(Z)-7-tricosene and monounsaturated ketones as sex pheromone components of the Australian guava moth Coscinoptycha improbana: identification, field trapping, and phenology.

Pheromone gland extracts of the Australian guava moth Coscinoptycha improbana (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae), contained four compounds that elicited responses from male moth antennae in gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) analyses. These were identified by GC-mass spectrometry as (Z)-7-tricosene (Z7-23Hy), (Z)-7-octadecen-11-one (Z7-11-one-18Hy), (Z)-7-nonadecen-11-one (Z7-11-one-19Hy), and (Z)-7-tricosen-11-one (Z7-11-one-23Hy) at a ratio of 65:23.5:1.5:10, respectively. Z7-23Hy, Z7-11-one-18Hy, and Z7-11-one-23Hy have not previously been reported as lepidopteran sex pheromone components. Z7-11-one-18Hy was active as a single component, and was synergized by Z7-11-one-23Hy but not Z7-11-one-19Hy, although the latter compound was weakly attractive as a single component. Addition of Z7-23Hy further increased attraction. The amount of the major pheromone component, Z7-11-one-18Hy in female pheromone gland extracts was estimated to be 16.4 ng/female (N = 8). Phenological data gathered over a 12-mo period in 2002 and 2003 using the binary blend indicated that moths are active throughout the year. The pheromone has already been employed to monitor the spread of C. improbana in New Zealand and detect its presence in Queensland, Australia.

Identification of sex pheromone components of the painted apple moth: a tussock moth with a thermally labile pheromone component.

The sex pheromone of the painted apple moth, Teia anartoides (Lymantriidae) was investigated using GC-EAD and GC-MS analysis, derivatization, TLC analysis, and field cage and field trapping bioassays. The major sex pheromone components were identified as (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-dien-11-one and (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-diene. Other minor components of pheromone gland extracts included (6Z)-9R, 10S-epoxyeicos-6-ene, (6Z)-9R,10S-epoxyhenicos-6-ene, (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-dien-11-ol, (6Z)-henicos-6-en-11-one, and (6Z, 8E)-henicosa-6,8-dien-11-one, but the roles of these minor components remain equivocal. In field cage and field experiments, a blend of all seven identified components [(6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-dien-11-one (relative amount 100), (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-diene (100), (6Z)-9R,10S-epoxyeicos-6-ene (5), (6Z)-9R,10S-epoxyhenicos-6-ene (10), (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-dien-11-ol (5), (6Z)-henicos-6-en-11-one (1), and (6Z,8E)-henicosa-6,8-dien-11-one (25)] was as attractive to males as calling females, but tests with blends of the major component(s) with subsets of the minor components did not produce consistent results that unequivocally showed the various minor components to be critical components of the active blend. (6Z,9Z)-henicosa-6,9-dien-11-one is thermally labile and rearranges to (6Z,8E)-henicosa-6,8-dien-1-one and other products at ambient temperature, rendering the synthetic pheromone lure inactive after two days of field exposure.

Methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate: the unique sulfur-containing sex pheromone of Phyllophaga crinita.

The female-produced sex pheromone of Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae; the adult has no common name) is identified as methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate. This is the first identification of a sulfur-containing, long-distance, female-produced sex attractant from any insect taxa. The root-feeding larvae of this species are serious pests in many crops in Texas and Mexico. In field tests, many P. crinita males were captured in traps baited with the authentic compound. Interestingly, a heteroatom analog, methyl 2-methoxybenzoate, also captured P. crinita males, but only at a dose 10,000 times higher than the lowest tested dose of the authentic pheromone.

Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to bladder in vivo.

This study was designed to examine the potential for gene therapy in bladder in vivo using adenoviral vectors. Gene transfer to rat bladders was accomplished via direct intravesical instillation using a replication-defective adenoviral vector containing a marker gene encoding for Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-gal). Successful gene transfer was confirmed by analyzing bladder samples for DNA and RNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific for beta-gal and adeno sequences, detecting beta-gal in full-thickness bladder wall using specific histochemical staining (X-gal) and documenting recombinant protein production. Bladder architecture was preserved, without evidence of distant spread of virus as assessed by PCR. Gene expression was evident for at least 7 days. In summary, bladder cells can be genetically altered using replication-deficient adenoviral vectors via simple intravesical instillation of vector. Introduction of exogenous genetic material is a potentially powerful therapeutic modality for immunomodulation of bladder neoplasms.

Biliary atresia in a twin.

The occurrence of biliary atresia in one of a pair of male twins is reported. The current concepts regarding the aetiology of biliary atresia are examined in relation to this case; and neither the concept of a transplacental agent nor that of a genetic trigger mechanism seems probable. It is concluded that, as with many congenital defects, biliary atresia is probably the end-result of different aetiological factors, among which viruses and other agents may cross the placenta to cause it, whether or not there is a genetic predisposition in the individual fetus, or the biliary system may simply fail to develop.