Immune haemolymph proteins in response to bacterial infection and identification of a putative bacteria binding protein in malaria vector Anopheles stephensi.

Induction of haemolymph proteins in mosquito A. stephensi due to wounding or bacterial infection (E. coli) was analyzed using SDS-PAGE. Wounding response of pupa revealed subsequent induction of two polypeptides (21 and 74 kDa). Two other polypeptides (44 and 57 kDa) were induced commonly in both pupa and adult female haemolymph upon bacterial infection. In vitro binding assay revealed identification of 44 kDa, a putative bacterial binding protein, a more relevant protein for further elucidation of molecular mechanism involved in host parasite interactions.