Figure 1.

RT-qPCR analysis of the expression profiles of Ae. aegypti cecropins and Aacec B peptide is presented as nonameric and trimeric multimers in Ae. aegypti pupal cell. (a) The expression profiles of the Ae. aegypti cecropins in the uninjected control, LB broth-injected, Escherichia coli-injected and Staphylococcus aureus-injected adult mosquitoes. 0.5–72: 0.5–72 hrs after injection. The relative expression levels are expressed as means ± SD (n = 3), with the uninjected mosquitoes at <0.5 hr after injection as the calibrator. Asterisks indicate significant differences (*p < 0.005; **p < 0.001) from the relative mRNA levels of the uninjected control at each time-point. (b) The expression profiles of Ae. aegypti cecropin B and H in 4^th instar larvae, pupae and adults. 0.5–60: 0.5–60 hrs after ecdysis. The relative expression levels are expressed as means ± SD (n = 3), with 4^th instar larvae at <0.5 hr after ecdysis as the calibrator. (c) Western blot analysis using antibodies specific for Aacec B in total protein extract. β-actin was used as loading controls. P_< 0.5: <0.5 hr after larval-pupal ecdysis; P₁₂–P₄₈: 12–48 hrs after pupation. +: synthetic Aacec B peptide. Uncropped images are shown in Supplementary Figure S1.