2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Elucidation of physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of the tick antimicrobial peptide defensin.
| Project/Area Number |
22580058
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Applied entomology
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
TAYLOR De Mar 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (50261772)
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| Research Collaborator |
KAWABATA Hiroki 国立感染症研究所, 細菌第一部, 第4室長
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| Project Period (FY) |
2010 – 2012
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| Keywords | 昆虫生理 / マダニ |
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| Research Abstract |
The antimicrobial peptide defensin plays a significant role in the immune responses of blood feeding ticks. The objective of this research was to elucidate mechanisms regulating defensin genes and clarify the role of NF-κB Rel regulatory factors (OmRel) in these regulatory mechanisms. OmRel appears to upregulate all four defensins (defensins A, B, C, D) identified from the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. Based on luciferase transfection assays and gel shift assay OmRel directly regulates the expression of Defensin C. RNAi knockdown of OmRel showed a reduction in the expression of all defensin genes. However, OmRel alone can not regulate all defensin genes so we identified an IMD Pathway NF-κBRelish regulatory factor and investigated whether the nutrient pathway may play a role in the regulation of immune responses in the soft tick O. moubata. Future studies are underway to confirm the roles of Relish and the nutrient pathway in regulating the immune system of ticks.
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Research Products
(11 results)
