How does the protein in black flies' saliva help close wounds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the role of a protein found in black flies' saliva in promoting wound healing, as well as the contrasting healing response observed in fly bites. Participants explore the implications of this protein for medical applications and the biological mechanisms behind the reactions to fly bites.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention that researchers have patented the use of a protein in black flies' saliva to enhance healing of surgical incisions.
  • One participant questions why fly bites do not heal quickly if the saliva is beneficial for wound healing.
  • Another participant suggests that the raised itchy bumps from fly bites may be an immune response to the saliva's proteins rather than a direct result of the bite itself.
  • A participant describes the biting method of black flies, noting that they cause more severe injuries compared to mosquitoes due to their laceration technique.
  • It is proposed that the swelling and itch from fly bites could be a histamine reaction to the saliva's anticoagulants, possibly worsened by the rapid healing of the wound.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the healing effects of fly saliva versus the reactions to fly bites, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on assumptions about the biological mechanisms of healing and immune responses, which are not fully explored or agreed upon in the discussion.

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Protein in black flies' saliva helps close wounds

American researchers have patented the use of fly spit to speed healing.

The researchers, from Auburn University in Alabama, were conducting research on black flies when they discovered a protein in their saliva that speeds the healing of surgical incisions. [continued]
http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2005-01-21-4
 
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Interesting. Though, I have to wonder...if fly spit does such a good job of healing wounds, why don't fly bites heal quickly?!
 
They take big bites?
 
By fly bites, do you mean the raised itchy bumps like you get? I think they form as an immune response to the protein, rather than as a direct result of the bite. A bump such as that could persist long after the actual wound is sealed.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
They take big bites?

My experience with these nasty guys is one of coming away with much worse injuries from them as compared to mosquitos. Black flies, and many other biting flies, use more of a laceration method than the syringe-like mosquitos. Here's a site that does a much better job of describing it than I.
http://www.roberth.u-net.com/blackflies.htm

From above site:
Feeding takes around 4-5 minutes and involves the labrum anchoring onto the skin with the use of paired hooks. The two maxillae are alternatively pushed downwards by flexing the occipital sections. The mandibles then exhibit a rapid slicing or scissor like motion. The mandibles and maxillae which actually penetrate the skin are compressed between the forwardly curving labrum and the backward pointing hypopharynx. Cutting into the skin occurs until a capillary is reached. The fly then feeds on the resulting blood pool.

The resulting swelling and itch is a histamine-based reaction to proteins in saliva- anticoagulants, etc., potentially exacerbated by the fact that the wound heals faster and doesn't flush out the affected area.
 
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