Two antigenic and immunogenic proteins of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, and the genes encoding these proteins, are effective for eliciting a protective immune response that controls and prevents infestations of bovines and other livestock by the tick. The proteins isolated from the cattle tick include an aquaporin protein and a TC5777 gut membrane protein. Each of the proteins elicit an immunoprotective response in livestock to the cattle tick, and can be formulated and administered as vaccines. Alternatively, the isolated DNA sequences which encode these proteins can be incorporated into nucleic acid constructs which could be utilized as DNA vaccines. The nucleic acid constructs can also be used for the transformation of cells and the production of recombinant proteins. Induction of the protective immune response controls and prevents infestations of the treated animals with the tick, thereby protecting them against tick-borne pathogen transmission.
