Blood-feeding induces reversible functional changes in flight muscle mitochondria of Aedes aegypti mosquito.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hematophagy poses a challenge to blood-feeding organisms since products of blood digestion can exert cellular deleterious effects. Mitochondria perform multiple roles in cell biology acting as the site of aerobic energy-transducing pathways, and also an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), modulating redox metabolism. Therefore, regulation of mitochondrial function should be relevant for hematophagous arthropods. Here, we investigated the effects of blood-feeding on flight muscle (FM) mitochondria from the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector of dengue and yellow fever.

Methodology/principal findings

Blood-feeding caused a reversible reduction in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, an event that was parallel to blood digestion. These changes were most inte

SUBMITTER: Goncalves RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2773413 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature