Meiosis aspects and nucleolar activity in Triatoma vitticeps (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

Some aspects of both the nucleolar organizer activity and meiosis were studied in the testes of Triatoma vitticeps (Heteroptera, Triatominae). The techniques used included squashing followed by lacto-acetic orcein staining, silver-ion impregnation, fluorescent banding (CMA(3), Quinacrine mustard and DAPI) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A close relationship between heterochromatin and nucleolus in testicular cells was observed. During meiosis, the silver-ion impregnation pattern varied. At metaphase plate, a small body appeared apart from the chromosomes. In the spermatids this small body was seen in preparations stained with orcein and silver- ion impregnation but not with fluorochromes or FISH. These characteristics combined suggest that these corpuscles represent a source of ribonucleoproteins (RNP) - RNA and specific nucleolar proteins. Silver-ion impregnation and (FISH) revealed nucleolar organizer activity in two metaphase sex chromosomes (X). These results indicate that, in these species, nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are located in the sex chromosomes, X chromosomes were were CMA(3)(+) and Y chromosome was DAPI(+).

Tissue-specific expression of esterases in Triatoma infestans (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Karyotype and spermatogenesis in Triatoma lenti (Hemiptera: Triatominae), a potential Chagas vector

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructural analysis of the nucleolar aspects at spermiogenesis in triatomines (Heteroptera, Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chromatoid body: Remnants of nucleolar proteins during spermatogenesis in triatomine (Heteroptera, Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cytochemical characterization of Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus salivary gland cells (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of the nucleolar cycle and ribosomal RNA distribution during meiosis in triatomines (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Characterization of the external female genitalia of six species of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidade) by scanning electron microscopy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Description of Rhodnius montenegrensis n. sp (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) from the state of Rondonia, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ribosomal DNA ITS-1 intergenic spacer polymorphism in triatomines (Triatominae, Heteroptera)

The length polymorphism of ribosomal DNA ITS-1 intergenic spacer was analyzed in eight species of triatomines belonging to Triatoma, Rhodnius, and Panstrongylus genera. The analyzed species were Rhodnius domesticus, R. neivai, R. robustus, Triatoma brasiliensis, T. infestans, T. vitticeps, Panstrongylus megistus, and P. herreri. These insects are vectors of Chagas' disease, one of the most prominent public health problems among South American countries. This work allowed the differentiation between species of the Triatomini and Rhodniini tribes through the analysis of ITS-1 length polymorphism by PCR and RFLP techniques. The species of the Triatoma and Panstrongylus genera presented an amplified ITS-1 fragment between 600 and 1000 bp, whereas Rhodnius presented a less variable ITS-1 length fragment, around 300 bp, which could reflect the monophyletic origin of the Rhodniini tribe. Species belonging to this genus were further differentiated by RFLP with HaeIII and AluI endonucleases. Our results corroborate the hypothesis of polyphyletic origin in this group of insects and contribute to knowledge about evolutionary relationships in triatomines.

Polymorphism of the ITS-2 region of the ribosomal DNA of the Triatominae Rhodnius domesticus, R-pictipes, R-prolixus and R-stali

The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) was used to compare Rhodnius domesticus (Neiva & Pinto), R. pictipes (Stal), R. prolixus (Stal) and R. stali (Lent; Jurberg & Galvao) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). The enzyme BstUI differentiated R. donzesticus, R. pictipes and R. prolixus, and HhaI differentiated R. domesticus, R. pictipes and R. stali. With the fingerprinting analysis generated by these two enzymes, it was possible to clearly identify all four species in the study.

SEXUAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN 5TH INSTAR NYMPHS OF 6 SPECIES OF TRIATOMINAE (HEMIPTERA, REDUVIIDAE)

The aim of this paper is to present the analysis of sexual morphological differences observed in 5th instar nymphs of the following species: Panstrongylus megistus; Rhodnius neglectus; Triatoma brasiliensis; T. infestans; T. matogrossensis and T. tibiamaculata. Male and female nymphs were examined and photographed with a Scanning Electron Microscope. The 9th segment dimensions of dorsal and ventral faces were determined through a Profile Projector. Results and statistical analysis showed significant differences: the 9th sternite is significantly broader in male than in female nymphs, while in five species, tergites in female nymphs are broad and in male are narrow.