Core promoter information content correlates with optimal growth temperature

The subtle mechanisms by which protein-DNA interactions remain functional across a wide range of temperatures are largely unknown. In this work, we manually curated available information relating fully sequenced archaeal genomes with organism growth temperatures. We built a motif that represents the core promoter of each species and calculated its information content. We then studied the relation between optimal growth temperature (OGT) and information content (IC) in the promoter region.We found a positive correlation between G + C content and OGT in tRNA regions and not in overall genome. Furthermore, we found that there is a positive correlation between information content and optimal growth temperatures in Archaea. This can't be explained by an increased C+G composition nor by other obvious mechanisms. These findings suggest that increased information content could produce a positive fitness in organisms living at high temperatures. We suggest that molecular information theory may need to be adapted for hyperthermophiles.Fil: Aptekmann, Ariel. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Nadra, Alejandro Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Cats’ welfare and the relationship with their tutors during quarantine caused by COVID-19 in Brazil

This study aimed to identify behavioral changes or welfare impairments in cats in response to home isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, as well as the emotional role these animals may play with their tutors. Online questionnaires were answered by 419 cat’s tutors in Brazil, who reported changes in the household routine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The questions addressed information about the cat in the household, the tutor-cat relationship, the cat behavior, the house environment, and the changes occurred in the face of social isolation. It was evident that changes in people's routines were frequent and staying longer at home was the change most reported by the participants. Thus, cats were left alone for less time compared to the period before the quarantine. This led to an increase in the amount of time that tutors spent playing or paying attention to their cats. The quarantine period generated minimal undesirable behavioral changes in the cats, and the fact that the tutors stayed home longer contributed to reducing these changes. The fact that a cat could become infected by the new corona virus SARS-CoV-2 was known by less than half of the interviewees, which did not influence any tutor to think of getting rid of their cat. We highlight that the fact that the tutors stayed longer at home, interacting with their cat, contributed to reduce the undesirable behavioral changes in the cats. This also improved the tutors' perception of the cats' needs and behaviors, also reflecting on a greater perception of happiness in cats

Evolutionary analysis of the protein-DNA interaction

En la entidad funcional “interfaz proteína-ADN”, proteína y ADN se condicionanmutuamente en un proceso coevolutivo. El hecho de que múltiples reconocedoresmoleculares tengan que coexistir en un mismo genoma y ejercer sus funciones sininterferir con las funciones de los otros, condiciona sus requisitos de especificidady discriminación. En términos evolutivos, se observa además que pares homólogosmantienen su función en un espectro amplio de condiciones físico químicas. Se agregaa esto la dificultad de que una vez determinada una red regulatoria hay un efectoinercial, que dificulta el modificarla cuanto mas cantidad de partes interactuantesformen la misma. En este trabajo nos proponemos estudiar las condiciones, procesosy mecanismos que determinan las posibilidades de este fenómeno. Esta tesis puededividirse en siete etapas, cada una correspondiente con un capítulo. En el primercapítulo comenzamos por recopilar de forma sistemática información sobre las condicionesde vida de extremófilos, principalmente Archaea. En el segundo capítulo,para aquellos organismos con un genoma secuenciado y anotado, calculamos la composiciónde distintas regiones del genoma, evidenciando que la aparente correlaciónentre contenido de G+C y la temperatura óptima de crecimiento se debe a un sesgoen los datos usados históricamente. En el tercer capítulo estudiamos el contenido deinformación de los promotores en distintos genomas, evidenciando un desvío de loesperable de acuerdo a la teoría molecular de la información, proponiendo posiblesexplicaciones para esta desviación. En el cuarto capítulo se aplica un análisis similara la comparación de promotores de genomas nuclear y mitocondrial en los cualeshay, de manera sostenida y en un mismo organismo, una diferencia de temperatura. En el quinto capítulo se identifican y caracterizan motivos funcionales a nivel degenoma, relacionados con la regulación de un factor de transcripción involucrado encrecimiento radicular en plantas (RSL4). En el sexto capítulo, usando expresionesregulares como modelos de sitios de unión, estudiamos la coevolución de motivosen el espacio de secuencia, mostrando cómo el tama˜no del alfabeto tiene un efectosobre el número de posiciones discriminantes óptimas y cómo los sistemas naturalestienden a optimizarse influenciadas por este parámetro. En resumen, mediante elanálisis bibliográfico y el uso de herramientas bioinformáticas modernas, estudiamosel sistema “interacción proteína-ADN”, considerando restricciones biofísicas yevolutivas. Este análisis nos ha permitido reforzar hipótesis previas, así como encontrarresultados novedosos. Esta tesis ha requerido la aplicación de teoremas y eldesarrollo de algoritmos, que son enunciados a modo de apéndice.At the functional entity “Protein-DNA interface”, Protein and DNA are mutuallyconditioned by a co evolutive process. Since multiple molecular recognicers coexistand remain functional on a same genome withouth interfering excesively betweenthem, each recognizer is required to have especificity. They must also mantain theirfunctions over a wide range of fisico-chemical conditions. As if those where notenough difficulties, once a regulatory network has been established, there is an inercialeffect that restricts its capability to be modified (Since more parts interacting arerequired to be changed). In this work we propose to study the conditions,mechanismsand processes that are determinant to this fenomena. This thesis can be divided intoseven stages, each corresponding to a chapter. In the first chapter we began by collectingsystematically information on the living conditions of extremophiles, especially Archaea. In the second chapter, for those organisms with a genome sequenced andannotated, we calculated the composition of different regions of the genome, showingthat the apparent correlation between G + C content and optimal growth temperatureis due to a bias in the data used historically. In the third chapter we study theinformation content of the promoters in different genomes, evidencing a deviationfrom what is expected according to the molecular theory of information, proposingpossible explanations for this deviation. In the fourth chapter a similar analysis isapplied to the comparison of promoters of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes inwhich there is, in a sustained manner and in the same organism, a temperaturedifference. The fifth chapter identifies and characterizes functional genome-relatedregulation of a transcription factor involved in root growth in plants (RSL4). In thesixth chapter, by using regular expressions as models of binding sites, we study thecoevolution of motifs in sequence space, showing how the size of the alphabet hasan effect on the number of optimal discriminant positions and how natural systemstend to be optimized by this parameter. In summary, through bibliographic analysisand the use of modern bioinformatics tools, we studied the ”protein-DNA interaction”system,considering biophysical and evolutionary restrictions. This analysis hasallowed us to reinforce previous hypotheses, as well as find novel results. This thesishas required the application of theorems and the development of algorithms, whichare enunciated as an appendix.Fil: Aptekmann, Ariel Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Tetralogia de Fallot em cão. Relato de caso

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Avaliação de tecnologias em saúde e o impacto na imagem médica

Objetivos do estudo: definir o conceito de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (ATS); identificar métodos de pesquisa para ATS no âmbito da imagem médica; entender o valor de revisões sistemáticas e metaanálise em ATS; compreender a influência da ATS na imagem médica

Cardiovascular Evaluation in Bitches in Oestrus, Pregnancy and Puerperium

Background: Pregnancy may change maternal hemodynamic, which is considered a physiological mechanism for adaptation. Cardiac output tends to be influenced by reductions in vascular resistance and increases in uterine vasculature, as well as reduced autonomic tone combined with gestational physiological anaemia and increased blood volume due to increased plasma volume and hormonal mechanisms. In bitches, few studies have been conducted investigating the changes of the system and the clinical implications for the mother and foetuses due to poor cardiac adaptation during pregnancy.Materials, Methods & Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), electrocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic measurements and serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels were evaluated in six bitches of reproductive age. An evaluation was performed in oestrus (M0), followed by evaluations at 25 (M1), 45 (M2), and 60 days (M3) after the last natural or artificial insemination and 15 days after delivery (M4). For the statistical analysis, the means, medians and the standard deviation were calculated. The data were analysed using ANOVA and the Tukey test, with significance level of 5%. A descriptive analysis was performed for color Doppler in echocardiogram evaluation, cardiac axis and rhythm in electrocardiogram evaluation. In the electrolytic evaluation, significant differences were found only in the serum levels of Na, noticed as a reduction in M0-M1 and M3-M2 and an increase in M1-M2 and M3-M4. No significant differences were observed in the SBP, although there was a tendency to SBP reduction. ECG parameters were not significantly different, with no rhythm or conduction disturbances. There was not a significant difference in HR. Four animals (66.6%) had axis deviation to the right when comparing the oestrous phase with the final quarter of pregnancy. The echocardiographic parameters did not show significant changes.Discussion: The reduction observed in Na can occur by salt depletion, by dilutional or metabolic mechanisms. In contrast, the elevation in Na concentration could occur as a result of fluid and electrolyte retention by kidneys during gestation. The absence of electrocardiographic changes may be justified by the stability of mean serum potassium concentrations. An increase in HR five days before the expected calving time, demonstrating the maximum cardiac activity in this gestational phase, is related by other authors, therefore, in the present study, the absence of significant change in HR can be explained by the period in which the data collection was performed, 45 days of gestation, being therefore prior to the period of greatest HR. The cardiac axis deviation can be explained by the distension of the gravid uterus that cause compression of the adjacent organs, leading to diaphragmatic compression and consequent repositioning of the thoracic structures. A tendency to SBP reduction observed is directly influenced by peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output that occur during pregnancy. Although the echocardiographic findings did not show changes, it is suggested that there are changes related to increased blood volume in pregnancy to provide an appropriate blood flow to the conceptus. It was concluded that pregnancy and the postpartum period in bitches did not cause changes in electrolytes levels, SBP values, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters as compared to values obtained during oestrus

Percepção e atitudes de proprietários quanto a vacinação de cães na região sul do estado do Espírito Santo - Brasil

Dogs are dependent on their owners to determine their general care, health and welfare, including the holding of vaccines against infectious diseases. This study was performed to gather more information on immunization practices performed in dogs by surveying owners of the southern of Espírito Santo State, totalizing 344 interviews. Statistical analysis of frequency and correlation were performed. The survey consisted of questions regarding the implementation of vaccination in dogs and aware of vaccine protocols by the owners, and also collect data about the cost of performing vaccines, the coverage of public campaigns of rabies vaccination and socioeconomic status of respondents. It was concluded that public campaign of rabies vaccination is satisfactory, as the most respondents was aware and performed that vaccines annually, independent of schooling level. Nevertheless, polyvalent vaccination is performed by less than a half of studied population, and owners were more aware about vaccination protocol in puppies than in adult dogs. Vaccination is still performed, in part, by non-specialist. The awareness of owners regarding correct protocols and application of vaccines by veterinarians should be performed to guarantee the properly vaccination practices and ensure the protection of dogs against infectious diseases.Os cães são dependentes de seus proprietários para a determinação de seus cuidados gerais, saúde e bem-estar, incluindo a realização de vacinas contra doenças infecciosas. Para obter maiores informações sobre as práticas de vacinação realizadas em cães de uma amostra populacional da região sul do estado do Espírito Santo, realizou-se este estudo por meio de enquetes aplicadas a proprietários de cães desta região, totalizando 344 entrevistas. As análises estatísticas de frequência e correlação foram realizadas. A enquete foi constituída por perguntas referentes à realização de vacinação em cães e ciência dos protocolos vacinais pelos proprietários, além de levantar dados quanto ao custo da realização de vacinas, a abrangência das campanhas públicas de vacinação antirrábica e nível socioeconômico dos entrevistados. Pode-se concluir que a campanha pública de vacinação antirrábica é satisfatória, uma vez que a maior parte da população estava ciente e realizava a vacina antirrábica anualmente, independentemente do nível de escolaridade. Por outro lado, a vacina polivalente é realizada por menos da metade da população estudada, sendo que os proprietários eram mais informados do protocolo vacinal de filhotes do que do protocolo anual de revacinação para adultos. Os proprietários com maior nível de escolaridade são mais instruídos quanto ao protocolo vacinal de cães. A vacinação ainda é realizada, em partes, por profissionais não especializados. Para que as práticas de vacinação sejam realizadas adequadamente e garantam a proteção dos cães contra doenças infecciosas, deve-se realizar uma conscientização dos proprietários com relação aos protocolos corretos e à necessidade de aplicação de vacinas por médicos veterinários

Características clínico-epidemiológicas do hiperadrenocorticismo na região de Botucatu - SP

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Linfoma multicêntrico com metástase no sistema nervoso central em cão. Relato de caso

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Hemangiossarcoma cardíaco em cão. Relato de dois casos

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