Digestive proteinases and membrane-bound exopeptidases in larvae of housefly (Musca domestica) and common green bottle fly (Lucila sericata) used in larvotherapy

Larvotherapy is an effective alternative way of therapy of chronic and/or infectious wounds in which convention approaches of therapy failed. It is based on using several factors which are probably responsible for positive effects. It seems that the most important role plays presence of proteolytic enzymes, bactericide peptides as well as growth factors present in excrets of fly larvae. The goal of the project is to gain more information connected with mechanism of fly larvae Musca domestica and Lucilia sericata action responsible for the treatment of infected and necrotic wounds. Proposed research programme will be oriented to isolation and characterization of membrane-bound proteolytic enzymes of housefly larvae. Their biochemical characteristics will be deduced including determination of kinetic constants for individual enzyme activities using specific chromogenic substrates.