文摘
Manduca sexta transferrin (Tf) is present in hemolymph, molting fluid and prepupal midgut fluid at a high concentration. Inoculation with bacteria increases MsTf transcript abundance in fat body and MsTf concentration in hemolymph 3–4 fold. Iron-saturated MsTf has no detectable antibacterial activity, whereas iron-free MsTf inhibits growth of bacteria. MsTf appears to participate in an iron withholding strategy to protect the insect from infectious bacteria.