Phylogeny of Lantana, Lippia, and related genera (Lantaneae: Verbenaceae)

Premise: Lantana and Lippia (Verbenaceae) are two large Linnean genera whose classification has been based on associated fruit traits: fleshy vs. dry fruits and one vs. two seed-bearing units. We reconstruct evolutionary relationships and the evolution of the two fruit traits to test the validity of these traits for classification. Methods: Previous studies of plastid DNA sequences provided limited resolution for this group. Consequently, seven nuclear loci, including ITS, ETS, and five PPR loci, were sequenced for 88 accessions of the Lantana/Lippia clade and three outgroups. Results: Neither Lantana nor Lippia is monophyletic. Burroughsia, Nashia, Phyla, and several Aloysia species are included within the clade comprising Lantana and Lippia. We provide a hypothesis for fruit evolution and biogeographic history in the group and their relevance for classification. Conclusions: Fleshy fruits evolved multiple times in the Lantana/Lippia clade and thus are not suitable taxonomic characters. Several sections of Lantana and Lippia and the small genera are monophyletic, but Lippia section Zappania is broadly paraphyletic, making circumscription of genera difficult. Lippia sect. Rhodolippia is a polyphyletic group characterized by convergence in showy bracts. Species of Lantana sect. Sarcolippia, previously transferred to Lippia, are not monophyletic. The clade originated and diversified in South America, with at least four expansions into both Central America and the Caribbean and two to Africa. The types species of Lantana and Lippia occur in small sister clades, rendering any taxonomy that retains either genus similar to its current circumscription impossible.Fil: Lu Irving, Patricia. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Bedoya, Ana M.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Salimena, Fátima R. G.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: dos Santos Silva, Tânia R.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Viccini, Lyderson F.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Bitencourt, Cássia. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Thode, Verônica. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Cardoso, Pedro H.. Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro. Museu Nacional; BrasilFil: O'Leary, Nataly Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Olmstead, Richard. University of Washington; Estados Unido

Participation of 5-HT and AT 1 Receptors within the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla in the Maintenance of Hypertension in the Goldblatt 1 Kidney-1 Clip Model

The hypothesis that changes in neurotransmission within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are important to maintain the high blood pressure (BP) was tested in Goldblatt one kidney-one clip hypertension model (1K-1C). Male Wistar rats were anesthetized (urethane 1.2 g/kg, i.v.), and the effects of bilateral microinjections into the RVLM of the following drugs were measured in 1K-1C or control groups: glutamate (0.1 mol/L, 100 nL) and its antagonist kynurenic acid (0.02 mol/L, 100 nL), the angiotensin AT 1 receptor antagonist candesartan (0.01 mol/L, 100 nL), and the nonselective 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.06 mol/L, 100 nL). Experiments in 1K-1C rats were performed 6 weeks after surgery. In anesthetized rats glutamate response was larger in hypertensive than in normotensive rats (H: Δ67 ± 6.5; N: Δ43 ± 3.54 mmHg). In contrast, kynurenic acid microinjection into the RVLM did not cause any change in BP in either group. The blockade of either AT 1 or 5-HT receptors within the RVLM decreased BP only in 1K-1C rats. A largest depressor response was caused by 5-HT receptor blockade. The data suggest that 5-HT and AT 1 receptors act tonically to drive RVLM in 1K-1C rats, and these actions within RVLM contribute to the pathogenesis of this model of hypertension

Efeito hipolipemiante da suplementação dietética com a farinha do cubiu (solanum sessiliforum dunal) em ratos hipercolesterolêmicos

Studies with fruit and vegetables rich in dietary fber have shown lowering effects on the blood concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), acting preventively against hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of cocona and evaluate the effect of the consumption of cocona four on lipemia of Wistar rats with hypercholesterolemia. Eight animals were used for each treatment, in 7 groups: control; 3 experimental groups with 5%, 25% and 50% of the recommended fber (AIN-93) from cocona four; 3 groups per feeding with pectin and cellulose as source of dietary fber, in the same proportions of the experimental groups. At the end of the assay, we verifed that there were not signifcant variations in the consumption of the animals and the body weight during the experiment. Treatments with cocna four were responsible for reducing the concentrations of total cholesterol (-21.6%), LDL-c (-56.8%), increasing the excretion of fecal cholesterol (+116%) and lowering the liver cholesterol (-32.1%). None of the treatments signifcantly altered the triglyceride concentrations. Treatments using pectin and cellulose show results similar to cocona. The observed results can be used in further studies aimed at the biotechnological exploitation of this fruit. © 2015, Instituto de Biociencias. All rights reserved

An Intracellular Arrangement of Histoplasma capsulatum Yeast-Aggregates Generates Nuclear Damage to the Cultured Murine Alveolar Macrophages

Histoplasma capsulatum is responsible for a human systemic mycosis that primarily affects lung tissue. Macrophages are the major effector cells in humans that respond to the fungus, and the development of respiratory disease depends on the ability of Histoplasma yeast cells to survive and replicate within alveolar macrophages. Therefore, the interaction between macrophages and H. capsulatum is a decisive step in the yeast dissemination into host tissues. Although the role played by components of cell-mediated immunity in the host's defense system and the mechanisms used by the pathogen to evade the host immune response are well understood, knowledge regarding the effects induced by H. capsulatum in host cells at the nuclear level is limited. According to the present findings, H. capsulatum yeast cells display a unique architectural arrangement during the intracellular infection of cultured murine alveolar macrophages, characterized as a formation of aggregates that seem to surround the host cell nucleus, resembling a crown. This extranuclear organization of yeast-aggregates generates damage on the nucleus of the host cell, producing DNA fragmentation and inducing apoptosis, even though the yeast cells are not located inside the nucleus and do not trigger changes in nuclear proteins. The current study highlights a singular intracellular arrangement of H. capsulatum yeast near to the nucleus of infected murine alveolar macrophages that may contribute to the yeast’s persistence under intracellular conditions, since this fungal pathogen may display different strategies to prevent elimination by the host's phagocytic mechanisms

Bioética na pesquisa de engenharia biomédica : diminuição do uso de animais em experimentos científicos

Atividades de pesquisa utilizando animais são realizadas desde a antiguidade, o bem-estar do animal não era prioridade. Com a evolução da pesquisa, houve, também, a crescente preocupação com a ética e métodos que poderiam substituir o uso de cobaias animais nos experimentos científicos. Tal conscientização manifestou-se já no início do século XIX, na Inglaterra, com o surgimento de movimentos que se dedicavam a mudar as atitudes do homem em relação aos animais. Desde então, ativistas argumentam que métodos alternativos são capazes de substituir a utilização de animais em pesquisa, e que, por isso, a utilização de seres vivos é considerada como obsoleta. Por outro lado, alguns cientistas argumentam que a experimentação é o que traz frutos das pesquisas. O presente trabalho apresenta um levantamento de dissertações e teses defendidas no Instituto de Biologia da Universidade de Brasília no ano de 2017 que realizaram testes in vitro e in vivo além de trazer uma reflexão sobre o assunto e visa ressaltar as vantagens do uso de métodos alternativos. Para este estudo, foram utilizados artigos e dissertações das bases de dados CAPES e PubMed, bem como outras referências presentes neles. Concluiu-se que, embora não haja tecnologia suficiente para erradicar o uso de animais em experimentos, existem diversos métodos alternativos que não comprometem o estudo realizado

Feira de Ciências: uma experiência interdisciplinar na formação de professores de ciências das séries iniciais do ensino fundamental

O presente artigo se configura como um relato de experiência didática vivenciada por professores e alunos do Curso de Pedagogia da Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA). A experiência relatada diz respeito ao processo de planejamento, organização e realização de uma Feira de Ciências por duas turmas de 5º. Período de Pedagogia, sob a orientação das professoras das disciplinas Química e Biologia daquelas turmas. O evento, cujo tema central foi Ciência, Tecnologia e Meio ambiente, possibilitou a pesquisa, produção de material e socialização dos conhecimentos construídos acerca dos sub-temas associados a temática central, tendo sido percebido pelos sujeitos envolvidos no processo como de relevante significado para formação desses futuros profissionais da educação básica, na medida em que permitiu a vivência de uma prática interdisciplinar, além de promover articulação teórico-prática dos conteúdos trabalhado

Factors associated with small- and large-for-gestational-age in socioeconomically vulnerable individuals in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Evidence points to diverse risk factors associated with small- (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births. A more comprehensive understanding of these factors is imperative, especially in vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the occurrence of and sociodemographic factors associated with SGA and LGA births in poor and extremely poor populations of Brazil. METHODS: The study population consisted of women of reproductive age (14-49 y), whose last child was born between 2012 and 2015. INTERGROWTH 21st consortium criteria were used to classify weight for gestational age according to sex. Multinomial logistic regression modeling was performed to investigate associations of interest. RESULTS: Of 5,521,517 live births analyzed, SGA and LGA corresponded to 7.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed greater odds of SGA in children born to women who self-reported as black (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.22), mixed-race (parda) (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.09), or indigenous (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.15), were unmarried (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.08), illiterate (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.42, 1.52), did not receive prenatal care (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.53, 1.60), or were aged 14-20 y (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.22) or 35-49 y (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.13). Considering LGA children, higher odds were found in infants born to women living in households with ≥3 inadequate housing conditions (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.12), in indigenous women (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.25), those who had 1-3 y of schooling (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.19), 1-3 prenatal visits (OR: 1.16; CI 95%: 1.14, 1.17), or were older (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.27). CONCLUSIONS: In poorer Brazilian populations, socioeconomic, racial, and maternal characteristics are consistently associated with the occurrence of SGA births, but remain less clearly linked to the occurrence of LGA births

Proposição de um sistema de produção de mudas de mandioquinha-salsa.

O objetivo desta publicação é trazer subsídios para a produção de mudas de alta qualidade genética, fitossanitária e fisiológica, com responsabilidade técnica, passíveis de certificação, em atendimento a demandas da cadeia produtiva e da sociedade como um todo. Assim, visa à melhoria do processo e da qualidade do produto, com consequente redução dos problemas fitossanitários e aumento na produtividade