Genome-Wide Analysis in Brazilian Xavante Indians Reveals Low Degree of Admixture

Characterization of population genetic variation and structure can be used as tools for research in human genetics and population isolates are of great interest. the aim of the present study was to characterize the genetic structure of Xavante Indians and compare it with other populations. the Xavante, an indigenous population living in Brazilian Central Plateau, is one of the largest native groups in Brazil. A subset of 53 unrelated subjects was selected from the initial sample of 300 Xavante Indians. Using 86,197 markers, Xavante were compared with all populations of HapMap Phase III and HGDP-CEPH projects and with a Southeast Brazilian population sample to establish its population structure. Principal Components Analysis showed that the Xavante Indians are concentrated in the Amerindian axis near other populations of known Amerindian ancestry such as Karitiana, Pima, Surui and Maya and a low degree of genetic admixture was observed. This is consistent with the historical records of bottlenecks experience and cultural isolation. By calculating pair-wise F-st statistics we characterized the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and representative populations of the HapMap and from HGDP-CEPH project. We found that the genetic differentiation between Xavante Indians and populations of Ameridian, Asian, European, and African ancestry increased progressively. Our results indicate that the Xavante is a population that remained genetically isolated over the past decades and can offer advantages for genome-wide mapping studies of inherited disorders.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)INCT- Obesidade e DiabetesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Endocrinol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Lab Genet & Mol Cardiol, Inst Heart, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Social Med, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Endocrinol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Long-term effects of competition and environmental drivers on the growth of the endangered coral Mussismilia braziliensis (Verril, 1867)

Most coral reefs have recently experienced acute changes in benthic community structure, generally involving dominance shifts from slow-growing hard corals to fast-growing benthic invertebrates and fleshy photosynthesizers. Besides overfishing, increased nutrification and sedimentation are important drivers of this process, which is well documented at landscape scales in the Caribbean and in the Indo-Pacific. However, small-scale processes that occur at the level of individual organisms remain poorly explored. In addition, the generality of coral reef decline models still needs to be verified on the vast realm of turbid-zone reefs. Here, we documented the outcome of interactions between an endangered Brazilian-endemic coral (Mussismilia braziliensis) and its most abundant contacting organisms (turf, cyanobacteria, corals, crustose coralline algae and foliose macroalgae). Our study was based on a long (2006–2016) series of high resolution data (fixed photoquadrats) acquired along a cross-shelf gradient that includes coastal unprotected reefs and offshore protected sites. The study region (Abrolhos Bank) comprises the largest and richest coralline complex in the South Atlantic, and a foremost example of a turbid-zone reef system with low diversity and expressive coral cover. Coral growth was significantly different between reefs. Coral-algae contacts predominated inshore, while cyanobacteria and turf contacts dominated offshore. An overall trend in positive coral growth was detected from 2009 onward in the inshore reef, whereas retraction in live coral tissue was observed offshore during this period. Turbidity (+) and cyanobacteria (−) were the best predictors of coral growth. Complimentary incubation experiments, in which treatments of Symbiodinium spp. from M. braziliensis colonies were subjected to cyanobacterial exudates, showed a negative effect of the exudate on the symbionts, demonstrating that cyanobacteria play an important role in coral tissue necrosis. Negative effects of cyanobacteria on living coral tissue may remain undetected from percent cover estimates gathered at larger spatial scales, as these ephemeral organisms tend to be rapidly replaced by longer-living macroalgae, or complex turf-like consortia. The cross-shelf trend of decreasing turbidity and macroalgae abundance suggests either a direct positive effect of turbidity on coral growth, or an indirect effect related to the higher inshore cover of foliose macroalgae, constraining cyanobacterial abundance. It is unclear whether the higher inshore macroalgal abundance (10–20% of reef cover) is a stable phase related to a long-standing high turbidity background, or a contemporary response to anthropogenic stress. Our results challenge the idea that high macroalgal cover is always associated with compromised coral health, as the baselines for turbid zone reefs may derive sharply from those of coral-dominated reefs that dwell under oligotrophic conditions

Morphology and biomass of sunflower plants grown under water deficits in different development stages

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the morphology, biomass production and biomass partition of sunflower (Multissol cultivar) when subjected to water deficit at Pentecoste, CE - Brazil. An experimental design in randomized blocks was used as split plots in time (8 x 3) with four replications, with the treatments defined by the development stage for application of water deficit vegetative, flowering and formation of production stages corresponding to the occurrence of water deficit at stages 1, 2 or 3 and three evaluation periods at 52, 68 and 110 days after sowing. The plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter were negatively influenced by the isolated effects of the water deficits and evaluation periods. The water deficits and evaluation periods interacted and affected the leaf area, dry mass of leaves, petiole, stem, head and total. The best response in terms of growth and biomass production occurred in the treatment presenting no water deficit throughout the cycle. The irrigation deficits did not change the biomass partition. The irrigation level equivalent to 50% of the ETo compromised morphology and biomass production, when applied at any development stage.Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a morfologia, a produção e a partição de fitomassa do girassol cv. Multissol quando submetido a déficits de irrigação em Pentecoste, CE. Utilizou-se o delineamento estatístico em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo (8 x 3), com quatro repetições, sendo os tratamentos definidos em função da época de indução do déficit de irrigação nos estádios vegetativo, floração e formação da produção, correspondendo à ocorrência de déficit hídrico em 1, 2 ou 3 estádios e três épocas de avaliação (aos 52, 68 e 110º dia após a semeadura). A altura da planta, o número de folhas e o diâmetro do caule foram negativamente afetados pelos efeitos isolados dos déficits de irrigação e das épocas de avaliação. Os déficits de irrigação e as épocas de avaliação interagiram e afetaram a área foliar, a massa seca da folha, do pecíolo, do caule, do capítulo e total. A melhor resposta em ganhos de crescimento e de produção de fitomassa deu-se no tratamento sem déficit de irrigação, em todo o ciclo. Os déficits de irrigação não modificaram a partição de fitomassa. O nível de irrigação equivalente a 50% da ETo comprometeu a morfologia e a produção de fitomassa quando aplicado em qualquer estádio de desenvolvimento.95996

BALB/c Mice Infected with Antimony Treatment Refractory Isolate of Leishmania braziliensis Present Severe Lesions due to IL-4 Production

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. In Brazil, the cutaneous disease is more prevalent with about 28,000 new cases reported each year, and L. braziliensis is the main causative agent. The interesting data about the infection with this parasite is the wide variety of clinical manifestations that ranges from single ulcerated lesions to mucocutaneous and disseminated disease. However, experimental models to study the infection with this parasite are difficult to develop due to high resistance of most mouse strains to the infection, and the mechanisms underlying the distinct manifestations remain poorly understood. Here, the authors use a mouse experimental model of infection with different L. braziliensis isolates, known to induce diseases with distinct severity in the human hosts, to elucidate immune mechanisms that may be involved in the different manifestations. They showed that distinct parasite isolates may modulate host response, and increased IL-4 production and Arg I expression was related to more severe disease, resulting in longer length of disease with larger lesions and reduced parasite clearance. These findings may be useful in the identification of immunological targets to control L. braziliensis infection and potential clinical markers of disease progression