Effects of precocene and azadirachtin in Rhodnius prolixus: some data on development and reproduction

The results presented in this paper clearly indicate that precocene and azadirachtin are effective inhibitors of moulting and reproduction in the hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus. The time of application is important and only applications of these substances early in the intermoulting period cause their effects in nymphs. The inhibition of moulting is fully reversed by ecdysone therapy. Precocene and azadirachtin also affected drastically the oogenesis and egg deposition in this insect. Precocene-induced sterilization is reversed by application of juvenile hormone III. However, this hormone is unable to reverse the effect of azadirachtin on reproduction. Ecdysteroid titers in nymphs and adult females are decreased by these treatments. In vitro analysis suggest that precocene and azadirachtin may act directly on the prothoracic glands and ovaries producing ecdysteroids. Based on these and other findings the possible mode of action of these compounds on the development and reproduction of Rhodnius prolixus is discussed

Studying nanotoxic effects of CdTe quantum dots in Trypanosoma cruzi

Semiconductor nanoparticles, such as quantum dots (QDs), were used to carry out experiments in vivo and ex vivo with Trypanosoma cruzi. However, questions have been raised regarding the nanotoxicity of QDs in living cells, microorganisms, tissues and whole animals. The objective of this paper was to conduct a QD nanotoxicity study on living T. cruzi protozoa using analytical methods. This was accomplished using in vitro experiments to test the interference of the QDs on parasite development, morphology and viability. Our results show that after 72 h, a 200 μM cadmium telluride (CdTe) QD solution induced important morphological alterations in T. cruzi, such as DNA damage, plasma membrane blebbing and mitochondrial swelling. Flow cytometry assays showed no damage to the plasma membrane when incubated with 200 μM CdTe QDs for up to 72 h (propidium iodide cells), giving no evidence of classical necrosis. Parasites incubated with 2 μM CdTe QDs still proliferated after seven days. In summary, a low concentration of CdTe QDs (2 μM) is optimal for bioimaging, whereas a high concentration (200 μM CdTe) could be toxic to cells. Taken together, our data indicate that 2 μM QD can be used for the successful long-term study of the parasite-vector interaction in real time.15816

Nanoemulsão aquosa, processo de produção de nanoemulsão aquosa e método de controle de pragas

DepositadaApresenta uma nanoemulsão com atividade bioinseticida, permite a incorporação de substâncias insolúveis em meio aquoso, através de uma formulação estável, fina e elegante. A possibilidade de solubilizar substâncias apolares em meio aquoso permite que a formulação seja utilizada na liberação de substâncias insolúveis bioativas, com potencial ação inseticida frente a pragas agrícolas e/ou aplicação em focos de proliferação de larvas de Aedes aegypti, importante vetor da dengue. Ainda, a presente invenção apresenta processo de produção de nanoemulsão aquosa e método de controle de pragas por nanoemulsão aquosa

John Clare and place

This chapter tackles issues of place in the self-presentation and critical reception of John Clare, and pursues it across a number of axes. The argument centres on the placing of Clare both socio-economically and ‘naturally’, and limitations exerted upon perceptions of his work. Interrogating criticism this chapter finds a pervasive awkwardness especially in relation to issues of class and labour. It assesses the contemporary ‘placing’ of Clare, and seemingly unavoidable insensitivities to labour and poverty in the history industry, place-naming, and polemical ecocriticism. It assesses the ways Clare represents place – in poverty, in buildings, in nature – and, drawing on Michel de Certeau, considers the tactics Clare uses to negotiate his place. It pursues trajectories to ‘un-place’ Clare: the flight of fame in Clare’s response to Byron; and the flight of an early poem in songbooks and beyond, across the nineteenth century

Blastocrithidia triatomae, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli: triatominae trypanosomatids

Objetivos: revisar os principais aspectos biológicos e epidemiológicos sobre Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma rangeli e Blastocrithidia triatomae, tripanosomatídeos parasitos de triatomíneos, com base na literatura especializada. Metodologia: buscas foram realizadas nos principais indexadores da área como o Pubmed e Medline. Foram selecionados os artigos mais relevantes sobre a temática, que abordassem os principais aspectos sobre tripanosomatídeos de triatomíneos, suas relações com hospedeiros, distribuição geográfica e caracterização por diferentes abordagens. Resultados: a revisão da literatura permitiu evidenciar e esclarecer o impacto de cada espécie na epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, ciclos de transmissão relacionados com a doença e características intraespecíficas de valor diagnóstico. Conclusões/considerações finais: A descoberta de duas espécies de tripanosomatídeos de triatomíneos que promovem síndromes complexas nestes insetos tornou relevante o estudo destes parasitos para o melhor entendimento dos ciclos de transmissão do próprio T. cruzi nos mais variados ecótopos, onde estas espécies se sobrepõem, além da importância do diagnóstico diferencial em diferentes hospedeiros e o impacto destas questões em saúde pública.SimObjectives: to review the main biological and epidemiological aspects on Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma rangeli and Blastocrithidia triatomae, parasitic tripanosomatids of triatominae, based on specialized literature. Methodology: searches were held in the main indexes of the area such as Pubmed and Medline. Were selected the most relevant articles on the subject, which cover the main aspects about triatominae trypanosomatids, their relationships with hosts, geographic distribution and characterization by different approaches. Results: the literature review allowed highlight and clarify the impact of each species in the epidemiology of Chagas disease, transmission cycles related to the disease and intraspecific features of diagnostic value. Conclusions/final considerations: the discovery of two triatominae tripanosomatids species that promote complex syndromes in these insects become relevant the study of these parasites for the better understanding of the T. cruzi cycles of transmission in differents ecotops, where these species overlap, as well as the importance of differential diagnosis in different hosts and the impact of these issues in public health

Short and long-term effects of azadirachtin A on development and egg production of Rhodnius prolixus

Azadirachtin A was given through a blood meal to 4th-instar larvae and to adult females of Rhodnius prolixus. Development (ecdysis) and egg production were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Long-term experiments with subsequent four feedings on azadirachtin-free blood were performed with 4th-instar larvae and with adult females. Only in the low-dose azadirachtin larval groups (0.01 and 0.1 microng/ml of blood), development was partially restored; after a single 1.0 microng/ml treatment about 50% of the treated larvae were still alive 120 days later without any adult emergence. Similarly fed females had a dose-dependent lower survival and egg deposition rate. The results are discussed in relation to the mode of azadirachtin A action

Novel variants in POLH

Abstract Background Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous, autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the genes involved in repairing DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation. These defects lead to a propensity to develop skin cancer at early ages as a hallmark, and progressive neurological degeneration can be observed in around 25% of patients. Eight clinically heterogeneous groups have been identified so far (XPA to XPG and XPV). Xeroderma pigmentosum variant type (XPV) is associated with pathogenic variants in POLH on chromosome 6, and no neurological dysfunction has been seen in these cases. However, on the same chromosome, it has been shown that TREM2 is associated with some types of dementia, particularly in patients with a behavioral variant frontotemporal phenotype. Methods Gene mutational analysis was performed by whole‐exome sequencing. Results We report a case of a Caucasian woman with XP that developed behavioral and cognitive impairment at age 37. Whole‐exome sequencing identified novel homozygous variants in POLH c.638C>G (p.Ser213*) and TREM2 c.154C>T (p.Arg52Cys), classifying the patient as XPV and suggesting that her frontotemporal dementia phenotype could be related to the variant in TREM2. Conclusion This paper describes a rare case of a patient with two novel variants in the same chromosome associated with XPV and early‐onset dementia