Vertebrate blood composition is heavily biased towards proteins, and hemoglobin, which is
a hemeprotein, is by far the most abundant protein. Typically, hematophagous insects ingest …

Insects have established mutualistic symbiotic interactions with microorganisms that are
beneficial to both host and symbiont. Many insects have exploited these symbioses to …

Background Digestion of blood in the midgut of Aedes aegypti results in the release of pro-
oxidant molecules that can be toxic to the mosquito. We hypothesized that after a blood …

Background/Methodology Triatomine bugs are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent
of Chagas disease. Vector control has for decades relied upon insecticide spraying, but …

The hemiptera Rhodnius prolixus is a blood‐feeding insect and a primary vector of
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of the Chagas disease. Over the past century …

Chagas disease is caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The main
transmission mechanism for the parasite in endemic areas is contact with the feces of an …

Repeated blood meals provide essential nutrients for mosquito egg development and routes
for pathogen transmission. The target of rapamycin, the TOR pathway, is essential for …

Introduction: Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an important vector of
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. This insect is a model for the …

Iron is an essential element for most organisms However, free iron and heme, its complex
with protoporphyrin IX, can be extremely cytotoxic, due to the production of reactive oxygen …

Blood-feeding arthropods are considered an enormous public health threat. They are
vectors of a plethora of infectious agents that cause potentially fatal diseases like Malaria …