In vitro and in situ activation of the complement system by the fungus Lacazia loboi

Since there are no studies evaluating the participation of the complement system (CS) in Jorge Lobo's disease and its activity on the fungus Lacazia loboi, we carried out the present investigation. Fungal cells with a viability index of 48% were obtained from the footpads of BALB/c mice and incubated with a pool of inactivated serum from patients with the mycosis or with sterile saline for 30 min at 37 ºC. Next, the tubes were incubated for 2 h with a pool of noninactivated AB+ serum, inactivated serum, serum diluted in EGTA-MgCl2, and serum diluted in EDTA. The viability of L. loboi was evaluated and the fungal suspension was cytocentrifuged. The slides were submitted to immunofluorescence staining using human anti-C3 antibody. The results revealed that 98% of the fungi activated the CS by the alternative pathway and no significant difference in L. loboi viability was observed after CS activation. In parallel, frozen histological sections from 11 patients were analyzed regarding the presence of C3 and IgG by immunofluorescence staining. C3 and IgG deposits were observed in the fungal wall of 100% and 91% of the lesions evaluated, respectively. The results suggest that the CS and immunoglobulins may contribute to the defense mechanisms of the host against L. loboi

Environmental quality evaluation of lakes in the Rio Grande do Sul coastal plain

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the environmental quality of Marcelino, Pinguela, Peixoto, Palmital, Malvas and Do Passo lakes, interconnected by canals and located in the district of Osório, RS. In this context, 29 physical and chemical variables were analyzed with sampling carried out in January, May, July and October 1997 to verify the environmental quality of the system and the existence of a gradient of quality. Canonical Analysis was applied to the data of all environmental variables measured, and showed that the lakes had different characteristics as a consequence of the organic pollution received. Marcelino lake received continuous input of organic matter from the sewage treatment works in the town of Osório, whereas Peixoto, Pinguela, Palmital, Malvas and Do Passo lakes resembled other water bodies described in the region, not showing, so far, signs of degradation caused by the input of effluents. Principal Component Analysis selected environmental element were directly linked to organic pollution, that reflected sequential non-recent effects of contamination.<br>O propósito do presente estudo foi avaliar a qualidade ambiental das lagoas Marcelino, Pinguela, Peixoto, Palmital, Malvas e Lagoa do Passo, ecossistemas interligados nesta seqüência por canais e localizados próximos a cidade de Osório, Rio Grande do Sul. Foram analisadas vinte e nove variáveis ambientais físicas e químicas no período de janeiro, maio, julho e outubro de 1997. Constatou-se, através de uma análise de discriminantes canônicos utilizando-se as variáveis ambientais, que as lagoas apresentaram características limnológicas diferenciadas em função do aporte dos efluentes urbanos: a lagoa Marcelino mostrou contaminação orgânica e foi separada das demais lagoas evidenciando um gradiente de qualidade ambiental. Posteriormente, uma análise de componentes principais diferenciou as estações amostrais selecionando descritores ambientais ligados diretamente com a contaminação orgânica e outros que refletem os efeitos seqüenciais e não recentes desta contaminação