Disease relevance of Ceratopogonidae

• RGD tripeptide of bluetongue virus VP7 protein is responsible for core attachment to Culicoides cells [1].
• Proteolytic cleavage of VP2, an outer capsid protein of African horse sickness virus, by species-specific serum proteases enhances infectivity in Culicoides [2].
• Platelet activating factor (PAF) mimics the effects of Culicoides antigen by inducing oedema and inflammatory cell accumulation in the dermis of horses with the allergic skin disease, sweet itch [3].

High impact information on Ceratopogonidae

• Together, these data indicate that the RGD motif present on BTV VP7 is responsible for Culicoides cell binding activity [1].
• The purified VP5 protein was shown to be able to permeabilize mammalian and Culicoides insect cells, inducing cytotoxicity [4].
• RGD-specific MAb H1.5, but not those directed to other regions of the core, inhibited the binding activity of CLPs to the Culicoides cell surface [1].
• To test this hypothesis, variation in the consensus sequence and quasispecies heterogeneity of the VP2 and NS3/NS3A genes of a plaque-purified strain of BTV serotype 10 was determined during alternating infection of vector Culicoides sonorensis and a sheep and calf [5].
• Sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 gene (cox2) were determined for 14 species from the family Ceratopogonidae, representing 12 genera and all five subfamilies, along with six representatives of other nematoceran families [6].

Biological context of Ceratopogonidae

• Biting midges (Culicoides spp.) are an important environmental health issue in Hervey Bay, an area of rapid population growth in Australia. It is also the gateway to a World Heritage area (Great Sandy Strait) and a destination for tourists [7].

Anatomical context of Ceratopogonidae

• Although the fat-bodies of all the dissected newly emerged Culicoides were large, full and conspicious, those of about half of the Culicoides dissected in February and March contained larger, fuller and more conspicuous fat-bodies [8].

Associations of Ceratopogonidae with chemical compounds

• Light-weight net jackets treated with N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet) were field-tested in Panama against five species of biting midges, principally Culicoides furens (Poey) and C. barbosai Wirth and Blanton [9].
• Black flies (Eusimulium spp.), hippoboscid flies (Ornithomyia avicularia), mosquitoes (Culex pipiens pipiens) and biting midges (Culicoides spp.), trapped while attempting to feed on raptor nestlings, were found to contain trypanosomatids in their intestine [10].
• Additionally, sLT generation with the Culicoides extract was measured at different times of the year in one IDH-affected animal and remained high even in winter, when the horse was asymptomatic. sLT and histamine release were determined in 10 horses in parallel [11].
• These findings suggest a key role for PAF in oedema formation, but not inflammatory cell accumulation, induced by Culicoides antigen in the skin of sweet itch horses [3].
• At Bet Dagan Culicoides imicola Kieffer, C [12].

Gene context of Ceratopogonidae

• Identification and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the heat shock protein (Hsp60) from the biting midge, Culicoides variipennis sonorensis Wirth and Jones [13].
• Culicoides arakawae, the most common Culicoides sp. on chicken farms in East Asia, is an important blood-sucking insect and Leucocytozoon caulleryi vector [14].
• The main vectors of AHS are culicoides [15].
• A eucalyptus-based insect repellent (PMD) was evaluated against Culicoides impunctatus in Scotland in comparison with deet [16].
• The number of Culicoides dropped sharply in April with the onset of cooler conditions [17].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Ceratopogonidae

• Results showed that supplementation with flaxseed for 42 days in our experimental horses reduced the mean skin test response to Culicoides sp. This observation was concurrent with a significant decrease in the long-chain saturated fatty acids; behenic acid (22:0) and lignoceric acid (24:0), in the hair of horses receiving flaxseed [18].

References