Physiology of ticks and tick-host interaction

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Research on ticks is motivated largely as a result of their global medical-veterinary importance. All tick-borne diseases are transmitted via the salivary secretions. Because interfering with salivation completely disrupts the tick life cycle and transmission of disease, our projects have important implications for tick control. A) Hormonal control of salivary gland degeneration and development: We shall explore the cellular mechanism whereby the hormone, ecdysone, causes the salivary glands to degenerate after engorgement. B) The endocrine control of reproduction: We have recently discovered that the hormone, ecdysone, regulates yolk synthesis in ticks. However, and most unusual for arthropods, it appears as if an additional factor is needed for egg development to be completed. We shall attempt to identify this 'yolk-uptake factor' in ticks. C) Voraxin: a male gonadal protein that stimulates female engorgment: We shall further explore the potential for voraxin, the tick engorgement factor protein, to be the component of an anti-tick vaccine. D) The pharmacology of salivary fluid secretion:  Ergot alkaloids are a family of drugs, some of which stimulate and others block salivation. We are exploring the mode of action of these drugs on the salivary glands.