Table 1_Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the immune response in Hyalomma anatolicum to bacterial invasion.xlsx

BackgroundHyalomma anatolicum is a multi-host ectoparasite that carries and transmits a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Understanding the immune response of ticks to bacterial infections is of research significance for deciphering their immune defense mechanisms and harnessing tick - derived molecules.
MethodsIn the current study, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on H. anatolicum injected with Staphylococcus aureus (SA group), Proteus mirabilis (PM group) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS group) were performed.
ResultsIn pairwise comparisons among the experimental groups, we identified 9,776 (SA/PBS), 10,230 (PM/PBS), and 1,309 (SA/PM) differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 175 (SA/PBS), 277 (PM/PBS), and 223 (SA/PM) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), respectively. Subsequent KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs and DEPs were significantly enriched in a range of pertinent pathways, including the immune system and apoptosis, Toll and IMD signaling pathways, MAPK signaling pathway, and NF - κB signaling pathway. The RT - qPCR detection data exhibited a concordant trend with the RNA - seq data, indicating a substantial alignment in the observed results. Notably, the defensin and lectin gene families emerged as potentially pivotal components within the innate immune defense system of ticks.
ConclusionOverall, in this study, genes, proteins, and signaling pathways integral to the immune defense of H. anatolicum were identified, offering substantial potential for future research focused on harnessing its intricate immune defense mechanisms for antimicrobial applications.

背景：安纳托利亚璃眼蜱（Hyalomma anatolicum）是一类多宿主外寄生虫，可携带并传播多种人畜共患病病原体。解析蜱类应对细菌感染的免疫反应，对于阐明其免疫防御机制、开发利用蜱源分子具有重要研究意义。
方法：本研究对注射了金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus，SA组）、奇异变形杆菌（Proteus mirabilis，PM组）或磷酸盐缓冲液（phosphate buffered saline, PBS组）的安纳托利亚璃眼蜱开展了转录组学与蛋白质组学分析。
结果：在实验组两两比较中，我们分别鉴定得到9776个（SA/PBS组）、10230个（PM/PBS组）与1309个（SA/PM组）差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes, DEGs），以及175个（SA/PBS组）、277个（PM/PBS组）与223个（SA/PM组）差异表达蛋白（differentially expressed proteins, DEPs）。后续KEGG通路分析结果显示，上述DEGs与DEPs显著富集于多条相关通路，涵盖免疫系统与细胞凋亡、Toll及IMD信号通路、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK）信号通路以及核因子κB（nuclear factor-κB, NF-κB）信号通路。实时定量聚合酶链反应（reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, RT-qPCR）检测数据与RNA测序（RNA sequencing, RNA-seq）结果趋势一致，表明本研究观测结果具有高度一致性。值得注意的是，防御素（defensin）与凝集素（lectin）基因家族被认定为蜱类先天免疫防御系统中的潜在核心组分。
结论：本研究成功鉴定出安纳托利亚璃眼蜱免疫防御相关的基因、蛋白及信号通路，为后续以解析其复杂免疫防御机制用于抗菌应用的研究提供了坚实的研究基础与应用潜力。