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Title: Salivary Gland Thrombostasin Isoforms Differentially Regulate Blood Uptake of Horn Flies Fed on New Zealand White Rabbits

Author
item CUPP, MARY - Auburn University
item CUPP, EDDIE - Auburn University
item ZHANG, DUNHU - Auburn University
item YUE, XIN - Auburn University
item TODD, LATORA - Auburn University
item PANANGALA, VICTOR - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item NAVARRE, CHRISTINE - Auburn University
item WHITLEY, ELIZABETH - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2009
Publication Date: 3/5/2009
Citation: Cupp, M.S., Cupp, E.W., Zhang, D., Yue, X., Todd, L., Panangala, V.S., Navarre, C., Whitley, E. 2009. Salivary Gland Thrombostasin Isoforms Differentially Regulate Blood Uptake of Horn Flies Fed on New Zealand White Rabbits. Journal of Medical Entomology. 46(2):351-357.

Interpretive Summary: Thrombostasin (TS) is a previously characterized anticlotting protein with multiple isoforms found in the saliva of horn flies. In this report, the effect of TS isoforms on blood feeding was assessed using individual flies that carried corresponding ts alleles. Laboratory studies of horn fly blood feeding were conducted using colony-reared flies fed on New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. After timed 20-min feeding periods, each fly was characterized for gender, blood volume uptake, and ts genotype. The results showed that mean blood volumes obtained by individual flies, were not related to fly gender but were correlated to the ts genotype(s) carried by each fly. A fly having one or both ts alleles coding for the TS9 isoform took less blood than those possessing one or both ts alleles coding for the TS10 isoform. These reults confirm the significant role that TS plays in horn fly feeding and highlight the differential impact of TS protein isoforms that vary by as few as three amino acids.

Technical Abstract: Thrombostasin (TS) is a previously characterized anticlotting protein with multiple isoforms found in the saliva of horn flies. In this report the effects of TS isoforms on blood feeding was assessed with individual flies that carried corresponding ts alleles. Laboratory studies of horn fly blood feeding were conducted using colony-reared flies fed on New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. After timed-20 min feeding periods, each fly was characterized for gender, blood volume uptake, and ts genotype. The results showed that mean blood volumes obtained by individual flies were not related to fly gender but were correlated to the ts genotype(s) carried by each fly. A fly having one or both ts alleles coding for the TS9 isoform took less blood than those possessing one or both ts alleles coding for the TS10 isoform. These results confirm the significant role that TS plays in horn fly feeding and highlight the differential impact of TS protein isoforms that vary by as few as three amino acids.