Karyotypic data of five ant taxa from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

The Brazilian Atlantic rainforest is an endangered biome and biodiversity hotspot. Ant cytogenetic studies from this biome showed remarkable chromosomal diversity among species, and provided useful insights on phylogeny, chromosomal evolution, and taxonomy. In this study, we karyotyped five ant taxa from the Atlantic rainforest. The karyotypes observed were Pheidole germaini 2n=22, Pheidole sp. flavens group 2n=20, Brachymyrmex admotus 2n=18, Camponotus atriceps 2n=40, and Odontomachus haematodus 2n=44. The data obtained for Pheidole spp. represent the first chromosomal record for the genus in Brazil and provide insights on the chromosomal evolution of P. germaini. Karyotypic information from B. admotus brings the genus back to the cytogenetic scenario after decades of neglect. No karyotype variations were observed among the C. atriceps and O. haematodus from different already studied populations, corroborating their status as good species. This study increased the cytogenetic knowledge of ants from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Cytogenetic studies in Trachymyrmex holmgreni Wheeler, 1925 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) by conventional and molecular methods

Over the past several decades, ant cytogenetic studies have focused on chromosome number and morphology; however, recently, additional information concerning heterochromatin composition and 45S rDNA location has become accessible. The fungus-growing ants are a peculiar ant group that cultivates fungus for food, and Trachymyrmex is suspected to be the sister group of leafcutter ants. Cytogenetic data are so far available for sixn Trachymyrmex species. The present study aimed to increase the knowledge about Trachymyrmex cytogenetics by the chromosomal characterization of Trachymyrmex holmgreni including the karyotyping, fluorochromes staining, 18S rDNA, and microsatellite (GA)15 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Karyotyped samples from four ant colonies showed 2n = 20 metacentric chromosomes. Centromeric heterochromatin rich in GC base pairs was detected in all chromosomes. FISH revealed the presence of rDNA clusters on the fourth chromosome pair, and an intense spreading of the microsatellite (GA)15 including exclusively euchromatic areas of the chromosomes. The GC-rich heterochromatin observed in different ant species may have a common origin and, thus, phylogenetic implication that needs to be further investigated. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of the use of chromosomal physical location of repetitive DNA sequences by means of microsatellite probes in Formicidae

ASPECTOS EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS E PREVALÊNCIA DE ENTEROPARASITOSES EM CRIANÇAS DO BAIRRO JAMBEIRO, SÃO LUÍS, MA

A carência de condições básicas de higiene e saneamento, aliadas à falta de limpeza dos reservatórios de água e a não utilização de água fltrada ou fervida, intensifcam a ocorrência de problemas de saúde pública. Com o intuito de contribuir para a conscientização da população acerca dos problemas de saúde decorrentes da contaminação da água, realizou-se no Bairro do Jambeiro, localizado nas mediações da Universidade Federal do Maranhão, um projeto interdisciplinar que visou, pela divulgação dos dados da pesquisa científca, avaliar a água utilizada pelos moradores através de análise físico-química, microbiológica e parasitológica, de modo que os resultados permitissem a conscientização, através de atividades educacionais dos moradores. Os resultados endossam a precariedade de condições sanitárias encontradas nessa comunidade. Os poços, as torneiras e o córrego apresentam níveis de contaminação acima do recomendável pela Resolução CONAMA e ANVISA, sendo, portanto, impróprias para o consumo. Os exames parasitológicos revelaram alta prevalência (91%) de enteroparasitoses nas crianças. A partir desses resultados os integrantes do projeto e seus parceiros realizaram palestras destinadas à comunidade sobre os meios de tratamento da água, biologia dos parasitas e medidas profláticas das principais verminoses. Concomitante, ocorreu a entrega e esclarecimentos dos laudos da análise físico-química, microbiológica e parasitológica, onde houve a distribuição de remédios às crianças que estavam infectadas.Descritores:  Enteroparasitos; Epidemiologia; Prevalência.Abstract: The lack of basic conditions hygiene and sanitation, allied to grubbiness of water reservoirs and no use of fltered or boiled water, enhance the occurrence of health public problems. With the aim of contribute to awareness of the population about the health problems resulting from the water contamination, was held in the District of the Jambeiro, located near the Federal University of Maranhão, an interdisciplinary project the aimed, by disclosure of scientifc research, to evaluate the water used by population through physico-chemical, microbiological and parasitological analyses, so that the results allow awareness through educational activities of population. The results comproved the precarious sanitary conditions found in this community. The level contamination of the wells, taps and stream is higher than recommended by Resolution CONAMA and ANVISA, therefore, unft for consumption. The parasitological revealed a high prevalence (91%) of intestinal parasites in children. Based on these results the members of the project and its partners held talks for the community about the water treatment, biology of parasites and worms and of the main prophylactic measures. Concomitantly, there was the delivery and clarifcation of reports of physico-chemical, microbiological and parasitological, where there was the distribution of drugs to children who were infected.Descriptors: Enteroparasites; Epidemiology; Prevalence

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Distribution of GC-rich heterochromatin and ribosomal genes in three fungus-farming ants (Myrmicinae, Attini, Attina): insights on chromosomal evolution

Cytogenetic studies on fungus-farming ants have shown remarkable karyotype diversity, suggesting different chromosomal rearrangements involved in karyotype evolution in some genera. A notable cytogenetic characteristic in this ant group is the presence of GC-rich heterochromatin in the karyotypes of some ancient and derivative species. It was hypothesized that this GC-rich heterochromatin may have a common origin in fungus-farming ants, and the increase in species studied is important for understanding this question. In addition, many genera within the subtribe Attina have few or no cytogenetically studied species; therefore, the processes that shaped their chromosomal evolution remain obscure. Thus, in this study, we karyotyped, through classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques, the fungus-farming ants Cyphomyrmex transversus Emery, 1894, Sericomyrmex maravalhas Ješovnik et Schultz, 2017, and Mycetomoellerius relictus (Borgmeier, 1934), to provide insights into the chromosomal evolution in these genera and to investigate the presence the GC-rich heterochromatin in these species. Cyphomyrmex transversus (2n = 18, 10m + 2sm + 6a) and S. maravalhas (2n = 48, 28m + 20sm) showed karyotypes distinct from other species from their genera. Mycetomoellerius relictus (2n = 20, 20m) presented the same karyotype as the colonies previously studied. Notably, C. transversus presented the lowest chromosomal number for the genus and a distinct karyotype from the other two previously observed for this species, showing the existence of a possible species complex and the need for its taxonomic revision. Chromosomal banding data revealed GC-rich heterochromatin in all three species, which increased the number of genera with this characteristic, supporting the hypothesis of a common origin of GC-rich heterochromatin in Attina. Although a single chromosomal pair carries rDNA genes in all studied species, the positions of these rDNA clusters varied. The rDNA genes were located in the intrachromosomal region in C. transversus and M. relictus, and in the terminal region of S. maravalhas. The combination of our molecular cytogenetic data and observations from previous studies corroborates that a single rDNA site located in the intrachromosomal region is a plesiomorphic condition in Attina. In addition, cytogenetic data obtained suggest centric fission events in Sericomyrmex Mayr, 1865, and the occurrence of inversions as the origin of the location of the ribosomal genes in M. relictus and S. maravalhas. This study provides new insights into the chromosomal evolution of fungus-farming ants

Distribution of GC-rich heterochromatin and ribosomal genes in three fungus-farming ants (Myrmicinae, Attini, Attina): insights on chromosomal evolution

Cytogenetic studies on fungus-farming ants have shown remarkable karyotype diversity, suggesting different chromosomal rearrangements involved in karyotype evolution in some genera. A notable cytogenetic characteristic in this ant group is the presence of GC-rich heterochromatin in the karyotypes of some ancient and derivative species. It was hypothesized that this GC-rich heterochromatin may have a common origin in fungus-farming ants, and the increase in species studied is important for understanding this question. In addition, many genera within the subtribe Attina have few or no cytogenetically studied species; therefore, the processes that shaped their chromosomal evolution remain obscure. Thus, in this study, we karyotyped, through classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques, the fungus-farming ants Cyphomyrmex transversus Emery, 1894, Sericomyrmex maravalhas Ješovnik et Schultz, 2017, and Mycetomoellerius relictus (Borgmeier, 1934), to provide insights into the chromosomal evolution in these genera and to investigate the presence the GC-rich heterochromatin in these species. Cyphomyrmex transversus (2n = 18, 10m + 2sm + 6a) and S. maravalhas (2n = 48, 28m + 20sm) showed karyotypes distinct from other species from their genera. Mycetomoellerius relictus (2n = 20, 20m) presented the same karyotype as the colonies previously studied. Notably, C. transversus presented the lowest chromosomal number for the genus and a distinct karyotype from the other two previously observed for this species, showing the existence of a possible species complex and the need for its taxonomic revision. Chromosomal banding data revealed GC-rich heterochromatin in all three species, which increased the number of genera with this characteristic, supporting the hypothesis of a common origin of GC-rich heterochromatin in Attina. Although a single chromosomal pair carries rDNA genes in all studied species, the positions of these rDNA clusters varied. The rDNA genes were located in the intrachromosomal region in C. transversus and M. relictus, and in the terminal region of S. maravalhas. The combination of our molecular cytogenetic data and observations from previous studies corroborates that a single rDNA site located in the intrachromosomal region is a plesiomorphic condition in Attina. In addition, cytogenetic data obtained suggest centric fission events in Sericomyrmex Mayr, 1865, and the occurrence of inversions as the origin of the location of the ribosomal genes in M. relictus and S. maravalhas. This study provides new insights into the chromosomal evolution of fungus-farming ants

Comparative physical mapping of 18S rDNA in the karyotypes of six leafcutter ant species of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Leafcutter ants of the Atta and Acromyrmex genera are important plagues in different cultures. Cytogenetic data on chromosome number, morphology, and chromosomal banding pattern are only available for 17 species of leafcutter ants. Molecular cytogenetic data for the detection of ribosomal genes by the FISH technique are scarce, and only 15 Neotropical ant species have been studied. This study aimed to physically map the 18S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) of six leafcutter ants belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex using FISH. The results were compared with data on the fluorochrome CMA3 currently available for these species. All analyzed species presented the 18S rDNA on one pair of chromosomes. In Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans and Ac. aspersus, FISH signals were observed in the terminal region of the short arm of the largest subtelocentric pair, while in Atta bisphaerica, A. laevigata, and A. sexdens, FISH signals were observed in the interstitial region of the long arm of the fourth metacentric pair. In Acromyrmex striatus, 18S rDNA was located in the interstitial region of the second metacentric pair. The karyotypic formula for Ac. aspersus was 2n = 38 (8m + 10sm + 16st + 4a), representing the first report in this species. The observed 18S rDNA regions in A. laevigata, A. sexdens, A. bisphaerica, Ac. aspersus, and Ac. subterraneus molestans corresponded to the CMA3 + bands, while in Ac. striatus, several GC-rich bands and one pair of 18S rDNA bands were observed. No differential bands were visible using the DAPI fluorochrome. Karyotype uniformity with previously studied Atta spp. was also observed at the level of molecular cytogenetics using 18S rDNA FISH. A difference in the size of the chromosomal pair carrying the 18S rDNA gene was observed in Ac. striatus (2n = 22) and Atta spp. (2n = 22) highlighting the dissimilarity between these species. The results from the present study contribute to the description of 18S rDNA clusters in Neotropical ants