Identification of mechanisms involved in mastitis response by means of gene network building.

Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland, is the most prevalent and costly production disease in dairy herds worldwide. It is caused generally by bacteria and accounts for a significant decrease in milk production and quality. One promising approach to reduce problems caused by mastitis, in addition to sanitary care, is the selection of animals resistant to disease and the incorporation of this trait into the herds. Therefore, studies to better understand the mechanisms involved in animal response to this disease are essential to the proposition of new advances in area. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify groups of genes involved in cow response to mastitis infection, through gene network building from microarray data. Gene expression data from the GeneChipâ Bovine Genome Array (Affymetrix) hybridization with milk somatic cells samples from Holstein-Zebu crossbreed dairy cows, obtained before (B) and 24 hrs after (A) artificial infection with Staphylococcus agalactiae, were analyzed using a network building methodology based on gene co-expression. We used WGCNA (Weighted Gene Co-expression Analysis), a systems biology method for describing the correlation patterns among genes across microarray samples, that can be used for finding clusters (modules) of highly correlated genes to identify modules of co-expressed genes, which may correspond to functionally related genes. By comparing two networks (between contrasting data sets), conserved and non-conserved modules can be identified. This strategy, named differential network analysis, aims to identify genes groups that are both differentially expressed and differentially connected, and changes in connectivity may correspond to large-scale rewiring, in response to environmental changes and/or physiologic perturbations. Two microarray data sets, B (n=5) and A (n=5), were preprocessed using affy and gcrma R/Bioconductor packages. A filter was applied, which resulted in the use of only those transcripts present in all samples. Gene co-expression networks were identified separately for each group (B and A), by the R/WGCNA package. Gene networks were compared between the two groups, and non-conserved modules were uncovered from a correlation test of the connectivity values. Our analysis identified a total of 17 modules of co-expressed genes, three of them, designed by the colors grey (n=35), blue (n=37) and turquoise (n=192), non-conserved between the groups. Using Blast2GO for enrichment analysis, we find the molecular function Protein Binding overrepresented in all three modules. However, in despite of the same molecular function, each one of the modules showed distinct characteristcs. Genes of grey module (BTG3, CD3E, MBD1, CHIC2, PLXNA3, MOCS3, NEIL1, VPS45, BCL2) were related to apoptosis and antigen recognition. Genes of turquoise module were enriched in inflammation mediators, including known mastitis marker genes (FGL1, GJA1, F2RL1, PTPRF, S100A2, TGFB2). The blue one uncovered genes involved in cell division and inflammatory response (CD97, MAD2L1, ZFP106, CDKN2C, LOC514364, NOP14, PCBD1, LOC100139798, AP1S1, EDN1, IL1B, ANXA11). Our study identified some mechanisms (represented by gene modules) that have changed in cows in early response to mastitis infection. Further analysis are being carried out, based on these results, to advance the understanding of animals response to the disease, which can lead to identify the candidate genes that could be used in breeding programs.X-MEETING 2011

Epidermal growth factor receptor regulates fibrinolytic pathway elements in cervical cancer: functional and prognostic implications

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and components of the fibrinolytic system, including urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and thrombomodulin (TM), have been implicated in tumor progression. In the present study, we employed cBioPortal platform (http://www.cbioportal.org/), cancer cell lines, and an in vivo model of immunocompromised mice to evaluate a possible cooperation between EGFR signaling, uPA, and TM expression/function in the context of cervical cancer. cBioPortal analysis revealed that EGFR, uPA, and TM are positively correlated in tumor samples of cervical cancer patients, showing a negative prognostic impact. Aggressive human cervical cancer cells (CASKI) presented higher gene expression levels of EGFR, uPA, and TM compared to its less aggressive counterpart (C-33A cells). EGFR induces uPA expression in CASKI cells through both PI3K-Akt and MEK1/2-ERK1/2 downstream effectors, whereas TM expression induced by EGFR was dependent on PI3K/Akt signaling alone. uPA induced cell-morphology modifications and cell migration in an EGFR-dependent and -independent manner, respectively. Finally, treatment with cetuximab reduced in vivo CASKI xenografted-tumor growth in nude mice, and decreased intratumoral uPA expression, while TM expression was unaltered. In conclusion, we showed that EGFR signaling regulated expression of the fibrinolytic system component uPA in both in vitro and in vivo settings, while uPA also participated in cell-morphology modifications and migration in a human cervical cancer model

Genótipos de feijoeiro comum do grupo preto, no inverno, em Uberlândia-MG.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características agronômicas, de genótipos de feijoeiro comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), do grupo preto, na safra de inverno de 2011, em Uberlândia-MG.CONAF

Lippia sidoides essential oil at concentration of 0.25% provided improvements in microbiota and intestine integrity of Danio rerio.

Abstract: The study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lippia sidoides essential oil on the microbiota and intestinal morphology of Danio rerio. Resumo: O estudo avaliou os efeitos da suplementação dietária com óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides sobre a microbiota e a morfologia intestinal de Danio rerio. Para isso, 448 peixes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 28 tanques divididos em grupo controle alimentado com dieta comercial sem suplementação, grupo alimentado com dieta comercial contendo álcool de cereais e cinco grupos alimentados com dieta comercial contendo óleo essencial de L. sidoides (LSEO) em concentrações de 0,25%, 0,50%, 0,75%, 1,00% e 1,25%.Título em Português: O óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides em concentração 0,25% proporcionou melhorias na microbiota e integridade intestinal de Danio rerio

Planting time for maximization of yield of vinegar plant calyx (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Objetivou-se avaliar a produtividade de cálices de Hibiscus sabdariffa L., planta medicinal, em quatro épocas de plantio em Lavras M.G. Os tratamentos foram quatro épocas de plantio (18 de outubro; 15 de novembro; 18 de dezembro de 2001 e 15 de janeiro de 2002) e realizada uma colheita quando praticamente não existiam cálices em desenvolvimento, quase no final do ciclo da planta. Foram considerados os números de cálices por planta, as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices e a qualidade. Concluiu-se que a época de plantio influenciou o rendimento por planta e as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices, diferindo entre si pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. No plantio de outubro, houve maior rendimento (2.522 kg/ha), com produção de 5,24 vezes a mais em relação ao plantio do mês de janeiro (481 kg/ha). Os plantios nos meses de novembro e dezembro tiveram produções de 1.695 e 1.093 kg.ha-1 de cálices secos, respectivamente, e em relação ao mês de janeiro, a produção foi 3,52 e 2,27 vezes a mais.Deve-se realizar a colheita assim que os cálices estiverem maduros, a fim de preservar a qualidade

Viabilidade de uso do híbrido Hawaii 7996 como porta-enxerto de cultuvares comerciais de tomate.

A técnica de enxertia é utilizada em algumas hortaliças, principalmente em áreas infestadas, para atribuir resistência a patógenos do solo, minimizando as perdas de produção de cultivares suscetíveis. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento e a produtividade de plantas de tomateiro enxertadas em híbrido, tido como resistente a Ralstonia solanacearum, em comparação a pés-francos. O experimento foi desenvolvido em viveiro (produção de mudas e enxertia) e em céu aberto, no município de Cruz das Almas, Bahia, no período de outubro de 2003 a fevereiro de 2004. Utilizou-se o método de enxertia de fenda cheia, com o híbrido ‘Hawaii 7996’ como porta-enxerto e as cultivares Santa Clara, Santa Cruz Kada e Débora Plus, suscetíveis a R. solanacearum, como enxerto. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos (3 enxertados e 3 pés-francos), 5 repetições e 6 plantas por parcela útil. Avaliaram-se os caracteres: diâmetro do caule, altura da planta e da primeira inflorescência, distância entre inflorescências e produtividade comercial de frutos. O desenvolvimento das plantas, a produção total e a massa média dos frutos foram semelhantes para os tratamentos enxertados em relação a seus respectivos pés-francos e não houve incompatibilidade entre porta-enxerto e enxerto. A cultivar Santa Cruz Kada foi mais sensível às condições agroecológicas do município de Cruz das Almas, refletindo negativamente na produção e no peso médio dos frutos. Observou-se na enxertia com o híbrido ‘Hawaii 7996’ potencial para viabilizar a produção de tomateiros comerciais suscetíveis à murcha bacteriana, em áreas infestadas com R. solanacearum

Effect of refrigeration at -1°C on spermatozoa quality of domestic cats

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the sperm quality obtained of domestic cats by electroejaculation and recovery of the tail of the epididymis after cooling at -1°C and 4°C for 24 and 48 hours. Twenty-nine adult cats (2 to 6kg) were used. Sperm collection was performed by electroejaculation (EEJ), and after 48 hours, the cats were orchiectomized, and sperm sample was obtained from the vas deferens and epididymis tail (EPD). The samples were diluted in ACP-117® extender, and the sperm characteristics were evaluated at three different moments: when still fresh, 24 and 48 hours after cooling. In order to compare the two refrigeration temperatures, the first stage was to analyze if there was a difference between the harvesting techniques. After this, two experiments were conducted: in the first, sperm sample from 14 cats were used and the cooling was performed at -1°C; and in the second, sample from 15 cats were used and the sperm were refrigerated at 4°C. Sperm kinetics were evaluated by computerized analysis (CASA) and concentration by Neubauer chamber, spermatic morphology was evaluated by modified Karras staining, and membrane integrity was evaluated by eosin nigrosine. The results obtained were analyzed in R software, version 3.2.5 using the Mann-Whitney test for variables with abnormal distributions, considering significance at the level of 5%. In ejaculate samples, higher values of total morphological defects were observed after 24 and 48 hours of refrigeration at 4°C (P<0.022) compared to refrigeration at -1°C, using Friedman test. To quantify the decrease in sperm quality, parameter reductions were calculated among time points (F-24h/F-48h/24h-48h). In EPD samples, a greater reduction in sperm quality was detected after 24 hours of refrigeration at 4°C, both in motility and sperm kinetics and in the movement and velocity indices, compared to refrigeration at -1°C. Based on the results, it can be concluded that cooling of feline spermatozoa at -1°C for up to 48 hours was efficient in maintaining spermatic quality collected by EEJ and EPD, and it could be an alternative to spermatozoa cryopreservation in domestic felines

Study of the textural evolution in Ti-rich NiTi using synchrotron radiation

Abstract The aim of the present work is to investigate the textural evolution in high-temperature phase (austenite -B2) of Ti-rich NiTi (Ni-51at%Ti) shape memory alloys (SMA). The alloy was subjected to different thermomechanical treatments involving various heat treatments and cold rollings (10% and 40%). The qualitative texture analysis was performed at BM20 (ROBL-CRG) of the European Synchrotron Research Facility (ESRF) using in-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) with a wavelength of 0.154 nm. In-situ high-temperature texture determination has been carried out for the first time for Ni-Ti alloys, by annealing at different temperatures up to 800°C under a vacuum better than 10 À4 Pa. The discussion highlights the evolution of texture during annealing at high temperatures and the change in the coherency domain size and microstrain

The Azorean Biodiversity Portal: an internet database for regional biodiversity outreach

Copyright © 2010 The Natural History Museum.There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific community and the public. We present an internet database of the terrestrial lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, molluscs, arthropods, vertebrates and coastal invertebrates of the Azores archipelago (Portugal, North Atlantic): the Azorean Biodiversity Portal (ABP, http://www.azoresbioportal.angra.uac.pt/). This is a unique resource for fundamental research in systematics, biodiversity, education and conservation management. The ABP was based on a regional species database (ATLANTIS), comprised of grid-based spatial incidence information for c. 5000 species. Most of the data rely on a comprehensive literature survey (dating back to the 19th century) as well as unpublished records from recent field surveys in the Azores. The ABP disseminates the ATLANTIS database to the public, allowing universal, unrestricted access to much of its data. Complementarily, the ABP includes additional information of interest to the general public (e.g. literature on Macaronesian biodiversity) together with images from collections and/or live specimens for many species. In this contribution we explain the implementation of a regional biodiversity database, its architecture, achievements and outcomes, strengths and limitations; we further include a number of suggestions in order to implement similar initiatives