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Coxiella endosymbiont of rhipicephalus microplus modulates tick physiology with a major impact in blood feeding capacity

In the past decade, metagenomics studies exploring tick microbiota have revealed widespread interactions between bacteria and arthropods, including symbiotic interactions. Functional studies showed that obligate endosymbionts contribute to tick biology, affecting reproductive fitness and molting. Un...

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Main Authors: Garcia Guizzo, Melina, Tirloni, Lucas, Gonzalez, Sergio Alberto, Farber, Marisa Diana, Braz, Glória, Parizi, Luís Fernando, Dedavid e Silva, Lucas Andre, Da Silva Vaz, Itabajara, Oliveira, Pedro L.
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Frontiers Media 2022
Subjects:
Coxiella
Simbiontico
Transcriptomas
Microbiomas
Sanidad Animal
Symbionts
Rhipicephalus
Transcriptome
Microbiomes
Animal Health
Rhipicephalus microplus
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/12156
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.868575/full
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.868575
Summary:In the past decade, metagenomics studies exploring tick microbiota have revealed widespread interactions between bacteria and arthropods, including symbiotic interactions. Functional studies showed that obligate endosymbionts contribute to tick biology, affecting reproductive fitness and molting. Understanding the molecular basis of the interaction between ticks and their mutualist endosymbionts may help to develop control methods based on microbiome manipulation. Previously, we showed that Rhipicephalus microplus larvae with reduced levels of Coxiella endosymbiont of R. microplus (CERM) were arrested at the metanymph life stage (partially engorged nymph) and did not molt into adults. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic differential analysis of the R. microplus metanymph in the presence and absence of its mutualist endosymbiont. The lack of CERM resulted in an altered expression profile of transcripts from several functional categories. Gene products such as DA-P36, protease inhibitors, metalloproteases, and evasins, which are involved in blood feeding capacity, were underexpressed in CERM-free metanymphs. Disregulation in genes related to extracellular matrix remodeling was also observed in the absence of the symbiont. Taken together, the observed alterations in gene expression may explain the blockage of development at the metanymph stage and reveal a novel physiological aspect of the symbiont-tick-vertebrate host interaction.

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