Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Insect Biochemistry
Publication Date
1-1-1987
Abstract
Injections of live Escherichia coli into adult tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans induced an antibacterial activity in the haemolymph after a lag period of 6-18 hr. Peak activity occurred after 24-72 hr with a dose of 104 bacteria/fly. Acidic electrophoresis of immune haemolymph from G. m. morsitans followed by an antibacterial assay on the gel revealed the presence of cecropin- and attacin-like factors. The induction of antibacterial activity in tsetse was completely blocked by injection of cycloheximide, a known inhibitor of protein synthesis in eukaryotic organisms. Purified InA from Bacillus thuringiensis, a proteolytic enzyme with specificity for cecropins and attacins in haemolymph, inactivated the antibacterial activity in tesetse immune haemolymph. When tested against 10 different bacterial species, the spectrum was the same for the antibacterial activity in immune haemolymph from tsetse and Cecropia. © 1987.
Keywords
antibacterial proteins, attacin, cecropin, cycloheximide, Glossina morsitans morsitans, Insect immunity, lysozyme
Recommended Citation
Kaaya, G., Flyg, C., & Boman, H. (1987). Insect immunity. Induction of cecropin and attacin-like antibacterial factors in the haemolymph of Glossina morsitans morsitans. Insect Biochemistry, 17 (2), 309-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1790(87)90073-4