Overhauling ocean spatial planning to improve marine megafauna conservation

Tracking data have led to evidence-based conservation of marine megafauna, but a disconnect remains between the many 1000s of individual animals that have been tracked and the use of these data in conservation and management actions. Furthermore, the focus of most conservation efforts is within Exclusive Economic Zones despite the ability of these species to move 1000s of kilometers across multiple national jurisdictions. To assist the goal of the United Nations General Assembly’s recent effort to negotiate a global treaty to conserve biodiversity on the high seas, we propose the development of a new frontier in dynamic marine spatial management. We argue that a global approach combining tracked movements of marine megafauna and human activities at-sea, and using existing and emerging technologies (e.g., through new tracking devices and big data approaches) can be applied to deliver near real-time diagnostics on existing risks and threats to mitigate global risks for marine megafauna. With technology developments over the next decade expected to catalyze the potential to survey marine animals and human activities in ever more detail and at global scales, the development of dynamic predictive tools based on near real-time tracking and environmental data will become crucial to address increasing risks. Such global tools for dynamic spatial and temporal management will, however, require extensive synoptic data updates and will be dependent on a shift to a culture of data sharing and open access. We propose a global mechanism to store and make such data available in near real-time, enabling a holistic view of space use by marine megafauna and humans that would significantly accelerate efforts to mitigate impacts and improve conservation and management of marine megafauna

The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies

Telemetry is a key, widely used tool to understand marine megafauna distribution, habitat use, behavior, and physiology; however, a critical question remains: “How many animals should be tracked to acquire meaningful data sets?” This question has wide-ranging implications including considerations of statistical power, animal ethics, logistics, and cost. While power analyses can inform sample sizes needed for statistical significance, they require some initial data inputs that are often unavailable. To inform the planning of telemetry and biologging studies of marine megafauna where few or no data are available or where resources are limited, we reviewed the types of information that have been obtained in previously published studies using different sample sizes. We considered sample sizes from one to >100 individuals and synthesized empirical findings, detailing the information that can be gathered with increasing sample sizes. We complement this review with simulations, using real data, to show the impact of sample size when trying to address various research questions in movement ecology of marine megafauna. We also highlight the value of collaborative, synthetic studies to enhance sample sizes and broaden the range, scale, and scope of questions that can be answered

T Helper 1–Inducing Adjuvant Protects against Experimental Paracoccidioidomycosis

Immunostimulatory therapy is a promising approach to improving the treatment of systemic fungal infections such as paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), whose drug therapy is usually prolonged and associated with toxic side effects and relapses. The current study was undertaken to determine if the injection of a T helper (Th) 1–stimulating adjuvant in P. brasiliensis–infected mice could have a beneficial effect on the course of experimental PCM. For this purpose, mice were infected and treated with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), a well-established Th1 experimental inductor, or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA - control group) on day 20 postinfection. Four weeks after treatment, the CFA-treated mice presented a mild infection in the lungs characterized by absence of epithelioid cell granulomas and yeast cells, whereas the control mice presented multiple sites of focal epithelioid granulomas with lymphomonocytic halos circumscribing a high number of viable and nonviable yeast cells. In addition, CFA administration induced a 2.4 log reduction (>99%) in the fungal burden when compared to the control group, and led to an improvement of immune response, reversing the immunosuppression observed in the control group. The immunotherapy with Th1-inducing adjuvant, approved to be used in humans, might be a valuable tool in the treatment of PCM and potentially useful to improve the clinical cure rate in humans

Interleukin-15 augments oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of human monocytes against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates the proliferation and survival of many cell types. IL-15 is produced by monocytes and macrophages against infectious agents and plays a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune responses. This study analyzed the effect of IL-15 on fungicidal activity, oxidative metabolism and cytokine production by human monocytes challenged in vitro with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18), the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis. Peripheral blood monocytes were pre-incubated with IL-15 and then challenged with Pb18. Fungicidal activity was assessed by viable fungi recovery from cultures after plating on brain-heart infusion-agar. Superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-15 and IL-10 production by monocytes were also determined. IL-15 enhanced fungicidal activity against Pb18 in a dose-dependent pattern. This effect was abrogated by addition of anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody. A significant stimulatory effect of IL-15 on O2- and H2O2 release suggests that fungicidal activity was dependent on the activation of oxidative metabolism. Pre-treatment of monocytes with IL-15 induced significantly higher levels of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-15 production by cells challenged with the fungus. These results suggest a modulatory effect of IL-15 on pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of monocytes during Pb18 infection

Avaliação antropométrica e do ângulo quadricipital na osteoartrite de joelho em mulheres obesas

A osteoartrite (OA) é uma doença articular degenerativa, caracterizada por processo inflamatório, dor e deformidades; um de seus fatores preditivos é a obesidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar possíveis correlações entre medidas antropométricas, o ângulo quadricipital (Q) e a osteoartrite de joelho. A amostra foi composta por 50 voluntárias obesas (30 com OA de joelho e 20 sem OA), com idade entre 40 e 60 anos. Foram mensurados, além do IMC (índice de massa corporal), circunferência abdominal (CA), perímetros de cintura e quadril para cálculo da relação cintura-quadril e o ângulo Q; a osteoartrite foi diagnosticada clinicamente e por meio de radiografia da articulação do joelho. Foram encontradas correlações positivas fracas entre IMC e ângulo Q e entre tempo de obesidade e grau de degeneração articular. A CA apresentou correlação positiva fraca com o grau de degeneração articular e o de gravidade da OA. O cálculo da razão de chance (OR) indica que as voluntárias com IMC>34 kg/m² e CA>110 cm tiveram 3,7 e 7 vezes, respectivamente, mais chance de apresentarem OA. A obesidade central, seu grau e duração possivelmente contribuem para a incidência da OA de joelhos em mulheres obesas. A circunferência abdominal foi a medida que melhor se correlacionou com a presença e grau de OA em obesas, o que aponta para a relevância de sua mensuração na avaliação clínica.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammatory process, pain, and deformity; one of its main predictive factors is obesity. The aim of this study was to search for possible correlations between anthropometric measures, the Q angle and knee osteoarthritis. A sample of 50 obese women (30 with knee osteoarthritis and 20 with no joint disease), aged between 40 to 60 years, were assessed as to BMI (body mass index), abdominal circumference (AC), waist and hip perimeters (so as to calculate waist-hip ratio), and the Q angle; osteoarthritis was diagnosed by clinical exam and knee joint radiography. Results showed a positive, poor correlation between BMI and Q angle, as well as between time of obesity onset and degree of joint degeneration. AC was found to positively, though weakly, correlate with the degree of joint degeneration and of OA severity. Adjusted odds ratio for OA showed that women with BMI>34 kg/m² and AC>110 cm were respectively 3.7 and 7 times more likely to develop OA. The degree and duration of central obesity possibly contribute to incidence of knee OA in obese women. Abdominal circumference was the measure that most correlated with the degree of joint degeneration and of OA severity, which suggests it should be used in clinical evaluation