The overall goal of our study was to compare the proteins found in the saliva proteomes of three mammals: human, mouse and rat. Our first objective was to compare two human proteomes with very different analysis depths. The 89 shared proteins in this comparison apparently represent a core of highly-expressed human salivary proteins. Of the proteins unique to each proteome, one-half to 2/3 lack ...

Introduction: The design and structural characterization of mini-proteins with a compact, folded structure provide insight into the complex architecture of proteins today and has long been a challenging issue in structural- functional studies. Alpha neurotoxins from snake venom have a distinct folded structure comprised of a disulphide core and three loops or “fingers” each of these loops are c...

Previous reports have demonstrated powerful neuromodulatory actions of the molluscan tetrapeptide FMRFamide in both the central and peripheral nervous systems of the freshwater snail Helisoma. The present study was designed to examine both the nature of the FMRFamide-like peptides in Helisoma and to define their physiological actions at a peripheral synapse. We report that, as determined by HPL...

Spider venoms are complex cocktails rich in peptides, proteins and organic molecules that collectively act to immobilize prey. Venoms of the primitive hunting spider, Plectreurys tristis, have numerous neurotoxic peptides called "plectoxins" (PLTX), a unique acylpolyamine called bis(agmatine)oxalamide, and larger unidentified protein components. These spiders also have unconventional multi-lobe...

BACKGROUND Sand fly saliva has been shown to have proteins with potent biological activities, salivary proteins that can be used as biomarkers of vector exposure, and salivary proteins that are candidate vaccines against different forms of leishmaniasis. Sand fly salivary gland transcriptomic approach has contributed significantly to the identification and characterization of many of these sali...

The aim of the study was to determine by immunochemistry the expression of leptin, orexin A and orphanin FQ in the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) of rat, sheep and cow. These peptides, originally synthesized in central nervous system, adipose tissue and peripheral tissues including gastrointestinal tract, play an orexigenic (orphanin and orexin) or anorexigenic (l...

The acrostyle is a distinct anatomical region present on the cuticle at the inner face of the common food/salivary canal at the tip of aphid maxillary stylets. This conserved structure is of particular interest as it harbors the protein receptors of at least 1 plant virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus, and presumably has other roles in plant-insect interactions. Previously we reported immunolabelin...

Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is currently a threat to about half of world's population. DENV mainly transmitted vertebrate host through bite female Aedes mosquito while taking blood meal. During this process, salivary proteins are introduced into skin and facilitate acquisition. These modulate both local (skin) systemic immune responses. Several have been identified as immun...