Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites, which can transmit various pathogens including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses via salivary secretion during feeding. Understanding salivation in ticks is crucial for the development of novel methods to prevent tick-borne disease transmission. The central nervous system (synganglion) of ticks controls salivary glands via several neuropeptidergic innervation: myoinhibitory peptide (MIP), SIFamide, and elevenin. These neuropeptides are thought to be modulators of dopamine’s action controlling the salivary glands including inward fluid transport into the lumen of salivary glands acini and emptying lumen solute into salivary duct by pumping and gating. These actions are via two distinct dopamine receptors, dopamine receptor (D1) and invertebrate D1-like dopamine receptor (InvD1L), respectively.

• Donghun Kim(Department of Applied Biology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Korea)
• Ladislav Šimo(UMR BIPAR, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, ANSES, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France)
• Yoonseong Park(Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA)