Complete Development of Caryospora bigenetica (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) In Vitro1

The development of Caryospora bigenetica in vitro is described by light microscopy. Sporozoites from snake-derived oocysts were purified and inoculated onto cultures of primary testicle cells of the cotton rat, cotton rat kidney cells, and human fetal lung cells. Intracellular sporozoites were observed one and two days postinoculation (DPI). Motile, extracellular first-generation merozoites were present 3 DPI, and second-generation merozoites were present 5 DPI. Mature gamonts were observed 9 DPI and developed into unsporulated oocysts by 10 DPI. Oocysts sporulated in vitro, and excystation was observed. Cells that were penetrated by in vitro-produced sporozoites formed caryocysts by 16 DPI. To test infectivity of in vitro-derived stages, merozoites were removed from cultured cells 5 DPI and inoculated intraperitoneally into a mouse; infection resulted. Sporulated oocysts removed from cell cultures 12 DPI produced facial swelling in an orally inoculated cotton rat.     

Influence of Acid and Salt Sprays on Furanocoumarin Concentrations on the Ruta graveolens Leaf Surface

Ruta graveotens subshrubs, known to contain a large fractionof their furanocoumarins on the leaf surface, were used forinvestigation of salt and acid rain effects on the plant surfaceand substances occurring there. Groups of shoots on each plantcovered by plastic bags were sprayed with either sulphuric acid,pII 2.5, saturated sodium chloride solution, or a distilledwater control. Uncovered shoots, an additional control, hadthe highest concentrations of furanocoumarins both on the surfaceand in the whole leaf. The upper leaves contained less furanocoumarinsin absolute amounts but were similar to the lower leaves ona percentage basis. Spraying caused a decrease in total furanocoumarinconcentrations, slight in the case of distilled water and greaterfor acid and salt, but the percentage on the surface after sprayingincreased. The upper and lower leaves reacted differently tosalt than to sulphuric acid and water: with salt, the percentagesof furanocoumarins on the surface of both kinds of leaves showedsimilar increases; with the other two sprays, upper leaves showeda similar increase, but the lower leaves had a much higher percentageon the surface owing to a high rate of extrusion. Simulated acid rain, salt sprays, plant surface, furanocoumarins, Ruta graveolens     

The effect of the weight of the seedling-derived tuber on subsequent clonal generations in a potato breeding programme

Cultures of Polymyxa graminis were maintained in roots of barley plants grown in sand at different temperatures using Wisconsin soil temperature tanks. At 17 – 20°C, the minimum time from inoculation with cystosori to the production of zoospores from the inoculated roots was 2 – 3 wk. At 11 – 20°C many zoospores were produced but the incubation period was longer at the lower temperatures. Above 20°C little fungal development occurred. The duration of motility of zoospores ranged from c. 1 h to > 24 h. Bovine serum albumen (BSA) prolonged motility but glycine and glucose had no effect or, at higher concentrations, were toxic. Zoospores were rapidly immobilised by zinc ions in solution at or above 10μg/ml. In some experiments BSA added to the zoospore suspension greatly increased transmission of barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) while glucose, glycine and ovalbumen decreased it. When seedlings were incubated with zoospore suspensions for 24 h at different temperatures, BaYMV transmission was high (> 60%) at 10, 15 and 20°C but there was little at 5 or 25°C. In experiments to determine the time taken for zoospore penetration, seedlings were incubated in suspension for different periods of time and then rinsed in zinc sulphate solution to kill free zoospores. Between 3 and 3·5 h was needed for zoospores to establish infection. Transmission occurred equally to plants of various ages between 3 days and 7·5 wk.     

The diet of the King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus at Macquarie Island

The diet of King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at Macquarie Island was studied between November 1984 and November 1985 based on stomach flushed samples (obtaining 93% of the total stomach content) from ten birds each month. The mean stomach content mass of the 118 samples was 923 0 g. Percentage by number, percentage by weight and dietary coefficient analysis all showed the main prey of the penguins to be myctophid lantern fish of the species Electrona carlsbergi and Krefftichthys anderssoni. Juvenile fish of both species were eaten from December to July, and adults in August and September. Cephalopods were relatively unimportant in contrast to previous indications. The amount of food brought ashore and the composition of the diet varied over the year, with K. anderssoni the dominant food in all but the winter months when E. carlsbergi replaced it as the principal food item.     

Pyrazines as warning odour components in the Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and in moths of the genera Zygaena and Amata (Lepidoptera)

2-Methoxy-3-alkylpyrazines have been identified as odour components in Danaus plexippus, Zygaena lonicerae and an Australian Amata species, by means of coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, with selected ion monitoring. Wide variability in pyrazine content was observed with D. plexippus and this was correlated with similar variability in the larval food-plants, Asclepias spp., which are presumed to be the odour sources for this butterfly. The importance of pyrazines in the biology of aposematic insects and their role as ingredients of a generalized warning system are discussed.     

The Control of Cadmium Uptake in the Lichen Genus Peltigera

Intra- and extracellular Cd uptake in the lichen genus Peltigerawere investigated, and intracellular uptake found to displayMichaelis-Menten kinetics. Compared with values reported forZn uptake in free-living algae and fungi, Peltigera had lowaffinities for Cd and low maximum uptake rates. Intra-, andto a lesser extent extracellular uptake rates were temperaturedependent. When lichens were incubated concurrently with Cdand equimolar concentrations of a range of other cations, mostwere found to reduce both extra- and intracellular Cd uptake,implying that the Cd uptake systems had low specificities. Mg,though not a strong competitor for extracellular Cd uptake,inhibited intracellular Cd uptake to a similar extent to borderlineelements, and it is postulated that intracellular Cd uptakeoccurs by a system which normally transports Mg. Although concurrently-suppliedcations reduced Cd-induced inhibitions of photosynthesis, thereductions were not proportional to the effect of the cationson intracellular Cd uptake. This indicated that other cationsaffected the toxicity of Cd to photosynthesis by some meansin addition to reducing Cd uptake. Intracellular Cd uptake waslight-stimulated, suggesting that a close relationship existedbetween metal uptake and metabolism. The rate of intracellularCd uptake in the dark was probably not directly linked to thesupply of respirable reserves, as it was unaffected by prolongedstorage in the dark, and was not increased by adding glucose.It is hypothesized that light-stimulated Cd uptake representsactive entry into algal cells, but with uptake in the dark itis not clear which symbiont is involved, and whether energyis required. Key words: Lichen, Cadmium uptake, Temperature, Light, Cation competition     

Antigenic Relationship Between Plasmodium falciparum and Babesia bovis: Reactivity with Antibodies to Culture-Derived Soluble Exoantigens1

Antigenic similarities between Plasmodium and Babesia parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa have been previously demonstrated primarily by the serological cross reactivity observed in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. We have now studied the antigenic relationship between the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the hemoparasitic agent of cattle, Babesia bovis, using rabbit monospecific antibodies produced against individual culture-derived P. falciparum polypeptides and bovine polyspecific antibodies to B. bovis exoantigens. These respective antibodies were found to be distinctly cross reactive in the IFA test using infected erythrocytes (squirrel monkey—P. falciparum; bovine—B. bovis) as antigen substrates. Immunofluorescence was shown to be highly specific for parasite surfaces. Additionally, the degree of reactivity with soluble exoantigens contained in Plasmodium and Babesia culture supernatants was monitored by a two-site enzyme immunoassay employing the cross-reactive antibodies. Further evidence for antigenic cross reactivity between P. falciparum and B. bovis parasites was shown with the in vitro inhibition assay. Antibodies to P. falciparum and B. bovis were found to be highly inhibitory for the in vitro growth of P. falciparum in human erythrocytes.