Identificação de genes diferencialmente expressos em soja em resposta à Phakopsora pachyrhizi pela metodologia ACP.

A ferrugem asiática da soja (FAS), causada pelo fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi, é uma doença foliar destrutiva em quase todos os países produtores de soja. Ferramentas biotecnológicas podem auxiliar no entendimento dos mecanismos de resposta de defesa a este fungo em nível molecular e consequentemente no controle da doença. Para identificar genes envolvidos em resposta à infecção com FAS, RNA de folhas infectadas e não infectadas de genótipos de soja resistente (PI561356) e suscetível (BRS 184), foram analisadas pela metodologia ACP (Annealing Control Primer). Quarenta ACPs foram utilizados para identificar e sequenciar 59 genes diferencialmente expressos (DEGs) e 44 destes genes mostraram homologia com proteínas conhecidas e foram identificados como envolvidos principalmente em fotossíntese, síntese e degradação de proteínas. A maioria dos DEGs que foi induzida nas plantas resistentes estava envolvida na categoria funcional de defesa, energia, atividade antioxidante e transporte celular. Quatro genes com diferentes padrões de expressão foram selecionados e caracterizados por meio de análises de RT-qPCR para obter um perfil de expressão específico nos genótipos de soja resistente (PI561356), tolerante (BRS 231) e suscetível (BRS 184). Análises de RT-qPCR revelaram que as respostas iniciais são mais intensas nas plantas resistentes. Adicionalmente, foi possível identificar o gene tiazol como candidato para estudos mais detalhados de seu envolvimento com a resistência a FAS

Estimativa da pegada hídrica cinza de fertilizante nitrogenado no polo de produção de grãos, Paragominas - Pará, Amazônia.

Estimativas apontam que até o ano de 2050 o planeta irá presenciar uma crise em quantidade e qualidade hídrica, decorrente principalmente do crescimento populacional nos grandes centros urbanos e do incremento econômico. No Brasil segundo dados da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU), em 2030 a população nacional chegará a 232 milhões de habitantes, indicando comprometimentos em qualidade e disponibilidade de água às populações. Na Amazônia, a partir de 2004 houve uma mudança no perfil agrícola com a expansão da fronteira, principalmente nos estados de Mato Grosso, Maranhão e Pará. Na microrregião nordeste paraense, onde está inserido o município de Paragominas, a agricultura é a atividade mais expressiva, onde a soja (Glycine max) e o milho (Zea may) são as principais culturas. No ano 2000 a área plantada era de 24.440 hectares, em 2012 passou para 104.924 hectares cultivados com soja e milho. Todavia, o desafio na Amazônia é produzir apontando indicadores de sustentabilidade (econômicos, sociais e ambientais). Assim, objetivou-se neste trabalho estimar a pegada hídrica cinza de composto nitrogenado utilizado na adubação de culturas, para subsidiar ações de planejamento agrícola. No cálculo foram consideradas dosagens recomendadas nas literaturas técnicas e os parâmetros da legislação naciona

Protein Disulfide Isomerase and Host-Pathogen Interaction

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by immunological cells is known to cause damage to pathogens. Increasing evidence accumulated in the last decade has shown, however, that ROS (and redox signals) functionally regulate different cellular pathways in the host-pathogen interaction. These especially affect (i) pathogen entry through protein redox switches and redox modification (i.e., intra- and interdisulfide and cysteine oxidation) and (ii) phagocytic ROS production via Nox family NADPH oxidase enzyme and the control of phagolysosome function with key implications for antigen processing. The protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family of redox chaperones is closely involved in both processes and is also implicated in protein unfolding and trafficking across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and towards the cytosol, a thiol-based redox locus for antigen processing. Here, we summarise examples of the cellular association of host PDI with different pathogens and explore the possible roles of pathogen PDIs in infection. A better understanding of these complex regulatory steps will provide insightful information on the redox role and coevolutional biological process, and assist the development of more specific therapeutic strategies in pathogen-mediated infections

Refractory Angina Cell Therapy (ReACT) Involving Autologous Bone Marrow Cells in Patients Without Left Ventricular Dysfunction: A Possible Role for Monocytes

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for refractory angina patients. Previous studies have shown conflicting myocardium reperfusion results. the present study evaluated safety and efficacy of CellPraxis Refractory Angina Cell Therapy Protocol (ReACT). in which a specific BMMC formulation was administered as the sole therapy for these patients. the phase I/IIa noncontrolled, open label. clinical trial, involved eight patients with refractory angina and viable ischemic myocardium, without left ventricular dysfunction and who were not suitable for conventional myocardial revascularization. ReACT is a surgical procedure involving a single series of multiple injections (40-90 injections, 0.2 ml each) into ischemic areas of the left ventricle. Primary endpoints were Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification (CCSAC) improvement at 18 months follow-up and myocardium ischemic area reduction (assessed by scintigraphic analysis) at 12 months follow-up, in correlation with a specific BMMC formulation. Almost all patients presented progressive improvement in angina classification beginning 3 months (p = 0.008) postprocedure which was sustained at 18 months follow-up (p = 0.004), as well as objective myocardium ischemic area reduction at 12 months (decrease of 84.4%, p < 0.004). A positive correlation was found between monocyte concentration and CCSAC improvement (r = -0.759, p < 0.05). Improvement in CCSAC, followed by correlated reduction in scintigraphic myocardium ischemic area, strongly suggests neoangiogenesis as the main stem cell action mechanism. the significant correlation between number of monocytes and improvement strongly supports a cell-related effect of ReACT. ReACT appeared safe and effective.Cryopraxis Crobiologia Ltda.Cellpraxis BiogenhariaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Dept Surg, Div Cardiovasc Surg, São Paulo, BrazilCryopraxis Criobiol Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCellpraxis Bioengn, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Div Hematol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Coll Med, Inst Heart, São Paulo, BrazilUniv S Florida, Coll Med, Dept Neurosurg & Brain Repair, Ctr Excellence Aging & Brain Repair, Tampa, FL USAUniv S Florida, Off Res & Innovat, Tampa, FL USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Dept Surg, Div Cardiovasc Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Div Hematol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Transcription factors expressed in soybean roots under drought stress.

To gain insight into stress-responsive gene regulation in soybean plants, we identified consensus sequences that could categorize the transcription factors MYBJ7, BZIP50, C2H2, and NAC2 as members of the gene families myb, bzip, c2h2, and nac, respectively. We also investigated the evolutionary relationship of these transcription factors and analyzed their expression levels under drought stress. The NCBI software was used to find the predicted amino acid sequences of the transcription factors, and the Clustal X software was used to align soybean and other plant species sequences. Phylogenetic trees were built using the Mega 4.1 software by neighbor joining and the degree of confidence test by Bootstrap. Expression level studies were carried out using hydroponic culture; the experiments were designed in completely randomized blocks with three repetitions. The blocks consisted of two genotypes, MG/BR46 Conquista (drought-tolerant) and BR16 (drought-sensitive) and the treatments consisted of increasingly long dehydration periods (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 min). The transcription factors presented domains and/or conserved regions that characterized them as belonging to the bzip, c2h2, myb, and nac families. Based on the phylogenetic trees, it was found that the myb, bzip and nac genes are closely related to myb78, bzip48 and nac2 of soybean and that c2h2 is closely related to c2h2 of Brassica napus. Expression of all genes was in general increased under drought stress in both genotypes. Major differences between genotypes were due to the lowering of the expression of the mybj7 and c2h2 genes in the drought-tolerant variety at some times. Over-expression or silencing of some of these genes has the potential to increase stress tolerance