Characterization of a single-domain von Willebrand factor type C protein (HaSVC) from the salivary gland of the tick Hyalomma asiaticum

As a widely distributed arthropod and vector for various pathogens, Hyalomma asiaticum presents great risk and potential losses in animal husbandry. Effective measures, including the use of vaccines, are necessary for controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases. A concise understanding of the tick-host interaction associated molecules and pathways is required for vaccine development. In the present study, a protein containing a single-domain von Willebrand factor type C (HaSVC) was isolated from H. asiaticum and was subjected to functional identification. As a result, the full-length sequence of the HaSVC (506 bp) gene was obtained, which putatively encodes 100 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 11 kDa, excluding the 23-amino acid signal peptide. HaSVC contains 8 cysteines to form 4 disulfide bonds. The native HaSVC protein was detected in multiple tick organs. HaSVC neither attenuated the anti-coagulation process nor directly affected the blood feeding of adult ticks. However, the purified recombinant protein HaSVC (rHaSVC/GST) significantly increased the proliferation of mice spleen cells. This might suggest a regulatory function for HaSVC on inflammation, thus providing new information that may explain the “crosstalk” between ticks and hosts.