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BackgroundBabesia is a protozoan parasite in red blood cells of some vertebrates. Some species of Babesia can cause zoonoses and cause great harm. As the largest immune organ in mammals, the spleen plays an important role in defending against Babesia infection. When infected with Babesia, the spleen is seriously injured, but it still actively initiates immunomodulatory responses.MethodsIn order to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune regulation and self-repair of the spleen in response to infection, this study used data-independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics to analyse changes in expression levels of global proteins and changes in phosphorylation modification in spleen tissue after Babesia microti infection in mice.ResultsAfter the mice were infected with B. microti, their spleen were seriously damaged.Using bioinfor-matics methods to analyze the dynamic changes of a large number of proteins, we found that spleen still initiated immune response to deal with the infection, in which immune-related proteins played an important role, including CTSD, IFI44, ILF2, ILF, and STAT5A. In addition, some proteins related to iron metabolism were also involved in the repair of spleen against B. microti infection, including serotransferrin, lactoferrin, TfR1, and GCL. At the same time, the expression and phosphorylation of proteins related to the growth and development of the spleen also changed, including PKC-δ and MAPK3/1, Grb2, and PAK2. ConclusionsImmune-related proteins, iron metabolism-related proteins and growth and development-related proteins play an important important role in the regulation of spleen injury and maintenance of homeostasis. This study will provide important bases for the diagnosis and treatment of babesiosis.

Background: The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis is well known as vector of several zoonotic pathogens responsible for various clinical conditions, increasingly threatens the veterinary and public health. It is mainly distributed in East Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and several Pacific islands, and has been expanded rapidly in United States since its first founding on a nonimported domestic sheep in New Jersey. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II detoxification enzymes, which function via combining with pesticidal molecules and catalyzing the conjugation of molecules by thiol of glutathione, so as to protect tissues from oxidative stress damage. In the tick H. longicornis, glutathione S-transferases (HlGST and HlGST2) have been previously identified. However, the relationship between the expression of glutathione S-transferases and the essential oil treatment in ticks remains unexplored. Hence, in the present study, the expression profiles of HlGST and HlGST2 mRNAs were evaluated in H. longicornis after exposure to Cymbopogon citratus essential oil. Results: At 24 h post-exposure of H. longicornis to different sublethal concentrations of C. citratus essential oil, ANOVA results revealed significant difference (F2,6 = 55.94, P = 0.0001) in the expression of HlGST. Tukey’s test showed that HlGST was significantly induced after treatment with 1% C. citratus essential oil (P = 0.0002); whereas no significant difference (P = 0.3551) was detected after treated by 2% C. citratus essential oil. No significant difference (F2,6 = 0.8990, P = 0.4555) in the expression of HlGST2 between the treatment and the control group of 50% ethanol. Nevertheless, the under-expression of HlGST2 in the treatment groups versus the untreated control group was not significant (F3,8 = 2.643, P = 0.1208). Conclusion: The results implied that GST mRNA is a potential molecular target for C. citratus essential oil in H. longicornis. Further understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the GST at the molecular level could contribute to develop effective control measures for ticks and tick-borne diseases.