THE LOCALIZATION OF A PARALYSIS TOXIN IN GRANULES AND NUCLEI OF PREFED FEMALE RHIPICEPHALUS-EVERTSI-EVERTSI TICK SALIVARY-GLAND CELLS

A monoclonal antibody directed against a paralysis toxin of Rhipicepha lus evertsi evertsi ticks was used to localize the toxin in cytoplasmi c granules and, surprisingly, chromatin of the nuclei of cells which r esemble the ''b'' cell type in the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus ap pendiculatus, Boophilus microplus and Ixodes holocyclus. The associati on of toxin with chromatin indicates that the toxin may have a regulat ory function. Evidence is provided to support the view that the toxin is made up of three identical sub-units, with only the trimeric form b eing toxic.