RNA-seq analysis of Triatoma gerstaeckeri during mite infestation reveals increased metabolic demand and lower reproductive investment
- 1University of Cincinnati
Abstract
Triatomine insects, also known as kissing bugs, serve as vectors for the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which can cause American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas disease. Triatomines are known to be parasitized by mites in natural and colony settings, where mites feed on the arthropod to obtain nutrients and resources for reproduction. This feeding, while necessary for the survival of the mites, likely occurs at the expense of their insect host. We examined the transcriptional response of Triatoma gerstaeckeri infested with mites (Pimeliaphilus spp.) and an uninfested group using Illumina-based RNA-seq, followed by targeted measurement of nutritional reserves in both groups. Our results show increased expression of factors involved in protein translation, but decreased expression of processes associated with cell development. These results are supported by declines in protein levels in mite-infested T. gerstaeckeri and lower expression of reproductive factors, suggesting a distinct reduction in nutrient reserves and reproductive output. These studies provide critical information on the interaction of mites and triatomines while considering the utility of mites as biological control of triatomines in nature or for husbandry protocols to minimize issues with mite infestations of colony individuals.
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BibTeX
@misc{cemal2026rnaseq,
title = {{RNA-seq analysis of Triatoma gerstaeckeri during mite infestation reveals increased metabolic demand and lower reproductive investment}},
author = {A. Cemal and J. Bryant and A. Kondragunta and S. F. Hoque and K. Oyen and S. A. Hamer and G. L. Hamer and J. B. Benoit},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.06.756886},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.756886v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - RNA-seq analysis of Triatoma gerstaeckeri during mite infestation reveals increased metabolic demand and lower reproductive investment
AU - A. Cemal
AU - J. Bryant
AU - A. Kondragunta
AU - S. F. Hoque
AU - K. Oyen
AU - S. A. Hamer
AU - G. L. Hamer
AU - J. B. Benoit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.06.756886
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.756886v1
AB - Triatomine insects, also known as kissing bugs, serve as vectors for the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which can cause American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas disease. Triatomines are known to be parasitized by mites in natural and colony settings, where mites feed on the arthropod to obtain nutrients and resources for reproduction. This feeding, while necessary for the survival of the mites, likely occurs at the expense of their insect host. We examined the transcriptional response of Triatoma gerstaeckeri infested with mites (Pimeliaphilus spp.) and an uninfested group using Illumina-based RNA-seq, followed by targeted measurement of nutritional reserves in both groups. Our results show increased expression of factors involved in protein translation, but decreased expression of processes associated with cell development. These results are supported by declines in protein levels in mite-infested T. gerstaeckeri and lower expression of reproductive factors, suggesting a distinct reduction in nutrient reserves and reproductive output. These studies provide critical information on the interaction of mites and triatomines while considering the utility of mites as biological control of triatomines in nature or for husbandry protocols to minimize issues with mite infestations of colony individuals.
ER -