Toxic thermoresistant metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum are capable of inducing histopathological alterations in Wistar rats

The genus Fusarium is known to produce mycotoxins that cause fusariosis in plants, animals and humans. Mycotoxins are among the virulence factors of this genus. Metabolic extracts of Fusarium oxysporum, isolated from a patient with onychomycosis and sterilized by filtration or autoclave, were inoculated intradermally into Wistar rats at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 µg/µL, and the effects on their tegument were observed at 24 and 72 hours. After histological procedures and staining by hematoxylineosin, the sections were studied for their inflammatory-reaction intensity and for evidence of injury and tissue distortion. Inflammatory reactions in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue were observed at all concentrations of the inoculated extract tested. There was a significant influx of neutrophils, mastocytes and lymphocytes, as well as a large quantity of macrophages. Apoptotic bodies and hyperemic blood vessels were observed. This reaction was directly related to the extract concentration, and was most intense in animals that received the 1 mg/µL dose. The maximum peak was observed at 24 hours. The autoclaved metabolic extract produced the same effects as the untreated one, indicating the presence of heat-resistant metabolites. In conclusion, the metabolic extracts obtained from sterilized culture filtrates of F. oxysporum are capable of inducing an inflammatory response within 24 hours in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue of rats

Colon adenocarcinoma diagnosis in human samples by multicontrast nonlinear optical microscopy of hematoxylin and eosin stained histological sections

Combined multimodal nonlinear optical (NLO) microscopies were used to detect and quantify morphological changes associated with stroma and epithelial transformation in colon cancer. Our findings provide complementary information about tissue microstructure, displaying distinctive patterns between normal and malignant human colon. Additionally, we have demonstrated the usefulness of using fixed tissues for the disease diagnostic and prognostic. The present work provides a framework for using NLO techniques as a clinical diagnostic tool for human colon cancer. NLO metrics could be applied to other disorders, which are characterized by abnormal cell proliferation and collagen assembly.Fil: Adur, Javier Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. National Institute of Science and Technology on Photonics Applied to Cell Biology; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Entre Ríos. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Entre Ríos; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pelegati, Vitor B.. National Institute of Science and Technology on Photonics Applied to Cell Biology; BrasilFil: Viale, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Izaguirre, María Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Carvalho, Hernandes Faustino. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Cesar, Carlos L.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Casco, Victor Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentin

Amostragem para diagnose do estado nutricional e avaliação da fertilidade do solo em caramboleiras.

Para a realização de uma análise confiável, a etapa mais sensível e que merece extremo cuidado é a amostragem do tecido vegetal e do solo. A amostra mais adequada é aquela que representa o melhor possível a área de estudo, exigindo um mínimo de plantas amostradas para atender a esse objetivo e com o menor número possível de amostras simples coletadas. Assim, o presente trabalho procurou dimensionar o número de plantas a serem amostradas para a diagnose do estado nutricional, bem como o número de amostras simples necessárias para formar a amostra composta, para fins de avaliação da fertilidade do solo cultivado com caramboleiras. O estudo foi realizado em um pomar comercial de caramboleiras, no município de Vista Alegre do Alto (SP), empregando-se amostragem aleatória, coletando-se a sexta folha a partir do ápice do ramo da caramboleira, na altura mediana da frutífera, no florescimento da cultura, em 40 plantas. Foram coletadas, também, 30 amostras simples de solo, em zigue-zague, nas linhas da cultura, com o auxílio de um trado tipo holandês, nas camadas de 0 a 0,2 m e 0,2 a 0,4 m. Considerando-se aceitável um erro amostral de 10%, 21 plantas de carambola seriam suficientes para as determinações químicas foliares de macronutrientes. Já para os micronutrientes, seriam necessárias, no mínimo, 52 plantas amostradas. O aumento do número de amostras simples reduziu o erro porcentual na estimativa da média desejada, permitindo a recomendação de 14 e 17 amostras simples nas camadas de 0 a 0,2 m e 0,2 a 0,4 m (erro = 20%), respectivamente. Sampling for diagnosis of nutritional status and assessment of fertility in starfruit orchards. Abstract: For a reliable nutritional analysis, the most sensitive stage is the plant and soil samplings. The most proper sampling is the one that best represents the area under study, requiring a minimum of sampled plants and the least possible number of simple samples collected. This work aimed to assess the number of plants to be sampled for the diagnosis of nutritional status, as well as the number of simple samples for making up of the compost sample for evaluating the soil fertility in starfruit orchard. This study was performed in a commercial starfruit orchard, in Vista Alegre do Alto, State of São Paulo. Random sampling was taken, collecting the sixth leaf from the apex of the branch of 40 starfruit trees, at the medium canopy height during blooming season. In the same way, 30 simple soil samples were collected, in a zigzag pattern following the planting lines, using a Dutch-type auger, at depths of 0 to 0.2 m and 0.2 to 0.4 m. Assuming a sample error of 10%, 21 starfruit trees would be sufficient for determining the chemical leaf macronutrients. For micronutrients, a minimum of 52 sampled plants would be necessary. Increasing the number of soil samples resulted in reduced percentage of error within the desired average estimate, thus allowing for a recommendation of 14 to 17 simple samples at depths of 0 to 0.2 m and 0.2 to 0.4 m (error = 20%), respectivel

Idade e crescimento do boca-negra, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) dos Açores

A idade e o crescimento de boca-negra, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809), foram estudadas pela observação dos otólitos (sagittae) esquerdos inteiros (n = 401) obtidos de exemplares (14-47 cm de comprimento total) capturados em águas Açoreanas. Enumeraram-se os anéis opacos observados na face anti-sulcal dos otólitos. Os intervalos de idades foram 3-14 anos para machos e 3-12 anos para fêmeas. Estimaram-se e compararam-se os parâmetros da equação de crescimento de von Bertalanffy, entre sexos e entre métodos (leitura directa de otólitos, retrocálculo e análise de distribuições de frequências de comprimentos). Não se verificaram diferenças importantes. Os resultados são diferentes da literatura publicada para a região. Discutem-se as causas e implicações dos resultados obtidos.ABSTRACT: Bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809), age and growth were studied by whole-view examination of left sagittae (n = 401) obtained from specimens (14-47 cm in total length) caught off the Azores. Opaque rings observed on the anti-sulcal surface of sagittae were enumerated as age estimates. Ages ranged from 3 to 14 years in males and 3 to 12 years in females. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted to average length at age data, and compared between sexes and methods (direct examination of otoliths, backcalculation and length-frequency analysis). No important differences in growth between sexes were found. Results are different from published literature for the region. The causes and implications of the results are discussed

Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Different Extracellular Polymeric Substances And Filamentation Mediate Xylella Fastidiosa Adhesion And Biofilm Formation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Microorganism pathogenicity strongly relies on the generation of multicellular assemblies, called biofilms. Understanding their organization can unveil vulnerabilities leading to potential treatments; spatially and temporally-resolved comprehensive experimental characterization can provide new details of biofilm formation, and possibly new targets for disease control. Here, biofilm formation of economically important phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa was analyzed at single-cell resolution using nanometer-resolution spectro-microscopy techniques, addressing the role of different types of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) at each stage of the entire bacterial life cycle. Single cell adhesion is caused by unspecific electrostatic interactions through proteins at the cell polar region, where EPS accumulation is required for more firmly-attached, irreversibly adhered cells. Subsequently, bacteria form clusters, which are embedded in secreted loosely-bound EPS, and bridged by up to ten-fold elongated cells that form the biofilm framework. During biofilm maturation, soluble EPS forms a filamentous matrix that facilitates cell adhesion and provides mechanical support, while the biofilm keeps anchored by few cells. This floating architecture maximizes nutrient distribution while allowing detachment upon larger shear stresses; it thus complies with biological requirements of the bacteria life cycle. Using new approaches, our findings provide insights regarding different aspects of the adhesion process of X. fastidiosa and biofilm formation.5Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2010/51748-7, 2010/18107-8, 2010/50712-9]CNPq [479486/2012-3]CNPq [573913/2008-0]FAPESP [08/57906-3