Imigração em Portugal: contributo dos polimorfismos genéticos para a investigação de parentesco entre supostos familiares

Poster apresentado no 17 Congresso Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, 22 a 24 Novembro 2018, Coimbra, PortugalA solicitação de investigações de parentesco inseridas em processos de imigração, nomeadamente os relacionados com indivíduos que pretendem obter títulos de residência em Portugal, têm vindo a aumentar nos últimos anos no Serviço de Genética e Biologia Forenses da Delegação do Sul (SGBF S) O problema levanta se quando existe um familiar que já reside em Portugal, o qual pretende que outros familiares venham a residir também em Portugal e são apresentados documentos cuja veracidade é posta em causa Neste trabalho, apresentamos um caso em que o Ministério Público pretende confirmar a relação de parentesco biológico existente entre um determinado indivíduo e os seus três filhos registrais do sexo masculino,sendo que apenas dois deles são filhos da mesma mulherN/

Hippocampal Astrocytes in Migrating and Wintering Semipalmated Sandpiper

Seasonal migratory birds return to the same breeding and wintering grounds year after year, and migratory long-distance shorebirds are good examples of this. These tasks require learning and long-term spatial memory abilities that are integrated into a navigational system for repeatedly locating breeding, wintering, and stopover sites. Previous investigations focused on the neurobiological basis of hippocampal plasticity and numerical estimates of hippocampal neurogenesis in birds but only a few studies investigated potential contributions of glial cells to hippocampal-dependent tasks related to migration. Here we hypothesized that the astrocytes of migrating and wintering birds may exhibit significant morphological and numerical differences connected to the long-distance flight. We used as a model the semipalmated sandpipe

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia sobre Diagnóstico e Tratamento de Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia da Doença de Chagas

This guideline aimed to update the concepts and formulate the standards of conduct and scientific evidence that support them, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, with special emphasis on the rationality base that supported it.  Chagas disease in the 21st century maintains an epidemiological pattern of endemicity in 21 Latin American countries. Researchers and managers from endemic and non-endemic countries point to the need to adopt comprehensive public health policies to effectively control the interhuman transmission of T. cruzi infection, and to obtain an optimized level of care for already infected individuals, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic opportunistic opportunities.   Pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease were revisited after in-depth updating and the notion that necrosis and fibrosis are stimulated by tissue parasitic persistence and adverse immune reaction, as fundamental mechanisms, assisted by autonomic and microvascular disorders, was well established. Some of them have recently formed potential targets of therapies.  The natural history of the acute and chronic phases was reviewed, with enhancement for oral transmission, indeterminate form and chronic syndromes. Recent meta-analyses of observational studies have estimated the risk of evolution from acute and indeterminate forms and mortality after chronic cardiomyopathy. Therapeutic approaches applicable to individuals with Indeterminate form of Chagas disease were specifically addressed. All methods to detect structural and/or functional alterations with various cardiac imaging techniques were also reviewed, with recommendations for use in various clinical scenarios. Mortality risk stratification based on the Rassi score, with recent studies of its application, was complemented by methods that detect myocardial fibrosis.  The current methodology for etiological diagnosis and the consequent implications of trypanonomic treatment deserved a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Also the treatment of patients at risk or with heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, based on pharmacological and complementary resources, received special attention. Additional chapters supported the conducts applicable to several special contexts, including t. cruzi/HIV co-infection, risk during surgeries, in pregnant women, in the reactivation of infection after heart transplantation, and others.     Finally, two chapters of great social significance, addressing the structuring of specialized services to care for individuals with the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, and reviewing the concepts of severe heart disease and its medical-labor implications completed this guideline.Esta diretriz teve como objetivo principal atualizar os conceitos e formular as normas de conduta e evidências científicas que as suportam, quanto ao diagnóstico e tratamento da CDC, com especial ênfase na base de racionalidade que a embasou. A DC no século XXI mantém padrão epidemiológico de endemicidade em 21 países da América Latina. Investigadores e gestores de países endêmicos e não endêmicos indigitam a necessidade de se adotarem políticas abrangentes, de saúde pública, para controle eficaz da transmissão inter-humanos da infecção pelo T. cruzi, e obter-se nível otimizado de atendimento aos indivíduos já infectados, com foco em oportunização diagnóstica e terapêutica. Mecanismos patogênicos e fisiopatológicos da CDC foram revisitados após atualização aprofundada e ficou bem consolidada a noção de que necrose e fibrose sejam estimuladas pela persistência parasitária tissular e reação imune adversa, como mecanismos fundamentais, coadjuvados por distúrbios autonômicos e microvasculares. Alguns deles recentemente constituíram alvos potenciais de terapêuticas. A história natural das fases aguda e crônica foi revista, com realce para a transmissão oral, a forma indeterminada e as síndromes crônicas. Metanálises recentes de estudos observacionais estimaram o risco de evolução a partir das formas aguda e indeterminada e de mortalidade após instalação da cardiomiopatia crônica. Condutas terapêuticas aplicáveis aos indivíduos com a FIDC foram abordadas especificamente. Todos os métodos para detectar alterações estruturais e/ou funcionais com variadas técnicas de imageamento cardíaco também foram revisados, com recomendações de uso nos vários cenários clínicos. Estratificação de risco de mortalidade fundamentada no escore de Rassi, com estudos recentes de sua aplicação, foi complementada por métodos que detectam fibrose miocárdica. A metodologia atual para diagnóstico etiológico e as consequentes implicações do tratamento tripanossomicida mereceram enfoque abrangente e aprofundado. Também o tratamento de pacientes em risco ou com insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, baseado em recursos farmacológicos e complementares, recebeu especial atenção. Capítulos suplementares subsidiaram as condutas aplicáveis a diversos contextos especiais, entre eles o da co-infecção por T. cruzi/HIV, risco durante cirurgias, em grávidas, na reativação da infecção após transplante cardíacos, e outros.    Por fim, dois capítulos de grande significado social, abordando a estruturação de serviços especializados para atendimento aos indivíduos com a CDC, e revisando os conceitos de cardiopatia grave e suas implicações médico-trabalhistas completaram esta diretriz.&nbsp

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Caracterização morfológica de astrócitos da formação hipocampal de maçaricos da espécie calidris pusilla durante a migração e em período de invernada

The semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla (C. pusilla) is a long-distance migrant shorebird that leaves every year, its breeding habitats in the southern tundra in Canada and Alaska, escaping from winter, towards the coastal line in South America. Before they cross the Atlantic Ocean, they stopover Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic coast of North America, where they increase triglycerides in adipose tissue, to attend the vigorous energetic demands of the 5,300-kilometer non-stop flight over the ocean. Because bioenergetic and redox activity of astrocytes would be under intense demand to sustain neuronal activity and survival during long-distance transatlantic migration, we hypothesize that astrocytes morphological changes may become readily visible in the wintering birds. To test this hypothesis, GFAP immunolabeled astrocytes were selected from sections of the hippocampal formation, an area that has been proposed to play a central role in the integration of multisensory spatial information for navigation. We quantified and compared hippocampal three-dimensional morphological features of astrocytes of adult migrating, captured on the Bay of Fundy, Canada, with hippocampal astrocytes from birds captured in the coastal region of Bragança, Brazil, during the wintering period. To select astrocytes for microscopic 3D reconstructions we used a random and systematic unbiased sampling approach. Using hierarchical cluster and discriminant analysis of 3D morphometric features to classify astrocytes, we found two morphological phenotypes (designated types I and II) both in migrating and wintering individuals. Although in remarkable different extent, the morphological complexities of both types of astrocytes were reduced after long-distance non-stop flight. Indeed, birds captured in the coastal region of Bragança, Brazil, during the wintering period, showed less complex astrocytic morphology than individuals captured in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, during fall migration. Because the reduction in complexity was much more intense in type I than in type II astrocytes, we suggest that these distinct morphological phenotypes may be associated with different physiological roles during migration. Indeed, as compared to type I, most type II astrocytes did not change significantly their morphology after the long-distance flight and many of them (72.5%) revealed unequivocally connection with blood vessels, whereas type I revealed only 27.5%.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorO maçarico semipalmado Calidris pusilla (C. pusilla) é uma ave migratória de longa distância, que deixa para trás todos os anos, o seu habitat de reprodução no extremo Norte do Canadá e Alasca, em direção à linha costeira da América do Sul, escapando do inverno. Antes de atravessar o Oceano Atlântico, eles param na Baía de Fundy, na costa atlântica da América do Norte, onde aumentam os triglicérides no tecido adiposo, para atender as vigorosas demandas energéticas do voo sem paradas, de 5,3 mil quilômetros sobre o oceano. Uma vez que a atividade bioenergética e de oxidação-redução dos astrócitos estariam sob intensa demanda para sustentar a atividade neuronal e a sobrevivência durante a migração transatlântica de longa distância, nós hipotetizamos que as alterações morfológicas dos astrócitos seriam facilmente visíveis em indivíduos capturados nos sítios de invernada. Para testar essa hipótese, os astrócitos imunomarcados para a protína ácida fibrilar glial - GFAP foram seleccionados de secções da formação hipocampal, uma área que foi proposta desempenhar um papel central na integração da informação espacial e multisensorial para a navegação. Nós quantificamos e comparamos as características morfológicas tridimensionais de astrócitos no hipocampo de aves migratórias adultas capturadas na baía de Fundy, no Canadá, com astrócitos do hipocampo de aves capturadas na região costeira de Bragança durante o período de invernada. Para selecionar os astrócitos para reconstruções microscópicas 3D, utilizamos abordagem amostral aleatória e sistemática. Usando a análise hierarquica de cluster e a análise discriminante aplicada às características morfométricas dos astrócitos reconstruidos para classifica-los morfologicamente, encontramos dois fenótipos morfológicos (designados tipos I e II), tanto em indivíduos migrantes quanto em indivíduos em invernada. Embora em proporções muito diferentes, as complexidades morfológicas de ambos os tipos de astrócitos foram reduzidas após o voo sem parada de longa distância. De fato, as aves capturadas na região costeira de Bragança, durante o período de invernada, apresentaram uma morfologia astrocítica menos complexa do que os indivíduos capturados na baía de Fundy, no Canadá, durante a migração de outono. Como a redução da complexidade foi muito mais intensa no tipo I do que nos astrócitos do tipo II, sugerimos que esses fenótipos morfológicos podem estar associados a diferentes papéis fisiológicos. De fato, em comparação ao tipo I, a maioria dos astrócitos do tipo II não alteraram significativamente a sua morfologia após o voo de longa distância, e a maioria deles, 72,5%, mostraram interações com vasos sanguíneos, enquanto somente 27,5% dos astrócitos do tipo I revelaram tal interação