取食不同食物对小菜蛾幼虫肠道细菌多样性的影响

【目的】植食性昆虫肠道细菌的组成与其食物密切相关。本研究旨在探究小菜蛾Plutella xylostella幼虫肠道细菌多样性与其取食食物之间的关系以及它们之间相互适应的过程。【方法】本研究选取小菜蛾人工饲料品系(S)及其转寄主到结球甘蓝Brassica oleracea var. capitata、结球白菜Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis和花椰菜Brassica olerocea var. botrytis饲养后第1代(分别为G1C, G1CC和G1WC)和第3代(分别为G3C, G3CC和G3WC)的4龄幼虫,提取小菜蛾肠道细菌基因组DNA,利用Illumina MiSeq二代高通量测序技术,分析其肠道细菌多样性和丰度。【结果】α多样性指数分析发现,取食不同食物的小菜蛾4龄幼虫肠道细菌多样性高低顺序为G1WC>G1CC>S>G1C。在菌群组成上,以人工饲料为食的S样品肠道细菌主要由厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)组成,转寄主植物后的G1C, G1CC和G1WC肠道中厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度显著下降,G1C和G1CC小菜蛾肠道中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度显著上升成为优势菌群,G1WC肠道中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)成为优势菌群。在寄主植物上连续饲养3代后,与第1代相比,小菜蛾肠道细菌α多样性指数没有显著性改变,但在结球甘蓝和结球白菜上小菜蛾肠道菌群结构却发生了变化,相比G1C,G3C肠道中芽孢杆菌目(Bacillales)的相对丰度显著下降;相比G1CC, G3CC肠道中放线菌门(Proteobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)和硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)的相对丰度均显著上升。【结论】取食人工饲料和不同寄主植物的小菜蛾幼虫肠道细菌多样性和群落构成存在显著差异,寄主植物对小菜蛾肠道微生物的结构组成具有重要的影响,且小菜蛾肠道微生物对寄主植物可能存在一个长期适应的过程。本研究为进一步探讨影响小菜蛾肠道细菌变化的因素,以及后续研究肠道细菌与寄主植物之间的互作奠定了良好的基础。     

一个调控抗菌肽表达的小菜蛾肽聚糖识别蛋白(PxPGRP-SA)

【目的】肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition proteins,PGRPs)是昆虫免疫系统中一类重要的模式识别蛋白。本研究旨在阐明经苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis侵染后,小菜蛾Plutella xylostella PGRP-SA基因(命名为Px PGRP-SA)在体内的表达模式和对抗菌肽基因的表达调控。【方法】本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析B.thuringiensis侵染小菜蛾幼虫后Px PGRP-SA的转录模式,通过RNAi技术结合抗血清封闭实验检测Px PGRP-SA对小菜蛾抗菌肽基因的表达调控作用。【结果】qRT-PCR检测表明,小菜蛾4龄幼虫在注射具有活性的B.thuringiensis 6 h后,Px PGRP-SA在脂肪体和血细胞中表达量迅速上升,其中脂肪体中的表达量在注射24 h后达到高峰,而在血细胞中的表达量在18 h后达到高峰。RNAi沉默小菜蛾4龄幼虫Px PGRP-SA的转录后,可显著降低小菜蛾脂肪体中cecropin,moricin-2,lysozyme和defensin 4个抗菌肽基因及Dorsal和Sptzle基因的mRNA转录水平;注射anti-Px PGRP-SA封闭小菜蛾体内Px PGRP-SA的活性后,也可降低小菜蛾脂肪体中4个抗菌肽基因的mRNA转录水平;Px PGRP-SA转录沉默后,同时导致添食B.thuringiensis的小菜蛾幼虫的存活率明显降低。【结论】Px PGRP-SA参与了小菜蛾体内抗菌肽cecropin,moricin-2,lysozyme和defensin基因的表达调控,并在免疫防御B.thuringiensis的侵染过程中起了重要的作用。     

Characteristics Of Parasitism Of Plutella Xylostella (Lep., Plutellidae) By Oomyzus Sokolowskii (Hym., Eulophidae)

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted on Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov, a parasite of the crucifer pest Plutella xylostella ( L.). O. sokolowskii preferred the 3^rd and 4^th instar P. xylostella larvae over fresh pupae for parasitization. It is thus a larval parasite. Within the range of 10?C to 35?C, parasitism was positively correlated with temperature. High parasitism at temperatures of 30?C and 35?C indicates that this insect is suitable for the control of P. xylostella in the tropical lowlands. In a no- choice test where only fresh pupae of Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov, another potentially competing larval parasite of P. xylostella, were offered, O. sokolowskii failed to parasitize pupae of C. plutellae. In a choice test where the 4^th instar P. xylostella larvae and fresh C. plutellae pupae were offered, O. sokolowskii parasitized only P. xylostella larvae. This parasite, therefore, is not a hyperparasite of P. xylostella. When C. plutellae-ovvposited P. xylostella larvae were offered at intervals, O. sokolowskii, parasitized only freshly oviposited host larvae. The longer the period that elapsed after C. plutellae oviposition of P. xylostella larvae, the lesser was the parasitism of these larvae by O. sokolowski.     

肠道细菌通过竞争生态位和保护肠道内壁降低小菜蛾对Bt的敏感性

【目的】肠道微生物可能在介导昆虫宿主对苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)抗性方面具有重要作用。本研究拟通过探究肠道细菌影响Bt对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella杀虫活性的效应,分析肠道细菌在宿主保护方面的作用机制。【方法】检测小菜蛾3龄幼虫分别取食无菌人工饲料与含肠道总菌群、肠杆菌Enterobacter sp. IAE5 (EbPXG5)、Bt菌株Bt8010、Bt8010+肠道总菌群和Bt8010+EbPXG5的人工饲料,以及分别取食无菌人工饲料与含EbPXG5上清、EbPXG5菌体破碎液、Bt8010+EbPXG5上清、Bt8010+EbPXG5菌体破碎液和Bt8010的人工饲料不同时间后的存活率,分析肠道细菌对小菜蛾Bt敏感性的影响;利用平板培养技术,测定分别取食含EbPXG5, Bt8010和Bt8010+EbPXG5人工饲料的小菜蛾3龄幼虫肠道和血淋巴中EbPXG5和Bt8010的丰度以及EbPXG5对Bt8010的体外抑制效应,分析肠道细菌对Bt8010在小菜蛾肠道中增殖以及入侵血腔的影响;利用扫描电镜观察小菜蛾3龄幼虫无菌肠道组织的内壁形态以及EbPXG5, Bt8010和EbPXG5+Bt8010分别处理的肠道组织的内壁形态,揭示肠道细菌对肠道内壁的保护功能。【结果】与取食无菌人工饲料的对照组相比,取食含肠道总菌群饲料和含EbPXG5饲料的小菜蛾3龄幼虫存活率没有显著差异,但取食含Bt8010+EbPXG5和含Bt8010+肠道总菌群饲料的3龄幼虫在24, 36, 48和60 h时存活率均显著高于取食含Bt8010人工饲料的;取食含EbPXG5上清和含EbPXG5菌体破碎液饲料的3龄幼虫存活率与对照组相比无差异,取食含Bt8010+EbPXG5上清和含Bt8010+EbPXG5菌体破碎液饲料的3龄幼虫存活率与取食含Bt8010饲料的相比也无差异。分别取食含EbPXG5和Bt8010+EbPXG5人工饲料的小菜蛾3龄幼虫肠道中EbPXG5菌株的丰度均没有显著差异,但取食含Bt8010+EbPXG5饲料24, 36和48 h的小菜蛾3龄幼虫肠道内Bt8010丰度显著低于取食含单一Bt8010饲料;血淋巴中,取食含Bt8010+EbPXG5饲料的小菜蛾,36 h和48 h的EbPXG5丰度高于取食含单一EbPXG5饲料的,同时取食含Bt8010+EbPXG5饲料的血淋巴中Bt8010丰度显著低于取食含单一Bt8010饲料的。牛津杯抑菌圈试验表明小菜蛾肠道细菌EbPXG5在体外对Bt8010菌株无抑制作用。扫描电镜观察结果发现,Bt8010会破坏小菜蛾幼虫肠道形成孔洞,同时介导Bt8010及其他细菌穿越肠道屏障进入血淋巴;肠杆菌EbPXG5能定殖于小菜蛾肠腔内壁,减弱Bt8010对肠道内壁的破坏,降低Bt8010在小菜蛾肠道和血淋巴中的丰度。【结论】肠道细菌EbPXG5在保护小菜蛾,降低其对Bt敏感性方面起一定作用,推测该菌通过竞争生态位和保护肠道内壁等方式减弱病原体的定殖和入侵,从而降低宿主对Bt的敏感性。该结果对于促进小菜蛾的生物防治和综合治理具有重要的参考意义。     

小菜蛾幼虫对不同寄主的取食嗜好性及其适宜性

对不同寄主种类、不同寄主形态和不同寄主饲喂的小菜蛾(Plutella xylostella)幼虫之间的取食嗜好性比较试验表明,小菜蛾幼虫优先取食大白菜、萝卜或菜心幼苗,其次为油菜和甘蓝幼苗,在大白菜与油菜幼苗之间的取食选择比例是93.33%和6.67％;在甘蓝与菜心幼苗之间的取食选择比例是16.67%和83.33%.小菜蛾幼虫的取食嗜好性受饲喂寄主种类的影响,偏食大白菜或菜心幼苗.小菜蛾幼虫选择寄主取食的次序与寄主体内可溶性糖或淀粉含量没有明显关系,但与两者的相对量呈一定的负相关.取食大白菜或菜心幼苗的小菜蛾生长良好,单头取食达0.583～0.637 cm², 单头体重达2.07～2.18 mg, 与取食甘蓝或油菜幼苗的幼虫在取食量、个体发育方面有明显差异.小菜蛾幼虫也喜好取食已经被虫危害过的幼苗.     

Comparative susceptibilities of diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and cabbage looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Minnesota and south Texas to lambda-cyhalothrin and indoxacarb

The susceptibility of early instars of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), and early (first and second) and late instars (third and fourth) of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), from Minnesota and south Texas, to indoxacarb and lambda-cyhalothrin was determined in the laboratory. Susceptibilities of the two species from the two geographical locations to indoxacarb and lambda-cyhalothrin varied greatly. P. xylostella from Minnesota was as susceptible to indoxacarb as those from south Texas, whereas both early and late instar T. ni from south Texas were significantly more tolerant to indoxacarb than those from Minnesota. The LC50 values of indoxacarb for early and later instar T. ni at 48 h from south Texas were 4.3- and 34.0-fold greater than those from Minnesota, respectively. Similarly, early instar P. xylostella and late instar T. ni from south Texas were significantly less susceptible to lambda-cyhalothrin than those from Minnesota. Percentage mortality of the two insect species caused by the two insecticides varied with time of exposure and generally exhibited similar patterns of responses to different concentrations for each insecticide.     

Laboratory evaluations of a wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris as a management tool for the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The term 'dead-end trap cropping' has recently been proposed to identify a plant that is highly attractive for oviposition by an insect pest, but on which offspring of the pest cannot survive. The potential of the wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. to allure and serve as a dead-end trap crop for the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.), an important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide, was examined in laboratory experiments. When P. xylostella adults were provided with a dual-choice of plants of B. vulgaris, and Chinese cabbage Brassica campestris (L.), in one arena, adult moths laid 2.5-6.8 times more eggs on the former than on the latter. When P. xylostella adults were provided with a dual-choice of plants of B. vulgaris and common cabbage Brassica oleracea L., adult moths laid virtually all their eggs on the former and ignored the latter. Nearly all P. xylostella eggs laid on the three species of plants hatched successfully, but nearly all individuals on plants of B. vulgaris died as neonates or early instar larvae, while 87-100% of the larvae on Chinese cabbage and common cabbage survived to pupation. Dual choice tests with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that volatiles from B. vulgaris were much more attractive to P. xylostella adults than those from common cabbage. The results demonstrate that B. vulgaris has a great potential as a dead-end trap crop for improving management of P. xylostella. Factors that may influence the feasibility of using B. vulgaris as a trap crop in the field are discussed, and ways to utilize this plant are proposed.     

小菜蛾乙酰胆碱酯酶cDNA片段的克隆和序列分析

利用反转录-多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)的方法对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella的乙酰胆碱酯酶基因cDNA片段进行了克隆和序列分析。通过简并性上游引物和下游引物扩增出了小菜蛾乙酰胆碱酯酶基因281bp的cDNA片段。同源性分析表明, 该cDNA片段与其它昆虫乙酰胆碱酯酶基因序列具有较高的同源性。     

小菜蛾U6 snRNA基因的克隆及作为miRNA定量表达分析内参基因的评价

【目的】克隆小菜蛾Plutella xylostella (L.)小分子非编码RNA U6的cDNA序列,并评价其是否适合作为定量检测小菜蛾microRNA (miRNA)表达量的内参基因。【方法】本研究采用RT-PCR 克隆获得了小菜蛾4龄幼虫核小RNA(small nuclear RNA, snRNA) U6的cDNA序列,并用定量PCR法检测了U6及8种miRNAs在小菜蛾不同发育阶段及不同杀虫药剂处理后的表达稳定性。【结果】小菜蛾U6的cDNA序列全长 94 bp,与其他昆虫U6的核苷酸序列一致性达98.9%。用geNorm和RefFinder软件分析荧光定量PCR结果表明,U6在小菜蛾卵、1-4龄幼虫、蛹和成虫7个不同发育阶段表达稳定;用马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、辛硫磷、灭多威、呋喃虫酰肼、高效氯氰菊酯、氯虫苯甲酰胺、溴虫腈和Bt 9种不同作用机理的杀虫药剂处理3龄末幼虫48 h,对U6的表达水平无显著影响。【结论】小菜蛾U6表达水平不受不同发育阶段和不同杀虫药剂处理的影响,符合作为内参基因的基本特点,可作为定量PCR法评价小菜蛾miRNA或其他非编码小分子RNA表达水平的内参基因。研究结果为小菜蛾miRNA表达水平的准确定量奠定了基础。     

Influence of some pesticides on mortality and fecundity of the aphidophagous coccinellid Adalia bipunctata L. (Col., Coccinellidae)

The influence of 30 pesticides (insecticides, acaricides and fungicides) on different stages of Adalia bipunctata was evaluated under laboratory conditions by: (1) immersing individuals for 5 s in the pesticide solution; (2) placing the second and fourth instar larvae on leaves picked from trees treated with the pesticide; and (3) feeding adult coccinellids with aphids contaminated by a recommended concentration of the pesticide. Fenpropathrin, alphacypermethrin, esfenvalerate, acrinathrin, phosalone and propoxur + methoxychlor caused high mortality (up to 100%) not only by direct contact but also as fresh residues on leaves, or even 28 days after application. The mortality also varied with stage and mode of treatment. Feeding with aphids contaminated by fenpropathrin, clofentezine, hexythiazox, brompropylate and vinclozolin decreased the coccinellid fecundity.     

Effects of Bt-toxin Cry1Ac on Propylaea japonica Thunberg (Col., Coccinellidae) by feeding on Bt-treated Bt-resistant Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae) larvae

Abstract:  Propylaea japonica is an important predatory insect of common cotton pests. To assess the ecological effects of transgenic Bt cotton, expressing Cry1Ac toxin, on this predator, we examined the life history parameters of P. japonica for two generations by feeding them with Bt-resistant Helicoverpa armigera . After ingesting Bt-treated Bt-resistant H. armigera larvae in the third and fourth instar, the body mass and body length of adult P. japonica decreased, a combined effect of poor prey quality and Cry1Ac Bt-toxin may account for these effects. However, larval survivorship and development in these two instars, pupal mortality, fecundity and adult longevity of P. japonica were not affected in both the generations. These results suggest that ingesting Bt-toxin Cry1Ac-treated pests in advanced larval stage might have no significant effect on the fitness of predator P. japonica .     

Dispersal of Podisus nigrispinus (Het., Pentatomidae) nymphs preying on tomato leafminer: effect of predator release time, density and satiation level

Abstract:   The dispersal potential of nymphal stinkbug, Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas, 1851) (Het., Pentatomidae) preying on larvae of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lep., Gelechiidae) was studied in an open-sided greenhouse. The parameters investigated were (1) the density of nymphs released per plant (one or five); (2) the release time (0600 and 1800 h); and (3) predator satiation level (satiated and 24-h-starved nymphs). Tomato plants were infested with larvae of the tomato leafminer (one third or fourth instar per leaf). The evaluations started 30 min after the release of predators second instar and hourly evaluations were carried out over 36 and 24 h for release times of 0600 and 1800 h, respectively. Starved nymphs released in the morning, either alone or in groups of five, dispersed faster than satiated nymphs. All of the starved individuals had left the plant by the end of the observation period, whereas 25 and 36% of the satiated nymphs released alone and in groups, respectively, stayed on the plant until the end of the observation period. Both satiated and starved nymphs showed slower rates of dispersal when released at 1800 h. Satiated nymphs delayed prey attack up to 9 h, whereas starved individuals started to attack T. absoluta caterpillars 1 h after their release at both densities. Our findings suggest more effective biological control of T. absoluta is possible with the release of second instar nymphs of P. nigrispinus when starved for 24 h prior to release and then released either in the morning or in the evening.     

Interaction of Acronicta rumicis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its larval parasitoid, Glyptapanteles liparidis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

As a result of parasitism by Glyptapanteles liparidis in the first, second, third and fourth instar larvae of Acronicta rumicis, the mortality of each larval stage was found to be 46.67, 90, 71 and 16.67%, respectively. The mortality was highest when G. liparidis parasitized the second and third instar larvae. The difference in mortality between the parasitized group and the control group was 72.14% in the second instar larvae. With regards to the food consumption of the parasitized larvae, the first and second instar larvae consumed 6495.58 ± 646.52 mm² (leaf surface) and 7951.12 ± 4167.36 mm², respectively, while the third and fourth larvae consumed 13 826.77 ± 3396.66 mm² and 18 599.85 mm², respectively, showing that food consumption increased with instar stages of the host larvae. The clutch size of G. liparidis increased in relation to the instar stages of the host: it was 25.25 ± 7.89, 48.65 ± 53.75, 91.09 ± 44.52 and 114 individuals when they were fed with the first, second, third and the fourth instar larvae of the host, respectively.     

A Ribeiroia spp. (class: Trematoda)--specific PCR-based diagnostic

Increased reporting of amphibian malformations in North America has been noted with concern in light of reports that amphibian numbers and species are declining worldwide. Ribeiroia ondatrae has been shown to cause a variety of types of malformations in amphibians. However, little is known about the prevalence of R. ondatrae in North America. To aid in conducting field studies of Ribeiroia spp., we have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic. Herein, we describe the development of an accurate, rapid, simple, and cost-effective diagnostic for detection of Ribeiroia spp. infection in snails (Planorbella trivolvis). Candidate oligonucleotide primers for PCR were designed via DNA sequence analyses of multiple ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-2 regions from Ribeiroia spp. and Echinostoma spp. Comparison of consensus sequences determined from both genera identified areas of sequence potentially unique to Ribeiroia spp. The PCR reliably produced a diagnostic 290-base pair (bp) product in the presence of a wide concentration range of snail or frog DNA. Sensitivity was examined with DNA extracted from single R. ondatrae cercaria. The single-tube PCR could routinely detect less than 1 cercariae equivalent, because DNA isolated from a single cercaria could be diluted at least 1:50 and still yield a positive result via gel electrophoresis. An even more sensitive nested PCR also was developed that routinely detected 100 fg of the 290-bp fragment. The assay did not detect furcocercous cercariae of certain Schistosomatidae, Echinostoma sp., or Sphaeridiotrema globulus nor adults of Clinostomum sp. or Cyathocotyle bushiensis. Field testing of 137 P. trivolvis identified 3 positives with no overt environmental cross-reactivity, and results concurred with microscopic examinations in all cases.     

小菜蛾抑制性谷氨酸受体的RNA干扰

谷氨酸门控的氯离子通道（glutamate-gated chloride channels, GluCls）或抑制性谷氨酸受体（inhibitory glutamate receptor, IGluR）是阿维菌素类药剂（avermectins）主要的作用靶标, 目前人们对于昆虫的IGluR知之甚少。本实验采用RNA干扰（RNAi）技术对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella IGluR的功能进行了初步研究。结果表明： 小菜蛾2龄和3龄幼虫中双链RNA（dsRNA）的最佳注射量分别为50.6 nL和71.3 nL。实时荧光定量（quantitative real-time PCR, qRT-PCR）检测结果表明, 2龄和3龄幼虫在注射dsRNA 36 h和24 h后IGluR基因的转录后水平分别下降了32.67%和49.30%。幼虫发生RNA干扰后对阿维菌素的敏感性结果显示, 注射了IGluR dsRNA的幼虫死亡率显著低于对照。结果说明, 小菜蛾IGluR是阿维菌素的潜在靶标之一, 为进一步阐明小菜蛾对阿维菌素靶标抗性机理奠定了基础。     

Evaluation of Serangium n. sp. (Col., Coccinellidae), a predator of Bemisia tabaci (Hom., Aleyrodidae) on cassava

Abstract  The potential of a new, previously unidentified Serangium species (Col., Coccinellidae) to control the high Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hom., Aleyrodidae) populations on cassava was evaluated. Field and laboratory studies were carried out to determine the abundance and feeding capacity of this Serangium species feeding on B. tabaci on cassava. Serangium nymphs and adults were most abundant in cassava fields late in the season, rising sharply from 5 months after planting (MAP) to a peak at 7–8 MAP. Pre-imaginal development averaged 21.2 days and was longest in eggs and shortest in the L₁ instar. Mean total prey consumption of immature Serangium increased with the stage of development with the lowest consumption in the L₁ instar and highest in the L₄ instar. Mean daily consumption was lowest on the first day after hatching in the L₁ instar and rose to a peak on the 13th day after hatching in the L₄ instar. Each Serangium larva consumed a mean of over 1000 nymphs during its entire development. These results have demonstrated the potential of this Serangium species to control B. tabaci populations on cassava.     

Purification and Amplification of DNA from Penaeus monodon-Type Baculovirus (MBV)

The purpose of this paper was to purify and amplify the DNA fragment of Penaeus monodon -type baculovirus (MBV). Using 30-50% caesium chloride gradients, MBV virions and occlusion bodies with density parameters of 1.28-1.29 and 1.32-1.33 g/ml, respectively, were purified. Two oligonucleotide primers have been successfully designed and utilized for the amplification of a DNA fragment of MBV. After 35 amplification cycles of the MBV DNA fragment, a large amount of amplified product with an approximate molecular weight of 600 bp was obtained. This is the first successfully published work on the amplification of MBV using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the same primers, DNA extracted from MBV noninfected P. monodon, P. japonicus, and P. orientalis had a negative PCR response. However, a positive PCR response was obtained from DNA extracted from MBV-infected postlarval P. monodon. DIG-dot blot hybridization technique using PCR product obtained from the present study as a probe further confirmed that the product is originated from a portion of MBV polyhedrin gene. It is also suggested that PCR product may be beneficial for an accurate and early diagnosis of MBV infection in larval shrimp.     

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a sucrose isomerase (isomaltulose synthase) gene from Enterobacter sp. FMB-1

Aims:  Isomaltulose (palatinose) is a slowly digestible sucrose isomer that can reduce both the glycemic and insulinemic response to foods. The aim of this study was to clone and express a sucrose isomerase (SIase) gene and characterize the protein that is responsible for the production of isomaltulose in the micro-organism Enterobacter sp. FMB-1.
Methods and Results:  A cosmid clone containing c. 6 kbp region encoding an SIase gene was identified. The 5969-bp chromosomal DNA fragment covering the SIase ( esi ) gene in Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 was sequenced. Although this DNA fragment contained several open reading frames other than esi , only the presence of esi was sufficient to produce isomaltulose in recombinant Escherichia coli . The esi gene was expressed in E. coli , leading to the characterization of its SIase activity.
Conclusions:  The Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 esi gene was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli . This gene encoded a functional SIase that produced isomaltulose from sucrose.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first molecular analysis of an SIase gene in an Enterobacter strain. The functional expression of the Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 esi gene in E. coli offers an alternative choice for the industrial production of isomaltulose.     

DNA diagnostics to identify internal feeders (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) of pome fruits of quarantine importance

A diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is presented for differentiating among the North American internal apple-feeding pests codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.); oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck); lesser appleworm, Grapholita prunivora (Walsh); and cherry fruitworm, Grapholita packardi Zeller. An approximately 470-bp fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) was sequenced in three to six specimens of each species. Consistent and diagnostic differences were observed among the species in two regions of COI from which forward and reverse primers were designed to amplify a 112-116-bp segment of the gene. The primer sets were used to selectively amplify DNA from specimens of diverse geographic origin for each corresponding target species. Protocols were adapted for conventional and quantitative PCR, the latter being substantially faster. The method was validated as a decision-making tool for quarantine identifications for Mexico by representatives of their phytosanitary agency (Sanidad Vegetal). The method can facilitate identification of intercepted internal feeding Lepidoptera in apple and pear for many other importing nations.     

Partial Sequence of Acid Phosphatase-11 Gene (Aps-11) Linked to Nematode Resistance Gene (Mi) of Tomato

A partial amino acid sequence of acid phosphatase-1¹ (apase-1¹), one of acid phosphatase isozymes of tomato, was identified. This information enabled us to synthesize degenerated primer pools of oligonucleotides for polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using cDNA for poly(A)⁺ RNA of tomato leaves as a template. As a result, a 135-bp, then a 467-bp PCR product were obtained. Nucleotide sequencing of these two PCR products gave a total of 522-bp sequence that was identified as a part of the Asp-1¹ gene judging from the amino acid sequence deduced from it. Using the 135-bp PCR product as a probe, we detected the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in two different lines of tomato by genomic Southern blot analysis. We also did pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Southern blot analysis to search for suitable fragments to clone into a YAC vector. As a result, a single band with a size that could be cloned into a YAC vector was detected when the genomic DNA was digested with some kinds of restriction enzymes.