Comparative proteomics of Coxiella Like Endosymbionts (CLEs) in the symbiotic organs of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) feed exclusively on blood which lacks essential nutrients such as vitamins and cofactors. These deficiencies are presumably complemented through specific symbiotic microorganisms such as Coxiella – Like Endosymbionts (CLEs) of Rhipicephalus ticks. CLE are localized in specialized host tissue cells within the Malpighian tubules (Mt) and the ovaries (Ov) from which they are maternally transmitted to developing oocytes. These two organs differ in function and cell types, and possibly also in activities performed by CLE occupants. To get insights into CLE functions within these two organs, we used comparative proteomics of CLEs in Mt and Ov of unfed R. sanguineus ticks

蜱类（蜱螨亚纲：硬蜱目Ixodida）仅以血液为食，而血液缺乏维生素、辅因子等必需营养素。这类营养缺失据推测可通过特定共生微生物得到弥补，例如扇头蜱属（Rhipicephalus）蜱虫的柯克斯体样共生菌（Coxiella-like Endosymbionts，CLEs）。CLE定位于马氏管（Malpighian tubules，Mt）与卵巢（ovaries，Ov）内的特化宿主组织细胞中，并可通过母系传播途径，从这两类器官传递至发育中的卵母细胞。这两类器官在功能与细胞类型上存在差异，其内部CLE所执行的生理活动也可能有所不同。为解析CLE在这两类器官中的功能，本研究对未吸血的血红扇头蜱（R. sanguineus）马氏管与卵巢内的CLE开展了比较蛋白质组学分析。