General aspects, host interaction, and application of sp. in arthropod pest and vector control.

The application of microorganisms as bio-control agents against arthropod populations is a need in many countries, especially in tropical, subtropical, and neotropical endemic areas. Several arthropod species became agricultural pests of paramount economic significance, and many methods have been developed for field and urban applications to prevent their, the most common being the application of chemical insecticides. However, the indiscriminate treatment based upon those substances acted as a selective pressure for upcoming resistant phenotype populations.

Kinetics and molecular modeling studies on the inhibition mechanism of GH13 α-glycosidases by small molecule ligands.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors play an important role in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) treatment since they prevent postprandial hyperglycemia. The Glycoside Hydrolase family 13 (GH13) is the major family of enzymes acting on substrates containing α-glucoside linkages, such as maltose and amylose/amylopectin chains in starch. Previously, our group identified glycoconjugate 1H-1,2,3-triazoles (GCTs) inhibiting two GH13 α-glycosidases: yeast maltase (MAL12) and porcine pancreatic amylase (PPA).

Age, sex, and mating status discrimination in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis using near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS).

Background: Understanding aspects related to the physiology and capacity of vectors is essential for effectively controlling vector-borne diseases. The sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis has great importance in medical entomology for disseminating Leishmania parasites, the causative agent of Leishmaniasis, one of the main neglected diseases listed by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this respect, it is necessary to evaluate the transmission potential of this species and the success of vector control interventions.

Digestive α-L-fucosidase activity in after blood feeding: effect of secretagogue and nutritional stimuli.

(Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an important vector of , the causative agent of Chagas Disease. This insect is a model for the study of insect physiology, especially concerning the digestion of blood. Among the enzymes produced in the midgut of after blood feeding there is a α-L-fucosidase activity.

Structure and expression of GH18 chitinases and chitinase-like proteins: Characterization of the physiological role of , a gene from subgroup VIII, in vector fitness and reproduction.

Chitinases are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages within chitin chains. In insects, chitinases are typically members of the multigenic glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18). They participate in the relocation of chitin during development and molt, and in digestion in detritivores and predatory insects, and they control the peritrophic membrane thickness.

Characterization of Glycoside Hydrolase Families 13 and 31 Reveals Expansion and Diversification of α-Amylase Genes in the Phlebotomine and Modulation of Sandfly Glycosidase Activities by Infection.

Sugar-rich food sources are essential for sandflies to meet their energy demands, achieving more prolonged survival. The digestion of carbohydrates from food is mainly realized by glycoside hydrolases (GH). To identify genes coding for α-glycosidases and α-amylases belonging to Glycoside Hydrolase Family 13 (GH13) and Glycoside Hydrolase Family 31 (GH31) in , we performed an HMMER search against its genome using known sequences from other dipteran species.

Characterization of the Temporal Pattern of Blood Protein Digestion in : First Description of Early and Late Gut Cathepsins.

is one important vector for the parasite in Latin America, where Chagas disease is a significant health issue. Although is a model for investigations of vector-parasite interaction and transmission, not much has been done recently to further comprehend its protein digestion. In this work, gut proteolysis was characterized using new fluorogenic substrates, including optimum pH, inhibition profiles, and tissue and temporal expression patterns.

Determination of Chitin Content in Insects: An Alternate Method Based on Calcofluor Staining.

Chitin is an aminopolysaccharide present in yeast cells and arthropod cuticle and is one of the most abundant biopolymers. The conventional methods for the quantitation of chitin content in biological samples are based on its hydrolysis (acid or enzymatic), and the assessment of the byproduct, glucosamine. However, previously described methodologies are time-consuming, laborious, low throughput, and not applicable to insect samples in many cases.

Development of Leishmania mexicana in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the absence of sugar feeding.

The leishmaniases are caused by Leishmania parasites and transmitted through the bites of phlebotomine sand flies. During parasite development inside the vector's midgut, promastigotes move towards the stomodeal valve, a mechanism that is crucial for transmission. It has been reported that the sugar meal acquired by sand flies during feeding between bloodmeals is essential for the development and migration of parasites.

Characterization of α-Glucosidases From Reveals Independent Hydrolysis Systems for Plant or Blood Sugars.

is the main vector of and exploits different food sources during development. Adults have a diet rich in sugars, and females also feed on blood. The sugar diet is essential for maintaining longevity, infection, and Leishmaniasis transmission.

Microorganism-Based Larval Diets Affect Mosquito Development, Size and Nutritional Reserves in the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae).

Background: Mosquito larvae feed on organic detritus from the environment, particularly microorganisms comprising bacteria, protozoa, and algae as well as crustaceans, plant debris, and insect exuviae. Little attention has been paid to nutritional studies in larvae.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of yeast, bacteria and microalgae diets on larval development, pupation time, adult size, emergence, survivorship, lifespan, and wing morphology.

Biochemical and Functional Characterization of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 16 Genes in Larvae: Identification of the Major Digestive β-1,3-Glucanase.

Insect β-1,3-glucanases belong to Glycoside Hydrolase Family 16 (GHF16) and are involved in digestion of detritus and plant hemicellulose. In this work, we investigated the role of GHF16 genes in larvae, due to their detritivore diet. genome has six genes belonging to GHF16 (Aae GH16.

Transmission blocking sugar baits for the control of Leishmania development inside sand flies using environmentally friendly beta-glycosides and their aglycones.

Background: The sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of American visceral leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Adults of this insect feed on blood (females only) or sugar from plant sources, but their digestion of carbohydrates is poorly studied. Beta-glycosides as esculin and amygdalin are plant compounds and release toxic compounds as esculetin and mandelonitrile when hydrolyzed.

UFV1 -glucosidases: purification, characterization, and application for biomass saccharification.

Background: -Glucosidases are components of the cellulase system, a family of enzymes that hydrolyze the -1,4 linkages of cellulose. These proteins have been extensively studied due to the possibility of their use in various biotechnological processes. They have different affinities for substrates (depending on their source) and their activities can be used for saccharification of different types of biomass.

N-glycosylation influences the catalytic activity of mosquito α-glucosidases associated with susceptibility or refractoriness to Lysinibacillus sphaericus.

Cqm1 and Aam1 are α-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.

Triflumuron Effects on the Physiology and Reproduction of Adult Females.

We evaluated the efficacy of the growth regulator triflumuron (TFM) in inducing mortality and disrupting both oviposition and egg hatching in adult females. TFM was administered via feeding, topically or by continuous contact with impregnated surfaces. Feeding resulted in mild biological effects compared with topical and impregnated surfaces.

Digestion of Yeasts and Beta-1,3-Glucanases in Mosquito Larvae: Physiological and Biochemical Considerations.

Aedes aegypti larvae ingest several kinds of microorganisms. In spite of studies regarding mosquito digestion, little is known about the nutritional utilization of ingested cells by larvae. We investigated the effects of using yeasts as the sole nutrient source for A.