ANALYSIS OF TRANSGENIC DROSOPHILA CARRYING CLOCK GENES FROM THE SANDFLY Lutzomyia longipalpis (DIPTERA: Psychodidae)

*Corresponding author e-mail; amoretty@ioc.fiocruz.br Introduction: Hematophagous insects such as sandflies and mosquitoes are vectors of many important diseases. However, despite their medical importance little is known about the molecular genetics of their circadian rhythms. Methods: As part of a molecular and functional analysis of clock genes of blood-sucking insects, we are using P-element-mediated transgenesis to transform Drosophila melanogaster with circadian genes from the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis , vector of American visceral leishmaniasis. Results: Preliminary results indicate that the expression in D. melanogaster of L. longipalpis timeless and cycle genes alters the pattern of locomotor activity of wildtype flies and we are currently extending this analysis to clock mutants. These results suggest that sandflies and fruitflies might share enough similarities in these genes so that the expression of the L. longipalpis circadian genes in Drosophila affects its pattern of locomotor activity. Conclusion: These data support the use of D. melanogaster as a host system for in vivo studies of L. longipalpis clock genes. Publication History Article published online: 16 June 2026 © 2009. Brazilian Sleep Academy. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua Rego Freitas, 175, loja 1, República, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01220-010, Brazil