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PubMed1977

Polistes wasp hypersensitivity: diagnosis by venom-induced release of histamine in vitro.

Polistes wasps cause a majority of Hymenoptera-induced anaphylactic reactions in Texas. Using the in vitro release of histamine from basophils of patients allergic to Polistes stings, we have studied the cross-reactivity of venoms from three species of Polistes wasps as well as the cross-reactivity among Polistes, honeybee, and Vespula maculifrons (yellow jacket) venoms. Venom collected by an extrusion technique from Pollistes exclamans, Pollistes apachus, and Pollistes carolina caused release of histamine in seven Polistes-sensitive individuals. The dose-response curves from all three Polistes species were quite similar, suggesting extensive cross-reactivity among these species. None of these patients showed significant release of histamine from leukocytes exposed to yellow jacket or honeybee venom. We conclude that a source of Polistes venom is available for further study and possibly for therapy. It appears that any of three local common species of Polistes wasps could be used. Our studies confirmed earlier reports that Hymenoptera sensitivity if often genus-specific.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Volatiles from the venom of five species of paper wasps (Polistes dominulus, P. gallicus, P. nimphus, P. sulcifer and P. olivaceus).

The venom volatiles of five paper wasp species, four European belonging to the subgenus Polistes sensu stricto (P. dominulus, P. gallicus, P. nimphus, P. sulcifer) and one belonging to the Asian subgenus Gyrostoma (P. olivaceus), have been sampled by headspace solid phase micro-extraction and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The venom volatile components of Polistes wasps have never been fully investigated before, although the presence of some spiroacetals has been previously reported in literature. The composition of the venom was qualitatively and quantitatively different among the analysed species with the major substances tentatively identified, on the basis of their mass spectra, as: spiroacetals, mainly 2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane, two amides, N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide and N-(3-methylbutyl)propanamide and acetates of saturated, mono- and di-unsaturated 2-alcohols with an odd number of carbon atoms in the chain. The acetate of a di-unsaturated 2-alcohol, present in two isomeric forms, identified as (E)- and (Z)-5-tangerinol has never been reported in literature for insects. Propanoates of the same 2-alcohols were only found in the venom of P. gallicus. Both the amides and the above-mentioned spiroacetal have been already shown to be alarm pheromones in other social wasps, while the acetates and propanoates have ever been reported in this taxon.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Anoplin, a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the solitary wasp Anoplius samariensis.

A novel antimicrobial peptide, anoplin, was purified from the venom of the solitary wasp Anoplius samariensis. The sequence was mostly analyzed by mass spectrometry, which was corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. Anoplin, composed of 10 amino acid residues, Gly-Leu-Leu-Lys-Arg-Ile-Lys-Thr-Leu-Leu-NH2, has a high homology to crabrolin and mastoparan-X, the mast cell degranulating peptides from social wasp venoms, and, therefore, can be predicted to adopt an amphipathic alpha-helix secondary structure. In fact, the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of anoplin in the presence of trifluoroethanol or sodium dodecyl sulfate showed a high content, up to 55%, of the alpha-helical conformation. A modeling study of anoplin based on its homology to mastoparan-X supported the CD results. Biological evaluation using the synthetic peptide revealed that this peptide exhibited potent activity in stimulating degranulation from rat peritoneal mast cells and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this is the first antimicrobial component to be found in the solitary wasp venom and it may play a key role in preventing potential infection by microorganisms during prey consumption by their larvae. Moreover, this peptide is the smallest among the linear alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides hitherto found in nature, which is advantageous for chemical manipulation and medical application.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Wasp manipulates cockroach behavior by injecting venom cocktail into prey central nervous system.

The parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa induces behavioral changes in the cockroach prey by injecting venom into its central nervous system. In contrast to most other venomous predators, the wasp's sting does not induce paralysis. Rather, the two consecutive stings in the thoracic and head ganglia induce three stereotypic behavioral effects. The prey behavior is manipulated in a way beneficial to the wasp and its offspring by providing a living meal for its newborn larva. The first sting in the thorax causes a transient front leg paralysis lasting a few minutes. This paralysis prevents the cockroach from fighting with its front legs, thereby facilitating the second sting in the head. A postsynaptic block of central synaptic transmission mediates this leg paralysis. Following the head sting, dopamine identified in the venom induces 30 minutes of intense grooming that appears to prevent the cockroach from straying until the last and third behavioral effect of hypokinesia commences. In this lethargic state that lasts about three weeks, the cockroach does not respond to various stimuli nor does it initiates movement. However, other specific behaviors of the prey are unaffected. We propose that the venom represses the activity of head ganglia neurons thereby removing the descending excitatory drive to specific thoracic neurons.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2000

[The wasp-mosquito syndrome: extension of cross-allergenicity to the horsefly].

The crossed allergenicity between wasp venom and mosquito extract was shown during recent work based on clinical observations and correlation studies between different biological parameters, indicating an IgE-dependent biological mechanism. A common protein was identified by Immunoblot. From observation of one of our patients involved in this work, we examined the possibility of the extension of crossed reactivity between wasp, mosquito and horsefly. In effect, our patient presented an anaphylactic reaction with neurological complications from attack on the central grey nucleus, shown by IRM; the immunological study showed a common protein between wasp venom and the total extracts of mosquito and horsefly.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Safety of specific immunotherapy using a four-hour ultra-rush induction scheme in bee and wasp allergy.

BACKGROUND: Ultra-rush induction of immunotherapy with Hymenoptera venom is a reliable and efficacious alternative to the rush induction protocol, though not widely used in European countries yet. Its safety, however, has been intensively discussed over the last few years. The aim of this retrospective case study was to examine the rate of allergic side-effects during our four-hour ultra-rush hymenoptera venom induction regimen. We evaluated risk factors for observed side-effects such as age, gender, severity of previous insect sting reactions according to the H.L. Mueller classification, concentration of venom inducing positive skin tests, level of specific IgE, serum tryptase concentration, and hymenoptera venom used for treatment. METHODS: 67 outpatients with Hymenoptera venom allergy received 80 courses of ultra-rush immunotherapy. Diagnosis and selection of patients for venom immunotherapy were carried out according to the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. We applied a four-hour regimen, and local or systemic reactions were documented. RESULTS: In 78 courses (97.5%) the maintenance dose of 111.1 microg was reached within 4 hours and it was tolerated in 82.5% without any hypersensitivity reaction. Allergic side-effects were observed in only 17.5% (n=14): four severe local reactions (5%), eight grade I (10%) and two grade II (2.5%) systemic reactions. There was no significant difference in the number of systemic reactions comparing patients receiving wasp or honeybee venom extract. The number of systemic reactions was neither higher in patients with a severe prior insect sting reaction (grade III or IV) nor dependent on age, gender, skin test reaction, level of specific IgE or tryptase. Epinephrine as rescue medication was never needed. Interestingly, patients with a severe prior wasp sting reaction showed a significantly lower incidence of allergic side-effects during ultra-rush immunotheraphy with wasp venom extract as compared to grade III or IV honeybee venom allergic patients. CONCLUSION: Our ultra-rush immunotherapy induction regimen shows a low incidence of systemic reactions. It proved to be safe and convenient for the patient, as it could be applied in a four-hour outpatient regimen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Sequence analysis and antigenic cross-reactivity of a venom allergen, antigen 5, from hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets.

Ag 5 is a major allergen of vespid venom. The complete amino acid sequences of Ag 5 from two species each of hornets (Dolichovespula arenaria and maculata), wasps (Polistes annularis and exclamans), and yellow jackets (Vespula maculifrons and vulgaris) have been determined by amino acid sequencing and/or cDNA cloning. The sequence data reveal several conserved and variable regions for vespid Ag 5. The conserved regions show greater sequence similarity than do the less conserved regions to a family of proteins from human, mouse, and rat testis and to a class of pathogenesis-related proteins from tobacco and tomato leaves. Tests in the murine system for both T and B cell responses demonstrate a high degree of cross-reactivity of hornet Ag 5 with wasp or yellow jacket Ag 5 and a low degree of cross-reactivity of yellow jacket Ag 5 with wasp Ag 5. This pattern of cross-reactivity is in the same order as their sequence similarity.

Allergens↗
PubMed2001

Interleukin-10 levels increase in cutaneous biopsies of patients undergoing wasp venom immunotherapy.

We have studied the influence of wasp venom immunotherapy (VIT) on cellular recruitment and cytokine mRNA expression during allergen-induced cutaneous late-phase responses (LPR). Nine subjects with a history of wasp sting anaphylaxis, and specific IgE in their sera underwent wasp VIT. Skin biopsies were taken 24 h after intradermal diluent and allergen before and after 3 months VIT. Pre-immunotherapy, there were significant allergen-induced increases in EG2(+) eosinophils, elastase(+) neutrophils, CD68(+) macrophages and IL-10 protein(+) cells, and increased expression of mRNA for IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-10, TGF-beta, RANTES and eotaxin. When these allergen-induced changes in cytokine mRNA and cellular profiles were compared with those obtained after 3 months VIT there was a significant reduction in IL-4 mRNA (p=0.012) and increase in IL-10 protein(+) cells (p=0.004) with a trend to an increase in IL-10 mRNA (p=0.054). There were also significant reductions in eosinophils (p<0.004) and the size of the cutaneous LPR (p<0.01) but no change in mRNA to IFN-gamma, IL-13 or IL-12. Therefore, VIT is associated with a significant increase in cells positive for IL-10 protein but not IL-12 or IFN-gamma. These results suggest that induction of IL-10 may be important in VIT and occur independently of the switch to a Th1 phenotype. IL-10 generation may down-regulate IL-4 expression and eosinophil recruitment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

An empirical model of the sympatric coexistence of two strains of the endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens.

Recent research has demonstrated that a laboratory culture of the asexual solitary endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens Grav. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) contains two genetically and phenotypically distinct lines, coexisting on their host the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The basis to the coexistence of the two lines appears to be differences in their reproductive success under single parasitism and superparasitism. Furthermore, examination of field-derived wasps from several locations has shown that the phenotypes displayed by the laboratory colonies also co-occur in field populations. Historically, the impossibility of showing that two species do not occupy separate niches has precluded any demonstration of sympatric coexistence in the field. Here we present the results of an iterative model that uses a range of experimental life history data to predict the stable composition of a mixed population of two lines displaying the laboratory phenotypes under different rates of superparasitism. The model predicts that sympatric coexistence of the two lines is possible when the overall rate of superparasitism is between 4 and 12% or greater. These values are within the rates reported for other solitary endoparasitoid wasp species in the field, and so demonstrate that the sympatric coexistence under natural conditions of two species that display the phenotypes observed in the laboratory lines is, in principle, possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of female wasp accessory secretions, host fat body, and host hemolymph on protein synthesis and egg viability in Microplitis croceipes (Braconidae).

Effects of female wasp reproductive gland secretions, host fat body and hemolymph, and mechanical constriction of the parasitoid egg on protein synthesis were studied in eggs of Microplitis croceipes (Braconidae) dissected from the wasp ovary. Protein synthesis was measured by 35S-methionine incorporation in eggs held in tissue culture medium for 16 h after treatment. Synthesis was stimulated in oocytes obtained from three regions of the ovary (egg tube, reservoir, and calyx) by fat body and venom gland but not by calyx fluid. A combination of fat body, venom gland, and calyx fluid did not enhance the level of synthesis relative to that of fat body or venom gland alone. Host hemolymph inhibited protein synthesis when incubated directly with the dissected eggs but not when the eggs were collected from an artificial oviposition substrate (AOS) containing hemolymph. The inhibitory effect of the hemolymph is thought to be due to the occurrence of melanization. Mechanical constriction did not alter the rate of synthesis, confirming an earlier report that synthesis in newly deposited eggs in ongoing and is not dependent on mechanical activation during the act of oviposition. Mechanisms responsible for sustaining protein synthesis in eggs for 16 h in vitro after their exposure to host hemolymph in the AOSs or fat body and venom gland are not known. Only a small percentage (less than 2%) of dissected ovarial reservoir oocytes that were mechanically constricted and exposed to the venom gland, calyx fluid, and host fat body hatched in vitro. In contrast, an earlier study demonstrated that 38% of eggs oviposited by female wasps into AOSs developed and hatched.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cloning of a VLP-protein coding gene from a parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) that are bound to the egg surface of a parasitic wasp Venturia canescens are void of nucleic acid and unable to infect host tissue but instead provide a passive protection against the host's immune recognition. To investigate evolutionary and functional properties of Venturia particles, we isolated cDNAs coding for a VLP-protein by screening an expression library of the wasp, using antibodies against purified VLPs. The corresponding coding DNA is present in the wasp genome as a single-copy gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Molecular phylogeny of Vespidae (Hymenoptera) and the evolution of sociality in wasps.

The oriental Stenogastrinae is a group in which there is considerable interest as regards the study of evolution of sociality in wasps, because they show broad diversity in social behavior. Using cladistic analysis on morphological and behavioral data, they have been grouped together with the social Vespinae and Polistinae in the family of Vespidae. This is not without dispute, because several other morphological and behavioral characters separate Stenogastrinae from the other Vespidae subfamilies. DNA sequences were obtained from nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA of two Apis species and nine social and three solitary wasp species of the family Vespidae. Solitary wasps of the family Braconidae and Pteromalidae were used as outgroups. Parsimony, distance, and maximum-likelihood methods of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA did not support the conventional phylogenetic position of Stenogastrinae. In all phylogenetic reconstructions, the solitary Eumeninae were a sister taxon to the Polistinae + Vespinae cluster. The analyzed sequences provide strong evidence that sociality has independently evolved twice in the Vespidae.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Parasitoid wasp affects metabolism of cockroach host to favor food preservation for its offspring.

Unlike predators, which immediately consume their prey, parasitoid wasps incapacitate their prey to provide a food supply for their offspring. We have examined the effects of the venom of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa on the metabolism of its cockroach prey. This wasp stings into the brain of the cockroach causing hypokinesia. We first established that larval development, from egg laying to pupation, lasts about 8 days. During this period, the metabolism of the stung cockroach slows down, as measured by a decrease in oxygen consumption. Similar decreases in oxygen consumption occurred after pharmacologically induced paralysis or after removing descending input from the head ganglia by severing the neck connectives. However, neither of these two groups of cockroaches survived more than six days, while 90% of stung cockroaches survived at least this long. In addition, cockroaches with severed neck connectives lost significantly more body mass, mainly due to dehydration. Hence, the sting of A. compressa not only renders the cockroach prey helplessly submissive, but also changes its metabolism to sustain more nutrients for the developing larva. This metabolic manipulation is subtler than the complete removal of descending input from the head ganglia, since it leaves some physiological processes, such as water retention, intact.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed2003

Three-dimensional organization of the glomeruli in the antennal lobe of the parasitoid wasps Cotesia glomerata and C. rubecula.

Two closely related parasitoid wasp species, Cotesia glomerata and C. rubecula, differ in their use of associative learning. To investigate the neural basis underlying these differences, it is necessary to describe the olfactory pathway of both wasp species. This paper focuses on the organization of the glomeruli in the antennal lobe. Glomeruli were stained by retrograde axon tracing of all axons in the antennal nerve and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Stacks of optical sections were processed with AMIRA software, and 3D digital models of the glomeruli were produced. The combined use of 2D images and 3D surface models of the antennal lobes enabled the identification of a set of corresponding glomeruli in both wasp species. This offers unique opportunities for the study of subtle differences involved in synaptic plasticity that may occur at the glomerular level and factors regulating this plasticity.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of social wasp cuticle: a comparative study.

Resistance to electricity by social wasp cuticle is temperature dependent within the range of 1--40 degrees C. This was measured on the species Vespa orientalis (the Oriental hornet), Vespa crabro (the European hornet) and the wasp Dolichovespula saxonica. The resistance at first decreases with increased temperature, reaching a nadir which differs according to species, and then rises again up to 40 degrees C, the highest temperature tested. It is suggested that the cuticular changes in resistivity at different temperatures reflect the wasp's mechanism for detecting and regulating the temperature in their normal environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of a novel protein associated with the parasitization of lepidopteran hosts by an endoparasitic wasp.

We report basic biochemical characteristics of a parasitism-specific protein (PSP) expressed in hosts (Trichopluisa ni) of a parasitic wasp (Chelonus near curvimaculatus). Size exclusion HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis of cross-linked products indicated the native conformation of the protein is as a monomeric polypeptide with an estimated M(r) of 185,000. Resolution by non-denaturing PAGE revealed two major PSP bands with different charges, PSP-1 and PSP-2, each of which corresponded to several isoforms on native IEF with a pl range of 4.57-5.45. Sequences for the N-terminus region and internal peptides after fragmentation of purified preparations of PSP-1 and PSP-2 did not resemble the sequence of any reported protein. Immunological characterization of PSP using antibodies generated against virus proteins from C. near curvimaculatus female wasps revealed that PSP shares a common epitope(s) with some structural components of the wasp polydnavirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Presence of a novel small RNA-containing virus in a laboratory culture of the endoparasitic wasp Venturia canescens (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).

Parasitoid wasps use a variety of mechanisms to alter their host's physiology to the benefit of the developing endoparasite inside the host larva. Association of certain wasps with viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) that contribute to their success in parasitism is one of the fascinating evolutionary adaptations conferring active or passive protection for the endoparasite from the host immune system. Venturia canescens has been shown to produce VLPs that provide protection for the developing parasitoid egg inside the host, Ephestia kuehniella. Here, we report on the presence of a novel small RNA-containing virus from V. canescens, designated as VcSRV, occurring in the ovaries of the wasp. The virus particles are found together with VcVLPs in the lumen of the calyx region of the ovaries and are injected together with the egg and VcVLPs into E. kuehniella larvae where they enter hemocytes. Alignment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of VcSRV indicates that the virus most likely belongs to the recently described genus Iflavirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

The development of the endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella.

Using a molecular marker that allows the differentiation of two strains of the solitary endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens, the study investigated the influence of host mass and the time interval between ovipositions on the survival and development of larvae from both the first and second laid eggs in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella. As the time interval between ovipositions increased both overall and superparasitism success decreased, however, time between, and order of, ovipositions had little effect on other developmental parameters. Adult size increased with host mass under both parasitism and superparasitism, while host mortality decreased with host mass under superparasitism. In addition, wasps emerging from superparasitised hosts were larger than wasps from parasitised hosts. The results confirm that for V. canescens on the host E. kuehniella both self- and conspecific-superparasitism will be an adaptive strategy when hosts are the limiting factor.

Adaptation, Physiological↗