Reassessing the role of defensin in the innate immune response of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti
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| Authors: | Bartholomay, LC; Fuchs, JF; Cheng, LL; Beck, ET; Vizioli, J; Lowenberger, C; Christensen, BM |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Journal: | Insect Molecular Biology 13: 125-132 |
| Title: | Reassessing the role of defensin in the innate immune response of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti |
| Abstract: | Defensin is the predominant inducible immune peptide in Aedes aegypti. In spite of its activity against Gram-positive bacteria in vitro, defensin expression is detected in mosquitoes inoculated with Gram-positive or negative bacteria, or with filarial worms. Defensin transcription and expression are dependent upon bacterial dose; however, translation is inconsistent with transcription because peptide is detectable only in mosquitoes inoculated with large doses. In vitro translation assays provide further evidence for post-transcriptional regulation of defensin. Clearance assays show that a majority of bacteria are cleared before defensin is detected. In gene silencing experiments, no significant difference in mortality was observed between defensin-deficient and control mosquitoes after bacteria inoculation. These studies suggest that defensin may have an alternative function in mosquito immunity. |
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