Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Gondim, Katia C.
• Atella, Georgia C.
• Pontes, Emerson G.
• Majerowicz, David

Titel

Lipid metabolism in insect disease vectors

Ist Teil von

• Insect biochemistry and molecular biology, 2018-10, Vol.101, p.108-123

Ort / Verlag

England: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2018

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• More than a third of the world population is at constant risk of contracting some insect-transmitted disease, such as Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, malaria, Chagas' disease, African trypanosomiasis, and others. Independent of the life cycle of the pathogen causing the disease, the insect vector hematophagous habit is a common and crucial trait for the transmission of all these diseases. This lifestyle is unique, as hematophagous insects feed on blood, a diet that is rich in protein but relatively poor in lipids and carbohydrates, in huge amounts and low frequency. Another unique feature of these insects is that blood meal triggers essential metabolic processes, as molting and oogenesis and, in this way, regulates the expression of various genes that are involved in these events. In this paper, we review current knowledge of the physiology and biochemistry of lipid metabolism in insect disease vectors, comparing with classical models whenever possible. We address lipid digestion and absorption, hemolymphatic transport, and lipid storage by the fat body and ovary. In this context, both de novo fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis are discussed, including the related fatty acid activation process and the intracellular lipid binding proteins. As lipids are stored in order to be mobilized later on, e.g. for flight activity or survivorship, lipolysis and β-oxidation are also considered. All these events need to be finely regulated, and the role of hormones in this control is summarized. Finally, we also review information about infection, when vector insect physiology is affected, and there is a crosstalk between its immune system and lipid metabolism. There is not abundant information about lipid metabolism in vector insects, and significant current gaps in the field are indicated, as well as questions to be answered in the future. [Display omitted] •Hematophagous insects feed large amounts of blood, build up lipid reserves and use them before the next meal.•Blood meal triggers oogenesis, and lipids are necessary for reproductive success.•Pathways of lipid synthesis and degradation must be well adjusted, and hormones are essential for this control.•Infected insects may have their lipid metabolic routes affected by parasites.•Information on lipid metabolism in insect disease vectors is scarce.