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Pythium insidiosum is an important oomycete pathogen of mammals that causes pythiosis, an endemic disease in warm climates that stands out for its unfavorable prognosis, lethality in the affected species, and difficulties in treatment. This study evaluated in vitro anti-P. insidiosum potential of aqueous, hydroethanolic, and ethanolic extracts of indigenous wild mushrooms from southern Brazil. The extracts were prepared from Amanita gemmata, Amanita muscaria, Auricularia auricula, Gymnopilus junonius, Lactarius deliciosus, Laccaria laccata, Psilocybe cubensis, and Russula xerampelina. In vitro susceptibility assays employed the microdilution technique according to the M38-A2 protocol CLSI. The hydroethanolic and ethanolic extracts of R. xerampelina showed anti-P. insidiosum activity at minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.87--7.50 mg/mL. The other mushroom species extracts showed no inhibitory effects on growth of P. insidiosum. This is the first study to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of mushrooms on oomycetes, evidencing the antimicrobial potential of R. xerampelina on the pathogen P. insidiosum. So, the present study expands new perspectives, since the secondary metabolites produced by mushrooms can be potential targets for the development of new categories of medicines. However, considering the wide biodiversity of Brazilian mushrooms, we suggested that the search for other basidiomycetes species with anti-P. insidiosum action needs to be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human intoxication to mercury is a worldwide health problem. In addition to the type and length of exposure, the genetic background plays an important role in mercury poisoning. However, reviews on the genetic influence in mercury toxicity are scarce and not systematic. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically overview the most recent evidence on the genetic influence (using single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) on human mercury poisoning. Three different databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched, and 380 studies were found that were published from 2015 to 2022. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 29 studies were selected and data on characteristics (year, country, profile of participants) and results (mercury biomarkers and quantitation, SNPs, main findings) were extracted and analyzed. The largest number of studies was performed in Brazil, mainly involving traditional populations of the Tapajós River basin. Most studies evaluated the influence of the SNPs related to genes of the glutathione system (GST, GPx, etc.), the ATP-binding cassette transporters and the metallothionein proteins. The recent findings regarding other SNPs, such as those of apolipoprotein E and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes, are also highlighted. The importance of the exposure level is discussed considering the possible biphasic behavior of the genetic modulation phenomena that could explain some SNP associations. Overall, recommendations are provided for future studies based on the analysis obtained in this scoping review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) on Helicobacter pylori infection susceptibility have been conducted for admixed populations from developing countries. Here, we performed a GWAS to identify genetic factors associated with H. pylori serostatus in a cohort of admixed children from a large Latin American urban center. Methods: A cross‐sectional study involving 1161 children from 4 to 11 years old living in poor areas of Salvador, in northeastern Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect associations between single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs) and H. pylori seropositivity, assuming an additive genetic model. Enrichment analyses were conducted using the MAGMA v1.10 software. Results: We found 22 SNVs to be suggestively associated (p < 10−5) with H. pylori seropositivity. The most suggestive SNV was the rs77955022 (p = 4.83e‐07) located in an intronic region of EXOC3 at 5p15.33. The second most suggestively associated SNV was rs10914996 (p = 8.97e‐07), located in an intergenic region at 1p34.3. Furthermore, we were able to replicate three SNVs (p < 0.05) in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) cohort: the rs2339212 and rs4795970, both located at 17q12 near TMEM132E, as well as the rs6595814, an intronic variant of FBN2 at 5q23.3. The enrichment analysis indicated the participation of genes and metabolic pathways related to the regulation of the digestive system and gastric acid secretion in the risk of seropositivity for H. pylori. Conclusions: Additional studies are required to validate these association findings in larger population samples and to get insight into the underlying physiological mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, high levels of agricultural activity are reflected in the consumption of enormous amounts of pesticides. The production of grain in Brazil has been estimated at 289.8 million tons in the 2022 harvest, an expansion of 14.7% compared with 2021. These advances are likely associated with a progressive increase in the occupational exposure of a population to pesticides. The Paraoxonase 1 gene (PON1) is involved in liver detoxification; the rs662 variant of this gene modifies the activity of the enzyme. The repair of pesticide-induced genetic damage depends on the protein produced by the X-Ray Repair Cross-Complementing Group 1 gene (XRCC). Its function is impaired due to an rs25487 variant. The present study describes the frequencies of the rs662 and rs25487 and their haplotypes in a sample population from Goiás, Brazil. It compares the frequencies with other populations worldwide to verify the variation in the distribution of these SNPs, with 494 unrelated individuals in the state of Goiás. The A allele of the rs25487 variant had a frequency of 26% in the Goiás population, and the modified rs662 G allele had a frequency of 42.8%. Four haplotypes were recorded for the rs25487 (G > A) and rs662 (A > G) markers, with a frequency of 11.9% being recorded for the A–G haplotype (both modified alleles), 30.8% for the G–G haplotype, 14.3% for the A–A haplotype, and 42.8% for the G–A haplotype (both wild-type alleles). We demonstrated the distribution of important SNPs associated with pesticide exposure in an area with a high agricultural activity level, Central Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector is essential for economic growth, especially for the poor in developing countries. This study investigated the degree of susceptibility, coping capacity, and adaptive capacity of agricultural establishments in Brazil to assess their vulnerability to climate change. Different databases were used, relating socio-environmental, economic, and demographic characteristics. The means of susceptibility, coping capacity, and adaptive capacity were 48%, 35%, and 51% in Brazilian municipalities. North and Northeast are the most vulnerable regions, while South is the least one. Looking how vulnerability behave across biomes, Amazônia, Pantanal, Caatinga, Cerrado, and Mata Atlântica present vulnerability index higher than 50%. Regarding whether determinants, the temperature is related to higher levels of vulnerability and more precipitation with lower levels. Agricultural policies to reduce susceptibility and increase coping and adaptation capacities are necessary to reduce the vulnerability of farming establishments in the Brazilian regions studied. We provided here a guide showing more vulnerable areas and biomes for further action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mucin (MUC) family includes several genes aberrantly expressed in multiple carcinomas and mediates diverse pathways essentials for oncogenesis, in both solid and hematological malignancies. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) can have its course influenced by genetic variants, and it seems more frequent in the Amerindian population, which has been understudied. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the MUC family exome in Amerindian individuals from the Brazilian Amazon, in a sample containing healthy Native Americans (NAMs) and indigenous subjects with ALL, comparing the frequency of polymorphisms between these two groups. The population was composed of 64 Amerindians from the Brazilian Amazon, from 12 different isolated tribes, five of whom were diagnosed with ALL. We analyzed 16 genes from the MUC family and found a total of 1858 variants. We compared the frequency of each variant in the ALL vs. NAM group, which led to 77 variants with a significant difference and, among these, we excluded those with a low impact, resulting in 63 variants, which were distributed in nine genes, concentrated especially in MUC 19 (n = 30) and MUC 3A (n = 18). Finally, 11 new variants were found in the NAM population. This is the first work with a sample of native Americans with cancer, a population which is susceptible to ALL, but remains understudied. The MUC family seems to have an influence on the development of ALL in the Amerindian population and especially MUC19 and MUC3A are shown as possible hotspots. In addition, the 11 new variants found point to the need to have their clinical impact analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ticks represent a major health and economical issue for cattle farmers since bovine are infested by the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplui; This tick is responsible for direct economic loss and can be the vector of several diseases. Many acaricidal drugs are routinely used to control tick infestation, but tick populations are becoming resistant to different drugs. Our work evaluated for the first time the resistance of a tick population from the Lower Amazon region to three different and commonly used acaricidal drugs. We found that the tested tick population had a marked resistance to Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin and mild resistance to Amitraz. Farmers in the region should avoid the use of such acaricides to control ticks, especially Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin. There is limited information on the resistance to acaricidal drugs of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus in the Lower Amazon region. Thus, we aimed to determine the efficiency of three widely used acaricide products (Amitraz, Cypermethrin, and Deltamethrin) in the control of this tick species. The adult immersion test was used on engorged female ticks sampled on farms in the Lower Amazon region, Brazil. For the test, homogeneous batches of 10 engorged females were placed in Petri dishes and immersed in the tested acaricidal drugs, using four replicates of each acaricide and three replicates as a negative control, immersed in distilled water. The acaricides were diluted as recommended by the manufacturers, and the ticks were submerged for five minutes. Mortality of engorged females, production of eggs, and percentage of larval hatching were evaluated. Tick mortality was 2.5%, 7.5%, and 0% for Amitraz, Cypermethrin, and Deltamethrin, respectively. The percentage of larval hatching was 53.7% for Amitraz, 88.7% for Cypermethrin, and 80.0% for Deltamethrin. As recommended by the FAO, for the acaricide to be considered effective, it must have a control rate ≥95%. Among the tested acaricides, Amitraz showed an efficacy of 90.5%, Cypermethrin 10.4%, and Deltamethrin 26.6%. Ticks from the lower Amazon showed marked resistance to Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin and mild resistance to Amitraz. This is the first report of acaricidal resistance in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, has claimed more human lives than all other infectious diseases combined. Consequently, any epidemiological event involving related viruses (orthopoxviruses) triggers significant concern, as was the case with the pandemic rise of monkeypox virus (MPXV), the causative agent of monkeypox in 2022-2023. Smallpox vaccines, based on vaccinia virus antigens, are expected to provide cross-protection against MPXV. Studying the general seroprevalence of orthopoxviruses in populations worldwide is crucial for estimating susceptibility, risks, and the need for vaccination campaigns. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies capable of recognizing MPXV in a Brazilian population and assess the potential for cross-protection from previous smallpox vaccinations. We analyzed demographic data, vaccination records, and serum levels of anti-MPXV IgG measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 319 volunteers from Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil. Our main findings show that the numbers of volunteers with serum samples recognizing MPXV in ELISA, as well as their serum levels of anti-MPXV IgG, did not differ significantly according to gender or address type. However, both male and female elderly volunteers exhibited significantly higher concentrations of anti-MPXV IgG than adults, youth, and children. These results suggest that the elderly may benefit from a cross-reactive immune response due to previous smallpox vaccinations, whereas adults, youth, and children appear susceptible to MPXV. Further investigations involving other populations are necessary to assess the necessity of vaccinating potentially vulnerable groups., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Aim: One of the most significant public health concerns is multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. Klebsiella spp. have been at the forefront of causing different types of infections such as bacteremia, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, enteritis, and sepsis in humans as well as animals. This study aimed to determine the genomic similarity between Klebsiella spp. isolated from wild animal samples and those described in the Institut Pasteur genomic database to verify the spread of resistant clones regionally in the state of Mato Grosso, and to compare the epidemiological data in different regions of Brazil and the world. Materials and Methods: Isolates from various sites of injury in wild animals were identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method to verify the resistance profile, and then, multilocus sequence typing was performed to verify the population structure and compare the isolates from other regions of Brazil and the world. Results: Twenty-three sequence types (STs) were observed; of these, 11 were new STs, as new alleles were detected. There was no predominant ST among the isolates. All isolates were MDR, with high rates of resistance to sulfonamides, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and nitrofurantoin and low resistance to meropenem, imipenem, and amikacin. Conclusion: Improving our understanding of the population structure of Klebsiella spp. in wild animals may help determine the source of infection during outbreaks in humans or animals, as the One Health concept emphasizes the interlinks between humans, animals, and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent application of glyphosate for consecutive years has enhanced the selection pressure on sourgrass (Digitaria insularis) populations, which resulted in the development of glyphosate-resistant biotypes. Therefore, this work was developed with the objective of monitoring sourgrass resistance to glyphosate, develop a baseline of sourgrass susceptibility to this molecule and, consequently, identify the discriminatory dose between resistant and susceptible populations. This work was divided into three steps. The first step consisted of identifying and sorting sourgrass resistant and susceptible biotypes among 30 samples. In the second step, glyphosate baseline was elaborated considering exclusively the glyphosate-susceptible biotypes, which allowed the definition of a discriminatory dose. At the end, the third step, monitoring of glyphosate-resistant biotypes was achieved, considering five growing seasons (2016 - 2020) and 809 samples of sourgrass populations, collected throughout 12 states of Brazil. Glyphosate baseline was elaborated to sourgrass and ideal discriminatory rate was identified as 960 g ha-1. Glyphosate-resistant populations of sourgrass were found in all soybean growing regions sampled. Among 809 populations, 25.96% were considered resistant to glyphosate. The states with the highest frequency of glyphosate-resistant populations were Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia, Mato Grosso and Paraná. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown rot is the main disease of stone fruits in Brazil, but the susceptibility of peaches to brown rot at different stages of development in the field has not been studied under subtropical conditions. This information is relevant to guide the management of the disease. The objective of this research was to determine the influence of inoculating peaches with Monilinia fructicola at different stages of development on the infection and progress of brown rot at postharvest. Two experiments were carried out: one ex vivo with two cultivars and the other in the field for two seasons. Peaches were inoculated at different sizes for both experiments. In the field, peaches were bagged to avoid natural infection, and M. fructicola inoculum was monitored. The ex vivo incidence of the disease was lower at pit hardening than at other fruit stages for both cultivars. The incidence of brown rot for peaches attached to the trees increased with fruit ripening. Conversely, the time for symptom expression was reduced according to peach diameter. Peaches inoculated with a diameter smaller than 2 cm showed a lower incidence of brown rot and longer periods for disease expression than fruit inoculated near harvest. In conclusion, in areas with high inoculum in the orchard, a common condition in the subtropics, the grower must prevent infection at all stages of fruit development, thus avoiding losses during marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Rice, one of the most consumed cereal crops worldwide, is commonly grown under flooded conditions, which directly influences the nematode community. Meloidogyne graminicola is the predominant species in rice fields, causing significant damage and requiring integrated management practices. This study aimed to investigate the response of different Poaceae crops, soybean, and common weeds of rice to three biotypes of M. graminicola (G1, G2 and G3) recently detected in Brazil. The highest reproduction factor (RF) for the three nematode populations was detected in the weeds Echinochloa colonum and E. crus-galli , followed by rice and Italian ryegrass. Wheat 'TBio Sonic' and millet 'ADR 500' served as poor hosts to the nematodes, whereas black oat, white oat, signalgrass, millet 'ADR 905', maize, wheat 'TBio Toruk', and soybean acted as non-hosts (RF < 1) in both experiments. Of the three M. graminicola biotypes, G1 was the most aggressive, followed by G3 and G2 (lowest RF values). The findings of the current study can support the selection of crop rotation or succession approaches for the management of different biotypes of M. graminicola in irrigated rice fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyomma sculptum and Dermacentor nitens are the most common tick species that affect horses in Brazil. They induce immunological responses, which reflect the intensity of tick infestation and their life cycle. This study compares the development of these ticks feeding on two horse breeds, and the influence of biological parameters and infestation on haematological values. A total of 12 female horses (6 Mangalarga Marchador and 6 Breton Postier) were subjected to natural tick infestation, counting, and collection. Additionally, blood samples from each animal were collected. Engorged female ticks were kept in a Bio-Oxygen Demand incubator to monitor their development. A significant negative correlation was found between the tick count and the haematological parameters of horses: White Blood Cell, Red Blood Cell, Haemoglobin, and Packed Cell Volume. Our results demonstrate that the animals of two breeds have a similar influence on the development of ticks and that although haematological parameters are correlated with parasitism, the variation in resistance and susceptibility of these animals is probably related to specific characteristics of each animal and not because of the breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization has warned of the importance of looking at the pandemic from a gender perspective since biological, social, and cultural aspects can produce differences in the way women and men experience the ongoing pandemic situation. This study aimed to investigate Brazilian women's perception of COVID-19 concerning the susceptibility to infection, the severity of COVID-19, and the collective behavior in response to pandemic risks. It also sought to examine the COVID-19 level of perceived fears by the level of fear across specific COVID-19 fears, such as the risk of infection and the threat posed to life. The sample consisted of 5527 Brazilian women aged between 18 and 74 years (mean age = 41, SD = 13.5) recruited from an online cross-sectional survey conducted in Brazil. The analysis addressed questions about the chance of COVID-19 infection, the impact on daily activities in case of infection, the threat to life posed by COVID-19, and the collective behavior in the pandemic context. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Women's age and personal conditions, particularly those related to family and domestic life, showed association with the perceived susceptibility to infection and the severity of COVID-19. The higher the perceived susceptibility and severity, the greater the fear level. The fear level was also higher among women whose perception was that people were ignoring the pandemic risks. This study provides insight into Brazilian women's perception of COVID-19 and their fear level during the pandemic's early stages. Our findings can increase the understanding of the adverse consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on women, assisting in the strategic planning of public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Candida auris poses a severe global health threat, with many strains resistant to antifungal treatments, complicating therapy. Exploring natural compounds alongside conventional drugs offers promising therapeutic avenues. The antifungal potential of the ethanolic extract from Caryocar brasiliense (Cb-EE), a plant native to the Brazilian cerrado and renowned for its medicinal properties, was investigated against C. auris., Aim of the Study: The study examined the chemical composition, antifungal activity, mechanisms of action, and in vivo effects of Cb-EE., Materials and Methods: Leaves of C. brasiliense were processed to extract ethanolic extract, which was evaluated for phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins. The antifungal capacity was determined through broth microdilution and checkerboard methods, assessing interaction with conventional antifungals., Results: Cb-EE demonstrated fungistatic activity against various Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans. Synergy with fluconazole and additive effects with other drugs were observed. Cb-EE inhibited C. auris growth, with the combination of fluconazole extending inhibition. Mechanistic studies revealed interference with fungal membranes, confirmed by sorbitol protection assays, cellular permeability tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hemocompatibility and in vivo toxicity tests on Tenebrio molitor showed safety., Conclusion: Cb-EE, alone or in combination with fluconazole, effectively treated C. auris infections in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its prospective role as an antifungal agent against this emerging pathogen., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to compare the susceptibility of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, from four Brazilian regions to insect growth disruptor (IGD) insecticides by tomato leaf-dip bioassays. Larval mortality was assessed seven days after exposure to insecticide-treated leaves. The control failure likelihood (CFL) was estimated after larval bioassays with IGDs recommended label rate. Mortality data were subjected to Probit and variance analysis. All populations of tomato pinworm showed significant resistance to one or more insecticides. The LC50 values ranged from 0.34 to 0.63 g L−1 (chlorfluazuron), 0.17 to 0.92 g L−1 (teflubenzuron), 0.13 to 1.28 g L−1 (novaluron), 0.29 to 0.46 g L−1 (lufenuron), and 0.71 to 4.60 g L−1 (methoxyfenozide). The resistance ratios varied from 1.2 to 1.8-fold (chlorfluazuron), 1.4 to 5.5-fold (teflubenzuron), 1.2 to 9.9-fold (novaluron), 1.0 to 1.6-fold (lufenuron), and 1.5 to 6.5-fold (methoxyfenozide). Despite the low resistance ratios (< 10-fold), all populations showed low mortality and CFL > 54%, indicating likely control failure at the IGD label rates. We detected significant variations among populations of T. absoluta for activity of enzymes glutathione S-transferases (GST), cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (MFO) and α-esterase (EST), however there was no significant difference between the populations for activity of β-esterase (EST). The evolution of resistance in T. absoluta populations to IGDs observed in this study is likely due to high selection pressure, demanding insecticide resistance management practices and environmentally sustainable tactics to obtain a more effective control of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The establishment of candidate genetic determinants associated with tuberculosis (TB) is a challenge, considering the divergent frequencies among populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between MIF − 794 CATT 5−8 polymorphism and susceptibility to TB. Methods: Case–control study. Patients > 18 years, with pulmonary TB were included. The control group consisted of blood donors and household contacts, not relatives, healthy and > 18 years. MIF − 794 CATT 5−8 were genotyped using sequencing of PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Results: 126 patients and 119 controls were included. The genotype 5/5 was more frequent among cases (15.1%) than in controls (5.9%) (p = 0.019). Cases had more frequently the allele 5 (29.4%) as compared with controls (19.3%) (p = 0.010). Prevalence of 7/X + 8/X genotypes was not different between cases and controls (p = 0.821). There was no difference between patients with alleles 7 and 8 and those with alleles 5 and 6 (p = 0.608). Conclusions: The genotype 5/5 and the allele 5 of MIF − 794 CATT 5−8 were more frequent among TB patients than in controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The city of Ouro Preto, which is located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has a long history of mass movements influenced by the regional geology, geomorphology, and anthropic activities, which have resulted in harmful consequences to the population. However, most of the studies conducted in the region are qualitative and are directly dependent on the experience specialists. The aim of this study was to analyse the landslide susceptibility in the urban region of Ouro Preto quantitatively by using discriminant analysis. The landslide inventory was obtained by using unmanned aerial vehicle images and fieldwork. ArcGIS 10.6 and R 3.5.1 software were used, and the following landslide predisposing factors were considered: slope angle, slope aspect, profile curvature, and topographic wetness index (TWI). As geological and geotechnical data are still scarce in the interior of Brazil, we only used data derived from topography to determine the effectiveness of these factors for analysing landslide susceptibility. The slope angle proved to be the factor that most differentiated unstable from stable terrain, followed by TWI. The other parameters were not as effective in differentiating the stability conditions. The model efficiency was 88.6%, the specificity was 93.3%, and the sensitivity was 85.0%. Also, the prediction and success curve were used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed landslides model, by using the area under the curve (AUC) criteria. It was shown that the AUC values 0.851 for testing and 0.838 for training indicate that the developed model provides an excellent prediction. The main contribution of this work is the demonstration of the effectiveness of using easily accessible data (derived from topography) for analysing landslide susceptibility with a multivariate statistical method. This method can contribute valuable information to urban planning efforts in cities without the need for robust data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis and Leishmaniasis are chronic parasitic diseases with high prevalence in some tropical regions and, due to their wide distribution, a risk of co-infections is present in some areas. Nevertheless, the impact of this interaction on human populations is still poorly understood. Thus, the current study evaluated the effect of previous American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) on the susceptibility and immune response to Schistosoma mansoni infection in residents from a rural community in Northern of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, an area endemic for both parasitic infections. The participants answered a socioeconomic questionnaire and provided stool and blood samples for parasitological and immunological evaluations. Stool samples were examined by a combination of parasitological techniques to identify helminth infections, especially S. mansoni eggs. Blood samples were used for hemograms and to measure the serum levels of cytokines and chemokines. Reports on previous ATL were obtained through interviews, clinical evaluation forms, and medical records. S. mansoni infection was the most prevalent parasitic infection in the study population (46%), and the majority of the infected individuals had a very low parasite burden. In the same population, 93 individuals (36.2%) reported previous ATL, and the prevalence of S. mansoni infection among these individuals was significantly higher than among individuals with no ATL history. A multiple logistic regression model revealed that S. mansoni infection was positively associated with higher levels of CCL3 and CCL17, and a higher frequency of IL-17 responders. Moreover, this model demonstrated that individuals with an ATL history had a 2-fold higher probability to be infected with S. mansoni (OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.04–3.68). Among S. mansoni -infected individuals, the logistic regression demonstrated that a previous ATL history was negatively associated with the frequency of IL-17 responders and CXCL10 higher responders, but positively associated with higher IL-27 responders. Altogether, our data suggest that previous ATL may alter the susceptibility and the immune response in S. mansoni -infected individuals, which may likely affect the outcome of schistosomiasis and the severity of the disease in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Northeast Brazil (NEB), the impacts of climate extreme events such as severe droughts are aggravated by poverty and poor socioeconomic conditions. In this region, such events usually result in the spread of endemic diseases, problems in water distribution, and agricultural losses, often leading to an increase in the population's vulnerability. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the microregions of the Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, in the NEB, according to the Epidemiological Index for Drought Vulnerability (EIDV). We mapped and classified the microregions according to three dimensions of vulnerability: risk, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity. We also verified potential associations between drought risk and epidemiological vulnerability. The EIDV was calculated by considering the three dimensions of vulnerability as mutually exclusive events and applying the third axiom of probability. Then we carried out a cluster analysis in order to classify the microregions according to similarities in the EIDV. Odds ratio were also calculated in order to evaluate the odds of microregions having a high susceptibility to diseases and high vulnerability given the drought risk. Results showed that the Pau dos Ferros, Seridó Ocidental, Seridó Oriental, and Umarizal microregions were the most vulnerable, while Natal and Litoral Sul were the least vulnerable. Regarding the dimensions of vulnerability, we observed that almost the entire RN state exhibited high drought risk. Pau dos Ferros and Umarizal had the highest susceptibility and Litoral Nordeste presented the worst adaptive capacity to the effects of drought on health. The EIDV revealed that the population of the RN state needs improvements in living conditions and health, since socioeconomic status is one of the factors that most influence the vulnerability of microregions, which in turn is aggravated by drought risk [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias is the property of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociencias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many countries, including Brazil, are facing growing social inequalities in diabetes prevalence. The different states in Brazil represent different levels of development and by comparing diabetes inequalities across states we aim to get a better understanding of how educational inequalities in diabetes are linked to social development. We use the latest cross-sectional national health survey of Brazil – PNS-2013 (N = 60,202) and analyse the disparities in diabetes as well as the differential exposure and susceptibility to the effect of obesity across states for men and women. Among women in high-HDI states the prevalence of diabetes is 11.7 percentage units (CI: 9.3; 14.0) higher among the lowest compared to the highest educated. In less-developed states the disparity is smaller. Among men, there is no social gradient found for diabetes, but obesity is positively associated with education. The association between obesity and diabetes is stronger among the low educated particularly for men in high-HDI states. Here the interaction effect between low education and obesity is 11.7 (CI 8.1; 15.4) percentage units. The fact that economic development is associated with increasingly unequal levels of diabetes and with unequal levels of exposure and susceptibility to obesity indicates that other interacting determinants are important for the development of the diabetes epidemic in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B cytidine deaminases have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple cancers, including breast cancer (BC). A germline deletion linking APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B loci (A3A/B) has been associated with higher APOBEC-mediated mutational burden, but its association with BC risk have been controversial. Therefore, this study investigated the association between A3A/B and BC susceptibility and clinical presentation in a Brazilian cohort. Methods: A3A/B deletion was evaluated through allele-specific PCR in 341 BC patients and 397 women without familial or personal history of neoplasia from Brazil and associations with susceptibility to BC subtypes were tested through age-adjusted logistic models while correlations with clinicopathological parameters were tested using Kendall's tests. Results: No association was found between A3A/B and BC susceptibility; however, in Luminal-A BCs, it was positively correlated with tumor size (Tau-c = 0.125) and Ki67 (Tau-c = 0.116) and negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) (Tau-c = − 0.162). The negative association between A3A/B with LNM in Luminal-A BCs remained significant even after adjusting for tumor size and Ki67 in logistic models (OR = 0.22; p = 0.008). Conclusion: These results show that although A3A/B may not modify BC susceptibility in Brazilian population, it may affect clinicopathological features in BC subtypes, promoting tumor cell proliferation while being negatively associated with LNM in Luminal-A BCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the number of visceral leishmaniasis-HIV (VL-HIV) coinfections has increased worldwide, mainly in Brazil. The development of clinical forms of VL can be influenced by nutritional status, age, and host genetic factors, which are important variables determining susceptibility to disease. There are no studies with a candidate gene approach assayed directly in the VL-HIV-coinfected population. Herein, we determined and analyzed the associations of SLC11A1, LECT2, CCL1, CCL16, and IL4 genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to VL-HIV coinfection in Northeastern Brazil. We analyzed 309 DNA samples extracted from the peripheral blood of HIV patients, and clinical and hematological data were collected from medical records. The diagnosis of VL was confirmed in 110 out of 309 patients; genotyping was carried out by TaqMan assays afterwards. Our results confirmed the association between the SLC11A1 polymorphism (rs3731865) and VL-HIV coinfection (p = 0.0206, OR 1.8126, 95% CI 1.1050–2.9727). In addition, the SLC11A1 genotype GG (p = 0.0050, OR 3.0395, 95% CI 1.4065–6.5789) and CD4+ T lymphocyte count (p = 0.0030, OR 0.9980, 95% CI 0.9970–0.9990) were associated with VL-HIV coinfection in a multivariate model. The polymorphism of the SLC11A1 gene (rs3731865) was associated with VL-HIV coinfection, suggesting a possible genetic mechanism involved in the susceptibility to VL in HIV patients. This finding can suggest new therapeutic targets and genetic markers for the VL-HIV-coinfected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil and other countries, most electric-sector enterprises do not present a systematic space–time evaluation of their structures to identify environmental vulnerabilities. Thus, this study aims to analyze the susceptibility of mass movements in transmission lines, in the Serra da Mantiqueira region (Brazil), subject to the effects of tropical rains to operationalize a dynamic platform of analysis and alertness in the most critical areas. For this study, static and dynamic data were collected in the region from public and private sources. Next, multiple criteria were defined through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Using geographic information systems (GIS) and map algebra, it was possible to determine a susceptibility map in five classes. Subsequently, based on the identified areas and dynamic meteorological and hydrological data, a real-time platform was operationalized for monitoring, analysis, and alerts to environmental risks. Consequently, a geographic database with a regional coverage (14,000 km2) was generated, involving seven criteria: slope, distance of transmission lines, drainage density, soil use, soil type, fracture and failure density, and precipitation. The susceptibility classes found in the study region were very low (1.5%), low (12%), average (34.9%), high (45.3%), and very high (6.2%). It was also possible to identify different mass movements in areas close to the transmission lines, as well as other risk elements such as dwellings, roads, reservoir borders, and telecommunications towers. The operationalized monitoring platform allowed the establishment of dynamic analyses on the occurrence of extreme natural events, by sending notifications and an online map of the affected areas. Thus, this platform developed in this study can become an instrument of evaluation, monitoring, and management for the public management and regulatory agencies of the electric sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant borer, Telchin licus (Drury), is an important insect pest of sugarcane in Central and South America. This pest is difficult to control with chemical or biological control approaches due to the larvae behavior of hiding in the deepest parts of the plants. Manual scavenging and skewer killing have been the main approaches for monitoring and control of T. licus in Brazil, the world's largest sugarcane producer. Recently, Brazil launched the first commercial use of transgenic sugarcane expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins to control the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), a primary insect pest of sugarcane in the Americas. In this study, five independent field/greenhouse tests were conducted to evaluate the larval survival of and plant injury by T. licus on five non-Bt and five Bt sugarcane varieties containing a single cry1Ac gene. The multiple field/greenhouse tests showed that Cry1Ac sugarcane was highly effective to control T. licus ; and the high control efficiency was consistent across varieties, from immature to mature plant stages, as well as for F0 generation plants and F1 ratoons. In addition, diet-incorporated bioassays were performed to determine the susceptibility of three field-collected T. licus populations in Brazil to diet treated with purified Cry1Ac protein or with a 25-fold dilution of Cry1Ac sugarcane stalk tissue. The diet bioassays exhibited that the field T. licus populations were also susceptible to the purified Cry1Ac protein, as well as to diet treated with the 25-fold dilution of stalk tissue. The results of this study provide compelling evidence that the single-protein Cry1Ac sugarcane varieties offer new possibilities for managing the T. licus , a pest that is difficult to control with other current available technologies. • Telchin licus is an important and hard-to-control pest of sugarcane in Central and South America. • Cry1Ac sugarcane varieties in different plant stages were highly effective against T. licus in greenghouse/field trials. • Field T. licus populations were susceptible to diet treated with Cry1Ac protein. • Field T. licus populations were also susceptible to diet treated with 25-fold dilution of Cry1Ac stalk tissue. • Cry1Ac sugarcane offers the first effective possibilities for managing the hard-to-control T. licus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural hazards, occurring all over the world, may become a disaster when humans and nature interact. In Brazil, landslides triggered by heavy rainfall are the most common phenomenon that affects the population. Due to the economic and social losses and deaths, the identification and monitoring of risk areas are extremely important. Therefore, this study aims to identify the landslide-susceptible areas in Vila Albertina and Britador neighborhood, located in Campos do Jordão city in São Paulo state, Brazil. Using the Shalstab mathematical model, which analyzes the slope stability, and satellite images from WorldView-2 sensor with data mining techniques, it was identified the most susceptible areas for this phenomenon and the main characteristics of human occupation that might induce landslides. To achieve this goal, three scenarios were simulated for each neighborhood, changing the values of the geotechnical parameters, used as input on Shalstab. The results of susceptibility areas were consistent with the reality observed in these neighborhoods and the landslide scars corroborate with the assumption that anthropic changes induce landslides. The satellite image allowed the identification of different types of human interaction and its changes in steep slope areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium is widely distributed in the environment and is involved with plant and animal diseases. In humans, several species and species complexes (SC) are related to fusariosis, i.e., F. solani SC, F. oxysporum SC, F. fujikuroi SC, F. dimerum, F. chlamydosporum, F. incarnatum-equiseti , and F. sporotrichoides. We aimed to investigate the susceptibility of Fusarium clinical isolates to antifungals and azole fungicides and identify the species. Forty-three clinical Fusarium isolates were identified by sequencing translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1 α) gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed to the antifungals amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole, and the azole fungicides difenoconazole, tebuconazole, and propiconazole. The isolates were recovered from patients with median age of 36 years (range 2–78 years) of which 21 were female. Disseminated fusariosis was the most frequent clinical form (n = 16, 37.2%) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 7; 16.3%) was the most commonly underlying condition. A few species described in Fusarium solani SC have recently been renamed in the genus Neocosmospora , but consistent naming is yet not possible. Fusarium keratoplasticum FSSC 2 (n = 12) was the prevalent species, followed by F. petroliphilum FSSC 1 (n = 10), N. gamsii FSSC 7 (n = 5), N. suttoniana FSSC 20 (n = 3), F. solani sensu stricto FSSC 5 (n = 2), Fusarium sp. FSSC 25 (n = 2), Fusarium sp. FSSC 35 (n = 1), Fusarium sp. FSSC18 (n = 1), F. falciforme FSSC 3+4 (n = 1), F. pseudensiforme (n = 1), and F. solani f. xanthoxyli (n = 1). Amphotericin B had activity against most isolates although MICs ranged from 0.5 to 32 μg mL-1. Fusarium keratoplasticum showed high MIC values (8–>32 μg mL-1) for itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole. Among agricultural fungicides, difenoconazole had the lowest activity against FSSC with MICs of >32 μg mL-1 for all isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproduction of Meloidogyne graminicola in 22 cultivars of rice used in the southern region of Brazil according to the irrigation management. The design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme, being the factor A: rice cultivars and factor B: irrigation management (dry and flooded). The rice cultivars were kept individually in pot with sterilized substrate and inoculated with 5,000 eggs and juveniles (second stage - J2) of the nematode. Plants to rice cultivate BRS IRGA 410 was inoculated with M. graminicola and were used as controls. At 60 days after inoculation, the root system of each plant was evaluated number of galls (NG), number of nematodes per gram root (NNGR) and the reproduction factor (RF). The results demonstrate that M. graminicola can parasitize and develop in different rice cultivars that are commonly used in commercial crops in the Southern region of Brazil, and all cultivars evaluated were classified as susceptible to this nematode (FR> 1.00). The cultivation system under flood conditions showed significantly lower values for the NG, NNGR and RF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) have been used as a tool to detect the acquisition of resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the ECVs for classic antifungals against Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with a diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis. First, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for amphotericin B (AmB), itraconazole (ITR), fluconazole (FLU), voriconazole (VCZ) and caspofungin (CAS) were determined against 138 H. capsulatum isolates in the filamentous form by the broth microdilution method; antifungal ECVs were then calculated. MIC ranges were 0.0078–1 µg/mL for AmB, 0.0005–0.0625 µg/mL for ITR, 2 to ≥256 µg/mL for FLU, 0.0078–1 µg/mL for VCZ and ≤0.0156 to ≥32 µg/mL for CAS. The obtained ECVs were 0.5, 0.0313, 128, 0.5 and 16 µg/mL for AmB, ITR, FLU, VCZ and CAS, respectively. The percentage of wild-type isolates was 96.4% for AmB, 98.6% for ITR and 99.3% for FLU, VCZ and CAS. Although these results do not cover all phylogenetic species of H. capsulatum , they bring important information on strains from Brazil. In addition, the assessed isolates were from HIV-positive patients, which may not reflect the antifungal ECVs against isolates from immunocompetent individuals or from other sources. Finally, this study pioneers the initiative of establishing ECVs for five antifungal agents against H. capsulatum var. capsulatum , providing a criterion for the interpretation of susceptibility results as well as a monitoring strategy for the emergence of antifungal resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass movements are one of the most active and impactful phenomena related to disasters. In Brazil, the landslide are compounded by a number of factors such as the presence of massive mountain associated with certain favorable climatic conditions, as occur in the Região Serrana of Rio de Janeiro state. In this sense, the present study aims to analyze the influence of conditioning factors on landslide in the Paquequer River Basin (Teresopolis, RJ) in order to generate a Susceptibility Map of land to these events based on multi-criteria analysis AHP and Weighted Average. We correlated 10 conditioning factors to landslide inventory map where, from which, we applied a weight to each correlation to obtain the susceptibility map. About 77% of the points mapped movements are in High class and Very high susceptibility, occurring mainly in areas with slopes between 8-100%, with intense rainfall, located in areas subject to human influence, or rugged areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Channel morphometric parameters and clast distribution patterns in selected basins of the Ferriferous Quadrangle tropical mountains, Brazil, were analyzed in order to assess susceptibility to debris flows. Median bed surface clast size (D 50 ) in the main stream channel of these basins shows a coarsening downstream trend with drainage areas of up to 6 km 2 , which is attributed to debris flow dominated-channels by some authors. The composition and roundness of the bed load, clast sand, and the presence of allochthonous large boulders throughout the channels also suggest the occurrence of past debris flow in the region. Luminescence Optically Stimulated (LOE) dating points out that debris flow could have occurred as a consequence of climate changes in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene and it can now be triggered by deforestation or extreme rainfall events. There has not been any record of past debris flow in the study area, or in other mountainous regions of Brazil where debris flows have recently occurred. Thus, the adopted approach can be useful to assess debris flow susceptibility in this and other similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797), has evolved resistance to several insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) toxins expressed in transgenic plants worldwide. Recently, we demonstrated a high risk of resistance evolution of a laboratory-selected emamectin benzoate-resistant strain of FAW based on incomplete dominant inheritance. In this study, we presented laboratory studies that established the baseline susceptibility and defined a diagnostic concentration of emamectin benzoate for the FAW performed in 2002. Then, resistance to emamectin benzoate was monitored in field-collected populations of FAW in Brazil from 2003 to 2004 and 2019 to 2021 using different methods: (i) estimating concentration-mortality curves; (ii) determining larval survival at a diagnostic concentration of emamectin benzoate; and (iii) assessing its survivorship on maize leaves sprayed with the field rate of this insecticide. Populations of FAW presented similar susceptibility to emamectin benzoate in 2002 (LC 50 from 0.25 to 0.44 μg a.i./mL) and 2003/04 (LC 50 from 0.13 to 0.43 μg a.i./mL), not differing from the susceptible reference population (LC 50 of 0.22 μg a.i./mL). From 2003 to 2004, larval survival at the diagnostic concentration of emamectin benzoate of 3.2 μg a.i./mL was <1.79%. From 2019 to 2021, the susceptibility to emamectin benzoate in field populations of FAW decreased, with LC 50 values ranging from 0.78 to 158.0 μg a.i./mL, indicating resistance ratios up to 632-fold. Larval survival at a diagnostic concentration of emamectin benzoate also increased, reaching up to 81.4%. Larval survival on maize leaves sprayed with the field rate of emamectin benzoate ranged from 16.6 to 88.5% in populations of FAW collected in 2021. Overall, our findings revealed significant shifts towards decrease in the susceptibility to emamectin benzoate in Brazilian populations of FAW, providing robust evidence of field-evolved resistance. [Display omitted] • Baseline susceptibility to emamectin benzoate was established in field-collected populations of S. frugiperda in Brazil. • A decrease in the susceptibility to emamectin benzoate was detected in S. frugiperda populations from 2002 to 2021. • Field-evolved resistance to emamectin benzoate was confirmed in S. frugiperda populations in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the vast majority of cases of lung neoplasms. It is formed in multiple stages, with interactions between environmental risk factors and individual genetic susceptibility and with genes involved in the immune and inflammatory response paths, cell or genome stability, and metabolism, among others. Our objective was to evaluate the association between five genetic variants ( IL-1A , NFKB1 , PAR1 , TP53, and UCP2 ) and the development of NSCLC in the Brazilian Amazon. The study included 263 individuals with and without lung cancer. The samples were analyzed for the genetic variants of NFKB1 (rs28362491), PAR1 (rs11267092), TP53 (rs17878362), IL-1A (rs3783553), and UCP2 (INDEL 45-bp), which were genotyped in PCR, followed by an analysis of the fragments, in which we applied a previously developed set of informative ancestral markers. We used a logistic regression model to identify differences in the allele and the genotypic frequencies among individuals and their association with NSCLC. The variables of gender, age, and smoking were controlled in the multivariate analysis to prevent confusion by association. The individuals that were homozygous for the Del/Del of polymorphism NFKB1 (rs28362491) ( p = 0.018; OR = 0.332) demonstrate a significant association with NSCLC, which was similar to that observed in the variants of PAR1 (rs11267092) ( p = 0.023; OR = 0.471) and TP53 (rs17878362) ( p = 0.041; OR = 0.510). Moreover, the individuals with the Ins/Ins genotype of polymorphism IL-1A (rs3783553) demonstrated greater risk for NSCLC ( p = 0.033; OR = 2.002), as did the volunteers with the Del/Del of UCP2 (INDEL 45-bp) ( p = 0.031; OR = 2.031). The five polymorphisms investigated can contribute towards NSCLC susceptibility in the population of the Brazilian Amazon.

The first step for biological insecticide production is the evaluating of the pathogenicity and strains virulence of entomopathogens against the target pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widespread in nature, lethal pathogen of a range of orders and the most widely used entomopathogenic biological control agent. Therefore, our objective was to study the susceptibility of six important lepidopteran pests in Brazilian agricultural production systems, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker), S. eridania (Cramer), and S. frugiperda (Smith), to Bt strains. In vitro bioassays were conducted with neonate larvae exposed to two Bt strains, 1680A and 775E, in seven concentrations of spores and protein crystals. After 7 days, the mortality was evaluated and indicated that lethal concentration (LC 50 ) for 775E strain ranged from 7.72 × 10 4 to 2.45 × 10 6 spores mL -1 and for 1608A strain from 5.63 × 10 3 to 1.21 × 10 6 spores mL -1 . The strain 1608A was more toxic for A. gemmatalis and H. armigera than 775E strain, and then was further evaluated in greenhouse bioassays with maize and soybean plants infested separately with target insects. The strain 1608A showed an efficient control for most insect species studied in the greenhouse bioassays, promoting considerable reduction in leaf injury and demonstrating a high potential in biological control of important lepidopteran species in crop production systems in Brazil., (© 2022. Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.)

Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), caused by Xylella fastidiosa, is a bacterial disease of great importance to the Brazilian citrus industry. CVC is transmitted by grafting and by leafhoppers of the Cicadellidae and Cercopidae families. There is little information about CVC tolerant sweet orange cultivars (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). However, previous studies have indicated some resistance to CVC in the 'Navelina ISA 315' cultivar. Based on such information, this study has been carried out to determine the resistance of 'Navelina ISA 315' to CVC observing disease symptoms in the field and in the greenhouse, associated with the presence and quantitation of X. fastidiosa in plant tissue by PCR and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). In agreement with previous information, the results show that 'Navelina ISA 315' is resistant to CVC, on the grounds that almost no symptoms and low bacterial concentrations were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a very common phenomenon worldwide, in Brazil, the factors and mechanisms that control gully erosion on a regional scale are still little known, which leads to the neglect of this environmental hazard by territorial and environmental management policies. In order to reducing this gap, we explored the potential of four common supervised machine learning algorithms, named random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), naïve Bayes (NB) and artificial neural network (ANN) to produce gully erosion susceptibility models for two gullied watersheds, located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The modeling was based on the construction of a solid gully inventory and a database consisting of fifteen geo-environmental factors (GEF), whose influence was determined from the information gain ratio (IGR) and two bivariate statistical methods, named frequency ratio (FR) and modified information value (MIV). The predictive performance of the models was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), overall accuracy (ACC) and sufficiency analysis. The results revealed that random forest achieved the highest overall performance in correct prediction of gullies and produced the most realistic gully susceptibility maps. The IGR data indicated that all GEF considered in the analysis contributed to the predictive model, although lithology, elevation and rainfall are the most influential variables. From an integrated analysis between the gully inventory, field observations, FR and MIV values, we found that gullies seem to be triggered by high annual average rainfall, but only develop where a set of specific geo-environmental conditions occur simultaneously. Finally, despite the limited land use data available, anthropogenic activities do not seem to affect the regional distribution pattern of gullies, although we have not excluded their local influence in triggering some erosive features. [Display omitted] • Random Forest achieved the best performance in gully prediction. • Gully erosion develops where a set of specific conditions occur simultaneously. • Lithology, elevation and rainfall control gully distribution in the study area. • Anthropogenic activities do not seem to affect the regional gully distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires have global, regional, and local socioeconomic and environmental consequences, with negative effects on ecosystem services, air quality, population health, and other relevant aspects, emphasizing their significance in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The study identified areas in the Rio de Janeiro State (RJS) with varying degrees of susceptibility to fire focis using remote sensing data derived from topographic, anthropogenic, meteorological, and hydrological factors based on seasonality and integrated into geographic information systems. The analytical hierarchy process was used as a method of integration and normalized hierarchy of variables, generating susceptibility maps in the annual, summer, and winter periods in the RJS's hydrographic regions (HR), with the application of the associated chi-square test to records of fire focis from the AQUA satellite, period 2003 to 2017, without methodological variation for data acquisition, whose susceptibility was classified as very low to very high. The results show that the years with the most fire foci in the adopted time series are 2007 and 2014, with a peak in September and a fall from October onwards. According to the susceptibility map, 9% of the RJS is highly susceptible during the annual period, with HR-IX being especially vulnerable. In the summer, 0.2% of RJS is extremely vulnerable, while 32% is highly vulnerable in the winter, with 6402 km 2 of HR-IX areas being extremely vulnerable. A statistical correlation was discovered between the chi-square test and susceptible areas. This work contributes as a decision-making tool in fire planning and emergency response, with the potential to assist control bodies (city halls, civil defense, environmental protection bodies, health systems) in the local and regional context in the assessment, analysis, and management of these phenomena., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Abstract: In the city of São Paulo, where about 11 million people live, landslides and flooding occur frequently, especially during the summer. These landslides cause the destruction of houses and urban equipment, economic damage, and the loss of lives. The number of areas threatened by landslides has been increasing each year. The objective of this article is to analyze the probability of risk and susceptibility to shallow landslides in the Limoeiro River basin, which is located at the head of the Aricanduva River basin, one of the main hydrographic basins in the city of São Paulo. To map areas of risk, we created a cadastral survey form to evaluate landslide risk in the field. Risk was categorized into four levels based on natural and anthropogenic factors: R1 (low risk), R2 (average risk), R3 (high risk), and R4 (very high risk). To analyze susceptibility to shallow landslides, we used the SHALSTAB (Shallow Landsliding Stability) mathematical model and calculated the Distribution Frequency (DF) of the susceptibility classes for the entire basin. Finally, we performed a joint analysis of the average Risk Concentration (RC) and Risk Potential (RP). We mapped 14 risk sectors containing approximately 685 at-risk homes, more than half of which presented a high (R3) or very high (R4) probability of risk to the population. In the susceptibility map, 41% of the area was classified as stable and 20% as unconditionally unstable. Although the latter category accounted a smaller proportion of the total area, it contained a concentration (RC) of 41% of the mapped risk areas with a risk potential (RP) of 12%. We found that the locations of areas predicted to be unstable by the model coincided with the risk areas mapped in the field. This combination of methods can be applied to evaluate the risk of shallow landslides in densely populated areas and can assist public managers in defining areas that are unstable and inappropriate for occupation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze the susceptibility of some anaerobic species isolated from a Brazilian population at different periods of time by determining a pattern of development of resistance to frequently prescribed antibiotics in endodontics. Methods: Root canal samples were collected from infected teeth at different periods of time (2000–2002, 2003–2005, and 2007–2008) and microbiologically identified with conventional culture techniques. The susceptibility of Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens, P. oralis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and P. micra isolated strains was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanate, benzylpenicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, and metronidazole by using the E-test method. Results: Amoxicillin and amoxicillin + clavulanate were effective against the majority of species at the different periods of study. Overall, there were low statistical differences regarding the microbial susceptibility between the experimental periods. However, an increase in the anaerobic resistance to penicillin G and clindamycin was observed. Resistance to erythromycin was observed in all species, and there were statistically significant differences between 2000–2002 and 2003–2005 periods for F. nucleatum (P < .05) and between 2003–2005 and 2007–2008 periods for P. intermedia/nigrescens and P. oralis (P < .05). Conclusions: The antimicrobial resistance of anaerobes isolated from primary endodontic infections showed an increase throughout a period of time regarding a specific Brazilian population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A total of 124 Cryptococcus isolates, including 84 clinical strains obtained from cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients and 40 environmental isolates from pigeon excreta and from Eucalyptus trees, were studied. The varieties, serotypes, phospholipase activity and molecular profile of these isolates were determined. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii serotype A was identified in 120 isolates and Cryptococcus gattii serotype B in four isolates. The clinical isolates showed higher phospholipase activity than environmental isolates. Similar patterns of in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole and no resistance were found for all isolates. Molecular type VNI ( C. neoformans var. grubii) was recovered in 80 clinical and 40 environmental isolates while the type VGIII ( C. gattii) was found in four clinical isolates. This study demonstrated for the first time the molecular types of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus isolates in the midwest Brazil region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in northeast Brazil is a disease caused by infection with the protozoan Leishmania chagasi. Infection leads to variable clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to potentially fatal disease. Prior studies suggest the genetic background of the host contributes to the development of different outcomes after infection, although it is not known if ancestral background itself influences outcomes. VL is endemic in peri-urban areas around the city of Natal in northeast Brazil. The population of northeast Brazil is a mixture of distinct racial and ethnic groups. We hypothesized that some sub-populations may be more susceptible than others to develop different clinical outcomes after L. chagasi infection. Using microsatellite markers, we examined whether admixture of the population as a whole, or markers likely inherited from a distinct ethnic background, differed between individuals with VL, individuals with an asymptomatic infection, or individuals with no infection. There was no apparent significant difference in overall population admixture proportions among the three clinical phenotype groups. However, one marker on Chr. 22 displayed evidence of excess ancestry from putative ancestral populations among different clinical phenotypes, suggesting this region may contain genes determining the course of L. chagasi infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heteroresistance, defined as the occurrence of apparently homogeneous subpopulations of microbial cells showing different levels of antimicrobial susceptibility is a problem that has been associated with therapeutical failure in cryptococcosis. The purpose of the study was an investigation on the level of heteroresistance to fluconazole (LHF) as observed in clinical and environmental C. neoformans/C. gattii complex species isolates from Amazonas State (AM), Brazil. A total of 45 isolates and 9 type strains were analyzed. The assessments comprised testing for minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), for LHFs, for the strains' capacity of adaptation to high fluconazole (FLC) concentrations above the LHF, and for the stability of the heteroresistance phenomenon. The mean MICs for clinical isolates of C. gattii (6.4 µg/ml) were higher than those observed for environmental C. gattii strains (1.7 µg/ml) and clinical (3.7 µg/ml) as well as environmental (1.5 µg/ml) C. neoformans isolates. The phenomenon of heteroresistance to FLC was recorded for all isolates. On average, the LHF (8-256 µg/ml) of the isolates was 16 times higher than the FLC MICs (0.5-16 µg/ml) and a proportion of 85% isolates showed LHFs ≥ 16 µg/ml, 40% even ≥ 32 µg/ml. According to the adaptation assay, a considerable number of isolates (58%) showed the capacity of adaptation to MICs even higher than the initially recorded LHF. After the adaptation experiment, the adaptative-LHF values (8-512 µg/ml) were about 60 times higher than the original MIC values. After nine subsequent passages in drug-free broth, the isolates had their adaptative-LHF reduced. However, the LHF did not revert to the initially measured level. Our findings challenge the clinical interpretation of the antifungal MIC testing and motivate future studies correlating the levels of heteroresistance and parameters like LHF and adaptative-LHF with cryptococcosis-associated morbidity and mortality., Lay Summary: Cryptococcosis affects many people and is caused by fungi of the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii complexes. These agents appear to become more resistant to antifungals when exposed to increasing concentrations of antifungals due to a phenomenon called heteroresistance., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Given the increasing occurrence of landslides on the East Coast Northeast of Brazil (ECNEB), it is essential to understand its conditions and triggering factors because meteorological anomalies triggered by a landslide will threaten life and property in the region. In this sense, this research aimed to diagnose the meteorological conditions that triggered landslides in the ECNEB in May 2017, evaluate the terrain's intrinsic conditions using elevation, slope, and susceptibility parameters and determine critical precipitation thresholds for the city with the highest number of landslide risk areas in the region. A dynamic downscaling experiment was carried out using the Regional Climate Model (RegCM) to verify the ability of this model to represent rainfall over the ECNEB. The results from the intrinsic factors showed that the ECNEB is highly susceptible to landslides with various high-risk sectors for landslides to the population. The extreme rainfall event was associated with the convergence of humidity at low levels over the ocean, which contributed to landslides in the ECNEB, mainly in the State of Pernambuco, where 67 landslides were registered. The RegCM numerical simulation underestimated the high daily rainfall signal seen on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite. It is suggested that sensitivity tests can be performed using other physical parameters to find the best model configuration for the ECNEB. This work recommends that exploring the relationship between precipitation and landslides will provide objective criteria for assessing risk areas by contributing to the predictability of disasters in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudosuccinea columella is considered invasive and has become an important intermediate host of both Fasciola species in many regions of the world. This systematic review assessed the geographical distribution of P. columella, and its implications in the transmission of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, globally. A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, JSTOR and PubMed databases using Boolean operators in combination with predetermined search terms for thematic analysis. Results show that P. columella has been documented in 22 countries from Europe (3), Africa (8), Oceania (2), North America (3) and South America (6). Furthermore, this snail species has shown to adapt to and inhabit a vast array of freshwater bodies including thermal lakes and ditches with acidic soils. Studies showed that P. columella transmits F. hepatica, with natural and experimental infections documented in sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, South America and North America. Experimental infection studies in Cuba showed the presence of P. columella populations resistant to F. hepatica infection. Furthermore, some populations of this invasive snail collected from F. hepatica endemic locations in Brazil, Venezuela, Australia, South Africa, Colombia and Argentina were found without Fasciola infection. As a result, the role played by this snail in the transmission of Fasciola spp. in these endemic areas is still uncertain. Therefore, further studies to detect natural infections are needed in regions/countries where the snail is deemed invasive to better understand the veterinary and public health importance of this snail species in Fasciola-endemic areas and determine the global dispersion of resistant populations of P. columella.

Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil still relies on meglumine antimoniate, with less than ideal efficacy and safety, making new therapeutic tools an urgent need. The oral drug miltefosine was assayed in a phase II clinical trial in Brazil with cure rates lower than previously demonstrated in India. The present study investigated the susceptibility to miltefosine in 73 Brazilian strains of Leishmania infantum from different geographic regions, using intracellular amastigote and promastigote assays. The EC50 for miltefosine of 13 of these strains evaluated in intracellular amastigotes varied between 1.41 and 4.57 μM. The EC50 of the 73 strains determined in promastigotes varied between 5.89 and 23.7 μM. No correlation between in vitro miltefosine susceptibility and the presence of the miltefosine sensitive locus was detected among the tested strains. The relatively low heterogeneity in miltefosine susceptibility observed for the 73 strains tested in this study suggests the absence of decreased susceptibility to miltefosine in Brazilian L. infantum and does not exclude future clinical evaluation of miltefosine for VL treatment in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical models on physical bases were developed to predict which areas are susceptible to landslides. The TRIGRS (Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional) model also offers the possibility of identifying the depth where the Factor of Safety (F s) reaches values lower than one, thus constituting hypothetical rupture surfaces. The present study aims to assess the variation of the F s according to depth and the susceptibility of slopes using the TRIGRS model in a basin in the Serra do Mar Mountain Range (Brazil) impacted by landslides in 1967, based on geotechnical and hydrological values collected both from the existing literature and field generated data. Two stability scenarios were generated through the model, with geotechnical and hydrological values available in the literature being used for the first one, and field values collected in the area itself for the second. The scenarios were validated by means of two indexes, Scar Concentration (SC) and Landslide Potential (LP), both taken from the 1967 scar mapping. In validation (SC index), both of them scenarios, albeit with different spatial distributions, presented the same values, that is, 67% (F s ≤ 1) and 33% (F s > 1), which indicates a high percentage of correct results. The results pointed to a rupture surface ranging between 2.00 m and 2.50 m. Due to the satisfactory results obtained, TRIGRS may be used by the public authorities interested in defining and monitoring areas of susceptibility and hazard to landslides. • The TRIGRS model proved to be efficient to predict shallow landslides. • Scenarios A and B were due mostly to differences of soil cohesion values. • The results indicated a hypothetical rupture surface (between 2.00 m and 2.50 m). • The combination between the TRIGRS and field monitoring becomes an important tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]