Disruption of the salivary protein 14 in Ixodes scapularis nymphs and impact on pathogen acquisition

Abstract

We previously examined the physiological role of the anticoagulant salivary protein 14 (salp14) in adult Ixodes scapularis and showed that Salp14 played a role in tick feeding and engorgement. We now analyze whether the disruption of the salp14 family expression by RNA interference affects tick weight in naïve nymph I. scapularis. Salp14 expression after dsRNA injection was significantly reduced, as shown by mRNA and protein analysis. However, nymph engorgement weight was not altered in salp9pac (salp14 paralog) dsRNA-injected ticks. We also determined Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum acquisition in I. scapularis nymphs that had reduced Salp14 expression. B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum acquisition was not affected 72 hours after feeding. Our results suggest that different mechanisms govern nymph and adult feeding in I. scapularis.