RNA-seq of Amblyomma sculptum salivary glands
The application of transcriptomics has facilitated the identification of a large set of tick salivary molecules that influence tick feeding and play a crucial role in the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Deep sequencing methodologies have been instrumental in acquiring this information, advancing the study of disease vectors that, in many cases, lack reference genomes. Processes such as transcript assembly and annotation, characterization of transcriptomes and proteomes from various tick species, and the deposition of novel tick-derived sequences in the NCBI database have significantly contributed to our understanding of tick physiology and feeding biology. In this study, we use next-generation sequencing methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of the salivary gland composition of Amblyomma sculptum ticks. The geographical distribution of A. sculptum includes northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. In Brazil, A. sculptum is the primary tick species associated with human bites and the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of the most severe form of Brazilian spotted fever.