Fig. 3

Effect of selenoK knockdown on Borrelia burgdorferi infection (capillary-fed induced infection). a Compensatory expression of ER stress genes when selenoK is knocked down in B. burgdorferi-infected tick tissues. selenoS, ATF6 and EIF2 demonstrate compensatory expression. selenoS and selenoK localized on ER membrane and are components of the ERAD, selenoS demonstrates compensation for selenoK in both tissues (SG, MG). b, c Impact of selenoK knockdown on B. burgdorferi infection in SG (b) and MG (c) tissues. Statistically significant gene expression values (P < 0.05) are indicated with * (asterisk). Rps4 was used as a housekeeping gene. Abbreviations: ATF6, activating transcription factor 6; EIF2, eukaryotic initiation factor 2; IRE1, inositol-requiring enzyme; Rps4, ribosomal protein S4; SG, salivary gland; MG, midgut