The biological clock of an hematophagous insect: locomotor activity rhythms, circadian expression and downregulation after a blood meal.
Despite the importance of circadian rhythms in vector-borne disease transmission, very little is known about its molecular control in hematophagous insect vectors. In Drosophila melanogaster, a negative feedback loop of gene expression has been shown to contribute to the clock mechanism. Here, we describe some features of the circadian clock of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of visceral leishmaniasis. Compared to D. melanogaster, sandfly period and timeless, two negative elements of the feedback loop, show similar peaks of mRNA abundance. On the other hand, the expression of Clock (a positive transcription factor) differs between the two species, raising the possibility that the different phases of Clock expression could be associated with the observed differences in circadian activity rhythms. In addition, we show a reduction in locomotor activity after a blood meal, which is correlated with downregulation of period and timeless expression levels. Our results suggest that the circadian pacemaker and its control over the activity rhythms in this hematophagous insect are modulated by blood intake.
Meireles-Filho
Antonio C A
AC
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz--Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, CEP 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
da S Rivas
Gustavo B
GB
Gesto
João S M
JS
Machado
Ricardo C
RC
Britto
Constança
C
de Souza
Nataly A
NA
Peixoto
Alexandre A
AA
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000502:physiology*
D019476:Insect Proteins