Molecular analysis of predation on parasitized hosts

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Traugott ◽  
W.O.C. Symondson

AbstractPredation on parasitized hosts can significantly affect natural enemy communities, and such intraguild predation may indirectly affect control of herbivore populations. However, the methodological challenges for studying these often complex trophic interactions are formidable. Here, we evaluate a DNA-based approach to track parasitism and predation on parasitized hosts in model herbivore-parasitoid-predator systems. Using singleplex polymerase chain reaction (SP-PCR) to target mtDNA of the parasitoid only, and multiplex PCR (MP-PCR) to additionally target host DNA as an internal amplification control, we found that detection of DNA from the parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, in its aphid host, Aphis fabae, was possible as early as 5 min. post parasitism. Up to 24 h post parasitism SP-PCR proved to be more sensitive than MP-PCR in amplifying parasitoid DNA. In the carabid beetles Demetrias atricapillus and Erigone sp. spiders, fed with aphids containing five-day-old parasitoids, parasitoid and aphid DNA were equally detectable in both predator groups. However, when hosts containing two-day-old parasitoids were fed to the predators, detection of parasitoid prey was possible only at 0 h (immediately after consumption) and up to 8 h post consumption in carabids and spiders, respectively. Over longer periods of time, post-feeding prey detection success was significantly higher in spiders than in carabid beetles. MP-PCR, in which parasitoid and aphid DNA were simultaneously amplified, proved to be less sensitive at amplifying prey DNA than SP-PCR. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that PCR-based parasitoid and prey detection offers an exciting approach to further our understanding of host-parasitoid-predator interactions.

1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.K. Chan ◽  
D.J. Petersen ◽  
T.C. Vrain

Extraction of DNA from whole aphids, in combination with random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) (Williams et al. 1990) markers can detect interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation (Black et al. 1992; Cenis et al. 1993). However, these techniques entail destructive sampling of fresh or preserved specimens. To allow experimental replication from a single sample while preserving the same aphid for morphometrical or karyotyping analyses, we describe a technique for RAPD-PCR using DNA from single aphid embryos. We evaluated the usefulness and reliability of single-embryo analysis, using four species of our laboratory colonies, namely Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), Aphis fabae Scopoli, Aphis frangulae group, and Aphis gossypii Glover.


Author(s):  
G. W. Hacker ◽  
I. Zehbe ◽  
J. Hainfeld ◽  
A.-H. Graf ◽  
C. Hauser-Kronberger ◽  
...  

In situ hybridization (ISH) with biotin-labeled probes is increasingly used in histology, histopathology and molecular biology, to detect genetic nucleic acid sequences of interest, such as viruses, genetic alterations and peptide-/protein-encoding messenger RNA (mRNA). In situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCR in situ hybridization = PISH) and the new in situ self-sustained sequence replication-based amplification (3SR) method even allow the detection of single copies of DNA or RNA in cytological and histological material. However, there is a number of considerable problems with the in situ PCR methods available today: False positives due to mis-priming of DNA breakdown products contained in several types of cells causing non-specific incorporation of label in direct methods, and re-diffusion artefacts of amplicons into previously negative cells have been observed. To avoid these problems, super-sensitive ISH procedures can be used, and it is well known that the sensitivity and outcome of these methods partially depend on the detection system used.


2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (4S) ◽  
pp. 485-486
Author(s):  
Sabarinath B. Nair ◽  
Christodoulos Pipinikas ◽  
Roger Kirby ◽  
Nick Carter ◽  
Christiane Fenske

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (01) ◽  
pp. 63-66
Author(s):  
D. Schaudien ◽  
C. Flieshardt ◽  
I. Moser ◽  
H. Hotzel ◽  
A. Tipold ◽  
...  

SummaryGranulomatous myelitis due to infection with Mycobacterium avium was diagnosed in a 4-year-old male neutered European mink (Mustela lutreola). The causative agent was detected by an acid-fast stain and further characterized by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing of the PCR product. A thorough histological evaluation of the remaining organs revealed no granulomatous lesions or detectable acid-fast organisms. Although minks are generally highly susceptible for mycobacteria, localised infections, especially of the central nervous system, are unusual and may represent an atypical chronic form of the disease.


1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (04) ◽  
pp. 500-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Peretz ◽  
U Seligsohn ◽  
E Zwang ◽  
B S Coller ◽  
P J Newman

SummarySevere Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is relatively frequent in Iraqi-Jews and Arabs residing in Israel. We have recently described the mutations responsible for the disease in Iraqi-Jews – an 11 base pair deletion in exon 12 of the glycoprotein IIIa gene, and in Arabs – a 13 base pair deletion at the AG acceptor splice site of exon 4 on the glycoprotein IIb gene. In this communication we show that the Iraqi-Jewish mutation can be identified directly by polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis. With specially designed oligonucleotide primers encompassing the mutation site, an 80 base pair segment amplified in healthy controls was clearly distinguished from the 69 base pair segment produced in patients. Patients from 11 unrelated Iraqi-Jewish families had the same mutation. The Arab mutation was identified by first amplifying a DNA segment consisting of 312 base pairs in controls and of 299 base pairs in patients, and then digestion by a restriction enzyme Stu-1, which recognizes a site that is absent in the mutant gene. In controls the 312 bp segment was digested into 235 and 77 bp fragments, while in patients there was no change in the size of the amplified 299 bp segment. The mutation was found in patients from 3 out of 5 unrelated Arab families. Both Iraqi-Jewish and Arab mutations were detectable in DNA extracted from blood and urine samples. The described simple methods of identifying the mutations should be useful for detection of the numerous potential carriers among the affected kindreds and for prenatal diagnosis using DNA extracted from chorionic villi samples.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (05) ◽  
pp. 762-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiro Takafuta ◽  
Kingo Fujirmura ◽  
Hironori Kawano ◽  
Masaaki Noda ◽  
Tetsuro Fujimoto ◽  
...  

SummaryGlycoprotein V (GPV) is a platelet membrane protein with a molecular weight of 82 kD, and one of the leucine rich glycoproteins (LRG). By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), GPV cDNA was amplified from mRNA of platelets and megakaryocytic cell lines. However, since there are few reports indicating whether GPV protein is expressed in megakaryocytes as a lineage and maturation specific protein, we studied the GPV expression at the protein level by using a novel monoclonal antibody (1D9) recognizing GPV. Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that GPV was detected on the surface and in the cytoplasm of only the megakaryocytes in bone marrow aspirates. In a megakaryocytic cell line UT-7, GPV antigen increased after treatment with phorbol-12-myri-state-13-acetate (PMA). These data indicate that only megakaryocytes specifically express the GPV protein among hematopoietic cells and that the expression of GPV increases with differentiation of the megakaryocyte as GPIb-IX complex.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document