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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060
EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 104, No. 6, 2009, pp. 805-812
Bioline Code: oc09176
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 104, No. 6, 2009, pp. 805-812

 en Potential of laticifer fluids for inhibiting Aedes aegypti check for this species in other resources larval development: evidence for the involvement of proteolytic activity
Ramos, Márcio V; Pereira, Danielle A; Souza, Diego P; Araújo, Eliane S; Freitas, Cléverson DT; Cavalheiro, Mariana G; Matos, Mayara Patricia V & Carvalho, Ana FU

Abstract

It has been shown previously that the laticifer fluid of Calotropis procera check for this species in other resources (Ait.) R.Br. is highly toxic to the egg hatching and larval development of Aedes aegypti check for this species in other resources L. In the present study, the larvicidal potential of other laticifer fluids obtained from Cryptostegia grandiflora check for this species in other resources R.Br., Plumeria rubra check for this species in other resources L. and Euphorbia tirucalli check for this species in other resources L. was evaluated. We attempted to correlate larvicidal activity with the presence of endogenous proteolytic activity in the protein fraction of the fluids. After collection, the fluids were processed by centrifugation and dialysis to obtain the soluble laticifer protein (LP) fractions and eliminate water insoluble and low molecular mass molecules. LP did not visibly affect egg hatching at the doses assayed. LP from Cr. grandiflora exhibited the highest larval toxicity, while P. rubra was almost inactive. E. tirucalli was slightly active, but its activity could not be correlated to proteins since no protein was detected in the fluid. The larvicidal effects of LP from C. procera and Cr. grandiflora showed a significant relationship with the proteolytic activity of cysteine proteinases, which are present in both materials. A purified cysteine proteinase (papain) from the latex of Carica papaya check for this species in other resources (obtained from Sigma) was similarly effective, whereas trypsin and chymotrypsin (both serine proteinases) were ineffective. The results provide evidence for the involvement of cysteine proteinase activity in the larvicidal action of some laticifer fluids. C. procera is an invasive species found in areas infested with Ae. aegypti and thus could prove useful for combating mosquito proliferation. This is the first report to present evidence for the use of proteolytic enzymes as chemical agents to destroy Ae. aegypti larvae.

Keywords
Aedes aegypti - biological control - cysteine proteinases - latex - larvae - papain

 
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