Effects of polymorphic melanism and larval diet on life history traits of Malacosoma disstria moths

In this study we investigated the presence and possible genetic basis of polymorphic melanism in the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) moth. Adult moths were classified into pattern-based phenotypes and wing darkness was measured to quantify the degree of melanization. We found that two distinct phenotypes, melanic and simple, are present in these moths. Although the full melanic phenotype is sex-limited to males, it is partially expressed in females. We also provide support for the theory that the melanic allele is autosomal and dominant. The effects of larval diet quality on the survival, development and wing melanization of each phenotype were studied by rearing larvae on the foliage of either a primary or secondary host. Diet quality did not differentially affect the two phenotypes; however, melanic males were found to be smaller than simple males regardless of larval diet. Such inherent developmental differences between the two phenotypes could have important consequences for the frequencies of the two morphs.     

Occluded and free virions in midgut cells of Malacosoma disstria infected with cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis virus (CPV)

The proportion of occluded virions and free virions in infected midgut cells of Malacosoma disstria was determined at advanced stages (10 days) of cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis virus infection. In infected cells, less than 30% of the virions were occluded within polyhedral bodies, and more than 70% were found as free forms. In virus with uridine-³H, it was found that free virions were labeled more quickly than those occluded in polyhedra. Occlusion of virions within the protein matrix of the polyhedral inclusion body did not occur until 5–10 hr after the appearance of free virions.     

Responses of natural enemies to experimentally increased populations of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria

1. The responses of predators and parasitoids to increased forest tent caterpillar populations were studied by introducing eggs to two trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., forests where natural populations were at very low density.
2. Of five parasitoid species recovered, only the braconid Aleiodes malacosomatos (Mason) and the tachinid Patelloa pachypyga (Aldrich & Webber) exhibited spatially density-dependent responses, in dry upland forest and mesic lowland forest, respectively. Forest type restrictions on the abundance of these species and the weak density-dependent response by A. malacosomatos suggests that parasitoids may not be capable of regulating low-density tent caterpillar populations.
3. Predation of final-instar larvae and pupae by birds, in particular the northern oriole, Icterus galbula (L.), virtually eliminated the experimental populations. Avian predation was widespread and dominated mortality at all densities.
4. Implications for the initiation of outbreaks of cyclic defoliators are discussed.     

Macrogeographic clines in fecundity, reproductive allocation, and offspring size of the forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria

1. The fecundity of the forest tent caterpillar varies considerably across its geographic range. Field data indicate that populations in the southern United States (Gulf States) produce nearly twice as many eggs as females from Canada or the Lake States, with little or no difference in the size of adult females. 2. In controlled rearing experiments, female forest tent caterpillar from the southern United States (Louisiana) had much larger clutch sizes than same sized females from northern populations in Michigan or Manitoba, Canada. Increased fecundity in Louisiana females was achieved through a significant reduction in egg size and a concomitant increase in the allocation of resources to egg production. 3. Comparison of 10 forest tent caterpillar populations spanning a 27° latitudinal gradient, validated the results of detailed comparisons among the three populations above by confirming the strong negative correlation between latitude and clutch size. 4. Neonate forest tent caterpillars from Manitoba were significantly larger than larvae from either Michigan or Louisiana. Michigan larvae were intermediate in size. It is postulated that large neonates are advantageous in thermally limiting environments. More than three times as many degree‐days are available to Louisiana neonates during the first 2 weeks after hatching. A consistently favourable climate during the vulnerable post‐hatching period may have allowed the evolution of larger clutches at the expense of neonate size in southern populations.     

Isolation and characterization of ethanol tolerant yeast strains

Yeast strains are commonly associated with sugar rich environments. Various fruit samples were selected as source for isolating yeast cells. The isolated cultures were identified at Genus level by colony morphology, biochemical characteristics and cell morphological characters. An attempt has been made to check the viability of yeast cells under different concentrations of ethanol. Ethanol tolerance of each strain was studied by allowing the yeast to grow in liquid YEPD (Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose) medium having different concentrations of ethanol. A total of fifteen yeast strains isolated from different samples were used for the study. Seven strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained from different fruit sources were screened for ethanol tolerance. The results obtained in this study show a range of tolerance levels between 7%-12% in all the stains. Further, the cluster analysis based on 22 RAPD (Random Amplified polymorphic DNA) bands revealed polymorphisms in these seven Saccharomyces strains.     

Chromosomal characterisation of five lepidopteran cell lines of Malacosoma disstria (Lasiocampidae) and Christoneura fumiferana (Tortricidae).

Chromosome number and morphology have been examined in four established cell lines (Md63, Md66, Md108, and Md109) of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hübner, and one (Cf124) of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens). Chromosome number distributions of Md63 (mode = 112) Md108 (mode = 103), Md109 (mode= 103), and Cf124 (mode = 110) overlap sufficiently to prevent identification of individual lines by number alone. However, Md66 is exceptional in possessing a modal number of 157. One large chromosome occurs in cells of all lines. The presence of this chromosome, the lack of any distinct polyploid series among chromosome numbers encountered, and the general inverse relationship between number and size of chromosomes, suggest that the high level of heteroploidy characteristic of these and other lepidopteran cell lines reflects not only a possible polyploid origin but also extensive chromosomal rearrangement and fragmentation. Tolerance for such change is attributed to the holokinetic organisation of lepidopteran chromosomes. A distinct heteropycnotic body is present in about 10% of Cf124 cell nuclei, and can be used as a marker for this line. This body may represent the sex chromatin normally encountered in somatic cells of female C. fumiferana.     

Isolation and characterization of Hfr strains of Erwinia amylovora

Hfr strains (Hfr 159 and its derivatives, Hfr 160 and Hfr 161) were constructed from Erwinia amylovora ICPB EA178 by introducing an Escherichia coli F'his+ plasmid and then selecting for integration of F'his+ after treatment with acridine orange. The Hfr strains were relatively stable upon repeated transfers on nonselective media. Interrupted mating experiments and analyses of inheritance of unselected markers showed that his+ is transferred by Hfr 159 as the proximal marker at a relatively high frequency (about 5 x 10(-4) recombinants per input donor cell), followed by ilv+, orn+, arg+, pro+, rbs+, met+, trp+, leu+, ser+, and thr+ (not necessarily in that precise order). The donor strains, previously constructed in E. amylovora by integration of F'lac+ from E. coli transfer cys+ as the proximal marker followed by ser+. Further analysis of one of those earlier donor strains, Hfr99, showed that ser+ is followed by arg+, orn+, met+, pro+, leu+, ilv+, rbs+, his+, trp+, and thr+ (not necessarily in that precise order). Thus, the Hfr strains constructed by integration of F'his+ are different, in terms of origin and direction of transfer, from those derived from integration of F'lac+. The applicability of these Hfr strains to mapping the genes on the E. amylovora chromosome is indicated.     

五种假单胞菌的分离鉴定及其生物活性

【目的】从湖南长沙市采集到的土样中分离假单胞菌并进行归类,研究各菌株抑菌和抗肿瘤生物活性,以丰富假单胞菌菌种资源并为微生物次级代谢物的挖掘奠定基础。【方法】采用大蜡螟诱集法诱集分离假单胞菌,结合形态观察、生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析,鉴定并归类各细菌,通过平板扩散法、对峙培养法和肿瘤细胞毒性试验分别研究各菌株抑制细菌、拮抗真菌和抗肿瘤细胞等生物活性。【结果】从湖南长沙市郊区菜地、林地中分离得到5株假单胞菌,归类并命名为Pseudomonas protegens CY01、绿针假单胞菌CY02(Pseudomonas chlororaphis CY02)、栖稻假单胞菌CY04(Pseudomonas oryzihabitans CY04)、Pseudomonas sp.CY05和恶臭假单胞菌CY06(Pseudomonas putida CY06)。P.protegens CY01和P.chlororaphis CY02对枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtillis)和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)具有较好的抑菌效果,P.chlororaphis CY02对水稻稻瘟病菌(Pyricularia oryzae)具有良好的拮抗作用,对小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16具有较强的细胞毒性。【结论】分离得到的P.chlororaphis CY02,在抑制病原细菌、拮抗水稻稻瘟病菌和抗肿瘤细胞等方面具有显著效果。     

Isolation and initial characterization of thermotolerant methylotrophic Bacillus strains

Abstract Using inocula from a variety of sources, mixed cultures of methanol-utilizing Bacillus strains were enriched readily at 55°C. Isolation of pure cultures was difficult; the six strains that were obtained eventually in pure culture all possessed the RuMP pathway, grew rapidly on methanol at temperatures up to 60° C, and were tolerant to very high methanol concentrations. An NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase appeared to be involved in the initial oxidation of methanol.     

两株海洋蛭弧菌的分离及生物学性质

[目的]从深圳湾海泥中分离鉴定蛭弧菌,并对其生物学性质进行初步研究.[方法]通过稀释营养肉汤(dilute nutrient broth,DNB)双层平板法分离蛭弧菌,对所分离的菌株进行电镜形态观测,并进行16S rDNA测序分析,之后结合1994年版伯杰氏鉴定细菌学手册对菌株进行鉴定,最后通过生理试验对其生物学性质进行研究.[结果]从深圳湾海泥中分离出2株蛭弧菌,分别命名为5#-12和5#-sh06,它们可在20℃～35℃范围内生长,最适温度分别是25℃和30℃;生长pH范围6.1～8.6,最适pH均为7.2;2株蛭弧菌可分别裂解46和48株试验菌,各占总试验菌株数(58)的79.3%和82.8%;联合2株蛭弧菌,可裂解56株试验菌,占总试验菌株数的96.6%;同时,它们一起能将所有试验弧菌裂解.[结论]研究结果揭示了蛭弧菌作为一种生物净化因子具有极大的潜在应用价值.     

Isolation and characterization of novel bacterial strains exhibiting ligninolytic potential

Background

The number of biotransformations that use nicotinamide recycling systems is exponentially growing. For this reason one of the current challenges in biocatalysis is to develop and optimize more simple and efficient cofactor recycling systems. One promising approach to regenerate NAD⁺ pools is the use of NADH-oxidases that reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide while oxidizing NADH to NAD⁺. This class of enzymes may be applied to asymmetric reduction of prochiral substrates in order to obtain enantiopure compounds.

Results

The NADH-oxidase (NOX) presented here is a flavoenzyme which needs exogenous FAD or FMN to reach its maximum velocity. Interestingly, this enzyme is 6-fold hyperactivated by incubation at high temperatures (80°C) under limiting concentrations of flavin cofactor, a change that remains stable even at low temperatures (37°C). The hyperactivated form presented a high specific activity (37.5 U/mg) at low temperatures despite isolation from a thermophile source. Immobilization of NOX onto agarose activated with glyoxyl groups yielded the most stable enzyme preparation (6-fold more stable than the hyperactivated soluble enzyme). The immobilized derivative was able to be reactivated under physiological conditions after inactivation by high solvent concentrations. The inactivation/reactivation cycle could be repeated at least three times, recovering full NOX activity in all cases after the reactivation step. This immobilized catalyst is presented as a recycling partner for a thermophile alcohol dehydrogenase in order to perform the kinetic resolution secondary alcohols.

Conclusion

We have designed, developed and characterized a heterogeneous and robust biocatalyst which has been used as recycling partner in the kinetic resolution of rac-1-phenylethanol. The high stability along with its capability to be reactivated makes this biocatalyst highly re-useable for cofactor recycling in redox biotransformations.     

Isolation and characterization of Flavobacterium strains that degrade pentachlorophenol.

Bacteria able to mineralize 100 to 200 ppm of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were isolated by selective enrichment from PCP-contaminated soils from three geographic areas of Minnesota. Although differing somewhat in their responses to various biochemical and biophysical tests, all strains were assigned to the genus Flavobacterium. Five representative strains were examined in detail. All strains metabolized PCP as a sole source of carbon and energy; 73 to 83% of all carbon in the form of [U-14C]PCP was returned as 14CO2, with full liberation of chlorine as chloride. A comparison between strains in their ability to metabolize PCP showed some strains to be more efficient than others. Guanine-plus-cytosine contents of DNA ranged from 58.8 to 63.8%, and DNA/DNA hybridization studies with total DNA digests suggested substantial genetic homology between strains. All strains were shown to possess an 80- to 100-kilobase plasmid, and evidence suggested the presence of a larger plasmid (greater than 200 kilobases).     

Isolation and characterization of Rhodobacter capsulatus strains lacking endogenous plasmids

Phodobacter capsulatus (formerly Rhodopseudomonas capsulata) strain B10 was found to contain a single plasmid of molecular weight 86×10⁶. Strains lacking this plasmids were isolated by various methods from strains containing the mutant R plasmid, pTH10. With the exception of two strains, which were found to contain chromosomal insertions of R plasmid DNA, strains lacking the endogenous plasmid appeared to be unaffected in any of the following metabolic or genetic functions: photosynthetic, autotrophic, diazotrophic, and dark, anaerobic growth; the production of bacteriocin; homologous recombination; the restriction of foreign DNA; and the production of gene transfer agent. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments confirmed that the plasmid had been eliminated from these strains and not become integrated into the chromose. However, sequences homologous to those of the endogenous plasmid were found to be present in the chromosome of R. capsulatus B10. This suggests, among other possibilities, that the endogenous plasmid may have originated in the chromosome, and might serve to duplicate certain chromosomal functions.Abbreviations kb kilobase-pair - GTA gene transfer agent - Cma chromosome mobilizing ability     

Intermitochondrial bridge junctions in fat body cells of the pre-hatch larvae of the forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria HBN.

An electron microscopic feature of fat body cells of diapausing Malacosoma disstria pre-hatch caterpillars, experimentally held at certain controlled time-and-temperature conditions, is an elaborate bridge junction, between mitochondria, strikingly similar in appearance to the septate junction which has frequently been described as occurring between cells of many invertebrate species. It is suggested that the intermitochondrial unctions may well represent elaborate forms of interaction between organelles in order to enhance metabolic efficiency in times of stress.     

Host locating behaviour of Leschenaultia exul and Patelloa pachypyga: two tachinid parasitoids of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria

Leschenaultia exul (Townsend) and Patelloa pachypyga (Aldrich & Webber) (Diptera: Tachinidae) are the principal larval parasitoids of the forest tent caterpillar (FTC) Malacosoma disstria (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) in Canada. The response of these two fly species to M. disstria differs depending on the tree species on which the host feeds. In wind tunnel experiments, L. exul spent more time on the side of the tunnel containing volatiles from FTC frass and was attracted to the FTC-aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides Michx.) complex preferentially to the FTC-balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) complex. Field bioassays confirmed that this fly species was preferentially attracted to the herbivore-aspen poplar complex as compared to the herbivore-balsam poplar complex. In field bioassays, P. pachypyga was also attracted preferentially to aspen poplar trees containing FTC larvae, compared to balsam poplar trees with host larvae.     

Isolation and characterization of capsule structure mutant strains of Cryptococcus neoformans

The capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans is the most obvious virulence factor of this pathogenic yeast. The main capsule constituents are glucuronoxylomannans (GXM). Although several studies have focused on GXM composition and structure, very little is known about their genetics. To elucidate the relationship between the capsule structure and the pathophysiology of the cryptococcosis, genetic screening for mutant strains producing a structurally modified capsule was set up. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for different capsule sugar epitopes, we isolated strains with different mutated capsule structures (Cas mutants). According to their reactivities with various monoclonal antibodies, the mutants were classified into six groups (Cas1 to Cas6). One Cas2 mutant was used to clone the corresponding gene by complementation. This gene (USX1) encodes the previously identified UDP-xylose synthase. We demonstrated that it is necessary for both capsule xylosylation and C. neoformans virulence.