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- Title
Molecular characterization of a defensin gene from a hard tick, Dermacentor silvarum.
- Authors
Juanjuan Wang; Gang Bian; Wen Pan; Tingting Feng; Jianfeng Dai
- Abstract
Background Ticks are distributed worldwide and considered as vectors of many human diseases. Tick defensins, a family of antimicrobial peptides, form the first line of defense against pathogens. Findings A defensin-like gene, named Ds-defensin, was identified from a cDNA library of the hard tick Dermacentor silvarum collected from northeast China. The full-length cDNA of Ds-defensin was 225 bp, encoding a 74 amino acid peptide. The nucleotide sequence of Ds-defensin shared 98.2% similarity to putative defensin from Dermacentor marginatus. RTPCR results suggested that Ds-defensin was extensively expressed in tick salivary gland and midgut, with a higher expression level in midgut. Ds-defensin showed broad antimicrobial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as the fungus Candida albicans. Conclusions We characterized a functional defensin from D. silvarum of China. Ds-defensin showed bactericidal activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Ds-defensin can be expected to be introduced to the medical field as a new molecule with antibacterial activity.
- Subjects
CHINA; DEFENSINS; PEPTIDE antibiotics; TICK-borne diseases; DERMACENTOR
- Publication
Parasites & Vectors, 2015, Vol 8, Issue 1, p440
- ISSN
1756-3305
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13071-014-0625-0