In developing countries, low-cost control and treatment programs that offer 
combined approaches against diseases and their vectors are certainly needed. 
Ivermectin (IVM) has been well known for its role in the treatment of parasitic 
diseases, due to its effect on glutamate-gated chloride channels. These same 
channels are also present in the mosquito vector, and thus, research has focused 
on the insecticidal effects of this drug. Possible alternative mechanisms of IVM 
on the physiology of mosquitoes, however, have not been sufficiently elaborated. 
We assessed the protease activity, lipid peroxidation, and local expression of 
STAT, p53, caspase-3, and Bax markers to study the effect of this antibiotic on 
digestion and immunity in Culex pipiens. Sugar- and blood-feeding assays were 
employed to investigate the potential influence of blood feeding on the dynamics 
of these parameters. IVM was found to have an effect on protease activity, lipid 
peroxidation as well as the expression of different markers investigated in this 
work. The focus on the detailed effect of this drug certainly opens the gate to 
broadening the spectrum of IVM and expanding its health and economic benefit, 
especially that it is relatively more affordable than other antibiotics on the 
market.