Depth of pupation of the wild olive fruit fly, Bactrocera (Dacus) oleae (Gmel.) (Dipt., Tephritidae), as affected by soil abiotic factors

Abstract:  The influence of four abiotic factors (temperature, soil type, compaction, moisture) on the pupation depth of the wild Bactrocera ( Dacus ) oleae (Gmel.) larvae was studied using soils sampled in the field. Two temperatures (25 and 12°C), three different soil types (alluvial deposits, soil from decaying of limestone, soil from decaying of flysch), two compaction levels (low and high) and two moisture levels (10 and 50% field capacity) were tested in a factorial experiment with a total of 96 experimental units. Five larvae were placed on the soil surface of each test container and when burrowing was completed pupae were retrieved and pupation depth was recorded. The majority of larvae pupated in the top 3 cm and the mean depth of all units was 1.16 cm. The means differed significantly depending on soil type, moisture, the temperature–soil type interaction and the soil type–moisture interaction. Larvae pupated at a greater depth in limestone than in the other two soils. Depths were greater in soils at 50% field capacity than in those at 10% field capacity. In limestone and flysch the depth was greater at 25°C whereas no differences were found in alluvial soil. Different moisture levels had diverse effects in the three soil types; in alluvial soil and in flysch the increased moisture resulted in greater values but in limestone these were slightly lower. These results can be used in developing non chemical control measures and designing efficient sampling techniques for the insect in the ground.     

Mass rearingCeratitis capitata: reuse of the finisher larval diet

The standard finisher larval diet used at Seibersdorf for rearing the Mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was reused following autoclave heat-treatment to kill larvae or pupae remaining from its first use. Only when the spent diet was mixed with water (about 40% of final diet, w/w) to reconstitute fresh-diet texture, and combined with fresh starter, a similar, but still inferior in respect to larval duration and pupal recovery and size, to the fresh finisher diet production of flies was achieved. Enrichment of the autoclaved spent finisher with small quantities of nutrients gave inconclusive results. Although spent-diet pupae were significantly smaller than fresh-diet control pupae, their adults survived significantly longer than control adults.

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Zur massenaufzucht vonCeratitis capitata: die wiesderverwendung der endkomponente der larvendiät

Zusammenfassung Die in Seibersdorf zur Aufzucht der Mittelmeerfruchtfliege,Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), verwendete Standardendkomponente der Larvendiät konnte nach Abtötung der von der Erstverwendung verbliebenen Larven oder Puppen mittels Autoklavensterilisation wiederverwendet werden. Eine zur frischen Kontrolldiät vergleichbare, jedoch bezüglich der Länge des Larvenstadiums, der Entwicklung der Puppen nach dem Schlüpfen sowie der Größe der Puppen noch immer schlechtere Fliegenproduktion wurde erreicht, wenn die wiederverwendete, autoklavierte Diät mit Wasser (ca. 40% der Enddiät, w/w) zwecks Rekonstitution zur frischen Diättexture gemischt und mit frischem Starter kombiniert wurde. Eine Anreicherung der wiederverwendeten Diätendkomponente mit geringen Mengen von Nährstoffen ergab keine schlüssigen Resultate. Obwohl Puppen der wiederverwendeten Diät signifikant kleiner als Puppen der Frischdiät-Kontrolle waren, überlebten deren Erwachsene signifikant länger als die Erwachsenen der Kontrolle.

     

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to examine whether the genotype status of MspI, Ile462Val, and Thr461Asn polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is associated with ovarian cancer risk. Eligible case-control studies were identified through search in MEDLINE (end of search: October 2010). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were appropriately derived from fixed effects or random effects models. Concerning MspI polymorphism, seven studies were eligible (1,051 cases and 1,613 controls); 11 studies were eligible (1,680 cases and 3,345 controls) for Ile462Val and three studies were eligible (349 cases and 785 controls) for Thr461Asn. Ile462Val polymorphism seemed to confer elevated ovarian cancer risk concerning homozygous carriers (pooled OR?=?2.65, 95?% CI: 1.40-5.03, p?=?0.003, fixed effects), as well as at the recessive model (pooled OR?=?2.10, 95?% CI: 1.13-3.92, p?=?0.020, fixed effects); these findings were replicated upon Caucasian subjects. MspI polymorphism was not associated with ovarian cancer risk (for heterozygous TC vs TT carriers pooled OR?=?1.10, 95?% CI: 0.91-1.34, p?=?0.329, fixed effects; for homozygous CC vs. TT carriers pooled OR?=?1.11, 95?% CI: 0.65-1.90, p?=?0.693, fixed effects). With respect to Thr461Asn polymorphism a finding of borderline statistical significance emerged, pointing to marginally elevated ovarian cancer risk in heterozygous Thr/Asn carriers (pooled OR?=?1.62, 95?% CI: 0.97-2.70, p?=?0.066, fixed effects), but not in homozygous Asn/Asn carriers (pooled OR?=?1.40, 95?% CI: 0.18-10.89, p?=?0.749, fixed effects). Ile462Val status seems to represent a meaningful risk factor for ovarian cancer in Caucasians. Additional case-control studies of high methodological quality are needed in order to further substantiate and enrich the present findings. Special attention should be paid upon the design of future studies; Asian and African populations should represent points of focus.     

Control of the olive fruit fly using genetics-enhanced sterile insect technique

Ubiquitin signaling pathways rely on E3 ligases for effecting the final transfer of ubiquitin from E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes to a protein target. Here we re-evaluate the hybrid RING/HECT mechanism used by the E3 family RING-between-RINGs (RBRs) to transfer ubiquitin to substrates. We place RBRs into the context of current knowledge of HECT and RING E3s. Although not as abundant as the other types of E3s (there are only slightly more than a dozen RBR E3s in the human genome), RBRs are conserved in all eukaryotes and play important roles in biology. Re-evaluation of RBR ligases as RING/HECT E3s provokes new questions and challenges the field.     

Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies

Rituximab (Rit) was the first monoclonal antibody approved for therapeutic use in cancer patients. Rit is a chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody, consisting of the human IgG1 and k constant Fc region, and a mouse variable Fab region specific against the B-cell antigen CD20. Rit exerts its antilymphoma activity through many different mechanisms. Binding of antibody to CD20 antigen, provokes apoptosis through downstream signals that lead to caspase-3 activation. Complement activation by the Fc portion of the antibody results in complement-dependent cytotoxicity. However, the most effective mechanism of action seems to be antigen-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Effector cytotoxic cells such as natural killer cells (NK) are activated after binding to the Fc portion of the anti-CD20 molecule. Activated NK cells kill the coated lymphoma cells with the use of granzyme-perforin system. More recently, pre-clinical data support the concept that Rituximab can provoke a vaccination-like effect. Finally in-vitro experiments and clinical trials have shown that co-administration of the antibody with cytotoxics confers a strong synergistic effect. The relative contribution of these mechanisms in vivo and in different lymphoma subtypes is not well known and remains to be further evaluated.

Among the different histological groups, follicular lymphoma (FL) has been proven to be the most sensitive to Rit when used as a single agent, with overall response rates of 80% and 50% in untreated and previously treated patients, respectively. Moreover, Rit in combination with chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone in terms of response rate and event-free survival, while early data indicate a significant prolongation in overall survival as well. Similarly, the addition of Rit to standard chemotherapy improves the disease-free and overall survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. There is no doubt that Rit represents one of the greatest achievements of biotechnology engineering. However, we need to understand better the mechanisms of its action as well as the mechanisms of resistance to Rit, in order to design more effective treatment modalities.     

Synonymous codon usage pattern among the S,M, and L segments in Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is one among the major zoonosis viral diseases that use the Hyalomma ticks as their transmission vector to cause viral infection to the human and mammalian community. The fatality of infectious is high across the world especially in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe. This study regarding codon usage bias of S, M, and L segments of the CCHF virus pertaining to the host Homo sapiens, reveals in-depth information about the evolutionary characteristics of CCHFV. Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU), Effective number of codons (ENC) were calculated, to determine the codon usage pattern in each segment. Correlation analysis between Codon adaptation index (CAI), GRAVY (Hydrophobicity), AROMO (Aromaticity), and nucleotide composition revealed bias in the codon usage pattern. There was no strong codon bias found among any segments of the CCHF virus, indicating both the factors i.e., natural selection and mutational pressure shapes the codon usage bias.     

Monoclonal gammopathy in chronic myeloproliferative disorders

The incidence of monoclonal gammopathy in 61 patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) was studied. The distribution of patients among the CMPD subgroups was: chronic myelocytic leukemia, 24 patients; myelofibrosis, 11; polycythemia vera, 15; essential thrombocythemia, 7; unclassified MPD, 4 patients. Monoclonal gammopathy was found in 5 patients (8.2%). Two of these patients (1 IgA/k and 1 IgM/k) had myelofibrosis and 3 (2 IgG/k and 1 IgG/lambda) polycythemia vera. The presence of monoclonal gammopathy indicates an involvement of the lymphoplasmatic system in CMPD.     

Sperm replacement and depletion in the spermatheca of the S and CS strains of Oncopeltus fasciatus

New strains of O. fasciatus, reared at 30°C either on seeds of sunflower (strain S) or mixed sunflower and cashew nuts (strain CS), were used. Females of wild (+) or mutant (wb) genotype were mated in various sequences with + males (some of them chemosterilized or castrated) or wb males. Eggs of each clutch laid were counted and characterized as: infertile, or non-viable (apparently fertile but unable to hatch), or hatching into + or wb nymphs. Mating with a second male (except a castrate) causes partial or complete replacement of the spermathecal store of spermatozoa provided by the first male. A model of the replacement mechanism is proposed, which suggests that a volume of semen five times greater than the capacity of the spermatheca must be transferred by the male to cause the complete disappearance of the previous store of sperm.In the absence of males, or in the presence of castrate males, fertile eggs may be laid for at least 5 weeks but in most cases the store of sperm becomes exhausted sooner. The minimum store of sperm (estimated from the total count of viable eggs) is highly variable (40–400, mean 180). The percent of viable eggs in successive egg-clusters declines proportionately as the sperm store is reduced from 60 to 0.

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Résumé En vue d'analyser les conséquences d'accouplements successifs chez Oncopeltus fasciatus, on a utilisé des femelles de deux souches: l'une de type sauvage (+), l'autre correspondant à un mutant à corps blanc (wb, mutant autosomique récessif). Ces femelles subissent des croisements alternés avec les mâles de l'une ou l'autre souche; en outre, certains mâles utilisés étaient soit castrés chirurgicalement (effet de l'accouplement sans transfert de sperme), d'autres avaient subi une application topique d'un chimiostérilisant (tetramine) pouvant donner des ufs fécondés, mais non viables.L'accouplement avec un second mâle (sauf un castré) provoque le remplacement partiel complet dans la spermathèque du stock de spermatozoïdes issu d'un premier mâle. Un modèle du mécanisme de remplacement est proposé selon lequel un volume de sperme 5 fois plus grand que la capacité de la spermathèque devrait être introduit par le second mâle pour assurer la disparition complète du dépôt précédent.En l'absence d'accouplement renouvelés, ou en présence de mâles castrés la ponte d'ufs fécondés peut durer au moins 5 semaines, mais dans la plupart des cas le dépôt de spermatozoïdes s'épuise plus tôt. Le stock minimum de spermatozoïdes, estimé d'après le nombre total d'ufs viables, est très variable (40–400, moyenne 180). Le pourcentage d'ufs viables dans les pontes successives diminue proportionnellement à la réduction de ce stock au-dessous d'un minimum de 60.

     

The approximate entropy of the electromyographic signals of tremor correlates with the osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes

Background  

The main problem of tremor is the damage caused to the quality of the life of patients, especially those at more advanced ages. There is not a consensus yet about the origins of this disorder, but it can be examined in the correlations between the biological signs of aging and the tremor characteristics.