Biology of the Insect Midgut

Entomological research benefits from a great diversity of technical approaches - from the molecular to the descriptive - and these are applied to an even greater diversity of insect species. As a consequence, common themes and trends in entomological research can often be overlooked as each researcher focuses on his or her own area of interest. The purpose of this volume is to bring together diverse areas of research under one common theme.
The book is divisible into four conceptual areas: the structural biology of the midgut; digestion and transport; the insect midgut as a target for control strategies; and the idgut as an environment for other organisms. Each chapter is written by scientists active in the reviewed research area and a truly international team of contributors has been chosen by the editors.
Biology of the Insect Midgut will be of immense use to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and researchers in entomology, physiology and pest control.

List of contributors. Preface. Part One: Structural biology of the midgut. 1. Structure and ultrastructure of the insect midgut; P.F. Billingsley, M.J. Lehane. 2. Midgut development; K.M. Baldwin, et al. 3. Midgut endocrine cells; F. Sehnal, D. Zitnan. 4. The peritrophic matrix; R.L. Tellam. 5. Structural macromolecules of the cell membranes and the extracellular matrices of the insect midgut; N.J. Lane, et al. Part Two: Digestion and transport. 6. Digestive enzymes; W.R. Terra, et al. 7. Mechanisms controlling the synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes in insects; M.J. Lehane, et al. 8. Compartmentalization of digestion; W.R. Terra, et al. 9. Ion transport in Lepidoptera; U. Klein, et al. 10. Amino acid absorption; V.F. Sacchi, M.G. Wolfersberger. 11. Lipid and sugar absorption; S. Turunen, K. Crailsheim. Part Three: The midgut as a target for control strategies. 12. Immune intervention against blood-feeding insects; P. Willadsen, P.F. Billingsley. 13. Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins: action on the insect midgut; P.V. Pietrantonio, S.S. Gill. 14. Antinutritive plant defence mechanisms; G.W. Felton, J.A. Gatehouse. Part Four: The midgut as an environment for other organisms. 15. Microbialsymbioses in the midgut of insects; A.E. Douglas, C.B. Beard. 16. Insect-transmitted pathogens in the insect midgut; D.C. Kaslow, S. Welburn. Index.