Edema Induced by sPLA2 from <em>Crotalus durissus terrificus</em> Involves PLC and PKC Signaling, Activation of cPLA2, and Oxidative Stress

sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, free of crotapotin (Cdt sPLA2), purified and isolated sPLA2, was able to significantly increase lipid peroxidation, which occurred simultaneously with increased arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. In addition, MDA and AA levels were elevated at 15 min after Cdt sPLA2 injection and after peak edema (negative control). Thus, oxidative stress and ROS play important roles in the inflammation induced by Cdt sPLA2. On the other hand, edema induced by sPLA2 involves the direct and indirect mobilization of arachidonic acid by the involvement of phosphokinase C (PKC) and phospholipase C (PLC), which indirectly stimulates cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2). We also observed that the specific antivenin against Cdt venom had no significant effect on the neutralization of induced edema compared to the natural products 5-caffeine-linoleic acid (5CQA) and dexamethasone (AACOCF3). Our results also indicate that there was improvement in the inhibition of edema of natural polyphenolic compounds compared to antivenin or inhibition of the enzymatic activity of sPLA2 due to the fact that 5CQA is a potent antioxidant compound. Thus, our results show a clear correlation between increased arachidonic acid metabolism and oxidative stress

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Onychomycosis by Scytalidium dimidiatum: report of two cases in Santa Catarina, Brazil Onicomicose por Scytalidium dimidiatum: relato de dois casos em Santa Catarina, Brasil

Onychomycoses constitute pathologies frequently seen in dermatological practice worldwide. Usually, they are caused by two groups of pathogenic fungi: dermatophytes and yeasts of the Candida genus. However, in a small fraction of the cases, the etiologic agents comprise nondermatophyte molds, belonging to several genera and species. The objective of this study was to present two cases of onychomycosis associated to the mold Scytalidium dimidiatum in patients residing in two cities of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Aspects of fungal pathogenesis, as well as the epidemiological characteristics and laboratory diagnosis, are discussed.<br>Onicomicoses se apresentam como infecções fúngicas localizadas, muito freqüentes na prática dermatológica. Na grande maioria das vezes, são causadas por dois grupos: dermatófitos e leveduras do gênero Candida. Entretanto, em um pequeno percentual dos casos, os agentes etiológicos compreendem fungos filamentosos não-dermatófitos, pertencentes a vários gêneros e espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de apresentar dois casos de onicomicose associados à espécie Scytalidium dimidiatum em pacientes residentes em dois municípios do estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. São discutidos aspectos relacionados a sua patogênese, epidemiologia, diagnóstico laboratorial e tratamento

Genetic structure of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) populations estimated by RAPD Estrutura genética de populações de azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum) estimada por RAPD

Annual ryegrass is a temperate climate annual foraging grass, grown mostly in the South of Brazil, especially in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Despite its importance, little is known about its genetic diversity, both within and among the populations cultivated. This knowledge is of fundamental importance for developing breeding and conservation strategies. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of four populations of annual ryegrass. Three of the populations were located in Rio Grande do Sul and the fourth in Uruguay. RAPD markers were used to study the genetic diversity and structure of these populations. Analysis of 375 individuals sampled from the populations, using six RAPD primers, generated a total of 82 amplified bands. They included 73 polymorphic bands (89,02%). The value of the total genetic diversity index obtained, <IMG SRC="/img/revistas/sa/v61n4/22157s1.gif">(0,71) was high, indicating the presence of wide genetic diversity in the four populations. Genetic structure analysis revealed that 98% of total diversity is intrapopulational, whereas interpopulational genetic diversity was only 2%. These results suggest that before these populations separated, they had gone through a period of gene exchange and, even after the separation event, gene frequency stayed at levels similar to the original levels, with no differential selection for these genes in the different cultivation areas.<br>O azevém anual é a gramínea anual forrageira de clima temperado de maior utilização no sul do Brasil, particularmente no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Apesar de toda a importância que a espécie apresenta, pouco se conhece a respeito da diversidade genética presente entre e dentro das populações cultivadas. Este conhecimento é de fundamental importância para o estabelecimento das estratégias de melhoramento genético e de conservação destes materiais. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a diversidade genética e a estrutura genética de quatro populações de azevém anual, sendo três populações do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul e uma do Uruguai. O nível de diversidade e a estrutura genética destas populações foram estudados com marcadores RAPD. A análise de 375 indivíduos amostrados nas populações, com seis iniciadores, gerou um total de 82 bandas que foram utilizados nas análises, dentre as quais 73 (89,02%) foram polimórficas. O valor do índice de diversidade genética total obtido, <IMG SRC="/img/revistas/sa/v61n4/22157s1.gif">(0,71) foi elevado evidenciando a presença de uma grande diversidade genética nas quatro populações. A análise da estrutura genética revelou que 98% da diversidade total esta contida dentro das populações, enquanto que a diversidade genética entre as populações representou somente 2%. Sugere-se que antes da separação destas populações, as mesmas tenham passado por um período de troca de genes e que mesmo após o evento de separação elas mantiveram a freqüência destes em níveis semelhantes aos originais, não tendo ocorrido uma seleção diferencial destes genes nos locais de cultivo

Morfoanatomia foliar da reófita Raulinoa echinata R.S. Cowan - Rutaceae Leaf morphoanatomy of the rheophyte Raulinoa echinata R. S. Cowan - Rutaceae

Reófitas são espécies vegetais confinadas aos leitos de rios e riachos de fortes corredeiras, crescendo acima do nível das inundações, mas não além do alcance da ocorrência regular das rápidas enchentes. A morfoanatomia foliar de Raulinoa echinata R.S.Cowan (Rutaceae) foi investigada objetivando compreender a adaptação às peculiaridades do hábitat reofítico. As folhas de R. echinata são dorsiventrais e hipoestomáticas. A epiderme é uniestratificada e os estômatos são anomocíticos. As células-guarda estão dispostas acima do nível das demais células epidérmicas (característica hidromórfica), mas com átrio externo conspícuo (característica xeromórfica). Aspectos mais marcantes relacionados ao hábitat reofítico são estenofilia e presença de suberina nas paredes periclinais internas das células epidérmicas. A área foliar varia com a intensidade de exposição ao sol, a densidade estomática varia com o fluxo do rio; as espessuras dos tecidos do mesofilo variam com ambas condições. Ductos secretores e idioblastos com cristais de fosfato de cálcio ocorrem no mesofilo. Os dados revelaram plasticidade da estrutura foliar às condições peculiares do ambiente reofítico e as condições sombreadas ou expostas ao sol.<br>Rheophytes are plants confined to the beds of swift-running streams and rivers, growing above flood level but not beyond the normal reach of flash floods. Leaf morphoanatomy of the rheophyte Raulinoa echinata R.S.Cowan (Rutaceae) was investigated with a focus on understanding adaptation to the peculiarities of the rheophytic habitat. R. echinata leaves are dorsiventral and hypostomatic. The epidermis has a single layer of cells and the stomata are anomocytic. The guard cells rise above the level of the other epidermal cells (a hydromorphic characteristic), but with a conspicuous outer cavity (a xeromorphic characteristic). Prominent traits related to the rheophytic habitat are stenophylls and the presence of suberin on the inner periclinal walls of the epidermal cells. Leaf area varies with sun exposure while stomatal density varies with river flow. In R. echinata, mesophyll tissue thickness varies with light intensity and river flow. Secretory cavities and idioblasts with calcium phosphate crystals occur in the mesophyll. The data revealed leaf-structure plasticity in relation to the singular conditions of the rheophytic environment as well as to shade or sunlight