Evidence of the role of tick subolesin in gene expression

BMC Genomics

Table 2 Weight, oviposition and hatching of replete R. microplus female ticks after RNAi.

Experimental group	Tick weight (mg)^a	Eggs per tick (mg)^b	Hatching rate (%)^c	Expression silencing (%)^d
Saline control	318 (272–367)	173 (128–229)	> 90	---
GI	318 (260–369)	123 (31–175)	> 90	55 ± 8**
GII	315 (267–349)	132 (95–182)	0.2*	84 ± 5**
Subolesin	318 (270–360)	142 (101–175)	0.4*	46 ± 8**

^aReplete R. microplus ticks were collected and weighed individually before injection with dsRNA, all within 6 hours after dropping of the host. The average weight and variation (between parentheses) of each group are shown. No significant statistical differences were observed (P > 0.05).
^bThe egg mass oviposited by each tick was weighed individually. The average egg mass and variation (between parentheses) was calculated and compared with the saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance. No significant statistical differences were observed (P > 0.05).
^cThe hatching rate was determined 6 weeks post oviposition and compared with the saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (*P < 0.01).
^dThe expression silencing of target genes was determined in eggs by real-time RT-PCR and average ± S.D. mRNA levels calculated and compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (**P < 0.05). Amplification efficiencies were normalized against β-actin.

ISSN: 1471-2164