Eletrophoretic patterns of Triatoma sordida and Rhodnius prolixus salivary glands (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

• Grant number: 11/07871-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Mara Cristina Pinto
• Grantee: Camila Pereira Puertas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is estimated that Chagas disease affects 10 million people around the world, primarily in the Americas. Triatomine, vectors of the causative agent Trypanosoma cruzi, have in saliva pharmacologically active substances that help during the biting process. Such substances are mainly involved in the activation and platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction and local blood clotting, and also can induce or suppress the host immune response. In addition to studies on immunological aspects of salivary components triggered by certain proteins present in the triatomines saliva, such as nitrophorins, may be used as tools for differentiation of phenotypically similar species. Triatoma sordida, one of the vectors of Chagas disease, has significant epidemiological importance and it has been detected in 12 Brazilian states, including Sao Paulo state. A report from a town situated in Bahia state registered 12 strains of T. cruzi isolated from T sordida, further confirming its epidemiological relevance. Since so far there are no studies on the salivary composition of T. sordida, this work aims to characterize the electrophoretic profile of proteins present in the salivary glands of this species at three different times after blood feeding: 7.14 to 28 days. The same methodology will be applied to Rhodnius prolixus for comparison between species. (AU)