Bioassay of Solubilized \u3ci\u3eBacillus thuringiensis\u3c/i\u3e var. \u3ci\u3eisraelensis\u3c/i\u3e Crystals by Attachment to Latex Beads

Solubilized crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis were 7,000 times less toxic to Aedes aegypti larvae than intact crystals, presumably because mosquito larvae are filter feeders and selectively concentrate particles while excluding water and soluble molecules. A procedure is described whereby soluble toxins are adsorbed to 0.8- micrometer latex beads, with retention of toxicity. The latex bead assay should make it possible to analyze the structure and mode of action of the mosquito toxin

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation via tragus or cymba conchae: Are its psychophysiological effects dependent on the stimulation area?

Efforts in optimizing transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) are crucial to further develop its potential in improving cognitive and autonomic regulation. The present study focused on this topic. The aim was to compare for the first time the main stimulation areas of the ear currently used in studies with tVNS, taking cognitive as well as neurophysiological effects into account. The main areas to be compared with one another were tragus, cymba conchae, and earlobe (sham) stimulation. Post-error slowing, which has already been shown to be influenced by tVNS, was used to investigate the cognitive effects of tVNS when applied on the different auricular areas. On the neurophysiological level, we measured pupillary responses as an index of norepinephrine activity during post-error slowing, and cardiac vagal activity to investigate the activation of neural pathways involved in post-error slowing. Stimulation of different auricular areas led to no differences in post-error slowing and in pupillary responses. However, the neurological processes involved in post-error slowing could be observed, since norepinephrine activity increased after committing an error. Further, there was an increase in cardiac vagal activity over the test period that was independent of the stimulation areas. The results suggest that tVNS targeting the ear might have a non-specific effect on the processing of error commission, on pupillary responses, and on cardiac vagal activity. We conclude that it is necessary to consider alternatives for sham conditions other than electrical earlobe stimulation. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Overwintering Hosts for the Exotic Leafroller Parasitoid, Colpoclypeus florus: Implications for Habitat Manipulation to Augment Biological Control of Leafrollers in Pome Fruits

Thirty sites of managed and native habitats were surveyed for leafrollers (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the apple producing region of central Washington State and northern Oregon from September through November 1997–2000 to discover species that supported overwintering by the parasitoid Colpoclypeus florus (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). C. florus, a species introduced from Europe, requires medium to large host larvae late in autumn on which to overwinter, and few leafroller species display this biology. Over the four years, five potential C. florus hosts were collected, including: Ancylis comptana (Froelich), Xenotemna pallorana (Robinson), and Syndemis sp. (Tortricidae), Filatima sp. (Gelechiidae), and Caloptilia burgessiellia (Zeller) (Gracillariidae). Of these, A. comptana, Syndemis sp., and Filatima sp. have been confirmed as overwintering hosts for C. florus. During the four years, the Syndemis sp. was rare and observed at only one location feeding on redosier dogwood, Cornus sericea L. (Cornales: Cornaceae) although, at this location, many of the larvae collected were parasitized by C. florus. Filatima sp. was common in the Yakima valley feeding on balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray ex Hook) Brayshaw (Malpighiales: Salicaceae) but was rarely parasitized. A. comptana, however, was collected at many locations in central Washington and was frequently found as an overwintering host for C. florus. A. comptana was found feeding on two Rosaceae: Wood's rose, Rosa woodsii Lindl., and strawberry, Fragaria ananassa Duchesne (Rosales: Rosaceae). Based on the number of host larvae collected, A. comptana appears to be the primary overwintering host for C. florus in Washington. Introduction of A. comptana populations to near-orchard habitats may facilitate biological control of leafrollers that are orchard pests

Characterization of the Mutagenic Spectrum of 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide (4-NQO) in Aspergillus nidulans by Whole Genome Sequencing

4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) is a highly carcinogenic chemical that induces mutations in bacteria, fungi, and animals through the formation of bulky purine adducts. 4-NQO has been used as a mutagen for genetic screens and in both the study of DNA damage and DNA repair. In the model eukaryote Aspergillus nidulans, 4-NQO−based genetic screens have been used to study diverse processes, including gene regulation, mitosis, metabolism, organelle transport, and septation. Early work during the 1970s using bacterial and yeast mutation tester strains concluded that 4-NQO was a guanine-specific mutagen. However, these strains were limited in their ability to determine full mutagenic potential, as they could not identify mutations at multiple sites, unlinked suppressor mutations, or G:C to C:G transversions. We have now used a whole genome resequencing approach with mutant strains generated from two independent genetic screens to determine the full mutagenic spectrum of 4-NQO in A. nidulans. Analysis of 3994 mutations from 38 mutant strains reveals that 4-NQO induces substitutions in both guanine and adenine residues, although with a 19-fold preference for guanine. We found no association between mutation load and mutagen dose and observed no sequence bias in the residues flanking the mutated purine base. The mutations were distributed randomly throughout most of the genome. Our data provide new evidence that 4-NQO can potentially target all base pairs. Furthermore, we predict that current practices for 4-NQO−induced mutagenesis are sufficient to reach gene saturation for genetic screens with feasible identification of causative mutations via whole genome resequencing

Inhibitors of One or More Cellular Aurora Kinases Impair the Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Other DNA and RNA Viruses with Diverse Genomes and Life Cycles

We utilized a high-throughput cell-based assay to screen several chemical libraries for inhibitors of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) gene expression. From this screen, four aurora kinase inhibitors were identified that potently reduced gene expression during HSV-1 lytic infection. HSV-1 is known to interact with cellular kinases to regulate gene expression by modulating the phosphorylation and/or activities of viral and cellular proteins. To date, the role of aurora kinases in HSV-1 lytic infection has not been reported. We demonstrated that three aurora kinase inhibitors strongly reduced the transcript levels of immediate-early (IE) genes ICP0, ICP4, and ICP27 and impaired HSV-1 protein expression from all classes of HSV-1, including ICP0, ICP4, ICP8, and gC. These restrictions caused by the aurora kinase inhibitors led to potent reductions in HSV-1 viral replication. The compounds TAK 901, JNJ 7706621, and PF 03814735 decreased HSV-1 titers by 4,500-, 13,200-, and 8,400-fold, respectively, when present in a low micromolar range. The antiviral activity of these compounds correlated with an apparent decrease in histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 (H3S10ph) during viral infection, suggesting that the phosphorylation status of H3 influences HSV-1 gene expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the aurora kinase inhibitors also impaired the replication of other RNA and DNA viruses. These inhibitors significantly reduced yields of vaccinia virus (a poxvirus, double-stranded DNA, cytoplasmic replication) and mouse hepatitis virus (a coronavirus, positive-sense single-strand RNA [ssRNA]), whereas vesicular stomatitis virus (rhabdovirus, negative-sense ssRNA) yields were unaffected. These results indicated that the activities of aurora kinases play pivotal roles in the life cycles of diverse viruses

Effect of Silver Annealing Conditions on the Performance of Electrolytic Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes used in Harned Cell Measurements of pH

We have studied the long and short term stability of electrolytic Ag/AgCl electrodes fabricated from Ag wire that has been subjected to a range of different annealing conditions. At elevated temperatures, the presence of oxygen during the annealing process has been shown to be detrimental to the performance of electrodes produced. This phenomenon has been attributed to the dissolution of oxygen in the Ag lattice leading to structural changes in the Ag/AgCl electrode material. Electrodes prepared from Ag wire annealed in the absence of oxygen have shown no appreciable change in performance throughout the temperature range employed. This work has resulted in an improved understanding of the optimum annealing conditions required for Ag used in the preparation of electrolytic Ag/AgCl reference electrodes. This work has positive implications for the accuracy of Harned cell measurements of pH

Sensitivities of Key Parameters in the Preparation of Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes Used in Harned Cell Measurements of pH

A questionnaire was completed by fourteen world leading national metrology institutes to study the influence of several variables in the preparation of Ag/AgCl electrodes on the accuracy of Harned cell measurements of pH. The performance of each institute in the last decade has been assessed based on their results in eight key comparisons, organized by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance, involving the measurement of pH of phosphate, phthalate, carbonate, borate and tetroxalate buffer solutions. The performance of each laboratory has been correlated to the results of the questionnaire to determine the critical parameters in the preparation of Ag/AgCl electrodes and their sensitivities with respect to the accuracy of pH measurement. This study reveals that the parameters most closely correlated to performance in comparisons are area of electrode wire exposed to the electrolyte, diameter and porosity of the Ag sphere prior to anodisation, amount of Ag converted to AgCl during anodisation, stability times employed for electrodes to reach equilibrium in solution prior to measurement, electrode rejection criteria employed and purity of reagents

The Role of TLR4 in the Paclitaxel Effects on Neuronal Growth In Vitro

Paclitaxel (Pac) is an antitumor agent that is widely used for treatment of solid cancers. While being effective as a chemotherapeutic agent, Pac in high doses is neurotoxic, specifically targeting sensory innervations. In view of these toxic effects associated with conventional chemotherapy, decreasing the dose of Pac has been recently suggested as an alternative approach, which might limit neurotoxicity and immunosuppression. However, it remains unclear if low doses of Pac retain its neurotoxic properties or might exhibit unusual effects on neuronal cells. The goal of this study was to analyze the concentration-dependent effect of Pac on isolated and cultured DRG neuronal cells from wild-type and TLR4 knockout mice. Three different morphological parameters were analyzed: the number of neurons which developed neurites, the number of neurites per cell and the total length of neurites per cell. Our data demonstrate that low concentrations of Pac (0.1 nM and 0.5 nM) do not influence the neuronal growth in cultures in both wild type and TLR4 knockout mice. Higher concentrations of Pac (1-100 nM) had a significant effect on DRG neurons from wild type mice, affecting the number of neurons which developed neurites, number of neurites per cell, and the length of neurites. In DRG from TLR4 knockout mice high concentrations of Pac showed a similar effect on the number of neurons which developed neurites and the length of neurites. At the same time, the number of neurites per cell, indicating the process of growth cone initiation, was not affected by high concentrations of Pac. Thus, our data showed that Pac in high concentrations has a significant damaging effect on axonal growth and that this effect is partially mediated through TLR4 pathways. Low doses of Pac are devoid of neuronal toxicity and thus can be safely used in a chemomodulation mode. © 2013 Ustinova et al

Variation within and between Frankliniella Thrips Species in Host Plant Utilization

Anthophilous flower thrips in the genus Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) exploit ephemeral plant resources and therefore must be capable of successfully locating appropriate hosts on a repeated basis, yet little is known of interspecific and intraspecific variation in responses to host plant type and nutritional quality. Field trials were conducted over two seasons to determine if the abundance of males and females of three common Frankliniella species, F. occidentalis (Pergande), F. tritici (Fitch) and F. bispinosa (Morgan), their larvae, and a key predator, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were affected by host plant type and plant nutritional quality. Two host plants, pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) and tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. that vary in suitability for these species were examined, and their nutritional quality was manipulated by applying three levels of nitrogen fertilization (101 kg/ha, 202 kg/ha, 404 kg/ha). F. occidentalis females were more abundant in pepper than in tomato, but males did not show a differential response. Both sexes of F. tritici and F. bispinosa were more abundant in tomato than in pepper. Larval thrips were more abundant in pepper than in tomato. Likewise, O. insidiosus females and nymphs were more abundant in pepper than in tomato. Only F. occidentalis females showed a distinct response to nitrogen fertilization, with abundance increasing with fertilization. These results show that host plant utilization patterns vary among Frankliniella spp. and should not be generalized from results of the intensively studied F. occidentalis. Given the different pest status of these species and their differential abundance in pepper and tomato, it is critical that scouting programs include species identifications for proper management