The Arabidopsis NADPH oxidases RbohD and RbohF display differential expression patterns and contributions during plant immunity

Plant NADPH oxidases, also known as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs), produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that perform a wide range of functions. RbohD and RbohF, two of the 10 Rboh genes present in Arabidopsis, are pleiotropic and mediate diverse physiological processes including the response to pathogens. We hypothesized that the spatio-temporal control of RbohD and RbohF gene expression might be critical in determining their multiplicity of functions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants with RbohD and RbohF promoter fusions to β-glucuronidase and Luciferase reporter genes were generated. Analysis of these plants revealed a differential expression pattern for RbohD and RbohF throughout plant development and during immune responses. RbohD and RbohF gene expression was differentially modulated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Histochemical stains and in vivo expression analysis showed a correlation between the level of RbohD and RbohF promoter activity, H2O2 accumulation and the amount of cell death in response to the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and the necrotrophic fungus Plectosphaerella cucumerina. A promoter-swap strategy revealed that the promoter region of RbohD was required to drive production of ROS by this gene in response to pathogens. Moreover, RbohD promoter was activated during Arabidopsis interaction with a non-virulent P. cucumerina isolate, and susceptibility tests with the double mutant rbohD rbohF uncovered a new function for these oxidases in basal resistance. Altogether, our results suggest that differential spatio-temporal expression of the Rboh genes contributes to fine-tune RBOH/NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS production and signaling in Arabidopsis immunity

Gestão de informação de arquivo: projecto de plataforma de comunicação em rede para a administração central do estado

O contexto de crise obriga a Administração Pública portuguesa a tornar-se mais eficaz e eficiente sem pôr de lado a sua capacidade de diálogo. A boa gestão da informação das organizações públicas é um dos factores que mais pode contribuir para o aumento da sua eficiência e eficácia. Todavia, a complexidade crescente desta área impõe que o órgão coordenador da política nacional de arquivos, neste caso, a Direcção-Geral de Arquivos (DGARQ), em articulação com as Secretarias-Gerais, que actualmente detêm importantes responsabilidades na gestão de documentos ao nível ministerial, assuma uma atitude mais proactiva. A evolução tem demonstrado um acentuar da vertente relacional do órgão coordenador, apostado na qualificação do sistema de arquivos através da produção de normas e orientações técnicas, da prestação de apoio técnico, da supervisão e da regulação. O desenvolvimento de projectos transversais nestas áreas, como, por exemplo, o da Identificação e Levantamento de Processos da Administração Central do Estado, tem conduzido a um crescimento da interacção entre o órgão coordenador e os organismos. Justifica-se, assim, a criação de uma plataforma de comunicação que os mantenha em contacto de modo a responder às necessidades surgidas durante a execução de projectos ou mesmo das tarefas correntes. Esta plataforma: permitirá auxiliar os responsáveis pela gestão da informação de arquivo em cada organização, que poderão dissipar as suas dúvidas através das salas de discussão e dos repositórios de informação; possibilitará o acompanhamento e monitorização dos projectos transversais pela DGARQ e pelas Secretarias-Gerais; e, suportará a concepção de políticas públicas de arquivo através da recolha de dados. A plataforma, ao sedimentar uma Rede de Arquivos da Administração Central do Estado (RAACE) baseada na partilha da informação e do conhecimento, constituirá uma ferramenta essencial no apoio à qualificação dos arquivos da generalidade das organizações públicas.The crisis context obliges public administration to become more effective and efficient without putting behind it’s capacity of dialog. Good information management in public organizations is one of the factors that most can contribute to the growth of it’s effectiveness and efficiency. Nevertheless, the growing complexity of this area imposes a more proactive attitude of the coordination authority, the Directorate General of Archives (DGARQ), in articulation with the General Secretaries, which actually have great responsibilities in document’s management at ministerial level. Evolution has showed an intensification of the public relations of the coordination authority that is achieving the qualification of the archives system throw the production of standards, the giving of technical support, supervision and regulation of the system, the coordination of the General Secretariats and the development of the transversal projects. The development of transversal projects in these areas, such as, for example, the Identification and Description of Processes of Central State Administration, has led to a growth of the interaction between the coordination authority and the organizations. It is justifiable the creation of a communication platform that maintains them in contact to satisfy needs created during the execution of projects or in current tasks. This platform: will help the responsible of information management of which organization, that can dissipate it’s doubts through chats and information repositories; will facilitate the accompaniment and overlooking of transversal projects by DGARQ and General Secretariats; and will support the conception of archive public policies through data collecting. Platform, through the reinforcement of an Archives Central State Administration Network, based in information and knowledge sharing, will constitute a key tool in the support to the qualification of the archives of most public organizations

COLEOPTERA LAMELLICORNIA (MACLEAY, 1819) DEL SUR DEL ESTADO DE MORELOS, MEXICO

Over a period five years (1980-1985) 5,143 samples of coleopteran lamelicornios of the families Melolonthidae. Scarabaeidae, Trogidae, and Passalidae were coliected in the Southern part of the State of Morelos The samples consisted of 12 subfamilies, 25 tribes, and 126 species of the following gender: Diplotaxis, Polyphylla, Phyllophaga, Macrodactylus, Calomacraspis, Macraspis, Pehdnota. Parachrysina, Stngoderma, Anómala, Cyclocephala, Ligyrus, Strategus, Dynastes. Golofa, Hemiphileurus, Phileurus, Cotinis, Hologymnetis, Paragymnetis, Gymnetis, Euphona, Apeltastes, Trigonopeltastes, Copris. Dichotomius, Ateuchus, Canthidium, Phanaeus, Coprophanaeus, Canthon, Pseudocanchon, Deltoch.'um. Onthophagus, Aphodius, Martinezia, Ataenius, Neopsammodius, Platytomus, Ceratocanthus, Bolborhombus, Ochodaeus, Omorgus, Ptichopus and Passalus. The genera Phyllophaga, Diploiaxis, Anómala, Euphoria. Ataenius, Onihophagus, and Canthon comprised 53.1 6% of the total species capturad. Anómala viHoseía is recorded for the first time for the State of Morelos. Of the dispersión patterns proposed by Halffter for the Mexican Transitional Zone, 53.33% oí the genera and 34.92% of the species are tncluded in the Typical Neotropicai Dispersión Pattern, 28.88% of the genera and 42.06% of the species in the Widely Successful Paleoamerican Pattern, and 1 7.77% of the genera and 23.01% of the species are included in the Mexican High Plateau Pattern. At the generic level, Neotropicai elements show a clear predominance, but at the species level, paleoamerican elements predominate due to the great diversity of species of Phyllophaga, Anómala and Onthophagus. A key to the local species is aiso included.Duranle cinco años de colectas (1 980-1 9851 en el Sur del Estado de Morelos, se obtuvieron 5,143 ejemplares de coleópteros Lamolicornios de las familias Melolonthidae, Scarabaeidae, Trogidae y Passalidae que representan a 12 subfamilias, 25 tribus, y 126 especies de los géneros: Diplotaxis, Polyphylla, Phyllophaga, Macrodactylus, Calomacraspis, Macraspis, Pehdnota. Parachrysina, Stngoderma, Anómala, Cyclocephala, Ligyrus, Strategus, Dynastes, Golofa, Hemiphileurus, Phileurus, Cotinis, Hologymnetis, Paragymnetis, Gymnetis. Euphoria, Apeltastes, Trigonopeltastes, Copris, Dichotomius, Atcuchus, Canthidium. Phanaeus, Coprophanaeus. Canthon, Pseudocanthon, Deltochinum, Onthophagus, Aphodius, Martinezia, Ataemus, Neopsammodius, Platycomus, Ceratocanthus, Bolborhombus, Ochodaeus, Omorgus, Ptichopus y Passalus. Los géneros Phyllophaga, Diplotaxis, Anómala, Euphoria, Ataenius, Onthophagus y Canchón reúnen al 53.16% del total de las especies capturadas. Anómala villosela representa el primer registro de la especie para el Estado de Morelos. De los patrones de dispersión propuestos por Halffter para la Zona de Transición Mexicana, el 53.33% de géneros y 34.92% de las especies se encuentran incluidas dentro del patrón de dispersión Neotropical Típico, el 28.88% de los géneros y 42,06% de las especies en el patrón Paleoamericano con Amplio éxito y el 17,77% de géneros y 23,01 % de las especies quedan incluidas en el patrón de dispersión del Altiplano Mexicano; a nivel genérico se muestra un claro predominio de elenientos neotropicales, pero a nivel específico el predominio corresponde a elementos paleoamericanos, debido a la gran diversidad de especies de Phyllophaga, Anómala y Onthophagus. Finalmente, se incluye una clave para separar a las especies presentes en el Sur de Morelos

Forecasts of butterfly future richness change in the southwest Mediterranean. The role of sampling effort and non-climatic variables

We estimated the potential impact of Global Warming on the species richness of Iberian butterflies. First, we determined the grid size that maximized the balance between geographic resolution, area coverage and environmental representativeness. Contemporary richness was modelled in several alternative ways that differed in how sampling effort was controlled for, and in whether the non-climatic variables (physiography, lithology, position) were incorporated. The results were extrapolated to four WorldClim scenarios. Richness loss is to be expected for at least 70% of the area, with forecasts from the combined models being only slightly more optimistic than those from the purely climatic ones. Overall, the most intense losses are predicted for areas of highest contemporary species richness, while the potential slightly positive or nearly neutral changes would most often concentrate in cells of low to moderate present richness. The environmental determinants of richness might not be uniform across the geographical range of sampling effort, suggesting the need of additional data from the least intensively surveyed areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acute alithiasic cholecystitis and human herpes virus type-6 infection: first case

A three-year-old male child presented with erythematous maculopapular nonpruritic generalized rash, poor feeding, vomiting, and cramping generalized abdominal pain. He was previously healthy and there was no family history of immunologic or other diseases. On examination he was afebrile, hemodynamically stable, with painful palpation of the right upper quadrant and positive Murphy's sign. Laboratory tests revealed elevated inflammatory markers, elevated aminotransferase activity, and features of cholestasis. Abdominal ultrasound showed gallbladder wall thickening of 8 mm with a positive sonographic Murphy's sign, without gallstones or pericholecystic fluid. Acute Alithiasic Cholecystitis (AAC) was diagnosed. Tests for underlying infectious causes were negative except positive blood specimen for Human Herpes Virus Type-6 (HHV-6) by polymerase chain reaction. With supportive therapy the child became progressively less symptomatic with gradual improvement. The child was discharged on the sixth day, asymptomatic and with improved analytic values. Two months later he had IgM negative and IgG positive antibodies (1/160) for HHV-6, which confirmed the diagnosis of previous infection. In a six-month follow-up period he remains asymptomatic. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case of AAC associated with HHV-6 infection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The relationship between body size and population abundance in summer dung beetle communities of south-european mountains (Coleoptera: scarabaeoidea)

La relation entre la taille corporelle et la densité de population au sein des communautés de bousiers a été étudiée dans trois massifs montagneux sud-européens: les Alpes méridionales (France), les Pyrénées orientales (France) et la Sierra de Gredos (Espagne). Les espèces de taille moyenne dominent dans les Alpes et la Sierra de Gredos, tandis que dans les Pyrénées ce sont les espèces de grande taille (Geotrupinae) qui présentent les plus fortes densités de population. Parallèlement à la domination des espèces de grande taille les communautés des Pyrénées sont caractérisées par une très faible diversité (sous-représentation des Aphodiinae et des Coprinae). Nos résultats montrent que la relation entre la taille corporelle et la densité de population ne présente pas un patron homogène dans les communautés de bousiers du sud de l'Europe. L'étude des peuplements locaux ne peut donc permettre de déduire d'éventuelles tendances évolutives. En outre, dans les Pyrénées, la compétition interspécifique semble avoir joué un rôle important dans la mise en place de la faune. Trois hypothèses sont proposées pour expliquer la spécificité des communautés pyrénéennes.The relationship between body size and population abundance was studied in summer dung beetle communities of three South-European mountains: southern Alps (France) , eastern Pyrenees (France) , Sierra de Gredos (Spain) . Middle-sized species dominated in southern Alps and in the Sierra de Gredos, but the large-bodied species (Geotrupinae) presented the highest population densities in the Pyrenean communities. The domination of large-bodied species in the Pyrenees was linked with a noteworthy low diversity (under-representation of Aphodiinae and Coprinae). Our results showed (i) that the relationship between body size and population density does not present a homogeneous pattern in South-European dung beetle communities. So, the study of local assemblages does not allow to in fer underlying evolutionary trends. ( i i ) Conversely this analysis allows to assume that interspecific competition played a main role in the formation of the Pyrenean fauna. Three hypotheses are proposed to explain the specificity of Pyrenean communities

Evaluation of the potential of the common cockle (cerastoderma edule l.) for the ecological risk assessment of estuarine sediments: Bioaccumulation and biomarkers

Common cockles (Cerastoderma edule, L. 1758, Bivalvia: Cardiidae) were subjected to a laboratory assay with sediments collected from distinct sites of the Sado Estuary (Portugal). Cockles were obtained from a mariculture site of the Sado Estuary and exposed through 28-day, semi-static, assays to sediments collected from three sites of the estuary. Sediments from these sites revealed different physico-chemical properties and levels of metals and organic contaminants, ranging from unimpacted (the reference site) to moderately impacted, when compared to available sediment quality guidelines. Cockles were surveyed for bioaccumulation of trace elements (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) and organic contaminants (PAHs, PCBs and DDTs). Two sets of potential biomarkers were employed to assess toxicity: whole-body metallothionein (MT) induction and digestive gland histopathology. The bioaccumulation factor and the biota-to-soil accumulation factor were estimated as ecological indices of exposure to metals and organic compounds. From the results it is inferred that C. edule responds to sediment-bound contamination and might, therefore, be suitable for biomonitoring. The species was found capable to regulate and eliminate both types of contaminants. Still, the sediment contamination levels do not account for all the variation in bioaccumulation and MT levels, which may result from the moderate metal concentrations found in sediments, the species’ intrinsic resistance to pollution and from yet unexplained xenobiotic interaction effects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genotoxic damage in Solea senegalensis exposed to sediments from the Sado Estuary (Portugal): effects of metallic and organic contaminants

Juvenile Solea senegalensis (Senegalese sole) were exposed to freshly collected sediments from three sites of the Sado Estuary (West-Portuguese coast) in 28-day laboratory assays in order to assess the ecological risk from sediment contaminants, by measuring two genotoxicity biomarkers in peripheral blood: the percentage of Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormalities (ENA) by use of an adaptation of the micronucleus test, and the percentage of DNA strand-breakage (DNA-SB) with the Comet assay. Sediments were surveyed for metallic (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) and organic (PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDTs (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane)) contaminants. Sediments from site A (farthest from hotspots of contamination) were found to be the least contaminated and weaker inducers of genotoxic damage, whereas sediments from sites B (urban influence) and C (affected by industrial effluents and agricultural runoffs) were responsible for a very significant increase in both ENA and DNA-SB, site B being most contaminated with metals and site C mainly with organic pollutants, especially PAHs and PCBs . Analysis of genotoxic effects showed a strong correlation between the concentrations of PAHs and PCBs and both biomarkers at sampling times T14 and T28, while the amounts of Cu, As, Cd and Pb were less strongly correlated, and at T28 only, with ENA and DNA-SB. These results show that organic contaminants in sediment are stronger and faster acting genotoxic stressors. The results also suggest that metals may have an inhibitory effect on genotoxicity when interacting with organic contaminants, at least during early exposure. ENA and DNA-SB do not show a linear relationship, but a strong correlation exists between the overall increase in genotoxicity caused by exposure to sediment, confirming that they are different, and possibly non-linked effects that respond similarly to exposure. Although the Comet assay showed enhanced sensitivity, the two analyses are complementary and suitable for the biomonitoring of sediment contaminants in a benthic species like S. senegalensis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Histological biomarkers in liver and gills of juvenile Solea senegalensis exposed

Young juvenile Solea senegalensis were exposed to three sediments with distinct contamination profiles collected from a Portuguese estuary subjected to anthropogenic sources of contamination (the Sado estuary, western Portugal). Sedimentswere surveyed formetals (cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc), ametalloid (arsenic) and organic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and a pesticide, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane plus itsmetabolites), aswell as total organic matter, redox potential and particle fine fraction. The fish were exposed to freshly collected sediments in a 28-day laboratorial assay and collected for histological analyses at days 0 (T0), 14 (T14) and 28 (T28). Individual weighted histopathological indices were obtained, based on presence/absence data of eight and nine liver and gill pathologies, respectively, and on their biological significance. Although livers sustained more severe lesions, the sediments essentially contaminated by organic substances caused more damage to both organs than the sediments contaminated by both metallic and organic contaminants, suggesting a possible synergistic effect. Correlation analyses showed that some alterations are linked, forming distinctive histopathological patterns that are in accordance with the severity of lesions and sediment characteristics. The presence of large eosinophilic bodies in liver and degeneration of mucous cells in gills (a first-time described alteration)were some of the most noticeable alterations observed and were related to sediment organic contaminants. Body size has been found to be negatively correlated with histopathological damage in livers following longer term exposures. It is concluded that histopathological indices provide reliable and discriminatory data even when biomonitoring as complex media as natural sediments. It is also concluded that the effects of contamination may result not only from toxicant concentrations but also from their interactions, relative potency and sediment characteristics that ultimately determine bioavailability.peerreviewe