Sustained biological control of the cassava mealybugPhenacoccus manihoti [Hom.: Pseudococcidae] byEpidinocarsis lopezi [Hym.: Encyrtidae] in Nigeria

Following the successful introduction ofEpidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) for biological control of the cassava mealybug (CM)Phenacoccus manihoti Mat.-Ferr. in southwestern Nigeria in 1981 and 1982, 11 groups of cassava fields were sampled every 2 weeks up to 1988 for impact assessment. After 1984, CM populations remained mostly below 10 per tip despite the presence of native hyperparasitoids, demonstrating the long-term success of biological control byE. lopezi in the region. Indigenous polyphagous coccinellids were found only during peak host densities, whereas the specificE. lopezi was common throughout the year. During some periods, percentage parasitism indicated delayed density dependence. Since 89% of all sampled cassava tips had no CM at all and the parasitisme is very mobile, parasitization rates were also calculated for individual infested tips (N=4,878). Parasitism increased slightly with host density on tips having between 1 and 10 CM of the 3^rd and 4^th instars, indicating positive density dependence. Such tips comprised 64% of all infested tips. At higher host densities, parasitism rates fell rapidly. The results are discussed in view of different theories on population regulation by biological control agents.      

Thrombin-activated and factor Xa-activated human factor VIII: differences in cofactor activity and decay rate.

The decay of human coagulation factor VIIIa has been studied by kinetic methods that ensure no interference through proteolytic feedback. The rate of decay of factor VIIIa activity was found to vary with the activator used to activate factor VIII. Thrombin-activated factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex (fVIII-vWf) decayed at a rate of 0.31 min-1, whereas factor Xa-activated fVIII-vWf decayed at 0.11 min-1 under the same conditions. Factor VIII free of von Willebrand factor (factor VIII: C), although decaying at a generally slower rate after activation, still showed a dependence of decay rate on activator: thrombin-activated factor VIII:C decaying at a rate of 0.06 min-1, and factor Xa-activated factor VIII: C at 0.01 min-1. Readdition of von Willebrand factor (18 micrograms/ml) to factor VIII:C did not alter the observed activity or decay rate. The decay of the two species of factor VIIIa was studied, using the fVIIIa-vWf complex, in the presence of varying levels of factor IXa. Plots of reciprocal decay rates vs factor IXa concentration were linear, and nearly parallel for the two factor VIIIa species, with a mean slope of 0.56 min.nM-1. In addition to these studies, we have confirmed previous studies showing that the two forms of factor VIIIa differ in cofactor activity, but they do so in the same ratio as in their decay rates. We suggest that this difference and that observed in decay rate have a common cause, and incorporate this into a potential kinetic model of factor VIII activation and decay.     

The effect of two biological control agents, the weevil Neochetina eichhorniae and the mirid Eccritotarsus catarinensis on water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes , grown in culture with water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes

We assessed the effect of two biological control agents, the mirid Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho) and the weevil Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner), singly or in combination, on the competitive ability of their host plant, water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub., grown in a screen house, in competition with another aquatic plant (Pistia stratiotes L.). Water hyacinth plant growth characteristics measured included fresh weight, leaf and petiole lengths, number of inflorescences produced, and new shoots. Without herbivory, water hyacinth was 18 times more competitive than water lettuce (across all experimental combinations of initial plant densities), as estimated from fresh weights. Both insect species, singly or in combination, reduced water hyacinth plant growth characteristics. E. catarinensis alone was less damaging than the weevil and under normal conditions, i.e., floating water hyacinth, is not expected to increase control of water hyacinth beyond that of the weevil. When combined with the weevil, half the inoculum of weevils and half the inoculum of mirids produced the same growth reduction as the full inoculum of the weevil. Under conditions where the weevils are not effective because water hyacinths are seasonally rooted in mud, the mirid, which lives entirely on leaves, should become a useful additional biological control agent. Handling Editor: John Scott.     

Application of a nifH microarray to assess the impact of environmental factors on free-living diazotrophs in a glacier forefield

Glacier forefield environments are exposed to extreme and fluctuating climatic and nutritional conditions. The high diversity of free-living diazotrophic communities found in these environments indicates that nitrogen fixers are able to efficiently cope with such conditions. In this study, a nifH microarray was used to monitor changes in diazotrophic populations in the field over a season, in the presence or absence of plants and in 2 glacier forefields characterized by a different bedrock type (siliceous or calcareous), as well as at different temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C) and under different nitrogen fertilization regimes (0, 10, 40 kg N·ha(-1)·year(-1)) in laboratory systems. Population structures responded highly dynamically to environmental changes. Plant presence had the strongest impact, which decreased toward the end of the season and with high amounts of nitrogen fertilization. Temperature and nitrogen fertilization increases indirectly affected diazotrophic communities through their positive impact on plant growth. These results indicate strong carbon limitation in young glacier forefield soils. Phylotypes related to the genus Methylocystis strongly responded to environmental variations. These methanotrophic microorganisms, which are able to retrieve nitrogen and carbon from the atmospheric pool, are particularly adapted to the extreme nutritional conditions found in glacier forefields.     

Seasonal growth potential of rare lake water bacteria suggest their disproportional contribution to carbon fluxes

We studied the seasonal growth potential of opportunistic bacterial populations in Lake Zurich (Switzerland) by a series of grazer‐free dilution culture assays. Pronounced shifts in the composition of the bacterial assemblages were observed within one doubling of total cell numbers, from initially abundant Actinobacteria to other fast‐growing microbial lineages. Small populations with growth potentials far above community average were detected throughout the year with striking seasonal differences in their respective taxonomic affiliations. Members of Cytophaga‐Flavobacteria (CF) were disproportionally proliferating only during phytoplankton blooms in spring and summer, while Beta‐ and Gammaproteobacteria showed superior growth at all other occasions. Growth rates of Alphaproteobacteria and esp. Sphingomonadaceae were significantly correlated to water temperatures and were far above community average in summer. Within the genus Flavobacterium, two species‐like populations showed a tendency for fast growth in most experiments, while four others were exclusively proliferating either during a spring or during a summer phytoplankton bloom. Their high growth potentials but low in situ abundances hint at a tight control by bacterivorous grazers and at a consequently accelerated carbon flux to higher trophic levels.     

Ultrastruktur und Jodaufnahme der Schilddrüse bei Larven des Krallenfrosches (Xenopus laevis Daud.)

Zusammenfassung Ziel dieser Untersuchung war eine physiologische Deutung der Ultrastruktur von Schilddrüsenepithelzellen bei Larven von Xenopus laevis. Dazu wurden elektronenmikroskopische Bilder mit morphometrischen Methoden quantitativ ausgewertet und die Ergebnisse mit Jodaufnahmedaten verglichen. So konnte die Aktivierung der Schilddrüse durch TSH bei kälteblockierten bzw. hypophysektomierten Tieren mit Veränderungen während der spontanen Metamorphose verglichen werden.Ihrer Ultrastruktur nach sind die Schilddrüsen blockierter Prometamorphoselarven in der Entwicklung auf ein früheres Stadium zurückversetzt. Auch zeigen hypophysektomierte Larven keine spontane Jodaufnahme. Eine einmalige TSH-Injektion läßt dann die Größe und Form der verschiedenen Organellen vorübergehend den Zustand der Kontrollen erreichen. Besonders rasch und stark sprechen einerseits die Kernstruktur, andererseits Mikrovilli und Kolloidtropfenvolumen, welche die Resorption von Thyreoglobulin charakterisieren, auf den TSH-Reiz an. Die Jodaufnahme verläuft langsamer. Auch reagieren die an der Synthese beteiligten Organellen später und schwächer.In der spontanen Metamorphose wachsen die Schilddrüsen, nach Totalvolumen, Cytoplasmavolumen einzelner Zellen und Epithelhöhe beurteilt, bis zum Ende der Metamorphose weiter und nehmen entsprechend mehr Jod auf. Ebenso wird während der ganzen Klimax die Kolloidresorption der einzelnen Zellen stärker. Aus den Ergebnissen wird geschlossen, daß die TSH-Sekretion schon in der Prometamorphose einsetzt und bis gegen Ende der Metamorphose zunimmt.

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Ultrastructure and iodine uptake of the thyroid gland in larvae of Xenopus laevis daud

Summary The epithelial cells of the thyroid gland in larvae of Xenopus laevis were investigated with the electron microscope. Morphometrical methods yielded quantitative data on the morphology. The uptake of radioactive iodine was studied in order to obtain information on the physiological activity. Thus changes in the thyroid gland following the injection of TSH in tadpoles which had been hypophysectomized or blocked at low temperature were compared with the development of glands during spontaneous metamorphosis.The thyroid glands of blocked prometamorphic larvae resemble those of younger developmental stages as judged by their ultrastructure. In addition no spontaneous accumulation of iodine is observed. Following an injection of TSH the morphology of the various organelles becomes temporarily identical to that of the controls. These changes are most prominent in the nucleus as well as in the microvilli and the colloid droplets, which characterize the resorption of thyroglobulin. Only a minor effect of the TSH stimulus is found on iodine uptake and on organelles concerned with protein synthesis.During normal metamorphosis an increase is observed in the following parameters: (1) volume of the thyroid gland, (2) volume of the cytoplasm and height of single epithelial cells, (3) resorption of colloid, (4) iodine uptake. This increase persists until the end of the climax. Based on the present results TSH secretion is assumed to start in early prometamorphosis and to rise up to the end of metamorphosis.

Herrn Prof. Dr. R. Weber möchte ich für seine Hilfe bestens danken.     

Identification of a new membrane-permeable inhibitor against inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-3-kinase A

Ectopic expression of the neuron-specific inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-3-kinase A (ITPKA) in lung cancer cells increases their metastatic potential because the protein exhibits two actin regulating activities; it bundles actin filaments and regulates inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃)-mediated calcium signals by phosphorylating InsP₃. Thus, in order to inhibit the metastasis-promoting activity of ITPKA, both its actin bundling and its InsP₃kinase activity has to be blocked. In this study, we performed a high throughput screen in order to identify specific and membrane-permeable substances against the InsP₃kinase activity. Among 341,44 small molecules, 237 compounds (0.7%) were identified as potential InsP₃kinase inhibitors. After determination of IC₅₀-values, the three compounds with highest specificity and highest hydrophobicity (EPPC-3, BAMB-4, MEPTT-3) were further characterized. Only BAMB-4 was nearly completely taken up by H1299 cells and remained stable after cellular uptake, thus exhibiting a robust stability and a high membrane permeability. Determination of the inhibitor type revealed that BAMB-4 belongs to the group of mixed type inhibitors. Taken together, for the first time we identified a highly membrane-permeable inhibitor against the InsP₃kinase activity of ITPKA providing the possibility to partly inhibit the metastasis-promoting effect of ITPKA in lung tumor cells.