Chagas Disease Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
J Proteomics. 2011 Aug 24;74(9):1693-700. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.04.028. Epub 2011 May 11.
Panstrongylus megistus, a vector for the Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a hematophagous bug widely distributed in South America. This ubiquitous triatomine is known to colonize different wild life habitats. Additionally, P. megistus synanthropy, preying upon mammals, birds, reptiles, and eventually being predators upon insect's hemolymph probably increases its ability to survive after prolonged fasting. It was suspected that the P. megistus mechanisms of adaptation to survival might include a salivary gland complex tool-box with a diversity of pharmacologically active proteins for obtaining blood meals. Herein we describe comprehensive proteome and transcriptome of the P. megistus salivary gland. The proteomic analysis led to the identification of 159 proteins, and the transcriptome revealed 47 complete cDNAs. A diversity of protein functions associated to blood feeding was identified. The most prevalent proteins were related to blood clotting, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-vasoconstriction activities, which correlate with the insect's ability to obtain meals from different sources. Moreover, a gene of resistance to insecticides was identified. These features augments the comprehension towards P. megistus enormous capacity to survive in adverse wild life-changing habitats.
巨颚盲蝽 Panstrongylus megistus 是克氏锥虫 Trypanosoma cruzi 的传播媒介，是一种广泛分布于南美洲的血食性臭虫。这种无处不在的三锥虫已知会在不同的野生动物栖息地中定殖。此外，巨颚盲蝽与人类共同生活，捕食哺乳动物、鸟类、爬行动物，最终成为昆虫血液的捕食者，这可能增加了它们在长时间禁食后生存的能力。人们怀疑，巨颚盲蝽适应生存的机制可能包括一个唾液腺复杂的工具盒，其中含有多种具有药理活性的蛋白质，用于获取血液餐。在此，我们描述了巨颚盲蝽唾液腺的综合蛋白质组和转录组。蛋白质组分析鉴定了 159 种蛋白质，转录组揭示了 47 个完整的 cDNA。鉴定出了多种与吸血相关的蛋白质功能。最常见的蛋白质与血液凝固、抗血小板聚集和抗血管收缩活性有关，这与昆虫从不同来源获取食物的能力有关。此外，还鉴定出了一种对杀虫剂有抗性的基因。这些特征增加了我们对巨颚盲蝽在恶劣的野生动物变化栖息地中生存能力的理解。
