Ethyl 2-[(carbamoyl­amino)­imino]­propano­ate hemihydrate

The title compound, C6H11N3O3·0.5H2O, has two independent mol­ecules and one mol­ecule of water in the asymmetric unit. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter­molecular N—H⋯N, O—H⋯O, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These inter­actions form a two-dimensional array in the ab plane with a zigzag motif which has an angle close to 35° between the zigzag planes. The hydrogen bonding can be best described using the graph-set notation as N 1 = C(10)R 2 2(10)R 2 2(8) and N 2 = R 6 4(20)R 2 2(8)

HISTOPATOLOGÍA DEL HÍGADO CAUSADA POR LA INFECCIÓN POR ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS EN SUS SCROFA PROCEDENTE DE BRASIL

Museum specimens represent a valuable resource for helminthological research. We examined formalin-fixed livers preserved for periods in excess of 50 years from naturally infected pigs in archival material from the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (CHIOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). Microscopic examination revealed evidence of parasites in unilocular cystic structures containing a bladder worm vesicle lined with a thin laminated membrane. The inner germinal layer contained parasite debris and a proteinaceous hydatid-like fluid. The hepatic parenchyma showed a dense inflammatory infiltrate near the cyst, thick-walled arterial vessels, and occasionally necrosis. The adjacent hepatic parenchyma showed inter- and intra-lobular thin fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and occasionally necrosis. Other histo-pathological sections showed a thick laminated wall cystic structure with brood capsules in the germinal layer containing small round projections with central internal vesicles on the inner surface, suggesting the presence of protoscolices. Given that Echinococcus multilocularis does not occur in Brazil, our histological findings were identified as Echinococcus granulosus in origin. In conclusion, the protocol presented in this study highlights the possibility of achieving remarkably high quality histological results in archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues retrieved from museum specimens that have been preserved for many years.Los especímenes de museo representan un recurso valioso para la investigación helmintológica. Hemos examinado los hígados fijados en formalina conservados por períodos de más de 50 años a partir de cerdos infectados naturalmente en el material de archivo de la Colección Helmintológica del Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC), Fundación Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ). El examen microscópico reveló evidencia de parásitos en estructuras quísticas uniloculares que contienen una vesícula de la membrana del parásito recubierto con una lámina delgada. La capa interna germinal contiene los restos del parásito y un líquido proteíco como hidatídico. El parénquima hepático mostró un denso infiltrado inflamatorio cerca del quiste, los vasos arteriales de paredes gruesas y necrosis de vez en cuando. El parénquima hepático adyacente mostró fibrosis delgada inter e intralobular, la infiltración de células inflamatorias y necrosis de vez en cuando. Otros cortes histológicos mostraron una estructura de pared gruesa laminada quística con cápsulas de cría en la capa germinal que contienen proyecciones pequeñas y redondas con el centro de las vesículas internas en la superficie interna, lo que sugiere la presencia de protoescólices. Teniendo en cuenta que Echinococcus multilocularis no ocurre en Brasil, nuestros hallazgos histológicos fueron identificados como Echinococcus granulosus de origen. En conclusión, el protocolo que se presenta en este estudio pone de relieve la posibilidad de lograr resultados histológicos de muy alta calidad en archivos fijados en formalina y parafina de tejidos embebidos recuperados de especímenes de museo que se han conservado durante muchos años

Cyanamide mode of action during inhibition of onion (Allium cepa L.) root growth involves disturbances in cell division and cytoskeleton formation

Cyanamide is an allelochemical produced by hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.). Its phyotoxic effect on plant growth was examined on roots of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs. Water solution of cyanamide (2–10 mM) restricted growth of onion roots in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of onion roots with cyanamide resulted in a decrease in root growth rate accompanied by a decrease in accumulation of fresh and dry weight. The inhibitory effect of cyanamide was reversed by its removal from the environment, but full recovery was observed only for tissue treated with this chemical at low concentration (2–6 mM). Cytological observations of root tip cells suggest that disturbances in cell division may explain the strong cyanamide allelopathic activity. Moreover, in cyanamide-treated onion the following changes were detected: reduction of mitotic cells, inhibition of proliferation of meristematic cells and cell cycle, and modifications of cytoskeleton arrangement

The Transcriptome of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) Male Reproductive Organs

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that genes involved in the reproductive biology of insect disease vectors are potential targets for future alternative methods of control. Little is known about the molecular biology of reproduction in phlebotomine sand flies and there is no information available concerning genes that are expressed in male reproductive organs of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of American visceral leishmaniasis and a species complex. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We generated 2678 high quality ESTs ("Expressed Sequence Tags") of L. longipalpis male reproductive organs that were grouped in 1391 non-redundant sequences (1136 singlets and 255 clusters). BLAST analysis revealed that only 57% of these sequences share similarity with a L. longipalpis female EST database. Although no more than 36% of the non-redundant sequences showed similarity to protein sequences deposited in databases, more than half of them presented the best-match hits with mosquito genes. Gene ontology analysis identified subsets of genes involved in biological processes such as protein biosynthesis and DNA replication, which are probably associated with spermatogenesis. A number of non-redundant sequences were also identified as putative male reproductive gland proteins (mRGPs), also known as male accessory gland protein genes (Acps). CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptome analysis of L. longipalpis male reproductive organs is one step further in the study of the molecular basis of the reproductive biology of this important species complex. It has allowed the identification of genes potentially involved in spermatogenesis as well as putative mRGPs sequences, which have been studied in many insect species because of their effects on female post-mating behavior and physiology and their potential role in sexual selection and speciation. These data open a number of new avenues for further research in the molecular and evolutionary reproductive biology of sand flies