Development of an RNA-interference procedure for gene knockdown in the poultry red mite, Dermanysus gallinae: Studies on histamine releasing factor and Cathepsin-D

  • Lucy M Kamau
  • Harry W Wright
  • Alasdair J Nisbet
  • Alan S Bowman

Abstract

The poultry mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is a parasite of fowl and birds worldwide, causing huge economic losses in production systems. We investigated gene-knockdown approach in identifying potential vaccine antigens, targeting Histamine Releasing Factor (HRF) and Cathepsin D (C), through immersion in dsRNA derived from the two genes, for 7 and 16 h respectively, alongside LacZ control. Quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR was used to estimate the extent of gene knockdown. The results show successful knockdown of HRF target after 16 h of immersion in dsRNA. It is suggested that optimization of delivery methods for dsRNA and targeting more genes could enhance knockdown.

Keywords: Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Astigmata), RNA interference (RNAi), gene silencing, histamine releasing factor, Cathepsin D

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(12), pp. 1350-1356

Author Biographies

Lucy M Kamau
University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK; Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, P. O Box 43844, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Harry W Wright
Parasitology Division, Moredun Research Institute, Midlothian EH26 OPZ, Scotland, UK
Alasdair J Nisbet
Parasitology Division, Moredun Research Institute, Midlothian EH26 OPZ, Scotland, UK
Alan S Bowman
University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK
Published
2016-01-17
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 12 (2013)
Section
Articles
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the journal.

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eISSN: 1684-5315