Longistatin, a plasminogen activator, is key to the availability of blood-meals for ixodid ticks

PLoS Pathog. 2011 Mar;7(3):e1001312. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001312. Epub 2011 Mar 10.

Abstract

Ixodid ticks are notorious blood-sucking ectoparasites and are completely dependent on blood-meals from hosts. In addition to the direct severe effects on health and productivity, ixodid ticks transmit various deadly diseases to humans and animals. Unlike rapidly feeding vessel-feeder hematophagous insects, the hard ticks feed on hosts for a long time (5-10 days or more), making a large blood pool beneath the skin. Tick's salivary glands produce a vast array of bio-molecules that modulate their complex and persistent feeding processes. However, the specific molecule that functions in the development and maintenance of a blood pool is yet to be identified. Recently, we have reported on longistatin, a 17.8-kDa protein with two functional EF-hand Ca(++)-binding domains, from the salivary glands of the disease vector, Haemaphysalis longicornis, that has been shown to be linked to blood-feeding processes. Here, we show that longistatin plays vital roles in the formation of a blood pool and in the acquisition of blood-meals. Data clearly revealed that post-transcriptional silencing of the longistatin-specific gene disrupted ticks' unique ability to create a blood pool, and they consequently failed to feed and replete on blood-meals from hosts. Longistatin completely hydrolyzed α, β and γ chains of fibrinogen and delayed fibrin clot formation. Longistatin was able to bind with fibrin meshwork, and activated fibrin clot-bound plasminogen into its active form plasmin, as comparable to that of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and induced lysis of fibrin clot and platelet-rich thrombi. Plasminogen activation potentiality of longistatin was increased up to 4 times by soluble fibrin. Taken together, our results suggest that longistatin may exert potent functions both as a plasminogen activator and as an anticoagulant in the complex scenario of blood pool formation; the latter is critical to the feeding success and survival of ixodid ticks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticoagulants / metabolism
  • Blood*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Fibrin / metabolism
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Fibrinolysin / metabolism
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology*
  • Ixodidae / physiology*
  • Plasminogen Activators / physiology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / physiology*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides
  • longistatin protein, Haemaphysalis longicornis
  • Fibrin
  • Fibrinogen
  • Plasminogen Activators
  • Fibrinolysin