The dramatic feeding-related activities of the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus are under neurohormonal regulation of serotonin and various neuropeptides. One such family of neuropeptides, the insect kinins, possesses diuretic, digestive and myotropic activities in many insects. In R. prolixus, they co-localize with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like diuretic hormone (DH) in neurosecretory cell bodies and their abdominal neurohaemal sites. Additionally, kinins are present in endocrine cells of the midgut and are known to stimulate hindgut and midgut contractions. Through the experimentation presented in this dissertation, the cloning and spatial expression of the R. prolixus kinin (Rhopr-kinin) transcript is described. Physiological bioassays demonstrate the myostimulatory effects of selected Rhopr-kinin peptides and also illustrate the augmented responses of hindgut contractions to co-application of Rhopr-kinin and Rhopr-CRF/DH. The irreversible effects of two synthetic kinin analogs on the hindgut relative to the native kinins also exhibit the prospective biotechnological significance of this study.

The dramatic feeding-related activities of the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus are under neurohormonal regulation of serotonin and various neuropeptides. One such family of neuropeptides, the insect kinins, possesses diuretic, digestive and myotropic activities in many insects. In R. prolixus, they co-localize with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like diuretic hormone (DH) in neurosecretory cell bodies and their abdominal neurohaemal sites. Additionally, kinins are present in endocrine cells of the midgut and are known to stimulate hindgut and midgut contractions. Through the experimentation presented in this dissertation, the cloning and spatial expression of the R. prolixus kinin (Rhopr-kinin) transcript is described. Physiological bioassays demonstrate the myostimulatory effects of selected Rhopr-kinin peptides and also illustrate the augmented responses of hindgut contractions to co-application of Rhopr-kinin and Rhopr-CRF/DH. The irreversible effects of two synthetic kinin analogs on the hindgut relative to the native kinins also exhibit the prospective biotechnological significance of this study.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 26, 2005). Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Martin Frick. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42).

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1185327 bytes, checksum: a982e01beb2959753a39f1f0d06ce4e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Insect hosts that have been already parasitized are considered a low quality resource, which may affect the number of ovipositions made by other parasitoids. Since the amount of eggs laid affects the host immune response, the offspring survivorship may also be affected. For this reason, it is necessary to understand to what point the energy spent in superparasitizing is an advantage that allows supression of host immune response and provides adequate resources for the imatures to develop within their host. This study had the objective of finding the number of ovipositions from Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) allowing optimal offspring fitness and to analyze if immune response the melonworm Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is correlated with the density of posture by the parasitoid. Pupae of D. hyalinata received from one to five parasitoid ovipositions. The total number of offspring produced, the number of males and females emerging from the host, sex ratio, life cycle, average body mass and biomass produced per parasitized pupae were recorded for the different oviposition densities. Digital x-ray imaging of parasitized hosts were recorded to assessing the immature parasitoid developmental until adult emergence. Incidence of unviable parasitoid larvae was also recorded. The survivorship of P. elaeisis was daily assessed. Hemocyte dynamics and encapsulation capacity of D. hyalinata against P. elaeisis was evaluated for each number of ovipositions, from one to five. The Parasitoid developmental time decreased with increased oviposition density and three ovipositions provided higher offspring and particularly female production, and optimal larval fitness. Progeny body mass and sex ration were not affected by oviposition density. Female and male survived longer with one oviposition of the female parasitoid. Parasitoid emergence increased with the number of parasitoid ovipositions and 100% parasitism and corresponding 100% host pupa mortality were achieved with all oviposition densities. Increased number of ovipositions decreased the number of total hemocytes, and also of granulocytes, plasmatocytes and prohemocytes in the circulating host hemolymph. Oenocytes and espherulocytes were not affect by the number of parasitoid ovipositions in the host. The melanization and encapsulation rates decreased with the number of ovipositions by P. elaeisis. Three ovipositions by the parasitoid female allowed optimal progeny production and parasitoid performance. Superparasitism is a strategy of P. elaeisis for optimal progeny fitness balancing optimal progeny performance with amelioration of host immune response. / Hospedeiros parasitados são considerados de baixa qualidade e podem influenciar no número de oviposições de parasitoides, influenciando na sobrevivência da progênie, pois, a quantidade de ovos depositados afeta a resposta imune do hospedeiro. Por isso, torna-se necessário saber até quando o investimento de superparasitar é vantajoso ao ponto de suprimir a resposta imune do hospedeiro e favorecer uma ótima competição de imaturos dentro do hospedeiro. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi reconhecer a densidade ótima de posturas de Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) para produção de progênie, e saber se a resposta imune do hospedeiro Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) ao parasitismo se relaciona a esta densidade ótima. Pupas de D. hyalinata foram expostas a uma, duas, três, quatro e cinco posturas por uma mesma fêmea do parasitoide. O número total de progênies, de machos e fêmeas emergidos, razão sexual, ciclo de vida, peso médio e biomassa produzida foram analisados. A velocidade de pupação, tempo entre pupa e emergência de P. elaeisis e a porcentagem de pupas com imaturos inviáveis deste parasitoide foram observados em pupa de D. hyalinata em sistema de radiografia digital. A sobrevivência de adultos de P. elaeisis foi avaliada diariamente. A porcentagem de emergência da progênie foi avaliada. A dinâmica hemocitária e a capacidade de encapsulação por pupas de D. hyalinata contra P. elaeisis foi avaliada mediante o número de posturas. Larvas de P. elaeisis empuparam mais rápido e o tempo entre o período de pupa e a emergência foi praticamente constante com três oviposições, variando para os demais tratamentos. Três oviposições proporcionou o maior número de fêmeas, total de emergidos e desempenho e, menor tempo de desenvolvimento dos parasitoides. O peso da progênie e a razão sexual foram semelhantes entre os indivíduos. Fêmeas e machos de pupas com uma oviposição sobreviveram mais que os demais tratamentos. A porcentagem de emergência de parasitoides aumentou com o número de posturas. O parasitismo foi de 100% em todos os tratamentos. Pupas com quatro e cinco oviposições não tiveram larvas inviáveis. O aumento do número de posturas reduziu o número de hemócitos totais e de granulócitos, plasmatócitos e prohemócitos circulantes na hemolinfa de pupas de D. hyalinata. Oenocitóides e esferulócitos circulantes mostraram padrão aleatório entre os tratamentos. A taxa de encapsulamento e de melanização decresceram com o aumento de oviposições de P. elaeisis. A oviposição por três vezes maximizou a progênie, reduziu o tempo de desenvolvimento e aumentou o desempenho de P. elaeisis. O superparasitismo é uma estratatégia em P. elaeisis para o aumento de sobrevivência e desempenho da prole.

Illustrations consist of 11 photographs, glued in. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 G66 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1955 B49 / Master of Science

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