Decrease of mosquito salivary gland proteins after a blood meal: an implication for pathogenesis of mosquito bite allergy.

SalivOlY gland protein profiles of Aedes aegypti (L) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) preand postblood feeding were analyzed. SDS-PAGE studies before blood feeding of Ae. aegypti demonstrated 8 major polypeptide bands of 20, 35, 37, 42, 45, 47, 70 kDa and a high molecular weight band> 118 kDa, whereas those ofCx. quinquefasciatus demonstrated 9 major polypeptide bands of 20, 26, 36, 38, 45, 47, 49 kDa and 2 high molecular weight bands> 118 kDa. After a blood feeding, salivary gland polypeptides of Ae. aegypti at 35,37,45,47, 70 kDa and high molecular weight band> 118 kDa were depleted, while the polypeptide bands of 20, 26, 36, 38 kDa were depleted in Cx. quinquefasciatus. The presented study suggests that these major polypeptides were introduced into vertebrate hosts when a mosquito took a blood meal, Further investigation in molecular, biochemical and immunological aspects of these salivOlY gland polypeptides may provide information for better understanding in the role of these proteins in mosquito bite allergy.