Developmental and behavioural responses of larval Trichoplusia ni to parasitization by an imported braconid parasite Chelonus sp

ABSTRACT. Larval Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Noctuidae) parasitized by Chelonus sp. (near curvimaculatus ) (Braconidae) precociously initiated pupation during the penultimate fourth instar. The temporal sequence of developmental markers exhibited by parasitized T. ni closely matched the temporal sequence in normal, pupating larvae. The parasitized larvae did not complete pupation, but consistently stopped development at a stage recognizable by a certain set of markers. This halt was observed in hosts from which parasites emerged and from hosts which had been stung but from which no parasites emerged. Weight gain and food consumption by parasitized hosts were significantly lower than normal, although most reached the fourth instar at the same time as normal larvae. Measurement of head capsule widths indicated that the width in precociously pupating larvae was less than the critical width associated with attainment of the pupation instar of normal larvae.     

The Differential Susceptibility of Vetch (Vicia spp.) to Orobanche aegyptiaca: Anatomical Studies

Vetches (Vicia spp .) are important forage legumes in the MiddleEast and Mediterranean regions. Most vetches are highly susceptibleto the root holoparasites Orobanche aegyptiaca and O. crenata,suffering severe quality and yield losses. However, purple vetch(V. atropurpurea) has shown good resistance to Orobanche. Microscopicstudies were performed to reveal anatomical differences of host-parasiteinteractions between susceptible and resistant vetch. SusceptibleV. sativa‘Yovel’ and resistant V. atropupurea‘Popany’were grown in association with O. aegyptiaca seeds, on glassmicrofibre sheets in a polyethylene-bag system. Whole root observationsusing stereoscopic microscopy detected necrotic lesions surroundingthe attachments of Orobanche radicles on resistant vetch roots.Hand-cut sections examined under the light microscope revealedthat in both susceptible and resistant vetch genotypes the Orobancheseeds germinated, attached and penetrated the host root epidermisand cortex. A reddish-brown secretion was observed in the apoplastat the interface between the parasite haustorium and the hosttissues, including the cell walls of the resistant vetch xylemvessels. Fixed and embedded sections observed under the lightmicroscope showed that in the susceptible genotype the parasitehaustorium penetrated through the endodermis into the host vascularcylinder, successfully forming a continuum with host vascularvessels. However, in the resistant genotype, the parasite haustoriumwas blocked at the root endodermis layer. The blockage was coupledwith secretion of unidentified material, thus preventing theparasite from establishing. These findings indicate that mechanicaland possibly chemical barriers are responsible for the hostdefence mechanism(s) conferring resistance of V. atropurpureato O. aegyptiaca. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Broomrape, Vicia atropurpurea, Vicia sativa, parasitic plants, plant resistance, tissue sections.     

High levels of expression of full length human pro-alpha 2(V) collagen cDNA in pro-alpha 2(V)-deficient hamster cells

A full length cDNA encoding human pro-alpha 2(V) collagen was constructed. Partial sequencing of the cDNA and primer extension analysis of mRNA from fibroblasts found that pro-alpha 2(V) mRNA differs from the mRNAs of other fibrillar collagens in the increased length of its 5'-untranslated region. The pro-alpha 2(V) cDNA was placed downstream of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter/regulatory sequences for expression studies in cultured Chinese hamster lung cells. These cells have been shown previously to synthesize large quantities of pro-alpha 1(V) homotrimers as their only collagenous product. Transfection resulted in a number of clonal cell lines that express human alpha 2(V) RNA at levels comparable to, and in some cases greater than, levels found in normal human skin fibroblasts. Pro-alpha 2(V) chains produced in the majority of clonal lines were of sufficient quantity to complex all available endogenous pro-alpha 1(V) chains. Chimeric heterotrimers, composed of hamster alpha 1(V) and human alpha 2(V) chains in a 2:1 ratio, were stable to pepsin digestion and were found predominantly associated with the cell layer. Surprisingly, pro-alpha 2(V) chains, in excess to pro-alpha 1(V) chains, were found in the extracellular matrix and, in much greater abundance, in media. These chains were pepsin sensitive, indicating that pro-alpha 2(V) chains can be secreted as nonstable homotrimers or as free chains.     

Epilogue — Demography and anthropology

As a conclusion, this paper reviews briefly the content of the volume. The wealth of demographic data has not been adequately exploited in anthropology; this is why this publication is valuable in showing attempts to apply demographic data in a variety of anthropological problems. This symposium has explored many interesting points which we recall here. Yet it has also opened up a whole range of further questions on the material presented as well as in this broad field. Several directions of research could be developed, for instance, testing among human populations, over long periods, the ecological thoughts of ecosystems evolving as a cascade of instabilities, rather than a succession of equilibrium states. Let us also recall the pervasive nature of demographic facts in topics such as the energy cycle or the genetic structure and evolution of human populations.     

Ubiquinol prevents alpha-tocopherol consumption during liposome peroxidation

In this study we investigated whether alpha-tocopherol can be spared by ubiquinol-3 during autoxidation of multilamellar liposome. A lipophilic azocompound, 2,2'-azobis-(2,4-dimethyl-valeronitrile), was chosen to initiate liposome autoxidation. The effect of either alpha-tocopherol, ubiquinol-3, or a mixture of them was compared. Rates of conjugated diene formation and concomitant disappearance of the two antioxidants was measured. Since the inhibition rate constant for the scavenging of peroxyl radical for alpha-tocopherol was higher than that for quinol-3, it was concluded that alpha-tocopherol is regenerated by ubiquinol-3.     

O-acetyl-salicylic acid promotes colony formation from protoplasts of an elite maize inbred

The salicylic acid derivative acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was found to promote colony formation from protoplasts isolated from embryogenic suspension cultures of an elite maize inbred line. The drug was most effective at concentrations of 30–100 mg/l, and increases of more than 20-fold in the number of colonies recovered from protoplasts were obtained. The rate of growth of protoplast-derived cell colonies was not affected.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - KM Kao and Michayluk medium (1975) - MES 2[N-morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - ASA acetylsalicylic acid     

Interleukin inhibition by a parasite proteinase inhibitor, taeniaestatin

A proteinase inhibitor, taeniaestatin, isolated from the larval stage of the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis inhibits endogenous IL 2 generation in murine lymphocytes and IL 1 induced proliferation of murine thymocytes in a dose-dependent manner. However, taeniaestatin does not inhibit exogenous IL 2-induced proliferation of an IL 2-dependent cell line at any dose tested. These data indicate that the lack of IL 2 generation may be due in part to inhibition of a crucial cell-associated proteinase subsequent to cellular activation, or the lack of an effective IL 2 signal for differentiation. Our results are novel findings concerning molecular pathways for parasite inhibition of host immune responses, and suggest that selected proteinase inhibitors may be useful in clinical situations in which IL 1 or IL 2 are elevated.