Gene diversity in grevillea populations introduced in Brazil and its implication on management of genetic resources.

A variabilidade isoenzimática para seis populações de Grevillea robusta, oriundas de um teste de procedências/progenies, implantado no delineamento em blocos casualizados com 5 plantas por parcela, no Sul do Brasil, é descrita. A estrutura genética da população foi analisada utilizando-se marcadores bioquímicos, aos 5 anos de idade, especificamente para os locos MDH-3, PGM-2, DIA-2, PO-1, PO-2, SOD-1, e SKDH-1. As procedências do norte de ocorrência natural (Rathdowney e Woodenbong) apresentaram divergência genética superior, em relação à média das progênies, considerando o número de alelos por locus, (Ap), a riqueza alélica (Rs), a diversidade genética de Nei (H), e o coeficiente de endogamia (f). A endogamia foi detectada em diversos graus. A testemunha comercial apresentou o maior coeficiente de endogamia, (f = 0,4448), comparativamente à média das procedências (f = 0,2306), possivelmente devido à insuficiente amostragem populacional na região de origem (Austrália). Apesar de sua ocorrência natural restrita, observou-se correlação positiva entre divergência genética e distância geográfica entre as populações originais. A distância genética e análise de cluster, baseada no modelo bayesiano, mostrou três grupos de procedências distintos: 1) Rathdowney- QLD e Woodenbong-QLD; 2) Paddy?s Flat-NSW; e 3) Mann River-NSW, Boyd River-NSW e a testemunha comercial (material utilizado no Brasil). O agrupamento da testemunha com as procedências Mann River-NSW e Boyd River-NSW sugere um maior potencial das procedências do norte para o melhoramento genético visando à produção de madeira no Brasil, devido a sua elevada diversidade genética e baixo coeficiente de endogamia

Intranasal Peptide Therapeutics: A Promising Avenue for Overcoming the Challenges of Traditional CNS Drug Development

The central nervous system (CNS) has, among all organ systems in the human body, the highest failure rate of traditional small-molecule drug development, ranging from 80–100% depending on the area of disease research. This has led to widespread abandonment by the pharmaceutical industry of research and development for CNS disorders, despite increased diagnoses of neurodegenerative disorders and the continued lack of adequate treatment options for brain injuries, stroke, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neuropsychiatric illness. However, new approaches, concurrent with the development of sophisticated bioinformatic and genomic tools, are being used to explore peptide-based therapeutics to manipulate endogenous pathways and targets, including “undruggable” intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The development of peptide-based therapeutics was previously rejected due to systemic off-target effects and poor bioavailability arising from traditional oral and systemic delivery methods. However, targeted nose-to-brain, or intranasal (IN), approaches have begun to emerge that allow CNS-specific delivery of therapeutics via the trigeminal and olfactory nerve pathways, laying the foundation for improved alternatives to systemic drug delivery. Here we review a dozen promising IN peptide therapeutics in preclinical and clinical development for neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), neuropsychiatric (depression, PTSD, schizophrenia), and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism), with insulin, NAP (davunetide), IGF-1, PACAP, NPY, oxytocin, and GLP-1 agonists prominent among them

Increasing knowledge of the denizens of saline environments through integrative taxonomy: new Argentinian endemic taxa of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) and their evolutionary relationships

The known diversity of the genus Liolaemus continues to increase, principally due to its great degree of endemism, the increasing number of researchers working on it, and advances in the taxonomic and phylogenetic knowledge of the genus. This diversity positions Liolaemus as the second most species-rich tetrapod genus. The present work adds to evidence for the great diversity of Liolaemus through the description of two new species, endemic to saline environments in the Argentinian Puna. Both species are members of the Liolaemus montanus group within the subgenus Eulaemus. To determine the taxonomic status of these lizards, we used integrative taxonomy as a tool, incorporating phylogenetic, morphological, and molecular genetic evidence, as well as the anatomy of hemipenes, statistical morphological analysis, and ecological characteristics. Our analyses supported the conclusion that both sampled populations of lizards are species new to science. One of these is found along the margins of the Antofalla salt flats in the Catamarca Province and the Hombre Muerto salt flats in the Salta Province. The other new species inhabits saline habitats vegetated by Lycium humile, principally between the salt crusts of the Antofalla salt flats. Both species are small to medium sized and can be distinguished from all other species of the L. montanus group by unique combinations of morphological characters, primarily pholidosis and dorsal and ventral colour patterns. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:29B39613-3298-4B43-A13A-9F950051BD04 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A97A5AA8-7295-4882-9809-CEFAD72E7202.Fil: Abdala, Cristian Simón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Paz, Marcos Maximiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Semhan, Romina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: García, Noelia Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar Kiriguin, A.. Universidad Mayor de San Andrés; BoliviaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Valladares, Pablo. Universidad de Tarapaca.; ChileFil: Gutierrez Poblete, Roberto. Universidad Nacional de San Agustín. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento Académico de Biología. Museo de Historia Natural; PerúFil: Quipildor, Matías A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Valdes, José Julian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Langstroth, R.. Universidad Mayor de San Andrés; Bolivi

T helper type 2 bias and type 17 suppression in primary dengue virus infection in infants and young children

Background: The immune response to dengue virus (DENV) primary infection in infants and young children is not well characterized. In Northern Argentina, .90% of the population was DENV-naı¨ve before the 2009 outbreak, allowing evaluation of age-dependent primary responses to infection. Methods: We conducted a comparative study of the immune response to DENV in 27 infected infants, young children and their mothers. Lymphocyte T helper (Th) 1, Th2, Th17 and inflammatory responses were assayed in blood during the 2009 DENV-1 epidemic. Results: The immune response to DENV-1 was significantly biased to Th2 in infected infants and young children, compared to infants with other febrile illnesses (for IL-4 p,0.001) and to their infected mothers (for IL-4 p,0.01). In addition, IL-17 suppression was observed in the memory response to DENV-1 in infected infants (p,0.01 vs placebo). Conclusion: Age-related differences in the primary response to DENV, characterized by an immature Th2 polarization and Th17 suppression in infants, should be studied further in order to expand our understanding of the mechanism of dengue pathogenesis.Fil: Talarico, Laura Beatriz. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bugna Hortoneda, Jimena. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Wimmenauer, Vera. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Espinoza, Marco A.. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; ArgentinaFil: Quipildor, Marcelo O.. Hospital San Vicente de Paul; ArgentinaFil: Hijano, Diego R.. Vanderbilt University. Department of Pediatrics; Estados Unidos. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Beccaria, Martín. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Wurster, Victoria. Vanderbilt University. Department of Pediatrics; Estados Unidos. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Cavagnaro, Luis E.. Hospital SAMIC Iguazu; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Daniel. Hospital SAMIC Iguazu; ArgentinaFil: Fattore, Gladys. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Batalle, Juan Pio. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Patricio Leandro. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Reynoso, Natalia. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Melendi, Guillermina Amanda. Vanderbilt University. Department of Pediatrics; Estados Unidos. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Felix A.. Institut Pasteur. Département de Virologie. Unité de Virologie Structurale; FranciaFil: Libster, Romina Paula. Vanderbilt University. Department of Pediatrics; Estados Unidos. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Polack, Fernando Pedro. Vanderbilt University. Department of Pediatrics; Estados Unidos. Fundación para la Investigación en Infectologia Infantil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin