Aminopeptidases as potential targets for the control of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina

• Published in: International journal for parasitology 1999-06, Vol.29 (6), p.839-850
• Main Authors: Reed, B.J, Chandler, D.S, Sandeman, R.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminopeptidase; aminopeptidases; Aminopeptidases - antagonists & inhibitors; Aminopeptidases - metabolism; Animals; Antiparasitic Agents - pharmacology; Antiparasitic Agents - therapeutic use; Calliphoridae; Diptera - drug effects; Diptera - enzymology; Diptera - growth & development; Drug Synergism; Drug targets; Enzyme inhibitors; growth; inhibition; insect control; Larva - drug effects; Larva - enzymology; Larva - growth & development; larvae; Lucilia cuprina; myiasis; Myiasis - drug therapy; Myiasis - parasitology; Myiasis - veterinary; Protease Inhibitors - pharmacology; Protease Inhibitors - therapeutic use; proteinase inhibitors; Serine proteinase; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; serine proteinases; Sheep; Sheep blowfly; Sheep Diseases - drug therapy; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; skin
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00043-0

A series of experiments were carried out to investigate the role of proteinase enzymes in the growth of larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. First, instar larvae were incubated on an artificial growth media in the presence of various concentrations of inhibitors of all the major proteinase classes. Inhibitors of serine proteinases and aminopeptidases were found to cause significant growth inhibition and in some cases death of the larvae within 24h, suggesting that these enzymes were the major classes involved in protein digestion in the gut of the insect. A second group of experiments analysed the effects of two inhibitors from the same or different proteinase classes in the growth media. Synergistic inhibition of larval growth was observed with the incorporation of inhibitors of serine proteinases and aminopeptidases. The results suggest that these classes of proteinases are both central to protein digestion in this insect, probably in the gut, and that the inhibition of both types of activity leads to an almost complete blockade of digestion. Testing in vivo gave similar results with infections on sheep skin inhibited by either serine proteinase or aminopeptidase enzyme inhibitors and the combination of both stopped the infection process. The role of aminopeptidases in larval metabolism and as potential targets for blowfly control agents is examined.