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A novel prolixicin identified in common bed bugs with activity against both bacteria and parasites

Sanam Meraj1, Arshvir Singh Dhari2, Emerson Mohr2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada. smeraj@sfu.ca.

Scientific Reports
|June 15, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Bed bugs express novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) called prolixicins, which show sex-specific immune responses. These prolixicins effectively combat bacteria and the Chagas disease agent Trypanosoma cruzi.

Area of Science:

  • Insect immunology
  • Antimicrobial peptides
  • Vector-borne diseases

Background:

  • The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) possesses immune defenses, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), despite not transmitting pathogens outside labs.
  • AMPs are crucial for innate immunity in insects, defending against microbial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel AMPs in bed bugs.
  • To investigate the regulation and function of these AMPs in response to bacterial challenge.
  • To assess the potential of these AMPs against human pathogens, specifically Trypanosoma cruzi.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and sequencing of novel prolixicin AMPs in Cimex lectularius.
  • Analysis of AMP expression in response to Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial infections.
  • In vitro assays to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of synthetic CL-prolixicin2 against E. coli and T. cruzi.

Main Results:

  • Three novel prolixicin AMPs were identified in bed bugs, homologous to those in kissing bugs and other insect AMPs.
  • Expression of these prolixicins was upregulated in a sex-specific and immune-response-specific manner in the midgut and body.
  • Synthetic CL-prolixicin2 demonstrated significant inhibition of E. coli growth and efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Conclusions:

  • Prolixicins represent a key component of bed bug innate immunity, regulated by both IMD and Toll pathways.
  • The findings suggest cross-talk between major insect immune pathways.
  • CL-prolixicin2's activity against T. cruzi highlights the potential of AMPs for managing Chagas disease.
Keywords:
Trypanosoma cruziBed bugsChagas diseaseGlycine-rich antimicrobial peptidesProlixicinToll and IMD humoral innate immunity

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