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The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) has been implicated in modulation of lymphocyte activation and cytoskeletal reorganization. To address the mechanisms whereby WASp subserves such functions, we have examined WASp roles in lymphocyte development and activation using mice carrying a WAS null allele (WAS(-)(/)(-)). Enumeration of hemopoietic cells in these animals revealed total numbers ...

Among the most common parasites of Drosophila in nature are parasitoid wasps, which lay their eggs in fly larvae and pupae. D. melanogaster larvae can mount a cellular immune response against wasp eggs, but female wasps inject venom along with their eggs to block this immune response. Genetic variation in flies for immune resistance against wasps and genetic variation in wasps for virulence aga...

Shigella flexneri is a bacterial pathogen that invades cells of the gastrointestinal tract, causing severe dysentery. Shigella mediates intracellular motility and spreading via actin comet tail formation. This process is dependent on the surface-exposed, membrane-embedded virulence factor IcsA, which recruits the host actin regulator N-WASP. Although it is clear that Shigella requires N-WASP fo...

Red-throated Caracaras Ibycter americanus (Falconidae) are specialist predators of social wasps in the Neotropics. It had been proposed that these caracaras possess chemical repellents that allow them to take the brood of wasp nests without being attacked by worker wasps. To determine how caracaras exploit nests of social wasps and whether chemical repellents facilitate predation, we: (1) video...

Wasp stings are not uncommon in Nepal. The manifestations of stings are usually benign and localised at the site of stings. However, susceptible individuals may present with multi-systemic and potentially fatal complications. We report here a child who developed acute kidney injury, nine days after multiple wasp stings. The renal function recovered with supportive management including two sessi...

Transmission spectra of exoplanets orbiting active stars suffer from wavelength-dependent effects due to stellar photospheric heterogeneity. WASP-19b, an ultra-hot Jupiter (T$_{eq}$ $\sim$ 2100 K), is one such strongly irradiated gas-giant solar-type star. We present optical (520-900 nm) transmission WASP-19b obtained across eight epochs using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemi...

• Vol 9 • April 2007 Transient ST-Elevation Following a Wasp Sting The occurrence of an acute myocardial infarction after a bee, wasp or yellow-jacket sting has been reported in the literature [1,2]. The anaphylactic shock and the use of epinephrine can act synergistically and produce acute coronary thrombosis. We report here the case of a 57 year old man who was admitted to our institution aft...

Potter wasps belong to the subfamily Eumeninae of the family Vespidae. Potter wasp is a common name given for a group of caterpillar hunting wasp which builds the pot-shaped mud nests. Initially the wasp constructs the nest and then starts hunting for its prey, the caterpillars. The prey is stung and paralyzed by the wasp then brought to the nest. It is perhaps a very highly specific behavior o...