ABSTRACT
DNA-based techniques have proved to be very useful methods to study trophic relationships between pests and their natural enemies. However, most predators are best defined as omnivores, and the identification of plant-specific DNA should also allow the identification of the plant species the predators have been feeding on. In this study, a PCR approach based on the development of specific primers was developed as a self-marking technique to detect plant DNA within the gut of one heteropteran omnivorous predator (Macrolophus pygmaeus) and two lepidopteran pest species (Helicoverpa armigera and Tuta absoluta). Specific tomato primers were designed from the ITS 1-2 region, which allowed the amplification of a tomato DNA fragment of 332âbp within the three insect species tested in all cases (100% of detection at t=0) and did not detect DNA of other plants nor of the starved insects. Plant DNA half-lives at 25°C ranged from 5.8âh, to 27.7âh and 28.7âh within M. pygmaeus, H. armigera and T. absoluta, respectively. Tomato DNA detection within field-collected M. pygmaeus suggests dietary mixing in this omnivorous predator and showed a higher detection of tomato DNA in females and nymphs than males. This study provides a useful tool to detect and to identify plant food sources of arthropods and to evaluate crop colonization from surrounding vegetation in conservation biological control programs.
Subject(s)
DNA, Plant/genetics , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Gastrointestinal Contents/chemistry , Insecta , Solanum lycopersicum/genetics , Animals , Conservation of Natural Resources , DNA Primers/genetics , DNA, Plant/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Female , Half-Life , Male , Nymph/physiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Introducción. La impulsividad y agresividad son características del trastorno límite de personalidad y están asociadas a una disfunción del sistema serotoninérgico. Polimorfismos del transportador de serotonina han sido vinculados a las conductas agresivas e impulsivas. En depresión el alelo corto (S) se asocia a peor respuesta a los inhibidores selectivos de la recaptación de serotonina (ISRS). El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar estos polimorfismos para predecir la respuesta de las conductas agresivas e impulsivas a los ISRS en el trastorno límite de personalidad. Método. Cincuenta y nueve pacientes con trastorno límite de personalidad del DSM-IV de acuerdo al International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) y sin patología del eje I fueron tratados con fluoxetina en dosis flexibles durante 12 semanas. Los pacientes fueron evaluados mediante la Overt Aggression Scale Modified (OAS-M) al inicio y a las 2, 4, 8 y 12 semanas de tratamiento. Se determinó los polimorfismos L y S de la región promotora del transportador de serotonina. Se comparó la respuesta a fluoxetina de los portadores de LL frente a los portadores de S (LS + SS). Resultados. Los portadores de LL tuvieron mejor respuesta que los portadores de S en reducir las puntuaciones del OAS-M total y en los componentes agresividad e irritabilidad del OAS-M. Conclusiones. Los portadores del alelo L responden mejor a fluoxetina que los portadores de S, de modo similar que en depresión. El alelo S puede representar un factor común de mala respuesta a los ISRS en las patologías asociadas a disfunción del sistema serotoninérgico
Introduction. Impulsiveness and aggressiveness are characteristics of borderline personality disorder and are associated to a serotoninergic system dysfunction. Serotonin transporter polymorphisms have been linked to aggressive and impulsive behaviors. The short allele (S) in depression is associated to a worse response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This study aims to study these polymorphisms to predict the response of aggressive and impulsive behaviors to SSRIs in borderline personality disorder. Method. Fifty-nine patients with DSM-IV borderline personality disorder in accordance with the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) and without axis 1 disease were treated with flexible doses of fluoxetine for 12 weeks. The patients were evaluated with the Overt Aggression Scale Modified (OAS-M) at the beginning and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Polymorphisms L and S of the serotonin transporter promoter region were determined. Response to fluoxetine of the LL carriers versus the S carriers (LS+SS) was compared. Results. LL carriers had a better response than S carriers in the reduction of total OAS-M scores and on the aggressiveness and irritability components of the OAS-M. Conclusions. L-allele carriers responded better to fluoxetine than S carriers, in a similar way as in depression. The S allele may represent a common factor of bad response to SSRI in diseases associated to serotoninergic system dysfunction
Subject(s)
Male , Female , Adult , Humans , Personality Disorders/complications , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Disorders/psychology , Fluoxetine/therapeutic use , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Receptors, Serotonin , Drive , Personality Disorders/drug therapy , Pharmacogenetics/methods , Polymorphism, Genetic/physiology , Aggression , Aggression/psychology , Pharmacogenetics/trends , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Impulsiveness and aggressiveness are characteristics of borderline personality disorder and are associated to a serotoninergic system dysfunction. Serotonin transporter polymorphisms have been linked to aggressive and impulsive behaviors. The short allele (S) in depression is associated to a worse response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This study aims to study these polymorphisms to predict the response of aggressive and impulsive behaviors to SSRIs in borderline personality disorder. METHOD: Fifty-nine patients with DSM-IV borderline personality disorder in accordance with the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) and without axis 1 disease were treated with flexible doses of fluoxetine for 12 weeks. The patients were evaluated with the Overt Aggression Scale Modified (OAS-M) at the beginning and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Polymorphisms L and S of the serotonin transporter promoter region were determined. Response to fluoxetine of the LL carriers versus the S carriers (LS+SS) was compared. RESULTS: LL carriers had a better response than S carriers in the reduction of total OAS-M scores and on the aggressiveness and irritability components of the OAS-M. CONCLUSIONS: L-allele carriers responded better to fluoxetine than S carriers, in a similar way as in depression. The S allele may represent a common factor of bad response to SSRI in diseases associated to serotoninergic system dysfunction.
