Reoccurrence of the microsporidan Perezia pyraustae in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, reared on diet containing fumidil B

Fumidil B suppressed the level of Perezia pyraustae infection in the larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, while they were feeding on diet containing the drug. After feeding ceased and the gut was emptied of diet containing Fumidil B, the level of infection again increased. Drug levels of 1000 and 1500 ppm in the meridic diet significantly reduced the mean level of P. pyraustae in the adult stage as compared with lower drug levels of 200 and 500 ppm. The level of infection increased throughout the pupal and adult stages, but during the pupal stage it increased much faster in the female than in the male. The rapid increase in the level of infection in the female is discussed in relation to transovariole transmission to the next generation.     

On the spatial distribution, feeding and reproduction of the vermetid gastropod Dendropoma maximum

D. maximum is a dominant species of outer reef flats in the Red Sea, reaching densities of about 22/m² and biomass of 15.8 g dry tissue/m². A few individuals attached to loose rocks are found inside the breaker zone but they may have been dislodged by heavy seas from the outer reef flat. D. maximum feeds from a mucus net which is spread by wave action over the substratum. Hauling the net occurs at approximately 13 minute intervals throughout the 24 hours and lasts about two minutes. Neighbours with overlapping nets stimulate each other to haul and reduce feeding efficiency. The net is grasped by a pair of lateral jaws, tugged free of the substratum by rotation of the body and ingested by a zipper-like action of the lateral and marginal radula teeth. The robust, central and lateral teeth become worn, possibly while channelling out the substratum to accommodate new shell. Defaecation occurs about 2.4 times an hour, amounting to 10450 kcal/m²/y. Females may brood simultaneously at least 11 egg capsules at various stages of development, which are suspended by stalks from the roof of the shell and pass through a dorsal slit in the mantle. Each capsule contains–500 embryos which develop into larvae with simple, coiled shells 0.33 mm in diameter. There is no planktonic phase. Adult shells amount to 2.5 kg/m² on the outer reef flat, while dead shells are often occupied by blennies. Although D. maximum is not a specialized filter feeder, the highly developed ciliary mechanisms suggest that filtering may be an auxiliary feeding method.     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes in rat hepatoma-mouse fibroblast hybrids

A study of aldehyde dehydrogenase in rat hepatoma cells and rat hepatoma-mouse fibroblast hybrids revealed that the hepatoma cells had activity comparable to that found in whole rat liver and that the enzyme activity was suppressed in early hybrids and reappeared following chromosome loss. Starch gel electrophoresis and heat inactivation studies showed that a new form of enzyme was produced in the hybrids, possibly a heteropolymorphic combination between the HTC enzyme and a previously repressed mouse form. Staining methods for starch gel electrophoresis and histochemical detection of aldehyde dehydrogenase are described.This work was supported by grants from the Damon Runyon Foundation (DRG 1088s) and the Public Health Service (1-R01-Ca 12310-02).     

Correlation Between Degradation of Bacteriophage T2 Deoxyribonucleic Acid and the Resistance of Escherichia coli to Infection

The ability of certain strains of Escherichia coli to degrade T2 deoxyribonucleic acid to acid-soluble fragments is correlated with their high capacity to survive T2 infection.     

Androgen sulphate formation in male and female mice

1. After the administration of large doses of androsterone, epiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone to mice, females excreted more of the dose conjugated with sulphuric acid than did males. 2. Liver slices from female mice conjugated androgens with sulphuric acid to a greater extent than did slices from males. 3. Sulphotransferase preparations from livers of female rats and mice catalysed the formation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate at a faster rate than preparations from livers of the male animals. 4. A possible explanation for the observed sex differences is discussed.