Targeting the tick protective antigen subolesin reduces vector infestations and pathogen infection by Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina

► Vaccination with tick subolesin controls Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus infestations in cattle. ► Ticks fed on vaccinated cattle show lower subolesin mRNA levels when compared to controls, resembling RNAi results. ► Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina infection decrease in ticks fed on vaccinated cattle and after subolesin knockdown. ► Targeting subolesin expression by vaccination or RNAi results in lower tick subolesin mRNA and pathogen infection levels.