Gel electrophoretic studies with reference to functional morphology of the salivary glands ofAcanthaspis pedestris Stal. (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

Morrison, M. N.

doi:10.1007/bf03179641

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These authors concluded that the anterior and posterior lobes are specialised to secrete neurotoxins and digestive enzymes, respectively. Other authors have reported similar findings, albeit usually with less drastic differences between the two lobes of the main gland [ 46 , 47 ]. Only Edwards [ 6 ] observed no difference between the effects of homogenates from anterior and posterior lobes of P. rhadamanthus applied to cockroach heart-dorsum preparations.…”

Section: Evolution Of Venom Systems In Heteropterasupporting

confidence: 69%

Venoms of Heteropteran Insects: A Treasure Trove of Diverse Pharmacological Toolkits

Walker

Weirauch

Fry

et al. 2016

Toxins

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The piercing-sucking mouthparts of the true bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) have allowed diversification from a plant-feeding ancestor into a wide range of trophic strategies that include predation and blood-feeding. Crucial to the success of each of these strategies is the injection of venom. Here we review the current state of knowledge with regard to heteropteran venoms. Predaceous species produce venoms that induce rapid paralysis and liquefaction. These venoms are powerfully insecticidal, and may cause paralysis or death when injected into vertebrates. Disulfide-rich peptides, bioactive phospholipids, small molecules such as N,N-dimethylaniline and 1,2,5-trithiepane, and toxic enzymes such as phospholipase A2, have been reported in predatory venoms. However, the detailed composition and molecular targets of predatory venoms are largely unknown. In contrast, recent research into blood-feeding heteropterans has revealed the structure and function of many protein and non-protein components that facilitate acquisition of blood meals. Blood-feeding venoms lack paralytic or liquefying activity but instead are cocktails of pharmacological modulators that disable the host haemostatic systems simultaneously at multiple points. The multiple ways venom is used by heteropterans suggests that further study will reveal heteropteran venom components with a wide range of bioactivities that may be recruited for use as bioinsecticides, human therapeutics, and pharmacological tools.

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Section: Evolution Of Venom Systems In Heteropterasupporting

confidence: 69%

Venoms of Heteropteran Insects: A Treasure Trove of Diverse Pharmacological Toolkits

Walker

Weirauch

Fry

et al. 2016

Toxins

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“…Our results contrast with those of Haridass and Ananthakrishnan 14 who injected extracts of gland compartments into prey animals, and concluded that the AMG extract contained neurotoxins while the PMG extract contained enzymes for EOD. However, other studies have found fewer functional differences between the glands using similar assays 20 , 21 , and Edwards 19 found that both PMG and AMG secretions potently paralysed cockroach heart-dorsum preparations. Apart from different assay conditions, phylogeny may explain some of these differences, as Haridass and Ananthakrishnan studied more basal ectrichodiine and peiratine assassin bugs, whereas our study and the others cited investigated more derived reduviine and harpactorine bugs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Thus, the reduviid AMG and PMG are suggested to be specialised for secretion of neurotoxins and digestive enzymes, respectively 18 . However, other authors have found less marked or no difference between the bioactivities of AMG and PMG gland extracts 19 – 21 . We recently reported that venom obtained by electrostimulation of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis is a complex mixture of catabolic enzymes, putative cytolytic/pore-forming proteins and putatively neurotoxic disulphide-rich peptides 22 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens

et al. 2018

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The assassin bug venom system plays diverse roles in prey capture, defence and extra-oral digestion, but it is poorly characterised, partly due to its anatomical complexity. Here we demonstrate that this complexity results from numerous adaptations that enable assassin bugs to modulate the composition of their venom in a context-dependent manner. Gland reconstructions from multimodal imaging reveal three distinct venom gland lumens: the anterior main gland (AMG); posterior main gland (PMG); and accessory gland (AG). Transcriptomic and proteomic experiments demonstrate that the AMG and PMG produce and accumulate distinct sets of venom proteins and peptides. PMG venom, which can be elicited by electrostimulation, potently paralyses and kills prey insects. In contrast, AMG venom elicited by harassment does not paralyse prey insects, suggesting a defensive role. Our data suggest that assassin bugs produce offensive and defensive venoms in anatomically distinct glands, an evolutionary adaptation that, to our knowledge, has not been described for any other venomous animal.

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“…However, the salivary system of predatory reduviids has not been given due consideration. The salivary system of reduviids conforms to the general heteropteran plan ( Southwood 1955 ; Louis and Kumar 1973 ; Haridass and Ananthakrishnan 1981 ; Morrison 1989 ; Ambrose and Maran 1999 ; Sahayaraj et al 2010 ). The morphology of salivary glands is diverse in different subfamilies, which could be utilized as a reliable taxonomical tool ( Louis and Kumar 1973 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Gross Morphology and Histology of Head and Salivary Apparatus of the Predatory Bug,Rhynocoris marginatus

Kumar

Sahayaraj

2012

Journal of Insect Science

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Rhynocoris marginatus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an important biological control agent against more than 25 insect pests in India. For a better understanding of the feeding adaptation of this bug, the gross morphology and histology of its head and salivary apparatus were studied using both a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The head is more or less elongate, mobile, and immersed into the eyes. R. marginatus has a three-segmented curved rostrum; the middle segment is longer than the other two segments. The terminal rostral segment bears spines and trichobothria externally. Stylet bundles bear two pairs of maxillary and mandible stylets in the curved rostrum with serrations. The stylets help to penetrate into the tissue and directly pump the toxic venomous saliva deep into the prey. The principal gland is bi-lobed (anterior lobe and posterior lobe), whereas the accessory gland is uni-lobed, exhibiting distinct functional and histological differences. These glands receive tracheal and nerve supply. Mononucleated, binucleated, trinucleated and polynucleated cells are distributed both in anterior and posterior lobes of the principal gland. The cytoplasm has collecting vacuoles with secretions. Therefore, this predator is highly equipped with well-developed mouthparts that are attached to the salivary apparatus.

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Gel electrophoretic studies with reference to functional morphology of the salivary glands ofAcanthaspis pedestris Stal. (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Venoms of Heteropteran Insects: A Treasure Trove of Diverse Pharmacological Toolkits

Venoms of Heteropteran Insects: A Treasure Trove of Diverse Pharmacological Toolkits

The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens

Gross Morphology and Histology of Head and Salivary Apparatus of the Predatory Bug,Rhynocoris marginatus

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