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RNA interference in ticks: a study using histamine binding protein dsRNA in the female tick Amblyomma americanum
Author(s) -
Aljamali M. N.,
Bior A. D.,
Sauer J. R.,
Essenberg R. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2583.2003.00416.x
Subject(s) - biology , amblyomma americanum , rna silencing , rna interference , tick , histamine , rna , gene silencing , gene expression , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , virology , genetics , ixodidae , endocrinology
RNA interference (RNAi), a gene silencing process, has been recently exploited to determine gene function by degrading specific mRNAs in several eukaryotic organisms. We constructed a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) from a previously cloned putative Amblyomma americanum histamine binding protein (HBP) to test the significance of using this methodology in the assessment of the function and importance of gene products in ectoparasitic ticks. The female salivary glands incubated in vitro with HBP dsRNA had a significantly lower histamine binding ability. In addition, the injection of HBP dsRNA into the unfed females led both to a reduced histamine binding ability in the isolated salivary glands and to an aberrant tick feeding pattern or host response. Molecular data demonstrated less expression of the HBP mRNA in the RNAi group. Taken together, these results suggest that RNAi might be an important tool for assessing the significance of tick salivary gland secreted proteins modulating responses at the tick–host interface.