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Anti-complement activity in the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies and other haematophagous insects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2003

R. R. CAVALCANTE ,
M. H. PEREIRA  and
N. F. GONTIJO
R. R. CAVALCANTE
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia e Microbiologia, CCS, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI
M. H. PEREIRA
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31 270 901, Brazil
N. F. GONTIJO
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31 270 901, Brazil
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Abstract

The saliva of haematophagous insects has a series of pharmacological activities which may favour blood feeding. In the present study, an inhibitory effect on the complement system was observed in salivary extracts obtained from the phlebotomine sand flies Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. migonei. Saliva from Lu. longipalpis was capable of inhibiting both the classical and alternative pathways, while that from Lu. migonei acted only on the former. Other haematophagous insect species were screened for inhibition of the classical pathway. The triatomine bugs Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma brasiliensis and Rhodnius prolixus were also able to inhibit the classical pathway whereas the mosquito Aedes aegyti and flea Ctenocephalides felis were not. The activity of Lu. longipalpis saliva on the classical pathway was partially characterized. The inhibitor is a protein of Mr 10000–30000 Da, which is very resistant to denaturation by heat. The inhibition of the complement system by phlebotomine sand flies may have a role in the transmission of Leishmania to the vertebrate hosts. The inhibitor molecule is thus a promising component of a vaccine to target salivary immunomodulators.

Keywords

Lutzomyia longipalpishaematophagous insectscomplement inhibitioninsect salivaLeishmania transmissionhaematophagy
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 127 , Issue 1 , July 2003 , pp. 87 - 93
Copyright
2003 Cambridge University Press

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