Attack of Atarsocoris brachiariae Becker, a new pest of pasturelands in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Estudou-se o efeito da textura do solo, relevo, espécie forrageira, idade e sistema de formação da pastagem, sobre o ataque de Atarsocoris brachiariae. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as espécies de forrageiras ou tipo de relevo quanto ao ataque da praga. As maiores densidades foram observadas em solos de textura arenosa, pastagens com mais de quatro anos, sistema de formação convencional e na faixa de 20-30 cm de profundidade. O ataque foi em reboleiras, e a maior densidade ocorreu na região de transição entre a área de pastagem morta e a área em que esta apresentava desenvolvimento normal.The effect of soil texture, landscape, grass species, age and system of pasture formation on attack intensity of Atarsocoris brachiariae Becker was studied. No differences were found among grass species or landscape on attack intensity of this bug. Higher densities of A. brachiariae were observed in sandy soils, in pastures over four years old, in those with traditional formation and between 20-30 cm underground. Attack of A. brachiariae occurred in patches specially in the transition areas between dead grass and normal growing grass

In vitro determination of extracellular proteins from xylella fastidiosa

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa causes economic losses in important agricultural crops. Xylem vessel occlusion caused by biofilm formation is the major mechanism underlying the pathogenicity of distinct strains of X. fastidiosa. Here, we provide a detailed in vitro characterization of the extracellular proteins of X. fastidiosa. Based on the results, we performed a comparison with a strain J1a12, which cannot induce citrus variegated chlorosis symptoms when inoculated into citrus plants. We then extend this approach to analyze the extracellular proteins of X. fastidiosa in media supplemented with calcium. We verified increases in extracellular proteins concomitant with the days of growth and, consequently, biofilm development (330 days). Outer membrane vesicles carrying toxins were identified beginning at 10 days of growth in the 9a5c strain. In addition, a decrease in extracellular proteins in media supplemented with calcium was observed in both strains. Using mass spectrometry, 71 different proteins were identified during 30 days of X. fastidiosa biofilm development, including proteases, quorum-sensing proteins, biofilm formation proteins, hypothetical proteins, phage-related proteins, chaperones, toxins, antitoxins, and extracellular vesicle membrane components.The phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa causes economic losses in important agricultural crops. Xylem vessel occlusion caused by biofilm formation is the major mechanism underlying the pathogenicity of distinct strains of X. fastidiosa. Here, we provide a de7Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2001/07533-7, 2012/51580-4]Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES, Computational Biology Program)CAPESFAPESP [2011/50268-4]CAPES (Computational Biology Program)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Resection Of Pituitary Adenomas: Preliminary Evaluation Of Consecutive Cases.

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery has gained increasing acceptance by otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons. In many centers throughout the world, this technique is now routinely used for the same indications as conventional microsurgical technique for pituitary tumors. To present a surgical experience of consecutive endoscopic endonasal trans-sphenoidal resections of pituitary adenomas. In this study, consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas submitted to endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery were evaluated regarding the rate of residual tumor, functional remission, symptoms relief, complications, and tumor size. Forty-seven consecutive patients were evaluated; 17 had functioning adenomas, seven had GH producing tumors, five had Cushing's disease, and five had prolactinomas. Of the functioning adenomas, 12 were macroadenomas and five were microadenomas; 30 cases were non-functioning macroadenomas. Of the patients with functioning adenomas, 87% improved. 85% of the patients with visual deficits related to optic nerve compression progressed over time. Most of the patients with complaints of headaches improved (76%). Surgical complications occurred in 10% of patients, which included with two carotid lesions, two cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and one death of a patient with a previous history of complications. Endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery is a feasible technique, yielding good surgical and functional outcomes, and low morbidity.80146-5

Anatomical description of Amazona gender parrot's skeletons through the use of radiography

O esqueleto de papagaios da espécie Amazona aestiva foi descrito e comparado com representantes de outras espécies do gênero Amazona. Para tanto, foram utilizados 22 exemplares da espécie Amazona aestiva; dois das espécies Amazona vinacea; Amazona rhodocorythae, Amazona farinosa, além de um exemplar das espécies Amazona brasiliensis e Amazona pretrei, doados após morte natural pelo Criadouro Poços de Caldas. Foram realizadas radiografias de corpo inteiro, variando de decúbito lateral direito ou esquerdo, no caso das projeções latero-laterais, e em decúbito dorsal, no caso da projeção ventro-dorsal. Independentemente da espécie, os crânios dos papagaios estudados puderam ser classificados como pró-cinéticos, por apresentarem liberdade de movimentos em sua porção rostral. Na maioria dos casos, a coluna vertebral esteve formada por 12 vértebras cervicais, seis vértebras torácicas livres, sinsacro (formado pela fusão da última vértebra torácica, 7 lombosacrais e uma caudal), cinco vértebras caudais livres e pelo pigóstilo (formado por três vértebras caudais fusionadas) e, apesar de diferenças pontuais, o esqueleto apendicular torácico e pélvico se mostrou muito semelhante ao observado para outros gêneros de aves e, inclusive, não foi possível observar dimorfismo sexual através das características anatômicas dos esqueletos dos papagaios trabalhados.This study describes the skeleton of Amazona aestiva parrots and compared it with representatives of other Amazona species. To this end, we used 22 specimens of Amazona aestiva, two specimens each of Amazona vinacea; Amazona rhodocorythae, Amazona farinosa and one specimen each of Amazona brasiliensis and Amazona pretrei donated after natural death by Poços de Caldas Breeding Park. Full body radiographs were taken, in either the right or left lateral decubitus position, in the case of laterolateral projections, and in supine position, in the case of ventrodorsal projection. Regardless of the species, skulls of the parrots were classified as prokinetic, because of free movements in their rostral portion. In most cases, the spine consisted of: 12 cervical vertebrae, six free thoracic vertebrae, synsacrum (formed by the fusion of the last thoracic vertebrae, 7 lumbosacral vertebrae and one caudal vertebrae), five free caudal vertebrae and the pygostyle (formed by three fused caudal vertebrae). Despite punctual differences, thoracic and pelvic appendicular skeleton proved to be very similar to that observed for other genera of birds. In addition, there was no sexual dimorphism considering the anatomical characteristics of the skeletons of parrots analyzed

Vapd In Xylella Fastidiosa Is A Thermostable Protein With Ribonuclease Activity.

Xylella fastidiosa strain 9a5c is a gram-negative phytopathogen that is the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), a disease that is responsible for economic losses in Brazilian agriculture. The most well-known mechanism of pathogenicity for this bacterial pathogen is xylem vessel occlusion, which results from bacterial movement and the formation of biofilms. The molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence caused by biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we provide evidence showing that virulence-associated protein D in X. fastidiosa (Xf-VapD) is a thermostable protein with ribonuclease activity. Moreover, protein expression analyses in two X. fastidiosa strains, including virulent (Xf9a5c) and nonpathogenic (XfJ1a12) strains, showed that Xf-VapD was expressed during all phases of development in both strains and that increased expression was observed in Xf9a5c during biofilm growth. This study is an important step toward characterizing and improving our understanding of the biological significance of Xf-VapD and its potential functions in the CVC pathosystem.10e014576