{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T07:28:13Z","timestamp":1786606093930,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Insect Science"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Ticks are ectoparasites that can transmit zoonotic pathogens, causing significant economic losses worldwide. RNA interference (RNAi) offers a gene\u2010specific alternative to chemical acaricides; however, its application is limited by double\u2010stranded RNA (dsRNA) instability and poor cuticle penetration. Using\n                    <jats:italic>Haemaphysalis longicornis<\/jats:italic>\n                    (\n                    <jats:italic>H. longicornis<\/jats:italic>\n                    ) as a model, we identified the ecdysone receptor gene (\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    ) as an effective RNAi target. Microinjection of ds\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    completely abolished engorgement rate (0%) and reduced body weight by \u223c90%. To enable practical delivery, three nanocarrier systems\u2014chitosan (CS), star polycation (SPc), and disulfide\u2010crosslinked chitosan (CS\u2010ss) were developed to improve the stability and uptake of dsRNA. All three nanocarrier systems enhanced dsRNA resistance to ribonuclease (RNase) degradation while exhibiting distinct physicochemical properties: CS\u2010ss formed the smallest nanoparticles (\u223c175 nm), whereas SPc showed superior surface wettability. All nanocarrier\u2010dsRNA complexes achieved comparable RNAi efficiency under microinjection. In contrast, immersion delivery of naked ds\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    was ineffective, whereas SPc\u2010ds\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    and CS\u2010ss\u2010ds\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    enabled significant\n                    <jats:italic>ECR<\/jats:italic>\n                    silencing, reduced engorgement rate, and decreased body weight. Similar RNAi efficiency levels were validated in\n                    <jats:italic>Hyalomma asiaticum<\/jats:italic>\n                    , supporting the cross\u2010species applicability of this strategy. Notably, SPc\u2010dsRNA exhibited lower contact angles on the tick cuticle, indicating enhanced spreading and suggesting improved penetration efficiency. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that nanocarrier encapsulation is effective for immersion\u2010based RNAi control of ticks. SPc provides superior dispersion and surface interaction for consistent delivery, while CS\u2010ss offers the potential for redox\u2010responsive release. The findings establish a scalable and non\u2010invasive RNAi strategy for sustainable tick control.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/1744-7917.70339","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T06:41:37Z","timestamp":1786603297000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Nanocarrier\u2010mediated delivery of dsRNA targeting the ecdysone receptor enables non\u2010invasive RNAi control of ticks"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"given":"Qian","family":"Yao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yongzhi","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jie","family":"Cao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Houshuang","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yanan","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3383-1084","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jinlin","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences  Shanghai China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_8_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1025346131903","article-title":"RNA interference: applicability in tick research","volume":"28","author":"Aljamali M.N.","year":"2002","journal-title":"Experimental and Applied Acarology"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1002\/ps.5126","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms influencing efficiency of RNA interference in insects","volume":"75","author":"Cooper A.M.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Pest Management Science"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1354","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2018.04.001","article-title":"Controlling ticks and tick\u2010borne diseases\u2026looking forward","volume":"9","author":"Fuente J.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ticks and Tick\u2010borne 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