On the Chemical Disguise of a Physogastric Termitophilous Rove Beetle

Inter-specific symbiotic links are often reinforced by morphological, physiological, or behavioural trait modification undergone by the associated species. In some cases, such as in physogastric termitophile staphylinids, such modifications do facilitate the social interaction. Here we inspect chemical traits of the physogastric staphylinid Corotoca melantho (Insecta: Coleoptera) and its termite host Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Insecta: Blattodea: Isoptera), aiming to verify whether staphylinids resemble their host. First, we compared CHC profiles of hosts and guests within and among termitaria, to gather evidence on the origin of such profiles in guests. Then, we examined nitrogen and carbon isotopic signatures of these cohabitants to inspect whether chemical disguise is achieved by predation of host workers by staphylinids. Beetles presented CHC more similar to the CHC of their cohabiting termites than to (i) their conspecifics and (ii) termites from another nest, thereby favouring the hypothesis on CHC acquisition by guests. Isotopic signatures revealed that such similarities could not be majorly determined by share nutrition between these cohabitants. In general, our results evidenced that chemical disguise in termitophiles may function as a strategy for social integration in morphological mimics

Diet segregation between cohabiting builder and inquiline termite species

How do termite inquilines manage to cohabit termitaria along with the termite builder species? With this in mind, we analysed one of the several strategies that inquilines could use to circumvent conflicts with their hosts, namely, the use of distinct diets. We inspected overlapping patterns for the diets of several cohabiting Neotropical termite species, as inferred from carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures for termite individuals. Cohabitant communities from distinct termitaria presented overlapping diet spaces, indicating that they exploited similar diets at the regional scale. When such communities were split into their components, full diet segregation could be observed between builders and inquilines, at regional (environment-wide) and local (termitarium) scales. Additionally, diet segregation among inquilines themselves was also observed in the vast majority of inspected termitaria. Inquiline species distribution among termitaria was not random. Environmental-wide diet similarity, coupled with local diet segregation and deterministic inquiline distribution, could denounce interactions for feeding resources. However, inquilines and builders not sharing the same termitarium, and thus not subject to potential conflicts, still exhibited distinct diets. Moreover, the areas of the builder’s diet space and that of its inquilines did not correlate negatively. Accordingly, the diet areas of builders which hosted inquilines were in average as large as the areas of builders hosting no inquilines. Such results indicate the possibility that dietary partitioning by these cohabiting termites was not majorly driven by current interactive constraints. Rather, it seems to be a result of traits previously fixed in the evolutionary past of cohabitants

Optimisation de l'allocation de surface appliquée à la prduction de la partie inférieure d'une plateforme semi-submersible

peer reviewedThis paper presents a part of new developments included inside a holistic optimisation strategy during the design cycle of ships. The first part of the paper describes an algorithm to maximize the number of ship blocks and ship sections to produce in workshops during a certain time window. A tool was developed in order to support planners to improve the space utilization and workshop productivity. Thanks to this software, the scheduling is now done more efficiently and above all it takes less time. The second part of the paper describes a recent development of an algorithm able to generate a feasible blocks erection sequence starting from the blocks splitting definition. The idea is to integrate this module as a new functionality inside simulation software in order to take into account blocks sequence during the elaboration of the optimised production strategy. The two developments were validated on the lower hull of a semi-submersible platform coming from a new Brazilian shipyard

Canine latent papillomavirus infection and chromosomal instability studies in peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumors cells cultures from lesions biopsy

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-05-11T13:44:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 rachel_marins_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 382576 bytes, checksum: f90838574ea691479e6d0f8ad75c5e95 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-05-11T13:59:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rachel_marins_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 382576 bytes, checksum: f90838574ea691479e6d0f8ad75c5e95 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-11T13:59:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rachel_marins_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 382576 bytes, checksum: f90838574ea691479e6d0f8ad75c5e95 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Virologia Molecular. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Matemática. Laboratório de Estatística. Campus Valonguinho, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Centro de Agricultura e Tecnologia Agrícola. Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Veterinária. Laboratório de Citogenética Animal. Campus Vital Brasil. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Centro de Agricultura e Tecnologia Agrícola. Departamento de Anatomia Patológica e Morfológica. Laboratório de Saúde Animal. Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, BrasilIn the present study, we reported about papillomavirus (PV) clinical infection and viral latent investigation in canines. Clinical and molecular analyses for detection of DNA PV infection, as well as histopathology examination and cytogenetic evaluation were carried out in clinical lesions canines. Blood sample from the both epithelial infection and the asymptomatic dogs had been collected for molecular analysis. Amplification of DNA samples with the L1 gene from generic primers were detected in skin biopsies and blood samples from canines healthy clinically or not. To investigate the chromosomal fragility, we researched by cytogenetic technique in the peripheral blood lymphocytes cultures and in the tumors cells cultures from canines presenting oral and cutaneous warts lesions. The histological examinations of the skin biopsy specimens were diagnosed like adenoma, carcinoma and papilloma. In some cases, besides the surgical removal, autogenous vaccine derived from fresh warts of the same animal was indicated. The findings documented as mucosal and cutaneous tropism, which the PV viral infection not confined only epithelial sites, but also involved intracellular genome of host cell

Allometric scaling of patrolling rate and nest volume in Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites: hints on the settlement of inquilines

Structural and functional traits of organisms are known to be related to the size of individuals and to the size of their colonies when they belong to one. Among such traits, propensity to inquilinism in termites is known to relate positively to colony size. Larger termitaria hold larger diversity of facultative inquilines than smaller nests, whereas obligate inquilines seem unable to settle in nests smaller than a threshold volume. Respective underlying mechanisms, however, remain hypothetical. Here we test one of such hypotheses, namely, that nest defence correlates negatively to nest volume in Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). As a surrogate to defence, we used ‘patrolling rate’, i.e., the number of termite individuals attending per unit time an experimentally damaged spot on the outer wall of their termitaria. We found that patrolling rate decayed allometrically with increasing nest size. Conspicuously higher patrolling rates occurred in smaller nests, while conspicuously lower rates occurred in larger nests presenting volumes in the vicinity of the threshold value for the establishment of inquilinism. This could be proven adaptive for the host and guest. At younger nest age, host colonies are smaller and presumably more vulnerable and unstable. Enhanced defence rates may, hence, prevent eventual risks to hosts from inquilinism at the same time that it prevents inquilines to settle in a still unstable nest. Conversely, when colonies grow and maturate enough to stand threats, they would invest in priorities other than active defence, opening an opportunity for inquilines to settle in nests which are more suitable or less risky. Under this two-fold process, cohabitation between host and inquiline could readily stabilize

Estudos citogenéticos: condensação cromossômica prematura (PCC) em culturas de linfócitos do sangue periférico e culturas de lesões de verrugas cutâneas induzidas pela infecção espontânea do papilomavírus em bovinos

Papillomavirus is a dermotropic oncogenic DNA virus which induces benign and malignant lesions described in a wide variety of hosts. Evidences suggest that the virus is species and tissue specific. However several reports have shown the development of lesions in phylogenetically close hosts. We analyzed a total of 30 blood and tumors samples from bovines affected cutaneous papillomatosis lesions. Our study reported premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in peripheral blood lymphocytes cultures and in skin warts cells cultures, and we detected epithelial cellular hyperproliferation confirmed by histological tissues processing. The morphology of the PCC reflects the cell cycle phase-specific exhibiting levels of the prematurely condensed chromatin. These results indicated a failed in the cellular control mechanism with disruption of mitotic checkpoints induced by virus spontaneous infection.O papilomavírus é um vírus DNA oncogênico dermotrópico que induz a lesões benignas e malignas descrita em uma ampla variedade de hospedeiros. Evidências sugerem que o vírus é espécie e tecido específico. No entanto, vários relatos tem mostrado o desenvolvimento de lesões em hospedeiros filogeneticamente próximos. Foram analisadas um total de 30 amostras de sangue e tumores de bovinos afetados por lesões papilomatosas cutâneas. Nosso estudo relatou a condensação cromossômica prematura (PCC) em culturas de linfócitos do sangue periférico e em culturas de verrugas cutâneas, detectando a hiperproliferação celular epitelial, confirmada pelo processamento de tecidos histológicos. A morfologia da PCC reflete a fase do ciclo celular, exibindo níveis específicos da cromatina condensada prematuramente. Estes resultados indicaram uma falha no mecanismo de controle celular, com o rompimento de barreiras mitóticas, induzidas pela infecção espontânea do vírus

Frequência de genótipos da proteína circunsporozoíta de Plasmodium vivax em seres humanos e mosquitos anofelinos em área endêmica da região sudeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil

Universidade Federal do Pará. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Estadual Paulista. Botucatu, SP, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / Universidade Estadual Paulista. Botucatu, SP, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Belém, PA, Brasil.O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a frequência de genótipos da proteína circunsporozoíta (CSP) em sangue humano e sua correlação com a parasitemia, bem como avaliar a presença desses genótipos em Anopheles no Município de Goianésia do Pará, uma área endêmica do sudeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil, de 2012 a 2013. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 118 pacientes com Plasmodium vivax e 369 mosquitos anofelinos. O gene da CSP foi genotipado usando-se a reação em cadeia da polimerase/polimorfismo de comprimento de fragmento de restrição, e a infectividade dos anofelinos foi determinada pelo ELISA. A parasitemia variou de 5-70.000 parasitas/mm³, e os três genótipos (VK210, VK247 e P. vivax-like) foram detectados tanto em infecções simples quanto em mistas. Nenhuma amostra apresentou infecção mista com todos os três genótipos. O genótipo mais frequente foi o VK210, seguido pelo VK247 e o último associado com os valores mais altos de parasitemia (p < 0,0001). Entre os mosquitos identificados, somente 11 espécimes foram infectados; de sete espécimes Anopheles darlingi, quatro foram infectados por Plasmodium falciparum, dois por VK210 e um por VK247. Os três Anopheles albitarsis foram infectados por VK247 e um Anopheles nuneztovari por VK210. O genótipo VK210 continua sendo o mais prevalente no sudeste do Pará; entretanto, novas evidências indicam a adaptação do VK247. Os espécimes An. darlingi, An. albitarsis e An. nuneztovari desempenham um importante papel na transmissão dos genótipos CSP na área de estudo. Essa descoberta pode ser um problema de saúde pública devido à possibilidade de ressurgimento de epidemias de malária por P. vivax em comunidades suscetíveis.The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the frequency of circumsporozoite protein (CSP) genotypes in human blood and their correlation with parasitemia, as well as to evaluate the presence of these genotypes in Anopheles in the Municipality of Goianésia do Pará, an endemic area of southeastern Pará State, Brazil from 2012-2013. Blood samples were collected from 118 patients with Plasmodium vivax and 369 anopheline mosquitoes. The CSP gene was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, and the infectivity of the anophelines was determined using ELISA. Parasitemia ranged from 5-70,000 parasites/mm³, and the three genotypes (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like) were detected both in single and mixed infections. No sample exhibited mixed infection with all three genotypes. The most frequent genotype was VK210 followed by VK247 and the latter associated with the highest parasitemia values (p < 0.0001). Among the identified mosquitoes, only 11 specimens were infected; of the seven Anopheles darlingi specimens four were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, two with VK210, and one with VK247. The three Anopheles albitarsis specimens were infected with VK247, and one Anopheles nuneztovari specimen was infected with VK210. The VK210 genotype continues to be the most prevalent in southeastern Pará; however, a new evidence shows the adaptation of VK247. The species An. darlingi, An. albitarsis, and An. nuneztovari play an important role in the transmission of CSP genotypes in the study area. This finding may be a public health concern due to the possibility of resurgence of P. vivax malaria epidemics in susceptible communities

Overall summary of diet spaces of builder and inquilines termites, as inferred from their isotopic profile.

<p>Each panel depicts a set of termitaria of a given builder (<i>Constrictotermes cyphergaster</i> or <i>Velocitermes heteropterus</i>). Axes represent the concentration of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in termite bodies. Each dot refers to a group of termite workers weighing 1.5 g. Each Bayesian standard ellipsis represents the full set of builders or inquilines amassed across all termitaria studied. Dotted lines parallel to x-axis define 3‰ intervals thought to correspond to trophically distinct positions. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0066535#pone-0066535-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> for termite species identities.</p

Diet spaces of termite species coexisting in termitaria built by <i>Velocitermes heteropterus</i>, as inferred from their isotopic profile.

<p>Each panel represents a single termitarium. Axes represent the concentration of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in termite bodies. Each dot refers to a group of termite workers weighing 1.5 g. Bayesian standard ellipses refer to the builder and its inquiline termite species. Dotted lines parallel to x-axis define 3‰ intervals thought to correspond to trophically distinct positions.</p

Immunogenetic markers associated with a naturally acquired humoral immune response against an N-terminal antigen of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP-1)

São Paulo State University. Department of Biology. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Department of Skin. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Department of Skin. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Department of Skin. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / São Paulo State University. Department of Biology. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.Federal University of Sergipe. Department of Biology. São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Leônidas and Maria Deane Institute. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Básica de Malária. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Básica de Malária. Belém, PA, Brasil.Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Leônidas and Maria Deane Institute. Manaus, AM, Brazil.São Paulo State University. Department of Biology. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Department of Skin. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Básica de Malária. Belém, PA, Brasil.Background: Humoral immune responses against proteins of asexual blood-stage malaria parasites have been associated with clinical immunity. However, variations in the antibody-driven responses may be associated with a genetic component of the human host. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of co-stimulatory molecule gene polymorphisms of the immune system on the magnitude of the humoral immune response against a Plasmodium vivax vaccine candidate antigen. Methods: Polymorphisms in the CD28, CTLA4, ICOS, CD40, CD86 and BLYS genes of 178 subjects infected with P. vivax in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The levels of IgM, total IgG and IgG subclasses specific for ICB2-5, i.e., the N-terminal portion of P. vivax merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP-1), were determined by enzyme-linked immuno assay. The associations between the polymorphisms and the antibody response were assessed by means of logistic regression models. Results: After correcting for multiple testing, the IgG1 levels were significantly higher in individuals recessive for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs3116496 in CD28 (p = 0.00004). Furthermore, the interaction between CD28 rs35593994 and BLYS rs9514828 had an influence on the IgM levels (p = 0.0009). Conclusions: The results of the present study support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the genes of co-stimulatory components of the immune system can contribute to a natural antibody-driven response against P. vivax antigens