“Urate and NOX5 Control Blood Digestion in the Hematophagous Insect Rhodnius prolixus”

Aspects of the control of diuresis in the blood gorging insect, Rhodnius prolixus

Post-feeding diuresis in Rhodnius prolixus is neurohormonally controlled by serotonin and at least one peptidergic diuretic hormone (possibly a CRF-related peptide). These appear to be released by two different neurosecretory groups – 5 dorsal unpaired median (DUM) cells and 5-6 lateral neurosecretory cells of the mesothoracic ganglionic mass. The DUM cells co-localize serotonin and the calcito...

Urate synthesis in the blood-sucking insect rhodnius prolixus. Stimulation by hemin is mediated by protein kinase C.

Hemin is a catalyst of the formation of reactive oxygen species. We proposed that hematophagous insects are exposed to intense oxidative stress because of hemoglobin hydrolysis in their midgut (Petretsky, M. D., Ribeiro, J. M. C., Atella, G. C., Masuda, H., and Oliveira, P. L. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 10893-10896). We have shown that hemin stimulates urate synthesis in the blood-sucking insec...

[Blood-feeding of Rhodnius prolixus].

Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are blood-sucking insect vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi which is the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Rhodnius prolixus is the most epidemiologically important vector of T. cruzi in Colombia. Triatomines are regarded to be vessel-feeders as they obtain their blood meals from vertebrate hosts by directly inserting their mouthparts into vessels. ...

The Cuticular Pattern in an Insect, Rhodnius Prolixus Stal

Behavioural and physiological state dependency of host seeking in the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus.

Vertebrate blood is essential for the growth and the reproduction of haematophagous insects. Provided that hosts play the double role of food sources and predators, feeding on their blood exposes these insects to a high predation risk. Therefore, it is expected that host seeking occurs only when insects need to feed. In the present study, we analyse how the feeding status affects the response t...