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Abstract:
The saliva of the bloodsucking bug Triatoma infestans vector of Chagas disease contains an anti-hemostatic molecular cocktail that prevents
coagulation, vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation in a vertebrate prey. In order to characterize T. infestans saliva proteome, we separated the
secreted saliva by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). More than 200 salivary proteins were detected on the 2-DE map, mainly in the
alkaline region. By nanoLCMS/MS analysis using a LTQOrbitrap equipment followed by a combination of conventional and sequence-similarity
searches, we identified 58 main protein spots. Most of such proteins possess potential blood-feeding associated functions, particularly anti-platelet
aggregation proteins belonging to lipocalin and apyrase families. The saliva protein composition indicates a highly specific molecular mechanism
of early response to platelet aggregation. This first proteome analysis of the T. infestans secreted saliva provides a basis for a better understanding
of this fluid protein composition highly directed to counterpart hemostasis of the prey, thus promoting the bugs blood-feeding.
