RUI: Cuticular Mechanisms for Starvation Hardiness in Ticks

RUI：蜱的饥饿耐受性的表皮机制

• 批准号: 9727813
• 负责人: Olushola Adeyeye
• 金额: $ 20.62万
• 依托单位: Duquesne University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-04-01 至 2003-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9727813&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Cuticular; Mechanisms; Starvation; Hardiness

Adeyeye 9727813 The success of arthropods as terrestrial animals is attributable partly to their cuticle, a versatile structure that acts as a covering and skeleton. Ticks belonging to the genus Ornithodoros can live for many years even when starved. Moreover, the relapsing fever tick, Ornithodoros tuncaln, shows remarkable resistance to desiccation. This project will investigate whether and how the cuticle of 0. Turicata is biochemically modified in order to cope with starvation and/or desiccation. Comprehensive biochemical analyses of fed and starved 0. turicata cuticle will be conducted. In particular, proteins of interest will be purified and characterized using various techniques. Also cuticular lipids of sequentially starved ticks will be analyzed. The cuticular permeability will be determined and its possible correlation with changes in cuticular lipids and proteins will be ascertained. Two other ticks that differ in cuticular permeability and in starvation/desiccation hardiness shall be studied to permit broader generalization about the role of cuticular proteins and lipids in the of 0. turicata resisting desiccation. Because so little is known about the chemistry of the cuticle of soft ticks, the proposed studies will expand existing knowledge vis-a-vis the structure and functions of tick cuticle.

Adeyeye 9727813 节肢动物作为陆生动物的成功部分归功于它们的角质层，这是一种充当覆盖物和骨骼的多功能结构。 钝蜱属蜱虫即使在饥饿的情况下也能存活多年。此外，回归热蜱（Ornithodoros tuncaln）对干燥表现出显着的抵抗力。该项目将研究 0. Turicata 的角质层是否以及如何进行生化修饰，以应对饥饿和/或干燥。对喂食和饥饿的 0.turicata 角质层进行全面的生化分析。特别是，将使用各种技术纯化和表征感兴趣的蛋白质。 还将分析连续饥饿的蜱的角质层脂质。将测定角质层渗透性，并确定其与角质层脂质和蛋白质变化的可能相关性。应研究角质层渗透性和饥饿/干燥耐受性不同的另外两种蜱，以便更广泛地概括角质层蛋白和脂质在 0. turicata 抵抗干燥过程中的作用。由于人们对软蜱角质层的化学知之甚少，因此拟议的研究将扩展有关蜱角质层结构和功能的现有知识。