Proteomic profile of necrotrophic mycelium of Moniliophthora perniciosa

The fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, the etiologic agent of witches' broom disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), has a hemibiotrophic life cycle, with a biotrophic phase and a necrotrophic phase. The biotrophic phase, initiating the disease, is characterized by a monokaryotic mycelium, while the necrotrophic phase is characterized by a dikaryotic mycelium leading to plant death. During the culture of Mp on cookies, six different developmental phases were observed according to the mycelium color or the organ produced: white (? 35 days), yellow (? 37 days), pink (? 40 days ), dark pink (? 45 days), primordium (? 60 days) and basidiocarp (? 75 days). In this study, we identify proteins involved in each stage of the fungus development focusing on basidiocarp formation. Proteins were extracted using the ADP method, followed by a simple cleaning using SDS-dense and phenol. The quantification was made using the 2-D quantification kit. The proteins were extracted in triplicate and separated using a 12% bi-dimensional SDS-PAGE gel. The 2-D maps showed approximately 300 spots per gel, and present differential protein expression patterns. Spots were cut from gels and analyzed by mass spectrometry. At the basidiocarp stage, we identified several proteins potentially involved in its formation, which may be good candidates for further analysis required to understand the mode of spread of the fungus. To our knowledge this is the first work analyzing Mp development by proteomics. (Texte intégral

Toward guidelines on running multi-country, multi-site projects: summary report of an in-house workshop held on 18 January 1997

ICLARM, Research programmes, Development projects, Project management, International cooperation

South and South-East Asian coastal fisheries: their status and directions for improved management: conference synopsis and recommendations

As a step to address the problems of coastal fisheries in Asia, the WorldFish Center joined forces with fisheries agencies from eight developing Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) and the Asian Development Bank, to implement a project entitled “Sustainable Management of Coastal Fish Stocks in Asia” (also known as the “TrawlBase” project). The project was implemented between 1998 and 2001. The main achievements of this partnership were: (a) Development of a database called “Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools” (FiRST), which contains trawl research survey data and socioeconomic information for selected fisheries, and facilitates its analysis; (b) Evaluation of the extent of resource decline and over-fishing, both biological and economic, in the region; (c) Identification of the measures needed to manage coastal fisheries in the participating countries, resulting in draft strategies and action plans; and (d) Strengthening of national capacity in coastal fisheries assessment, planning and management

Contribuição ao estudo proteômico do ciclo de vida de Moniliophthora perniciosa

Moniliophthora perniciosa é o fungo causador da vassoura de bruxa no cacaueiro (Theobroma cacao L.). Ele apresenta um ciclo de vida hemibiotrófico, com uma fase biotrófica e uma fase necrotrófica. A fase biotrófica, iniciando a doença, é caracterizada por um micélio monocariótico, enquanto a fase necrotrófica é caracterizada por um micélio dicariótico levando a morte dos tecidos vegetais. O estudo da fase necrotrófica é efetuado em bolacha, o único meio sólido permitindo a obtenção de basidiomas e, por conseqüência, das únicas estruturas infecciosas do fungo, os basidiósporos. Durante o cultivo de M. perniciosa em bolachas, 6 diferentes fases de desenvolvimento foram observadas: i) a fase branca, fase inicial do cultivo do fungo (? 35 dias); ii) a fase amarela (? 37 dias) ; iii) a fase rosa (? 40 dias) ; iv) a fase rosa escuro, ou pre-estresse hídrico (? 45 dias); v) o primórdio (? 60 dias) ; e vi) o basidioma (? 75 dias). O objetivo deste trabalho foi de identificar proteínas específicas envolvidas em cada uma destas fases, em particular na fase de formação do basidioma e na fase de estresse hídrico necessaria e preliminar à formação do corpo de frutificação. Foi estabelecido um método de extração de proteínas a partir das bolachas, e em seguida, foram utilizadas técnicas de eletroforese (SDS-PAGE e eletroforese bidimensional/2-D) a fim de identificar perfis protéicos específicos de cada fase. Bandas (SDS-PAGE) ou spots (2-D) visualizados por eletroforese foram em seguida cortados dos geis e analisados por espectrometria de massas. Foram identificadas varias proteínas potencialmente envolvidas na formação do basidioma, e podendo constituir bons candidatos para futuras análises necessárias à compreensão do modo de propagação do fungo. (Résumé d'auteur

La obesidad y su asociación con los demás factores de riesgo cardiovascular en escolares de Itapetininga, Brasil

BACKGROUND: Paucity of data on childhood obesity and cardiovascular risk in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and their correlations in a sample of school children in Itapetininga, State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with systematic collection of anthropometric data (weight, height, waist circumference, BMI and blood pressure levels) and determination of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, uric acid, and apolipoproteins A and B in a random sample representative of school children from the public education system in Itapetininga, State of São Paulo. For data analysis, we used population parameters from the NCHS curves (2000), blood pressure categories from NHBPEP (2004), and the serum cholesterol levels proposed by the AHA for children and adolescents (2003). RESULTS: A total of 494 children and adolescents participated in the study. Of these, 11.7% had HBP, 51% increased total cholesterol, 40.5% increased LDL-cholesterol, 8.5% increased triglycerides, and 6.1% low HDL-cholesterol levels. Mean (± standard deviation) TC, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were 172.1(27.9), 48.1(10.0), 105.7(23.1) and 90.9(43.8), respectively. Obesity and overweight were detected in 12.8% and 9.7% of the sample, respectively. Individuals of the obese group had a greater chance of presenting with dyslipidemia and hypertension in comparison with those of the other groups. CONCLUSION: This study supports the hypothesis of different prevalences of excess weight among school children from the public education system of the northeastern and southeastern regions of Brazil, with higher rates in the latter. Additionally, it demonstrates an association of obesity with dyslipidemia and hypertension in that group. In light of the paucity of Brazilian data on this issue, our study provides important data for further comparisons.FUNDAMENTO: La escasez de datos sobre la obesidad infantil y el riesgo cardiovascular en Brasil. OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de hipertensión, dislipidemia, obesidad y sus correlaciones en una muestra de escolares de Itapetininga-SP. MÉTODOS: Corte transversal con recolección sistematizada de datos antropométricos (peso, altura, cintura, índice de masa corporal y niveles de presión) y dosificaciones de glucosa, colesterol (total y fracciones), ácido úrico y apolipoproteína A y B, en una muestra aleatoria, representativa de escolares del sistema público de Itapetininga-SP. Análisis de los datos utilizando parámetros poblacionales de las curvas del NCHS (2000), categorías de presión arterial del NHBPEP(2004) y categorías de los niveles séricos de colesterol propuestos por la AHA para niños y adolescentes (2003). RESULTADOS: Un total de 494 niños y adolescentes participaron en el estudio. De los participantes, el 11,7% presentó HAS, el 51% presentó aumento del colesterol total, el 40,5% presentó aumento del LDL-colesterol, el 8,5% presentó aumento de los triglicéridos y el 6,1% tuvieron valores bajos de HDL-colesterol. Los promedios (+desviación estándar) del CT, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol y triglicéridos fueron respectivamente 172,1 (27,9), 48,1 (10,0), 105,7 (23,1) y 90,9 (43,8). La obesidad y el sobrepeso se detectaron en el 12,8% y el 9,7% de la muestra, teniendo en cuenta que la obesidad determinó una mayor probabilidad de detectarse la dislipidemia y la hipertensión cuando comparada con los demás grupos. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio suministra los argumentos a la hipótesis de una distinta prevalencia de exceso de peso entre escolares del sistema público de las regiones nordeste y sudeste, hallándose mayor en ésta última. Adicionalmente, demuestra una asociación de la obesidad con la dislipidemia y la hipertensión en aquel grupo. Ante la condición incipiente de los datos en el Brasil sobre la cuestión estudiada, nuestro trabajo suministra importantes datos para futuras comparaciones.FUNDAMENTO: A escassez de dados sobre a obesidade infantil e o risco cardiovascular no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de hipertensão, dislipidemia, obesidade e suas correlações em uma amostra de escolares de Itapetininga-SP. MÉTODOS: Corte transversal com coleta sistematizada de dados antropométricos (peso, altura, cintura, índice de massa corporal e níveis pressóricos) e dosagens de glicose, colesterol (total e frações), ácido úrico e apolipoproteina A e B, em uma amostra aleatória, representativa de escolares da rede pública de Itapetininga-SP. Análise dos dados utilizando parâmetros populacionais das curvas do NCHS(2000), categorias de pressão arterial do NHBPEP(2004) e categorias dos níveis séricos de colesterol propostos pela AHA para crianças e adolescentes(2003). RESULTADOS: Um total de 494 crianças e adolescentes participaram do estudo. Dos participantes, 11,7% apresentaram HAS, 51% apresentaram aumento do colesterol total, 40,5% apresentaram aumento do LDL-colesterol, 8,5% apresentaram aumento dos triglicérides e 6,1% tiveram valores baixos de HDL-colesterol. As médias (±desvio padrão) do CT, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol e triglicérides foram respectivamente 172,1(27,9), 48,1(10,0), 105,7(23,1) e 90,9(43,8). A obesidade e o sobrepeso foram detectados em 12,8% e 9,7% da amostra, sendo que a obesidade determinou uma maior chance de se detectar a dislipidemia e a hipertensão quando comparada com os demais grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo fornece subsídios para a hipótese de uma distinta prevalência de excesso de peso entre escolares da rede pública das regiões nordeste e sudeste, maior nesta última. Adicionalmente, demonstra uma associação da obesidade com a dislipidemia e a hipertensão naquele grupo. Diante da incipiência de dados no Brasil sobre a questão estudada, o nosso trabalho fornece dados importantes para futuras comparações.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Hospital das ClínicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Efeito do ensacamento dos frutos no controle de pragas e doenças e na qualidade e maturação de maçãs ‘Fuji Suprema’.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de embalagens de diferentes materiais para a proteção contra pragas e doenças e seu efeito sobre a qualidade físico-química, maturação e teor de cálcio (Ca) em maçãs ‘Fuji Suprema’. O experimento foi desenvolvido nas safras de 2007/2008 e 2008/2009, em pomar manejado sob o sistema orgânico, localizado na região de São Joaquim (SC). O pomar era composto por plantas de dez anos de idade da cultivar Fuji Suprema, sobre porta-enxerto ‘Marubakaido’, com interenxerto ‘EM-9’. Depois do raleio manual, aproximadamente 40 dias após a plena floração, os frutos foram ensacados com embalagens plásticas transparentes microperfuradas ou de tecido não texturizado (TNT). Os frutos foram mantidos ensacados até a colheita. A testemunha foi constituída por frutos não ensacados. Na colheita, os frutos foram avaliados quanto aos danos provocados por mosca-das-frutas (Anastrepha fraterculus), mariposa oriental (Grapholita molesta) e lagarta enroladeira (Bonagota salubricola). As doenças foram avaliadas pela incidência de sarna da macieira (Venturia inaequalis), podridão amarga (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) e podridão carpelar (Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp.). Também foi avaliada a incidência de distúrbios fisiológicos “russeting” e “bitter pit”, atributos físico-químicos de maturação e qualidade e o teor de Ca nos frutos. Independentemente do tipo de embalagem verificou-se que o ensacamento é prática eficaz na proteção contra o ataque de insetos, mas não reduz a incidência e o desenvolvimento de doenças nos frutos. Na safra de 2008/2009, o ensacamento dos frutos aumentou o teor de Ca e reduziu a incidência de “bitter pit”, e aumentou a incidência do “russeting”. O ensacamento dos frutos antecipou a maturação, especialmente com embalagem plástica transparente microperfurada, e reduziu a coloração vermelha, especialmente com embalagem TNT

Moko disease-causing strains of Ralstonia solanacearum" from Brazil extend known diversity in paraphyletic phylotype II

The epidemic situation of Moko disease-causing strains in Latin America and Brazil is unclear. Thirty-seven Ralstonia solanacearum strains from Brazil that cause the Moko disease on banana and heliconia plants were sampled and phylogenetically typed using the endoglucanase (egl) and DNA repair (mutS) genes according to the phylotype and sequevar classification. All of the strains belonged to phylotype II and a portion of the strains was typed as the Moko disease-related sequevars IIA-6 and IIA-24. Nevertheless, two unsuspected sequevars also harbored the Moko disease-causing strains IIA-41 and IIB-25, and a new sequevar was described and named IIA-53. All of the strains were pathogenic to banana and some of the strains of sequevars IIA-6, IIA-24, and IIA-41 were also pathogenic to tomato. The Moko disease-causing strains from sequevar IIB-25 were pathogenic to potato but not to tomato. These results highlight the high diversity of strains of Moko in Brazil, reinforce the efficiency of the egl gene to reveal relationships among these strains, and contribute to a better understanding of the diversity of paraphyletic Moko disease-causing strains of the R. solanacearum species complex, where the following seven distinct genetic clusters have been described: IIA-6, IIA-24, IIA-41, IIA-53, IIB-3, IIB-4, and IIB-25. (Résumé d'auteur

APOA5 Q97X Mutation Identified through homozygosity mapping causes severe hypertriglyceridemia in a Chilean consanguineous family

BACKGROUND: Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) has been linked to defects in LPL, APOC2, APOA5, LMF1 and GBIHBP1 genes. However, a number of severe HTG cases are probably caused by as yet unidentified mutations. Very high triglyceride plasma levels (>112 mmol/L at diagnosis) were found in two sisters of a Chilean consanguineous family, which is strongly suggestive of a recessive highly penetrant mutation. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic locus responsible for the severe HTG in this family. METHODS: We carried out a genome-wide linkage study with nearly 300,000 biallelic markers (Illumina Human CytoSNP-12 panel). Using the homozygosity mapping strategy, we searched for chromosome regions with excess of homozygous genotypes in the affected cases compared to non-affected relatives. RESULTS: A large homozygous segment was found in the long arm of chromosome 11, with more than 2,500 consecutive homozygous SNP shared by the proband with her affected sister, and containing the APOA5/A4/C3/A1 cluster. Direct sequencing of the APOA5 gene revealed a known homozygous nonsense Q97X mutation (p.Gln97Ter) found in both affected sisters but not in non-affected relatives nor in a sample of unrelated controls. CONCLUSION: The Q97X mutation of the APOA5 gene in homozygous status is responsible for the severe hypertriglyceridemia in this family. We have shown that homozygosity mapping correctly pinpointed the genomic region containing the gene responsible for severe hypertriglyceridemia in this consanguineous Chilean famil

Innovative moments and poor outcome in narrative therapy

To analyse a poor outcome case of narrative therapy with a woman victim of intimate violence. Method: The Innovative Moments Coding System: version 1 was applied to all sessions to track the innovative moments (i-moments) in the therapeutic process. I moments are the narrative details that occur in psychotherapeutic conversations that are outside the influence of the problematic narrative. This research aims to describe the processes involved in the stability of meanings in psychotherapy through a dialogical approach to meaning making. Findings: Contrarily to what usually occurs in good outcome cases, re-conceptualization i-moments are absent. Moreover, two specific types of i-moments emerged with higher duration: reflection and protest. Qualitative analysis showed that the potential meanings of these i-moments were surpassed by a return to the problematic narrative. Conclusion: The therapeutic stability seems to be maintained by a systematic return to the problematic narrative after the emergence of novelties. This process was referred from a dialogical perspective as a mutual in-feeding of voices, one that emerges in the i-moment and another one that supports the problematic narrative, which is maintained by an oscillation between these two types of voices during therapy.This article was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), by the Grant PTDC/PSI/72846/2006 (Narrative Processes in Psychotherapy, 2007-2010) and by the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/16995/2004

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results