Effects of a Proteinase Inhibitor from <i>Inga laurina</i> Seeds (ILTI) on <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Larval Development

Effects of a Proteinase Inhibitor from <i>Inga laurina</i> Seeds (ILTI) on <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Larval Development

<i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Linnaeus, 1762) is Brazil’s primary vector of epidemiologically significant arboviruses such as yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Despite using conventional chemical control measures, this species has developed resistance to standard chemical insecticides...

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Main Authors: Ana Jacobowski, Welington Leite, Antolim Martinez Júnior, Eduarda Reis, Lorena Pires, Vitória Silva, Layza Rocha, Eduardo Arruda, Octávio Franco, Marlon Cardoso, Priscila Hiane, Maria Macedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Xenobiotics
Subjects:
<i>Aedes aegypti</i>
digestive enzyme
insecticide
Kunitz-type inhibitor
molecular docking
protease
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/3/77
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Summary:<i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Linnaeus, 1762) is Brazil’s primary vector of epidemiologically significant arboviruses such as yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Despite using conventional chemical control measures, this species has developed resistance to standard chemical insecticides, prompting the search for natural larvicidal compounds. Plant protease inhibitors offer an insecticidal alternative as the primary digestive enzymes in the midgut of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> are proteases (trypsin and chymotrypsin). <i>Ae. aegypti</i> larvae fed with ILTI, a Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor derived from <i>Inga laurina</i> seeds, at concentrations between 0.03 mg of protein per mL (mgP/mL) and 0.12 mgP/mL, exhibited delayed larval development, with a lethal concentration (LC<sub>50</sub>) of 0.095 mgP mL<sup>−1</sup> of ILTI for 50% of fourth-instar larvae (L<sub>4</sub>). The ex vivo assay indicated that ILTI effectively inhibited the activity of larval trypsin, which remained susceptible to the inhibitor. Additionally, molecular modelling and docking studies were conducted to predict the three-dimensional ILTI/enzyme molecular complexes at the atomic level. Therefore, the results demonstrate that ILTI functions as a protease inhibitor in this species, presenting itself as a promising larvicidal tool in the control of <i>Ae. aegypti</i>.
ISSN:2039-4705
2039-4713

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