Degradation of Human Serum Proteins in the Digestive Tract of Mosquitoes

Abstract

IN the course of investigations aimed at finding the origin of blood ingested by mosquitoes, we took the opportunity of observing the sequence of breakdown of serum proteins in mosquito stomachs. This breakdown may be watched by means of conventional immunological techniques using specific precipitating antisera. We used immunoelectrophoresis and double diffusion in agar gel. The digestive tracts of freshly killed mosquitoes provided the antigen; the tracts were teased apart and placed directly into wells (1.5 mm in diameter) containing agar gel. Antisera prepared against whole human serum and against the following single human proteins, albumin, α2-macroglobulin, transferrin, IgM and IgG, have been used. The results reported here concern only albumin and IgG.