Inhibition of vertebrate complement system by hematophagous arthropods: inhibitory molecules, mechanisms, physiological roles, and applications
Mauricio Roberto Vianna Sant'Anna,
Adalberto Alves Pereira‐Filho,
Antonio Ferreira Mendes‐Sousa
et al.
Abstract:In arthropods, hematophagy has arisen several times throughout evolution. This specialized feeding behavior offered a highly nutritious diet obtained during blood feeds. On the other hand, blood‐sucking arthropods must overcome problems brought on by blood intake and digestion. Host blood complement acts on the bite site and is still active after ingestion, so complement activation is a potential threat to the host's skin feeding environment and to the arthropod gut enterocytes. During evolution, blood‐sucking… Show more
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