An entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema sangi from Mizoram
In an effort to find entomopathogenic nematodes in Mizoram, a Northeastern state of India, Lalramnghaki et al. (2017) collected soil samples from different habitats in Mizoram and baited with the last stage larvae of wax worm, Galleria mellonella. The entomopathogenic nematode infected cadavers of larvae of wax worms were then transferred on the white traps for the emergence of infective juveniles (Photo 1). Researchers again reinfected wax worm larvae with freshly emerged infective juveniles and obtained first- generation females, males and infective juveniles that were used to measure the morphological characteristics. Using QIAamp DNA mini kit, Lalramnghaki et al. (2017) also extracted DNA from a single mature female of newly isolated entomopathogenic nematodes and specific primers were used for the amplification of ITS region of DNA for molecular diagnosis. Based on both the morphological and molecular characteristics, Lalramnghaki et al. (2017) determined that the entomopathogenic nematodes collected from different parts of the Mizoram were conspecific to Steinernema sangi (read full paper cited below). However, researchers did not provide any information about the presence of different kinds of flora and its association with specific insect pests in the survey sites. This information is essential to develop a list of specific insect hosts that can be controlled using entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema sangi.
Photo 1. Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes
Literature:
Lalramnghaki HC, Vanlalhlimpuia, Vanramliana, Lalramliana. Characterization of a new isolate of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema sangi (Rhabditida, Steinernematidae), and its symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus vietnamensis (γ-Proteobacteria) from Mizoram, northeastern India. J Parasit Dis. 2017 Dec;41(4):1123-1131. doi: 10.1007/s12639-017-0945-z. Epub 2017 Jul 17. PMID: 29114152; PMCID: PMC5660045.