Feeding Behavior - Expression of Certain Salivary Gland Genes Relationship in Females Culex Pipiens and Hyalomma Dromedarii

Hussein, Amira F.; Mokhtar, Mostafa Mohamed; Moselhy, Walaa A.; Mahmoud, Shaymaa H.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2023.185056.7414

Feeding Behavior - Expression of Certain Salivary Gland Genes Relationship in Females Culex Pipiens and Hyalomma Dromedarii

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (girls branch), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

² Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (boys branch), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

³ Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2023.185056.7414

Abstract

Salivary glands of hematophagous arthropods are enriched sources of pharmacologically active components that affect their hosts. In this work we compared mRNA expression pattern of salivary allergen gene, serine protease and salivary alpha glucosidase in the salivary gland of female Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) and Hyalomma dromedarii (Ixodida: Ixodidae) after sugar and blood feeding as well as electrophoretic protein banding pattern by SDS-PAGE. The results of SDS for salivary glands of female Cx. pipiens and H. dromedarii after different feeding time intervals demonstrated many changes in the protein pattern. A striking different expression pattern was observed in the two arthropods. A significant increase in allergen gene 3 days post blood feeding compared to unfed females in Cx. pipiens and down regulation after sugar feed reflecting that prolonged blood feeding may be a factor involved in allergen activation. A similar pattern was reported in H. dromedarii, where a significant up-regulation was recorded in partially-fed and fully-fed females. Additionally, a significant down-regulation of serine protease after blood feeding in both species was observed. α-glucosidase expression exhibited down regulation in Cx. pipiens, after blood feeding.These results provide initial information that will lead to further study on the role of salivary genes of Culex pipiens and Hyalomma dromedarii in hematophagy.

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