# Function of hemolymph plasma proteins in insect immune responses

> **NIH NIH R35** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $20,423

## Abstract

Insects have an innate immune system that protects against infections by pathogens and
parasites. The overall goal of this project is to investigate proteins in insect hemolymph plasma
that participate in different aspects of insect immunity. Previous work from this laboratory has
established the lepidopteran insect, Manduca sexta, as a model system well suited for
biochemical characterization of the complex functions of hemolymph proteins. We plan to
investigate three aspects of immunity that are mediated by plasma proteins. (1) We will
characterize interactions of plasma proteins with peptidoglycan from Gram-negative and Gram-
positive bacteria that trigger activation of a serine protease, thereby initiating protease cascades
that result in activation of phenoloxidase and the Toll pathway. (2) We will investigate how the
redox environment of hemolymph is regulated during an immune response and test a
hypothesis that immune proteins may be regulated by thiol modifications. (3) Mammals have
well-characterized mechanisms for depriving invading microorganisms of iron; however,
immune-related iron-withholding in insects is still poorly understood. We will use M. sexta as a
model for discovering conserved iron-withholding mechanisms in insects. The fundamental
biochemical knowledge gained as a result of this research is expected to stimulate better
understanding of regulation of protease cascade pathways and molecules in insect hemolymph
that contribute to oxidative modulation during immunity, and lead to understanding of how iron
influences human disease transmission by insect vectors. This supplement will fund an
undergraduate student from an underrepresented group to gain research experience and
training by participating in the project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10578375
- **Project number:** 3R35GM141859-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael R Kanost
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $20,423
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10578375

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10578375, Function of hemolymph plasma proteins in insect immune responses (3R35GM141859-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10578375. Licensed CC0.

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