Identification of miR-71* as a regulator of Flotillin-1 in egg development of Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

Abstract

Identifying the microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate the growth and development of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Rh. sanguineus) is essential for developing effective control strategies against both the tick and tick-borne pathogens. This study reveals the antagonistic regulatory mechanism between miR-71* (the passenger strand of miRNA-71) and Flotillin-1 in the egg development of Rh. sanguineus. Through bioinformatics prediction and validation using a dual-luciferase reporter system, we demonstrate for the first time that miR-71* directly targets and regulates Flotillin-1. Functional experiments indicate that inhibiting miR-71* significantly increases tick egg weight, while suppressing Flotillin-1 reduces egg weight, thereby suggesting that these molecules negatively regulate egg developmental processes. This discovery provides a novel target for elucidating reproductive regulatory pathways in ticks and lays a theoretical foundation for developing control strategies against ticks and tick-borne pathogens.