Lectin and peritrophic membrane development in the gut of Glossina m.morsitans and a discussion of their role in protecting the fly against trypanosome infection

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Abstract
Newly emerged Glossina m.morsitans Westwood tsetse flies lack a peritrophic membrane which develops to fully line the midgut after c. 80-90h. Midgut lectins are mainly associated with the peritrophic membrane. Lectin levels in the blood-free gut of adult flies rise slowly up to 8 days and then rapidly to at least 14 days post-eclosion (when the last of our recordings was made). Despite starving flies for 4 days prior to the agglutination assay, gut lectin levels in older flies are 100–200 times more than those in newly ecloded flies. This is inconsistent with the idea that there is a simple relationship between lectins and the protection of tsetse flies against trypanosome infection. Various theories put forward to account for age-dependent variation in the ability of tsetse to become infected with trypanosomes are discussed in the light of these findings.

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