# Function of hemolymph plasma proteins in insect immune responses

> **NIH NIH R35** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $6,808

## 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. In our work over
the next five years, 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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11032352
- **Project number:** 3R35GM141859-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael R Kanost
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $6,808
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11032352

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11032352, Function of hemolymph plasma proteins in insect immune responses (3R35GM141859-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11032352. Licensed CC0.

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