Mass sequencing of cDNA libraries from salivary glands of triatomines has resulted in the
identification of many novel genes of unknown function. The aim of the present work was to …

In order to efficiently obtain blood from their vertebrate hosts, bloodsucking arthropods have
undergone an evolutionary selection process leading to specialist adaptations in their …

Brazil has just been certificated by Pan American Health Organization as 'free of Chagas
disease transmission due to Triatoma infestans'. During the early 1980s, this species of …

Background Rhodnius prolixus is a blood-feeding insect that can transmit Trypanosoma
cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli to vertebrate hosts. Recently, genomic resources for …

Background It is known that some blood-sucking insects have the ability to reach vessels
under the host skin with their mouthparts to feed blood from inside them. However, the …

Background Triatoma infestans is the main vector of Chagas disease in South America. As
in all hematophagous arthropods, its saliva contains a complex cocktail that assists blood …

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi transmitted by blood-
sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae, is a major neglected tropical disease affecting …

Every hematophagous invertebrate studied to date produces at least one inhibitor of
coagulation. Among these, thrombin inhibitors have most frequently been isolated. In order …

To assist haematophagy, Rhodnius prolixus produces several bioactive molecules in its
saliva which it injects into the host skin. The most abundant of these molecules are the …

The bedbugs Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus are obligate hematophages in all
their nymphal instars as well as in the adult stage. The efficiency with which the insects …