Haemozoin formation in the midgut of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus.

The antidiuretic neurohormone RhoprCAPA-2 down regulates fluid transport across the anterior midgut in the blood-feeding insect Rhodnius prolixus. Abbreviated title: RhoprCAPA-2 blocks transport by the midgut

B-u-1 – Trypanosoma Cruzi Incorporates Phospholipids from Rhodnius Prolixus’ Midgut

In insects the importance of lipid metabolism has been widely recognized. Neutral lipids and fatty acids constitute the major lipids of insect hemolymph whereas phospholipids are the main lipid class found in the midgut. In insect hemolymph lipophorins are the molecules responsible for lipid transfer between the tissues involved in lipid absorption, storage and utilization. We have previously d...

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...

Amino acids trigger down-regulation of superoxide via TORC pathway in the midgut of Rhodnius prolixus

Sensing incoming nutrients is an important and critical event for intestinal cells to sustain life of the whole organism. The TORC is a major protein complex involved in monitoring the nutritional status and is activated by elevated amino acid concentrations. An important feature of haematophagy is that huge amounts of blood are ingested in a single meal, which results in the release of large q...

Exploring the sialome of the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus.

Rhodnius prolixus is a Hemiptera that feeds exclusively on vertebrate blood in all life stages. Its salivary glands produce potent pharmacological substances that counteract host hemostasis, including anti-clotting, anti-platelet, and vasodilatory substances. To obtain a further insight into the salivary biochemical and pharmacological complexity of this insect, a cDNA library was randomly sequ...