Search

R E S U M O O processo de invasão biológica ocorre quando uma espécie exótica é introduzida em um ecossistema ao qual não pertence, se adapta e passa a provocar mudanças no mesmo. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi de avaliar a sociabilidade de espécies da Mata Atlântica com a exótica invasora Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs, buscando nortear programas de controle e recuperação de áreas invadidas pelo táxon. Foram plotadas 20 parcelas de 1m² cada em sítios com a ocorrência de M. maximus no Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana, Sergipe. Todas as espécies herbáceas e arbustivas foram contabilizadas e os valores foram utilizados para o cálculo do Índice de Associação (IA). A média de indivíduos de M. maximus por parcela foi de 8,4±5,38. Ao todo foram amostrados 350 indivíduos de 26 espécies, 26 gêneros e 20 famílias associadas a exótica invasora estudada. Dentre essas espécies, Cyperus laxus Lam., Centratherum punctatum Cass., Dioscorea glandulosa (Griseb.) Kunth, Ertela trifolia (L.) Kuntze, Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult., Lantana camara L., Pavonia cancellata (L.) Cav., Spigelia anthelmia L. e Sida cordifolia L. apresentam atributos que as tornam promissoras para a recuperação de ambientes invadidos por M. maximus. Palavras-Chaves: Invasão biológica, Capim-colonião, Recuperação de áreas invadidas.

As infecções por vírus são um dos principais obstáculos para o cultivo de pimenteira-do-reino, uma cultura propagada vegetativamente, por isso, a seleção de plantas livres de vírus é uma alternativa para reestabelecer a pipericultura com qualidade fitossanitária. Objetivou-se identificar, selecionar genótipos e micropropagar de pimenteira-do-reino livre do vírus PYMoV. Na indexação foram utilizados os genótipos Apra, Bragantina, Cingapura, Clonada, híbridos e Kottanadan. Destes Cingapura, Clonada, híbridos e Kottanadan estavam livre de vírus, e foram selecionados para a micropropagação apenas Cingapura e Clonada. Na fase de multiplicação Cingapura mostrou taxa de multiplicação superior a Clonada, no enraizamento in vitro e na aclimatização a resposta foram semelhantes em ambos os genótipos. Foi possível identificar genótipos de interesse comercial livre de vírus, selecionando-os para a micropropagação, nesta etapa o genótipo tem influência. Made available in DSpace on 2020-04-23T00:55:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GKSR2020.pdf: 306797 bytes, checksum: 6166a72f5af309528e0edeb54bab4942 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

Objective: Transthyretin (TTR)-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is an autosomal dominant neurological disease, caused most frequently by a Val30Met (now classified as Val50Met) substitution in TTR. Age at onset (AO) ranges from 19 to 82 years, and variability exists mostly between generations. Unstable oligonucleotide repeats in various genes are the mechanism behind several neurological diseases, found also to act as modifiers for other disorders. Our aim was to investigate whether large normal repeat alleles of 10 genes had a possible modifier effect in AO in Portuguese TTR-FAP Val30Met families. Methods: We analyzed 329 Portuguese patients from 123 families. Repeat length (at ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, ATXN7, TBP, ATN1, HTT, JPH3, AR, and DMPK) was assessed by single and multiplex polymerase chain reaction, using fluorescently labeled primers, followed by capillary electrophoresis. We used a family-centered approach, and generalized estimating equations were used to account for AO correlation between family members. Results: For ATXN2, the presence of at least 1 allele longer than 22 CAGs was significantly associated with an earlier onset in TTR-FAP Val30Met, decreasing mean AO by 6 years (95% confidence interval = -8.81 to -2.19, p = 0.001). No association was found for the remaining repeat loci. Interpretation: Length of normal repeats at ATXN2 may modify AO in TTR-FAP Val30Met and may function as a risk factor. This can be due to the role of ATXN2 in RNA metabolism and as a modulator of various cellular processes, including mitochondrial stress. This may have relevant implications for prognosis and the follow-up of presymptomatic carriers. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:251-258. This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; PTDC/SAUGMG/100240/2008 and PEsT), and co-funded by ERDF, COMPETE, and Multi- annual Financing of Research Units (FCT). D.S. and M.A.-F. are the recipients of an FCT fellowship (SFRH/BD/91160/2012 and SFRH/BD/101352/2014, respectively). We thank all patients for participating in this study and V. Costa for help assembling family data.

Experimental vaccines have been developed to protect against leishmaniasis using the BALB/c mice model immunized with different immunogens, but an effective vaccine still does not exist. To determine factors inherent to immunogens that might abrogate vaccine-induced efficacy, our research sought to investigate the impact of immunization using variable doses (low, medium and high) of a known soluble Leishmania antigenic extracts (SLA), associated or not with alum, in order to determine the best dose of this vaccine immunogen able to induce the best level of protection in BALB/c mice against L. amazonensis infection. This work shows that the immunization´ model using a high inoculum (100 µg) of SLA results in the best level of protection against challenge. These mice presented significant reductions in the footpad swelling and parasite load; high levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, and low levels of IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β and Leishmania-specific IgG and IgE antibodies. Mice immunized with 50 µg of SLA present intermediate results of protection; on the other hand, mice immunized with 1 µg showed the worst results. Considering all the elements, it could be concluded that the model employing a high dose of SLA in BALB/c mice can bring about the development of a protective immune response in the animals, thus allowing for the protection against the disease. In addition, we understand that the definition of an ideal dose for each vaccine candidate appears to be fundamental to determining the phenotype of resistance and/or susceptibility in murine models to study leishmaniasis. Made available in DSpace on 2020-03-11T18:08:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Differentialprotection1.pdf: 7784513 bytes, checksum: 648325fa33545defb8b74dff721d416d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019