Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i>
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting or degrading messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In ticks, salivary miRNAs are proposed to play key roles in modulating host–vector interactions during blood feeding. Previously, we identified salivary miRNAs in <i>Or...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/595 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849431550883528704 |
|---|---|
| author | Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez Cristian Gallardo-Escárate Rocío Vizcaíno-Marín María González-Sánchez Ana Oleaga |
| author_facet | Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez Cristian Gallardo-Escárate Rocío Vizcaíno-Marín María González-Sánchez Ana Oleaga |
| author_sort | Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting or degrading messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In ticks, salivary miRNAs are proposed to play key roles in modulating host–vector interactions during blood feeding. Previously, we identified salivary miRNAs in <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i>, major vectors of African swine fever and tick-borne human relapsing fever. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of salivary miRNAs in tick biology. Salivary miRNA datasets were re-analysed to identify conserved miRNAs, and putative target genes were predicted using the sialotranscriptomes of both species. In silico predictions were validated through experimental inhibition of specific miRNAs using antagomirs. Knockdown of miR-375 and miR-1 significantly reduced blood intake, oviposition, and fertility, indicating their involvement in feeding and reproductive processes. Silencing miR-252b in <i>O. moubata</i> led to increased mortality, suggesting a critical role in survival. Notably, Metis1 was identified as a likely target of miR-252b, and its dysregulation may underlie the observed lethality in miR-252b-silenced ticks. These findings highlight the functional relevance of salivary miRNAs in tick physiology and host interaction, offering new perspectives for the development of innovative tick control strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-990bb2c565e548f489fe14750b2f6311 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-990bb2c565e548f489fe14750b2f63112025-08-20T03:27:36ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-06-0114659510.3390/pathogens14060595Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i>Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles0Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez1Cristian Gallardo-Escárate2Rocío Vizcaíno-Marín3María González-Sánchez4Ana Oleaga5Parasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca, (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, SpainParasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca, (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, SpainLaboratory of Biotechnology and Aquatic Genomics, Department of Oceanography, University of Concepcion, Concepcion 4030000, ChileParasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca, (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, SpainParasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca, (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, SpainParasitología Animal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca, (IRNASA-CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, SpainMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting or degrading messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In ticks, salivary miRNAs are proposed to play key roles in modulating host–vector interactions during blood feeding. Previously, we identified salivary miRNAs in <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i>, major vectors of African swine fever and tick-borne human relapsing fever. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of salivary miRNAs in tick biology. Salivary miRNA datasets were re-analysed to identify conserved miRNAs, and putative target genes were predicted using the sialotranscriptomes of both species. In silico predictions were validated through experimental inhibition of specific miRNAs using antagomirs. Knockdown of miR-375 and miR-1 significantly reduced blood intake, oviposition, and fertility, indicating their involvement in feeding and reproductive processes. Silencing miR-252b in <i>O. moubata</i> led to increased mortality, suggesting a critical role in survival. Notably, Metis1 was identified as a likely target of miR-252b, and its dysregulation may underlie the observed lethality in miR-252b-silenced ticks. These findings highlight the functional relevance of salivary miRNAs in tick physiology and host interaction, offering new perspectives for the development of innovative tick control strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/595<i>Ornithodoros moubata</i>Ornithodoros erraticusmicroRNAantagomirsalivary glands |
| spellingShingle | Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez Cristian Gallardo-Escárate Rocío Vizcaíno-Marín María González-Sánchez Ana Oleaga Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> Pathogens <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> Ornithodoros erraticus microRNA antagomir salivary glands |
| title | Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> |
| title_full | Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> |
| title_short | Insights into the Regulatory Roles of miRNAs in the Salivary Glands of the Soft Ticks <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> and <i>Ornithodoros erraticus</i> |
| title_sort | insights into the regulatory roles of mirnas in the salivary glands of the soft ticks i ornithodoros moubata i and i ornithodoros erraticus i |
| topic | <i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> Ornithodoros erraticus microRNA antagomir salivary glands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/595 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT analauracanoarguelles insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi AT ricardoperezsanchez insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi AT cristiangallardoescarate insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi AT rociovizcainomarin insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi AT mariagonzalezsanchez insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi AT anaoleaga insightsintotheregulatoryrolesofmirnasinthesalivaryglandsofthesoftticksiornithodorosmoubataiandiornithodoroserraticusi |