Rhodnius prolixus: identification of immune-related genes up-regulated in response to pathogens and parasites using suppressive subtractive hybridization

Dev Comp Immunol. 2007;31(2):109-20. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2006.05.008. Epub 2006 Jun 21.

Abstract

We report the identification of immune-related molecules from the fat body, and intestine of Rhodnius prolixus, an important vector of Chagas disease. Insects were challenged by introducing pathogens or Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, into the hemocoel. RNA from intestines, or fat body were isolated 24h after stimulation. We used suppressive subtractive hybridization to identify immune-related genes, generated three subtracted libraries, sequenced the clones and assembled the sequences. The functional annotation revealed expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated in response to various stimuli in all tissues, and included pathogen recognition molecules, regulatory molecules, and effector molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
  • Chagas Disease / transmission*
  • Expressed Sequence Tags
  • Fat Body / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Mucins / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide / physiology
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization / methods*
  • Rhodnius / immunology*
  • Rhodnius / microbiology
  • Rhodnius / parasitology
  • Transferrin / genetics
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Mucins
  • Transferrin
  • Nitric Oxide