Protease inhibitors and other insights from the transcriptome of Callosobruchus maculatus the cowpea weevil

Callosobruchus maculatus is an important stored product pest of cowpeas Vigna unguiculata, which are a key protein source in many areas of the world. Legumes such as the cowpea utilize protease inhibitors as defense against insect herbivory. Callosobruchus maculatus is able to compensate for high levels of protease inhibitors by increasing expression of proteases, expressing different proteases and producing protease inhibitor degrading enzymes. In this study we have compiled a de novo transcriptome of Callosobruchus maculatus in order to determine how the amount and type of proteases differ from other insects.