Disruption of the peritrophic matrix by exogenous chitinase feeding reduces fecundity in Lutzomyia longipalpis females

Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. When female sandflies feed on blood, a peritrophic matrix (PM) is formed around the blood bolus. The PM is secreted by midgut cells and composed of proteins, glycoproteins and chitin microfibrils. The PM function...

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Published in:	Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 107; no. 4; pp. 543 - 545
Main Authors:	de Araújo, Adriana Pereira Oliveira, Telleria, Erich Loza, Dutra, Juliana da Matta Furniel, Júlio, Rute Maria, Traub-Csekö, Yara Maria
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01-06-2012 Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
Subjects:	Animals chitinase Chitinases - pharmacology Digestive System - enzymology Female Fertility - drug effects Fertility - physiology Lutzomyia longipalpis Lutzomyia longipalpis - peritrophic matrix - chitinase Oviposition - drug effects Oviposition - physiology PARASITOLOGY peritrophic matrix Psychodidae - enzymology Psychodidae - physiology Time Factors TROPICAL MEDICINE peritrophic matrix chitinase Lutzomyia longipalpis
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Summary:	Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. When female sandflies feed on blood, a peritrophic matrix (PM) is formed around the blood bolus. The PM is secreted by midgut cells and composed of proteins, glycoproteins and chitin microfibrils. The PM functions as both a physical barrier against pathogens present in the food bolus and blood meal digestion regulator. Previous studies of mosquitoes and sandflies have shown that the absence of a PM, resulting from adding an exogenous chitinase to the blood meal, accelerates digestion. In the present study, we analysed biological factors associated with the presence of a PM in L. longipalpis females. Insects fed blood containing chitinase (BCC) accelerated egg-laying relative to a control group fed blood without chitinase. However, in the BCC-fed insects, the number of females that died without laying eggs was higher and the number of eggs laid per female was lower. The eggs in both groups were viable and generated adults. Based on these data, we suggest that the absence of a PM accelerates nutrient acquisition, which results in premature egg production and oviposition; however, the absence of a PM reduces the total number of eggs laid per female. Reduced fecundity in the absence of a PM may be due to inefficient nutrient conversion or the loss of the protective role of the PM.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1678-8060 0074-0276 1678-8060 0074-0276
DOI:	10.1590/s0074-02762012000400016