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D T Mourya

Publications and source records attributed to D T Mourya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Establishment of two new cell lines from Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) & their susceptibility to baculoviruses.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Lepidopteran cell cultures and baculovirus expression vector systems are becoming popular due to their potential applications in biotechnology especially for the expression of foreign proteins. Efforts were made to develop new, indigenous, cell lines from Bombyx mori larvae and pupae. METHODS: Eight to ten B. mori larvae and 10-12 pupae were surface sterilized, dissected and ovaries were removed aseptically. Ovaries were chopped finely, washed and suspended in growth medium. When the cells formed monolayers, they were subcultured and experiments were carried out. RESULTS: Two new cell lines from larval and pupal ovaries of B. mori were established in Grace's insect tissue culture medium supplemented with 20 per cent FBS (foetal bovine serum). The larval cell line consisted predominantly of epithelial-like cells (98.31%), whereas the pupal cell line had a mixed cell population of epithelial-like (71.8%) and fibroblast-like cells (27.8%). Karyology indicated a typical lepidopteran pattern in both the cell lines and had chromosome numbers ranging from 35 to 150 and 60 to 180 for larval and pupal ovaries respectively. Four-fold increase in cell number was observed in these cell lines in 7 days. Both the cell lines were found susceptible to B. mori multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus and Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, but not to Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus and Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: These well characterized cell lines may be of immense application in biotechnology and medicine for the production of biologically active recombinant proteins to use in vaccine studies as well as in therapeutic applications.

Animals↗

New Helicoverpa armigera Hbn cell line from larval hemocyte for baculovirus studies.

A new cell line from the larval hemocytes of H. armigera was established in Grace's medium modified by adding lactalbumin hydrolysate and yeastolate (3.3g/l), and supplemented with fetal bovine serum (20%). The cell line was designated as NIV-HA-1195. The cell population at P-78 consisted mainly of epithelial-like cells (89.36%), fibroblast-like cells (8.31%) and giant cells (2.13%). The population doubling time was 96hr at P-8, 60hr at P-43. The chromosome number ranged from 45 to 200. The cell line is susceptible to the baculoviruses, Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcNPV), Spodoptera litura NPV and the homologous HaNPV. Isoenzyme profile and results of 16S rRNA heteroduplex analysis clearly indicated the species specificity of the new cell line.

Animals↗

A new cell line from the embryonic tissues of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and its susceptibility to certain flaviviruses.

A new cell line from the embryonic tissue of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito was established. Morphological studies carried out at the 45th passage level (P-45) showed four different cell types viz. epithelial-like cells, fibroblast-like cells, giant cells and vacuolated cells. Karyological studies indicated diploid (2n = 6) chromosomes in majority of cells irrespective of passage level. A twelve-fold increase of cell number was observed in 10 days at P-49. The cells could be preserved in liquid nitrogen for more than 40 months. Isoenzyme profile analysis with four enzymes clearly indicated that this cell line was derived from C. tritaeniorhynchus. This cell line was susceptible to Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and West Nile viruses (WNV) but not to Dengue 1-4 (DEN 1-4) viruses. Protein of 38 K was detected in the membrane fraction of the cells from this and the C6/36 cell line, which was found to bind DEN 1-4 viruses. These data suggest that DEN viruses bind to this membrane protein and probably enter into the cells but do not continue further in the replication process.

Animals↗

Study of the effect of the midgut bacterial flora of Culex quinquefasciatus on the susceptibility of mosquitoes to Japanese encephalitis virus.

Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected from the field and microbial flora was isolated from their midgut. Isolates belonging to 13 different genera were obtained. Four most abundant isolates viz. Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacterjunii, Staphylococcus epidermis and Aeromonas culicicola were used to study their effect on the susceptibility of mosquitoes to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Incorporation of individual isolates in the mosquito bloodmeal resulted in an increased susceptibility of mosquitoes to the virus. However, only the effects of Pseudomonas sp. and Acinetobacterjunii could be statistically evaluated but they were found insignificant.

Animals↗

Horizontal and vertical transmission of dengue virus type 2 in highly and lowly susceptible strains of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Isofemale lines of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes highly and lowly susceptible to dengue type 2 (DEN-2) virus (DEN(h) and DEN(l), respectively) were established by oral feeding and individual rearing. The susceptibility at F13 generation was found to be 61% and 25% for the DEN(h) and DEN(l) line, respectively. The virus-infected mosquito females were allowed to probe on bovine albumin phosphate saline pH 7.2 (BAPS) through membrane feeders. The presence of virus in the probed BAPS was determined either by ELISA or by intrathoracic (i.t.) inoculation of mosquitoes or by both methods. The rate of oral transmission of virus was found to be 2 times higher in the DEN(h) isofemale line than in the DEN(l) one. Similarly, vertical transmission rate of the virus was found to be 7 times higher in the DEN(h) line. When batches of eggs obtained from infected female mosquitoes were allowed to hatch after two months the vertical transmission rate of the virus was very high. It is possible that, at room temperature, the virus gets an opportunity to multiply and increase its copy number in the quiescent embryos. The progeny obtained from the infected mosquitoes was found to be capable of transmitting the virus horizontally when allowed to probe on BAPS through the membrane feeder. This is the first report demonstrating horizontal transmission of DEN-2 virus by mosquitoes infected through vertical transmission. The higher vertical transmission rate of the virus in the progeny obtained from the eggs dessicated for a longer time and the horizontal transmission of the virus from the progeny is of very high epidemiological significance.

Aedes↗

Highly-substrate active isoenzyme acetylcholinesterase-II, in rosy eye mutant of Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Insecticide bioassays were carried out on larvae and adults of rosy eye mutant and wildtype strains of A. aegypti. Both the strains were equally susceptible to DDT, malathion and deltamethrin. Biochemical assays showed an increase in acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) activity in all the stages of mutant strain with both the substrates i.e. acetylthiocholine iodide and S-butyrylthiocholine iodide. However, there was no difference in the percent inhibition of enzyme activity with propoxur in these two strains. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed in native conditions on the homogenates of adults of rosy eye mosquitoes showed that AChE-II allele was highly active with the substrate acetylthiocholine iodide as compared to wildtype strain. Frequency of the highly active AChE-II allele in the mutant strain was about 68%, whereas it was about 5% in the wildtype strain.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Transovarial transmission of West Nile virus in Culex vishnui mosquito.

The phenomenon of transovarial transmission (TOT) of West Nile (WN) virus in Culex vishnui was studied. The virus was detected in the progeny of both first and second gonotropic cycles (G1 and G2). About 5.56 per cent pools of F1 progeny from the parent females infected by the oral route were found positive for WN virus. This is the first report of TOT of WN virus in this species of mosquito. The occurrence of this phenomenon is of considerable importance in view of complex natural cycle of the virus and the high density of this vector species in nature. The results suggest that this mosquito may be involved in the maintenance of this virus in nature.

Animals↗

Isolation of chikungunya virus from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected in the town of Yawat, Pune District, Maharashtra State, India.

Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is prevalent throughout Southeast Asia and Africa. It has caused numerous large outbreaks in India. No active or passive surveillance has been carried out since the last epidemic occurring in 1971. During a recent outbreak of Dengue (DEN)-like illness in eastern India, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected from the affected area were positive for CHIK virus. Evidence of dual infection with CHIK and DEN typel virus was also obtained. A widely circulating low-virulent CHIK virus is a possible explanation for the epidemiological pattern of the CHIK virus disease in this region.

Aedes↗

Antigen distribution pattern of West Nile virus in Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex vishnui and Culex pseudovishnui mosquitoes.

Distribution of West Nile (WN) virus antigen in different tissues of mosquitoes was studied in three species viz., Culex tritaeniorhynchus, C. vishnui and C. pseudovishnui. Overall per cent positivity was higher in the intra thoracically inoculated as compared to the orally infected mosquitoes, suggesting the existence of a midgut barrier. In a small number of mosquitoes salivary glands were found negative even though fluorescence was seen in the respective head squashes, suggesting salivary gland barrier in these mosquitoes. There was no difference in the per cent salivary gland and salivary gland area positivity between these three species. Presence of virus antigen in the ovaries of these three species on the 3rd post infection day suggests the possibility of transovarial transmission of virus even in the first gonotrophic cycle, which is of epidemiological importance.

Animals↗

Antigen distribution pattern of Japanese encephalitis virus in Culex tritaeniorhynchus, C. vishnui & C. pseudovishnui.

Distribution of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus antigen in different tissues of mosquitoes was studied in three species viz., Culex tritaeniorhynchus, C. Vishnui and C. pseudovishnui. Overall per cent positivity was higher in the intrathoracically infected as compared to the orally infected mosquitoes, suggesting the existence of a midgut barrier. The cells at the junction of the foregut-midgut, and midgut-hindgut showed intense fluorescence from the second day post feeding onwards. This suggests that the dissemination of virus takes place from these regions of the gut. A small number of salivary glands were found negative even though fluorescence was seen in the respective head squashes, suggesting involvement of the salivary gland barrier in these mosquitoes. Though there was no difference in the salivary gland positivity between these three species, the salivary gland area positivity was high in C. tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes. Presence of virus antigen in the ovaries and developing eggs of these three species on the third day suggests the possibility of transovarial transmission of virus even in the first gonotrophic cycle which may have epidemiological importance.

Animals↗

Dengue virus and insecticide susceptibility status of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Belagola village, Mandya District, Karnataka state: during and post-epidemic investigations.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected during and after dengue virus epidemic season were exposed to diagnostic dosages of insecticides. Mosquitoes collected during the epidemic showed resistance to DDT only, while mosquitoes collected after the control measures showed tolerance to malathion and low resistance to DDT. Since there was no indication of malathion resistance in the mosquitoes collected during the epidemic, the second batch was subjected to malathion selection pressure for 8 generations to find out the mechanism of resistance in this strain. There was 2-4 fold increase in resistance to malathion. Polyacrylamide electrophoresis showed increase in intensity of three esterase bands after selection. Quantitative enzyme assays showed an increase in esterase activity by 3-4 folds. Mosquitoes collected during the epidemic showed higher susceptibility to dengue-2 virus as compared to the laboratory strain, while the mosquitoes collected after malathion fogging showed further increase in the susceptibility to dengue virus. Virus susceptibility of the mosquitoes after eight generations of selection with malathion did not show any further significant increase.

Aedes↗

Venereal transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus in Culex bitaeniorhynchus mosquitoes.

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory on C. bitaeniorhynchus to determine the possible role of males in maintaining or sustaining the Japanese encephalitis virus activity in nature. It was found that infected males are capable of passing on the virus to female mosquitoes while mating. The occurrence of phenomenon of venereal transmission of this virus may have epidemiological importance.

Animals↗

Putative chikungunya virus-specific receptor proteins on the midgut brush border membrane of Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Two proteins (putative receptors) of 60 and 38 kDa, for chikungunya (CHIK) virus were detected in the brush border membrane fraction (BBMF) of the normal population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Mosquitoes were infected orally with CHIK virus and infectivity checked by testing the head squashes. BBMF was prepared from proved positive and negative mosquitoes. The receptor proteins were found to be present in both the proved genotypes. However, dot-b'ot assays showed that the CHIK virus binding activity of BBMF/mg protein was noticeably low in the proved negative mosquitoes as compared to the positives. BBMF from the larvae of the normal populations also showed the presence of the receptor proteins, binding to CHIK virus. Receptor proteins from larvae as well as the adults were found glycosylated. CHIK virus receptor proteins of 24, 45, 58, 60 and 62 kDa were also seen in the membrane fraction of the C6/36 cells.

Aedes↗