Effects of temperature on the establishment potential of the predatory mite Amblyseius californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in the UK

Amblyseius californicus was introduced into the UK in the early 1990s as a biocontrol agent against glasshouse red spider mite Tetranychus urticae. This study investigated the effects of temperature on the establishment potential of A. californicus in the UK in the light of recent reports of their successful overwintering outside of glasshouse environments. The developmental thresholds were 9.9 and 8.6 °C respectively using simple and weighted linear regression. Using the day-degree requirement per generation calculated by weighted regression (143 day-degrees) in combination with climate data, it was estimated that up to seven generations would be possible annually outdoors in the UK. Non-diapausing adult females froze at −22 °C, with 100% mortality after reaching their freezing temperature. Up to 90% of mites died before freezing after short exposures to low temperatures. Significant acclimation responses occurred; 90% of acclimated individuals survived 26 days exposure at 0 °C and 11 days at −5 °C (acclimated mites were reared at 19 °C, 6L:18D followed by 1 week at 10 °C, 12L:12D). Non-diapausing adult females survived over 3 months outdoors in winter under sheltered conditions and oviposition was observed. The experimental protocol used in this study is discussed as a pre-release screen for the establishment potential of other Amblyseius species, and similar non-native biocontrol agents.     

The role of corticotropin-releasing factor receptors in stress and anxiety

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a critical integratorof the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in responseto stress. CRF and its related molecule urocortin (UCN) bindCRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRFR2 with distinct affinities. Micedeficient for CRFR1 or CRFR2 were generated in order to determinethe physiological role of these receptors. While CRFR1-mutantmice show a depleted stress response and display anxiolytic-likebehavior, CRFR2-mutant mice are hypersensitive to stress anddisplay anxiogenic-like behavior. Both CRFR1- and CRFR2-mutantmice show normal basal feeding and weight gain, but CRFR2-mutantmice exhibit decreased food intake following a stress of fooddeprivation. While CRFR2-mutant mice display increased levelsof CRF mRNA in the central nucleus of the amygdala (cAmyg) butnot in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN),the CRFR1-mutant mice express high levels of CRF in the PVNbut normal levels in the cAmyg. CRFR2-mutant mice also displayincreased levels of Ucn mRNA and protein in the edinger westphalnucleus (EW) as well as an increased number of cells expressingUcn. The levels of these CRF-receptor ligands reflect the stateof the receptor-deficient mice. These results demonstrate apossible modulatory function of CRFR2 in response to CRFR1 stimulationof the HPA axis or anxiety.     

Familial clustering of rheumatoid arthritis with other autoimmune diseases

Previous studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis aggregates within families. However, no formal genetic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis in pedigrees together with other autoimmune diseases has been reported. We hypothesized that there are genetic factors in common in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Results of odds-ratio regression and complex segregation analysis in a sample of 43 Caucasian pedigrees ascertained through a rheumatoid arthritis proband or matched control proband, revealed a very strong genetic influence on the occurrence of both rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. In an analysis of rheumatoid arthritis alone, only one inter-class measure, parent–sibling, resulted in positive evidence of aggregation. However, three inter-class measures (parent–sibling, sibling–offspring, and parent–offspring pairs) showed significant evidence of familial aggregation with odds-ratio regression analysis of rheumatoid arthritis together with all other autoimmune diseases. Segregation analysis of rheumatoid arthritis alone revealed that the mixed model, including both polygenic and major gene components, was the most parsimonious. Similarly, segregation analysis of rheumatoid arthritis together with other autoimmune diseases revealed that a mixed model fitted the data significantly better than either major gene or polygenic models. These results were consistent with a previous study which concluded that several genes, including one with a major effect, is responsible for rheumatoid arthritis in families. Our data showed that this conclusion also held when the phenotype was defined as rheumatoid arthritis and/or other autoimmune diseases, suggesting that several major autoimmune diseases result from pleiotropic effects of a single major gene on a polygenic background. Received: 12 January 1998 / Accepted: 10 June 1998     

Structure, function, and motility of vacuoles in filamentous fungi

Current information on the structure and function of motile tubular vacuoles in Pisolithus tinctorius and other fungi is reviewed. The use of fluorochromes to label the vacuole lumen is evaluated and observations on the structure and motility of vacuoles in P. tinctorius are differentiated from possible artifacts. The styryl dyes FM4-64 and MDY-64, used in yeast to demonstrate endocytosis, show little or no labeling of internal membranes in undamaged P. tinctorius cells. This agrees with our data showing that other probes for endocytosis such as Lucifer yellow CH are not taken up by hyphal tip cells. Overall, the observations do not support endocytosis in hyphal tips. It has been suggested that tubular vacuole systems carry out longitudinal transport, and evidence in favor of this hypothesis is evaluated. New data are presented to show that many of the large vacuoles in subapical cells are attached to the plasma membrane and are relatively immobile, while video sequences show movement of fluorochrome in pulses along a series of several large vacuoles, all interconnected via tubules. Tubular vacuoles from thick sections of hyphae processed under anhydrous conditions are shown by X-ray microanalysis to contain relatively high levels of P and K, as seen previously in the larger vacuoles. These results provide further evidence for a role of the tubular vacuoles in longitudinal transport of P. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Rapid and sensitive GC/MS characterization of glycolipid released Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated oligosaccharides from small organ specimens of a single pig

Pig to human xenotransplantation is considered a possible solution to the prevailing chronic lack of human donor organs for allotransplantation. The Galalpha1,3Gal determinant is the major porcine xenogeneic epitope causing hyperacute rejection following human antibody binding and complement activation. In order to characterize the tissue distribution of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing and blood group- type glycosphingolipids in pig, acid and nonacid glycosphingolipids were isolated from the kidney, small intestine, spleen, salivary gland, liver, and heart of a single pig obtained from a semi-inbred strain homozygous at the SLA locus. Glycolipids were analyzed by thin-layer immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies, and following ceramide glycanase cleavage as permethylated oligosaccharides by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and matrix- assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The kidney contained large amounts of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing penta- and hexasaccharides having carbohydrate sequences consistent with the Galalpha1,3nLc4and Galalpha1,3Lexstructures, respectively. The former structure was tentatively identified in all organs by GC/MS. The presence of extended Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated structures in the kidney and heart was suggested by antibody binding, and GC/MS indicated the presence of a Galalpha1,3nLc6structure in the heart. The kidney, spleen, and heart contained blood group H pentaglycosylceramides based on type 1 (H-5-1) and type 2 (H-5-2) chains, and H hexaglycosylceramides based on the type 4 chain (H-6-4). In the intestine H-5-1 and H-6-4 were expressed, in the salivary gland H-5-1 and H-5-2, whereas only the H-5-1 structure was identified in the liver. Blood group A structures were identified in the salivary gland and the heart by antibody binding and GC/MS, indicating an organ- specific expression of blood group AH antigens in the pig.      

Molecular definition of a chromosome 9p21 germ-line deletion in a woman with multiple melanomas and a plexiform neurofibroma: implications for 9p tumor-suppressor gene(s).

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is often familial, but the mode of inheritance and the chromosomal location of melanoma susceptibility locus are controversial. Identification of a 34-year-old woman with eight primary malignant melanomas, multiple atypical moles, and a de novo constitutional cytogenetic rearrangement involving chromosomes 5p and 9p suggested the presence of a melanoma predisposition gene at one of these locations. A high-resolution karyotype showed a partial deletion of a dark-staining Giemsa band, either 5p14 or 9p21. The patient was heterozygous for five 5p14 RFLPs. In situ hybridization with D9S3 indicated that this 9p21 marker was deleted. Gene dosage studies demonstrated the deletion of two more distal 9p21 markers, D9S126 and IFNA. In addition, she was hemizygous for the more proximal 9p21 short tandem-repeat polymorphism at D9S104. D9S18, D9S19, and D9S33 were retained, localizing the deletion to 9p21 between D9S19 on the proximal side and D9S33 on the distal side. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with D9S19 and D9S33 did not reveal any junction fragments in the patient's DNA. This germ-line deletion suggests that mutations in a 9p21 gene may initiate melanoma tumorigenesis.     

Motility and eosin uptake of formaldehyde-treated ram spermatozoa

A concentration of 0.005% formaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) achieved complete immobilization of ram spermatozoa while also yielding good recovery of sperm motility after removal by washing. At a higher formaldehyde concentration (0.01%) recovery rate declined with increasing dilution rate. Incubation of spermatozoa in PBS containing 0.005% formaldehyde beyond 6 h at 5, 15 or 25 degrees C resulted in poor recovery rates. Of the incubation temperatures, eosin uptake was lowest at 25 degrees C. During 4 h post-wash incubation at 30 degrees C sperm motility was significantly (P less than 0.001) affected by pre-wash formaldehyde concentration which had no effect on the proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa.     

Determining protein identity from sieve element sap in Ricinus communis L. by quadrupole time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry

The phloem transport system is a complex tissue that primarily carries photoassimilate from source to sink. Its function depends on anucleate sieve elements (SE) supported by companion cells (CC). In this study, SE sap was sampled and the protein identity of soluble proteins was determined with the aim of understanding the function of proteins within the conduit. Unlike many plants, SE sap exudes from incisions in the bark of Ricinus communis and, although there is a greater possibility of contamination from tissues other than SE, sap can be obtained in sufficient quantities to separate proteins using 2D electrophoresis. Spots were excised for trypsin digest, then analysed by quadrupole time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and database searched to determine sequence identity. Overall, 18 proteins were identified in the SE-enriched sap. Proteins identified that have not previously been identified directly from SE sap included a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein, metallothionein, phosphoglycerate mutase, and phosphopyruvate hydratase. The potential role of the identified protein in SE function is discussed. The protein identification in this study provides a first step towards the goal of a greater understanding of the function of proteins within the SE.