Evidence of the role of tick subolesin in gene expression

BMC Genomics

Table 1 R. microplus tick survival, weight, oviposition and hatching after RNAi in unfed female ticks.

Experimental group	Number of ticks	Expression silencing (%)^a	Tick weight (mg)^b	Mortality (%)^c	Eggs per tick (mg)^d	Hatching rate (%)
Saline control	76	---	295 ± 85	21	111 ± 75	> 90
GI	60	-44 ± 29	266 ± 114	17	110 ± 72	> 90
GII	63	98 ± 0.4*	131 ± 161**	60***	1 ± 4****	0*****
Subolesin	66	91 ± 3*	73 ± 94**	80***	0****	ND

^aThe expression silencing of target genes was determined by real-time RT-PCR and average ± SD mRNA levels calculated and compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (*P < 0.01). Amplification efficiencies were normalized against β-actin.
^bTicks which completed feeding and those removed after 30 days (15 days after saline or dsRNA injection) were weighed individually and average ± S.D. calculated and compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (**P < 0.01).
^cTick mortality was evaluated as the ratio of dead female ticks after day 30 (15 days after saline or dsRNA injection) to the total number of female ticks placed on the animal and was compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by χ²-test (***α < 0.001).
^dThe egg mass oviposited by each tick was weighed individually and average ± S.D. calculated and compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (****P < 0.01).
^eThe hatching rate was determined 6 weeks after oviposition and compared with the saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (*****P < 0.01).
Abbreviations: ND, not determined because ticks did not laid eggs.

ISSN: 1471-2164