Nonvolant mammals (Mammalia: Didelphimorphia and Rodentia) of the lower Xingu river

A região amazônica se destaca como a área de floresta tropical mais extensa e diversa do mundo. Essa diversidade é especialmente válida para os pequenos roedores e marsupiais que compõem o grupo mais diversificado de mamíferos Neotropicais, com estimativas de ocorrência de cerca de 107 espécies, sendo 91 endêmicas deste bioma. No entanto, nosso conhecimento sobre os limites específicos e geográfico destas espécies, bem como sua origem ainda está em sua infância. Diversas hipóteses buscam explicar essa a origem desta diversidade, sendo a dos rios como barreiras geográficas uma interpretação de diversificação para esta região, especialmente em grandes rios como o Xingu, que tem seu curso reto e seus tributários fluindo por um declive íngreme do norte do Escudo Brasileiro. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve o objetivo de elaborar uma lista detalhada das espécies de pequenos mamíferos não voadores da região do baixo rio Xingu e discutir aspectos biogeográficos desse grupo para a Bacia Amazônica. Foram analisados aproximadamente 320 indivíduos obtidos através de visitas a coleções zoológicas e provenientes do Programa de Monitoramento, Resgate e Aproveitamento Científico da Fauna da Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte. Foram realizadas análises quali- e quantitativas de características externas e crânio-dentárias, e moleculares, através do sequenciamento dos genes mitocondriais citocromo b e citocromo c oxidase subunidade I. A lista é composta por 35 espécies, sendo 16 marsupais didelfimorfos, 12 roedores sigmodontíneos e sete roedores equimídeos. Para todas elas são apresentadas informações sobre localidade tipo, distribuição geográfica, identificação e comentários taxonômicos. A lista de espécies obtida para a região do baixo rio Xingu destaca-se pela expressiva riqueza com registros de espécies raras, como Glironia venusta, Gracilinanus emiliae, Marmosa lepida, Lonchothrix emiliae, Dactylomys dactylinus, Makalata didelphoides e Echimys chysurus, além da presença de quatro espécies possivelmente não descritas dos gêneros Neacomys, Oligoryzomys e Monodelphis. Uma análise de similaridade com base na riqueza do grupo alvo desse estudo demonstra que o leste da Amazônia é uma região biogeográfica distinta dentro bacia hidrográfica. Através das análises moleculares, verificou-se que o Rio Xingu não atua como agente primário de diversificação para a maioria das espécies que estão sob sua influência biogeográfica, mas sim como mantenedor de diversidade em vários níveis no leste da Amazônia.The Amazon region stands out as the most extensive and diverse area of tropical rainforest in the world. This high diversity is especially true for the small rodents and didelphid marsupials, which compose the most diversified group of neotropical mammals, with estimates of nearly 107 species, 91 of those are endemic to this biome. However, our knowledge about the species limits and geographic distribution, as well as their origins are still in its infancy. Several hypotheses arouse to explain the Amazon diversity, and the riverine barrier seems appropriate as an interpretation of diversification for this region, especially for rivers like Xingu, which has a straight course and its tributaries flowing through a steep slope from the northern Brazilian Shield. In this context, this study aimed to present a detailed and commented list of the non-volant small mammals of the lower Xingu river region and discuss some biogeographic aspects of these groups across the Amazon Basin. I analyzed about 320 specimens obtained from zoological collections and from the \"Faunal Assessment, Rescue and Scientifical Using Program of UHE Belo Monte\" (Programa de Monitoramento, Resgate e Aproveitamento Científico da Fauna da Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte). There were performed quali- and quantitative analyses of morphological traits from skin and skull, and molecular analyses, through sequencing of mitochondrial genes cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. The commented list is composed by 35 species, being 16 didelphid marsupials, 12 sigmodontine rodents and seven echimyid rodents. For every species, is presented information about type locality, geographic distribution, identification and taxonomic remarks. The species list obtained here to the low Xingu river region stands out for its expressive richness with records of rare species, such as Glironia venusta, Gracilinanus emiliae, Marmosa lepida, Lonchothrix emiliae, Dactylomys dactylinus, Makalata didelphoides, Echimys chrysurus, besides the presence of four possibly undescribed species from the genera Neacomys, Oligoryzomys and Monodelphis. A similarity analysis based on the non-volant small mammal species composition shows the eastern Amazon as a distinct biogeographical region inside this basin. Regarding the molecular analysis, it was verified that the Xingu river does not act as a primary agent of diversification for most of the species under its biogeographic influence, but as a diversity support at many levels in the eastern Amazon

New records of the southern naked-tailed armadillo Cabassous unicinctus unicinctus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in Brazil

The geographic distribution of Cabassous unicinctus is poorly known due to the low number of available records. Two subspecies with distributions limited by the Amazonas River were recognized in 1980. Cabassous u. unicinctus has been found north of this river, while C. u. squamicaudis occurs in areas south of the river. This study aimed to update the distribution records of C. u. unicinctus in Brazil. We compiled records from literature, museum collections and field studies. New records of this subspecies were obtained from the Brazilian states of Acre, Pará, Rondônia and Mato Grosso. These records enlarge a geographic distribution of C. u. unicinctus to Amazonian and Cerrado biomes, regions located south of the Amazon River

Roedores sigmodontíneos da Amazônia brasileira: composição, distribução geográfica e diagnoses

A subfamília Sigmodontinae Wagner, 1843, atualmente alocada na família Cricetidae Fischer, 1817, é o segundo grupo mais diverso dentro dos mamíferos. Esta subfamília é superada em riqueza de espécies apenas pela irradiação de muróideos asiáticos da família Muridae (Musser & Carleton, 2005). Os sigmodontíneos estão amplamente distribuídos nas Américas do Sul e Central e de forma periférica na América do Norte, alcançando o sudeste dos Estados Unidos. Esta subfamília reúne 86 gêneros e 384 espécies apenas na América do Sul, e em toda a sua área de distribuição devem ocorrer aproximadamente 95 gêneros e mais de 400 espécies (D’Elía & Pardiñas, no prelo). Essa alta diversidade está dividida em nove grupos supra-genéricos, alocados na categoria de tribo: Abrotrichini, Akodontini, Ichthyomyini, Oryzomyini, Phyllotini, Reithrodontini, Sigmodontini, Thomasomyini, Wiedomyini, além de alguns gêneros não alocados em nenhuma das tribos. Os agrupamentos mais diversos são as tribos Oryzomyini e Akodontini, que reúnem aproximadamente metade das espécies da subfamília.Fil: Reis Percequillo, Alexandre. No especifíca;Fil: de Abreu Júnior, Edson. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bovendorp, Ricardo Siqueira. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Brennand, Pamella Gusmão de Góes. Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz"; BrasilFil: Chiquito, Elisandra de Almeida. Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica; BrasilFil: Correa, Lidiani Silva. No especifíca;Fil: Perez Godoy, Leandro. No especifíca;Fil: Simoes Libardi, Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; ArgentinaFil: Prado, Joyce Rodrigues Do. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Roth, Paulo Ricardo de Oliveira. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lucena Salles, Vanessa. No especifíca

A tomato tocopherol-binding protein sheds light on intracellular a-tocopherol metabolism in plants

Tocopherols are non-polar compounds synthesized in the plastids, which function as major antioxidants of the plant cells and are essential in the human diet. Both the intermediates and final products of the tocopherol biosynthetic pathway must cross plastid membranes to reach their sites of action. So far, no protein with tocopherol binding activity has been reported in plants. Here, we demonstrated that the tomato SlTBP protein is targeted to chloroplasts and able to bind α-tocopherol. SlTBP-knockdown tomato plants exhibited reduced levels of tocopherol in both leaves and fruits. Several tocopherol deficiency phenotypes were apparent in the transgenic lines, such as alterations in photosynthetic parameters, dramatic distortion of thylakoid membranes and significant variations in the lipid profile. These results, along with the altered expression of genes related to photosynthesis, and tetrapyrrole, lipid, isoprenoid, inositol/phosphoinositide and redox metabolism, suggest that SlTBP may act in conducting tocopherol (or its biosynthetic intermediates) between the plastid compartments and/or at the interface between chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum membranes, affecting interorganellar lipid metabolism.Instituto de BiotecnologíaFil: Bermudez Salazar, Luisa. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lira, Bruno Silvestre. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Godoy, Fabiana de. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Boos, Irene. Technical University of Denmark. Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics. Department of Chemistry; DinamarcaFil: Romano, Cecilia. Technical University of Denmark. Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics. Department of Chemistry; DinamarcaFil: Previtali, Viola. Technical University of Denmark. Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics. Department of Chemistry; DinamarcaFil: Almeida, Juliana. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Brehelin, Claire. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Laboratory of Membrane Biogenesis; FranciaFil: Asis, Ramón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Quadrana, Leandro Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Demarco, Diego. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Alseekh, Saleh. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; AlemaniaFil: Salinas Gamboa, Rigel. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Laboratorio de Fisiología, Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud; MéxicoFil: Perez-Flores, Laura. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Laboratorio de Fisiología, Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud; MéxicoFil: Dominguez, Pia Guadalupe. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rothan, Christophe. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. Fruit Biology and Pathology Unit; FranciaFil: Fernie, Alisdair R. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; AlemaniaFil: Gonzalez, Maurıcio. Universidad de Chile. Laboratorio de Genética Molecular Vegetal; ChileFil: Stocker, Achim. University of Berne. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; SuizaFil: Hemmerle, Andreas. University of Berne. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; SuizaFil: Clausen, Mads Hartving. Technical University of Denmark. Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics. Department of Chemistry; DinamarcaFil: Carrari, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Rossi, Magdalena. Universidade de São Pablo. Departamento de Botânica. Instituto de Biociencias; Brasi

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its ‘Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles’, which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly