# REGULATION AND FUNCTION OF SALIVATION IN VECTORS

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 1990 · $126,930

## Abstract

Ultimately, we seek to understand how saliva of arthropods contributes to
the interaction of vectors with vertebrate hosts, both in regulating the
quantity of secretion delivered to the host and in modifying the
physiological response of the host to the bite lesion.  Toward this end, we
shall investigate the (1) events leading toward salivation, (2)
pharmacological properties of saliva and (3) the role of saliva in blood
finding and blood feeding.  Mosquitoes and ixodid ticks will provide our
main subjects for study; but, other arthropods, including sandflies,
blackflies and fleas, will be included in certain studies.

In particular, studies on mechanisms regulating salivation in mosquitoes
will: (a) determine salivary levels of mosquito apyrase in different
feeding modes, (b) describe the action of agonists inducing mosquito
salivation and (c) define the innervation of the salivary glands.
Pharmacological studies will investigate: (a) properties of the saliva of
blackflies and fleas; (b) the mode of action of the erythema inducing
factor (EIS) of Lutzomyia longipapis, (c) the presence of prostacyclin and
leukotrienes in the saliva of a tick and (d) the mode of action of an
anti-complement activity of tick saliva.  Studies on the role of saliva in
feeding will examine the tolerance or resistance of different hosts to
repeated ixodid tick infestations and the role of saliva in such processes.

This work explores the suggestion that saliva of hematophagous arthropods
mainly serves an antihemostatic and antiinflammatory role during
blood-finding and blood-feeding.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128108
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018694-07
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JDLVAVGYJQ21
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSE M.C. RIBEIRO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $126,930
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-30 → 1990-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128108

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128108, REGULATION AND FUNCTION OF SALIVATION IN VECTORS (5R01AI018694-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128108. Licensed CC0.

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