Studies on mechanisms of heme-sewage managements in the tick midgut

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Ticks employ a battery of proteases to digest the contents of host blood meals. Host hemoglobin degradation is facilitated by proteolytic networks in the midgut, the first major region of the body where ingested blood comes in to contact with the tick's internal tissues. The present study revealed existence of hemoglobin degradation pathway which consists of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors within the midgut epithelium. In particular, expression of a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, isolated from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlCPL-A) is correlated with Hb digestion. Up and down-regulation of heme-sewage metabolism is essential for the survival of ticks, since blood meals from hosts are the only source of energy, suggesting that this pathway may be suitable drug targets for better control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.