Extended Data Fig. 7: Fitness parameters in ticks silenced for genes related to D-BAIBA metabolism during A. phagocytophilum acquisition.
From: Bacterial reprogramming of tick metabolism impacts vector fitness and susceptibility to infection
(a-d) Nymphs were injected with siRNA or scrambled control for genes involved in D-BAIBA metabolism and allowed to feed on A. phagocytophilum-infected mice for 3 days. (a-b) Effect of beta-ureidopropionase 1 (upb1) silencing on (a) attachment (n = 100 and 150) and (b) weight (n = 33 and 22) of fed ticks compared to the scrambled control treatment. (c-d) Effect of alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (agxt2) silencing on (c) attachment (n = 146 and 100) and (d) weight (n = 38 and 35) of fed ticks compared to the scrambled control treatment. (a-d) Data are representative of two independent experiments with mean ± SEM where n= an individual tick. Statistical significance was evaluated by (a, c) Fisher’s exact test or (b, d) two-sided unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction. NS=not significant. Significant p values (<0.05) are displayed in the figure.
