Iron regulatory protein from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis: characterization, function and assessment as a protective antigen

Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites with different host specificities and are capable of pathogen transmission. Iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) play crucial roles in iron homeostasis in vertebrates. However, their functions in ticks remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristics, functions, molecular mechanisms, and the vaccine efficacy of IRP in the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.