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2030-01-01
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THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF HUMAN LICE: CURRENT ADVANCES AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Peptídeo Hidrolases
Tripsina
Intestino médio do inseto
Pediculus humanus
Waniek, Peter J. | Date Issued:
2009
Author
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Abstract
Haematophagy has evolved independently in different insect groups. This
has resulted in the development of different kinds of adaptations (e.g. suitable
mouthparts as well as alterations in the gut anatomy and in digestive enzyme composition).
At the same time, insects have acquired different levels of adaptation to
blood-sucking habits. One of the most interesting examples is the co-evolution of
sucking lice (Anoplura) with their hosts. Human head and body lice, Pediculus
humanus capitis De Geer, 1767 and Pediculus humanus humanus Linnaeus, 1758,
are highly host- and anatomic-region-specific ectoparasites. They spend their entire
lives on the host, ingesting small blood meals, several times per day. To date, several
genes encoding digestive protease and proteolytic activities have been identified.
The blood is stored in the anterior distensible region of the midgut, where
genes encoding serine endopeptidases are highly expressed. Likewise, in the narrow
posterior region of the midgut, the high-level expression of genes encoding exopeptidases
has been documented. Symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting the mycetome
complete the deficient nutrition of human lice. This review focuses on the digestion
habits of the best-investigated taxon of human lice P. h. humanus in relation to other
blood-sucking insects.
Keywords in Portuguese
QuimotripsinaPeptídeo Hidrolases
Tripsina
Intestino médio do inseto
Pediculus humanus
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