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