Vivek Kempraj

10 Questions 88 Answers 0 Followers

Questions related from Vivek Kempraj

What are the use of accessory glands in insects?

We recently found a well developed accessory gland in female B. dorsalis. Upon further examination, we found that they harboured bacteria and one particular bacteria was the major microbiota in...

03 November 2014 6,232 12 View

Can "innate recognition templates" in insects be manipulated or over-written?

Recently we discovered an "innate recognition template" tuned to Gamma-Octalactone (GOL) which is an oviposition stimulant for Bactrocera dorsalis. As B. dorsalis has many host (around 300 hosts),...

30 August 2014 2,808 4 View

Can domesticated insects (e.g. Mulberry Silkmoth, Bombyx mori) show innate oviposition preference?

We conducted oviposition preference in B. mori and found that they still prefer to lay eggs on mulberry leaves. Further we extracted volatiles from mulberry leaves and conducted a GC-EAD and found...

17 May 2014 3,982 8 View

Are spiroacetals sex pheromones produced by B. dorsalis or are they produced by microorganisms?

Previously, I had asked a question "Are sex pheromones produced by microorganisms?". Therefore, to test our hypothesis, we cultured the isolated bacteria attractive to B. dorslais males. The...

25 April 2014 5,870 0 View

Are "sex pheromones" really produced by insects?

I had previously asked a question "Can bacteria mediate "mating" in insects?" for which i had received wonderful answers from my peers. Taking all answers and reference into consideration we...

01 April 2014 6,525 48 View

Can bacteria mediate "mating" in insects?

We recently isolated 9 cultivable bacteria from the reproductive organs of B. dorsalis. Using 4-armed olfactometer, the isolated bacteria were provided to B. dorsalis as odor source. Out of the 9...

22 March 2014 7,549 11 View

Can olfactory memory be transferred genetically?

We work on the neuroethology of B. dorsalis. We discovered an oviposition stimulant present in mango that stimulates the flies to lay eggs. We perceived that the fly may have learnt about the cue...

07 May 2013 8,302 14 View

How to detect hydrogen peroxide production from insect infested plant cells?

It seems difficult. Any suggestions?

06 December 2012 9,443 6 View

Do environmental factors such as oxygen, pH and temperature influence nucleotide loading of mRNAs? If so, how and why?

From our previous work we defied the previously held theory that thermophile's mRNA is R-loaded (Purine loaded). But, now while working on the next aspect 'Oxygen' it seems that bacteria shed off...

17 November 2012 9,425 0 View

What instruments are required to set-up an olfactory coding lab?

I am setting up a chemical ecology lab at my department and am keen on working on Olfaction on insects. Olfactory coding seemed important and would like to know: What instruments and skills do I...

16 November 2012 5,672 8 View