Vol.10 No.2 – 3: Preliminary observations of the gustatory function of sensilla on antennae of the female Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): from single compounds to complex natural stimuli.

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By: Mervat A. Seada

Entomology Division, Department of Zoology, Tanta University, 31527-Tanta, El-Gharbiya, Egypt.

Abstract

The gustatory system in insects is composed of detectors screening different panels of ligands, which enable or suppress life behaviors depending on the context. Single sensillum electrophysiology recordings were conducted from the antennal sensilla chaetica of an adult female moth of Spodoptera littoralis to ascertain whether these sensilla have a gustatory function. Five test stimuli (NaCl, sucrose, ethanol, green cotton leaves extract, and conspecific larval frass extract) were used to stimulate each sensillum. Two types of gustatory sensilla chaetica located on the same flagellomere of the distal third of the antenna were characterized, each sensillum enclosed three gustatory receptor neurons (N1, N2, and N3). Overall, responses (spikes/s) were higher in the case of low concentration of sucrose and higher concentration of ethanol than of salt and higher concentration of sucrose. Individual differences were observed in the response patterns of these sensilla to the tested stimuli but functional sensillum types could not be identified. Higher concentrations of sucrose, ethanol extracts of green cotton leaves, or conspecific larval frass significantly stimulated the same neuron of ventral and lateral sensilla chaetica. Response patterns revealed that antennal gustatory sensilla contain gustatory neurons, which are possible receptors for host-plant recognition. Moreover, stimulation of the female’s antennae with phagostimulative sucrose evoked activation of the proboscis extension reflex with dose-dependent responses. Differences in sensilla distribution and their response patterns suggest that gustatory sensilla on the antennae of the female S. littoralis have a key role in adaptation and host plant recognition.

Preliminary observations of the gustatory function of sensilla on antennae of the female Spodoptera littoralis Lepidoptera Noctuidae from single compounds to complex natural stimuli

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Vol.10 No.2 – 2: Gene sequences of TNF and INFα Cytokines in Cryptosporidium Co-infection with H-pylori of irritable bowel syndrome

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By: Basheer Abd. Nasralla1, Nazar Sh. Mohammed2, Salwa S. Muhsen1

1 Medical Technical Institute, Middle Technical University (MTU), Iraq

2 Collage of Health and Medical Techniques, Middle Technical University (MTU), Iraq

Abstract

In this study, 100 whole blood samples were collected from patients having Cryptosporidiosis and co-infected with H pylori bacteria who attended Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period from June 2022 to April 2023. The results showed that the Mean±S.E of anti-Cryptosporidium IgM antibodies in the patient group was (14.614±0.901) when compared with the control group (0.081±0.022), with a highly significant difference p<0.0001. Also, the Mean±S.E of anti-Cryptosporidium IgG antibodies was (24.213±0.839) in the patient group when compared with the control group (4.775±0.249), with a highly significant difference p<0.0001. The Mean±S.E of anti-H pylori IgM antibodies in the patient group was (13.923±1.005) when compared with the control group (0.200±0.032), with a highly significant difference p<0.0001. The results also demonstrated that the Mean±S.E of anti-H pylori IgG in the patient group was (28.460±0.847) when compared with the control group (15.835±0.438), with a highly significant difference p<0.0001. The result showed that Mean±S.E of INFα in the patient group was (14.588±0.849) when compared with the control group (4.655±0.271), with a highly significant difference p<0.0001. Data in our study also showed a mutation occurred with TNF gene ID 90865 in SNPs, rs7044343. The variation of wild TT was changed to CC, CC, TC, TC, CC, TC, CC, TC, TT, TC in comparison with the control group. A mutation occurred with INFα gene ID 90865 in SNPs, rs7044343. The variation of wild TT was changed to CC, CC, TC, TC, CC, TC, CC, TC, TT, TT compared to the control group.

Gene sequences of TNF and INFα Cytokines in Cryptosporidium

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Vol.10 No.2 – 1: Effect of Fungi Presence on Wing Morphometry and Flight Behaviour in the Common Pipistrelle Bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

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By: Rana O. Khayat1

1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Bats play an important role in ecosystem function, serving as a biocontrol agent of insects and pollination in plants, hence the need to understand the factors affecting their health and performance. Infestation of fungi has been identified as a potential threat to populations of mammals, especially bats, yet their specific effects on wing morphology and flight behavior remain understudied. In this study, swabs of Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat wings were taken from bat carers around the United Kingdom. For identification, samples were exposed to conventional PCR using fungal-specific primers to amplify the ribosomal DNA’s internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The wind morphometric parameters such as wing angles (maximum, minimum, mean, and amplitude) and wing frequency were determined for both wings with fungi infestation and without fungi infestation. A rain cloud distribution plot with a box plot was used to determine the distribution of flight parameters of the wings. A principal component analysis biplot was used to determine the relationship between the flight parameters in terms of wings with infestation by fungi and without infestation. The findings in this study are important to bat biology, ecology, and conservation and give insights into the need for wildlife management and conservation, ultimately contributing to the ongoing efforts to preserve bat populations and support ecological balance in diverse ecosystems.

Effect of Fungi Presence on Wing Morphometry and Flight Behaviour in the Common Pipistrelle Bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

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