The tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an important parasite of cattle in many areas of the tropics. Characterization of molecules involved in mechanisms such as vitellogenesis and embryo development may contribute to a better understanding of this parasite's physiology. The vitellin-degrading cysteine endopeptidase (VTDCE) is the most active enzyme involved in vitellin hydrolysis in R...

In this study the cellular and humoral immune reactions of the Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella have been investigated during bacterial infection caused by oral administration of Bacillus thuringiensis. Two different dose strengths were investigated to assess the contribution of immune parameters to induced Bt resistance. Low-dose (sublethal LC15) infection resulted in significantly elevate...

The antibacterial activity of immune haemolymph Galleria mellonella directed against Escherichia coli D31 was destroyed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa crude proteolytic fraction. This was demonstrated by diffusion well assay and acid gel electrophoresis and subsequent bioautography. On the contrary, lysozyme activity appeared to be insensitive to extracellular proteases of P. aeruginosa when activit...

As white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) can be highly pathogenic in penaeid shrimp, various feed supplements have been tested to help to protect farmed shrimp against WSSV disease. Here a polysaccharide extract from Halophila ovalis (HO) seagrass was added to feeds at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g[a1] /kg to assess its ability to protect Black Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) against WSSV ch...

As shown previously, adenosine and the adenine nucleotides cause a rapid increase in heart rate (f(H)) and haemolymph velocity (v(HL)) when infused into intact American lobster (Homarus americanus). Here we compare the effects of adenosine and adenine nucleotides on different heart preparations in order to gain insight into their sites of action. In the semi-isolated (in situ) heart preparation...

contains a total concentration of amino acids 50–100 times that which is normal for mammalian plasma (Wigglesworth, 1972). Total haemolymph amino acid concentrations vary from 16 mmol l–1 in aquatic midges (Chironomus tentans; Firling, 1977) to 33 mmol l–1 in black flies (Simulium venustum; Gordon and Bailey, 1974), 54 mmol l–1 in blow flies (Calliphora vicina; Evans and Crossley, 1974), 90 mmo...

SILVA, S.B. DA; BITTENCOURT V.R.E.P. [Evaluation of cellular response in engorged females of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) inoculated with Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Penicillium corylophilum or Fusarium oxysporum]. Avaliação da resposta celular de fêmeas ingurgitadas de Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) inoculadas com Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Pe...

The passage of a barium meal (15 % by mass) was followed through the digestive system of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus by flash-freezing crabs at set intervals, followed by radiography of specimens. Food moved from the oesophagus into the stomach region within 15 min. After 1-2 h, food was visible in the midgut, at 6 h it had reached the hindgut, and material was still present in the stomac...