Photoreactive derivative of Kunitz's soybean trypsin inhibitor. Preparation by selective modification of a tryptophan residue and formation of a covalent complex of the modified inhibitor with trypsin

The photoreactive arylsulfenyl chloride 2-nitro-4-azidophenylsulfenyl chloride (2,4-NAPS-Cl) has been used for the selective modification of tryptophan in Kunitz's soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). The ultraviolet absorption spectrum and amino acid analysis of 2,4-NAPS-SBTI indicated that only one of the two tryptophans (93 or 117) present in SBTI was modified. CNBr cleavage of 2,4-NAPS-SBTI resulted in two fragments 1-114 and 115-181. Amino acid analysis of the two separated fragments showed that only tryptophan 93 underwent modification. 2,4-NAPS-SBTI fully retained its inhibitory activity against trypsin. The photoaffinity labeling of trypsin with 2,4-NAPS-Cl was performed on tritiated trypsin prepared by reacting bovine trypsin with [3H]-succinimidyl propionate. The covalent attachment of 2,4-NAPS-SBTI to the tritiated trypsin after photolysis was demonstrated by exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-50 in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride.     

Evolution of wing polymorphism and genital asymmetry in the thread‐legged bugs of the tribe Metapterini Stål (Hemiptera,Reduviidae, Emesinae) based on morphological characters

Wing polymorphism and asymmetric male genitalia are intriguing morphological phenomena occurring in insects. Among Emesinae, or thread‐legged bugs, the tribe Metapterini Stål exhibits these two interesting morphological attributes. Nonetheless, evolutionary interpretations of these phenomena cannot be put forward because phylogenetic hypotheses for Emesinae are lacking. Thread‐legged bugs are easily recognized among assassin bugs due to their elongated and seemingly delicate body. The tribe Metapterini has 28 genera and approximately 280 described species. The only available phylogenetic hypothesis among Emesinae tribes was proposed by Wygodzinsky (1966), and it hypothesized Deliastini Villiers as the sister group of Metapterini, although this hypothesis has never been tested with cladistic approaches. Recent analyses using character sets of genitalia and prolegs suggest that Metapterini might not be monophyletic. In order to test these ideas, we compiled a morphological dataset of 138 characters that includes external morphological characters, detailed features of prolegs and genitalia of both sexes for Metapterini, which were analysed cladistically including 55 terminals, comprising 24 genera (85.7% of the generic diversity), 43 species of Metapterini and 12 outgroups. Metapterini was recovered as paraphyletic by the inclusion of Bergemesa Wygodzinsky, Palacus Dohrn and Stalemesa Wygodzinsky, all currently assigned to Deliastini. Gardena Dohrn (Emesini) was recovered as the sister group of Metapterini + Deliastini as suggested by Wygodzinsky (1966). Based on these results, we synonymize Deliastini syn. n. with Metapterini sensu n. and propose two new genera: Bacata Castro‐Huertas & Forero gen. n. , for three Andean species previously placed in Liaghinella Wygodzinsky, and Valkyriella Castro‐Huertas & Forero gen. n. for Ghilianella borgmeieri Wygodzinsky. Ancestral state reconstruction of wing polymorphism indicates that males and females were fully winged in the ancestor of Metapterini sensu n. with two independent evolutionary transitions to the apterous and brachypterous conditions. The analysis of the symmetry of the male genitalia shows an ancestor with symmetric male genitalia and two independent emergences of asymmetrical male genitalia in Metapterini.     

Estimation of the spectrum of the aerial dispersion of Bacillus thuringiensis

The present paper estimates the number of viable spores of Bacillus thuringiensis per droplet and reveals the importance of this data to improve B. thuringiensis treatments. For a given diameter, droplets from Futura formula contained two times more spores than droplets from the formulas used to date. It is preferable to have B. thuringiensis droplets larger than those of chemical insecticides. A Grumman AgCat aircraft calibrated to give the desired larger droplets resulted in successful B. thuringiensis treatments.     

Lessons from a pilot study of transfer factor in chronic fatigue syndrome

Transfer Factor (TF) was used in a placebo controlled pilot study of 20 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by clinical monitoring and testing for antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6). Of the 20 patients in the placebo-controlled trial, improvement was observed in 12 patients, generally within 3-6 weeks of beginning treatment. Herpes virus serology seldom correlated with clinical response. This study provided experience with oral TF, useful in designing a larger placebo-controlled clinical trial.     

Resin gathering in neotropical resin bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Functional and comparative morphology

Apiomerini (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) collect plant resins with their forelegs and use these sticky substances for prey capture or maternal care. These behaviors have not been described in detail and morphological structures involved in resin gathering, transfer, and storage remain virtually undocumented. We here describe these behaviors in Apiomerus flaviventris and document the involved structures. To place them in a comparative context, we describe and document leg and abdominal structures in 14 additional species of Apiomerini that represent all but one of the 12 recent genera in the tribe. Based on these morphological data in combination with the behavioral observations on A. flaviventris, we infer behavioral and functional hypotheses for the remaining genera within the tribe Apiomerini. Setal abdominal patches for resin storage are associated with maternal care so far only documented for species of Apiomerus. Based on the occurrence of these patches in several other genera, we propose that maternal care is widespread within the tribe. Ventral abdominal glands are widespread within female Apiomerini. We propose that their products may prevent hardening of stored resins thus providing long‐term supply for egg coating. Judging from the diverse setal types and arrangements on the front legs, we predict six different behavioral patterns of resin gathering within the tribe. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

DNA reassociation kinetics and diversity indices: richness is not rich enough

DNA reassociation kinetics, also known as Cot curves, were recently used by Gans and co-workers to estimate the number of bacterial species present in soil samples. By reanalysing the mathematical model we show that rather than the number of species, Simpson and Shannon diversity indices are encoded in the experimental data. Our main tool to establish this result are the so-called Rényi diversities, closely related to Hill numbers, illustrating the power of these concepts in interpreting ecological data. We argue that the huge diversity encountered in microbial ecology can be quantified more informatively by diversity indices than by number of species.     

Feeding History Affects the Response of the Predatory Mite Typhlodromus Kerkirae (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Volatiles of Plants Infested with Spider Mites

The response of adult females of the predatory mite Typhlodromus kerkirae (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to volatiles emitted from bean leaves infested with Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) or from leaves of Oxalis corniculata infested with Petrobia harti (Acari: Tetranychidae) was studied in the laboratory using a Y-tube olfactometer. Typhlodromus kerkirae females reared from larvae through to adults on T. urticae and pollen of Vicia faba responded to volatiles of bean leaves infested with T. urticae, either when they had a choice between infested and non-infested bean leaves or between bean leaves infested with T. urticae and O. corniculata leaves infested with P. harti. However, they did not respond when they had been reared only on the carotenoid-deficient pollen of V. faba. Female T. kerkirae that had been reared from larva to the tenth day of adult life on T. urticae and subsequently fed for 1 week on V. faba pollen did not respond to volatiles of bean leaves infested with T. urticae. In contrast, those that had been reared on V. faba pollen to the tenth day of adult life and subsequently fed for 1 week on T. urticae responded to volatiles of infested bean leaves.