Starvation Metabolism Adaptations in Tick Embryonic Cells BME26.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Molecular Physiology
• Parasitology

Background:

• Ticks like Rhipicephalus microplus cause significant economic damage to cattle.
• Ticks possess remarkable starvation tolerance, crucial for their survival between hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the metabolic adaptations of Rhipicephalus microplus tick cells during starvation.
• To utilize the BME26 cell line as a model for studying tick starvation resilience.

Main Methods:

• Simulated nutrient deprivation by replacing L-15 medium with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
• Assessed glycogen levels and quantified gene expression of key metabolic enzymes (PEPCK, HK, PK) and autophagy-related genes (ATG).

Main Results:

• Tick cells survived experimental starvation for up to 48 hours.
• Significant decrease in glycogen levels observed at 24h and 48h.
• Upregulation of gluconeogenic (PEPCK) and downregulation of glycolytic (HK, PK) gene expression.
• Transcriptional levels of autophagy-related genes (ATG) were upregulated.

Conclusions:

• Rhipicephalus microplus cells prioritize gluconeogenesis over glycolysis during starvation.
• Autophagy likely plays a role in providing substrates for gluconeogenesis in nutrient-deprived tick cells.
• Findings provide insights into tick metabolic regulation and potential control strategies.