Effect of anti-mosquito antibodies on the infectivity of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei to Anopheles farauti

The effect of mouse anti-mosquito antibodies, present in the bloodmeal, on the infectivity of Plasmodium berghei Vincke to Anopheles farauti Laveran was investigated. Significantly fewer oocysts developed in mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with sugar-fed mosquito midgut antigens than in mosquitoes feeding on control mice. Mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with the midgut antigens derived from sugar-fed mosquitoes also showed reduced mortality and had lower infection rates than those fed on unimmunized mice. Blood-fed midgut antigen was less effective in producing these effects than sugar-fed midgut antigen.     

Anti-mosquito antibodies decrease the reproductive capacity of Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti (L.) fed on rabbits immunized with mosquito antigens showed a reduction in fecundity in the first oviposition and decreased viability of the progeny. Feeding behaviour of mosquitoes was not affected and no significant mortality was observed due to the presence of anti-mosquito antibodies in the bloodmeal. Antibodies were detected in the oocytes of mosquitoes 48 h after the bloodmeal. The role of specific antibodies in influencing fecundity is discussed.     

Isolation of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria from Fungus Termites

Biological nitrogen fixation by the microorganisms in the gut of termites is one of the singularly important symbiotic processes, since termites invariably thrive on nitrogen poor diet. Two isolates of free living aerobic and facultative anaerobic N fixing bacteria were obtained from the guts of fungus cultivating termite, Macrotermes sp. Among the total bacterial isolates from termite gut, the per cents of N fixing aerobes viz., Azotobacter and Beijerinckia spp were 49% and 37% from the salivary gland while facultative N fixing anaerobe viz., Klebsiella and Clostridium contributed (51% and 93%). The free living aerobic bacteria were identified as Azotobacter spp (19 x 10⁴ CFU mL^‐1) and Beijerinckia (13.2 x 10⁴ CFU mL^‐1) from the salivary gland of the termite; interestingly, foregut, mid gut and hind gut registered a low population of these bacteria. The isolates of Azotobacter were smooth, glistening, vicid in nature, rods, gram negative and cyst forming. Isolates of Beijerinckia sp. produced copious slime, tenacious, rods, gram negative with no cyst formations. Both the isolates emitted green fluorescence and produced acid. Facultative N fixing anaerobes were harbored in the hind gut. The isolates were identified as Klebsiella (20 x 10⁴ CFU mL^‐1) and Clostridium pasteurianum 39.1 x 10⁴ CFU mL^‐1. Klebsiella were straight rods arranged singly or in pairs, non‐motile, gram negative, whereas Clostridium pasteurianum was viscoid, motile with terminal spores. A positive correlation was observed between the extractable polysaccharides of these isolates and soil aggregation. The aggregates formed by the isolates increased soil aeration, porosity, water holding capacity and helped in better plant growth. Thus, the gut microflora of termite, apart from harnessing nitrogen from the atmosphere, also helps improving soil fertility.     

Respiratory Responses in Potato Tubers as an Index of the effect of Ethylene Chlorhydrin and Ammonium Thiocyanate

1. The variety Phulwa was worked upon for respiratory studiesandgrowth response to dormancy-breaking hormones. The hormoneswere used in single and double doses.
2. The respiratory studiesreveal that ethylene chlorhydrin affectsonly the bud areasand not the non-bud areas.
3. The intensity of the effect ofthe hormone progressively decreasesin the deeper layers ofcells, till finally no effect is visiblein the cells of thepith areas.
4. A distinct correlation exists between the respiratoryintensityand dormancy.
5. Of the two hormones used the respiratoryrates recorded forN. ethylene chlorhydrin treated tubers, givenin single anddouble doses, were the highest. Similarly thegrowth responseto both the doses showed the maximum reductionof the dormancyperiod, 01 N. ethylene chlorhydrin treatmentswere not effectivein breaking the dormancy or in significantlyaltering the rateof respiration.
6. Treatments with 05 percent, ammonium thiocyanate given insingle dose showed the lowestrespiratory rates and the germinationrecords showed no differenceover the control. With the doubledose a gradual rise in therespiratory rates was observed. Thegermination records alsoshowed an earliness of 20 and 22 daysover the control and single-dosetreatments respectively.
7. Treatments with 2 per cent, ammoniumthiocyanate depressed germination.The respiratory rates recordedwere also low.
8. In general the double-dose treatments showedbetter resultsthan the single-dose treatments. Also, treatmentson 3 weeksold tubers were more effective than on 6 weeks oldtubers.

     

Antibodies to Anopheles midgut reduce vector competence for Plasmodium vivax malaria

Anopheles tessellatus mosquitoes ingested Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in human erythrocytes suspended in rabbit sera with and without anti-mosquito midgut antibodies. When the mosquito bloodmeal contained anti-midgut antibodies, fewer oocysts of P. vivax developed on the mosquito midgut and the proportion of mosquitoes becoming infected was significantly reduced. Complement inactivated serum also reduced the infection rate and load. A second bloodmeal containing anti-midgut antibodies, given 48 or 72 h later, did not enhance the transmission-blocking effect. IgG purified from antimidgut sera was shown to mediate the transmission-blocking effect.     

Production of Bacterial Proteins from Cellulosic Materials

An aerobic mesophilic Pseudomonas sp. isolated from activated sludge degraded different cellulosic materials to varying-degrees. The degradability was mostly influenced by the lignin content and the crystalline nature of the substrate. Filter paper and cotton fibres, containing little lignin, were degraded maximally. Lignin-rich Pinus and Larix needles were digested to a lesser extent. There was a difference between natural substrates and substrates that had undergone industrial treatment. At maximal protein production, the isolate converted 11–40% (w/w) of cellulosic substrates into proteins. Alkali treatment of the substrates had only little effect. Cellulose contained in pig-waste was also degraded by the isolate. At first there was a period of protein production, but after long incubation, the efficiency of conversion of cellulose to protein decreased.     

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulolytic Bacteria from Activated Sludge

Cellulolytic aerobic bacteria were isolated from activated sludge systems. Of the media tested for enumeration, only filter paper media gave reliable counts. Five isolates were studied further for characterization. It was found that one strain (DK) belonged to the genus Cellulomonas. The other four strains expressed similarity to the genus Pseudomonas. The different characteristics that were studied, however, do not permit them to be identified with any recognized species. Based on certain characters we believe that they are alcaligenes-like pseudomonads.     

Anti-mosquito antibodies reduce the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti to arbovirus infection

Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes showed a significant reduction in susceptibility to infection with Ross River virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus when they were fed on a blood-virus mixture containing rabbit antibodies to mosquito midgut components. Presence of the antibodies did not demonstrably affect virus titres in infected mosquitoes, nor the transmission of virus from infected mosquitoes to vertebrates.