Bibliography: leaves 108-128. / ix, 128, [10] leaves, [32] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Maternal protein secretions from the parthenogenetic endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were analysed regarding their ability to protect the parasitoid egg against the host immune system. These secretions include nucleic acid-free glycoproteins, called virus-like particles (VLPs) that are produced in the ovarian calyx gland. Results found that VLP-free calyx fluid has the ability to actively suppress host defence reactions, rather than VLPs on the egg surface being solely responsible for the protection of the egg. It was shown the VLP-free calyx fluid contains serine protease-inhibitor activity capable of transiently inhibiting melanogenisis and hemocyte spreading in the host. This indicates that immediately after oviposition the egg surface is not fully protected against host defence reactions. However, at later stages the egg seems to have acquired an immunologically inert surface, and is therefore protected after the suppressive activity of the calyx fluid has disappeared. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1999
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/259770 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Beck, Markus Hans |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
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