Diet and Feeding Behavior in Adults of the Apteropanorpidae (Mecoptera)

The Apteropanorpidae is a small family of scorpionflies endemic to Tasmania. The biology of the family is almost completely unknown. Here we present results of laboratory and field studies of the diet and feeding behavior of adult Apteropanorpidae. We describe the morphology of the alimentary canal and mouthparts and discuss the relationship between diet, feeding behavior and morphology. We compare these results to the feeding ecology of other extant Mecoptera, and speculate on the feeding strategies of fossil Mecoptera, placing all data in a phylogenetic context. Results show that adult Apteropanorpidae are most likely saprophagous in nature, predominantly on dead and decaying invertebrates.     

Effects on interfacial properties and cell adhesion of surface modification by pectic hairy regions

Polystyrene Petri dishes, aminated by a plasma deposition process, were surface modified by the covalent linking of two different enzymatically modified hairy regions (HRs) from pectin containing, for example, rhamnogalacturonan-I and xylogalacturonan structural elements. The two polysaccharide preparations share the same structural elements of apple pectin, but the relative amounts and lengths of the neutral side chains present differ. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, and atomic force microscope (AFM) force-separation curves was used to characterize the effects on surface chemistry and interfacial forces of the surface modification process. Cell adhesion experiments using continuous L-929 fibroblasts and primary aortic smooth muscle cells were performed to evaluate the effect of the polysaccharide nature on cell adhesion. Results show that immobilization of the HR affects the interfacial field of forces and the cell behavior: "equilibrium" contact angles, obtained by a recently introduced vibrational approach, decrease after HR immobilization reaching a value close to 20 degrees . AFM force-separation curves show a more extended (or softer) interface in the case of the HR bearing longer side chains. Accordingly, depending on the HR preparation, cells shifted from spread morphology and adhesion behavior quantitatively comparable to that observed on conventional tissue culture polystyrene to rounded morphology and significantly lower adhesion. These data show that engineering of plant pectins can be a valuable tool to prepare novel and finely tuned polysaccharides having different chemico-physical and biological properties, to be used in the surface modification of medical devices and materials.     

The thoracic morphology of Nannochorista (Nannochoristidae) and its implications for the phylogeny of Mecoptera and Antliophora

External and internal thoracic structures of Nannochorista spp. are described in detail. The results are compared with conditions found in other endopterygote taxa, especially in members of Antliophora. Seventy-seven characters potentially useful for phylogenetic reconstruction are discussed, coded, presented as a data matrix and analysed cladistically. The thorax of Nannochorista shows a number of plesiomorphic characters compared with other mecopterans (except for Merope ) and members of the other antliophoran groups (e.g. presence of prospina and associated muscles). No specific affinities of thoracic features of Nannochoristidae and Diptera were found. The cladistic analysis results in strongly supported Antliophora (e.g. intraprofurcal muscle and ventral pleural arms present; bundle of M. mesonoto-pleuralis posterior originates on pleural arm). The thoracic characters do not support the monophyly of Mecoptera. This is possibly an artefact of the analysis. Several potential thoracic autapomorphies of the order are inapplicable in Boreidae, Siphonaptera and Diptera. Boreidae and Siphonaptera share a suite of characters related with flightlessness and are retrieved as sistertaxa when characters associated with wing reduction are predefined as irreversible. Merope appears exceptionally plesiomorphic in its thoracic morphology. Pistillifera (excluding Meropidae) and Panorpoidea (Panorpidae + Panorpodidae) are supported as clades. Due to the strongly modified thoracic morphology of Siphonaptera, the position of this group remains uncertain. The phylogenetic reconstruction using thoracic features alone is clearly impeded by far reaching modifications in Diptera in correlation with an advanced type of anteromotorism, and complex suites of reductional features in the secondary wingless forms.     

Correlation between surface morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica.

We have investigated the morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica surface in the protein solutions of various concentrations. The force-distance curves, measured with a surface force apparatus (SFA), were interpreted in terms of two different regimens: a "large-distance" regimen in which an electrostatic double-layer force dominates, and an "adsorbed layer" regimen in which a force of steric origin dominates. To further clarify the forces of steric origin, the surface morphology of the adsorbed protein layer was investigated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) because the steric repulsive forces are strongly affected by the adsorption mode of protein A molecules on mica. At lower protein concentrations (2 ppm, 10 ppm), protein A molecules were adsorbed "side-on" parallel to the mica surfaces, forming a monolayer of approximately 2.5 nm. AFM images at higher concentrations (30 ppm, 100 ppm) showed protruding structures over the monolayer, which revealed that the adsorbed protein A molecules had one end oriented into the solution, with the remainder of each molecule adsorbed side-on to the mica surface. These extending ends of protein A overlapped each other and formed a "quasi-double layer" over the mica surface. These AFM images proved the existence of a monolayer of protein A molecules at low concentrations and a "quasi-double layer" with occasional protrusions at high concentrations, which were consistent with the adsorption mode observed in the force-distance curves.     

A new genus and species of scorpionfly (Mecoptera) from Baltic amber,with an unusually developed postnotal organ

A new genus and species of fossil scorpionflies (Mecoptera) Baltipanorpa damzeni gen. et sp.n. is described from two well‐preserved male specimens in Baltic amber (middle Eocene: Lutetian). The most characteristic feature of the new taxon is an unusually developed postnotal organ on abdominal tergum IV. This is the most extremely developed example of this organ among Mecoptera and the only observation of notal and postnotal organs among fossil scorpionflies. The following combination of characters are provided to distinguish the new genus from other Panorpidae: Sc, short; R₁ and R₂ two‐branched; A₁ joins posterior margin of wing only at same level as fork of vein Rs; unusual shape of abdomen, abdominal segments I–IV strongly reduced, abdominal segment V elongate and widened, segments VII and VIII strongly elongate; notal and postnotal organs present, strongly developed process (postnotal organ) on tergum IV, unknown in all described extant and fossil scorpionflies. Different types of notal organs of Mecoptera are compared and their function and morphology are discussed. Morphological analysis of notal and postnotal organs in extant species permits us to conclude that B. damzeni sp.n. is characterized by the most developed and complex notal organs in all Mecoptera.     

Scanning electron microscopy of peripheral blood leukocytes of the chicken

Summary Polymorphonuclear leukocytes, e.g., neutrophilic granulocytes, were enriched from heparinized blood by a Ficoll-step-gradient centrifugation procedure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a surface morphology of narrow ridge-like profiles and small ruffles with occasional microprocesses. Mononuclear leukocytes were isolated by centrifugation over a Ficoll-Metrizoat gradient. The lymphocytes showed varying numbers of microvilli of different length, size and shape. B lymphocytes, characterized by their capability of sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-rosette formation, displayed a similar surface morphology. Completely smooth lymphocytes, described in the literature as T lymphocytes, could not be detected, although many lymphocytes with few microprocesses were observed. Thus, SEM is not a useful tool for distinguishing between B and T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of chickens. Monocytes were characterized by prominent membrane-like ruffles, but in some cases they closely resembled granulocytes. An influence of the various separation media on the surface morphology of the isolated cells could not be detected when compared with cells isolated by the buffy-coat method.     

Immunosensor for detection of Legionella pneumophila using surface plasmon resonance

Immunosensor using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) onto self-assembled protein G layer was developed for the detection of Legionella pneumophila. A self-assembled protein G layer on gold (Au) surface was fabricated by adsorbing a mixture of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and hexanethiol (molar ratio of 1:2) and the activation process for chemical binding between free amine (-NH(2)) of protein G and 11-(MUA) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) in series. The formation of self-assembled protein G layer on Au substrate and the binding of antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR spectroscopy. The surface morphology analyses of self-assembled protein G layer on Au substrate and monoclonal antibody against L. pneumophila immobilized on protein G were performed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The immunosensor for detection of L. pneumophila using SPR was developed and its detection limit could find up to 10(5) cells/ml.     

Assessing the Patterns of Evolution in Anuran Vocal Sexual Signals

Many animal species have evolved signalling traits to mediate various intra-specific interactions. Signals are particularly important for inter-sexual selection, where females use male signalling traits to select mates. Female preferences are therefore a major selective force in the evolution of these male signals, and these preferences can facilitate rapid changes in these traits in an evolutionary timeframe. This introduction of high levels of variation in inter-sexual signals may overshadow any phylogenetic patterns present. Such shadowing effects, however, should be dependant on the characteristics of traits (e.g. morphological, physiological and behavioural). Using male advertisement calls from 72 species of anuran amphibians, we tested the levels of phylogenetic signal present for a variety of call features in relation to trait types, and for calls as whole units using phylogenetic principal components analysis. We found that most call features displayed some level of phylogenetic autocorrelation (or signal), with traits that are dependent on morphology having much stronger phylogenetic signals than those based on behaviour. In addition, when calls were analysed as whole units, closely related species were found to be similar to each other, indicating that phylogenetic patterns had not been cancelled out by selection via female preferences. We suggest that signal functions, such as indicating male quality (e.g. mediated by body size) to potential mates, may place constraints on the amount of variation that can be introduced by female preferences. More research, particularly studies on other taxa, will be required to elucidate whether the patterns found in anurans are general across the animal kingdom.     

The phylogenetic system of the Mecoptera

Abstract. Many families like the Mesochoristidae, Agetopanorpidae and Permopanorpidae, which were believed by earlier writers to be Mecoptera, are members of the stem group of the Antliophora (Diptera Mecoptera+Siphonaptera) or of stem groups of monophyletic groups of even higher rank (e.g. Mecopteroidea). Others - like the so-called 'Pro-tomecoptera' from the Permian of the Kusnetsk Basin - are not even closely related to the Mecopteroidea. Only the families mentioned in the following phylogenetic system of the Mecoptera are definitely members of the order:
1 Nannomecoptera (Nannochoristidae)
2 Pistillifera
2.1 Raptipedia (Neorthophlebiidae, Bittacidae, Cimbrophlebiidae)
2.2 Opisthogonopora
2.2.1 Boreomorpha (Boreidae)
2.2.2 Meropomorpha (Meropeidae)
2.2.3 Panorpomorpha
2.2.3.1 Eomeropina (Eomeropidae=Notiothaumidae)
2.2.3.2 Panorpina
2.2.3.2.1 Apteropanorpini (Apteropanorpidae)
2.2.3.2.2 Panorpini
2.2.3.2.2.1 Choristoidea (Choristidae)
2.2.3.2.2.2 Panorpoidea (Orthophlebiidae, Dinopanorpidae, Austropan-orpidae, Muchoriidae, Panorpodidae, Panorpidae)
The Orthophlebiidae and Neorthophlebiidae are not monophyletic. There are, however, no characters preserved which would allow a clarification of the exact relations between members of these two groups and the families derived from them. The fossil Xenochoristidae, Triasso-choristidae, Mesopanorpodidae and Robinjohniidae may be further members of the Mecoptera. Their exact phylogenetic relations, however, are unknown.     

中国蕨类植物孢子形态的研究 Ⅰ. 海金沙科

此文是中国蕨类植物孢子形态研究的第一部分。首次利用扫描电镜对国产海金沙科Lygodiaceae 海金沙属Lygodium 10种植物的孢子形态进行了观察,并利用透射电镜对孢壁的结构进行了研究。此 外,还对采自国外的另外10种海金沙属植物的孢子进行了比较观察。海金沙属孢子为三裂缝,少数为单 裂缝,其表面纹饰可分为4种类型：①瘤状纹饰,海金沙属多数种类的孢子具此类型;②表面平滑,L. palmatum、L. subareolatum、L．yunnanense、L. volubile 等属此类型;③疣状纹饰,L. dimorphum、L．digita- tum、L. kingii等属此类型;④网穴状纹饰,L. scandens,L．reticulatum等属此类型。网状纹饰类型的孢子表面轮廓是由外壁形成,其余类型的孢子表面轮廓由周壁形成。此文还对海金沙属的孢子特征及其在分类上的意义进行了探讨。     

Characterization of the long-wavelength opsin from Mecoptera and Siphonaptera: does a flea see?

Mecoptera and Siphonaptera represent two insect orders that have largely been overlooked in the study of insect vision. Recent phylogenetic evidence demonstrates that Mecoptera (scorpionflies) is paraphyletic, with the order Siphonaptera (fleas) nesting as sister to the family Boreidae (snow fleas), showing an evolutionary trend towards reduction in gross eye morphology within fleas. We provide the first molecular characterization of long-wavelength opsins from these three lineages (opsin gene from fleas [FL-Opsin], the Boreidae [B-Opsin], and a mecopteran family [M-Opsin]) and assess the effects of loss of visual acuity on the structure and function of the opsin gene. Phylogenetic analysis implies a physiological sensitivity in the red-green spectrum for these opsins. Analysis of intron splice sites reveals a high degree of similarity between FL-Opsin and B-Opsin as well as conserved splice sites across insect blue-green and long-wavelength opsins. Calculated rates of evolution and tests for destabilizing selection indicate that FL-Opsin, B-Opsin, and M-Opsin are evolving at similar rates with no radical selective pressures, implying conservative evolution and functional constraint across all three lineages.     

Phenotypic and genetic differences between opaque and translucent colonies of Vibrio alginolyticus

Many pathogens undergo phase variation between rugose and smooth colony morphology or between opaque and translucent colony morphology, which is mainly due to the variation in the surface polysaccharides. In this study, Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ-51 displayed phase variation between opaque, rugose colonies (Op) and translucent, smooth colonies (Tr). Unlike the vibrios reported previously, Tr cells of ZJ-51 enhanced biofilm formation and motility, but they did not differ from Op cells in the quantity of surface polysaccharides produced. Real time PCR was used to analyze the expression of the genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, flagellar synthesis, and the AI-2 quorum-sensing system. The results revealed that the K-antigen capsule gene cluster (which consists of homologs to the cpsA-K in Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and O-antigen polysaccharide gene cluster (which contains homologs to the wza-wzb-wzc) were significantly more transcribed in Tr cells. The AI-2 quorum-sensing genes showed enhanced expression in the Tr variant which also exhibited greater expression of genes associated with polar flagellar biosynthesis. These results suggest that colony phase variation might affect the virulence and survival ability in the stressful environment inhabited by V. alginolyticus.     

中国长翅目昆虫化石研究现状

长翅目昆虫在地史纪录上可以追溯到早二叠纪,是全变态昆虫中最原始的种类之一.截至目前,29篇关于中国长翅目昆虫化石分类的论著发表,共描述我国长翅目昆虫化石11科28属51种,这些化石分布于从三叠纪到白垩纪的不同地层中.本文通过图表提供了我国已发现的长翅目化石名录并介绍了其分布和年代,回顾了我国长翅目昆虫化石的研究进展,指出了一些分类存在的问题,简要慨述了长翅目中一些科的起源与演化以及长翅目与其它全变态昆虫的关系.我国长翅目化石种类丰富,但在基础分类、系统演化方面还缺乏系统的研究,因而许多工作甚至最基础的分类工作亟待开展.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor using self-assembled protein G for the detection of Salmonella paratyphi

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based immunosensor using self-assembled protein G was developed for the detection of Salmonella paratyphi. In order to endow a solid substrate binding affinity to protein G, the free amine (-NH2) of protein G was substituted into thiol (-SH) using 2-iminothiolane. Thus, self-assembled protein G was fabricated on gold (Au) substrate. The formation of protein G layer on Au surface, and the binding of antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR spectroscopy. The surface morphology analysis of the protein G layer on Au surface was performed by atomic force microscope (AFM). Consequently, an immunosensor based on SPR for the detection of S. paratyphi using self-assembled protein G was developed with a detection range of 10(2)-10(7) CFU/ml. The current fabrication technique of a SPR immunosensor for the detection of S. paratyphi could be applied to construct other immnosensors or protein chips.     

On the structure of the cuticle of Mecoptera

The chitin architecture of Mecoptera cuticle is of two kinds: helicoidal and helicoidal preferred with the preferred layers being cross-plied. Comparison of both systems of terminology currently in use to differentiate the subtypes of cuticle indicates that neither provides much information about the arrangement of chitin within cuticle and that both give information only about the extent of hardening in cuticle. All of the specimens of solid cuticle broken in tension exhibited a similar fracture behaviour in which the exocuticle failed in a brittle manner and the endocuticle failed plastically. The mode of endocuticular failure is dependent upon the arrangement of chitin microfibres within this region. The ultrastructural patterns of chitin microfibres determined by electron microscopy cannot be related to current notions about the phylogenetic interrelationships among Mecoptera and the usefulness of chitin fibre arrangement as a phylogenetic tool remains an open question.     

Phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders: molecular evidence

Phylogenetic relationships among the holometabolous insect orders were reconstructed using 18S ribosomal DNA data drawn from a sample of 182 taxa representing all holometabolous insect orders and multiple outgroups. Parsimony analysis supports the monophyly of all holometabolous insect orders except for Coleoptera and Mecoptera. Mecoptera is paraphyletic with respect to Siphonaptera, which is nested within Mecoptera. Coleoptera is scattered as a paraphyletic assemblage across the tree topology. These data support a monophyletic Halteria (Strepsiptera + Diptera), Amphiesmenoptera (Trichoptera + Lepidoptera), Neuropterida (Neuroptera + (Megaloptera + Raphidioptera)), but Antliophora (Halteria + Mecoptera + Siphonaptera) and Mecopterida (Antliophora + Amphiesmenoptera) are paraphyletic. The limitations of using 18S ribosomal DNA as the sole phylogenetic marker for reconstructing insect ordinal relationships are discussed.     

Substrate and product dependence of force and shortening in fast and slow smooth muscle

To explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for the variation in smooth muscle contractile kinetics, the influence of MgATP, MgADP, and inorganic phosphate (P(i)) on force and shortening velocity in thiophosphorylated "fast" (taenia coli: maximal shortening velocity Vmax = 0.11 ML/s) and "slow" (aorta: Vmax = 0.015 ML/s) smooth muscle from the guinea pig were compared. P(i) inhibited active force with minor effects on the V(max). In the taenia coli, 20 mM P(i) inhibited force by 25%. In the aorta, the effect was markedly less (< 10%), suggesting differences between fast and slow smooth muscles in the binding of P(i) or in the relative population of P(i) binding states during cycling. Lowering of MgATP reduced force and V(max). The aorta was less sensitive to reduction in MgATP (Km for Vmax: 80 microM) than the taenia coli (Km for Vmax: 350 microM). Thus, velocity is controlled by steps preceding the ATP binding and cross-bridge dissociation, and a weaker binding of ATP is not responsible for the lower V(max) in the slow muscle. MgADP inhibited force and V(max). Saturating concentrations of ADP did not completely inhibit maximal shortening velocity. The effect of ADP on Vmax was observed at lower concentrations in the aorta compared with the taenia coli, suggesting that the ADP binding to phosphorylated and cycling cross-bridges is stronger in slow compared with fast smooth muscle.     

Tribological Behavior of Gampsocleis Gratiosa Foot Pad Against Vertical Flat Surfaces

Some tribological behavior between mature Gampsocleis gratiosa foot pads and vertical flats of different materials were studied in this work. stereomicroscope （SMS） and scanning electron microscope （SEM） were used to measure the morphology of the Gampsocleis gratiosa foot pads. An atomic force microscope （AFM） was used to measure the morphologies of the surfaces of glass and a wall doped with calcium carbonate material. The attaching behavior of Gampsocleis gratiosa feet on the two vertical surfaces was observed. The attaching force （perpendicular to the vertical surface） and the static frictional force （along the direction of gravitation） of Gampsocleis gratiosa foot pads on a vertical glass were measured. It was shown that the average attaching force is 50.59 mN and the static frictional force is 259.10 mN. The physical models of the attaching interface between Gampsocleis gratiosa foot pads and the two vertical surfaces were proposed. It was observed that the foot pads are smooth in macroscale; however, the pad surface is composed by approximate hexagonal units with sizes of 3 μm to 7 μm in microscale; the adjacent units are separated by nanoscale grooves. The Observations showed that the Gampsocleis gratiosa can not climb the vertical calcium carbonate wall; in contrast, they can easily climb the vertical glass surface. Based on the features of the geometrical morphologies of the foot pads and the glass surface, we speculate that the attaching force and strong static frictional force are attributed to the interinlays between the deformable Gampsocleis gratiosa foot pads and the nanoscale sharp tips of the glass surface.