Ultrastructure of the Immature Stages of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae: Muscinae).

Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) is a muscoid species that is widespread throughout the world and acts as a mechanical vector of different enteropathogens primarily in underdeveloped countries. The adult and its immature forms are associated with decaying organic matter and can be seen visiting human corpses and animal carcass, and the larvae can also cause an infestation on human and animal wounds, feeding on the tissues. These characteristics make them have a forensic significance and, mainly, a great sanitary importance. This study aimed to analyze and describe morphological aspects of their immature stages of M. domestica, including the eggs, the first-, second-, and third-instar larvae, and the puparium using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The eggs have standard format that all muscoid flies shared. The exochorion has some modified cells that were used for embryonic respiration. The first-instar larvae present two openings on the posterior spiracle as in the second-instar larvae, but with the last one, we can observe the anterior spiracle structure. The third-instar larvae, as in some other Muscidae species, have a posterior spiracular opening with a sinuous form that is located near the edge of the spiracular plate. The puparium morphology is equal to the third instar with a respiratory structure that helps the breathing during the metamorphosis process. This article supports the need for knowledge over the morphological characteristics of the immature forms of the muscoid Diptera (Linnaeus, 1758) at the same time helping with the correct identification of this insect phase.

Effect of age on cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in adult Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

A species-specific complex mixture of highly stable cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) covers the external surface of all insects. Components can be readily analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to obtain a cuticular hydrocarbon profile, which may be used as an additional tool for the taxonomic differentiation of insect species and also for the determination of the age and sex of adult and immature forms. We used GC-MS to identify and quantify the CHCs of female and male Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1818) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from one to five days old. CHCs ranged from C21 to C35 for females and from C21 to C37 in males. Major compounds were the same for both sexes and were 2-MeC28, C29:1, n-C29, 15-,13-MeC29, 2-MeC30, C31:1, n-C31 and 15-,13-MeC31. The relative abundance of each component, however, varied with age. Cluster Analysis using Bray-Curtis measure for abundance showed that cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are a strong and useful tool for the determination of age in adult C. putoria.

Cuticular hydrocarbons as a tool for the identification of insect species: puparial cases from Sarcophagidae.

The external surface of all insects is covered by a species-specific complex mixture of highly stable, very long chain cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to identify CHCs from four species of Sarcophagidae, Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma, Peckia (Pattonella) intermutans, Sarcophaga (Liopygia) ruficornis and Sarcodexia lambens. The identified CHCs were mostly a mixture of n-alkanes, monomethylalkanes and dimethylalkanes with linear chain lengths varying from 23 to 33 carbons. Only two alkenes were found in all four species. S. lambens had a composition of CHCs with linear chain lengths varying from C23 to C33, while the other three species linear chain lengths from 24 to 31 carbons. n-Heptacosane, n-nonacosane and 3-methylnonacosane, n-triacontane and n-hentriacontane occurred in all four species. The results show that these hydrocarbon profiles may be used for the taxonomic differentiation of insect species and are a useful additional tool for taxonomic classification, especially when only parts of the insect specimen are available.

Azasterols as inhibitors of sterol 24-methyltransferase in Leishmania species and Trypanosoma cruzi.

This paper describes the synthesis of some novel azasterols based on (20R,22xi)-5alpha-pregnan-20-(piperidin-2-yl)-3beta,20-diol. These compounds are potential inhibitors of the enzyme sterol 24-methyltransferase (24-SMT), which is a vital enzyme in the biosynthesis of ergosterol and related 24-alkyl sterols. Structure-activity studies were undertaken to understand the important features for activity against the enzyme, with the aim of increasing activity and selectivity. The compounds were evaluated for inhibition of recombinant Leishmania major 24-SMT and the effect of compounds on sterol composition and parasite proliferation. Essentially, compounds which showed good activity against the recombinant enzyme had a significant effect on the sterol composition and growth of parasites. The activity of compounds was found to be related to the basicity and stereochemical location of the nitrogen. Also, presence of an unprotected 3beta-OH seemed to be important for activity. However, some azasterols which were not good inhibitors of 24-SMT also showed antiproliferative activity, suggesting that there may be other modes of actions of these compounds.

Efeitos de inibidores da biossíntese do ergosterol, de proteínas quinases e do citoesqueleto em Trypanosoma cruzi / Effect of sterol biosynthesis inhibitors, of kinases proteins and the cytoskeleton in Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi é o agente etiológico da doença de Chagas. Novos compostos vêm sendo desenvolvidos tendo como alvo a biossíntese e função de esteróis, já que T. cruzi requer esteróis endógenos específicos para o crescimento e sobrevivência. Inibidores da biossíntese do ergosterol (SBIs) são drogas comumente usadas contra doenças fúngicas... Ambas as drogas inibiram a multiplicação dos parasitos, com IC50/72 h de 24,3 and 4,5 mM, respectivamente. O segundo grupo de drogas estudadas neste trabalho foram WSP 413, WSP 414, WSP 415, WSP 488, WSP 501 e WSP 561, inibidores específicos da D24(25)-esterol metiltransferase. Todas as drogas inibiram a multiplicação dos parasitos a concentrações muito baixas, com valores de IC50/72 h de 0,53, 0,59, 0,53, 0,48, 0,44 e 0,48 mM, respectivamente. Os dois inibidores da SQS e WSP 488, WSP 501 e WSP 561 induziram mudanças morfológicas drásticas nos parasitos incluindo (a) destacamento de um dos folhetos da membrana, formando bolhas, (b) destacamento da membrana do corpo celular e do flagelo dos microtúbulos subpeliculares e axonemais, respectivamente, (c) aumento da bolsa flagelar, (d) aparecimento de um vacúolo localizado próximo à bolsa flagelar, que parece corresponder ao vacúolo contrátil, (e) inchaço da mitocôndria, com o aparecimento de estruturas concêntricas formadas pelas invaginações da membrana mitocondrial interna, (f) alterações no núcleo de algumas células, onde a cromatina aparece em grumos, como descrito para células apoptóticas, e (g) bloqueio do processo de divisão celular... WSP 414 e BPQ-OH foram testados em células infectadas com amastigotas intracelulares de T. cruzi. WSP 414 a 1 mM praticamente eliminou a infecção das células, e os parasitos sobreviventes não se diferenciaram em tripomastigotas. BPQ-OH teve pouco efeito sobre a infecção. Ambas as drogas causaram alterações morfológicas nos parasitos sem afetar a célula hospedeira. O terceiro grupo de drogas testadas neste trabalho foram inibidores de proteínas quinases. Staurosporina, genisteína e wortmanina inibiram o crescimento dos parasitos... O quarto e último grupo de drogas testadas foram os inibidores de polimerização e despolimerização de actina e microtúbulos. Foram testadas três drogas: jasplakinolida, citocalasina D e nocodazol. Todas as três drogas inibiram o crescimento dos parasitos e a divisão celular, mas tiveram poucos efeitos sobre a ultraestrutura dos parasitos.

Efeitos de níveis de privaçäo alimentar sobre a oogênese de Panstrongylus megistus / Effects of food deprivation levels on the oogenesis of Panstrongylus megistus

Os efeitos da privação alimentar sobre a oogênese de P. megistus foram estudados em laboratório. Imediatamente após a ecdise imaginária, foram formados seis grupos (GI a GVI) de 15 casais, que receberam alimentação da seguinte maneira: GI - no 5§ e no 25§ dias de jejum; GII - no 5§ e 35§ dias; GIII - no 5§ e no 45§ dias; GIV - no 20§ dia; GV - no 30§ dia; GVI - no 40§ dia de jejum. Após esses períodos, todos os grupos receberam alimentação a cada 15 dias. O grupo de controle foi formado por 15 casais, alimentados no 5§ dia após a ecdise imaginária e, subseqüentemente, a cada 15 dias. GI apresentou o maior número de acasalamentos, produziu mais ovos e maior fertilidade. GII teve maior vida média, maior fecundidade e maior número de eclosões. GIII apresentou o menor período de sobrevivência, baixas fecundidade, fertilidade e eclosões. GVI apresentou os resultados menos favoráveis em todos os parâmetros, exceto em relação ao período de pré-ovipostura. O grupo de controle apresentou os melhores resultados em todos os parâmetros

Life cycle and reproductive patterns of Triatoma rubrofasciata (De Geer, 1773) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), under laboratory conditions

The life cycle and reproductive patterns of Triatoma rubrofasciata were studied along laboratory conditions for the establishment of a prolific colony. The insects were divided into four groups: two of them were maintened at room temperature (20.5ºC to 33ºC and 85 per cent ñ 5 per cent of relative humidity), the other two in a climatic chamber (CC) (temperature: 29ºC, humidity: 80 per cent ñ 5 per cent). The groups were fed weekly or fortnighly on Swiss mice. The females from the group kept in the CC and fed weekly had longer life span, as well as a higher number of eggs, fertile eggs and hatching; the group kept in the CC and fed fortnighly had a shorter life span of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars and a lower mortality rate for all instars. It was concluded that a constant high temperature (CC at 29ºC) is the most suitable condition for the maintenance of a colony of T. rubrofasciata regardless of the interval between repasts.