Immune interactions between insects and parasites

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Insects transmit parasites that cause significant disease to humans and animals. Devastating diseases such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis kill 2-3 million people per year and viruses such as Dengue and West Nile virus cause illness or death in millions more. Our research addresses the molecular interactions between insect vectors and the pathogens they transmit. Most insects kill parasites that enter their bodies using components of their immune system. This response is based in a large part on the production of small peptides that bind to, and kill, bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The parasite first must be recognized as "non-self" which initiates the expression of immune factors. This proposal will look at the immune response of Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi that infects 18 million people in North, Central and South America. This parasite is unique in that it has modified its life-cycle to avoid entering regions of the insect where immune responses are strongest. We will characterize molecules involved in non-self recognition, activation, regulation and expression of immune peptides in this vector in response to infections with bacteria fungi, and parasites, and will identify novel peptides that are lethal to these organisms. We will also determine the role of these molecules by silencing their expression to see if parasite numbers change or if the insects themselves die. Ultimately we would like to determine if we can stop parasite development, and therefore stop transmission, or if we can identify and evaluate these molecules as potential drugs to treat people with bacterial and parasitic infections.