Dataset Information

Inventive nesting behaviour in the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia, and the risk to aviation safety.

ABSTRACT: The keyhole wasp (Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille 1812), a mud-nesting wasp native to South and Central America and the Caribbean, is a relatively recent (2010) arrival in Australia. In its native range it is known to use man-made cavities to construct nests. A series of serious safety incidents Brisbane Airport related to the obstruction of vital airspeed measuring pitot probes on aircraft possibly caused by mud-nesting wasps, prompted an assessment of risk. An experiment was designed to determine the species responsible, the types of aircraft most affected, the seasonal pattern of potential risk and the spatial distribution of risk on the airport. A series of replica pitot probes were constructed using 3D-printing technology, representing aircraft with high numbers of movements (landings and take-offs), and mounted at four locations at the airport. Probes were monitored for 39 months. Probes blocked by mud nesting wasps were retrieved and incubated in mesh bags. Emerging wasps were identified to species. Results show that all nests in probes were made by P. nasidens, and peak nesting occurs in the summer months. Nesting success (as proportion of nests with live adult emergents) was optimal between 24 and 31°C and that probes with apertures of more than 3 mm diameter are preferred. Not all areas on the airport are affected equally, with the majority of nests constructed in one area. The proportion of grassed areas within 1000 m of probes was a significant predictor of nesting, and probe volume may determine the sex of emerging wasps.

SUBMITTER: House APN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7703898 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Inventive nesting behaviour in the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia, and the risk to aviation safety.

House Alan P N APN Ring Jackson G JG Shaw Phillip P PP

PloS one 20201130 11

The keyhole wasp (Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille 1812), a mud-nesting wasp native to South and Central America and the Caribbean, is a relatively recent (2010) arrival in Australia. In its native range it is known to use man-made cavities to construct nests. A series of serious safety incidents Brisbane Airport related to the obstruction of vital airspeed measuring pitot probes on aircraft possibly caused by mud-nesting wasps, prompted an assessment of risk. An experiment was designed to determ ...[more]

PMID: 33253188

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Project description:Background Between 9.3 and 28.5% of world population are estimated to be allergic to the protein components of Hymenoptera venom and among them, the hyaluronidase (HYAL) is one of the most important, although the nature of its IgE binding epitopes is unknown. Methods Enzyme was purified from P. paulista venom by cation exchange chromatography in AKTA-FPLC system with a Hiprep CM FF column. Fractions with HYAL activity were pooled, lyophilized, dialyzed against distilled water in presence of protease inhibitor (PMSF) and subjected to SDS-PAGE 15%. The only protein bands visualized were submitted to tryptic digestion and to MALDI-ToF/ToF mass spectrometry. Digested peptides produced were compared with partial/complete protein sequences from Data Bank including with the HYAL (Q9U6V9) of Polistes annularis venom used as model. Western blotting was performed with Pp-HYAL-specific antibody to test the identity of pure protein. Results All analysis performed identified the pure protein as an HYAL present in P.paulista venom, which also had its cDNA sequence (GI:302201582) cloned and determined in previous studies, being its high similarity with the Polistes annularis enzyme already confirmed. The mature allergenic protein has 338 amino acids and a molecular weight of 39 KDa. The same allergen is known in other insects, venoms and immunological cross reactivity may sometimes be observed among closely related species. Here, the immunoblotting assay revealed that the Pp-HYAL-specific antibody used recognized the correspondent protein in the purified fraction and in the crude venom of P. paulista, but not in the Apis mellifera and Solenopsis invicta venoms. Conclusions The methodology used was able to purify the allergen, which is a key step in the characterization of its binding epitopes. Such knowledge has direct implications in accuracy of diagnostic procedures and strategies for specific immunotherapy of allergic patients to the venom of this insect. Funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).

Dataset Information

Inventive nesting behaviour in the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia, and the risk to aviation safety.

Publications

Inventive nesting behaviour in the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia, and the risk to aviation safety.

Similar Datasets

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