Multi-omics analysis reveals the involvement of the mineral absorption pathway in the physiological response of Haemaphysalis longicornis to cinnamaldehyde-induced stress

Due to the environmental issues caused by synthetic pesticides, plant-based bioactive compounds, commonly referred to as phytochemicals, have garnered significant attention as promising, low-risk alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Despite their eco-friendly nature, the mechanisms underlying their effects are not yet fully understood. This study investigated the molecular response of the tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, to sublethal and lethal concentrations of cinnamaldehyde using an integrated multi-omics (metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic) approach. The results revealed distinct metabolic, transcriptional, and proteomic responses across the treatment groups. Enrichment analysis identified biological processes and pathways associated with xenobiotic detoxification, binding activity, systemic biological threats (harmful biological agents) response, longevity, membrane integrity, defense-related processes, and other physiological functions. Additionally, the integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses identified mineral absorption as a significant pathway in the response of H . longicornis to the LC 50 of cinnamaldehyde. Within this pathway, SGLT1 and HCP1 genes showed increased expression, while CTR1 and ATOX1 genes showed decreased expression. RT-qPCR analysis of these four genes showed expression trends consistent with the multi-omics results. The integrated multi-omics analysis provides insights into the molecular response of H . longicornis to cinnamaldehyde and identifies mineral absorption as a candidate process associated with the response. These results provide a foundation for further exploration and contribute to the broader goal of developing environmentally friendly tick management products.