Expression of heterologous promoters in Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera : psychodidae) cell lines

To establish a transient expression system for genes introduced into sand f ly cell lines, we tested the expression of the luciferase reporter gene und er control of different promoters. Towards this end, we lipofected cell lin es obtained from New and Old World sand flies, LL-5 from Lutzomyia longipal pis Lutz & Neiva and PP-9 from Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli, respectively. The relative levels of luciferase expression were studied under control of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen heal shock protein 70 (hsp70), human cytomeg alovirus, simian virus 40 or Junonia coenia (Hubner) densovirus (P9) promot ers. The Drosophila heat shock protein 70 promoter, originating from insect genes, functioned as a strong promoter in both cell lines. Promoters From the different virus genes also were capable of driving transgene expression in both cell lines.