Ontogeny of redox regulation in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae

The reduction potential of a cell is related to its fate. Proliferating cells are more reduced than those that are differentiating, whereas apoptotic cells are generally the most oxidized. Glutathione is considered the most important cellular redox buffer and the average reduction potential (E_h) of a cell or organism can be calculated from the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG). In this study, triplicate groups of cod larvae at various stages of development (3 to 63 days post-hatch; dph) were sampled for analyses of GSSG/2GSH concentrations, together with activities of antioxidant enzymes and expression of genes encoding proteins involved in redox metabolism. The concentration of total GSH (GSH+GSSG) increased from 610±100 to 1260±150 μmol/kg between 7 and 14 dph and was then constant until 49 dph, after which it decreased to 810±100 μmol/kg by 63 dph. The 14- to 49-dph period, when total GSH concentrations were stable, coincides with the proposed period of metamorphosis in cod larvae. The concentration of GSSG comprised approximately 1% of the total GSH concentration and was stable throughout the sampling series. This resulted in a decreasing E_h from −239±1 to −262±7 mV between 7 and 14 dph, after which it remained constant until 63 dph. The changes in GSH and E_h were accompanied by changes in the expression of several genes involved in redox balance and signaling, as well as changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes, with the most dynamic responses occurring in the early phase of cod larval development. It is hypothesized that metamorphosis in cod larvae starts with the onset of mosaic hyperplasia in the skeletal muscle at approximately 20 dph (6.8 mm standard length (SL)) and ends with differentiation of the stomach and disappearance of the larval finfold at 40 to 50 dph (10–15 mm SL). Thus, metamorphosis in cod larvae seems to coincide with high and stable total concentrations of GSH.     

几种氧代丙酸化合物在诱捕白纹伊蚊中的应用

为了从氧代丙酸化合物中筛选出对白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus具有良好引诱效果的化合物,采用陷阱诱捕法分别测定了丙酮酸(α-氧代丙酸)、3-甲氧基-2-甲基-3-氧代丙酸、3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸和3-氨基-3-氧代丙酸4种氧代丙酸化合物及丙酸对白纹伊蚊成虫的诱捕效果。结果表明,在供试的5种化合物中,α-氧代丙酸、3-甲氧基-2-甲基-3-氧代丙酸和3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸3种氧代丙酸化合物及丙酸的诱捕效果显著,同剂量的各化合物对白纹伊蚊的诱蚊效果依次是3-甲氧基-2-甲基-3-氧代丙酸>3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸>α-氧代丙酸=丙酸。相同质量α-氧代丙酸∶3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸=1∶1至1∶2的配方比,具有协同增效作用,平均累计诱捕量均显著优于单组分α-氧代丙酸、3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸和对照纯水(P<0.05)。其中最优配方比是α-氧代丙酸∶3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸=1∶2,平均累计诱捕量比单组分α-氧代丙酸增加45.45%,比单组分3-(苄氧基)-3-氧代丙酸增加32.33%和比对照纯水增加73.11%(P<0.05)。现场...     

Combining two teaching techniques for young children on Aedes aegypti control: effects on entomological indices in western Mexico

A study of the effect of educating four- to six-year-old children in mosquito control was recently conducted in a city in the state of Jalisco, western Mexico. Four neighborhood districts were selected. Children attending one kindergarten in each of two experimental districts were taught mosquito control with a video from the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), joined to the use of the AMCA Touch Table Technique. The entomological indices monitored in the study decreased significantly (P<0.05) in houses in the experimental districts, apparently because parents acted on the comments and suggestions of the children and eliminated or monitored containers used as oviposition sites by mosquitoes. Based on these results, combining both techniques for teaching children mosquito control is a potentially useful tool for control efforts in Mexico and other places in Latin America.     

New baseline environmental assessment of mosquito ecology in northern Haiti during increased urbanization

The catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Port‐au‐Prince, Haiti, led to the large‐scale displacement of over 2.3 million people, resulting in rapid and unplanned urbanization in northern Haiti. This study evaluated the impact of this unplanned urbanization on mosquito ecology and vector‐borne diseases by assessing land use and change patterns. Land‐use classification and change detection were carried out on remotely sensed images of the area for 2010 and 2013. Change detection identified areas that went from agricultural, forest, or bare‐land pre‐earthquake to newly developed and urbanized areas post‐earthquake. Areas to be sampled for mosquito larvae were subsequently identified. Mosquito collections comprised five genera and ten species, with the most abundant species being Culex quinquefasciatus 35% (304/876), Aedes albopictus 27% (238/876), and Aedes aegypti 20% (174/876). All three species were more prevalent in urbanized and newly urbanized areas. Anopheles albimanus, the predominate malaria vector, accounted for less than 1% (8/876) of the collection. A set of spectral indices derived from the recently launched Landsat 8 satellite was used as covariates in a species distribution model. The indices were used to produce probability surfaces maps depicting the likelihood of presence of the three most abundant species within 30 m pixels. Our findings suggest that the rapid urbanization following the 2010 earthquake has increased the amount of area with suitable habitats for urban mosquitoes, likely influencing mosquito ecology and posing a major risk of introducing and establishing emerging vector‐borne diseases.     

舞毒蛾末龄幼虫部分口器的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电子显微镜对亚洲型舞毒蛾末龄幼虫口器的下颚和下唇的形态结构特征进行了观察。结果表明：在下颚和下唇须上共存在5种感器和1种角质齿,即毛形感器、刺形感器、锥形感器、栓锥形感器、钟形感器和刺状角质齿,其中毛形感器最发达。     

Catalase from larvae of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii

Catalase plays a major role in protecting cells against toxic reactive oxygen species. Here, Catalase was purified from larvae of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii and designated TLCAT. It was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephacryl S-300 and CM-cellulose columns. Gel filtration and SDS-PAGE of the purified TLCAT indicated that the protein has a native molecular weight of 120 kDa and is most likely a homodimer with a subunit of approximately 60 kDa. The Km value of TLCAT is 12 mM H₂O₂ and displayed its optimum activity at pH 7.2. CaCl₂, MgCl₂, MnCl₂ and NiCl₂ increased the activity of TLCAT, while FeCl_2, CoCl₂, CuCl₂ and ZnCl₂ inhibited the activity of TLCAT. Sodium azide inhibited TLCAT competitively with a Ki value of 0.28 mM. The presence of TLCAT in cells may play a role in protecting H. dromedarii ticks against oxidative damage. This finding will contribute to our understanding of the physiology of these ectoparasites and the development of untraditional methods to control them.     

Dose- and time-response assessments ofHeterorhabditis heliothidis andSteinernema feltiae [Nem.: Rhabitida] againstAedes aegypti larvae

Steinernema feltiae (=Neoaplectana carpocapsae) andHeterorhabditis heliothidis were tested against 3^rd instarAedes aegypti larvae in the laboratory. Different dosages of the nematodes and varying durations of exposure were assessed.H. heliothidis was more effective thanS. feltiae. Larval mortality showed a positive linear correlation with both nematode dosage and the duration of exposure. The number of nematodes of both species that gained access to the haemocoele of larvae was always low, but increased with dosage and exposure time. The rate of melanization of the nematodes in the larvae was correlated with dosage, but was not affected by the duration of exposure.      

Diel drift of Chironomidae larvae in a pristine Idaho mountain stream

Simultaneous hourly net collections in a meadow and canyon reach of a mountain stream determined diel and spatial abundances of drifting Chironomidae larvae. Sixty-one taxa were identified to the lowest practical level, 52 in the meadow and 41 in the canyon. Orthocladiinae was the most abundant subfamily with 32 taxa and a 24 h mean density of 294 individuals 100 m⁻³ (meadow) and 26 taxa and a mean of 648 individuals 100 m⁻³ (canyon). Chironominae was the second most abundant subfamily. Nonchironomid invertebrates at both sites and total Chironomidae larvae (meadow) were predominantly night-drifting. Parakiefferiella and Psectrocladius were day-drifting (meadow) whereas 8 other chironomid taxa (meadow) and 2 taxa (canyon) were night-drifting. All others were aperiodic or too rare to test periodicity, Stempellinella cf brevis Edwards exhibited catastrophic drift in the canyon only. The different drift patterns between sites is attributed to greater loss of streambed habitat in the canyon compared to the meadow as streamflow decreased. Consequent crowding of chironomid larvae in the canyon caused catastrophic drift or interfered with drift periodicty. This study adds to knowledge of Chironomidae drift and shows influences on drift of hydrologic and geomorphic conditions.     

硅胶填充昆虫幼虫标本制作方法

介绍一种利用硅胶填充制作昆虫幼虫标本的方法。将活体昆虫幼虫经过去内脏、填充硅胶、整形和干燥制成昆虫幼虫标本。该方法制作的标本形态生动,保存性与保色性好,并且制作简便、成本低,有利于观赏和教学。     

蚊浓核病毒介导的人工内含子在蚊体内外的初步应用

根据人β-球蛋白基因第一内含子5′-端供位序列与免疫球蛋白重链可变区基因3′-端受位序列构建人工内含子,将人工内含子插入重组蚊浓核病毒质粒载体p7NS1-GFP中GFP融合表达的病毒非结构蛋白NS1的编码框内,构建成载体p7NS1-Intron-GFP,与辅助载体pUCA共转染蚊C6/36细胞系,荧光显微镜下观察细胞内GFP的表达情况。纯化、回收共转染后形成重组病毒与野生病毒,共感染白纹伊蚊二龄幼虫并观察幼虫体内GFP的表达情况。结果在C6/36细胞与蚊幼虫体内均观察到GFP的高效表达,证实人工内含子无论在蚊细胞系内还是在活体幼虫内均可正常行使其自我剪切的功能,未影响到下游蛋白GFP的表达。本研究为人工内含子在蚊虫细胞内的应用奠定基础,为蚊虫及其病原体相关基因工程技术提供新的策略。