SCREENING OF ODORANT BINDING PROTEINS GENES IN GLOSSINA FUSCIPES FUSCIPES

Abstract

Tsetse flies are vectors of trypanosome parasites, causative agents of Trypanosomiasis in humans and animals. OdorantBinding Proteins (OBPs) are critical in insect olfaction as they bind volatile odours from the environment and transport themto receptors within olfactory receptor neurons for processing providing critical information for host identification.Convectional PCR was used to screen for the presence of OBP genes previously identified in Glossina morsitans morsitans.Twenty two primers were designed for G. m. morsitans OBP genes and used to screen G. f. fuscipes head, thorax, abdomenand legs. A total of 31.8% of OBPs were identified in G. f. fuscipes head while 18.2% were detected in the thorax. Theabdomen had 22.7% OBPs identified and the legs revealed 18.2% OBPs. OBP5 and OBP6 were the most predominant sincethey were detected in the head, thorax and abdomen of G. fuscipes fuscipes which may provide the need to identify theirfunctions in both G. morsitans morsitans and G. fuscipes fuscipes. This study confirms genetic diversity between OBPs fromriverine (G. f. fuscipes) and savanna (G. m morsitans) species which may be key in understanding role of olfaction inenhancing vector competence of G. m. morsitans and G. f. fuscipes. Such information will be critical in designing bettervector control strategies based on olfactory mediated behavior.