title: The defensin peptide of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae: antimicrobial activities and expression in adult mosquitoes.
abstract: A recombinant Anopheles gambiae defensin peptide was used to define the antimicrobial activity spectrum against bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeast. Results showed that most of the Gram-positive bacterial species tested were sensitive to the recombinant peptide in a range of concentrations from 0.1 to 0.75 microM. No activity was detected against Gram-negative bacteria, with the exception of some E. coli strains. Growth inhibitory activity was detected against some species of filamentous fungi. Defensin was not active against yeast. The kinetics of bactericidal and fungicidal effects were determined for Micrococcus luteus and Neurospora crassa, respectively. Differential mass spectrometry analysis was used to demonstrate induction of defensin in the hemolymph of bacteria-infected adult female mosquitoes. Native peptide levels were quantitated in both hemolymph and midgut tissues. The polytene chromosome position of the defensin locus was mapped by in situ hybridization.
authors.affiliation: UPR CNRS 9022, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 15, rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vizioli
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uttenweiler-Joseph
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blass
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D023082:Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023082:Defensins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins