[Creation of transgenic sugar beet lines expressing insect pest resistance genes cry1C and cry2A].

Impact of insect pests makes a significant limitation of the sugar beet crop yield. Integration of cry-genes of Bacillus thuringiensis into plant genome is one of the promising strategies to ensure plant resistance. The aim of this work was to obtain sugar beet lines (based on the MM 1/2 line) transformed with cry2A and cry1Cgenes. We have optimized transformation protocol and direct plant let regeneration protocol from leaf explants using 1 mg/l benzylaminopurine as well as 0,25 mg/l benzylaminopurine and 0,1 mg/l indole-butyric acid. Consequently, transgenic sugar beet lines transformed with vector constructs pRD400-cry1C and pRD400-cry2A have been obtained. PCR analysis revealed integration of cry2A and cry1C into genome of transgenic lines and expression of these genes in leaf tissues was shown by reverse transcription PCR.

Primer reporte en Cuba de miasis intestinal por Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) / First report of intestinal myiasis caused by por Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

INTRODUCCIÓN: Hermetia illucens, díptero de la familia Stratiomyidae es una especie reportada para Cuba relativamente frecuente en todo el territorio nacional. Ha sido incriminada como productora de miasis en humanos y animales. OBJETIVO: reportar por primera vez en Cuba una miasis entérica producida por esta especie. MÉTODOS: la paciente, una mujer blanca de 26 años presentó un cuadro de deyecciones líquidas posprandiales con cólicos abdominales. Al ingerir una infusión de plantas medicinales a partir de incienso (Artemisa abrotanum L.), hierba buena (Mentha nemorosa Willd.) y manzanilla (Matricaria chamomilla L.) expulsó 5 larvas (2 grandes y 3 pequeñas). Se decidió su ingreso durante una semana pero no se obtuvieron nuevas larvas, una gastroscopia realizada mostró gastritis antral crónica con focos de agudización; se determinaron otras parasitosis por lo que se le indicó mebendazol. RESULTADOS: de las larvas expulsadas una fue llevada al Departamento de Entomología Médica del Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, donde fue determinada taxonómicamente como Hermetia illucens. CONCLUSIONES: este reporte junto a lo conocido en la literatura mundial muestra la posibilidad de que miasis por esta especie ocurran con cierta frecuencia, sobre todo en los meses de verano al ingerir frutas muy maduras y sin lavar; se deberá alertar a los médicos de esta posible miasis a ocurrir, promocionar las medidas higiénicas a ser tomadas al ingerir frutas y valorar el estudio de las propiedades antiparasitarias de la especie Artemisa abrotanum L(AU)

INTRODUCTION: Hermetia illucens from Stratiomyidae family is a relatively frequent species reported in Cuba. It has been accused of causing myiasis in humans and animals. OBJECTIVE: to report for the first time in Cuba, the occurrence of intestinal myiasis caused by this species. METHODS: the patient, a white woman aged 26 years presented with a picture of postprandial fluid discharges accompanied by abdominal pain. When the patient took an infusion of medicinal plants such as incense (Artemisa abrotanum L.), mint (Mentha nemorosa Wild) and camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), five larvae were ejected (2 large and 3 small). It was decided to admit the patient to the hospital for a week, but not more larvae were ejected. A gastroscopy showed antral chronic gastritis with acute foci and also other types of parasitosis, so Mebendazol was prescribed. RESULTS: one of the ejected larvae was taken to the Medical Entomology Department of Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine where it was taxonomically identified as Hermetia illucens. CONCLUSIONS: this report together with the pieces of knowledge provided by the world literature show the possibility that myasis caused by this species may occur in summer months when ripe unwashed fruits are consumed; physicians should be warned about this possible myiasis, hygienic measures should be applied when taking fruits and the study of antiparasitic properties of Artemisa abrotanum L. must be assessed(AU)

Primer reporte en Cuba de miasis intestinal por Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) / First report of intestinal myiasis caused by por Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

INTRODUCCIÓN: Hermetia illucens, díptero de la familia Stratiomyidae es una especie reportada para Cuba relativamente frecuente en todo el territorio nacional. Ha sido incriminada como productora de miasis en humanos y animales. OBJETIVO: reportar por primera vez en Cuba una miasis entérica producida por esta especie. MÉTODOS: la paciente, una mujer blanca de 26 años presentó un cuadro de deyecciones líquidas posprandiales con cólicos abdominales. Al ingerir una infusión de plantas medicinales a partir de incienso (Artemisa abrotanum L.), hierba buena (Mentha nemorosa Willd.) y manzanilla (Matricaria chamomilla L.) expulsó 5 larvas (2 grandes y 3 pequeñas). Se decidió su ingreso durante una semana pero no se obtuvieron nuevas larvas, una gastroscopia realizada mostró gastritis antral crónica con focos de agudización; se determinaron otras parasitosis por lo que se le indicó mebendazol. RESULTADOS: de las larvas expulsadas una fue llevada al Departamento de Entomología Médica del Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, donde fue determinada taxonómicamente como Hermetia illucens. CONCLUSIONES: este reporte junto a lo conocido en la literatura mundial muestra la posibilidad de que miasis por esta especie ocurran con cierta frecuencia, sobre todo en los meses de verano al ingerir frutas muy maduras y sin lavar; se deberá alertar a los médicos de esta posible miasis a ocurrir, promocionar las medidas higiénicas a ser tomadas al ingerir frutas y valorar el estudio de las propiedades antiparasitarias de la especie Artemisa abrotanum L.

INTRODUCTION: Hermetia illucens from Stratiomyidae family is a relatively frequent species reported in Cuba. It has been accused of causing myiasis in humans and animals. OBJECTIVE: to report for the first time in Cuba, the occurrence of intestinal myiasis caused by this species. METHODS: the patient, a white woman aged 26 years presented with a picture of postprandial fluid discharges accompanied by abdominal pain. When the patient took an infusion of medicinal plants such as incense (Artemisa abrotanum L.), mint (Mentha nemorosa Wild) and camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), five larvae were ejected (2 large and 3 small). It was decided to admit the patient to the hospital for a week, but not more larvae were ejected. A gastroscopy showed antral chronic gastritis with acute foci and also other types of parasitosis, so Mebendazol was prescribed. RESULTS: one of the ejected larvae was taken to the Medical Entomology Department of Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine where it was taxonomically identified as Hermetia illucens. CONCLUSIONS: this report together with the pieces of knowledge provided by the world literature show the possibility that myasis caused by this species may occur in summer months when ripe unwashed fruits are consumed; physicians should be warned about this possible myiasis, hygienic measures should be applied when taking fruits and the study of antiparasitic properties of Artemisa abrotanum L. must be assessed.

Parasite-mediated growth patterns and nutritional constraints in a cavity-nesting bird.

1. Trade-offs between growth and immunity of nestling birds can be influenced by parasites, but the magnitude of these effects may depend on availability of critical dietary nutrients. Owing to their importance for both immune system function and growth, dietary carotenoids have the potential to mediate parasite-induced developmental strategies of avian hosts. 2. The effects of ectoparasitic blow flies Protocalliphora spp. and dietary carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) on immune function and patterns of growth in nestling mountain bluebirds Sialia currucoides were investigated by combining parasite removal and carotenoid supplementation treatments in a 2 x 2 design. 3. Supplemental carotenoids enhanced nestlings' T-cell-mediated immune response following intradermal injection of phytohaemagglutinin. 4. The effect of carotenoid supplementation on rate of mass gain depended on whether broods were exposed to parasites: among parasitized broods, those receiving supplemental carotenoids gained mass more rapidly than nonsupplemented broods, whereas there was no effect of supplemental carotenoids on growth of mass in broods that had parasites removed. This suggests that additional dietary carotenoids allowed nestlings to compensate for the otherwise detrimental effects of parasites on mass gain. For length of the eighth primary feather at fledging, early and late broods differed in their response to parasitism: early broods showed an increase in feather length when parasites were removed, while nestlings in late broods had shorter feathers in the absence of parasites. We suggest that this may reflect within-season variation in parasite-mediated growth strategies of nestlings. 5. Maternal condition was positively associated with mass, condition and rate of feather growth of offspring under all conditions, and also influenced nestling immunocompetence, but only in the absence of parasites. 6. We conclude that dietary carotenoids alleviate some of the detrimental effects of parasites on nestling birds; however, parasites also appear to specifically influence other growth and resource allocation strategies, and possibly constrain maternal or genetic effects on offspring phenotype, irrespective of dietary carotenoid availability.