Identification of Potential Paralysis Proteins in the Tick Dermacentor andersoni

Abstract

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that can act as disease vectors to humans and other animals, resulting in a threat to public health and economic burden within the agricultural sector.

The threat of tick-borne illness is increasing due to the expanding range of many tick species due to Ecosystem and climate changes. Additionally, many species of ticks can induce host paralysis during feeding. Dermacentor andersoni, an ixodid tick found throughout western Canada, can induce potentially lethal host paralysis during feeding. Salivary gland (SG) paralysis proteins have been identified and isolated in several tick species, but in D. andersoni little is known about these proteins and mechanisms of action. This project attempts to elucidate possible candidate paralysis proteins within the SG of D. andersoni. Analysis of the recently published D. andersoni genome using genomic and protein data from other tick species has been implemented to detect the expression of potential paralysis protein genes.

Preliminarily results are limited. However, a histamine-binding salivary protein from D.

andersoni shares homology with the SG protein TSGP4 from the tick Ornithodoros savignyi which is known to be toxic and implicated with paralysis. Additional research will be conducted to determine whether this gene is more strongly expressed in a paralysis virulent strain of D.

andersoni, and if so, will be flagged as a potential paralysis protein. Tick SG proteins may have pharmacological value, and the identification of paralysis proteins may lead to novel treatments

in preventing paralysis in affected animals.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Treena Swanston & Dr. Kevin Friesen