Extraction of DNA from honey and its amplification by PCR for botanical identification

The physiochemical and biological properties of honey are directly associated to its floral origin. Some current commonly used methods for identification of botanical origin of honey involve palynological analysis, chromatographic methods, or direct observation of the bee behavior. However, these methods can be less sensitive and time consuming. DNA-based methods have become popular due to their simplicity, quickness, and reliability. The main objective of this research is to introduce a protocol for the extraction of DNA from honey and demonstrate that the molecular analysis of the extracted DNA can be used for its botanical identification. The original CTAB-based protocol for the extraction of DNA from plants was modified and used in the DNA extraction from honey. DNA extraction was carried out from different honey samples with similar results in each replication. The extracted DNA was amplified by PCR using plant specific primers, confirming that the DNA extracted using the modified protocol is of plant origin and has good quality for analysis of PCR products and that it can be used for botanical identification of honey

Type of light in sand fly captures (Diptera:Psychodidae)

The number of visceral leishmaniasis cases has been gradually increasing in Brazil. One of the strategies to reduce the disease transmission is based on vector control. It is therefore of great epidemiological importance to develop more refined methods for monitoring and controlling its vectors, which are the phlebotomine sand flies. The present study evaluates the performance of traps using UV light or conventional incandescent, or white, light in sand flies captures. Traps baited with UV light caught higher numbers of sand flies than traps baited with white light, indicating the potential use of UV light, especially in locations of low sand flies densities.El número de casos de leishmaniasis visceral en Brasil ha ido en aumento, y una de las estrategias para reducir la transmisión de esta enfermedad tiene como base el control de sus vectores. Por tanto, es de gran importancia epidemiológica desarrollar métodos más refinados para monitorear y controlar sus vectores, que son los flebotominos. El presente estudio compara la atracción ejercida por la luz UV en comparación con luz incandescente convencional, o luz blanca, en la captura de flebotominos. Las trampas adaptadas con luz UV capturaron un mayor número de mosquitos que las trampas adaptadas con luz blanca, lo que indica el uso potencial de la luz ultravioleta, especialmente en las localidades de baja densidad de flebotominos.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq