The ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) plays a pivotal role in developmental processes and cell survival by participating in protein synthesis relevant signaling pathways. In the present study, an S6K gene (AccS6K-p70) was isolated and characterized from the Chinese honeybee, Apis cerana cerana (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an important economic insect in the agricultural industry. The cDNA of AccS6K-p70 was 1683 bp in length and predicted to encode a protein of 467 amino acid residues. Sequence and structure analysis showed that there was a conserved catalytic domain in AccS6K-p70, whilst a phosphorylation site was found in the conserved part of the catalytic domain. Development relevant transcription factor binding sites found in the 5’-flanking region of AccS6K-p70 suggest that AccS6K-p70 might be involved in A. c. cerana development. Furthermore, quantitative PCR revealed that the expression levels of AccS6K-p70 were higher in head and thorax than in other tissues. The AccS6K-p70 was highly expressed in both larvae and adults compared with that in pupae, whilst expression of the gene was significantly down-regulated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (although initially and slightly increased by it) and pyriproxyfen (a juvenile hormone analogue insecticide) stresses. These results suggest that AccS6K-p70 may play critical roles in developmental processes and cell survival in A. c. cerana, whilst both oxidative stress and pyriproxyfen may impair S6K-p70 mediated developmental processes by down-regulation of AccS6K-p70 expression., Yingqi Cai ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Insect cellular immune reaction, which generally includes phagocytosis, encapsulation and nodule formation, is achieved by hemocytes circulating in insect haemolymph. The shift of hemocytes from the normal phase to the adhering phase is an important process in the cellular immune reaction, which includes the attachment of hemocytes to foreign surfaces or other hemocytes via adhesion factors. Neuroglian is one of the adhering factors associated with encapsulation in Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster. Here we studied the localization of neuroglian (MsNrg) in Mythimna separata and its functional role in the cellular immune reaction. The distribution of MsNrg mRNA between hemocyte populations was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR and in situ hybridization, which revealed that MsNrg was highly expressed in adhering hemocytes, especially in plasmatocytes. Unexpectedly, the transcript was observed as well in non-adhering hemocytes, implying neuroglian has a function in non-adhering hemocytes. Moreover, we showed that the amount of MsNrg mRNA was not changed by injections of either biotic or abiotic non-selves. Fewer latex beads were fully encapsulated by hemocytes in larvae treated with MsNrg double-stranded RNA than in control larvae, but their ability to achieve phagocytosis and nodule formation remained unchanged by the MsNrg knockdown. These results indicate that the function of neuroglian in the cellular immune reaction is conserved in D. melanogaster and lepidopteran species, and neuroglian in non-adhering hemocytes could possess unidentified function., Kakeru Yokoi, Yoshiaki Kato, Masahiro Suzuki, Ken Miura., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Microcercous cercariae possess a very short tail and are produced by digenean species of several families including medically important species, such as members of the genera Paragonimus Braun, 1899, Nanophyetus Chapin, 1927 and Troglotrema Odhner, 1914. During our survey of cercariae of Paragonimus spp. in Vietnam, we found microcercous cercariae from ten (0.29%) out of 3,400 snails of Triculinae gen. sp. 2. They were morphologically and molecularly analysed for species identification. The molecular analysis, based on ITS2 sequences, revealed two distinct species: four specimens were identical to Paragonimus proliferus Hsia et Chen, 1964 (Paragonimidae Dollfus, 1939), and the other six specimens were closest to members of the family Troglotrematidae Odhner, 1914 and were temporarily named Troglotrematidae gen. sp. Morphologically, cercariae of the two species found in this study are similar to each other in their gross characteristics but can be distinguished from one another by subtle morphological details. The cercaria of P. proliferus has an I-shaped excretory bladder and does not have mucous gland cells. In contrast, that of Troglotrematidae gen. sp. has a Y-shaped excretory bladder and mucous gland cells. Besides, the redia of P. proliferus is elongate with a short intestine and contains 5-6 cercariae whereas that of Troglotrematidae gen. sp. is more round with a longer intestine and harbours 3-4 cercariae. Our results have shown the importance of the shape of the excretory bladder and the presence/absence of mucous gland cells of the cercaria as well as the shape and size of the redia, and its intestinal length as valuable taxonomic characters of intramolluscan trematode larvae. In addition, the finding of similar microcercous cercariae of different species in the same snail species suggests that careful attention to morphological details is required in the differentiation of Paragonimus cercariae and those of closely related species., Pham Ngoc Doanh, Hoang Van Hien and Bui Thi Dung., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The two species of the genus Stomaphis feeding on oak and birch, respectively, although morphologically similar, are considered to be separate species. However, the birch-feeding S. betulae Mamontova is considered to be a synonym of the oak and birch feeding S. quercus (L.) by some authors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the birch feeding and oak feeding populations attributed to S. quercus belong to the same species. The mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COXI) and II (COXII) were used to determine whether these two populations differ. There are no significant differences in these markers from oak and birch feeding individuals, indicating that these populations are conspecific. However, morphologically and ecologically distinct populations of Stomaphis were discovered feeding on oak. The molecular analysis confirmed that these populations are distinct, which resulted in the description of the new oak-feeding species, Stomaphis wojciechowskii Depa, sp. n. This new species previously remained unrecognized due to its very cryptic mode of life., Lukasz Depa, Ewa Mroz, Karol Szawaryn., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Mango orchards in Pakistan are attacked by the scale insect, Drosicha mangiferae (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae), commonly called the "mango mealybug". This insect is univoltine, active from December through May and targets multiple host plants. We used DNA nucleotide sequences to characterize and determine the phylogenetic status of D. mangiferae. Mango mealybugs were collected from several tree species from different localities and patterns of phylogenetic and genetic diversity were examined at both nuclear (18S, ITS1) and mitochondrial (COI) genes. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that the mango mealybug belongs to the family Monophlebidae. Minor genetic differences in both the ITS1 and the COI barcode region were noted among D. mangiferae collected from different geographic localities. These genetic differences revealed the existence of two genotypes of D. mangiferae that are region specific but not host-specific. and Muhammad Ashfaq, Jehan Ara, Ali Raza Noor, Paul D.N. Hebert, Shahid Mansoor.
We report the molecular-phylogenetic identification of larvae of the nematode genus Gnathostoma Owen, 1836 collected from a snake, Ptyas koros Schlegel, in Laos and adult worms from the stomach of a dog in Thailand. DNA was extracted and amplified targeting the partial cox1 gene and the ITS-2 region of ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all five advanced third-stage larvae and seven adult worms were Gnathostoma spinigerum Owen, 1836. This is also the first molecular evidence of infection with G. spinigerum in a snake from Laos., Jurairat Jongthawin, Pewpan M. Intapan, Oranuch Sanpool, Penchom Janwan, Lakkhana Sadaow, Tongjit Thanchomnang, Sakhone Laymanivong, Wanchai Maleewong., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Migratory birds have an important role in transporting ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens over long distances. In this study, 2,793 migratory birds were captured by nets in a ringing station, located in northern Italy, and checked for the presence of ticks. Two-hundred and fifty-one ticks were identified as nymphs and larvae of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and they were PCR-screened for the presence of bacteria belonging to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Four species of Borrelia (B. garinii, B. afzelii, B. valaisiana and B. lusitaniae) and three species of Rickettsia (R. monacensis, R. helvetica and Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii) were detected in 74 (30%) and 25 (10%) respectively out of 251 ticks examined. Co-infection with Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in the same tick sample was encountered in 7 (7%) out of the 99 infected ticks. We report for the first time the presence of Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii in I. ricinus collected on birds in Italy. This study, besides confirming the role of birds in dispersal of I. ricinus, highlights an important route by which tick-borne pathogens might spread across different countries and from natural environments towards urbanised areas., Massimo Pajoro, Dario Pistone, Ilaria Varotto Boccazzi, Valeria Mereghetti, Claudio Bandi, Massimo Fabbi, Francesco Scattorin, Davide Sassera, Matteo Montagna., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Small-scale soil disturbance, such as animal mounds created by subterraneous ecosystem engineers are important microhabitats for species of conservation concern. There are many studies on the effects of ecosystem engineers on plant species diversity and soil properties, but the influence of such organisms on other taxa, such as insects, are rarely analyzed. In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time the role of molehills produced by the European Mole (Talpa europaea) (Linnaeus, 1758) as a larval habitat for a threatened butterfly species within central European calcareous grasslands. We selected the grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) (Linnaeus, 1758) as a study species as previous studies revealed that it prefers warm and open microhabitats for oviposition. Our study clearly showed that host plants occurring on or in the close vicinity of molehills were regularly occupied by immature stages of P. malvae. Occupied host plants at these disturbed sites were characterized by a more open vegetation structure with a higher proportion of bare ground or stones and a lower cover of the herb layer compared with available host plants (control samples). Among molehills those were preferred that had the highest cover of host plants, especially Agrimonia eupatoria. Molehills are important larval habitats for P. malvae in calcareous grasslands on deeper soils. At these sites succession occurs rapidly and the amount of bare ground is usually low, even when they are managed. In contrast to other known breeding sites in calcareous grasslands, molehills with a high cover of host plants provide ideal conditions for the successful larval development of P. malvae: (i) sufficient food during the larval period and (ii) warm microclimatic conditions., Merle Streitberger, Thomas Fartmann., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
1_The maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae), occurs in the western part of the Mediterranean basin and is a sap sucking insect that feeds only on maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton). It causes damage in SE France and Italy, where it was accidentally introduced. In Spain information is scarce and, moreover, almost nothing is known about the predators of this species. This study was designed to determine the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its major predators, which might help to improve the biological control of this pest in other areas. Natural P. pinaster stands in the Valencian Community (Spain) were surveyed in 2004. In addition, the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its natural enemies were monitored in three stands over a period of three years (2002, 2005 and 2006). The monitoring was carried by wrapping sticky tapes around tree trunks and using delta traps baited with sexual pheromone. The maritime pine bast scale was detected in all the stands surveyed. At almost all the sites surveyed, three species of predators were captured: Elatophilus nigricornis Zetterstedt (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Hemerobius stigma Stephens (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) and Malachiomimus pectinatus (Kiesenwetter) (Coleoptera: Malachiidae). The presence of M. pectinatus is noteworthy as this is the first record of this species as a possible predator of M. feytaudi. The results show that M. feytaudi, although differing in its phenology depending on the location, is univoltine in the study area. The prepupae, pupae and adults of M. feytaudi appeared between December and March in colder areas and between October and February in warmer areas. E. nigricornis nymphs are important predators of M. feytaudi, and were abundant when the scale insect (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) was present., 2_The flight period of E. nigricornis and the hemerobiid H. stigma ranged from May to October. However, these flight patterns did not correlate with the presence of the different stages of the bast scale (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) on the surface of tree trunks. The presence of M. pectinatus in large numbers in some stands suggests it might be an important natural regulator, which helps to keep M. feytaudi populations at low densities in the areas of Spain studied. This malachiid shows a strong kairomonal attraction to the sexual pheromone of M. feytaudi and its flight activity is significantly correlated with the presence of crawlers of bast scale., Eugenia Rodrigo ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury