Fig. 2From: Impact of Trypanosoma cruzi on antimicrobial peptide gene expression and activity in the fat body and midgut of Rhodnius prolixus Antibacterial activities in haemolymph samples of Rhodnius prolixus infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. R. prolixus 5th instar nymphs were fed inactivated blood containing the T. cruzi Dm 28c clone or Y strain at a final concentration of 1 × 107 epimastigotes/mL. The antibacterial activities were assayed with haemolymph collected five days after infection and tested against (a) E. coli or (b) S. aureus. Haemolymph samples were prepared from: black columns-control, uninfected insects; grid columns-infected with T. cruzi Dm 28c; striped columns-infected with T. cruzi Y strain. Antibacterial activity was measured through optical densities using the turbidimetric assay (OD550 nm) after 19 h of incubation of haemolymph samples with bacteria. Bars represent the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments with nine pools of insects (n = 9). Means were compared using one-way ANOVA and Student’s T-test; *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01Back to article page