Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation
Abstract Background Rhipicephalus microplus is an efficient biological vector of Babesia bovis, a causative agent of bovine babesiosis. Babesia bovis is passed transovarially to the next generation of ticks, which then transmit the parasite to naïve animals. Due to the importance of the R. microplus...
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doaj-b2497dd219fe4f4dbf3ae7612fd21ca62020-11-25T02:37:04ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052019-01-011211710.1186/s13071-018-3270-1Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturationHala E. Hussein0Wendell C. Johnson1Naomi S. Taus2Carlos E. Suarez3Glen A. Scoles4Massaro W. Ueti5Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State UniversityAnimal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Washington State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State UniversityAbstract Background Rhipicephalus microplus is an efficient biological vector of Babesia bovis, a causative agent of bovine babesiosis. Babesia bovis is passed transovarially to the next generation of ticks, which then transmit the parasite to naïve animals. Due to the importance of the R. microplus ovary for tick reproduction and transmission of B. bovis, we investigated the hypothesis that silencing vitellogenin receptor gene expression in the ovary during tick feeding on B. bovis-infected cattle would affect parasite transmission to the next generation of ticks. Results Silencing expression of the vitellogenin receptor in the ovary by RNA interference, resulted in reduced tick fertility. We observed reduced egg production (i.e. reduced weight of eggs), a lower rate of embryonic development, and a reduction in hatching. Analysis of individual larvae by PCR confirmed that RNAi mediated downregulation of the R. microplus vitellogenin receptor and also interfered with transovarial transmission of B. bovis. None of the larvae (0/58) from the RmVgR dsRNA-injected group were PCR-positive, whereas 12% (7/58) and 17% (10/58) of larvae from the non-injected and buffer-injected control groups, respectively, were infected with B. bovis. Conclusions The combined effects of reduced fecundity and reduced infection in surviving larvae resulting from silencing indicate that vitellogenin receptor is essential for tick reproduction and may play a vital role in B. bovis transmission.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3270-1Rhipicephalus microplusVitellogenin receptorBabesia bovisRNA interference |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hala E. Hussein Wendell C. Johnson Naomi S. Taus Carlos E. Suarez Glen A. Scoles Massaro W. Ueti |
spellingShingle |
Hala E. Hussein Wendell C. Johnson Naomi S. Taus Carlos E. Suarez Glen A. Scoles Massaro W. Ueti Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation Parasites & Vectors Rhipicephalus microplus Vitellogenin receptor Babesia bovis RNA interference |
author_facet |
Hala E. Hussein Wendell C. Johnson Naomi S. Taus Carlos E. Suarez Glen A. Scoles Massaro W. Ueti |
author_sort |
Hala E. Hussein |
title |
Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
title_short |
Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
title_full |
Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
title_fullStr |
Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Silencing expression of the Rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks Babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
title_sort |
silencing expression of the rhipicephalus microplus vitellogenin receptor gene blocks babesia bovis transmission and interferes with oocyte maturation |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Parasites & Vectors |
issn |
1756-3305 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Rhipicephalus microplus is an efficient biological vector of Babesia bovis, a causative agent of bovine babesiosis. Babesia bovis is passed transovarially to the next generation of ticks, which then transmit the parasite to naïve animals. Due to the importance of the R. microplus ovary for tick reproduction and transmission of B. bovis, we investigated the hypothesis that silencing vitellogenin receptor gene expression in the ovary during tick feeding on B. bovis-infected cattle would affect parasite transmission to the next generation of ticks. Results Silencing expression of the vitellogenin receptor in the ovary by RNA interference, resulted in reduced tick fertility. We observed reduced egg production (i.e. reduced weight of eggs), a lower rate of embryonic development, and a reduction in hatching. Analysis of individual larvae by PCR confirmed that RNAi mediated downregulation of the R. microplus vitellogenin receptor and also interfered with transovarial transmission of B. bovis. None of the larvae (0/58) from the RmVgR dsRNA-injected group were PCR-positive, whereas 12% (7/58) and 17% (10/58) of larvae from the non-injected and buffer-injected control groups, respectively, were infected with B. bovis. Conclusions The combined effects of reduced fecundity and reduced infection in surviving larvae resulting from silencing indicate that vitellogenin receptor is essential for tick reproduction and may play a vital role in B. bovis transmission. |
topic |
Rhipicephalus microplus Vitellogenin receptor Babesia bovis RNA interference |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3270-1 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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