Complete nucleotide sequence of Kashmir bee virus and comparison with acute bee paralysis virus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a novel virus is presented here together with serological evidence that it belongs to Kashmir bee virus (KBV). Analysis reveals that KBV is a cricket paralysis-like virus (family Dicistroviridae: genus Cripavirus), with a non-structural polyprotein open reading frame in the 5' portion of the genome separated by an intergenic region from a structural polyprotein open reading frame in the 3' part of the genome. The genome also has a polyadenylated tail at the 3' terminus. KBV is one of several related viruses that also includes acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV). Although KBV and ABPV are about 70 % identical over the entire genome, there are considerable differences between them in significant areas of the genome, such as the 5' non-translated region (42 % nucleotide identity), between the helicase and 3C-protease domains of the non-structural polyprotein (57 % amino acid identity) and in a 90 aa stretch of the structural polyprotein (33 % amino acid identity). Phylogenetic analyses show that KBV and ABPV isolates fall into clearly separated clades with moderate evolutionary distance between them. Whether these genomic and evolutionary differences are sufficient to classify KBV and ABPV as separate species remains to be determined.

Organization of the antennal motor system in the sphinx moth Manduca sexta.

The antennae of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta are multimodal sense organs, each comprising three segments: scape, pedicel, and flagellum. Each antenna is moved by two systems of muscles, one controlling the movement of the scape and consisting of five muscles situated in the head capsule (extrinsic muscles), and the other system located within the scape (intrinsic muscles) and consisting of four muscles that move the pedicel. At least seven motoneurons innervate the extrinsic muscles, and at least five motoneurons innervate the intrinsic muscles. The dendritic fields of the antennal motoneurons overlap one another extensively and are located in the neuropil of the antennal mechanosensory and motor center. The density of motoneuronal arborizations is greatest in the lateral part of this neuropil region and decreases more medially. None of the motoneurons exhibits a contralateral projection. The cell bodies of motoneurons innervating the extrinsic muscles are distributed throughout an arching band of neuronal somata dorsal and dorsolateral to the neuropil of the antennal mechanosensory and motor center, whereas the cell bodies of motoneurons innervating the intrinsic muscles reside mainly among the neuronal somata situated dorsolateral to that neuropil.

Mushroom chemical defense : Pungent sesquiterpenoid dialdehyde antifeedant to opossum.

A new bioassay employing a natural fungivore, the opossumDidelphis virginiana, is described. Using this bioasssay, eighteen species of fungi were tested for palatability. Five species of mushrooms, all of which taste pungent to humans, were found to be unpalatable to the opossum. From the least palatable of these,Lentinellus ursinus, the pungent principle was isolated and identified as isovelleral, a previously described fungal metabolite. The compound was shown to be a potent antifeedant to opossums. By means of difference NOE and relaxation time NMR studies, the relative configuration and solution conformation of isovelleral were deduced.

Traditional and Western health care among the Zuni Indians of New Mexico.

PIP: The Zuni Indians of New Mexico have access to medical care provided by the Public Health Service, native healers belonging to medicine societies, and folk remedies. The Zuni regard natural causes, sorcery, disease-object intrusion and breach of taboo as the origins of illness. Case materials are presented to illustrate the pragmatic manner in which most Zuni seek medical care. Over 90% of patients with nonemergency problems see the native healers before seeking help at the hospital, and patients continue to seek different therapies until their symptoms are relieved. The interaction of Zuni and Western health practices is discussed using the examples of childbirth, epilepsy and diabetes; and reasons for the continued vitality of the traditional systems are explored. It is recommended that physicians acquaint themselves with the traditional beliefs of the people they treat in order to facilitate the acceptance of Western medicine in areas where traditional medicine is still important.^ieng

Isolation of phagocytic cells from the rat renal glomerulus.

A method is described for the dissociation of rat glomerular cells in vitro. Isolated endothelial cells were characterized by the persistence of fenestrae. Mesangial cells showed a variety of morphologic appearances; if dissociation was performed after an intravenous injection of ferritin, such cells were identified by the presence of large ferritin-filled vacuoles. Intact epithelial cells were rarely seen, presumably because they did not survive the separation procedure. In culture, a high proportion of cells adhered to glass surfaces, were phagocytic, and had labeled heavily in vivo with ferritin; they were, thus, considered to be mesangial in origin. Receptors for immunoglobulin (Fc) and complement (c3) were also detected in such cells after 24 hours in culture, but not immediately after dissociation. Our findings suggest that a population of isolated glomerular cells, probably comprising mainly mesengial cells, is highly phagocytic and has the potential to develop Fc and C3 receptors. We propose that this technique offers a useful approach for the delineation of glomerular cell properties and functions.