Quantitative peptidomic for the study of neuroendocrinological activation after feeding in the insect Rhodnius prolixus, vector of Chagas Disease

SHEILA ONS; MARCOS STERKEL; DARÍO CARDOSO; ROLANDO RIVERA-POMAR

Huerta Grande. Córdoba

Congreso; Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias; 2010

In triatomine insects, vectors of Chagas Disease, blood feeding stimulates events associated with grow and development, as much as a rapid diuresis during which the transmission of the parasite Tripanosoma cruzi occurs. All these events are regulated by neuropeptides. The insect neuropeptidome is a promising target for a novel generation of insecticides that offer improved selectivity and environmental compatibility. The understanding of quantitative modification of the neuropeptide set in response to feeding provides information for the development of molecules capable of disrupting the physiological processes regulated by feeding, in order to replace conventional insecticides. We performed quantitative peptidomic experiments, using nano-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, after dimethyl labeling of samples, which allows triplex labeling. We compared concentration of specific neuropeptides in R. prolixus central nervous system at three different moments in the response to feeding (unfed, 4 hr and 24 hr after feeding). We have determined the implication of neuropeptides in the neuroendocrine activation after blood intake in R. prolixus. Our study, which provides cues for the characterization of the post-prandial neuroendocrine activation in the hemathophagous R. prolixus, contains important information for physiological and pharmacological studies aimed to the design of next-generation insecticides such as peptidomimetics, which are expected to be species-specific and environmentally friendly.