Sward Management Targets in Natural Grasslands of Southern Brazil

The relationship between environment, plant and animal is one of the most important focuses in the ecological and productive context of natural grasslands. The limited knowledge of the complexity of this environment can lead to inappropriate management strategies, determining degradation, biodiversity and productivity losses. This study is based on the concept that the best way to conserve natural grasslands is through adequate management targets. This study aimed to identify sward management targets that maximize productivity in natural grasslands of Southern Brazil

Sustained kidney biochemical derangement in treated experimental diabetes : a clue to metabolic memory.

The occurrence of biochemical alterations that last for a long period of time in diabetic individuals even after adequate handling of glycemia is an intriguing phenomenon named metabolic memory. In this study, we show that a kidney pathway is gradually altered during the course of diabetes and remains persistently changed after late glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This pathway comprises an early decline of uric acid clearance and pAMPK expression followed by fumarate accumulation, increased TGF-? expression, reduced PGC-1? expression, and downregulation of methylation and hydroxymethylation of mitochondrial DNA. The sustained decrease of uric acid clearance in treated diabetes may support the prolonged kidney biochemical alterations observed after tight glycemic control, and this regulation is likely mediated by the sustained decrease of AMPK activity and the induction of inflammation. This manuscript proposes the first consideration of the possible role of hyperuricemia and the underlying biochemical changes as part of metabolic memory in diabetic nephropathy development after glycemic control

A polyalanine peptide derived from polar fish with anti-infectious activities

Due to the growing concern about antibiotic-resistant microbial infections, increasing support has been given to new drug discovery programs. A promising alternative to counter bacterial infections includes the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which have emerged as model molecules for rational design strategies. Here we focused on the study of Pa-MAP 1.9, a rationally designed AMP derived from the polar fish Pleuronectes americanus. Pa-MAP 1.9 was active against Gram-negative planktonic bacteria and biofilms, without being cytotoxic to mammalian cells. By using AFM, leakage assays, CD spectroscopy and in silico tools, we found that Pa-MAP 1.9 may be acting both on intracellular targets and on the bacterial surface, also being more efficient at interacting with anionic LUVs mimicking Gram-negative bacterial surface, where this peptide adopts α-helical conformations, than cholesterol-enriched LUVs mimicking mammalian cells. Thus, as bacteria present varied physiological features that favor antibiotic-resistance, Pa-MAP 1.9 could be a promising candidate in the development of tools against infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (R21AI098701

Avaliação comportamental em ratos obesos submetidos a treinamento físico de endurance e HIIT

Diversos fatores são considerados causais para o desenvolvimento da obesidade, como estilo de vida, fatores hormonais, microbiota intestinal alterada e fatores epigenéticos, levando ao aumento dos comportamentos de ansiedade. O presente projeto testou a hipótese de que os treinamentos de endurance de intensidade moderada e intervalado de alta intensidade (HIIT) são efetivos para reduzir ou reverter o perfil de ansiedade em ratos com obesidade induzida por superalimentação durante o período de lactação. As análises foram realizadas com material coletado previamente (CEUA-UFJF 45/2015), com os grupos experimentais: controle (C ninhada 8-12 filhotes) e ninhada reduzida (NR-4 filhotes), subdivididos em sedentário e endurance ou HIIT. Os grupos foram submetidos ao Teste Open Field (TOF) para analisar: atividade locomotora, quantidade de bolos fecais, freezing (tempo de permanência estática) e grooming (contato com as vibrissas), a fim de avaliar o comportamento de ansiedade. Também foi utilizado o labirinto em cruz elevado, onde o aumento do tempo de permanência no braço aberto indica menor estado de ansiedade. Foi realizada comparação entre o grupo C e NR sedentário utilizando o Teste T e para comparação entre os três grupos foi utilizado o teste ANOVA, através do software GraphPad Prism. Ao longo da realização do TOF, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos C e NR sedentários (p<0,05), assim como no Freezing (p<0,05) e tempo de centro (p<0,05); contudo foram observadas tais diferenças na quantidade de bolos fecais (p=0,0396) entre os grupos NR sedentário e NR endurance, com redução de 77,77% nos grupos treinados, além de uma diferença significativa no Grooming (p=0,0015) e quantidade de quadrados andados (p=0,045) entre os grupos C sedentário e C endurance, com redução de 72, 41% e aumento de 69,12% nos grupos treinados, respectivamente. Já na realização do teste em labirinto em cruz elevado não foram observadas diferenças significativas para a frequência de entrada e para o tempo de permanência nos braços abertos. Na literatura são encontrados dados que demonstram que o treinamento físico está diretamente associado à redução do perfil de ansiedade e ao aumento da atividade locomotora com consequente aumento de gasto calórico, visto ao longo do presente projeto. Diante do exposto, é possível concluir que os roedores submetidos ao treinamento físico apresentaram redução significativa do comportamento de ansiedade

Developments on drug discovery and on new therapeutics: highly diluted tinctures act as biological response modifiers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the search for new therapies novel drugs and medications are being discovered, developed and tested in laboratories. Highly diluted substances are intended to enhance immune system responses resulting in reduced frequency of various diseases, and often present no risk of serious side-effects due to its low toxicity. Over the past years our research group has been investigating the action of highly diluted substances and tinctures on cells from the immune system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have developed and tested several highly diluted tinctures and here we describe the biological activity of M1, M2, and M8 both <it>in vitro </it>in immune cells from mice and human, and <it>in vivo </it>in mice. Cytotoxicity, cytokines released and NF-κB activation were determined after <it>in vitro </it>treatment. Cell viability, oxidative response, lipid peroxidation, bone marrow and lymph node cells immunophenotyping were accessed after mice <it>in vivo </it>treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>None of the highly diluted tinctures tested were cytotoxic to macrophages or K562. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages treated with all highly diluted tinctures decreased tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release and M1, and M8 decreased IFN-<it>γ </it>production. M1 has decreased NF-κB activity on TNF-α stimulated reporter cell line. <it>In vivo </it>treatment lead to a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) production was increased by M1, and M8, and lipid peroxidation was induced by M1, and M2. All compounds enhanced the innate immunity, but M1 also augmented acquired immunity and M2 diminished B lymphocytes, responsible to acquired immunity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the results presented here, these highly diluted tinctures were shown to modulate immune responses. Even though further investigation is needed there is an indication that these highly diluted tinctures could be used as therapeutic interventions in disorders where the immune system is compromised.</p

Genesis of closed depressions in slopes associated with the aluminous duricrust in the south region of Capara? Ridge, Minas Gerais/Espirito Santo.

A origem das depress?es fechadas associadas ? cobertura later?tica aluminosa nos topos dos morros e ao longo das vertentes na regi?o de Espera Feliz, MG, divisa com Esp?rito Santo, foi pesquisada atrav?s de um levantamento geof?sico da cobertura pedol?gica associado ?s an?lises morfol?gicas (macro e micro) de perfi s de solos. O levantamento geof?sico por GPR, realizado em 2 se??es ao longo de uma vertente, abrangeu duas depress?es consecutivas e foi seguido do levantamento sistem?tico da cobertura pedol?gica por meio da abertura de 5 perfi s (N1, L1, L2, N2 e L3). Foram coletadas amostras deformadas para an?lises f?sicas, mineral?gicas e qu?micas e amostras indeformadas para an?lise micromorfol?gica. No interior das depress?es fechadas foi identifi cado o Neossolo Lit?lico h?mico t?pico e entre as depress?es ocorre o Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distr?fi co h?mico. A an?lise lateral realizada pelo GPR e a interpreta??o conjunta dos atributos da cobertura revelam um sistema pedol?gico cont?nuo do topo a base da vertente. As diferen?as morfol?gicas que levam a exist?ncia de distintas classes de solos traduzem, neste contexto, a evolu??o pedogeomorfol?gica da vertente e consequente g?nese das depress?es, o que teria ocorrido de maneira distinta ao modelo de subsid?ncia por lixivia??o geoqu?mica, mais amplamente conhecido. Dois momentos s?o reconhecidos: i) a origem de uma cobertura latoss?lica relacionada ao avan?o vertical da degrada??o da bauxita e ? bioturba??o sob condi??es clim?ticas ?midas e ii) remo??o de partes dessa cobertura em condi??es clim?ticas (possivelmente ?ridas) posteriores.The origin of the closed depressions associated with the aluminous duricrust occurring on the tops of the hills and along the hillslope in the region of Espera Feliz city, Minas Gerais state, bordering the Esp?rito Santo state, was investigated through a geophysical survey of soil cover associated with the morphological analysis (macro and micro) in soil profi les. Geophysical survey by GPR held in two sections along a slope, covered two consecutive depressions and was followed by systematic survey of soil cover through the opening 5 profi les (N1, L1, L2, N2 and L3), where deformed samples were collected for chemical, physical and mineralogical analysis and undisturbed samples for micromorphological analysis. Humic Neosols were found inside the closed depressions and Humic Ferralsols were found between the closed depressions. The side analysis performed by GPR and the joint interpretation of the soil properties reveals a persistent pedological system from top to bottom of the slope. So the morphological diff erences that would lead to consider two soil classes are related to the occurency of mass moviments. The origin of the horizon (Bw and A) are related to the vertical advance of bauxite degradation conducted by bioturbation. The aluminous duricrust and its transformation into soil are understood as preceding stages of erosive features formation. Thus, the bauxite in the region would have formed under hot and humid weather conditions and removing parts of the cover in later dry weather conditions

In Vitro

Stryphnodendron species, popularly named “barbatimão,” are traditionally used in Brazil as anti-inflammatory agents. This study aimed to investigate the effect of barbatimão and 11 other species on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated THP-1 cells, as well as their anti-arthritis activity. The extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens, Stryphnodendron obovatum, Campomanesia lineatifolia, and Terminalia glabrescens promoted a concentration-dependent inhibition of TNF-α. Mice injected with LPS in the knee joint were treated per os with fractions from the selected extracts. Both the organic (SAO) and the aqueous (SAA) fractions of S. adstringens promoted a dose-dependent reduction of leukocyte migration and neutrophil accumulation into the joint, but none of them reduced CXCL1 concentration in the periarticular tissue. In contrast, treatment with C. lineatifolia and T. glabrescens fractions did not ameliorate the inflammatory parameters. Analyses of SAO by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) led to the identification of gallic acid along with 11 prodelphinidins, characterized as monomers and dimers of the B-type. Our findings contribute to some extent to corroborating the traditional use of S. adstringens as an anti-inflammatory agent. This activity is probably related to a decrease of leukocyte migration into the inflammatory site. Polyphenols like gallic acid and prodelphinidins, identified in the active fraction, may contribute to the observed activity

O PIBID/Química UEL - Um Relato de Experiência na Escola: Abordando o Tema Radioatividade

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Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors