Spit Full of Diseases

Introduction

Seventy-two proteins that go into making the saliva of the black fly, a blood sucker, have been identified. This saliva disarms the host's body and prevents inflammatory reactions. Black flies are vectors of arboviruses and the worm that causes river blindness, a devastating eye disease. The findings. released in the January 23 issue of the Journal of Proteome Research, could help in developing drugs against diseases transmitted by the black fly.

Source

Down To Earth, May 2009