Response of root explants to in vitro cultivation of marketable garlic cultivars

Garlic cultivars are sexually sterile under standard growth conditions, with direct implications for commercial production costs as well as breeding programs. Garlic is propagated commercially via bulblets, which facilitates disease transmission and virus load accumulation over vegetative generations. Tissue culture produces virus-free clones that are more productive, while keeping the desired traits of the cultivar. Consequently, this technique allows studies of garlic genetics as well as guarantees genetic conservation of varieties. We aimed at analyzing the in vitroregeneration of eight marketable cultivars of garlic using root segments as explants. For each genotype, bulblet-derived explants were isolated and introduced into MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D and 2-iP. Calli were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 8.8 mM BAP and 0.1 mM NAA (regeneration medium A), or with 4.6 mM kinetin alone (regeneration medium B). The calli were then evaluated for regeneration frequency after sixty days of in vitro cultivation. The noble cultivar \u27Jonas\u27 presented the highest rates of plant regeneration among the cultivars tested. The medium A, which contained auxin and cytokinin, induced the highest regeneration rates of all cultivars. The process described herein is simple, reproducible and can potentially be used as a tool in molecular breeding strategies for other marketable cultivars and genotypes of garlic

Anti-tumor therapy with macroencapsulated endostatin producer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Theracyte is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane macroencapsulation system designed to induce neovascularization at the tissue interface, protecting the cells from host's immune rejection, thereby circumventing the problem of limited half-life and variation in circulating levels. Endostatin is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth. Continuous delivery of endostatin improves the efficacy and potency of the antitumoral therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether recombinant fibroblasts expressing endostatin encapsulated in Theracyte immunoisolation devices can be used for delivery of this therapeutic protein for treatment of mice bearing B16F10 melanoma and Ehrlich tumors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with melanoma (B16F10 cells) or Ehrlich tumor cells at the foot pads. Treatment began when tumor thickness had reached 0.5 mm, by subcutaneous implantation of 10⁷recombinant encapsulated or non-encapsulated endostatin producer cells. Similar melanoma growth inhibition was obtained for mice treated with encapsulated or non-encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells. The treatment of mice bearing melanoma tumor with encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells was decreased by 50.0%, whereas a decrease of 56.7% in tumor thickness was obtained for mice treated with non-encapsulated cells. Treatment of Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice with non-encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells reduced tumor thickness by 52.4%, whereas lower tumor growth inhibition was obtained for mice treated with encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells: 24.2%. Encapsulated endostatin-secreting fibroblasts failed to survive until the end of the treatment. However, endostatin release from the devices to the surrounding tissues was confirmed by immunostaining. Decrease in vascular structures, functional vessels and extension of the vascular area were observed in melanoma microenvironments.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study indicates that immunoisolation devices containing endostatin-expressing cells are effective for the inhibition of the growth of melanoma and Ehrlich tumors.</p> <p>Macroencapsulation of engineered cells is therefore a reliable platform for the refinement of innovative therapeutic strategies against tumors.</p

The gut microbiome and metabolome of two riparian communities in the Amazon

During the last decades it has become increasingly clear that the microbes that live on and in humans are critical for health. The communities they form, termed microbiomes, are involved in fundamental processes such as the maturation and constant regulation of the immune system. Additionally, they constitute a strong defense barrier to invading pathogens, and are also intricately linked to nutrition. The parameters that affect the establishment and maintenance of these microbial communities are diverse, and include the genetic background, mode of birth, nutrition, hygiene, and host lifestyle in general. Here, we describe the characterization of the gut microbiome of individuals living in the Amazon, and the comparison of these microbial communities to those found in individuals from an urban, industrialized setting. Our results showed striking differences in microbial communities from these two types of populations. Additionally, we used high-throughput metabolomics to study the chemical ecology of the gut environment and found significant metabolic changes between the two populations. Although we cannot point out a single cause for the microbial and metabolic changes observed between Amazonian and urban individuals, they are likely to include dietary differences as well as diverse patterns of environmental exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first description of gut microbial and metabolic profiles in Amazonian populations, and it provides a starting point for thorough characterizations of the impact of individual environmental conditions on the human microbiome and metabolome

Deforestation, degradation and violence in the “Gurupi Mosaic” – The most threatened region of Amazonia

O "Mosaico Gurupi" está localizado entre o oeste do Maranhão e o leste do Pará, na Área de Endemismo Belém, que embora seja a região mais desmatada do Bioma Amazônico no Brasil, preserva uma diversidade cultural e biológica superlativa. O mosaico engloba seis Terras Indígenas (Alto Turiaçu, Awá, Caru, Arariboia, Rio Pindaré e Alto Rio Guamá) e uma Unidade de Conservação (Reserva Biológica do Gurupi). Essas áreas protegidas conservam os principais remanescentes florestais da região e garantem a manutenção de serviços ecossistêmicos essenciais aos dois estados, principalmente de regulação hidrológica. No entanto, essa região vive sob ameaças constantes de desmatamento e de degradação pela extração ilegal de madeira, e por incêndios criminosos. Os povos indígenas e lideranças comunitárias da região são vitimados pela violência associada a tais crimes. Para promover a conservação e a restauração dessas áreas, uma rede formada por diversas instituições indígenas e não indígenas vem trabalhando em conjunto para o reconhecimento do "Mosaico Gurupi" pelo Ministério do Meio Ambiente. A proposta aqui apresentada inclui o mosaico em questão e o Corredor Ecológico da Amazônia Maranhense, que irá conectar os principais remanescentes florestais da região, por meio da restauração das matas ciliares ao longo dos rios Buriticupu, Pindaré e Zutiua. A conformação do mosaico visa integrar esforços para a proteção territorial, a restauração florestal e o fortalecimento da cultura e educação indígena; o que poderá converter a região mais ameaçada da Amazônia em um exemplo de conservação e sustentabilidade econômica e social por meio da promoção da restauração florestal.The "Gurupi Mosaic" is located between west Maranhão and east Pará states, in the Belém Endemism Area, which although being the most deforested region of the Amazonian biome in Brazil, preserves superlative biological and cultural diversity. The Mosaic includes six indigenous lands (Alto Turiaçu, Awá, Caru, Araribóia, Rio Pindaré, Alto Rio Guamá) and a conservation unit (Gurupi Biological Reserve). These protected areas conserve the region’s main forest remnants and guarantee the maintenance of essential ecosystem services. However, this region is under constant threats of deforestation and degradation by illegal logging and arson. Indigenous peoples living in the region are victims of the violence associated with such crimes. To promote the conservation and restoration of these areas, several indigenous and non-indigenous institutions have been working together to formalize the "Gurupi Mosaic" with the Ministry of the Environment. The proposal presented here includes the Mosaic and one ecological corridor in the state of Maranhão, which will connect the region’s last forest remnants through the restoration of the riparian forests along the main rivers. The conformation of the Mosaic aims to integrate efforts to protect territories, restore forests and strengthen indigenous culture and education. This could turn the most threatened region of Amazonia into an example of conservation and economic and social sustainability

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO