Correlation of cytotoxicity with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Cytotoxicity of immune lymph node cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was maximal 9 days after injection of encephalitogenic emulsion. The ability of these cells to passively transfer EAE was also maximal at this time. Immune spleen cells were more cytotoxic than lymph node cells 9 days after injection; however, these cells did not passively transfer EAE. Twelve days after injection of encephalitogenic emulsion immune spleen cells passively transferred EAE with resulting mild histopathologic lesions. At this time the spleen cells were 50% more cytotoxic than comparable lymph node cells. Cyclophosphamide suppressed the development of clinical EAE and the development of cytotoxic lymphoid cells. It also reduced clinical signs and cytotoxic activity of lymph node cells. Spleen cell cytotoxic activity was enhanced by Cyclophosphamide. It was concluded that cytotoxic activity of lymph node and spleen cells was correlated with the ability of these cells to produce EAE. Lymph node cell populations differed qualitatively and/or quantitatively from immune spleen cell populations in EAE. Capacity to passively transfer EAE coincided with the maximal Cytotoxicity of the lymphoid cells from each tissue.     

Virus-like particles in the ovaries of Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): comparison of biotypes from Morocco and Europe

Virus-like particles (MaVLP) have been discovered in the ovarial epithelial cells of the solitary, koinobiont, endoparasitoid, Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) introduced to New Zealand originally from Morocco to control the lucerne pest Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). MaVLP have been found in all females examined. It has been suggested, although not demonstrated, that like many other such VLP found in parasitoids, MaVLP might play a role in host immunosuppression. Since another biotype of M. aethiopoides from Ireland has been proposed for introduction to control the white clover pest, Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal, in New Zealand, it was considered that females from this biotype warranted transmission electron microscope examination for VLP. No VLP were observed in ovarian tissues of specimens collected from three different locations in Ireland. Similarly, none were found in M. aethiopoides sourced from France, Wales, and Norway. These observations are discussed in relation to quarantine host specificity tests with the Irish biotype, which found that the host range of the Irish biotype is likely to be less extensive than that of the Moroccan biotype already in New Zealand.