Hard ticks as research resources for vector biology: from genome to whole-body level

Abstract

In the past decades, omics data including genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes of several tick species of medical and veterinary importance have become available as web-based resources. In addition, laboratory colonies and tick cell lines have been established and are now essential tools for the advancement of tick research. Unfortunately, currently, such databases and the biobank of the ticks distributed in Japan are insufficient. To date, available data are from Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901, one of major hard tick species in Japan and a vector of various microorganisms that are harmful to human and animals. H. longicornis has been used as an "experimental model of hard tick" for biological and physiological studies and for validation of effectiveness of insecticides or acaricides in research institutions. The parthenogenetic tick is used as research material because it can be stably supplied. This mini-review provides a concise overview of recent advances of omics approaches in tick research. The importance of laboratory colonies of ticks and the prospect of tick research in Japan are also discussed.