Co-enzyme a content in the American cockroach (Periplaneta Americana L.) and the housefly (Musca domestica L.)

Riassunto Gli autori hanno dosato il CoA nei muscoli della coxa diPeriplaneta americana ed inMusca domestica in toto. Vengono messe in evidenza le differenze del contenuto in CoA dei muscoli bianchi e rossi della coxa di blatta. Viene inoltre messo in evidenza l'aumento progressivo del CoA, durante i primi 9 giorni di vita dell'adulto, inM. domestica.     

Immunoglobulin-binding proteins in ticks: new target for vaccine development against a blood-feeding parasite

Humans have a long history of trying to control ticks. At first, attempts focused on modifying the habitat, whereas later efforts relied heavily on the use of chemicals. Current research is directed at finding a vaccine against ticks. A strategy of targeting 'concealed antigens' succeeded with the first commercialised vaccine against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. However, vaccine development against other tick species appears unsatisfactory to date. Vaccination depends on a specific antibody-mediated immunoreaction that damages the parasite. Immunoglobulin molecules of vertebrate hosts can pass through gut barriers into the haemolymph of ectoparasites while retaining antibody activity. Research on the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus revealed that host immunoglobulin-G in the parasite was excreted via salivation, during feeding. Immunoglobulin-binding proteins in tick haemolymph and salivary glands are thought to be responsible for such excretion. The discovery of an immunoglobulin excretion system in ticks indicates that they have a highly developed mechanism to protect themselves from their host's antibody attack. Such a mechanism questions whether immunization strategies will be effective against ticks, unless they circumvent or disable the ticks' immunoglobulin excretion system.     

The schizogony of Polychromophilus (Haemoproteidae), cosmopolitan parasite of Microchiroptera]

The schizogony of Polychromophilus was partially known by the findings of Schingarew, Mer and Goldblum who demonstrated microschizonts in the reticulo-endothelial tissue. The present work completes these data by showing the presence of macroschizonts in the lungs of both African and European species. These schizonts are characterized by their large size, the hypertrophy of the host cell and its nucleus and the evolution of the parasite apparently slow when young, becoming rapid later.     

Linalool from the cotton stainerDysdercus superstitiosus (F.) (heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

Summary The isoprenoid linalool, together with several straight carbon-chain aliphatic materials, has been found in the scent glands of the cotton stainerDysdercus superstitiosus (F.)We thank the British Inter Universities Council and Bayero University Research and Higher Degrees Committee for their financial support, Dr B.W. Staddon for his valuable assistance, Dr D.E. Games for arranging mass spectral facilities.     

Production of ergotamine by a strain ofClaviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.

Riassunto Un ceppo diClaviceps purpurea indicato con la sigla 275 F.I. produce in coltura sommersa 1100–1500g/ml di una miscela di alcaloidi peptidici costituita principalmente da ergotammina (80%). Sono riportati i terreni colturali, le condizioni di coltura e l'andamento di una tipica fermentazione.     

o-Aminoacetophenone,a pheromone that repels honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Summary o-Aminoacetophenone is a pheromone produced by virgin honeybee queens and released with feces. In small social groups, the pheromone repels and is used to terminate agonistic interactions between queens and workers.     

o-Aminoacetophenone, a pheromone that repels honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

o-Aminoacetophenone is a pheromone produced by virgin honeybee queens and released with feces. In small social groups, the pheromone repels and is used to terminate agonistic interactions between queens and workers.     

Host-plant pyrrolizidine alkaloids inNyctemera annulata Boisduval: Their persistence through the life-cycle and transfer to a parasite

Summary Larvae ofNyctemera annulata Boisduval ingest pyrrolizidine alkaloids fromSenecio spathulatus A. Rich. which subsequently appear in the adult months and their eggs; the acquisition of the alkaloids by a parasite of theN. annulata larvae provides a further illustration of their ability to persist in insects.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr R. Yamdagni of the Chemistry Department, University of Calgary, Canada, and Dr O. Madsen of the Organic Chemistry Department, The Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark, for much help with the MS data collection. We are also very grateful to Dr C.C.J. Culvenor, CSIRO Animal Health Lab., Parkville, Victoria, Australia, who most generously provided us with authentic reference specimens of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.