Morphology and untrastructure of the antennal sense organs in tenebrionid larvae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tenebrio molitor</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zophobas rugipes</Emphasis> Kirsch (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The distribution, external morphology, and ultrastructure of various types of sensilla in the antennae of tenebrionid larvae Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas rugipes are studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. On the antennae of T. molitor there are sensilla of four basic morphological types: basiconic, styloconic, trichoid, and papillate sensilla. On the antennae of Z. rugipes, in addition to the aforementioned ones, there are placoid sensilla. Ultrastructure points to olfactory function of basiconic and placoid sensilla. Other sensillum types are contact chemoreceptors.     

Measurement of opsonophagocytic activity of antibodies specific toNeisseria meningitidis serogroup A capsular polysaccharide-serogroup B outer membrane vesicle conjugate in animal model

Neisseria meningitidis is efficiently phagocytosed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNS) following opsonization with opsonic antibodies; opsonophagocytosis is the primary mechanism for clearance of meningococci from the host. Thus, in testing meningococcal vaccines, the level of opsonophagocytic antibodies appears to correlate with vaccine-induced protection. Our previous studies demonstrated that the conjugation ofN. meningitidis serogroup A capsular polysaccharide (CPSA) to serogroup B outer membrane vesicle (OMV) could induce a high level of bactericidal antibody response against serogroup A meningococci in animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate opsonophagocytic activity of the conjugate of CPSA to OMV (CPSA-OMV). In order to evaluate the potential efficacy of CPSA-OMV a flow cytometric opsonophagocytic assay was used. The conjugate and controls were injected intramuscularly into four groups of rabbits with boosters on days 14, 28 and 42 following primary immunization. The rabbits were bled prior to injection and two weeks after each injection. Opsonophagocytic activity of antibodies in hyperimmune sera through rabbit PMNS were measured with flow cytometer, using dihydrorhodamine-123 as a probe. The results indicated that our conjugate could induce a highly significant level of opsonophagocytic activity against serogroup A meningococci after 56 days compared to the control groups (P<0.05). We conclude that this conjugate represents a vaccine candidate against serogroups A and B meningococci after further investigation.     

Sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen,a juvenile hormone analogue,on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): life table study

The sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen (PYR, a juvenile hormone analogue) were investigated for two consecutive generations on life-history parameters, such as developmental time, pupal weight, fecundity, fertility and longevity of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). After topical application bioassay of third instar larvae, the LC₂₅ and LC₅₀ values (as sublethal doses) were determined to be 1.49 and 2.01 μg/μl, respectively. The results showed that the egg incubation period, larval and pupal duration times and oviposition period were increased in treated groups compared with the control (treated with distilled water). Pupal weight, adult longevity, fecundity and fertility were significantly reduced in the treatment groups compared with the control. Using the age-stage, two-sex life table analysis, we found that the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), gross reproduction rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R ₀) significantly decreased while the mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) increased in two treatment groups compared with the control. In addition, administration of PYR induced morphogenetic abnormalities including untanned pupae, larval–pupal intermediates and various defective adults. The LC₅₀ value was more effective on all of the above biological characteristics than the LC₂₅ for both generations, although parents were more affected than the offspring. In general, our results revealed that PYR was highly effective against P. xylostella in the laboratory both directly (causing mortality) and indirectly (disruption of normal growth and development). We conclude that PYR is an excellent candidate for suppressing populations of P. xylostella through its sublethal effects.     

Intraguild predation among Scolothrips longicornis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Neoseiulus californicus and Typhlodromus bagdasarjani (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions

This study was carried out on the ability of predatory thrips Scolothrips longicornis Priesner to feed on 2 phytoseiid species and vice versa. Also the effect of predation of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) on Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan and vice versa was evaluated. The larvae, prepupae, and pupae of thrips and the eggs, larvae, and protonymphs of phytoseiids were selected as intraguild prey. The intraguild predation (IGP) among S. longicornis and 2 phytoseiid species was unidirectional and in favor of phytoseiids, i.e., S. longicornis was not able to feed on larval stages of 2 phytoseiids. However, N. californicus and T. bagdasarjani fed on the 1st instar larvae (1.39 and 0.80 per day), 2nd instar larvae (0.87 and 0.55 per day), prepupae (0.51 and 0.48 per day), and pupae of thrips (0.51 and 0.49 per day, respectively). Both phytoseiids fed on eggs, larvae, and protonymphal stages of each other. Females of N. californicus consumed more phytoseiid larvae (2.49 per day) than T. bagdasarjani, which consumed 1.08 N. californicus larvae per day. When Tetranychus urticae was presented as an extraguild prey, intensity of IGP between 2 species of phytoseiids and on larval stages of S. longicornis reduced significantly. Therefore, it is concluded that (i) IGP existed among the 3 examined species and lack of feeding of S. longicornis on 2 phytoseiid species can be justified by its feeding type (monophagy), (ii) N. californicus was much more prone to IGP than was T. bagdasarjani.     

Morphology and ultrastructure of the chemosensory sensilla of larval antennae in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The allocation, external morphology, and ultrastructure of various types of sensilla on the antennae have been studied in the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It has been found that the larval antenna bears 11 sensilla of four morphological types: trichoid (five), basiconic (four), styloconic (one), and antennal cone (one). It has been shown that the sensilla are innervated by 2?C7 receptor cells: trichoid, by 2?C4 receptor cells; basiconic, by 4?C7 receptor cells; and styloconic, by 6 receptor cells. Judging by the specifics of their ultrastructural organization, the function of these sensilla is gustatory. The antennal cone is innervated by two receptor cells, and its function is olfactory.     

Uranium accumulation by a bacterium isolated from electroplating effluent

Pseudomonas MGF-48, a gram-negative, motile, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, yellow-pigmented bacterium isolated from electroplating effluent, was found to accumulate uranium with high efficiency. Uptake of uranium was rapid and the amount increased in direct proportion to concentration, e.g., from 50 to 200 mg uranium per liter. The largest amount of uranium uptake was 174 mg per gram dry weight bacterial biomass and was observed to occur in stationary phase during incubation at 30 °C. Uptake was determined by flow injection analysis. Maximum uranium accumulation occurred at pH 6.5, with 86% of the uranium being taken up within 5 min of incubation. Release of uranium bound to the cells was accomplished by addition of sodium carbonate and EDTA solution (0.1 M), the cells were reusable, and served as a biosorbent. Cells immobilized in polyacrylamide gel took up 90% of the uranium. Pseudomonas MGF-48 showed excellent efficiency in biosorbing uranium, by both immobilized and free cells. The results of this study, compared with those of other reports of uranium accumulation by microorganisms, leads us to conclude that Pseudomonas MGF-48 shows excellent potential for bioremediating uranium-polluted aqueous effluents. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Plant-mediated vulnerability of an insect herbivore to Bacillus thuringiensis in a plant-herbivore-pathogen system

Laboratory studies were performed to explore the effects of host-plant quality on the vulnerability of Plutella xylostella to Bacillus thuringiensis. P. xylostella were kept on different host plants, including Brassica pekinensis (Chinese cabbage) cv. Hero, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (cauliflower) cv. Royal, and B. oleracea var. capitata (common cabbage) cv. Globe Master (white cabbage) and cv. Red Dynasty (red cabbage) for at least two generations. These host plants are considered as the high (Chinese cabbage), intermediate (cauliflower and white cabbage) and low-quality (red cabbage) hosts for P. xylostella. The vulnerability of the pest larvae was then tested using two formulation of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki, including Biolarv^® and Biolep^®. The results demonstrated that the susceptibility of P. xylostella to B. thuringiensis was influenced by host-plant quality. Indeed, B. thuringiensis acted better on the pest fed on the low-quality host plant compared with that on the high-quality host plant. The interaction between the pathogen and plant quality/resistance resulted in more mortality of the pest larvae, implying a synergistic effect. From a pest management viewpoint, these findings may be promising for the integration of the pathogen and the low-quality/partially resistant host plants against P. xylostella in field studies.