scholarly journals First description ofLotmaria passimandCrithidia mellificaehaptomonad stage in the honeybee hindgut

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Buendía-Abad ◽  
Pilar García-Palencia ◽  
Luis Miguel de Pablos-Torró ◽  
José María Alunda ◽  
Antonio Osuna ◽  
...  

AbstractThe remodelling of flagella into attachment structures is a common and important event in the insect stages of the trypanosomatid life cycle. Among their hymenopteran hosts,Lotmaria passimandCrithidia mellificaecan parasitizeApis mellifera, and as a result they might have a significant impact on honeybee health. However, there are details of their life cycle and the mechanisms underlying their pathogenicity in this host that remain unclear. Here we show that bothL. passimpromastigotes andC. mellificaechoanomastigotes differentiate into haptomonad stage covering the ileum and rectum of honeybees. These haptomonad cells remain attached to the host surface via zonular hemidesmosome-like structures, as revealed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Hence, for the first time this work describes the haptomonad morphotype of these species and their hemidesmosome-like attachment inApis mellifera, a key trait exploited by other trypanosomatid species to proliferate in the insect host hindgut.Author summaryIn recent years, the mortality of European Honeybees (Apis mellifera) has risen worldwide due to a variety of factors, including their infection by parasites. Former studies have linked the presence of several trypanosomatids species, beingLotmaria passimandCrithidia mellificaethe most prevalent ones, with this increase in mortality. Although previous studies have shown that trypanosomatid infection reduces the lifespan of bees, there is little information regarding their development in the gut when honeybees become infected. Here, for the first time we describe the haptomonad morphotype of these two trypanosomatid species inA. mellifera. The most characteristic feature of haptomonads is the extensive remodelling of the flagellum and the formation of junctional complexes at the host gut wall. The presence of this morphotype in the honeybee hindgut increases our understanding of the life cycle of these species and their possible pathogenic mechanisms. We found that they can multiply while attached and that their disposition, covering the hindgut walls, could hinder host nutrient uptake and consequently, represent a pathogenic mechanism itself. This attachment could also be a key stage in the life-cycle to prevent the trypanosomatids leaving the host prematurely, ensuring transmission through infective morphotypes.

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bruňanská ◽  
H. Fagerholm ◽  
F. Moravec ◽  
Z. Vasilková

Abstract The fine structure of the buccal capsule of the adult female nematode Anguillicoloides crassus (Spirurina) was studied for the first time. Results are based on serial section (longitudinal and transverse) light and transmission electron microscopy. The buccal capsule of A. crassus is a cuticular-lined structure. It can be divided into three main parts: cheilostom, gymnostom and stegostom. The cheilostom is the anterior region of the buccal capsule with the cuticular lining continuous with the body wall cuticle and underlain by epidermal syncytia. The gymnostom is a cuticular region with portions of it very electron dense and underlain by arcade syncytia. A dense circumoral cylinder together with the circumpharyngeal ring represent the prominent characters of the gymnostom. The stegostom is formed by anterior pharyngeal cuticle underlain by muscular radial cells and epithelial marginal cells. The cephalic cuticle of A. crassus makes a direct contact with the pharyngeal cuticle at the base of the circumoral cylinder, within a circumpharyngeal ring containing projections of pharyngeal muscular and marginal cells. The circumoral cylinder, circumpharyngeal ring and pharynx are connected to the body epidermis by junctional complexes. The buccal capsule includes occasionally 3 projections of the pharynx evidently observed in serial cross sections. These ultrastructural characters may provide useful data for comparative, functional as well as evolutionary studies within the Chromadorea.


Author(s):  
Z.L. Wang ◽  
J. Bentley ◽  
R.E. Clausing ◽  
L. Heatherly ◽  
L.L. Horton

Microstructural studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) usually involve tedious specimen preparation. This process has been avoided with a technique that is described in this paper. For the first time, thick as-grown diamond films have been examined directly in a conventional TEM without thinning. With this technique, the important microstructures near the growth surface have been characterized. An as-grown diamond film was fractured on a plane containing the growth direction. It took about 5 min to prepare a sample. For TEM examination, the film was tilted about 30-45° (see Fig. 1). Microstructures of the diamond grains on the top edge of the growth face can be characterized directly by transmitted electron bright-field (BF) and dark-field (DF) images and diffraction patterns.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 611
Author(s):  
Celia Marcos ◽  
María de Uribe-Zorita ◽  
Pedro Álvarez-Lloret ◽  
Alaa Adawy ◽  
Patricia Fernández ◽  
...  

Chert samples from different coastal and inland outcrops in the Eastern Asturias (Spain) were mineralogically investigated for the first time for archaeological purposes. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and total organic carbon techniques were used. The low content of moganite, since its detection by X-ray diffraction is practically imperceptible, and the crystallite size (over 1000 Å) of the quartz in these cherts would be indicative of its maturity and could potentially be used for dating chert-tools recovered from archaeological sites. Also, this information can constitute essential data to differentiate the cherts and compare them with those used in archaeological tools. However, neither composition nor crystallite size would allow distinguishing between coastal and inland chert outcrops belonging to the same geological formations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 416-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghad R. Alzahrani ◽  
Manal M. Alkhulaifi ◽  
Nouf M. Al-Enazi

AbstractThe adaptive nature of algae results in producing unique chemical components that are gaining attention due to their efficiency in many fields and abundance. In this study, we screened the phytochemicals from the brown alga Hydroclathrus clathratus and tested its ability to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) extracellularly for the first time. Lastly, we investigated its biological activity against a variety of bacteria. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The biological efficacy of AgNPs was tested against eighteen different bacteria, including seven multidrug-resistant bacteria. Phytochemical screening of the alga revealed the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, sugars, carboxylic acid derivatives, triterpenoids, steroids, and other components. Formed AgNPs were stable and ranged in size between 7 and 83 nm and presented a variety of shapes. Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and MDR A. baumannii were the most affected among the bacteria. The biofilm formation and development assay presented a noteworthy activity against MRSA, with an inhibition percentage of 99%. Acknowledging the future of nano-antibiotics encourages scientists to explore and enhance their potency, notably if they were obtained using green, rapid, and efficient methods.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2623
Author(s):  
Monika Wójcik-Bania ◽  
Jakub Matusik

Polymer–clay mineral composites are an important class of materials with various applications in the industry. Despite interesting properties of polysiloxanes, such matrices were rarely used in combination with clay minerals. Thus, for the first time, a systematic study was designed to investigate the cross-linking efficiency of polysiloxane networks in the presence of 2 wt % of organo-montmorillonite. Montmorillonite (Mt) was intercalated with six quaternary ammonium salts of the cation structure [(CH3)2R’NR]+, where R = C12, C14, C16, and R’ = methyl or benzyl substituent. The intercalation efficiency was examined by X-ray diffraction, CHN elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Textural studies have shown that the application of freezing in liquid nitrogen and freeze-drying after the intercalation increases the specific surface area and the total pore volume of organo-Mt. The polymer matrix was a poly(methylhydrosiloxane) cross-linked with two linear vinylsiloxanes of different siloxane chain lengths between end functional groups. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies have shown that the increase in d-spacing of organo-Mt and the benzyl substituent influence the degree of nanofillers’ exfoliation in the nanocomposites. The increase in the degree of organo-Mt exfoliation reduces the efficiency of hydrosilylation reaction monitored by FTIR. This was due to physical hindrance induced by exfoliated Mt particles.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 640
Author(s):  
Natalia R. Moyetta ◽  
Fabián O. Ramos ◽  
Jimena Leyria ◽  
Lilián E. Canavoso ◽  
Leonardo L. Fruttero

Hemocytes, the cells present in the hemolymph of insects and other invertebrates, perform several physiological functions, including innate immunity. The current classification of hemocyte types is based mostly on morphological features; however, divergences have emerged among specialists in triatomines, the insect vectors of Chagas’ disease (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Here, we have combined technical approaches in order to characterize the hemocytes from fifth instar nymphs of the triatomine Dipetalogaster maxima. Moreover, in this work we describe, for the first time, the ultrastructural features of D. maxima hemocytes. Using phase contrast microscopy of fresh preparations, five hemocyte populations were identified and further characterized by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. The plasmatocytes and the granulocytes were the most abundant cell types, although prohemocytes, adipohemocytes and oenocytes were also found. This work sheds light on a controversial aspect of triatomine cell biology and physiology setting the basis for future in-depth studies directed to address hemocyte classification using non-microscopy-based markers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1581-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Sadovnikov ◽  
E. Yu. Gerasimov

For the first time, the α-Ag2S (acanthite)–β-Ag2S (argentite) phase transition in a single silver sulfide nanoparticles has been observed in situ using a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy method in real time.


1999 ◽  
Vol 588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Ohno ◽  
S. Takeda

AbstractWe have developed an apparatus for polarized cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), that enables us to obtain simultaneously structural data in higher spatial resolution by TEM and polarized luminescence spectra by CL of the same microscopic area. The polarized-CL/TEM method is very useful to study the optical properties of low-dimensional microstructures in semiconducting materials. We have applied the method to examine the optical property of antiphase boundaries in CuPt-ordered GaInP2 and found, for the first time, the polarized light emission from the APBs whose habit planes are parallel to the (T11) and (1T0) atomic planes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 689 ◽  
pp. 546-550
Author(s):  
Xue Hong Gan ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Shi Mei Liu

To build carbon dioxide emission evaluation model in construction life cycle is the key link to make low-carbon research of theoretical studies head towards practical application. For the first time, residential quarter is selected as the object in the study, carbon dioxide emission management responsibility of owner and property being considered and carbon dioxide emission evaluation model in construction life cycle based on matlab as well as database of carbon dioxide factor being built initially. Net carbon dioxide emission information will be shown timely, then carbon dioxide emission and absorption can be adjusted by property management accordingly.


1997 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. GIBSON ◽  
X. CHEN ◽  
O. POHLAND

Transmission electron microscopy is uniquely able to extend techniques for imaging free surface steps to the buried interface regime, without significant loss of detail. Two mechanisms for imaging surface and interfacial steps by transmission electron microscopy are described. They are thickness contrast and strain contrast. The former reveals the position and approximate height of steps, whereas the latter detects stress fields which are commonly associated with steps. The basis for each of these methods is elaborated, and preliminary results are shown for step images at Si/SiO2 interfaces, where measurable stress fields have been directly detected for the first time.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document