The role of the effector caspases drICE and dcp-1 for cell death and corpse clearance in the developing optic lobe in Drosophila.

In the developing Drosophila optic lobe, cell death occurs via apoptosis and in a distinctive spatio-temporal pattern of dying cell clusters. We analyzed the role of effector caspases drICE and dcp-1 in optic lobe cell death and subsequent corpse clearance using mutants. Neurons in many clusters required either drICE or dcp-1 and each one is sufficient.

The carbohydrate ligands on the host embryo mediate intercellular migration of the parasitic wasp embryo.

Invasive stage embryos of the parasitic wasp Copidosoma floridanum transmigrate through the epithelium of phylogenetically distant host embryos in a manner that is similar to mammalian leukocyte infiltration. Host embryonic cells appear to recognize the invading wasp embryo by components on the cell surface. We developed an in vitro wasp entry inhibition assay and found that C-type lectins of the wasp embryo bound to N-linked carbohydrate chains with fucose residues on the surface of host embryo.

An ultrastructural study of polyembryonic parasitoid embryo and host embryo cell interactions.

The morula-stage embryo of the polyembryonic egg-larval parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum forms outside the host embryo and secondarily invades the host body. Electron microscopic analyses of cellular interactions between the extraembryonic syncytium of the parasitic morula and the host embryonic epithelial cells showed that morula penetration into the host embryo did not cause obvious damage to the host cells, except for the abrasion of the embryonic cuticle. Epithelial cells of the host embryo extended microvilli toward the invading C.

Hemolytic activity is mediated by the endogenous lectin in the mosquito hemolymph serum.

Although cytolysis of invading organisms is an innate form of immunity used by invertebrates, so far the underlying mechanism remains less explored. The pupal hemolymph of the mosquito Armigeres subalbatus induces an activity that causes hemolysis of human red blood cells (HRBC). This hemolytic activity was inhibited by sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) and serine protease inhibitors.

Physiological suppression of the larval parasitoid Glyptapanteles pallipes by the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum.

Precocious larvae, clonally produced together with reproductive siblings in the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum, are known to physically attack competitors in multiparasitized hosts. In this study, we show that physiological suppression by C. floridanum, as well as precocious larval activity, causes death of the larval parasitoid Glyptapanteles pallipes.

Compatible invasion of a phylogenetically distant host embryo by a hymenopteran parasitoid embryo.

Embryonic invasion into the tissue of genetically different organisms has been known only in mother-embryo interactions of viviparous organisms. Hence, embryonic invasions have been thought to occur only within the same or closely related species. For endoparasitic Hymenoptera, which are oviposited in their host egg but complete their development in the later stages, entry into the host embryo is essential.

Isolation of a protein lethal to the endoparasitoid Cotesia kariyai from entomopoxvirus-infected larvae of Mythimna separata.

Virion-free plasma from entomopoxvirus (MyseEPV)-infected larvae of the armyworm, Mythimna separata, contains a factor that adversely affects the survival of the gregarious braconid endoparasitoid, Cotesia kariyai. Heating or proteinase K treatment eliminates the toxic effect of virion-free plasma on the parasitoid, suggesting that the lethal factor is a protein. We purified the Protein Lethal to C.