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A 56 year old man with ischaemic heart disease and known allergy to wasp venom was stung in the mouth by a wasp and within four hours sustained an acute myocardial infarction. This complication has been described on only three previous occasions. Possible pathogenic mechanisms include the anaphylactic reaction itself, the action of wasp venom constituents, and therapeutic intervention with adrenaline.
A recently discovered B chromosome in the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma kaykai was found to be transmitted through males only. Shortly after fertilization, this chromosome eliminates the paternal chromosome set leaving the maternal chromosomes and itself intact. Consequently, the sex ratio in these wasps is changed in favour of males by modifying fertilized diploid eggs into male haploid offspring. In this study, we show that in fertilized eggs at the first mitosis the paternal sex ratio (PSR) chromosome condenses the paternal chromosomes into a so-called paternal chromatin mass (PCM). During this process, the PSR chromosome is morphologically unaffected and is incorporated into the nucleus containing the maternal chromosomes. In the first five mitotic divisions, 67% of the PCMs are associated with one of the nuclei in the embryo. Furthermore, in embryos with an unassociated PCM, all nuclei are at the same mitotic stage, whereas 68% of the PCM-associated nuclei are at a different mitotic phase than the other nuclei in the embryo. Our observations reveal an obvious similarity of the mode of action of the PSR chromosome in T. kaykai with that of the PSR-induced paternal genome loss in the unrelated wasp Nasonia vitripennis.
IgG and IgE antibody levels have been followed for a period of 2 years in patients receiving immunotherapy with bee and wasp venom. 106 adult patients who had had anaphylactic reactions to wasp stings had initially low IgG antibody levels to wasp venom which rose with therapy (p less than 0.001). IgE antibody levels also showed an initial rise but subsequently fell (p less than 0.001). The pattern was similar to that previously reported in children who had had anaphylactic reactions to bee stings, but who, after a course of immunotherapy, were able to tolerate stings with impunity. 60 adults who had had anaphylactic reactions to bee stings showed a different pattern, with initially high IgG antibody levels which did not rise further. Since two thirds of this group were beekeepers or members of beekeeper's families, the high initial IgG antibody levels could have been a response to the frequent stings to which such individuals are prone. The fact that high levels did not protect against anaphylaxis shows, however, that the classical concept of 'blocking antibody' is in need of revision.
Many hoverfly species show specific or non specific morphological resemblance to wasps (Vespula sp.) and it has been suggested that they also show similar flight behaviour. In this study we therefore compared the flight behaviour of wasps with that of four mimetic hoverflies, Sericomyia silentis, Myathropa florea, Helophilus sp. and Syrphus sp., by filming insects while they were foraging on an artificial array of flowers. Films were analysed to determine the routes taken, time spent hovering and flight speed. Of the four flies, only the non specific mimic, Syrphus, showed similar flight behaviour to the wasps; it flew more slowly, and with more roundabout routes than the other flies, hesitating before landing. These results suggest that in hoverflies there is little reason to expect strict correlation between morphological and behavioural mimicry; insects may acquire the similarities to their model more-or-less independently.
In fig wasps, mating takes place among the offspring of one or a few foundress mothers inside the fig from which mated females disperse to found new broods. Under these conditions, related males will compete with each other for mating and several studies have shown female bias in brood sex ratios as a response to Local Mate Competition (LMC). Studying Pegoscapus tonduzi which pollinates Ficus citrifolia in Brazil, we analysed the effect of LMC (number of foundresses) on the sex ratio of the offspring of pollinating wasps. The relationship between the foundress number and brood sex ratio qualitatively followed the theory, however the empirical sex ratio was more female biased than expected from theoretical values. The model for an optimal sex ratio considers that each foundress wasp contributes the same number of eggs to be bred and that the violation of this assumption may explain the lack of adjustment in relation to the theory.
Nineteen compounds were evaluated in combination with a solution of acetic acid as baits for trapping the German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica (F.), the western yellowjacket Vespula pensylvanica (Sausssure), and the golden paper wasp Polistes aurifer Saussure. Compounds with three to six carbon chains or branched chains and with a hydroxy functional group were selected for testing based on their similarity to isobutanol. They were compared with isobutanol with acetic acid, which is a known wasp attractant. None of the compounds tested were superior to isobutanol when presented with acetic acid as a lure for these species of wasps. However, traps baited with either the S-(-)- or the racemic mixture of 2-methyl-1-butanol in combination with acetic acid captured similar numbers of both species of yellowjackets, compared with isobutanol with acetic acid. Polistes aurifer responded strongly to the S-(-)-enantiomer and to the racemic mixture of 2-methyl-1-butanol with acetic acid and not to the R-(+)-enantiomer with acetic acid.
Wasp sting fatalities have rarely been reported in Australia. We used data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and State coronial authorities to investigate deaths from wasp stings in Australia from 1979 through 1998. Seven cases were identified, all involving men in rural settings. Five of the seven victims had prior histories of wasp or bee venom allergy, or both, but none carried injectable adrenalin. All patients with a history of systemic Hymenoptera sting allergy should undergo assessment for immunotherapy and carry adrenalin.
The total RNAs were isolated from the venom glands of female Polistes hebraeus, Vespula maculifrons, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica, respectively. Using the ReverAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit, the first cDNAs were synthesized from the total RNA templates. PCR was carried out for 30 cycles (40s at 94 degrees C, 40s at 52 degrees C and 1 min at 72 degrees C), with a final extension of 10 min at 72 degrees C. RT-PCR products were examined by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gels with ethidium bromide staining. After purification using QIAquick PCR Purification Kit, the PCR products were ligated into pGEM*-T easy vector. Positive clones were identified by double digestion of Xho I and Hind III and PCR amplification and then were sequenced. The sequencing results showed that the amplified cDNAs containing the open reading frames of prepromelittin, and their lengths were all 213 bp. The ORFs were potential to encode polypeptides of 70 amino acid residues with predicted molecular weight of 7.7 kDa, including a signal peptide of 21 residues and a promelittin of 49 residues. Comparative analysis showed that the prepromelittins from different wasp species shared more than 93% identities in nucleotide sequences and more than 95% identities in amino acid sequences with each other, respectively. The sequences of prepromelittins of Polistes hebraeus, Vespula maculifrons, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica share 94%, 100%, 94%, 93% homologies in nucleotide sequences, and 95.8%, 100%, 97.2% and 97.2% identities in amino acid sequences with those of the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, respectively. There are 67 common amino acid residues among the prepromelittins of the four wasps and two honey bee species, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Phylogenetic relationships based on the prepromelitin nucleotide sequences were also examined using the software DNAStar5.01. The result showed that a closer relationship lied in between Polistes hebraeus, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica, while Vespula maculifrons had a closer relationship with the honey bees, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. In conclusion, the prepromelittins were very conserved in the primary structure and the wasp insects also contain the melittins in their venoms, which are very similar to that of honey bee, although they belong to different superfamilies.
The relationship between the parasitic wasp population number of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and the varieties of cotton was studied by releasing and collecting the eggs and larvae of cotton bollworm on transgenic and non-transgenic cottons. The research results from 2000 to 2003 showed that the parasitic rates of the eggs and larvae of cotton bollworm were notably lower in transgenic cotton field than in non-transgenic cotton field. At the same time, the effect of transgenic and non-transgenic cottons on the selection behavior of the parasitic wasp Microplitis mediatar of the larvae of cotton bollworm was studied by using "Y" olfactometer. The results showed that the selection response about the parasitic wasp Microplitis mediatar of cotton bollworm on non-transgenic cotton was prior to the transgenic cotton.
Reactions after bee or wasp sting are similar to anaphylaxis. Symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, urticaria, and hypotension may occur. Serious toxic reactions usually occur after numerous stings. Massive bee envenomations can result in immediate onset of shock, hemolysis, rhabdomyolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), coma, and renal failure. In milder cases, patients may only have isolated prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and normal prothrombin time (PT), clinically without a tendency to bleed. As a rule, they recover spontaneously without any complication. We report three cases of wasp stings; they all manifested prolongation of aPTT and finally recovered completely. Isolated prolongation of aPTT in cases of wasp stings may be related to an extract from the venom inhibiting the coagulation pathway.
Although most species of wasps are solitary and no hazard to humans, attacks by colonies of large social wasps of the family Vespidae, which commonly are known as hornets, can result in envenomation with severe toxicity. The effects of such envenomation on six persons from Papua New Guinea are described and discussed in the light of other published reports from Melanesia, Asia, Europe and America. Four deaths and at least four cases of acute renal failure occurred. Vespa affinis (L.), 1764 was responsible for at least two deaths and Vespa tropica (L.), 1764 for one death. The ecology of vespids in Asia and the Pacific is reviewed and guide-lines for the prevention of wasp attacks are outlined, including appropriate clothing, and the recognition, avoidance and selective destruction of nests. A description is helpful in the identification of the species of insect that was responsible for clinical cases. Management includes hospitalization for victims of multiple stings, with careful monitoring for early and late damage to kidneys, blood, liver and muscle.
The immunotherapy with purified bee and wasp venom is indicated for patients with severe general reactions after insect stings, positive prick test and positive RAST. One hundred seventy four persons were treated for three years with bee venom (SSW Dresden) and 34 patients with wasp venom (Reless). Challenge by a stinging bee after treatment proved in 90 per cent complete protection. There were no general reactions during hyposensitization with wasp venom, but in 46 per cent occurred general reactions during immunotherapy with bee venom. Therefore rush desensitization should be performed in indoor patients till a top dose of 100 micrograms/ml is reached. Booster injections can be given to outdoor patients. All individuals with systemic reactions after insect stings have to get an emergency treatment kit and must be familiar with its application.
Africanized honey bees and the wasp Polistes versicolor are common insects in Brazil; their venoms are composed of a complex mixture of components which present several biological activities. Stinging accidents are very frequent and are generally followed by important clinical reactions, and even deaths are not uncommon. In the present study, venom was extracted from Africanized honey bees and P. versicolor, and it was biochemically characterized and the antigenic cross-reactivity was investigated by Western blot analysis and specific IgE determination by ELISA in the sera of subjects allergic to each venom. The honey bee venom presented higher phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase activities than P. versicolor venom, which in turn presented higher lipase, acid phosphatase and esterase activities. A high incidence of false-negatives was also observed during determinations of specific IgE for P. versicolor venom when the kits with venoms from wasps of temperate climates were used, suggesting that the diagnosis of allergy to neotropical wasp venom must take into consideration the clinical history and skin tests.
A case of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) suspected to have a deletion mutation in the WAS protein (WASP) gene had previously been reported (Ariga et al., 1997). Genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) suggested that exons 3-7 of the WASP gene were included in the deletion. Present Southern blot studies confirm that the deletion is approximately 2.0 kb in length, involving exons 3-7 and seemed to have been created by the fusion of introns 2 and 7. To characterize the deletion mutation in detail, we analyzed the PCR-amplified fragments of introns 2 and 7 from normal individuals and the fragment suspected of including the deletion junction from the patient. Sequencing of the patient fragment revealed that the deletion mutation involving exons 3-7 of the WASP gene did, indeed, result from the fusion of introns 2 and 7.
Mutation in the gene encoding the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) has been identified as the genetic defect responsible for WAS, an X-linked primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by eczema, thrombocytopenia, and recurrent infections. In this study, the WASP gene of 7 unrelated patients with classical WAS of Dutch descent was examined by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis. We have identified 6 novel mutations that involve nonsense mutations (196C-->A, 344C-->T), or small deletions (553delG, 768del19, IVS8+1delGTGA, 911delT), all of which result in predicted truncation of WASP protein synthesis.
The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the WASP gene. The disease is known to be associated with extensive clinical variability, and mutation studies indicate that genotypes are also highly variant among WAS patients. In this study, we performed mutation analysis of the WASP gene in 14 unrelated Spanish families by single strand conformation analysis (SSCA) and sequencing, resulting in the identification of a novel mutation and nine known mutations. No mutation was identified in one family. The ten different mutations include point mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions, stop codons, and small deletions and insertions causing frameshifts. Missense mutations were preferentially located in the amino-terminal part of the protein, exons 2 and 4, whereas stop and frameshift mutations were located in the carboxyl-terminal region, exons 10 and 11. However, in two families, two missense mutations in exon 11 were identified. Our study demonstrates that WASP genotypes have some concordance with the patients' phenotypes, although mutation 1019delC, identified in a family with several affected members, resulted in high intrafamilial clinical variability.
The parasitoid wasp genus Achrysocharoides (Eulophidae) is unusual in that many of its species lay male and female eggs in single-sex clutches. The average clutch size of female broods is always greater than that of male broods, and in some species male clutch size is always one. We constructed models that predicted that severely egg-limited wasps should produce equal numbers of male and female eggs while severely host-limited wasps should produce equal numbers of male and female broods (and hence an overall female-biased sex ratio). Theory is developed to predict clutch size and sex ratio across the complete spectrum of host and egg limitation. A comparison of 19 surveys of clutch composition in seven species of Achrysocharoides showed a general pattern of equal numbers of male and female broods with a female-biased sex ratio (suggesting host limitation) although with considerable heterogeneity amongst collections and with a number of cases of unexpectedly low frequencies of male broods. Using a previous estimate of the relationship between fitness and size in the field, we predicted the maximally productive (Lack) clutch size for female broods of Achrysocharoides zwoelferi to be three. Of clutches observed in nature, 95% were equal to or smaller in size than the predicted Lack clutch size. When we manipulated local host density in the field, and as predicted by our models, clutch size and the proportion of female broods of A. zwoelferi decreased as hosts became more common, but the absolute frequency of male clutches was lower than expected. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome proteins (WASp) serve as important regulators of cytoskeletal organization and function. These modular proteins, which are well-conserved among eukaryotic species, act to promote actin filament assembly in response to cues from various signal transduction pathways. Genetic analysis has revealed a requirement for the single Drosophila homolog, Wasp (Wsp), in cell-fate decisions governing specific neuronal lineages. We have used this unique developmental context to assess the contributions of established signaling and cytoskeletal partners of WASp. We present biochemical and genetic evidence that, as expected, Drosophila Wsp performs its developmental role via the Arp2/3 complex, indicating conservation of the cytoskeletal aspect of Wsp function in vivo. In contrast, we find that association with the key signaling molecules CDC42 and PIP2 is not an essential requirement, implying that activation of Wsp function in vivo depends on additional or alternative signaling pathways.