Life Sciences Commons^™

Inhibitory Properties Of Microplitis Croceipes Teratocyte Secretory Products And The Recombinant Protein Tsp14 On Protein Synthesis, Francis Anthony Diluna

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Microplitis croceipes is a solitary endoparasitic wasp that oviposits in the hemocoel of Heleothis virescens larvae. Upon parasitization, the host larvaes physiology is altered; resulting in a compromised immune system and a decrease in the production of some vital proteins resulting in a terminal post-wandering prepupal state. Teratocytes, cells derived from the extraembryonic serosa of the parasitic wasp, mimic symptoms of parasitization when injected into host larvae, independent of other factors like polydnavirus and venom. Some of the inhibition of protein synthesis can be attributed to proteins secreted by the teratocytes (teratocyte secretory proteins or TSP). A fraction of TSP …