Table 1. Bioassay of recproteins derived from feeding-induced mRNA transcripts expressed in the T/VD of male A. hebraeum.
| Exp. no. | Group no. (n) | Sf21 lysates injected*† | Mean weight of virgins (mg) at time of injection (± SEM) | Mean weight of virgins (mg) at detachment by day 14 (± SEM)‡§ | Fluid secretory competence (mg/gland/15 min) on day 4 postremoval§ | Ovary weight (mg) on day 10 postremoval§ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 (14) | 1-14 | 156 ± 8.9 | 182 ± 7.8 | — | — |
| 2 (14) | 15-28 | 191 ± 13.3 | 214 ± 6.6 | — | — | |
| 2 | 3 (14) | 1-7, 15-20 | 206 ± 5.1 | 211 ± 10.2 | 4.0 ± 0.6 (n = 4) | — |
| 4 (14) | 1-7, 21-28 | 219 ± 16.1 | 237 ± 10 | 3.9 ± 0.9 (n = 6) | — | |
| 5 (14) | 8-14, 15-20 | 183 ± 11.1 | 194 ± 11.1 | 3.6 ± 0.8 (n = 6) | — | |
| 6 (14) | 8-14, 21-28 | 169 ± 10.1 | 1070 ± 54.8 | 0.4 ± 0.1 (n = 13) | 15.91 ± 1.4 | |
| 7 (7) | Control 1 | 219 ± 14.3 | 214 ± 8.8 | 4.2 ± 0.3 (n = 8) | — | |
| 3 | 8 (7) | 8-14 | 221 ± 21.0 | 253 ± 8.5 | 4.1 ± 0.3 (n = 4) | 1.6 ± 0.43 |
| 9 (7) | 21-28 | 178 ± 18.2 | 199 ± 17.4 | 4.7 ± 0.7 (n = 6) | 1.7 ± 0.47 | |
| 10 (7) | 8-14, 21-24 | 236 ± 16.4 | 1651 ± 159 | 0.4 ± 0.1 (n = 10) | 18.12 ± 1.8 | |
| 11 (7) | 8-14, 25-28 | 200 ± 28.1 | 208 ± 18.2 | 3.7 ± 0.5 (n = 4) | 2.0 ± 0.47 | |
| 12 (7) | Control 2 | 207 ± 22.3 | 227 ± 12.9 | 4.5 ± 0.4 (n = 8) | 2.1 ± 0.17 | |
| 4 | 13 (7) | 8-10, 21, 22 | 185 ± 11.7 | 1979 ± 210 | 0.3 ± 0.1 (n = 8) | 12.5 ± 1.6 |
| 14 (7) | 11-14, 21, 22 | 202 ± 20.9 | 221 ± 17.2 | 4.7 ± 0.5 (n = 4) | 1.6 ± 0.44 | |
| 15 (7) | 8-10, 23, 24 | 245 ± 22.7 | 194 ± 16 | 4.5 ± 0.3 (n = 4) | 1.8 ± 1.3 | |
| 16 (7) | 11-14, 23, 24 | 192 ± 17.2 | 210 ± 15.7 | 4.0 ± 0.4 (n = 4) | 1.4 ± 0.22 | |
| 5 | 17 (7) | 8, 21 | 183 ± 14.8 | 234 ± 23.1 | ||
| 18 (7) | 8, 22 | 214 ± 15.1 | 206 ± 13.4 | |||
| 19 (7) | 9, 21 | 170 ± 26.4 | 206 ± 8.2 | |||
| 20 (7) | 9, 22 | 191 ± 22.9 | 1508 ± 81.0 | |||
| 21 (7) | 10, 21 | 241 ± 12.5 | 202 ± 9.3 | |||
| 22 (7) | 10, 22 | 139 ± 9.3 | 230 ± 12.2 |
*
Total protein injected per female ranged from 20 μg (groups 17-22) to 140 μg (groups 1 and 2; see Materials and Methods).
†
Control 1 = nontransfected cell lysates; control 2 = 7.5 μg of vector DNA.
‡
The weight range for normal engorged ticks in our colony of A. hebraeum is roughly 1000-3,000 mg. In this study, a group of normal engorged ticks weighed 1,695 ± 150 mg (n = 8; Fig. 5, group C1), a mean that is well within the range observed for recAhEF in this table.
§
The means for all ticks receiving recproteins 9 plus 22 (recAhEF; in bold) were significantly different (P < 0.0001 in all cases; ANOVA) than the corresponding means for ticks receiving the other recproteins.