Figure 4From: Humoral responses in Rhodnius prolixus: bacterial feeding induces differential patterns of antibacterial activity and enhances mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides in the midgutAntibacterial activity in Rhodnius prolixus midgut fed with blood containing E. coli or S. aureus . Anterior midgut contents and posterior midgut collected 7 days after feeding were tested against E. coli and S. aureus. A- Antibacterial activity of anterior midgut contents after feeding with E. coli, S. aureus or blood alone against E. coli. B- Antibacterial activity of anterior midgut contents after feeding with E. coli, S. aureus or blood alone against S. aureus. C- Antibacterial activity of posterior midgut after feeding with E. coli, S. aureus or blood alone against E. coli. D- Antibacterial activity of posterior midgut after feeding with E. coli, S. aureus or blood alone against S. aureus. Black column - antibacterial activity of control insects fed on blood alone; grid column - antibacterial activity of insects fed with blood containing E. coli; striped column - antibacterial activity of insects fed with blood containing S. aureus. Antibacterial activity measured by turbidometric assay (TB) (OD550 nm) after 19 h incubation of midgut samples with different bacteria. Values represent the means ± SE of three replicates. Asterisks relates to significant differences (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001) in comparison to control obtained after data analyses using one way ANOVA and Mann Whitney tests.Back to article page