Ticks, blood-sucking ectoparasites, spread diseases to humans and animals. Haemaphysalis longicornis is a significant vector for tick-borne diseases in medical and veterinary contexts. Identifying protective antigens in H. longicornis for an anti-tick vaccine is a key tick control strategy. Enolase, a multifunctional protein, significantly converts D-2-phosphoglycerate and phosphoenolpyruvate in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in cell cytoplasm. This study cloned a complete open reading frame (ORF) of enolase from the H. longicornis tick and characterized its transcriptional and silencing effect. We amplified the full-length cDNA of the enolase gene using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The complete cDNA, with an ORF of 1,297 nucleotides, encoded a 432-amino acid polypeptide. Enolase of the Jeju strain H. longicornis exhibited the highest sequence similarity with H. flava (98%), followed by Dermacentor silvarum (82%). The enolase motifs identified included N-terminal and C-terminal regions, magnesium binding sites, and several phosphorylation sites. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that enolase mRNA transcripts were expressed across all developmental stages of ticks and organs such as salivary gland and midgut. RT-PCR showed higher transcript levels in syn-ganglia, suggesting that synganglion nerves influence enolase,s role in tick salivary glands. We injected enolase double-stranded RNA into adult unfed female ticks, after which they were subsequently fed with normal unfed males until they spontaneously dropped off. RNA interference significantly (P<0.05) reduced feeding and reproduction, along with abnormalities in eggs (no embryos) and hatching. These findings suggest enolase is a promising target for future tick control strategies.
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Comprehensive antigen identification and comparative analysis: significant approaches for controlling Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks Md. Samiul Haque, Bumseok Kim, Myung-Jo You Journal of Veterinary Science.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Microbiome Composition of Haemaphysalis flava in Korea and Diversity Analysis Based on Region, Developmental Stage, and Sex Min Kyu Sang, Jie eun Park, Dae Kwon Song, Jun Yang Jeong, Chan‐Eui Hong, Hyeonjun Shin, Hyeok Lee, Kyoung Won Lee, Hee Ju Hwang, Hyun woo Kim, Seong Yoon Kim, Wook‐Gyo Lee, So Young Park, Se Won Kang, Jung Han Park, Bharat Bhusan Patnaik, Sung‐Jae Cha, S Entomological Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Identification and knockdown effect of disulfide isomerase in the Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) Md Samiul Haque, Bumseok Kim, Myung-Jo You Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
This study evaluated the potential repellent and acaricidal effects of 4 essential oils (clove, eucalyptus, lavender, and mint) against the Asian longhorned tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, a vector of various tick-borne diseases in medical and veterinary contexts. Selected for their potential repellent and acaricidal properties, the 4 essential oils were tested on adult and nymph H. longicornis ticks at different concentrations. The experiment assessed mortality rates and repellency, particularly during tick attachment to host skin. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in tick mortality and repellency scores across all groups. At a 1% concentration, adult tick mortality ranged from 36% to 86%, while nymph mortality ranged from 6% to 97%. Clove oil exhibited notable efficacy, demonstrating high mortality rates of nymphs and adults. Clove oil also displayed strong repellency properties, with a repellency index of 0.05, surpassing those of mint, eucalyptus, and lavender oils. Clove oil showed the highest effectiveness in deterring nonattached adult ticks (90%) and nymphs (95%) when applied to skin. Clove oil was the most effective against adult and nymph ticks, achieving mortality rates of 86% and 97%, respectively, and led to the highest nonattachment rates when applied to skin. In conclusion, essential oils such as clove, eucalyptus, lavender, and mint oils present promising results for tick population control.
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Comprehensive antigen identification and comparative analysis: significant approaches for controlling Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks Md. Samiul Haque, Bumseok Kim, Myung-Jo You Journal of Veterinary Science.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Tick infestation causes a significant threat to human and animal health, requiring effective immunological control methods. This study aimed to investigate the potential of recombinant Haemaphysalis longicornis enolase protein for tick vaccine development. The exact mechanism of the recently identified enolase protein from the H. longicornis Jeju strain remains poorly understood. Enolase plays a crucial role in glycolysis, the metabolic process that converts glucose into energy, and is essential for the motility, adhesion, invasion, growth, and differentiation of ticks. In this study, mice were immunized with recombinant enolase, and polyclonal antibodies were generated. Western blot analysis confirmed the specific recognition of enolase by the antiserum. The effects of immunization on tick feeding and attachment were assessed. Adult ticks attached to the recombinant enolase-immunized mice demonstrated longer attachment time, increased blood-sucking abilities, and lower engorgement weight than the controls. The nymphs and larvae had a reduced attachment rate and low engorgement rate compared to the controls. Mice immunized with recombinant enolase expressed in Escherichia coli displayed 90% efficacy in preventing tick infestation. The glycolytic nature of enolase and its involvement in crucial physiological processes makes it an attractive target for disrupting tick survival and disease transmission. Polyclonal antibodies recognize enolase and significantly reduce attachment rates, tick feeding, and engorgement. Our findings indicate that recombinant enolase may be a valuable vaccine candidate for H. longicornis infection in experimental murine model.
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Comprehensive antigen identification and comparative analysis: significant approaches for controlling Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks Md. Samiul Haque, Bumseok Kim, Myung-Jo You Journal of Veterinary Science.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Effect of Silencing subolesin and enolase impairs gene expression, engorgement and reproduction in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks Md. Samiul Haque, Mohammad Saiful Islam, Myung-Jo You Journal of Veterinary Science.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Targeting Plasmodium Life Cycle with Novel Parasite Ligands as Vaccine Antigens Shan Khan, Manas Paresh Patel, Aleem Damji Patni, Sung-Jae Cha Vaccines.2024; 12(5): 484. CrossRef
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