Protein regulation mechanism of Haemaphysalis longicornis in response to high temperature

Ticks, as obligate blood-sucking ectoparasitic arthropods, are closely tied to ecosystem stability. High ambient temperatures can profoundly affect tick survival and reproduction by influencing individual behavior, population physiology, and adaptive evolution, thereby altering the risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission and posing a threat to public health. To investigate the impact of high temperature on Haemaphysalis longicornis and its associated protein regulatory mechanisms, this study performed quantitative proteomic analyses using data-independent acquisition (DIA) on the ovaries, salivary glands, and midguts of H. longicornis exposed to high temperature. The results showed significant alterations in protein expression under heat stress, affecting multiple critical biological processes. Notably, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase (UCH) was up-regulated in high-temperature conditions across ovaries. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of UCH reduced heat tolerance in H. longicornis, demonstrating its important role in maintaining normal physiological functions under high-temperature environments. This study reveals key physiological mechanisms facilitating tick adaptation to heat stress and offers potential molecular targets for future tick control strategies.