IDENTIFICATION OF GLOSSINA MORSITANS MORSITANS ODORANT BINDING PROTEINS GENES IN GLOSSINA FUSCIPES FUSCIPES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Abstract

Tsetse flies are vectors of trypanosome parasites, causative agents of Trypanosomiasis in humans and animals. Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) are critical in insect olfaction as they bind volatile odours from the environment and transport them to receptors within olfactory receptor neurons for processing providing critical information for host identification. Glossina morsitans morsitans primers designed for conventional PCR were used to screen OBP genes in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in female head, thorax, abdomen and leg tissues. A total of 31.8% of OBPs were identified in G. f. fuscipes head while 18.2% were detected in the thorax. The abdomen had 22.7% OBPs identified and the legs revealed 18.2% OBPs. OBP5 and OBP6 were the most predominant since they were detected in the head, thorax and abdomen of G. fuscipes fuscipes which may provide the need to identify their functions in both G. morsitans morsitans and G. fuscipes fuscipes. This study confirms genetic differences between OBPs from riverine (G. f. fuscipes) and savanna (G. m morsitans) species which may be key in understanding the role of olfaction in enhancing vector competence of G. m. morsitans and G. f. fuscipes. Such information will be critical in designing better vector control strategies based on olfactory mediated behavior.