Exploring the potential role of defensins in differential vector competence of body and head lice for Bartonella quintana
Abstract Background The body and head lice of humans are conspecific, but only the body louse functions as a vector to transmit bacterial pathogens such as Bartonella quintana. Both louse subspecies have only two antimicrobial peptides, defensin 1 and defensin 2. Consequently, any differences in the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05802-4 |