Trypanosoma cruzi TcSMUG L-surface Mucins Promote Development and Infectivity in the Triatomine Vector Rhodnius prolixus

摘要: Background TcSMUG L products were recently identified as novel mucin-type glycoconjugates restricted to the surface of insect-dwelling epimastigote forms Trypanosoma cruzi, etiological agent Chagas disease. The remarkable conservation their predicted mature N-terminal region, which is exposed extracellular milieu, suggests that TcSMUG may be involved in structural and/or functional aspects interaction with insect vector. Methodology and Principal Findings Here, we investigated putative roles mucins both vivo development ex attachment epimastigotes luminal digestive tract Rhodnius prolixus. Our results indicate exogenous addition peptide, but not control T. cruzi mucin peptides, infected bloodmeal inhibited parasites R. prolixus a dose-dependent manner. Pre-incubation midguts peptide impaired epithelium, likely by competing out binding sites on posterior midgut, revealed fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion Significance Together, these observations are determinant adhesion midgut epithelial cells triatomine, infection vector,