Analysis of ferritin proteins. (A) Phylogenetic tree based on maximum likelihood analysis of a Dermacentor variabilis midgut protein and published heavy and light chain ferritin protein sequences. The transcripts identified in this analysis are in bold (DvM). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on protein alignments using Tree Puzzle version 5.2. Values at nodes represent calculated internal branch node support (1000 replications). (B) Multiple sequence alignment (CLUSTALX) of protein sequences identified in a cDNA library of unfed/2 d fed or 6 d fed D. variabilis midguts (DvM) and published heavy chain ferritins found on Genbank. Asterisks (*) represent the ferroxidase diiron center based on the ferritin conserved domain (cd00904). Shading represents 100% identity (black) or similarity (grey) among the sequences. Alignments were conducted using CLUSTALX.D. variabilis (Dv), Argas monolakensis (Am), Ornithodoros moubata (Om), O. parkeri (Op), Ixodes ricinus (Ir), I. scapularis (Is), Amblyomma americanum (Aa), Amblyomma maculatum (Ama), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Bm), Hyalomma asiaticum (Ha), R. haemaphysaloides (Rh), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Rs), Dermacentor variabilis (Dv), Dermacentor albipictus (Dal), Dermacentor andersoni (Da), Haemaphysalis longicornis (Hl), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (Cr), Drosophila melanogaster (Dm), Culicoides sonorensis (Cs), Trichoplusia ni (Tn), Glossina morsitans (Gm).