Peptidoglycan recognition proteins in hematophagous arthropods

Abstract

Hematophagous arthropods are medically important disease vectors that transmit a variety of pathogens. Unlike mammals that employ both innate and adaptive immunity to clear invading pathogens, these vectors rely mainly on an innate immune system to combat pathogens. Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are important components of innate immune signaling pathways and are responsible for recognizing microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), thus regulating host immune interactions with both harmful and helpful microbes. Here we review a number of recent studies in different vectors that address the function of PGRPs in immune regulation. Further, we discuss the variation of PGRPs between vectors and Drosophila.