Studies on the nutrient sensing mechanisms and pathways in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25850198
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: SHIRAFUJI Rika 帯広畜産大学, 原虫病研究センター, 助教 (00549909)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: マダニ / 栄養シグナル伝達 / RNA干渉法 / 飢餓 / 吸血

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We hypothesized that nutrient sensing mechanisms and pathways are critical events for survival of ticks during both nonfeeding (starvation) and feeding (engorgement) periods. In this study, role(s) of some molecules which are known as regulators of cellular metabolism in eukaryotes were examined. (1) Two homologs (HlSIRT5 and HlSIRT7) of Sir2 histone deacetylase gene were identified from the tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. (2) RNAi experiments revealed that autophagy-related genes play important roles in not only oogenesis, but embryogenesis as well. (3) The results of RNAi suggested that AMPK might be not activated during feeding period.

Free Research Field

節足動物衛生工学