Comparison of loop-mediated isothermal amplification, polymerase chain reaction, and selective isolation assays for detection of Xanthomonas albilineans from sugarcane

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and selective isolation assays for detection of Xanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of sugarcane leaf scald. The pathogen was isolated on selective medium from 44 out of 45 (98%) samples taken from symptomatic stalks, and from 44 out of 70 (63%) samples from asymptomatic stalks that were collected from plots with symptomatic stalks. Forty-two (93%), 41 (91%), and 42 (93%) symptomatic samples tested positive by LAMP, PCR and nested PCR, respectively. The pathogen was detected in 19 (27%), 8 (11%), and 25 (36%) of the 70 asymptomatic samples by LAMP, PCR and nested PCR, respectively. Symptomatic stalks were mainly, but not always, associated with high populations of the pathogen (107–109 CFU/ml), and asymptomatic stalks with low populations (<103 CFU/ml) or no bacteria. Although our LAMP and nested PCR methods detected 10 CFU/ml of X. albilineans in suspensions prepared with pure culture, they sometimes failed to detect the pathogen in samples with low pathogen populations. Isolation on selective medium along with another method should therefore be used for detection of the pathogen in asymptomatic stalks, especially in quarantine programs

Neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from brazilian red propolis, reduces acute and chronic inflammation: involvement of nitric oxide and IL-6

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOIsoflavonoids have been largely studied due to their distinct biological activities identified thus far. Herein, we evaluated the activity of neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from Brazilian red propolis, in acute and chronic inflammation. As for acute inflammation, we found that neovestitol reduced neutrophil migration, leukocyte rolling and adhesion, as well as expression of ICAM-1 in the mesenteric microcirculation during lipopolysaccharide-induced acute peritonitis. No changes were observed in the levels of TNF-alpha, CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 upon pretreatment with neovestitol. The administration of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor abolished the inhibitory effects of neovestitol in neutrophil migration and ICAM-1 expression. Nitrite levels increased upon treatment with neovestitol. No effects of neovestitol were observed on the chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro. As for chronic inflammation, neovestitol also reduced the clinical score and joint damage in a collagen-induced arthritis model. There was no change in the frequency of IL-17-producing TCD4+ cells. In addition, pretreatment with neovestitol reduced the levels of IL-6. These results demonstrate a potential anti-inflammatory activity of neovestitol, which may be useful for therapeutic purposes and/or as a nutraceutical.Isoflavonoids have been largely studied due to their distinct biological activities identified thus far. Herein, we evaluated the activity of neovestitol, an isoflavonoid isolated from Brazilian red propolis, in acute and chronic inflammation. As for acute inflammation, we found that neovestitol reduced neutrophil migration, leukocyte rolling and adhesion, as well as expression of ICAM-1 in the mesenteric microcirculation during lipopolysaccharide-induced acute peritonitis. No changes were observed in the levels of TNF-alpha, CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 upon pretreatment with neovestitol. The administration of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor abolished the inhibitory effects of neovestitol in neutrophil migration and ICAM-1 expression. Nitrite levels increased upon treatment with neovestitol. No effects of neovestitol were observed on the chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro. As for chronic inflammation, neovestitol also reduced the clinical score and joint damage in a collagen-induced arthritis model. There was no change in the frequency of IL-17-producing TCD4+ cells. In addition, pretreatment with neovestitol reduced the levels of IL-6. These results demonstrate a potential anti-inflammatory activity of neovestitol, which may be useful for therapeutic purposes and/or as a nutraceutical6FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2012/01365-0; 2012/22378-

Hidrogeoquímica do Sistema Aquífero Serra Geral na região do Alto Rio Uruguai, Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul e sua relação espacial com a tectônica rúptil

The present study aims to improve the knowledge about the hydrogeochemistry of the Serra Geral Aquifer System (SGAS), recognizing different geochemical Facies of groundwater and testing the existence of structural relationships conditioning the aquifer system in the Alto Uruguai River region, northwestern of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The methodology was conducted through the initial acquisition of georeferenced database of tubular wells in the area, recovering of tectonic lineaments through satellite imagery and filtering in a Geographic Information System (GIS), generating thematic maps and statistical analysis of the database. 1.981 tectonic lineaments were drawn and separated by length and pattern directions. Short lineaments and directions NE-E and NW-W are dominant in the area. The variation of hydrogeochemical Facies shows positive correlation with the lineament density. The CaMg and Mixed Waters Facies exhibit characteristics of low residence time, related to recharge areas of SGAS, the first one being linked to NE-E and N-NW directions and the second one with the NW-W direction. The Na Facies is related to lineaments NE-E and NW-W directions and alkaline pH and high total dissolved solids (TDS) contents, suggesting mixing with waters from the underlying Guarani Aquifer System (GAS). The FeK and F Facies are related to areas of ascending recharge of GAS or even deeper aquifers, the first one presenting relationship with the NE-E and NW-W directions and the second strongly related to N-NE lineaments.O presente estudo visa contribuir para melhorar o conhecimento sobre o Sistema Aquí- fero Serra Geral (SASG), reconhecendo diferentes tipos geoquímicos de águas subterrâneas e testando a existência de relações com as estruturas tectônicas na região do Alto Rio Uruguai, Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A metodologia utilizada envolveu a aquisição de dados de poços tubulares georreferenciados da região, traçado de lineamentos morfotectônicos por meio de imagens de satélite e filtragens em Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), geração de mapas temáticos e análise estatística dos dados obtidos. Foram traçados 1.981 lineamentos tectônicos, sendo esses separados por padrões de direções. Os lineamentos de direção NE-E e NW-W são dominantes na área. A variação das Fácies hidrogeoquímicas demonstrou uma correlação positiva com a densidade de lineamentos. As Fácies CaMg e Águas Mistas apresentam características de baixo tempo de residência, estando provavelmente relacionadas à captação de águas associadas a áreas de recarga do SASG, sendo a primeira conectada com lineamentos de direção NE-E e N-NW e a segunda com a direção NW-W. A Fácies Na, relacionada com lineamentos de direção NE-E e NW-W, apresenta valores de pH alcalinos, baixa dureza e elevado teor de Sólidos Totais Dissolvidos (STD), que sugerem mistura com águas provenientes do Sistema Aquífero Guarani (SAG) subjacente. As Fácies FeK e F estão associadas possivelmente com zonas de recarga ascendente do SAG ou mesmo de aquíferos mais profundos, a primeira apresentando conexão com as direções NE-E e NW-W e a segunda com lineamentos N-NE

Diachronous evolution of Late Jurassic-Cretaceous continental rifting in the northeast Atlantic (west Iberian margin)

Regional (2-D) seismic reflection profiles, outcrop, and borehole data are used to characterize the evolution of deep offshore sedimentary basins in southwest Iberia (Alentejo Basin). The interpreted data indicate the bulk of Late Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous subsidence occurred in the present-day continental slope area, as shown by (1) significant thickening of synrift strata basinward from a slope-bounding fault system (SFS), west of which the total thickness of sediment can reach more than 9.0 km, and (2) relatively thin Mesozoic strata east of the SFS, where thickening of synrift units against principal faults is limited. Five principal regressive events and their basal unconformities reflect tectonic uplift and relative emersion in proximal basins, which were located on the rift shoulder to subsiding tilt blocks west of the SFS. These regressive events are correlated with major rift-related events occurring on the deeper margin. Direct comparisons with the Peniche Basin of northwest Iberia reveal that significant portions of the Iberian lower plate margin were uplifted and eroded during the last stages of continental rifting. This process was repeated at different times (and in different areas) as the locus of rifting and continental breakup migrated northward. As a result, two distinct rift axes are recognized in west Iberia, a first axis extending from the Porto Basin to the Alentejo Basin and a second axis located on the outer proximal margin north of 38°30N. In addition, the SFS delimited (1) prograding deposits of Cretaceous-Paleogene age and (2) late Cenozoic deposits draping the modern continental slope. These latter facts demonstrate that on lower plate passive margins, the relative position of the continental slope is established during the final rifting episode(s) preceding continental breakup

Herschel -ATLAS: The dust energy balance in the edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 4754

We use Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations of the edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 4754, taken as part of the H-ATLAS SDP observations, to investigate the dust energy balance in this galaxy. We build detailed SKIRT radiative models based on SDSS and UKIDSS maps and use these models to predict the far-infrared emission. We find that our radiative transfer model underestimates the observed FIR emission by a factor of two to three. Similar discrepancies have been found for other edge-on spiral galaxies based on IRAS, ISO, and SCUBA data. Thanks to the good sampling of the SED at FIR wavelengths, we can rule out an underestimation of the FIR emissivity as the cause for this discrepancy. Instead we support highly obscured star formation that contributes little to the optical extinction as a more probable explanation.This work used data from the UKIDSS DR5 and SDSS DR7. The UKIDSS project is defined in Lawrence et al. (2007) and uses the UKIRT Wide Field Camera (WFCAM; Casali et al. 2007). Funding for the SDSS and SDSS-II has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Japanese Monbukagakusho, the Max Planck Society, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England

The protein LJM 111 from Lutzomyia longipalpis Salivary Gland Extract (SGE) accounts for the SGE-inhibitory effects upon inflammatory parameters in experimental arthritis model

Several studies have pointed out the immunomodulatory properties of the Salivary Gland Extract (SGE) from Lutzomyia longipalpis. We aimed to identify the SGE component (s) responsible for its effect on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced neutrophil migration (NM) and to evaluate the effect of SGE and components in the antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model. We tested the anti-arthritic activities of SGE and the recombinant LJM111 salivary protein (rLJM111) by measuring the mechanical hypernociception and the NM into synovial cavity. Furthermore, we measured IL-17, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma released by lymph nodes cells stimulated with mBSA or anti-CD3 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, we tested the effect of SGE and rLJM111 on co-stimulatory molecules expression (MHC-II and CD-86) by flow cytometry. TNF-alpha and IL-10 production (ELISA) of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) stimulated with LPS, chemotaxis and actin polymerization from neutrophils. Besides, the effect of SGE on CXCR2 and GRK-2 expression on neutrophils was investigated. We identified one plasmid expressing the protein LJM111 that prevented NM in OVA-challenged immunized mice. Furthermore, both SGE and rLJM111 inhibited NM and pain sensitivity in AIA and reduced IL-17, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. SGE and rLJM111 also reduced MHC-II and CD-86 expression and TNF-alpha whereas increased IL-10 release by LPS-stimulated BMDCs. SGE, but not LJM 111, inhibited neutrophils chemotaxis and actin polymerization. Additionally, SGE reduced neutrophil CXCR2 expression and increased GRK-2. Thus, rLJM111 is partially responsible for SGE mechanisms by diminishing DC function and maturation but not chemoattraction of neutrophils. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved