Transcriptional activity, chromosomal distribution and expression effects of transposable elements in Coffea genomes

Plant genomes are massively invaded by transposable elements (TEs), many of which are located near host genes and can thus impact gene expression. In flowering plants, TE expression can be activated (de-repressed) under certain stressful conditions, both biotic and abiotic, as well as by genome stress caused by hybridization. In this study, we examined the effects of these stress agents on TE expression in two diploid species of coffee, Coffea canephora and C. eugenioides, and their allotetraploid hybrid C. arabica. We also explored the relationship of TE repression mechanisms to host gene regulation via the effects of exonized TE sequences. Similar to what has been seen for other plants, overall TE expression levels are low in Coffea plant cultivars, consistent with the existence of effective TE repression mechanisms. TE expression patterns are highly dynamic across the species and conditions assayed here are unrelated to their classification at the level of TE class or family. In contrast to previous results, cell culture conditions per se do not lead to the de-repression of TE expression in C. arabica. Results obtained here indicate that differing plant drought stress levels relate strongly to TE repression mechanisms. TEs tend to be expressed at significantly higher levels in non-irrigated samples for the drought tolerant cultivars but in drought sensitive cultivars the opposite pattern was shown with irrigated samples showing significantly higher TE expression. Thus, TE genome repression mechanisms may be finely tuned to the ideal growth and/or regulatory conditions of the specific plant cultivars in which they are active. Analysis of TE expression levels in cell culture conditions underscored the importance of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathways in the repression of Coffea TEs. These same NMD mechanisms can also regulate plant host gene expression via the repression of genes that bear exonized TE sequences. (Résumé d'auteur

Antimicrobial resistance of isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae in a hospital of the Brazilian public system

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the predominant bacterial agent that affects the human population with pneumonia. This disease is an important cause of death in the elderly and the children under five years old. in this study, 29 strains of invasive S. pneumoniae were isolated from 29 patients of pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis in the laboratory of the Municipal Hospital in Paulinia, Brazil, from May 2006 to October 2007. Patients' age ranged from 8 months old to 60 years old. These strains of S. pneumoniae were isolated from blood, pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients. After typing of encapsulated strains of S. pneumoniae through quellung reaction, their resistance to antimicrobial agents was gauged through Disc Diffusion Technique followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among the 29 strains analyzed, 23 were methicillin-sensitive and six were methicillin-resistant and penicillin intermediate resistant. No strain presented full resistance to penicillin. Serotyping was performed only in two samples, which belonged to serotype 18. Our data may alert ambulatory regarding the incidence of pneumococcal strains resistant to the most common drugs due to inappropriate use of antimicrobials and also collaborate to the elaboration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines specific to each region.NEPASHosp Municipal Paulinia, Setor Microbiol, Paulinia, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Farm Bioquim, Diadema, SP, BrazilFac Med ABC, Dept Morfol Fisiol, Lab Escrita Cientif, Santo Andre, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Fac Filosofia & Ciencias, Dept Fonoaudiol, Marilia, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Farm Bioquim, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effect of increasing levels of aluminium on roots of rice grown in nutrient solution

Em casa de vegetação foi estudado o efeito de níveis crescentes de alumínio (0 ppm, 0,5 ppm, 1 ppm, 2 ppm, 4 ppm e 8 ppm) na CTC, volume e peso seco das raízes de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) (IAC-25) em solução nutritiva. Os tratamentos foram realizados quinze dias após a emergência. Semanalmente era trocada a solução e medidos o pH (antes da troca) e teores de Al+++ Com três semanas, as plantas foram colhidas e secadas em estufa, pesando-se raiz e parte aérea. O peso da parte aérea aumentou com doses crescentes de Al, como máximo a 8 ppm de Al. O peso de raízes não diferiu significativamente nos três níveis mais elevados de Al. O Al não afetou o número de perfilhos, mas resultou em aumento do volume das raízes. A capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC) das raízes caiu significativamente, com os níveis crescentes de Al. Com 8 ppm a CTC das raízes foi 48,6% da CTC da testemunha. Observaram- se correlações positivas entre o peso seco da parte aérea, o pH final da solução (r = 0,960**) e o volume das raízes (r = 0,910*). Foram observadas correlações negativas entre a CTC das raízes, o peso seco da parte aérea (r = -0,970**) e o volume das raízes (r =0,970**). Atribui-se a redução da CTC das raízes ao bloqueio não reversível de cargas negativas pelo Al, o que teria aumentado as atividades de H2PO-4 e NO-3 ao nível da plasmalema favorecendo o crescimento das plantas.The effect of aluminium levels (0 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1 ppm, 2 ppm, 4 ppm and 8 ppm) on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) (IAC-25) was studied under greenhouse conditions. Treatments were applied fifteen days after seed germination. Weekly, pH and Al+++ levels were measured, and the nutrient solution was changed. After three weeks plants were harvested, oven dried, and shoots and roots weighted. The dry weight of the shoots increased with increasing Al level in solution, reaching a maximum at the 8 ppm level. The dry weight of roots also increased but differences were not significant among the three highest levels of Al. Al levels did not affect the tiller number but led to an increase in root volume. Root cation exchange capacity (CEC) decreased significantly with increasing Al levels. At 8 ppm, CEC was only 48,6% in relation to control. There were positive correlations between shoot dry weights, solution pH (r = 0.960**) and root volume (r = 0.910*). Correlations were negative between root CTC, shoot dry weight (r = 0.970**) and root volume (r = -0.970**). The decrease of the CEC of roots may be due to the irreversible blocking of root charges by Al. The positive effect of Al on plant growth, was considered to be due to this blocking of charges on the activity of H2PO-4 and NO-3 at the plasmalemma

Spread of vaccinia virus to cattle herds, Argentina, 2011

To the Editor: Since 1999, several zoonotic outbreaks of vaccinia virus (VACV) infection have been reported in cattle and humans in rural areas of Brazil. The infections have caused exanthematous lesions on cows and persons who milk them, and thus are detrimental to the milk industry and public health services (1,2). In Brazil during the last decade, VACV outbreaks have been detected from the north to the extreme south of the country (1–4). Because Brazil shares extensive boundaries with other South American countries, humans and cattle on dairy and beef-producing farms in those countries may be at risk of exposure to VACV. To determine if VACV has spread from Brazil to Argentina, we investigated the presence of VACV in serum samples from cattle in Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Spread of vaccinia virus to cattle herds, Argentina, 2011

To the Editor: Since 1999, several zoonotic outbreaks of vaccinia virus (VACV) infection have been reported in cattle and humans in rural areas of Brazil. The infections have caused exanthematous lesions on cows and persons who milk them, and thus are detrimental to the milk industry and public health services (1,2). In Brazil during the last decade, VACV outbreaks have been detected from the north to the extreme south of the country (1–4). Because Brazil shares extensive boundaries with other South American countries, humans and cattle on dairy and beef-producing farms in those countries may be at risk of exposure to VACV. To determine if VACV has spread from Brazil to Argentina, we investigated the presence of VACV in serum samples from cattle in Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Ocorrência de Cabassous tatouay (Cingulata, Dasypodidae) e seu potencial de distribuição para o sul do Brasil

Cabassous tatouay Desmarest, 1804 é considerada espécie rara no sul da América do Sul, apresentando registros escassos e imprecisos para o Rio Grande do Sul. O presente estudo descreve 40 localidades de ocorrência de C. tatouay e apresenta de um mapa de distribuição geográfica potencial, gerado por Modelagem Ecológica de Nicho. A modelagem de nicho sugere uma associação da espécie com áreas de matriz campestre, incluindo o Pampa e os Campos de Cima da Serra, associados à Mata Atlântica. Este estudo contribui para o melhor conhecimento do tatu-de-rabo-mole no Sul do Brasil e fornece dados-chave para sua conservação.Cabossous tatouay Desmarest, 1804 is considered a rare species in southern South America, and Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, records of the species are scarce and inaccurate. This study reports 40 localities for C. tatouay, and provides a map of the species' potential distribution using ecological niche modeling (ENM). The ENM indicated that in this region C. tatouay is associated with open grasslands, including the areas of "Pampas" and the open fields in the highlands of the Atlantic Forest. This study contributes to the information about the greater naked-tailed armadillo in southern Brazil, and provides data key to its future conservation

Estudo do comportamento magnético de filmes finos apresentando o fenômeno de exchange bias

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