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Most traditional research on snake venoms has focused on front-fanged snake families (Viperidae, Elapidae, and Atractaspididae). However, venom is now generally accepted as being a much more broadly possessed trait within snakes, including species traditionally considered harmless. Unfortunately, due to historical inertia and methodological challenges, the toxin repertoires of non-front-fanged snake families (e.g., Colubridae, Dipsadidae, and Natricidae) have been heavily neglected despite the knowledge of numerous species capable of inflicting medically relevant envenomations. Integrating proteomic data for validation, we perform a de novo assembly and analysis of the Duvernoy's venom gland transcriptome of the Central American Road Guarder (Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae: Conophis lineatus), a species known for its potent bite. We identified 28 putative toxin transcripts from 13 toxin families in the Duvernoy's venom gland transcriptome, comprising 63.7% of total transcriptome expression. In addition to ubiquitous snake toxin families, we proteomically confirmed several atypical venom components. The most highly expressed toxins (55.6% of total toxin expression) were recently described snake venom matrix metalloproteases (svMMPs), with 48.0% of svMMP expression contributable to a novel svMMP isoform. We investigate the evolution of the new svMMP isoform in the context of rear-fanged snakes using phylogenetics. Finally, we examine the morphology of the venom apparatus using μCT and explore how the venom relates to autecology and the highly hemorrhagic effects seen in human envenomations. Importantly, we provide the most complete venom characterization of this medically relevant snake species to date, producing insights into the effects and evolution of its venom, and point to future research directions to better understand the venoms of 'harmless' non-front-fanged snakes.

O modo de infecção primária de Colletotrichum sublineola, agente causal da antracnose em sorgo, ocorre através de conídios falcados produzidos terminalmente em conidióforos nos acérvulos. Um tipo secundário de conídio, o conídio oval, de menor tamanho e ontogenia distinta dos falcados é também produzido por este patógeno. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar, por meio de microscopia de luz, o processo de infecção entre estes dois tipos de conídios, os ovais e falcados de C. sublineola, em cultivares de sorgo resistente e suscetível à antracnose. Folhas destacadas de 25 dias de idade da BR009 (suscetível) e SC283 (resistente) foram inoculadas com ambos os conídios do isolado patogênico 204.01 e o processo de infecção foi acompanhado por microscopia ótica de 2 a 168 h após a inoculação (AI). Ambos os conídios germinaram 2 h AI e transcorridas 4 h AI, independentemente da cultivar, apressórios arredondados com superfície lisa foram formados diretamente dos conídios falcados, enquanto que apressórios ligeiramente irregulares foram formados na ponta dos tubos germinativos emitidos pelos conídios ovais. Na cultivar suscetível, os apressórios foram formados em maior frequência pelos conídios falcados, enquanto que na cultivar resistente estas estruturas foram formadas em maior frequência pelos conídios ovais. Poros de penetração e hifas de infecção foram visualizados em todos os materiais inoculados com ambos os conídios. Sintomas da doença foram visualizados primeiramente no material inoculado com conídios falcados e foi superior na cultivar suscetível. Lesões com acérvulos contendo conídios falcados foram visualizadas em todos os tratamentos fechando assim o ciclo de infecção. Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-23T09:04:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Citologia-comparativa.pdf: 461356 bytes, checksum: 6670a34bb0812da054c441231eb5824f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

In vivo- and in vitro-produced bovine embryos have different metabolic profiles and differences in gene transcription patterns. These embryos also have a distinct ability to establish and sustain early pregnancies. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are secreted by embryos and carry bioactive molecules, such as miRNAs. We hypothesize that in vivo or in vitro-produced bovine hatched blastocysts on Day 9 and the sEVs secreted by them have different miRNA profiles. To address this hypothesis, embryos of both groups were placed in in vitro culture on Day 7. After 48 h, hatched embryos and hatched embryo-conditioned media (eCM) of both groups were collected. A total of 210 miRNAs were detected in embryos of both groups, of these 6 miRNAs were downregulated, while 7 miRNAs were upregulated in vitro group when compared to in vivo group. sEVs were isolated from eCM to determine miRNA profile. A total of 106 miRNAs were detected in both groups, including 14 miRNAs upregulated in sEVs from in vivo-eCM, and 2 miRNAs upregulated in sEVs from in vitro-eCM. These miRNAs express in embryos and sEVs secreted by them regulate early embryonic developmental and endometrial pathways, which can modify embryo-maternal communication during early pregnancy and consequently affect pregnancy establishment.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-05-01T08:44:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 In Brazil, bean consumption is predominated by grains like carioca, but special grains are gaining space on Brazilian tables and can be a source of income for producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic and qualitative performance of common bean cultivars with special grains, aiming to identify those with productive potential and superior technological characteristics. The treatments consisted of nine bean cultivars with special grains: BRS Radiante, BRS Realce, BRS Pitanga, BRSMG Tesouro, BRS Marfim, BRSMG União, IAC Tigre, EPAMIG Ouro Vermelho, and EPAMIG Ouro da Mata. The agronomic (number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, mass of 100 grains, and grain yield) and qualitative (sieve yield, crude protein, cooking time, percentage of imbibition before and after cooking, percentage of whole grains after cooking, and grain hydration capacity) attributes were evaluated. There were statistical differences between cultivars for the number of grains per pod and mass of 100 grains. The cultivars EPAMIG Ouro Vermelho, BRS Marfim, and BRS Pitanga presented the highest yields, with values of 2,907, 2,871, and 2,608 kg ha-1, respectively. There was variability between cultivars for all qualitative attributes. The cultivars BRS Radiante, BRSMG Realce, BRSMG Tesouro, IAC Tigre, and EPAMIG Ouro Vermelho stood out with superior quality grains State University of São Paulo “Julio de Mesquita Filho” Federal University of Viçosa Institute of Agricultural Sciences Federal University of Viçosa Rio Paranaíba Campus State University of São Paulo “Julio de Mesquita Filho”

Micropropagation is a promising technique for hop (Humulus lupulus L.) plantlet production. However, the phenotypic stability of micropropagated hop plants is poorly understood. These should be characterized, in order to identify possible variations. The purpose of this study was to analyze and characterize the occurrence of somaclonal variation induced by in vitro multiplication of hop genotypes. Three genotypes were established in vitro and micropropagated in five subcultures. The response variables were chosen by the stepwise method and subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (Manova), multivariate contrasts, standardized canonical coefficients (StCC) and intraclass correlation (t). Somaclonal variation was detected in the genotypes Chinook and Columbus, both from America. No significant variations were found in the European genotype Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, regardless of the number of subcultures. Somaclonal variation was detected in the genotypes Chinook and Columbus, both from America. No significant variations were found in the genotype Hallertauer Mitterlfrueh, regardless of the number of subcultures.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and nutritional value of silage made from corn intercropped with marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) in an integrated crop-livestock system. The corn was harvested at different maturity stages and cutting heights and was processed or not before ensiling. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications in a 2x2x2+1 factorial scheme. The treatments were composed of silage corn intercropped with marandu palisadegrass harvested at two cutting heights (20 or 45 cm) and two stages of maturity (1/4 of the kernel milk line or kernel physiological maturity) and subjected to two methods of processing (crushing or not crushing). A control treatment composed of conventionally grown corn silage was also included. The total dry matter yields of both crops did not differ significantly among treatments, demonstrating the viability of the intercropping system for both forage species. Although the dry matter content of the corn plants was higher at the time of ensiling, the fermentative and nutritive quality of the silages was not affected. Increasing the cutting height increased the grain content of the forage mass and also avoided harming the development of the intercropped grass. The silages from the physiological maturity treatment and from the processed treatment had the best quality.

Stranded cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are frequently used to obtain data on species occurrence and demographic trends. Accurate species-level identification of these individuals is crucial, but often challenging or impossible when relying solely on morphological features (e.g., for highly decayed specimens). To aid in the development of a reliable molecular assay for cetacean DNA-based identification, we tested the efficacy of the standardized DNA barcode segment of the coxI gene in identifying cetaceans occurring off the Brazilian coast and in its continental waters. We generated coxI sequences from 150 specimens (collected by 16 Brazilian institutions), most of which included voucher material (skulls, skeletons and/or images) deposited in scientific collections. This allowed a direct comparison between their morphological and molecular identification. CoxI sequences correctly identified ~93% of the samples, comprising 33 species (70% of the 47 cetaceans reported for Brazilian waters). Two species (Berardius arnuxii and Phocoena dioptrica) were sequenced for coxI for the first time. For only two dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba and S. clymene) and a right whale (Eubalaena australis), coxI failed to identify the species due to overlapping distributions of intra- vs. interspecific divergences. Only one right whale species occurs in the southern hemisphere, facilitating identification in this case. Stenella dolphins present extensive sympatry and potential inter-species hybridization, suggesting that nuclear markers may be required for their reliable identification. These results indicate that DNA barcoding can reliably identify most stranded cetaceans and highlight the importance of voucher materials to validate the construction of a reliable DNA-based identification system.

The present study provides an overview, focusing on the botanical aspects, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology and biological activities reported for species from the tribe Vismieae (Hypericaceae). These species, traditionally distributed in three genera (Vismia, Psorospermum and Harungana), occur predominantly in tropical areas of South America, mainland Africa and Madagascar, where several of them are used in the traditional medicine mainly as febrifugal, antimalarial and for treating wounds of diverse origin. The phytochemical investigations indicated that the plants produce anthraquinones, anthrones, xanthones, benzophenones, flavonoids and some terpenoids. A number of 221 different compounds were obtained from 32 species of the tribe. Several compounds were investigated for the pharmacological activities, being cytotoxic and antimicrobial the most cited. Nevertheless, a number of pharmacological researches were carried out with extracts and some findings experimentally evidenced the ethnopharmacological usefulness of several species. The distribution of the anthracenic derivatives, xanthones and benzophenone precursors is not uniform in the genera. Thus, the substitution pattern of these compounds was analyzed and the systematic relationship among the taxa is discussed in the light of these features. Of note, more species need chemical investigation in order to make a judgment about the taxonomic significance of the compounds, but it seems that, although the tribe has a certain homogeneity, each genus has particularities. Considering this statement, it is possible to say that in the chemical point of view, Psorospermum is diferent from Harungana and both are diferent from Vismia, which is clearly separate into two distinct groups, the African and the American species.

This paper presents a conversation between Lucia Gayotto and Marcio Meirelles curated by Pedro de Senna. In it, Gayotto and Meirelles discuss their experiences, respectively, at the Escola Livre de...

Oocyte quality could be negatively affected by many factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, woman's age, endometriosis and controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), during assisted reproductive technology (ART), in addition to genetic factors, such as hormone receptor polymorphisms, for example. We know that the increase in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to systemic disorders causes biochemical and morphological changes to the oocytes, interfering with their quality. The oocyte dysmorphism can be expressed through intra and/or extra cytoplasmic changes. In general, the size and number of oocytes' morphological abnormalities are directly related to preimplantation development failure. This case report is based on four in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles performed by a patient with oocyte dysmorphism in all oocytes captured. The literature review on this topic aims to relate the characteristics of the oocytes, presented in the case report, with research results about the quality and morphology of the oocytes.

A Mancha Branca do Milho (MBM) e? uma doença foliar que tem causado perdas apreciáveis, tanto qualitativas como quantitativas para a produção de milho. Seu agente etiológico, a Pantoea ananatis, é uma bacte?ria epifi?tica, Gram-negativa formadora de colônia amarela, capaz de formar gelo, mesmo em ambiente tropical (ice nucleation activity - INA). Este estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar isolados de P. ananatis quanto à atividade INA e avaliar o efeito da densidade bacteriana na expressão do fenótipo INA e no processo de desenvolvimento da doença. O agente patogênico foi isolado de lesões iniciais da doença, as anasarcas, e avaliado quanto à expressão do fenótipo INA em diferentes concentrações bacterianas. O mesmo foi feito com isolados epifíticos obtidos da superfície foliar de plantas de milho sadias. Dos 24 isolados bacterianos estudados, apenas 13 apresentaram o fenótipo INA+. A expressão deste fenótipo foi dependente da densidade celular. Isolados INA+ e INA? foram inoculados em folhas destacadas e em plantas da cultivar HS200 a campo, em diferentes concentrações do inóculo. Nenhum isolado INA? reproduziu sintomas em laboratório. Dos cinco isolados INA+ somente um deles reproduziu sintomas em laboratório. Em campo o isolado INA+ foi capaz de promover lesões em todas as concentrações avaliadas. Conclui-se que a atividade de nucleação de gelo pela bactéria P. ananatis é dependente da linhagem e da densidade bacteriana e este fenômeno pode estar envolvido no desenvolvimento dos sintomas da MBM. Made available in DSpace on 2021-03-05T18:02:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Atividade-nucleacao.pdf: 10041777 bytes, checksum: 561f123567f395c842e485e50f976b3f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019

Pachira aquatica is a species used for medicinal and food purposes and has numerous phytochemicals that may have systemic toxic effects and damage to genetic material. This study aimed to evaluate acute and short-term oral toxicity, as well as genotoxic and clastogenic effects of oil extracted from P. aquatica (PASO) seeds in rats and Drosophila melanogaster. The results obtained with biochemical and hematological analyses did not show significant changes in any evaluated parameters when compared with reference values for the species used in the study. Data from the histopathological analysis corroborated results found in this study. These findings indicate low acute and short-term toxicity following oral PASO exposure in rats under the experimental conditions tested. Tests performed in rats showed that PASO did not present significant genotoxic or clastogenic effects on the cells analyzed with the three doses tested. Treatment with PASO in the offspring of HB crossing, which showed high cytochrome P450 levels, did not exhibit genotoxic activity, as demonstrated by the SMART test. These results suggest that products from the hepatic oil metabolism did not show genotoxicity under the conditions tested. Together, the results indicate that, under the experimental conditions tested, PASO is safe for repeated intake. As PASO exhibited low potential to cause harmful effects on living organisms, our study encourages further research aimed at assessing its pharmacological activity, since it is a widely consumed plant.

This study describes shore-based competitive fishing events in Ilhéus, southern Bahia (Brazil), including catch composition, and provides information on the profile of recreational fishers participating in these events. Information was collected in all events promoted by the Clube de Pesca de Ilhéus (CLUPESIL) in 2007-2008. A total of 26 competitive fishing events were organized during this period, with 47 species caught. The top species were: Cathorops spixii, Menticirrhus littoralis, Trachinotus goodei, Eucinostomus melanopterus, Polydactylus virginicus, Atherinella brasiliensis, and Eucinostomus argenteus. These seven species represented 87% of the total catch in number and 78% in weight. Menticirrhus littoralis and Polydactylus virginicus are species of commercial interest and their catch was dominated by juveniles. Local recreational fishers were predominately middle-aged men, who tended to use small hooks and mainly shrimp as bait. They were consumption-oriented, but also released small fishes. During competitions, fishers used even smaller hooks. Most of them perceived shrimp trawling as the main factor affecting recreational fisheries. The use of larger hooks and a minimum size of 20 cm are suggested to decrease the capture of juveniles, mainly those of commercial importance. This study sets a baseline from which new studies can be proposed to access the current status of local recreational fisheries.

Resumo Objetivo Examinar a prevalência da síndrome do túnel do carpo em atletas do halterofilismo do esporte adaptado. Métodos Este estudo avaliou a presença e a intensidade da dor (escala numérica), a parestesia noturna (autorrelato), e a compressão nervosa (sinais de Tinel e de Phalen) em atletas do halterofilismo do esporte adaptado em cadeira de rodas e sem cadeira de rodas. O diagnóstico clínico da síndrome do túnel do carpo foi confirmado pela presença de dois ou mais sinais/sintomas. Resultados Vinte e nove atletas de halterofilismo de esporte adaptado foram avaliados. Nenhum dos atletas relatou a presença de dor ou parestesia noturna. O sinal de Tinel estava presente em 1 (3,45%) atleta de cadeira de rodas. O teste de Phalen positivo estava presente em 3 (10,35%) atletas (1 em cadeira de rodas e 2 sem cadeira de rodas). Testes positivos de sinais de Tinel e de Phalen foram encontrados concomitantemente em 2 (6,89%) atletas (1 em cadeira de rodas e 1 sem cadeira de rodas). Conclusão A síndrome do túnel do carpo foi diagnosticada clinicamente em 2 (6,89%) dos 29 atletas com deficiência física.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the population structure and reproductive biology of Persephona lichtensteinii and P. puncata off Sergipe, two common species found in the bycatch of shrimp trawlers. Four samples of 6 kg were collected monthly from trawlers based in Pirambu-Sergipe. All individuals of Persephona were separated, identified, and weighed (TW, total weight, g). Carapace length (CL, mm) and width (CW, mm) were measured, and the sex and stage of morphological maturity identified. A total of 312 individuals of P. lichtensteinii (174 females; 138 males) and 160 specimens of P. punctata (46 females; 114 males) were analyzed. The overall sex ratio differed from 1:1 for both species. Size and weight of Persephona lichtensteinii were lower than P. punctata. Females of P. lichtensteinii were larger and heavier than males, while P. punctata did not show this sexual dimorphism. Morphometric relationships (CL-CW and TW-CW) were different between sexes for both species. The size at first morphological maturity (CWm) of P. lichtensteinii was 17.0 mm and 18.2 mm for females and males, respectively. For P. punctata, CWm was 23.5 mm for females and 26.5 mm for males. At lower latitude, both maximum size (CWmax) and CWm were lower, which may be associated with maintenance of the CWm/CWmax ratio. The reproduction was continuous, with a peak in May–October for P. lichtensteinii. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the population structure and reproductive biology of these leucosiids in lower latitude regions along the Brazilian coast.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of including avocado oil in goat diets, because it was the fastest strategy to change the milk fatty acid profile to benefit the health of consumers is increasing the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), where evaluated intake and milk yield, composition and fatty acid profile. Six lactating Anglo-Nubian goats were evaluated in two 3 A— 3 balanced Latin squares. The diet containing avocado pulp reduced DM intake, whereas the oil-supplemented diet increased it, compared to control diet, and the same trend was observed for the other nutrients except Ether Extract, whose intake was higher in the goats fed avocado pulp diet compared to control diet. Milk total solids and fat contents were higher in the group fed the diet with avocado oil than in the control group, which in turn did not differ from the group fed avocado pulp. The other milk components and milk yield were not influenced by the diets. Short-chain fatty acid contents in the milk of the goats supplemented with a lipid source decreased in comparison to control group, whereas the CLA level rose by 56.88 and 66.10% in the milk of the goats fed the pulp- and oil-supplemented diets, respectively. Supplementing unsaturated fatty acids via avocado oil or avocado pulp elevates the CLA concentrations and reduces the short-chain fatty acid content in milk, improving its nutraceutical properties and ultimately benefitting the health of consumers.

This paper presents a study about the deacidification of typical Amazonian oils, namely, patawa and pracaxi oils. The liquid–liquid extractions were carried out using three alcoholic solvents: anhydrous ethanol, azeotropic ethanol, and azeotropic isopropanol at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Liquid–liquid equilibrium data for the oils + oleic acid + solvents systems were determined. The azeotropic ethanol was found to be the best extractant for removing free fatty acids (FFAs) since its use provided the highest selectivity values (from 62.98 to more 1.53 × 103), reasonable distribution coefficients (from 1.06 to 1.47), and reduced loss of neutral oil (oil concentrations lower than 1.49 wt% in the alcoholic phases). Moreover, the obtained experimental data were correlated using the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) and universal quasi chemical (UNIQUAC) activity coefficient models. The deviations between calculated and experimental values ranged from 0.39 to 1.22 and from 0.28 to 1.10 for the various studied systems using the UNIQUAC and the NRTL models, respectively. Such results indicate the positive perspective of using the liquid–liquid extraction technique for patawa and pracaxi oils refining and the feasibility of using ethanol as an FFA extractant.

Espírito Santo state is located on the eastern margin of Brazil, in a transitional tropical-subtropical area (18°S–21°S) dominated by oligotrophic waters. With the exception of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), the cetacean community of Espírito Santo has been understudied. In addition to the chronic impacts from fisheries, marine pollution, urban development, and coastal habitat degradation, in November 2015 the cetacean communities of Espírito Santo were challenged by the greatest environmental disaster in Brazil’s history. The Mariana dam disaster caused 60 million cubic meters of mining waste to be washed into the Doce River, which ultimately flowed to the coastal waters of Espírito Santo, with a high concentration of heavy metals. This study reviews and updates information on cetacean strandings in the state of Espírito Santo (excluding humpback whales) prior to this disaster. From 1975 to September 2015, there were 461 recorded cetacean strandings, representing 20 species. An average 1.18 strandings per 100 km per month were recorded since a state-wide daily beach survey program was implemented in October 2010, contrasting with the 0.14 strandings per 100 km per month in previous years. Six species comprised the majority (94.7%) of stranding events: Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra). Oceanic cetaceans stranded most frequently on the southern portion of Espírito Santo, where the continental platform is narrower, whereas the strandings of coastal cetaceans such as Guiana dolphins and Franciscanas were concentrated near estuaries, especially the Doce River. This is particularly concerning in face of the Mariana dam disaster, which drastically altered the estuarine and coastal environment associated with the Doce River.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T19:56:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-05-01 The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., is a legume of economic and food importance in tropical and subtropical countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to define the phenological growth stages of common beans according to the Bundesanstalt Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale, as well as the degree days, to optimise common bean management practices in accordance with the plant phenology. All phenological stages, including germination, foliar development, side shoots formation, stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, pod development and plant senescence, were evaluated using the BBCH scale. The descriptions of the phenological stages, combined with illustrations, and the sum of degree days during the crop cycle improve our understanding of these phenological stages. The identification of the vegetative and reproductive stages of the common bean facilitates improved management of the crop under different environmental conditions, taking thermal accumulation into consideration. State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Postgrad Program Agron Plant Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Dept Vegetables Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Vicosa, Postgrad Program Plant Sci, Vicosa, MG, Brazil Univ Fed Vicosa, Inst Agr Sci, Rio Paranaiba Campus, Vicosa, MG, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Postgrad Program Agron Plant Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Dept Vegetables Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

Recreational fisheries hold immense ecological, social, and economic value. The management of these fisheries is increasingly important as we move forward in the Anthropocene. Recreational fisheries managers face several challenges as fisheries often involve diverse social and ecological systems comprised of complex feedback and stakeholder motivations and needs. Here, we used a horizon scanning exercise to yield 100 research questions related to recreational fisheries science and management in the Anthropocene. Initial research questions (n = 205) were collected from recreational fisheries experts (i.e., stakeholders, managers, researchers) from various sectors (i.e., industry, government, NGOs) and geographic locations (14 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA). These questions were subsequently categorized, thematized, and refined by our authorship team, eventually yielding what we considered to be the top 100 research questions of relevance to management of recreational fisheries. The key themes include: human dimensions; bioeconomics; resource monitoring and data acquisition; governance; management—regulatory actions; management—stock and habitat enhancement; catch-and-release; impacts of recreational fisheries on populations, communities and ecosystems; threats and sustainability; and angler outreach, education and engagement. It is our intention that this comprehensive and forward-looking list will create a framework to guide future research within this field, and contribute to evidence-based recreational fisheries management and policy.

The production of secondary metabolites is widespread throughout the tree of life. Bacteria, including many relevant opportunistic pathogens, can make redox-active secondary metabolites, both in the environment and while causing infections. Yet, their physiological consequences for the microbial communities exposed to them are much less understood. This thesis investigates the multifaceted and nuanced effects that such metabolites can have on their producers and other bacteria found in the producer's vicinity, focusing on the role these molecules play as modulators of antibiotic susceptibility. I start by presenting a literature review addressing the link between secondary metabolite production and resilience to clinical antibiotics in diverse opportunistic and enteric bacterial pathogens. Next, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a widespread opportunistic pathogen) and its endogenously produced metabolite called pyocyanin, I explore the nuanced effects of the metabolite's production throughout the producer's lifecycle. Pyocyanin is part of a class of redox-active molecules made by P. aeruginosa called phenazines. I show that the production of pyocyanin, due to its self-poisoning effects, is a "double-edged sword," where the ultimate consequences for the producer are directly dependent on the physiological and environmental conditions. Carbon source limitation plays a major role in the self-poisoning effect of pyocyanin, a process responsible for killing a subpopulation of cells that, through extracellular DNA release, seems critical for proper biofilm development. Despite pyocyanin's toxicity, P. aeruginosa is remarkably tolerant to its harmful effects. For this reason, I then explore how P. aeruginosa handles the stress caused by the metabolite. I present results using a functional genomics approach (transposon-sequencing) to screen for genes involved in P. aeruginosa tolerance to pyocyanin. Defenses involved in pyocyanin tolerance are similar to ones involved in tolerance to clinical antibiotics. These shared mechanisms lead to testing the hypothesis that defenses induced by the production of or exposure to "natural antibiotics" (such as pyocyanin) may affect the efficacy of treatments with clinical antibiotics. Supporting this hypothesis, exposure to pyocyanin significantly induces tolerance and resistance to certain clinical drugs, both in P. aeruginosa and other opportunistic pathogens within the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Pyocyanin and the drugs affected, such as fluoroquinolones, share molecular structure similarities, which is likely responsible for the shared protection. Finally, based on these results, I explore the broader role of redox-active metabolites as modulators of antibiotic resilience in opportunistic pathogens. I show that pyocyanin, another phenazine called phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and a non-phenazine redox-active molecule called toxoflavin can all modulate antibiotic susceptibility in Bcc species. Depending on the antibiotic's class, the metabolites' presence can either antagonize or potentiate the drug's efficacy. All the studied metabolites are produced by clinical isolates that infect cystic fibrosis and other immunocompromised patients. I demonstrate that the modulator effect of redox-active molecules in the pathogens is dependent on the transcription factor SoxR, which senses the presence of the metabolites and induces specific redox-regulated efflux systems that are effective in transporting both the metabolites and the structurally related drugs. To end, I provide a proof-of-principle that including such metabolites during clinical drug susceptibility tests may lead to a more accurate assessment of pathogens' resistance profile. Taken together, the findings presented in this thesis demonstrate that redox-active secondary metabolites have profound effects on the physiology and antibiotic sensitivity levels of opportunistic pathogens. Their modulator effect on antibiotic susceptibility is likely a widespread phenomenon in polymicrobial communities that has been overlooked and may have direct consequences for the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the physiological roles of these metabolites at the molecular level is essential for accurate predictions of the drugs and pathogens affected, which may lead to more effective treatment strategies.

Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy. Resumo O lúpulo é uma nova cultura no Brasil. A cultura de tecidos pode ser uma técnica importante para a propagação rápida do lúpulo. Este artigo tem como objetivo caracterizar respostas de diferentes genótipos sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento através da inter-relação de variáveis de resposta importantes para o crescimento in vitro. Três genótipos foram cultivados em seis meios de cultura com diferentes combinações de reguladores de crescimento, BAP (6-benzilaminopurina), AIA (ácido 3-indolacético) e GA3 (ácido giberélico). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e a inter-relação das variáveis de resposta foi realizada por análise de trilha. Os genótipos americanos apresentaram desenvolvimento radicular favorável sob a combinação BAP + AIA, enquanto o uso do AIA melhorou o desenvolvimento da parte aérea. A origem dos genótipos foi importante para definir o melhor protocolo para o cultivo in vitro. O coeficiente de trilha mostrou que a variável número de brotos tem um efeito direto mais forte no número de segmentos nodais. Adicionalmente, em experimentos com cultura de tecidos, o uso de uma covariável e distribuição de erro adequada aumentou significativamente a precisão experimental.

Helminths are endoparasites that infect a variety of bird species. Endoparasite infections can cause severe diseases, including kill captive avian hosts and represents a problem to maintenance and conservation. The eggs and larval forms of these parasites are usually eliminated in the host feces. The main interest of this study is to report the occurrence of eggs and oocysts in feces from captive wild birds in Goiânia Zoo and free-living birds in its surroundings. The fecal samples were subjected to parasitological examination to identify the presence of helminths and to classify their eggs based on morphological characteristics. Eggs of nematode parasites (Positive/N) were identified as Ascaridia spp. in Brotogeris chiriri (2/2), Dromaius novaehollandiae (1/1) and Rhea americana (2/2); Ascarididae in Pavo cristatus nigripensis (1/1); Capillaria spp. in Ara chloropterus (1/1) and Penelope jacucaca (1/1); Capillaria plagiaticia in Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (1/2) and Ara spp. (2/2); Capillaria venusta in Rhamphastus tucanus (1/2); and unidentified nematode eggs from Amazona amazonica (2/2). Eimeria spp. oocyst was founded in feces from A. hyacinthinus (1/2). Considering free-living birds, Diphyllobothrium spp. eggs were founded in Ardea alba (2/2) and Nycticorax nycticorax (2/3). Co-infection of Eustrongylides spp. was founded in A. alba (1/2). This is the first occurrence of: Ascaridia spp. parasitizing B. chiriri; and C. venusta parasitizing R. tucanus. In conclusion, the helminth eggs found in the abovementioned host bird species are consistent with those reported in the literature, and treatment and control protocols were based on their identification.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T19:44:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Agrisus Foundation The objective of this study was to study the physical attributes and the organic matter of a Red-Yellow Oxisol cultivated with Urochloa decumbens pasture in recovery with different introducing ways of Stylosanthes cv. Campo Grande. The experiment was conducted at the Agency for Agribusiness Technology of Sao Paulo (APTA), in the municipality of Andradina/SP, between October 2016 and September 2017. The experimental design was the randomized complete block design with four replicates and the treatments were composed of six strategies (partial desiccation, total desiccation, scarification, rome harrowing and plowing + harrowing.) in the no-tillage legume in the pasture, in addition to the control. Stability of aggregates, flocculation, soil porosity, organic matter and soil texture were evaluated in three layers: 0-0.10; 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m. Soil organic matter content was higher in the topsoil layers (from 15.75 to 17.75 mg dm(-3)) and decreased with depth (from 10.50 to 11.50 mg dm(-3)). The indicated macroporosity was below the value considered ideal for the plants development. Studied treatments did not influence the organic matter content, porosity and soil density. Soil quality was influenced up to 0.20 m with the introduction of stylosanthes, regardless of the adopted management. Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias & Engn, Campus Tupa, Tupa, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Tecnol, Campus Dracena, Dracena, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agron Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Agencia Paulista Tecnol Agronegocios, Gabiente Coordenadoria, Dept Descentralizacao Desenvolvimento, Andradina, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias & Engn, Campus Tupa, Tupa, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Tecnol, Campus Dracena, Dracena, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agron Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2017/07388-5 CNPq: 444723/2014-5 Agrisus Foundation: 2141/15

Bacterial opportunistic pathogens make a wide range of secondary metabolites both in the natural environment and when causing infections, yet how these molecules mediate microbial interactions and their consequences for antibiotic treatment are still poorly understood. Here, we explore the role of two redox-active secondary metabolites, pyocyanin and toxoflavin, as interspecies modulators of antibiotic resilience. We find that these molecules dramatically change susceptibility levels of diverse bacteria to clinical antibiotics. Pyocyanin is made by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while toxoflavin is made by Burkholderia gladioli, organisms that infect cystic fibrosis and other immunocompromised patients. Both molecules alter the susceptibility profile of pathogenic species within the “Burkholderia cepacia complex” to different antibiotics, either antagonizing or potentiating their effects, depending on the drug’s class. Defense responses regulated by the redox-sensitive transcription factor SoxR potentiate the antagonistic effects these metabolites have against fluoroquinolones, and the presence of genes encoding SoxR and the efflux systems it regulates can be used to predict how these metabolites will affect antibiotic susceptibility of different bacteria. Finally, we demonstrate that inclusion of secondary metabolites in standard protocols used to assess antibiotic resistance can dramatically alter the results, motivating the development of new tests for more accurate clinical assessment.

The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) is endemic to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout its distribution, both geographic distance and environmental variation may contribute to population structure of the species. In this study, we follow a seascape genetics approach to investigate population differentiation of Atlantic spotted dolphins based on a large worldwide dataset and the relationship with marine environmental variables. The results revealed that the Atlantic spotted dolphin exhibits population genetic structure across its distribution based on mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA-CR) data. Analyses based on the contemporary landscape suggested, at both the individual and population level, that the population genetic structure is consistent with the isolation-by-distance model. However, because geography and environmental matrices were correlated, and because in some, but not all analyses, we found a significant effect for the environment, we cannot rule out the addition contribution of environmental factors in structuring genetic variation. Future analyses based on nuclear data are needed to evaluate whether local processes, such as social structure and some level of philopatry within populations, may be contributing to the associations among genetic structure, geographic, and environmental distance.

We used the recombinant trimeric spike (S) glycoprotein in the prefusion conformation to immunize horses for the production of hyperimmune globulins against SARS-CoV-2. Serum antibody titers measured by ELISA were above 1:106, and the neutralizing antibody titer against authentic virus (WT) was 1:14,604 (average PRNT90). Plasma from immunized animals was pepsin digested to remove the Fc portion and purified, yielding an F(ab’)2 preparation with PRNT90 titers 150-fold higher than the neutralizing titers in human convalescent plasma. Challenge studies were carried out in hamsters and showed the in vivo ability of equine F(ab’)2 to reduce viral load in the pulmonary tissues and significant clinical improvement determined by weight gain. The neutralization curve by F(ab’)2 was similar against WT and P.2 variant but displaced to higher concentrations by 0.39 log units against P.1 (Gamma) variant. These results support the possibility of using equine F(ab’)2 preparation for the clinical treatment of COVID patients., Graphical Abstract

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:36:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-11-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder in females with X Chromosome monosomy associated with highly variable clinical features, including premature primary gonadal failure leading to ovarian dysfunction and infertility. The mechanism of development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) and their connection with ovarian failure in TS is poorly understood. An in vitro model of PGCs from TS would be beneficial for investigating genetic and epigenetic factors that influence germ cell specification. Here we investigated the potential of reprogramming peripheral mononuclear blood cells from TS women (PBMCs-TS) into iPSCs following in vitro differentiation in hPGCLCs. All hiPSCs-TS lines demonstrated pluripotency state and were capable of differentiation into three embryonic layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm). The PGCLCs-TS recapitulated the initial germline development period regarding transcripts and protein marks, including the epigenetic profile. Overall, our results highlighted the feasibility of producing in vitro models to help the understanding of the mechanisms associated with germ cell formation in TS. Department of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering University of São Paulo (USP) Department of Biomedical Sciences Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Guelph Department of Pharmacology Institute of Biosciences (IBB) São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) University of Calgary Center for Cell-based Therapy Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Department of Pharmacology Institute of Biosciences (IBB) São Paulo State University (UNESP) FAPESP: 2015/26818-5 FAPESP: 2017/12140-2 FAPESP: 2019/08346-0

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T17:30:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-26 Nutricorp This experiment evaluated the effects of feeding whole cottonseed (WC) and/or calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) on dry matter intake (DMI), performance, and carcass characteristics of Bos indicus animals receiving a high-concentrate diet during the finishing phase. On day 0, 96 Nellore bulls were blocked according to initial shrunk body weight (BW; 302 +/- 26.7 kg) into group pens (four animals/pen) and, within blocks, pens were randomly assigned to receive: 1) 15% of WC and 2% of CSFA (dry matter [DM] basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (15WC; n = 6); 2) 10% of WC and 3% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (10WC; n = 6); 3) 5% of WC and 4% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (5WC; n = 6); and 4) 0% of WC and 5% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (0WC; n = 6). Diets were formulated to be isocaloric, isonitrogenous, and isolipidic. Experimental period lasted 108 d; DMI was evaluated daily, whereas blood samples and carcass measurements were obtained on days 0, 55, and 108 of the study. Upon slaughter on day 109, steaks were collected for determination of the chemical and fatty acid (FA) profile of the meat. No treatment effects (P >= 0.35) were observed on DMI, performance, average daily gain (ADG), carcass ultrasound measurements, and chemical variables of the steak. Nonetheless, including WC into the diets decreased C12:0, C16:0, C16:1 trans-9, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1 cis-9, C18:2 cis-9, cis-12, C18:3 cis-9, cis-12, cis-15, saturated, and unsaturated FA intake (P < 0.01). Moreover, adding WC increased DMI fluctuation and feed efficiency (FE; P = 0.03) but decreased marbling (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the following six body weight (BW) estimation methods in Campolina (CAM) horses: A - weight tape placed at three different positions on the animal’s thorax; B - Crevat and Quetelet’s formula; C - Hall’s formula; D - Hintz and Griffiths’s table; E - Santos’s table; and F - Cintra’s formula. A total of 380 CAM horses were separated according to sex, age class, and gestational stage and evaluated. To determine their accuracy, weights measured on a scale and weight estimates of the six methods were compared by paired t-test, mean prediction error (MPE), and coefficient of determination (R2), using R software. The predictive capacity of method F was lower in the 6-12 months age class, so this formula is not indicated. The BW was overestimated compared with the actual weight by methods A (with weight tape placed in position 3) and B and underestimated by method C. Methods D and E accurately estimated BW of CAM horses. Correction factors are required to accurately estimate BW in this breed using methods B and C. Method A with the weight tape placed in position 2 is the most accurate for predicting BW, including pregnant female horses, and can, therefore, be considered the most suitable method for estimating BW of CAM horses.

Miconia waimiri-atroari is presented here as a new species from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. This new species has discolorous leaf blades, inflorescences with scorpioid branches, and petals and antesepalous stamen connectives with glandular trichomes. It has been misidentified as Miconia argyrophylla, another species from the Amazon Forest that has this same set of characters. However, the new species has cylindrical young branches (vs. quadrangular in M. argyrophylla), stellate trichomes on leaf abaxial surface (vs. arachnoid), stamens with yellow filaments that turn red in old flowers (vs. stamens with white filaments that only turn pale in old flowers), and style with glandular trichomes (vs. glabrous). At the moment, the species is only known from a small area north of Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Morphological description, illustrations, general comments and comparison to other similar species are also provided.

This work aimed to evaluate the thiol-disulphide homeostasis in serum of lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes presenting different levels of parasite load indirectly indicated by faecal worm egg counts (EPG). Furthermore, the possible changes in the thiol-disulphide dynamic after different procedures to reduce the parasitic charge, such as the integrated crop-livestock system or anthelmintic treatment, were assessed. The results were compared with a panel of various oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. The lambs were divided into three groups: animals highly infected (EPG higher than 5000) and packed cell volume (PCV) lower than 24% (G1), animals highly infected (EPG higher than 5000) and normal PCV (&gt, 24%) (G2), and animals presenting EPG lower than 5000 and normal PCV (&gt, 24%) (G3). The highly infected lambs (G1 and G2) showed lower total thiol (TT) and native thiol (SH) (p ≤ 0.01) than those from G3. After treatment, TT and SH increased significantly in all groups (p ≤ 0.01), and the disulphide (SS)/TT and SS/SH ratios decreased significantly (p &lt, 0.01) in G1 and G2. These results show that the thiol-disulphide balance was impaired in lambs infected by gastrointestinal nematodes and that it could be potentially used as a biomarker to monitor this disease.

Besides their canonical roles as energy sources, short-chain fatty acids act as metabolic regulators of gene expression through the histone post-translational modifications. The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was shown to cause a novel type of epigenetic modification, Histone Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb), associated with genes upregulated in starvation-responsive metabolic pathways. Dairy cows increase BHB in early lactation and its effects on cellular epigenome are largely unknown. To unravel these effects, we sought and identified that Kbhb is present in bovine tissues in vivo and further confirmed that this epigenetic mark is responsive to BHB in bovine and human fibroblasts cultured in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrated that the maturation of cumulus-oocyte complexes with high concentrations of BHB did not affect the competence to complete meiotic maturation neither to develop until blastocyst stage. BHB treatment strongly induced H3K9bhb in cumulus cells, but this modification was only faintly detected in oocytes. Profiling the transcriptome in cumulus cells indicated that BHB treatment altered the expression of 345 genes. The down-regulated genes are mainly involved in glycolysis and ribosome assembly pathways, while the up-regulated genes are involved in mitochondrial metabolism and oocyte development. The specific genes and pathways altered by BHB treatment will provide entry points to carry out functional experiments aiming to mitigate problems and improve fertility in cattle suffering metabolic disorders. A key goal for future work will be to understand mechanistically how BHB transmits signals from the environment to affect cellular functions and the bovine epigenome.Summary sentenceBeta-hydroxybutyrate induces Histone Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation in fibroblasts and cumulus-oocyte complexes, it alters the transcriptome in cumulus cells, but does not affect oocyte’s competence to resume meiosis and develop until blastocyst stage.

Maize white spot (MWS) is a disease widely spread in maize production regions in Brazil and causes serious economic damages to the culture. Little is known about the dissemination, growth and development conditions of the MWS causal agent, the bacterium Pantoea ananatis. The objective of this work was to determine the viability of this bacterium, as well as its distribution in the plant. P. ananatis after isolated was stored in both, Nutrient Broth (NB) medium and in mineral oil. For the viability tests, the cultures stored in NB were maintained at 12ºC and –6ºC and the cultures stored in mineral oil were maintained at room temperature. The isolate remained viable for seven months in NB medium at the two temperatures assessed, and four months when stored in mineral oil. The presence of the P. ananatis bacteria was analyzed in, 1) soil samples collected close to rhizosphere, 2) in seeds from plants severely attacked by MWS, 3) foliar segments of healthy plants and 4) the stem of healthy plants. P. ananatis was found surviving epiphytically on the leaf surface and its population increased with plant age, air relative humidity, and decreasing of temperature. This agent was not found neither rhizosphere nor in seeds, but it was isolated in low quantity in maize stem. P. ananatis resides epiphytically on leaves and, due to several factors, may trigger injuries to its host. All epiphytic isolates were characterized in regards to ice nucleation activity, a characteristic of this pathogen.

European Canker and Neonectria fruit rot (NFR), caused by Neonectria ditissima, has become a major problem for the production of apples (Malus domestica) in Brazil. This study characterized environmental factors affecting in vitro growth and germination of Neonectria ditissima as well as infection, colonization and reproduction, ex vivo, on ?Gala? and ?Eva? fruit. Temperatures between 17 to 20 °C were optimum for mycelial growth, and minimal growth occurred at 35 °C. Micro/macroconidia sporulation ratio was lower at 10 °C for most of the isolates tested, and no macroconidia were produced at 30 °C. More than 70% of conidia germinated after 12 h of exposure to constant humidity incubation and a temperature of 25 °C. Germination rate as high as 90% occurred after 48 h regardless of the temperature. Incubation of 2 h with high humidity is not sufficient for germination of 10% of conidia at any temperature between 10 to 30 °C. The cultivars Eva and Gala did not differ in relation to incubation period. A minimum of 25 days was necessary for sporulation on fruit incubated at 16.8?21.7 °C. Unwounded fruit did not present symptoms even 40 days after inoculation on intact epidermis, demonstrating the need of wounds for NFR development. Keywords Cylindrocarpon heteronema . Malus domestica . Nectria galligena . Basic biology . Postharvest disease Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-16T09:05:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gelain2020-Article-NeonectriaDitissimaPhysiologic.pdf: 811261 bytes, checksum: 455003010e1c5a89c6751827b9b4981a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

Vaccine protocols were established for dogs and cats, considering the circulating period of maternal antibodies from the puppies, the type of antigen used to make the vaccines and the vaccine immunity duration. This study aimed to approach the duration of vaccine immunity against the canine parvovirus (CPV-2) and the canine distemper virus (CDV), as determining factor to choose the adequate vaccine protocol, besides to stand out the main implications found in Brazil that difficult the application of these current protocols, as the technical challenges to use them. For that, this article described some information about the types of current vaccines, the immunity duration against the CPV-2 and CDV, as well the respective vaccine protocols that were applied. The searches were done in the database of PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Capes Journals and academic books, by the following keywords: vaccination guidelines; humoral immune response; vaccination strategy; distemper; parvovirus infection; and duration of vaccine immunity. Considering the facts, it is understood that the annual revaccination against the CPV-2 and CDV for dogs must be individually assessed, because the vaccine immunity has an average duration of three years, that is, the best alternative for the animal would be the application of routine serological tests, aiming to assess if the antibodies titration remains protective. Another alternative is the use of divalent or trivalent vaccines. Se establecieron protocolos de vacunación para perros y gatos, considerando el período de circulación de los anticuerpos maternos de los cachorros, el tipo de antígeno utilizado para elaborar las vacunas y la duración de la inmunidad de las mismas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo enfocar la duración de la inmunidad de la vacuna contra el parvovirus canino (CPV-2) y el virus del moquillo canino (CDV), como factor determinante para elegir el protocolo de vacunación adecuado, además de resaltar las principales implicaciones encontradas en el Brazil con dificultad de aplicación de estos protocolos actuales, como los desafíos técnicos para utilizarlos. Por eso, este artículo describió cierta información sobre los tipos de vacunas actuales, la duración de la inmunidad frente al CPV-2 y CDV, así como los respectivos protocolos vacunales que se aplicaron. Las búsquedas se realizaron en la base de datos de PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Capes Journals y libros académicos, por las siguientes palabras clave: pautas de vacunación; respuesta inmune humoral; estrategia de vacunación; moquillo; infección por parvovirus; y duración de la inmunidad a la vacuna. Teniendo en cuenta los hechos, se entiende que la revacunación anual contra el CPV-2 y el CDV para perros debe evaluarse individualmente, pues la inmunidad vacunal tiene una duración promedio de tres años, es decir, la mejor alternativa para el animal sería la aplicación de las pruebas serológicas de rutina, con el objetivo de evaluar si la titulación de anticuerpos sigue siendo protectora. Otra alternativa es el uso de vacunas bivalentes o trivalentes. Protocolos vacinais são estabelecidos para cães e gatos, considerando o tempo de circulação dos anticorpos maternos dos filhotes, o tipo de antígeno utilizado para fazer as vacinas e o tempo de imunidade vacinal. Este estudo teve como objetivo abordar a duração da imunidade vacinal contra o parvovírus canino (CPV-2) e o vírus da cinomose canina (CDV), como fator determinante para a escolha do protocolo vacinal adequado, além de destacar as principais implicações encontradas no Brasil que dificultam a aplicação desses protocolos atuais, como os desafios técnicos para utilizá-los. Para tanto, este artigo descreveu algumas informações sobre os tipos de vacinas atuais, a duração da imunidade contra o CPV-2 e o CDV, bem como os respectivos protocolos vacinais que foram aplicados. As buscas foram feitas nas bases de dados PuMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Periódicos Capes e livros acadêmicos, por meio dos seguintes descritores: diretrizes de vacinação; resposta imune humoral; estratégia de vacinação; cinomose; infecção por parvovírus; e duração da imunidade à vacina. Diante dos fatos, entende-se que a revacinação anual contra o CPV-2 e CDV para cães deve ser avaliada individualmente, pois a imunidade vacinal tem duração média de três anos, ou seja, a melhor alternativa para o animal seria a aplicação de testes sorológicos de rotina, com o objetivo de avaliar se a titulação dos anticorpos permanece protetora. Outra alternativa é o uso de vacinas bivalentes ou trivalentes.

The hypersaline lagoon system of Araruama (HLSA) is one of the largest in the world and one of the most important sources of evaporative salt in Brazil. The biogeochemical characteristics of this lagoon system led it to be considered a Precambrian relic. The HLSA also harbors extensive microbial mats, but the taxonomic and metabolic attributes of these mats are poorly understood. Our high-throughput metagenomics analyses demonstrated that the HLSA microbial mats are dominated by Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Among Proteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria comprises approximately 40% of the total population and it includes sulfate-reducing bacteria such as Desulfobacterales, Desulfuromonadales, and Desulfovibrionales. Differing in composition and function of their reaction centers, other phylogenetic diverse anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were detected in the HLSA microbial mats metagenomes. The presence of photolithoautotrophs, sulfate reducers, sulfide oxidizers, and aerobic heterotrophs suggests the existence of numerous cooperative niches that are coupled and regulated by microbial interactions. We suggest that the HLSA microbial mats hold microorganisms and the necessary machinery (genomic repertoire to sustain metabolic pathways) to promote favorable conditions (i.e., create an alkaline pH microenvironment) for microbially mediated calcium carbonate precipitation process. Metagenome-assembled genomes (Ca. Thiohalocapsa araruaensis HLSAbin6 sp. nov. and Ca. Araruabacter turfae HLSAbin9 gen. nov. sp. nov.) obtained support the relevance of Sulfur metabolism and they are enriched with genes involved in the osmoadaptive networks, hinting at possible strategies to withstand osmotic stress. Metabolically versatile bacteria populations, able to use multiple nutrient sources and osmolytes, seem to be a relevant attribute to survive under such stressful conditions.

Secondary metabolites profoundly affect microbial physiology, metabolism and stress responses. Increasing evidence suggests that these molecules can modulate microbial susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics; however, secondary metabolites are typically excluded from standard antimicrobial susceptibility assays. This may in part account for why infections by diverse opportunistic bacteria that produce secondary metabolites often exhibit discrepancies between clinical antimicrobial susceptibility testing results and clinical treatment outcomes. In this Review, we explore which types of secondary metabolite alter antimicrobial susceptibility, as well as how and why this phenomenon occurs. We discuss examples of molecules that opportunistic and enteric pathogens either generate themselves or are exposed to from their neighbours, and the nuanced impacts these molecules can have on tolerance and resistance to certain antibiotics.

Astronium graveolens is a native tree species from Atlantic Forest considered sensitive to O3. This study aimed to determine which environmental factors, including air quality and meteorological conditions, have the most significant influence on gas exchange and the appearance of visible foliar symptoms in this species. Saplings were potted and exposed in a standardized manner in an open area in the southeastern city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Gas exchange was measured weekly in the morning (9 am to 10 am), midday (11 am to 12 pm), and afternoon (2 pm to 3 pm) during the spring and summer seasons (n = 10). Data on O3 concentration and meteorological conditions were obtained on-site. Principal component analysis identified that the morning hours provide the most favorable meteorological conditions for gas exchange. High temperature and VPD reduced gas exchange in the midday and afternoon. Although the AOT40 was high, there were no visible foliar symptoms, which was an unexpected result. We propose that the meteorological conditions, mainly the VPD and temperature, caused stomatal closure, and consequently prevented the absorption of O3; therefore, there was no association between O3 and reduction of gas exchange, nor manifestation of foliar visible symptoms. We consider that more studies are necessary for the proper use of A. graveolens as an O3 bioindicator species.

Hedychium gardnerianum Sheph. ex Ker Gawl. is one of the 100 world's worst invasive alien species and the research target in areas as diverse as biological control, natural fibres uses, taxonomy or the biological activity of its compounds. This review aimed to clarify the taxonomic status and the native range of H. gardnerianum and bring accuracy to the history of its introduction and escape from cultivation through the analysis of the increasing number of accessible digitalized dry specimens and grey literature. The analysis of the available information allowed to conclude that: (a) Hedychium gardnerianum is a validly published name, the authority of the name is Sheph. ex Ker Gawl., the species holotype is the illustration published along with the species name, and the Natural History Museum BM000574691 specimen collected in 1815 is the first dried specimen of H. gardnerianum; (b) This species is native to the Central and Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northeast India and North Myanmar; (c) The species was cultivated at Cambridge Botanical Garden since 1818 and the first known herbarium specimen collected in Europe dates back to 1821; (d) Kathmandu (Nepal) and Khasi Hills (India) specimens are considered two varieties of the same species and the BM000574691 specimen is the lectotype of H. gardnerianum var. speciosum; (e) Specimens, references, and/or pictures support that H. gardnerianum escaped from cultivation at Galicia (Spain), Azores archipelago, Madeira, Tenerife, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, Ascension, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Réunion, Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, and Vietnam; and (f) H. gardnerianum is a serious pest in Azores, Madeira, Jamaica, Réunion, New Zealand and Hawaii and continues to expand its distribution area in South and Central America, Australia and Southern Africa. This review presents linear raw information compiled with precision, allowing the world databases updating their data but also gives the most detailed information possible to each country/region identifying new regions of concern and updating the invasiveness status in each region.

Landing data are the most basic information used to manage fisheries, although they are often unavailable or incomplete. The objective of this work was to reconstruct the national database of marine commercial landings for the Brazilian industrial and artisanal fisheries, from 1950 to 2015. Total landings increased strongly from 1950 to mid-1980s and suffered sharp decline in the early 1990s, mainly associated to the collapse of sardine fisheries. After that, another period of increasing landings was observed, but at a much lower rate. Industrial landings always surpassed artisanal landings in Brazilian waters, except for the beginning of the time series, when many industrial fleets had not started yet, and in the early 2000s, when a change in the methodology for collecting landing statistics was implemented in the state of Pará leading to an overestimation of artisanal landings. Artisanal fisheries have been declining since 2005, which is worrisome due to the social impact it may have on local income and food security. Regional differences were also observed, with industrial landings being always higher than artisanal landings in southeastern-southern Brazil, while the opposite was true for the northern-northeastern regions. Higher landings were observed in the southeastern-southern regions when both artisanal and industrial fleets were combined. Sardine and demersal fishes were the main resources landed by industrial fishers. Artisanal fishers caught more species than their industrial counterpart, featuringXiphopenaeus kroyeri,Cynoscion acoupa, andUcides cordatus. Although the fishing ofEpinephelus itajarawas banned in Brazil, it continues to be landed. Yet, catches of this species and others under some threat status are still not properly registered, including:Carcharhinus longimanus,Galeorhinus galeus,Sphyrna lewini,Sphyrna mokarran,Pristis pectinata, andPseudobatos horkelii. Fishing resources not identified in previous landing reconstruction efforts, such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, have now been reported. The database presented here should be continuously updated and improved. It is of paramount importance to resume the collection of landing statistics, including information on fishing effort, to assess the relative impact of fisheries and environmental factors on the main Brazilian fishing stocks.

Infection by Proteus mirabilis causes urinary stones and catheter incrustation due to ammonia formed by urease (PMU), one of its virulence factors. Non-enzymatic properties, such as pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic activities, were previously reported for distinct ureases, including that of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Here, PMU was assayed on isolated cells to evaluate its non-enzymatic properties. Purified PMU (nanomolar range) was tested in human (platelets, HEK293 and SH-SY5Y) cells, and in murine microglia (BV-2). PMU promoted platelet aggregation. It did not affect cellular viability and no ammonia was detected in the cultures’ supernatants. PMU-treated HEK293 cells acquired a pro-inflammatory phenotype, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. SH-SY5Y cells stimulated with PMU showed high levels of intracellular Ca2+ and ROS production, but unlike BV-2 cells, SH-SY5Y did not synthesize TNF-α and IL-1β. Texas Red-labeled PMU was found in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of all cell types. Bioinformatic analysis revealed two bipartite nuclear localization sequences in PMU. We have shown that PMU, besides urinary stone formation, can potentially contribute in other ways to pathogenesis. Our data suggest that PMU triggers pro-inflammatory effects and may affect cells beyond the renal system, indicating a possible role in extra-urinary diseases.

Oocyte mitochondria are increased in number, smaller, and rounder in appearance than mitochondria in somatic cells. Moreover, mitochondrial numbers and activity are narrowly tied with oocyte quality because of the key role of mitochondria to oocyte maturation. During oocyte maturation, mitochondria display great mobility and cluster at specific sites to meet the high energy demand. Conversely, oocyte mitochondria are not required during early oogenesis as coupling with granulosa cells is sufficient to support gamete's needs. In part, this might be explained by the importance of protecting mitochondria from oxidative damage that result in mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Considering mitochondria are transmitted exclusively by the mother, oocytes with mtDNA mutations may lead to diseases in offspring. Thus, to counterbalance mutation expansion, the oocyte has developed specific mechanisms to filter out deleterious mtDNA molecules. Herein, we discuss the role of mitochondria on oocyte developmental potential and recent evidence supporting a purifying filter against deleterious mtDNA mutations in oocytes.

The objective of this study was to describe the morphology and morphometry of saggitta otoliths of Polydactylus virginicus, Menticirrhus cuiaranensis and Conodon nobilis in a tropical environment. Fishes were caught with rod and reel in competitive fishing events promoted in 2014-2015 along the coast of Sergipe. A total of 174 pairs of sagitta otoliths of P. virginicus, 181 of M. cuiaranensis and 77 of C. nobilis was extracted. In general, the sagitta otoliths of all three species analyzed here presented different morphology and shape indices. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) demonstrated significant differences among species and ontogenetic phases within each species using morphometry and shape indices. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) presented a 98.3% correct reclassification of the otoliths by species.

The phytochemical investigation of Piptocarpha axillaris (Less.) Baker (Asteraceae) leaves resulted in the identification of 20 known compounds. Terpenes, steroids, flavonoids and phenolic acids were identified and isolated by column chromatography, high performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC), UPLC-MS/MS, 1D and 2D NMR, GC-MS and compared to literature data. Extract (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate) and 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,7-trimethoxyflavanone (compound 10) cytotoxicity against the growth of two human tumor cell lines (histiocytic lymphoma U-937 and acute monocytic leukemia THP-1) and a human non-tumor cell line (PBMC) were assessed by the MTT method. The dichloromethane extract displayed low activity, but the most significant result against the U-937 cell line, with an IC50 63.82 ± 1.06 μg/mL and a good selectivity index (SI) of 5.51. All extracts tested in PBMC cells displayed high cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic evaluation of compound 10 displayed low activity against the U-937 and THP-1 cell lines. Twelve compounds comprising triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids are described herein for the first time for the Piptocarpha genus. In addition, this is the first phytochemical investigation and cytotoxic evaluation of Piptocarpha axillaris (Less.) Baker that displays chemotaxonomic significance.