Metacyclogenesis as the Starting Point of Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease is a neglected infectious disease caused by the protozoan , primarily transmitted by triatomine vectors, and it threatens approximately seventy-five million people worldwide. This parasite undergoes a complex life cycle, transitioning between hosts and shifting from extracellular to intracellular stages. To ensure its survival in these diverse environments, undergoes extreme morphological and molecular changes.

Insights into the microRNA landscape of Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Chagas disease.

The growing interest in microRNAs (miRNAs) over recent years has led to their characterization in numerous organisms. However, there is currently a lack of data available on miRNAs from triatomine bugs (Reduviidae: Triatominae), which are the vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of vectors provides new insights into insect-host interactions and insect control approaches, which are key methods to prevent disease incidence in endemic areas.

An Integrative Sialomic Analysis Reveals Molecules From (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Triatomines have evolved salivary glands that produce versatile molecules with various biological functions, including those leading their interactions with vertebrate hosts' hemostatic and immunological systems. Here, using high-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics, we report the first sialome study on the synanthropic triatomine . As a result, 57,645,372 reads were assembled into 26,670 coding sequences (CDS).

The Presence of DNA in the Nasal Mucosa of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients and the Search for Possible Clinical and Immunological Patterns of Disease Progression: A Cross Sectional Study.

is the most important causal agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), and 3 to 5% of patients develop mucosal lesions. The mechanisms related to parasite and host immune interactions and the parasite life cycle that lead to dissemination to the mucosa are poorly understood. We aimed to detect DNA in the nasal mucosa of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients with early mucous dissemination and to relate those findings to specific inflammatory responses.

Mapping Salivary Proteases in Sjögren's Syndrome Patients Reveals Overexpression of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4/CD26.

Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune exocrinopathy characterized by the progressive damage of salivary and lacrimal glands associated with lymphocytic infiltration. Identifying new non-invasive biomarkers for SS diagnosis remains a challenge, and alterations in saliva composition reported in patients turn this fluid into a source of potential biomarkers. Among these, proteases are promising candidates since they are involved in several key physio-pathological processes.

Proteomic Mapping of Multifunctional Complexes Within Triatomine Saliva.

Triatomines are hematophagous insects that transmit , the etiological agent of Chagas disease. This neglected tropical disease represents a global health issue as it is spreading worldwide. The saliva of Triatominae contains miscellaneous proteins crucial for blood feeding acquisition, counteracting host's hemostasis while performing vasodilatory, anti-platelet and anti-coagulant activities, besides modulating inflammation and immune responses.

Prolyl Oligopeptidase From : Biochemical Characterization and Involvement in Macrophage Infection.

is a flagellated protozoan and one of the main causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis. This disease usually affects the human reticuloendothelial system, can cause death and available therapies may lead to serious side effects. Since it is a neglected tropical disease, the incentives for the development of new drugs are insufficient.

The Pharmacopea within Triatomine Salivary Glands.

Triatomines are blood-feeding insects that prey on vertebrate hosts. Their saliva is largely responsible for their feeding success. The triatomine salivary content has been studied over the past decades, revealing multifunctional bioactive proteins targeting the host´s hemostasis and immune system.

Larvicidal and pupicidal activities of eco-friendly phenolic lipid products from Anacardium occidentale nutshell against arbovirus vectors.

Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are vectors of diseases that constitute public health problems. The discovery of products capable of inhibiting their development which are less harmful to the environment would have a huge impact on vector control. Here, natural cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), technical CNSL, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol were isolated from Anacardium occidentale and evaluated for larvicidal and pupicidal activity against Ae.

Triatomines: Trypanosomatids, Bacteria, and Viruses Potential Vectors?

Triatominae bugs are the vectors of Chagas disease, a major concern to public health especially in Latin America, where vector-borne Chagas disease has undergone resurgence due mainly to diminished triatomine control in many endemic municipalities. Although the majority of Triatominae species occurs in the Americas, species belonging to the genus occur in India, and species belonging to the complex have been also identified in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and in the Western Pacific. Not all of Triatominae species have been found to be infected with , but the possibility of establishing vector transmission to areas where Chagas disease was previously non-endemic has increased with global population mobility.

Exploring the molecular complexity of Triatoma dimidiata sialome.

Unlabelled: Triatoma dimidiata, a Chagas disease vector widely distributed along Central America, has great capability for domestic adaptation as the majority of specimens caught inside human dwellings or in peridomestic areas fed human blood. Exploring the salivary compounds that overcome host haemostatic and immune responses is of great scientific interest. Here, we provide a deeper insight into its salivary gland molecules.

Proteases of haematophagous arthropod vectors are involved in blood-feeding, yolk formation and immunity - a review.

Ticks, triatomines, mosquitoes and sand flies comprise a large number of haematophagous arthropods considered vectors of human infectious diseases. While consuming blood to obtain the nutrients necessary to carry on life functions, these insects can transmit pathogenic microorganisms to the vertebrate host. Among the molecules related to the blood-feeding habit, proteases play an essential role.

A Deep Insight into the Sialome of Rhodnius neglectus, a Vector of Chagas Disease.

Background: Triatomines are hematophagous insects that act as vectors of Chagas disease. Rhodnius neglectus is one of these kissing bugs found, contributing to the transmission of this American trypanosomiasis. The saliva of hematophagous arthropods contains bioactive molecules responsible for counteracting host haemostatic, inflammatory, and immune responses.

Interactome: Smart hematophagous triatomine salivary gland molecules counteract human hemostasis during meal acquisition.

Human populations are constantly plagued by hematophagous insects' bites, in particular the triatomine insects that are vectors of the Trypanosoma cruzi agent in Chagas disease. The pharmacologically-active molecules present in the salivary glands of hematophagous insects are injected into the human skin to initiate acquisition of blood meals. Sets of vasodilators, anti-platelet aggregators, anti-coagulants, immunogenic polypeptides, anesthetics, odorants, antibiotics, and detoxifying molecules have been disclosed with the aid of proteomics and recombinant cDNA techniques.