A technique for establishing parabiosis between houseflies (Musca domestica L.)

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine neue, sehr einfache Methode zur Erzeugung parabiotischer, 12–24 h lang lebensfähiger Fliegenpaare (Musca domestica L.) beschrieben.

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The author wishes to thank Prof.K. N. Saxena for encouragement.     

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.     

Larval necrophagy and photopigment phenocopying inMusca domestica (L.)

Summary The intensity of photopigment modification in green-eyed house flies increased with increasing larval density and the relative frequency of +-type larvae. Phenocopying in these precursor deficient mutants resulted from the consumption of their dead 3rd instar +-type sibs.Supported by C.U.N.Y., Faculty Research Award Program Grant 1103 and N.I.H. Biomedical Research Support Program 5-SO5-RR07064.We thank Alice Chabora and B. Wallace for their discussions and Sandra Smolin for her technical assistance. I.C. McDonald of the USDA Metabolism and Radiation Research Laboratory, Fargo, N.D., kindly supplied marker strains of house fly eye color mutants.     

Site of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the female housefly,Musca domestica L.

Summary The primary site of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the female housefly is the abdominal integument tissue, whereas the contribution of the legs is relatively minor. A substantial portion of the sex pheromone components are, however, transferred from the abdomen to the legs, probably as a result of grooming.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Science and Education Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under grant No. 7801064 from the Competitive Research Grants Office. Contribution of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No 524. Housefly pupae were kindly supplied by Dr Ted Shapas, S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin.Author for correspondence.     

Trehalose in the flight muscle of the house fly,Musca domestica L., in relation to age

Zusammenfassung Trehalose der Flügelmuskeln männlicher Hausfliegen,Musca domestica (1 h bis 16 Tage alt), wurde mit Filtrierpapierchromatographie getrennt und quantitativ kolorimetrisch bestimmt. Die Konzentration der Trehalose in den Flügelmuskeln erreicht ihr Maximum (26,50 µg/Thorax) 4 h nach dem Schlüpfen der Imago. Nach 24 h (Imago) auf des Maximums (8,59 µg/Thorax) vermindert, stabilisiert sich der Trehalosegehalt bis zum Lebensende.

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Supported in part by funds from USPHS Grant No. HD 00571 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Molecular characterization and expression of the antimicrobial peptide defensin from the housefly (Musca domestica)

A 430-bp cDNA encoding the insect antimicrobial peptide defensin was cloned from the housefly, and designated Musca domestica defensin (Mdde). The open reading frame of the cDNA encoded a 92-amino acid peptide with an N-terminal signal sequence followed by a propeptide that is processed by cleavage to a 40-amino acid mature peptide. Northern analysis and in situ hybridization identified the corresponding mRNA in the fat body of bacterially challenged houseflies and in the epidermis of the body wall of naive and challenged houseflies. The Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) is a strong inducer of the gene. By RT-PCR, Mdde mRNA was also detected in naive and challenged insects. These findings suggest that the defensin gene is constitutively expressed in the epidermis of the housefly body wall. The predicted mature form of Mdde was expressed as a recombinant peptide in E. coli and Pichia pastoris. The recombinant Mdde expressed in Pichia was active against Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria. Received 20 June 2006; received after revision 3 October 2006; accepted 30 October 2006     

Detection of nucleolus organizer regions (NOR) in the chromosomes of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.)

Summary In the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.) nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) were detected by a combined silver-Giemsa method (Ag-G). The main sites of NORs are the secondary constrictions of chromosomes 8 and 10. Sometimes an additional NOR was observed near the centromere of 1 homologue of chromosome 11. Associations of NORs were seen only between chromosomes 10 and at a very low frequency.     

Detection of nucleolus organizer regions (NOR) in the chromosomes of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.)

In the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.) nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) were detected by a combined silver-Giemsa method (Ag-G). The main sites of NORs are the secondary constrictions of chromosomes 8 and 10. Sometimes an additional NOR was observed near the centromere of 1 homologue of chromosome 11. Association of NORs were seen only between chromosomes 10 and at a very low frequency.     

A mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), isolated from worker honeybee larvae, was digested by each of seven 6-base restriction enzymes. Only one enzyme (BglII) showed a mtDNA difference between the three tested races (Apis mellifera carcia, A. m. ligustica, A.m. caucasica). BothA.m. carnica andA.m. ligustica showed the same pattern, differing fromA.m. caucasica. The degree of fragment pattern similarity revealed that there is only a small level of mtDNA variation between the three races tested. This is in line with previous investigations of enzyme polymorphisms.     

Neuromuscular transmission inElectrophorus electricus (L.)

Résumé Le système neuromusculaire dansElectrophorus electricus est étudié avec des électrodes intracellulaires. La transmission neuromusculaire est supprimée avec D-tubocurarine (5 · 10^–7 p/v) ou avec un excès des ions Mg⁺⁺ (12 mM) dans la solution.