2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Molecular studies on nutrient regulation of reproduction and immune responses in a tick
| Project/Area Number |
16K08094
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Insect science
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
Taylor DeMar 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (50261772)
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| Research Collaborator |
Kutsuwada Keisuke
Nakatake Shoko
Wagner Cornelia
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | tick / blood feeding / nutrient signalling / reproduction / immunity / Target of Rapamycin |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Ticks are important vectors of many viral, bacterial, protozoan and other disease pathogens to both animals and humans. The focus of this research was to better understand the mechanisms regulating the reproduction and immunity in a model tick Ornithodoros moubata. Ticks require a blood meal to produce eggs and the regulation of egg protein production, vitellogenesis, is regulated by nutrients and hormones. The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase has been shown to be the key regulatory factor for these mechanisms. Injection of rapamycin, an inhibitor of TOR, decreased the levels of egg proteins in the hemolymph and resulted in lack of egg development in the ovaries leading to the laying of no eggs. Results showed TOR expression peaks occur before the Vg gene peak indicating TOR may be important in regulating Vg expression. We also identified and characterized the relish gene in the immune responses to test the role of nutrients in the regulation of both the Toll and Imd pathways.
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| Free Research Field |
Tick Physiology (Reproduction & Nutrition)
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
This research provides a clearer understanding of factors regulating reproduction and immune responses in a tick. This knowledge can lead to the development of better methods for controlling ticks by targeting different factors in the regulatory pathways and possibly prevent disease transmission.
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