of immune signaling pathways.