Figure 3
From: Functional characterization of two defensin isoforms of the hard tick Ixodes ricinus
Expression patterns of I. ricinus defensins isoforms def1 (A) and def2 (B) after various stimuli in comparison to house-keeping gene actin (C). Before (NF) or after a completed blood feeding (BF), ticks were inoculated intrahemocoelly with a suspension of bacteria (E. coli, M. luteus, O.D.600 = 0.2; Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, 4.8 × 107spirochetes/ml; volume 0.5 μl). As a negative control one group of ticks was injected with the same volume of sterile water. RNA from all groups of ticks was isolated the next day. Expression of genes for def1(A) and def2(B) were determined by semi-quantitative two steps RT-PCR (30 cycles for BF ticks, 33 cycles for NF ticks) in salivary glands (SG), midgut (MG) and ovaries (OV). Gene for tick β-actin(C) was used as a positive control (27 cycles).