Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides spp. Fleas, Brazil

In June 2000, suspected cases of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) occurred in Coronel Fabriciano Municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Pooled fleas collected near two fatal cases contained rickettsial DNA. The nucleotide sequence alignment of the 391-bp segment of the 17-kDa protein gene showed that the products were identical to each other and to the R. felis 17-kDa gene, confirming circulation of R. felis in Brazil

Práticas corporais dos índios Tremembé de Almofala

O trabalho faz uma abordagem da corporeidade dos índios Tremembé, município de Itarema-Ceará, identificando os tipos de práticas corporais que relacionam-se com a cultura indígena Tremembé, e o sentido do corpo nestas atividades. Discutindo características do grupo e práticas corporais que são apontadas por eles como definidores da identidade indígena (PEREIRA, 2010. p. 20). Pode-se observar através de gráficos, que a dança do Torém, “Ritual sagrado ou Brincadeira” (Oliveira Jr,1998) obteve 28% das respostas. As danças eram as técnicas corporais mais citadas, tendo um total de 23% das respostas. Esta pesquisa etnográfica foi realizada através de 6 pesquisas de campo, entrevistando oralmente 111 indígenas, nas localidades de Almofala, Varjota, Saquinho, Urubu, Camboa da Lama, Lameirão, Panã e Mangue Alto. Foram coletados aproximadamente 1800 fotos, 200 vídeos e 200 entrevistas orais, nos quais os entrevistados responderam perguntas acerca de suas práticas corporais e como as consideravam, assim como sobre seu corpo e a identidade indígena. Objetivou investigar as relações entre cultura e corpo, traçando um perfil da particularidade destas práticas, fazendo uma análise das que estão relacionadas com a cultura tradicional e as que foram inseridas através do contato com outras culturas. Proporcionando a estudos posteriores embasamento teórico e de pesquisa de campo, principalmente para estudos que envolvem a pesquisas de sociedades indígenas cearenses. Concluiu-se que a corporeidade é fruto de fatores que tentam revalorizar a tradição e de outros que fazem um processo de aculturação. Apontando como principais resultados a diferença entre o corpo dos índios e suas características identificadoras

Molecular Genetic Variability, Population Structure and Mating System in Tropical Forages

Microsatellite (SSR) markers were developed for the following tropical forage species, using accessions available from the plant genetic resources (PGR) collections held by EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation): Brachiaria brizantha, B. humidicola, Panicum maximum, Paspalum spp., Stylosanthes capitata, S. guianensis, S. macrocephala, Calopogonium mucunoides and Centrosema spp. The markers were used to analyse population structure and genetic diversity, evolution and origin of the genetic variability in the centre of origin, mating systems and genetic resources in EMBRAPA’s germplasm bank. The results shed light on the amount of genetic variation within and between populations, revealed the need in some cases for further plant collection to adequately represent the species in PGR collections, allowed us to assemble core collections (subsets of the total collections) that should contain most of the available diversity and (in the case of the legumes) showed the need to avoid unwanted outcrossing when regenerating conserved material. The data will allow plant breeders to better select accessions for hybrid production, discriminate between genotypes and use marker-assisted selection in breeding programs. Our results will also underpin the construction of genetic maps, mapping of genes of agronomic interest and numerous other studies on genetic variability, population structure, gene flow and reproductive systems for the tropical forage species studied in this work

Trophic dynamics of methylmercury and trace elements in a remote Amazonian Lake.

peer reviewedInformation on pollutant trophodynamics can be crucial for public health, as contaminated food consumption may lead to deleterious effects. This study was performed in Puruzinho Lake, a remote body of water in the Brazilian Amazon from which a riparian human population obtains an important part of its animal protein intake. Samples from 92 individuals, comprising 13 species and four trophic guilds (iliophagous, planktivorous, omnivorous, and piscivorous fish) were analysed for the determination of trace elements (Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Ca, Sr, Cd, Sn, Tl and Pb) and methylmercury concentrations. Samples from the same individuals had already been analysed for stable isotope (SI) measurements (δ13C and δ15N) in a previous investigation and the SI data have been statistically treated with those generated in this study for the evaluation of trophic dynamics of contaminants. Methylmercury was the only analyte that biomagnified, presenting TMF values of 4.65 and 4.55 for total and resident ichthyofauna, respectively. Trace elements presented either trophic dilution or independence from the trophic position, constituting a behaviour that was coherent with that found in the scientific literature. The similarity between Ni behaviour through the trophic web to that of essential elements contributes to the discussion on the essentiality of this metal to fish. Considering the Non-cancer Risk Assessment, the calculated Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values were higher than 1.0 for all analysed individuals for methylmercury, as well as for only one individual for nickel. No other analyte rendered THQ values higher than 1.0.14. Life below wate

Effects of immunomodulatory drugs on TNF-α and IL-12 production by purified epidermal langerhans cells and peritoneal macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Langerhans cells constitute a special subset of immature dendritic cells localized in the epidermis that play a key role in the skin's immune response. The production of cytokines is a key event in both the initiation and the regulation of immune responses, and different drugs can be used to remove or modify their production by DC and, therefore, alter immune responses in a broad spectrum of diseases, mainly in human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we examined the effects of prednisone, thalidomide, cyclosporine A, and amitriptyline, drugs used in a variety of clinical conditions, on the production of TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-12 by purified epidermal Langerhans cells and peritoneal macrophages in BALB/c mice.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>All drugs inhibited TNF-α production by Langerhans cells after 36 hours of treatment at two different concentrations, while prednisone and thalidomide decreased IL-12 secretion significantly, amitriptyline caused a less pronounced reduction and cyclosporine A had no effect. Additionally, TNF-α and IL-12 production by macrophages decreased, but IL-10 levels were unchanged after all treatments.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that these drugs modulate the immune response by regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production by purified epidermal Langerhans cells and peritoneal macrophages, indicating that these cells are important targets for immunosuppression in various clinical settings.</p