Isolation and identification of gut symbiotic bacteria of the termite Anacanthotermes vagans (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae)

Termites play a major role in reducing and decomposing woody materials within terrestrial ecosystems by degrading lingo-cellulosic materials with the help of the microbial community of their guts. We isolated the lignin-degrading bacteria from Anacanthotermes vagans (Hagen) using liquid and solid media containing wheat straw and lignin hydrochloric acid. Cellulose-degrading bacteria were also isolated using liquid medium containing filter paper, agar-cellulose and Congo red agar-cellulose. By conducting various experiments, 16 bacterial species were isolated and subjected to different biochemical tests for comparing their growth rates. The genera Enterobacter and Klebsiella showed the highest growth rate among the rest species of isolated lignin-degrading bacteria. The species Staphylococcus lentus and Bacillus subtilis were isolated from the media containing cellulose

The first report of the species Thrips italicus (Thys.: Thripidae) from Iran

The thrips fauna of the orchards of the cities of Yasuj and Sisakht (Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province) was studied during 2012-2013. The species Thrips italicus (Bagnall), which was collected on red apple trees in Sisakht, is reported for the first time in Iran

Laboratory Evaluation of Flurox, a Chitin Synthesis Inhibitor, on the Termite, Microcerotermes diversus

Microcerotermes diversus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Termitidae) is the most economically destructive termite in structures in southwest Iran. One sustainable control strategy that usually helps to reduce subterranean termite damage in buildings, is the use of insect growth regualtors in a suitable bait matrix that are safe to the user and the environment. In the laboratory assays described here, the delayed toxicity of Flurox, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, to M. diversus was evaluated under force-feeding and choice trials. Flurox induced worker and nymph mortality and incomplete ecdysis in nymphs of M. diversus under no-choice and two-choice feeding tests. These adverse effects may cause disruption of the caste balance in M. diversus, leading to the collapse of the colony. These assays determined concentrations of Flurox that can be used in bait formulations

Pathological mucus and impaired mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis patients result from increased concentration, not altered pH

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive genetic disease that is characterised by airway mucus plugging and reduced mucus clearance. There are currently alternative hypotheses that attempt to describe the abnormally viscous and elastic mucus that is a hallmark of CF airways disease, including: 1) loss of CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR)-dependent airway surface volume (water) secretion, producing mucus hyperconcentration-dependent increased viscosity, and 2) impaired bicarbonate secretion by CFTR, producing acidification of airway surfaces and increased mucus viscosity. A series of experiments was conducted to determine the contributions of mucus concentration versus pH to the rheological properties of airway mucus across length scales from the nanoscopic to macroscopic. For length scales greater than the nanoscopic, i.e. those relevant to mucociliary clearance, the effect of mucus concentration dominated over the effect of airway acidification. Mucus hydration and chemical reduction of disulfide bonds that connect mucin monomers are more promising therapeutic approaches than alkalisation

Effects of Aqueous and Powder Formulations of N’N-napthaloylhydroxyamine on Feeding and Mortality of Laboratory Groups of Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Introduction: Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri is considered the most economically destructive pest of wood products in Khuzestan, Iran. This species lives in subterranean nests and gains access to buildings and vegetation by constructing underground galleries. Therefore, control or management of this termite is of serious public concern. Generally, design and implementation of effective management methods for subterranean termites have faced some limitations due to their cryptic life habits. Millions of dollars have been spent for controlling termites worldwide, and 80% of these expenses relate to structural damage repair and costs expended for termite management. In recent years, the use of new non-repellent and slow-acting termiticides has become an important approach for subterranean termite control and has been gaining popularity. In recent years, an extensive survey on the foraging behavior of the most damaging subterranean termites of Khuzestan province (Iran) has been undertaken with a view to the development of appropriate strategies for control of M. diversus as an extremely destructive structural wood pest, was considered to be the major species with a wide distribution throughout Iran. This species tends to form secondary nests (with reproductive and brood).When the water table is high, secondary nests are usually built in above-ground sites such as tree trunks (adjacent to houses) and wall voids. Termite management has primarily focused on the use of chemical methods such as insecticide applications to soil around and beneath wooden structures. Soil treatments with organophosphates such as Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) did not persist in the environment for long time and proved ineffective against aerial colonies. Therefore, it is important to evaluate new compounds that have potential application for termite management. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate possible delayed toxicity effects of N’N napthaloylhydroxyamine (NHA; A. Johnson Metthey Company, USA) on feeding and mortality on M. diversus. Materials and Methods: Termites (M. diversus), which were collected from infested wooden blocks previously buried in soil, transferred to the laboratory and placed in plastic boxes in a dark incubator at 28±2˚C and 90±5% relative humidity. Only active and healthy termites were used for tests. Feeding inhibition and mortality of workers treated with NHA were evaluated using both ‘choice’ and ‘no-choice’ test. In no-choice tests, termites were provided by only NHA-treated soil, or NHA-treated filter paper alone. Therefore, they could not escape the treated soil, or had only treated filter paper for food. In choice tests, termites were provided both treated and non-treated soil or filter paper, and could escape or avoid the treated substractes concentration. Technical NHA (99% wt:wt) was used. Two formulations, which were powdery and aqueous, were evaluated to envistigate their efficacy for management of M. diversus. Termites were exposed to NHA at concentrations which included ranging from 0.5 to 4.0% (wt:wt) in aqueous formulation, and from 0.5 to 8.0% (wt:wt) in powdered formulation. Termites were exposed to sterilized soil or filter paper treated with mentioned concentrations of NHA. Termites’ behaviors monitored daily and their mortality recorded. Mortality data were corrected using Abbott’s formula. ANOVA was performed in conjunction with a least significant difference (LSD) test, and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at the 5% level using SAS software (ver. 9.1). A probit analysis was also conducted. The related diagrams were drawn using Microsoft Excel 2007. Noted that the tests were carried out with regard to the standards E1-06 (2006) of the USA and prEN117(2003) of the Europe. Results and Discussion: NHA-treated-soil indicated that over 21 days, mortality rate gradually increased with increasing concentration levels. Trials with filter paper impregnated with the aqueous formulation showed that within 14 days mortality also gradually increased with increasing concentration. Probit analysis indicated that the level of mortality was dependent on concentration. There was an inverse relationship between time to 90% mortality (LT90) and concentration. LC50 and LC90 values when for compared between different tests showed that in no-choice tests where termites were forced to contact NHA, these values are lower compared with the choice tests. This indicates greater lethality in no-choice tests. Overall, at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0% aqueous formulation (treated-filter paper), within 7 to 14-days mortality was 63%. Powdered formulation at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0% (treated-soil) caused 67% mortality within 14 to 21 days, indicating that NHA is a slow-acting toxin once ingested. Conclusion: With regard to our results, we suggest NHA as an effective non-repellent termiticide for controlling M. diversus, and perhaps other subterranean termites in soil. We suggest that application of NHA may be an effective strategyfor the control of M. diversus. Further, field testing is warranted to determine NHA efficacy in natural conditions

Historical biogeography of Reticulitermes termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) inferred from analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear loci.

Termites of the genus Reticulitermes are ecologically and economically important wood-feeding social insects that are widespread in the Holarctic region. Despite their importance, no study has yet attempted to reconstruct a global time-scaled phylogeny of Reticulitermes termites. In this study, we sequenced mitochondrial (2096 bp) and nuclear (829 bp) loci from 61 Reticulitermes specimens, collected across the genus’ entire range, and one specimen of Coptotermes formosanus, which served as an outgroup. Bayesian and Maximum likelihood analyses conducted on the mitochondrial and nuclear sequences support the existence of four main lineages that span four global geographical regions: North America (NA lineage), western Europe (WE lineage), a region including eastern Europe and western Asia (EA + WA lineage), and eastern Asia (EA lineage). The mitochondrial data allowed us to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among these lineages. They were also used to infer a chronogram that was time scaled based on age estimates for termite fossils (including the oldest Reticulitermes fossils, which date back to the late Eocene–early Oligocene). Our results support the hypothesis that the extant Reticulitermes lineage first differentiated in North America. The first divergence event in the ancestral lineage of Reticulitermes occurred in the early Miocene and separated the Nearctic lineages (i.e., the NA lineages) from the Palearctic lineages (i.e., WE, EE + WA, and EA lineages). Our analyses revealed that the main lineages of Reticulitermes diversified because of vicariance and migration events, which were probably induced by major paleogeographic and paleoclimatic changes that occurred during the Cenozoic era. This is the first global and comprehensive phylogenetic study of Reticulitermes termites, and it provides a crucial foundation for studying the evolution of phenotypic and life-history traits in Reticulitermes. For instance, the phylogeny we obtained suggested that ‘asexual queen succession’, a unique reproductive system, independently evolved at least three times during the diversification of the genus