Publications by authors named "Jorge A C Bretas"
Background: The male reproductive system of insects can have several tissues responsible for the secretion of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs), such as testes, accessory glands, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct and ejaculatory bulb. The SFPs are transferred during mating and can induce several physiological and behavioral changes in females, such as increase in oviposition and decrease in sexual receptivity after copulation. The phlebotomine Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It has been suggested that genes involved in the reproductive biology of insect disease vectors are potential targets for future alternative methods of control. Little is known about the molecular biology of reproduction in phlebotomine sand flies and there is no information available concerning genes that are expressed in male reproductive organs of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of American visceral leishmaniasis and a species complex.
Methods/principal Findings: We generated 2678 high quality ESTs ("Expressed Sequence Tags") of L.
Article Synopsis
- The sand fly species Lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector for American visceral leishmaniasis and male flies produce a terpenoid sex pheromone that aids in attracting females and male aggregation.
- The study analyzed the relationship between pheromone production and the development of pheromone gland cells during the first week of the flies' adult life using methods like transmission electron microscopy and gas chromatography.
- Findings showed that pheromone biosynthesis begins around 12 hours after emergence, with lipid droplets and peroxisomes playing key roles in pheromone production, peaking at 3 days, which corresponds to the mating period for males.