[Expression of the genes of adenosine deaminase, C-lectin and serpin in the salivary gland of Aedes albopictus].

OBJECTIVE

To express the genes of adenosine deaminase (ADA), C-lectin and serpin (serine protease inhibitor) in the salivary gland of Aedes albopictus.

METHODS

Total RNA was extracted respectively from salivary glands of unfed (group SG) and engorged adult female Ae. albopictus mosquitoes (group BSG), female carcasses without head and salivary gland (group C), and male bodies without heads but with salivary glands (group M). After the primers for the genes of ADA, C-lectin and serpin were designed respectively according to the reported Ae. albopictus gene sequences in GenBank, real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect expression level of these genes in different tissues of Ae. albopictus using beta-actin as internal reference.

RESULTS

The mRNA expression level of ADA gene in the salivary glands from unfed adult female mosquitoes (group SG) was 545 and 123 times higher than those of female carcasses without head and salivary gland (group C) and male bodies without heads but with salivary glands (group M) (P < 0.01). In group SG, C-lectin was 3 929 and 4 973 times higher than that in group C and M (P < 0.01). High level of mRNA coding for serpin was detected in group SG, being 1 911 and 2 978 times higher than that in group C and M (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in ADA, C-lectin and serpin mRNA levels between unfed and engorged salivary glands (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ADA gene can be expressed in various mosquito tissues, but higher in salivary glands. The genes of C-lectin and serpin have been highly expressed specifically in salivary gland of female mosquito.