Intraguild predation by the generalist predator Orius majusculus on the parasitoid Encarsia formosa

Intraguild predation of Orius majusculus (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Encarsia formosa (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), both natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was studied under laboratory conditions. The experiments quantified prey consumption by 5th instar nymphs and adults of O. majusculus offered unparasitised 3rd, early 4th or 4th instar B. tabaci nymphs or parasitised nymphs containing 2nd or 3rd larval instar or pupal parasitoids. In addition, prey preference of the two stages of O. majusculus for parasitised or unparasitised whitefly nymphs was studied using nine different prey combinations. Both predator stages readily preyed upon on both unparasitised and parasitised B. tabaci. In no-choice experiments, predation on 3rd instar E. formosa by adult predators was the highest, while predator nymphs preyed most on unparasitised 3rd instar B. tabaci and 2nd instar parasitoids. Predation of predator stages was lowest on 4th instar B. tabaci and E. formosa pupae. In all prey combinations, both stages of O. majusculus showed a significant preference for parasitised over unparasitised whitefly nymphs except for the combination of 5th instars of O. majusculus with early 4th instar whiteflies and E. formosa pupae. The results indicate that intraguild interactions between O. majusculus and E. formosa may have negative effects on biological control of B. tabaci.     

Efficacy of pesticides on the functional response on larval ectoparasitoid,Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Exposing to sub-lethal and low lethal doses of pesticides may cause changes in natural enemy behavioural, such as functional, response. In this study, the effects of chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, abamectin and spinosad were evaluated on the functional response of the Habrobracon hebetor to different densities of last instar larvae of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller. Young adult females of the parasitoid were exposed to LC₃₀ of chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, abamectin and spinosad that were 0.32, 4.03, 3.05 and 17.51?mg a.i./l for 24?h, respectively. Host densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 were offered to treated young females for 2?h in 10-cm Petri dishes and then the parasitism data were recorded. Experiments were conducted in eight replications. Functional response type was determined using logistic regression and the parameters were appraised by non-linear regression using statistical analysis software. Functional response was type Ш in control and insecticide treatments. Searching efficiency in control, chlorpyrifos-, carbaryl-, abamectin- and spinosad-treated wasps were 0.008?±?0.002, 0.002?±?0.0009, 0.0034?±?0.0013, 0.0076?±?0.002 and 0.0073?±?0.002?h^?1and handling times were 1.38?±?0.1, 7.64?±?1.01, 3.3?±?0.315, 1.55?±?0.1 and 1.46?±?0.11?h, respectively. Chlorpyrifos and carbaryl had the highest effect on searching efficiency of H. hebetor. Spinosad and abamectin showed less adverse effect on the functional response parameters. Finally, after conducting the advanced field studies, spinosad and abamectin may be used as a compatible chemical material with biological control agent in integrated pest management programmes.     

The population of Odonata (dragonflies) in small tropical rivers with reference to asynchronous growth patterns

The odonate larval communities in three small rivers in Penang Island were studied. More species of dragonflies were found in the Botanical Garden and Titi Teras rivers (13 and 11 respectively) of relatively similar environmental parameters. Fewer (nine) dragonfly species were collected from the Youth Park River which has a lower dissolved oxygen (DO) and a higher biological oxygen demand (BOD), conductivity and turbidity. A mixture of sand, gravel and pebble substrate of Botanical Garden River with dense growth of submerged Hydrilla, grasses and Cladias (Araceae) provided suitable habitats for the dragonflies. The sandy substrate and relatively fast flowing water of Titi Teras River was highly preferred by gomphids. In the Youth Park River, the small community of dragonfly larvae was dominated by tolerant Pseudagrion rubriceps, P. microcephalum, Orthetrum chrysis and Crocothemis servilia. Based on the larval instar distribution of Ictinogomphus decoratus and O. chrysis, very asynchronous populations of these dragonflies occurred in each river. Young larvae were continuously introduced into the populations resulting in undulating growth rate curves. The growth rates of these two species were higher in the Titi Teras River when compared to those in other rivers. Density-dependent mortality, asynchronous cannibalism and fish predation could play important roles in regulating the larval dragonfly population in these rivers.     

InDiaMed: A Comprehensive Database of Indian Medicinal plants for Diabetes

According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), India has 62.4 million people with diabetes and by 2030 it is predicted that the number will rise to 100 million. Studies claim that there are around 410 experimentally proven Indian medicinal plants which have anti-diabetic activity, of which the mechanism of action of 109 plants has been elucidated or reported. So, the need of the hour is to explore the claims of Indian medicinal flora and open up the facets of many Indian plants which are being examined for their beneficial role in diabetes. So, we created a database (InDiaMed) of Indian medicinal plants that captures their role in anti-diabetic activity. InDiaMed''s features include chemical, pharmacological, biochemical and geographical information of the medicinal plant, scientifically relevant information of the plant, and the coherent research done on it in the field of diabetes. The database also includes the list of poly-herbal formulations which are used for treatment of diabetes in India.

Availability

http://www.indiamed.info     

The structure of elasterol from Ecballium elaterium

The structure of elasterol, the major sterol of Ecballium elaterium, is revised to (24S)-24-ethyl-5α-cholesta- 7,22,25-trien-3β-ol from 24-ethyl-5α-cholesta-7,16,25-trien-3β-ol.     

A comparative analysis reveals weak relationships between ecological factors and beta diversity of stream insect metacommunities at two spatial levels

The hypotheses that beta diversity should increase with decreasing latitude and increase with spatial extent of a region have rarely been tested based on a comparative analysis of multiple datasets, and no such study has focused on stream insects. We first assessed how well variability in beta diversity of stream insect metacommunities is predicted by insect group, latitude, spatial extent, altitudinal range, and dataset properties across multiple drainage basins throughout the world. Second, we assessed the relative roles of environmental and spatial factors in driving variation in assemblage composition within each drainage basin. Our analyses were based on a dataset of 95 stream insect metacommunities from 31 drainage basins distributed around the world. We used dissimilarity‐based indices to quantify beta diversity for each metacommunity and, subsequently, regressed beta diversity on insect group, latitude, spatial extent, altitudinal range, and dataset properties (e.g., number of sites and percentage of presences). Within each metacommunity, we used a combination of spatial eigenfunction analyses and partial redundancy analysis to partition variation in assemblage structure into environmental, shared, spatial, and unexplained fractions. We found that dataset properties were more important predictors of beta diversity than ecological and geographical factors across multiple drainage basins. In the within‐basin analyses, environmental and spatial variables were generally poor predictors of variation in assemblage composition. Our results revealed deviation from general biodiversity patterns because beta diversity did not show the expected decreasing trend with latitude. Our results also call for reconsideration of just how predictable stream assemblages are along ecological gradients, with implications for environmental assessment and conservation decisions. Our findings may also be applicable to other dynamic systems where predictability is low.     

Understanding the molecular basis of Apert syndrome

Apert syndrome, first described in 1906, is one of the most severe of the craniosynostosis syndromes and is further characterized by midface hypoplasia, syndactyly, and other visceral abnormalities. Affected individuals generally require lifelong management by a multidisciplinary team of health care specialists. Apert syndrome results almost exclusively from one or the other of two point mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Tremendous scientific advances have been made recently in understanding the molecular basis for Apert syndrome through clinical genetic, biochemical, and structural approaches. In this review, the authors provide the clinician with a basic overview of these findings and their therapeutic implications.     

Influence of Heparin Mimetics on Assembly of the FGF·FGFR4 Signaling Complex

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling regulates mammalian development and metabolism, and its dysregulation is implicated in many inherited and acquired diseases, including cancer. Heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans (HSGAGs) are essential for FGF signaling as they promote FGF·FGF receptor (FGFR) binding and dimerization. Using novel organic synthesis protocols to prepare homogeneously sulfated heparin mimetics (HM), including hexasaccharide (HM₆), octasaccharide (HM₈), and decasaccharide (HM₁₀), we tested the ability of these HM to support FGF1 and FGF2 signaling through FGFR4. Biological assays show that both HM₈ and HM₁₀ are significantly more potent than HM₆ in promoting FGF2-mediated FGFR4 signaling. In contrast, all three HM have comparable activity in promoting FGF1·FGFR4 signaling. To understand the molecular basis for these differential activities in FGF1/2·FGFR4 signaling, we used NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and size-exclusion chromatography to characterize binding interactions of FGF1/2 with the isolated Ig-domain 2 (D2) of FGFR4 in the presence of HM, and binary interactions of FGFs and D2 with HM. Our data confirm the existence of both a secondary FGF1·FGFR4 interaction site and a direct FGFR4·FGFR4 interaction site thus supporting the formation of the symmetric mode of FGF·FGFR dimerization in solution. Moreover, our results show that the observed higher activity of HM₈ relative to HM₆ in stimulating FGF2·FGFR4 signaling correlates with the higher affinity of HM₈ to bind and dimerize FGF2. Notably FGF2·HM₈ exhibits pronounced positive binding cooperativity. Based on our findings we propose a refined symmetric FGF·FGFR dimerization model, which incorporates the differential ability of HM to dimerize FGFs.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of conventional insecticides against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), on four different substrata surfaces

在害虫治理中,在消费或贮藏粮食加工产品的建筑设施或场所进行害虫防治需要将杀虫剂施用在各种基质表面上.为了测定不同基质表面上杀虫剂的药效,将四纹豆象Callosobruchus maculatus(F.)成虫接触田间推荐剂量的阿维菌素、溴氰菊酯和毒死蜱.结果表明:施用在玻璃、瓷砖、塑料和纸盘表面上,阿维菌素对四纹豆象成虫的致死率分别为63.33％,22.41％,12.9％和11.9％,而溴氰菊酯在这4种基质表面上对四纹豆象成虫的致死率分别为55％,44.2％,41.3％和37.4％.在所有基质表面上接触毒死蜱,四纹豆象成虫的死亡率均为100％.对数据进行的Probit分析表明,毒死蜱制剂在玻璃、瓷砖、塑料和纸盘上对四纹豆象成虫的LC50值分别为8.66,13.6,29 16和56.5 μg/mL,阿维菌素制剂的相应数值分别为119.4,446.2,774.2和836.4μg/mL,溴氰菊酯制剂的相应数值分别为1008,1131,1210和1336 μg/mL.据此推断,毒死蜱对四纹豆象的毒性最强,且在玻璃、瓷砖、塑料和纸盘表面上的毒性依次降低.