Molecular mechanisms of aquaporins regulation of cold response in the Haemaphysalis longicornis
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that transmit pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and protozoans to humans and animals. Ticks can survive low winter temperatures but face challenges in maintaining water balance. Aquaporins (AQPs) are essential membrane proteins that facilitate the transmembrane transport of water and solutes, and play a key role in osmoregulation in many animals, but their response mechanism to low temperature stress in ticks remains unclear.