Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Spodoptera litura granulovirus

Baculovirus, Spodoptera litura granulovirus (SlGV) was isolated from the infected S. litura larvae, and was characterized. The granule of SlGV was ovoidal shape with an approximate size of 240∼340 nm× 140∼180 nm. Each granule contained one single rod-shape virion with a mean size of 180∼200 nm×20∼40 nm. Restriction endonuclease fragment analysis estimated that the total genome size of SlGV is about 115 kb. Necleotide sequence analysis of the granulin gene showed that the gene encodes 249 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 29 kDa. When the phylogenic relationship was analyzed using the nucleotide sequence of the granulin gene, SlGV was most closely related to Trichoplusia ni granulovirus (TnGV) and Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus (XcGV) which belong to Type I granulovirus.     

1H NMR spectroscopic survey of plasma and erythrocytes from selected marsupials and domestic animals of Australia.

1. 1H NMR spectra were acquired from whole plasma, intact erythrocytes, and ultrafiltrates of erythrocytes from nine native and eight introduced (domestic) Australian animals; single-pulse, spin-echo and 2-dimensional spectra were obtained. The aim was to detect and at least semi-quantify metabolites in the samples and compare the profiles amongst the species. 2. The Australian natives that were studied were all marsupials: greater brown bandicoot; bettong; eastern grey kangaroo; red kangaroo; koala; possum; red necked pademelon; Tammar wallaby; and wombat. The introduced mammals that were studied were: cat; cattle; dog; goat; horse; pig; rabbit; and sheep. 3. Because of the range of habitats and diets amongst the animals, it was postulated that the concentrations of the common metabolites in the blood would show marked differences and that there would also be some metabolites that were peculiar to a given animal. There were several major differences in the spectra: in the spectra of plasma, the glycoprotein and lipoprotein resonances showed the largest inter-species variation, whereas the most dramatic finding from the spectra of erythrocytes was a very high concentration of lysine in the cells from the Tammar wallaby.