The epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein polymorphs in Thailand

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) highly specific for the characteristic repeat units of the circumsporozoite proteins of the VK 247 and VK 210 polymorphs of Plasmodium vivax were used to test sporozoites produced by feeding mosquitoes on 1,711 human volunteers presenting at four locations in Thailand over five years. There was no evidence for the existence of any polymorph other than the two already described. Based on the ELISAs, the overall prevalence of the VK 247 type was 29.5%, including those found mixed with VK 210. Relative proportions of VK 210 and VK 247 differed between collection sites. At all places, the ratio of VK 210 to VK 247 was significantly higher at the end of the nontransmission season than it was later during the annual monsoon, suggesting that there may be intrinsic biological differences between the polymorphs that affect their survival.     

The Anopheles albimanus white gene: molecular characterization of the gene and a spontaneous white gene mutation

We have cloned and characterized the white gene of Anopheles albimanus. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of this white gene with its homologs from six species of Diptera show that the An. albimanus gene is most similar to the white gene of An. gambiae (92% identity). A spontaneous white-eyed mutant An. albimanus was caused by an approximately 10 kb insertion into a CT dinucleotide repeat region of intron 2 of the white locus. The flanks of this insertion are long (at least 400 bp), nearly perfect inverted terminal repeat sequences. This cloned white gene should be useful as a marker for germ line transformation of An. albimanus.     

Physiological age of 2 populations of Anopheles (N.) albimanus Wied., 1821 (Diptera: Culicidae) and its importance in malaria transmission

The physiological age of Anopheles albimanus in two villages of Havana Province was studied. In general, we detected a similar pattern of behavior in the species, with a higher number of females being born during the dry season, which represents a higher risk of malaria transmission in this season.     

Gonotrophic cycle and survivorship of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Tapachula foothills of southern Mexico

Mark-release-recapture experiments were conducted to determine the length of the gonotrophic cycle and survivorship of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis Theobald in the Tapachula foothills of southern Mexico. Separate trials with wild-caught females were conducted in the early and late dry season to examine intraseasonal differences. The gonotrophic cycle of insectary-reared, nulliparous females was estimated during the late dry season. A total of 5.4-5.7% of marked females was recaptured. A 3-d gonotrophic cycle was characteristic of wild-caught females, whereas a 4-d gonotrophic cycle was characteristic for insectary-reared females. Engorged, wild-caught females completed oogenesis in approximately 60 h under field conditions. Blood digestion in 23.5% of 2,221 and 21.9% of 1,195 engorged, wild-caught females held in the insectary was not accompanied by egg development. Dissections of these females showed that nearly 85% were nulliparous and presumably pregravid. These statistics plus other field data were used to determine that 60% of all nulliparous entered a pregravid condition. The body size and wing length of gravids was significantly larger than pregravids. Daily survival estimates of 0.875 and 0.884 were calculated for field-collected females during the early and late dry season, respectively.     

Systematics and population level analysis of Anopheles darlingi

A new phylogenetic analysis of the Nyssorhynchus subgenus (Danoff-Burg and Conn, unpub. data) using six data sets morphological (all life stages); scanning electron micrographs of eggs; nuclear ITS2 sequences; mitochondrial COII, ND2 and ND6 sequences? revealed different topologies when each data set was analyzed separately but no heterogeneity between the data sets using the arn test. Consequently, the most accurate estimate of the phylogeny was obtained when all the data were combined. This new phylogeny supports a monophyletic Nyssorhynchus subgenus but both previously recognized sections in the subgenus (Albimanus and Argyritarsis) were demonstrated to be paraphyletic relative to each other and four of the seven clades included species previously placed in both sections. One of these clades includes both Anopheles darlingi and An. albimanus, suggesting that the ability to vector malaria effectively may have originated once in this subgenus. Both a conserved (315 bp) and a variable (425 bp) region of the mitochondrial COI gene from 15 populations of An. darlingi from Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Peru and Venezuela were used to examine the evolutionary history of this species and to test several analytical assumptions. Results demonstrated (1) parsimony analysis is equally informative compared to distance analysis using NJ; (2) clades or clusters are more strongly supported when these two regions are combined compared to either region separately; (3) evidence (in the form of remnants of older haplotype lineages) for two colonization events; and (4) significant genetic divergence within the population from Peixoto de Azevedo (State of Mato Grosso, Brazil). The oldest lineage includes populations from Peixoto, Boa Vista (State of Roraima) and Dourado (State of S?o Paulo).     

Sporogonic development of Plasmodium yoelii in five anopheline species

Sporogonic development of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii 17XNL was examined in 5 species of Anopheles mosquitoes; A. albimanus, A. dirus, A. freeborni, A. gambiae, and A. stephensi. The kinetics of ookinete formation differed among species. In A. freeborni, A. gambiae, and A. stephensi, mature ookinetes formed synchronously at 8 hr, then quickly subsided. In A. albimanus and A. dirus, ookinete formation was more protracted, and ookinete densities peaked from 12 to 24 hr. Losses in parasite abundance during the conversion of ookinetes to oocysts were similar between A. dirus and A. gambiae (55- and 41-fold losses, respectively) but were an order of magnitude less in A. stephensi (1.3-fold loss). Ookinete conversion to oocysts in A. albimanus was nil. Melanotic encapsulation of oocysts occurred in 25-30% of infected A. gambiae and A. dirus. Melanized parasites in A. gambiae at days 7-10 were small (10 microns diameter) and retort-shaped, whereas melanized parasites in A. dirus were generally as large as normal oocysts (60 microns) and many were incompletely melanized. Melanotic encapsulation did not occur in A. stephensi, A. freeborni, or A. albimanus. On day 16, sporozoites were present in the salivary glands of A. freeborni, A. gambiae, and A. stephensi, but only half of mosquitoes were mature oocysts also had gland infections. When present in the glands, sporozoites were successfully transmitted to mice via mosquito bite. Parasite populations were not normally distributed in any mosquito species but were adequately described by a negative binomial type of distribution.     

Host choice by indoor-resting Anopheles arabiensis in Ethiopia

The host preference of indoor resting Anopheles arabiensis has been determined using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 611 specimens, 258 from human dwellings, 179 from mixed dwellings, and 174 from cattle sheds, was examined. The proportion of human blood meals identified was highest from mosquitoes caught in human dwellings (91.5%), followed by those from mixed dwellings (20.2%) and cattle sheds (3.5%) (P < 0.0001). The smaller proportion of human blood meals from mixed dwellings suggests that cattle may protect humans from A. arabiensis.     

Bacterial population dynamics in three anopheline species: the impact on Plasmodium sporogonic development

The functional role of bacteria in the midgut of adult mosquitoes is unknown. In this study, we examined the population dynamics of midgut bacteria of laboratory reared Anopheles stephensi, An. gambiae, and An. albimanus. Mosquito midguts were dissected under sterile conditions and examined for the presence of bacteria using standard microbiologic techniques. Ninety percent and 73% (n = 30) of newly emerged An. gambiae and An. stephensi, respectively, harbored bacteria. In contrast, only 17% (n = 23) of An. albimanus harbored any bacteria. The bacterial population increased 11-40-fold in the presence of a blood meal, but then decreased to pre-blood meal levels in 3-5 days. Pseudomonas cepacia, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Flavobacterium spp. were found in all three anopheline species. Midgut bacteria were acquired both transtadially and through the sugar meal. Transtadial transmission was demonstrated by successfully passaging Escherichia coli HS5 from the larval to the adult stage. However, midgut bacteria were acquired more efficiently through the sugar meal than through transtadial passage. An increase in midgut bacterial counts after mosquitoes were exposed to a bacteria/sugar suspension significantly reduced oocyst infection rates and densities in Plasmodium falciparum-infected mosquito cohorts. Since bacteria occur naturally in wild mosquitoes, it may be possible to modify anopheline vector competence using introduced or indigenous bacteria.     

Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax circumsporozoite proteins in anophelines (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in eastern Thailand

In total, 414 anophelines, consisting of Anopheles karwari (James), An. splendidus Koidzumi, An. dirus Peyton & Harrison, and An. barbirostris Van der Wulp were collected in 2 provinces in eastern Thailand and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of circumsporozoite proteins. Plasmodium vivax CS protein was detected in 3.4% (2/54) of An. karwari and 4.8% (2/42) of An. barbirostris specimens. Both P. vivax phenotypes, Pv247 and Pv210, were found in An. karwari, whereas only Pv247 was detected in An. barbirostris. Plasmodium falciparum CS protein was detected only in 0.3% (1/276) of An. dirus. Results indicate that An. barbirostris may play a role in the transmission of P. vivax in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand.     

Properties of VK6-diamond composites sintered in shock waves

Studies have been made on a composite of VK alloy with ASM 28/20 diamond powder sintered in shock waves, which has high compressive strength and a low diamond grain damage coefficient. The wear resistance in sliding friction in oil and with free abrasive is over 40 times that of VK6 hard alloy under the same conditions. The wear mechanism has been deduced from studies on the structure and composition of the layers formed at the frictional surface.Materials Science Institute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev. Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 4(364), pp. 102–105, April, 1993.     

Ultrafine high-cobalt VK40 hard alloy. I. Structure and properties

Ultrafine WC-41 wt.% Co powders (VK40) are densified under 1000–1200 MPa at 950–1250 °C and in 0.13 Pa vacuum. It is examined how the pressing temperature and annealing at 1190 °C influence the density, structure, physical and mechanical properties of VK40 alloy. It is shown that high-pressure sintering produces dense samples with ultrafine structure (L_WC = 0.35–0.45 µm) and low degree of contact for carbide particles (contiguity C_WC = 0.08–0.1) in solid phase. The highest mechanical properties are exhibited by samples densified at 1150–1250 °C or by samples annealed after preliminary pressing at 1050–1150 °C. The alloy has the following properties: transverse rupture strength (TRS) of 3200–3400 MPa, fracture toughness of 25–33 MPa · m^1/2, Vickers hardness of 7.5–7.7 GPa under 300 N, compressive strength of 2600–2800 MPa, compressive offset yield stress σ_0.2 = 2200–2400 MPa, compressive plastic strain of 6.5–7.0%, and fracture energy of 180–200 MJ/m³. These mechanical properties of ultrafine VK40 alloy differ from those of standard impact-resistant coarse-grained hard metals in higher TRS, fracture toughness, and yield stress.     

VK85S空气压缩机电机振动故障分析

通过对VK85S空压机组振动故障诊断分析和较长时间的检查,找出了引起电机轴承剧烈振动的真正原因是机组共振,对电机基础和压缩机基础的两次加固处理最终消除了故障。     

Semiempirical description of grinding kinetics of hard alloy VK8

Grinding of iron-ceramic hard alloy VK8 powder is interpreted in terms of mathematical statistics. The grain-size characteristics of the initial and grinded tungsten-cobalt hard alloy are examined using an Analysette-22 laser diffraction particle size microanalyzer. The data from device reports are processed using the authors’ methods and presented as formalized frequency distributions.     

Role of Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Coquillettidia perturbans (Diptera: Culicidae) in the transmission cycle of Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae: Bunyavirus) in the midwest, USA

Midwestern populations of Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) and Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Say) were tested for their ability to transmit Cache Valley virus (CV), a recognized human and animal pathogen. Field-collected mosquitoes were fed artificial blood meals containing 5.2-6.2 log10 pfu/ml of CV. After 9-23 d at 28 degrees C, 75-93% of blood-fed Cq. perturbans had disseminated infections and 6-62% transmitted the virus to suckling mice. However, when infected with a lower virus titer (3.3 log10 pfu/ml), only 10-36% of the mosquitoes had disseminated infections and 0-10% transmitted the virus to suckling mice. A similar infection rate (21%) was observed in Cq. perturbans fed on viremic (3.2 log10 pfu/ml) hamsters. An. quadrimaculatus were infected (81-100%) by both doses used, with transmission rates ranging from 13-67% after 16-23 d of incubation. Transmission rates for the laboratory strain An. quadrimaculatus SAVANNAH ranged from 20 to 33% after 7-14 d of incubation. Our data show that although An. quadrimaculatus is more susceptible to CV infections than Cq. perturbans, both mosquito species could be involved in the midwestern transmission cycle of the virus.     

VK50-3空压机转子事故分析及处理

通过对VK50-3型空压机转子结构、运行状况、损坏现象的分析,得出了此次空压机转子损坏事故的原因为空压机多次的启动,造成转子叶轮紧固螺栓的疲劳破坏、断裂、叶轮脱落、磨损。介绍了用三元坐标法对叶轮的型线进行测绘,确定叶轮的流道参数,然后用冷焊法对叶轮进行修补的处理方案。     

Mapping a quantitative trait locus involved in melanotic encapsulation of foreign bodies in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae

A Plasmodium-refractory strain of Anopheles gambiae melanotically encapsulates many species of Plasmodium, whereas wild-type mosquitoes are usually susceptible. This encapsulation trait can also be observed by studying the response of refractory and susceptible strains to intrathoracically injected CM-Sephadex beads. We report the results of broad-scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the encapsulation trait using the bead model system. Interval mapping using the method of maximum likelihood identified one major QTL, Pen1. The 13.7-cM interval containing Pen1 was defined by marker AGH157 at 8E and AGH46 at 7A on 2R. Pen1 was associated with a maximum LOD score of 9.0 and accounted for 44% of the phenotypic variance in the distribution of phenotypes in the backcross. To test if this QTL is important for encapsulation of Plasmodium berghei, F2 progeny were infected with P. berghei and evaluated for degree of parasite encapsulation. For each of the two markers that define the interval containing Pen1, a significant difference of encapsulation was seen in progeny with at least one refractory allele in contrast with homozygous susceptible progeny. These results suggest that Pen1 is important for melanotic encapsulation of Plasmodium as well as beads.     

Deletion mapping in breast tumor cell lines points to two distinct tumor-suppressor genes in the 1p32-pter region, one of deleted regions (1p36.2) being located within the consensus region of LOH in neuroblastoma

The nucleotide sequence of the cry11Bb1 gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. medellin was determined. The corresponding protein has a deduced molecular mass of 88.2 kDa, and is 60.9% and 83% identical to the proteins Cry11Aa1 and Cry11Ba1, respectively. The Cry11Bb1 protein contains five repetitive blocks of 16 amino acids at the C terminal part. It is highly toxic to first instar laboratory reared Aedes aegypti, Anopheles albimanus and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae.     

Diffusional reactions of the components of a VK hard alloy with tungsten

Conclusions The diffusional reactions in the systems W-C, W-Co, and WC-Co result in the formation of solid solutions and intermetallic compounds in the diffusion zones in accordance with the relevant constitution diagrams. In the diffusional reaction zone in the system W-WC, the tungsten carbide-WC forms without the participation of a third component.VK is the general designation of WC-Co hard alloys; VK6, also referred to in this article, is a WC-6% Co alloy. — Translator.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 4 (148), pp. 79–82, April, 1975.     

Morphological, molecular, and chromosomal discrimination of cryptic Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae) from South America

Based on similarity of male genitalia, the malaria vector Anopheles trinkae Faran from the eastern Andean piedmont of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia was determined by Peyton (1993) to be a junior synonym of An. dunhami Causey, then known from a single locality in Amazonian Brazil. Following an appraisal of molecular, chromosomal, and morphological characters, we conclude herein that the 2 taxa are specifically distinct and remove An. trinkae from synonymy with An. dunhami. Eggs of the 2 species are distinguished easily by the anterior crown, long floats, and closed deck that occur only in An. trinkae. The X chromosome of larval polytenes is divisible into R and L arms in An. dunhami, but not in An. trinkae. A phenogram based on banding pattern scores from 18 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers separated with 100% resolution An. dunhami, An. trinkae, Anopheles nuneztovari Gabaldón and Anopheles darlingi Root. In the ITS2 region of rDNA, 25% of base sites distinguished An. trinkae from An. dunhami and 21% from the related An. nuneztovari; males of these 3 species had accessory glands of significantly different sizes. Preliminary isoenzyme screening indicated that 3 of 11 loci were diagnostic for separating An. trinkae from An. dunhami. The results indicate that An. dunhami is related more closely to An. nuneztovari than to An. trinkae and illustrate the merits of a multidisciplinary approach to mosquito systematics.     

Anopheles arabiensis and An. gambiae chromosomal inversion polymorphism, feeding and resting behaviour in relation to insecticide house-spraying in Tanzania

Differential responses of the mosquitoes Anopheles arabiensis and An. gambiae sensu stricto to house-spraying with DDT or lambda-cyhalothrin were evaluated in relation to chromosomal inversion polymorphism, feeding and resting behaviour of these malaria vectors in Tanzania. Blood-fed mosquitoes from pit traps outdoors, exit traps on windows and indoor-resting catches were identified cytogenetically and the chromosomal inversion frequencies compared between samples and species. Their outdoor-resting behaviour was assessed by a mark-release-recapture experiment and by determining the proportion of freshly blood-fed individuals in exit traps. The source of bloodmeals was analysed by an ELISA method. Endophagic females of An. arabiensis were more likely than those of An.gambiae to exit from a house on the night of blood-feeding. Only in one out of three villages was there evidence that chromosomally distinct individuals within a species had different preferences for resting sites. There were indications, but not conclusive evidence, that mosquitoes caught indoors or outdoors had a tendency to return to the same type of resting site. In villages sprayed with either insecticide, the mean age of the vector populations was greatly reduced, compared with those in the unsprayed villages. An.arabiensis females exited from DDT sprayed houses after blood-feeding, whereas with lambda-cyhalothrin those exiting were mostly unfed and there was a decline in the human blood index. The excitorepellency of DDT was perceived as a disadvantage, whereas lambda-cyhalothrin apparently had more impact on malaria transmission by An.arabiensis.