Some of the most debilitating diseases afflicting humans and other animals are either caused by insects or are vectored by them. Insect host- parasite relationships are integrating adaptations of considerable complexity. Little is known about the mechanism(s) insects use to recognize foreignness and to combat these infections. The long term goals of the proposed research are to identify the cytotoxic molecules produced by insect blood cells (hemocytes) during immune challenge, and to clarify the mechanisms by which these substances specifically target and destroy organisms that have invaded the body cavity of the host. The major focus of the proposed study concerns the involvement of hemocyte NADPH oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), since these enzymes are essential not only for the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species by activated hemocytes, but also for intracellular and collaborative cell-cell signaling required for successful host encapsulation responses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM059774-03
Application #
6386575
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-TMP (01))
Program Officer
Shapiro, Bert I
Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2002-12-31
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2002-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$54,549
Indirect Cost
Name
Loyola University Chicago
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60660
Carton, Y; Frey, F; Nappi, A J (2009) Parasite-induced changes in nitric oxide levels in Drosophila paramelanica. J Parasitol 95:1134-41
Kohler, Lara J; Carton, Yves; Mastore, Maristella et al. (2007) Parasite suppression of the oxidations of eumelanin precursors in Drosophila melanogaster. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 66:64-75
Carton, Y; Nappi, A J; Poirie, M (2005) Genetics of anti-parasite resistance in invertebrates. Dev Comp Immunol 29:9-32
Mastore, Maristella; Kohler, Lara; Nappi, Anthony J (2005) Production and utilization of hydrogen peroxide associated with melanogenesis and tyrosinase-mediated oxidations of DOPA and dopamine. FEBS J 272:2407-15
Nappi, A J; Frey, F; Carton, Y (2005) Drosophila serpin 27A is a likely target for immune suppression of the blood cell-mediated melanotic encapsulation response. J Insect Physiol 51:197-205
Christensen, Bruce M; Li, Jianyong; Chen, Cheng-Chen et al. (2005) Melanization immune responses in mosquito vectors. Trends Parasitol 21:192-9
Nappi, A J; Christensen, B M (2005) Melanogenesis and associated cytotoxic reactions: applications to insect innate immunity. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 35:443-59
Nappi, A J; Vass, E; Malagoli, D et al. (2004) The effects of parasite-derived immune-suppressive factors on the cellular innate immune and autoimmune responses of Drosophila melanogaster. J Parasitol 90:1139-49
Nappi, Anthony J; Vass, Emily (2002) Interactions of iron with reactive intermediates of oxygen and nitrogen. Dev Neurosci 24:134-42
Ottaviani, Enzo; Nappi, Anthony J; Vass, Emily (2002) Resistance of the insect cell line IPLB-LdFB to salsolinol-induced apoptosis. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 49:1-9

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