Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38879638›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

A novel prolixicin identified in common bed bugs with activity against both bacteria and parasites.

Sanam Meraj, Arshvir Singh Dhari, Emerson Mohr, Carl Lowenberger, Gerhard Gries

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sanam MerajDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada. smeraj@sfu.ca.
Arshvir Singh DhariDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada.
Emerson MohrDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada.
Carl LowenbergerDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada.
Gerhard GriesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A1S6, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The hematophagous common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is not known to transmit human pathogens outside laboratory settings, having evolved various immune defense mechanisms including the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We unveil three novel prolixicin AMPs in bed bugs, exhibiting strong homology to the prolixicin of kissing bugs, Rhodnius prolixus, and to diptericin/attacin AMPs. We demonstrate for the first time sex-specific and immune mode-specific upregulation of these prolixicins in immune organs, the midgut and rest of body, following injection and ingestion of Gr+ (Bacillus subtilis) and Gr- (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Synthetic CL-prolixicin2 significantly inhibited growth of E. coli strains and killed or impeded Trypanosoma cruzi, the Chagas disease agent. Our findings suggest that prolixicins are regulated by both IMD and Toll immune pathways, supporting cross-talk and blurred functional differentiation between major immune pathways. The efficacy of CL-prolixicin2 against T. cruzi underscores the potential of AMPs in Chagas disease management.

Indexed as

BedbugsEscherichia coliTrypanosoma cruziAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsAntimicrobial PeptidesBacillus subtilisChagas DiseaseFemaleInsect ProteinsMaleAntimicrobial PeptidesInsect ProteinsBed bugsChagas diseaseGlycine-rich antimicrobial peptidesProlixicinToll and IMD humoral innate immunityTrypanosoma cruzi

Identifiers

PMID38879638
PMCPMC11180110

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.