Molecular Characterization of Tsetse’s Proboscis and its Response to Trypanosoma congolense Infection

Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are sole biological vectors of diseases caused by African trypanosomes. Upon entering the fly, T. congolense first colonizes the gut and then the mouthparts (called proboscis, PB) before being transmitted to a new mammalian host via the fly bite. We performed this study to unravel cellular and molecular function(s) of the PB and its response to trypanosome infection.