Histological confinement of transglutaminase-mediated nit sheath crosslinking is essential for proper oviposition and egg coating in the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Head louse females secrete liquid gel, which is mainly composed of the louse nit sheath protein 1 (LNSP1) and LNSP2, when they lay eggs. The gel is crosslinked by transglutaminase (TG) to form the nit sheath, which covers most of the egg except the top operculum area where breathing holes are located. Knowledge on the selective mechanism of nit sheath solidification to avoid uncontrolled crosslinking could lead to designing a novel method of louse control, but no information is available yet.

Methods

To elucidate the crosslinking mechanisms of nit sheath gel inside the reproductive system of head louse females, in situ hybridization in conjunction with microscopic observation of the oviposition process was conducted.

Results

Histochemical analysis revealed

SUBMITTER: Kim JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9997029 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature