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Reassessing the role of defensin in the innate immune response of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Author(s) -
Bartholomay L. C.,
Fuchs J. F.,
Cheng L.L.,
Beck E. T.,
Vizioli J.,
Lowenberger C.,
Christensen B. M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1111/j.0962-1075.2004.00467.x
Subject(s) - defensin , biology , aedes aegypti , innate immune system , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , cecropin , immunity , bacteria , virology , immunology , antimicrobial peptides , genetics , antimicrobial , botany , larva
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.