Infecção natural por tripanosomatídeos (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) em Lutzomyia umbratilis (Diptera: Psychodidae) em áreas de leishmaniose tegumentar americana no Amazonas, Brasil

Durante o período de 2002 a 2003 foram realizadas coletas de flebotomíneos em duas áreas do estado do Amazonas (Base de treinamento militar - BI1 e Tarumã Mirim). Nessas coletas foram capturadas um total de 1.440 fêmeas de Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) umbratilis. Lu.umbratilis é a principal responsável pela transmissão da Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA) ao norte do Rio Amazonas. Do total coletado apenas 15 espécimens (ou 1,04%) apresentaram infecção natural por tripanosomatídeos, sendo 12 na BI1 e 3 em Tarumã-Mirim. Isso representou uma taxa de infecção de 1,66% (12 dos 720 capturados em BI1) e 0,42% (3 dos 720 em Tarumã-Mirim). Estes resultados confirmam as informações prévias por outros autores de reduzidos valores de infecção natural por tripanosomatídeos em flebotomíneos, mesmo em áreas altamente endêmicas para leishmaniose.During the period of 2002 to 2003, there were collected sand flies in two areas of Amazon State (Forest Combat Training Base - BI1 and Tarumã-Mirim). Were collected the 1440 L. (Nyssomyia) umbratilis female. Lu. umbratilis is the main responsible for the transmission of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) in the northern of Amazon River. Only 15 specimens (or 1,04%) presented natural infection with trypanosomatids, being 12 at Bl1 and 3 at Tarumã-Mirim. The infection rate was 1,66% (12 of the 720 collected at BI1) and 0,42% (3 of the 720 at Tarumã-Mirim). These results confirm the previous informations described by other authors that insects have low rates of natural infection by trypanosomatids even in high endemic areas for Leishmaniasis

Regulation of Fab1 Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate 5-Kinase Pathway by Vac7 Protein and Fig4, a Polyphosphoinositide Phosphatase Family Member

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae FAB1 gene encodes the sole phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] 5-kinase responsible for synthesis of the polyphosphoinositide PtdIns(3,5)P(2). VAC7 encodes a 128-kDa transmembrane protein that localizes to vacuolar membranes. Both vac7 and fab1 null mutants have dramatically enlarged vacuoles and cannot grow at elevated temperatures. Additionally, vac7Δ mutants have nearly undetectable levels of PtdIns(3,5)P(2), suggesting that Vac7 functions to regulate Fab1 kinase activity. To test this hypothesis, we isolated a fab1 mutant allele that bypasses the requirement for Vac7 in PtdIns(3,5)P(2) production. Expression of this fab1 allele in vac7Δ mutant cells suppresses the temperature sensitivity, vacuolar morphology, and PtdIns(3,5)P(2) defects normally exhibited by vac7Δ mutants. We also identified a mutant allele of FIG4, whose gene product contains a Sac1 polyphosphoinositide phosphatase domain, which suppresses vac7Δ mutant phenotypes. Deletion of FIG4 in vac7Δ mutant cells suppresses the temperature sensitivity and vacuolar morphology defects, and dramatically restores PtdIns(3,5)P(2) levels. These results suggest that generation of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) by the Fab1 lipid kinase is regulated by Vac7, whereas turnover of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) is mediated in part by the Sac1 polyphosphoinositide phosphatase family member Fig4

THE GEOGRAPHICAL IMPRINT OF LAND RESTITUTION WITH REFERENCE TO LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

This paper analyses the geographical imprint of land restitution against earlier views that land reform in South Africa will result in the enlargement of former bantustans (homelands), and that it will give black people marginal land. Those views, and their underlying assumptions not only suggest that it would be difficult to dismantle apartheid geography, but also imply that land reform has the potential to reinforce that geography. This begs the question of the manner in which South Africa's land reform programme might contribute to the consolidation of the spatial legacy of apartheid. In this paper Limpopo Province is referred to to conclude that the government's approach to land restitution, together with the pattern and resolution of land claims, largely account for the emerging spatial consolidation of the geography of the former bantustans. It also demonstrates that the resolution of land claims has moved from 'a case-by-case' to 'a policy-oriented' approach between 1994 and 2004. Copyright (c) 2007 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.

The C/EBP family of transcription factors in the liver and other organs

Members of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family of transcription factors are pivotal regulators of liver functions such as nutrient metabolism and its control by hormones, acute-phase response and liver regeneration. Recent progress in clarification of regulatory mechanisms for the C/EBP family members gives insight into understanding the liver functions at the molecular level