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Biomedical subjects

J S Phiri

Publications and source records attributed to J S Phiri.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine on the migration of Brugia pahangi microfilariae into the haemocoel of Aedes aegypti.

Two strains of Aedes aegypti (L.), differing in their susceptibility to Brugia pahangi (Buckley & Edeson), were examined with regard to the effect on the proportion of microfilariae migrating from the mid-gut, of specific carbohydrate supplements in the infecting bloodmeal. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), a sugar also present on the microfilarial sheath, significantly increased the migration rate. This enhancement is greater for the refractory strain of Ae.aegypti. The use of sucrose as a control sugar results in no enhancement of microfilariae migration. It is postulated that the GlcNAc is acting by blocking endogenous gut/peritrophic membrane carbohydrate binding proteins, which would normally inhibit microfilariae migration. Furthermore, there is a significant correlation whereby increasing loads of microfilariae ingested result in decreasing proportions migrating across the mid-gut.

Acetylglucosamine