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2022-01-01
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AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SENSORY BIOLOGY OF TRIATOMINES
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Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Essig Museum of Entomology. University of California. Berkeley, USA
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Essig Museum of Entomology. University of California. Berkeley, USA
Laboratorio de Estudio de la Biología de Insectos. CICyTTP-CONICET. Facultad de Ingeniería. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Argentina
Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS. Université François Rabelais. Tours, France
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Comportamento de Vetores e Interação com Patógenos. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Essig Museum of Entomology. University of California. Berkeley, USA
Laboratorio de Estudio de la Biología de Insectos. CICyTTP-CONICET. Facultad de Ingeniería. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Argentina
Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS. Université François Rabelais. Tours, France
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Grupo de Comportamento de Vetores e Interação com Patógenos. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
Abstract
Although kissing bugs (Triatominae: Reduviidae) are perhaps best known as vectors of Chagas disease, they are important experimental models in studies of insect sensory physiology, pioneered by the seminal studies of Wigglesworth and Gillet more than eighty years ago. Since then, many investigations have revealed that the thermal, hygric, visual and olfactory senses play critical roles in the orientation of these blood-sucking insects towards hosts. Here we review the current knowledge about the role of these sensory systems, focussing on relevant stimuli, sensory structures, receptor physiology and the molecular players involved in the complex and cryptic behavioural repertoire of these nocturnal insects. Odours are particularly relevant, as they are involved in host search and are used for sexual, aggregation and alarm communication. Tastants are critical for a proper recognition of hosts, food and conspecifics. Heat and relative humidity mediate orientation towards hosts and are also important for the selection of resting places. Vision, which mediates negative phototaxis and flight dispersion, is also critical for modulating shelter use and mediating escape responses. The molecular bases underlying the detection of sensory stimuli started to be uncovered by means of functional genetics due to both the recent publication of the genome sequence of Rhodnius prolixus and the availability of modern genome editing techniques.
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