Description of Atalodera gibbosa n. sp. and synonymization of Thecavermiculatus Robbins, 1978 to Atalodera Wouts and Sher, 1971 (Nemata : Heteroderidae)

#Atalodera gibbosa n. sp. est parasite de la graminée #Trachypogon montufori Nees (Poacées) au Brésil. Cette nouvelle espèce est caractérisée par : la grande longueur du stylet, des spicules, de la fente vulvaire et de la distance vulve-anus, ainsi que par le profil variable de la région vulvaire - continu, faible protubérance ou cône vulvaire typique - les oeufs et les juvéniles de deuxième stade (J2) éclos conservés dans le corps de la femelle, la présence d'un tube cloacal, les glandes oesophagiennes remplissant la cavité du corps des J2 enfin le champ latéral constitué de trois lignes atypiques. #Thecavermiculatus Robbins, 1978 est synonymisé à #Atalodera Wouts & Sher, 1971. Au champ, les populations du nématode sont élevées et fluctuantes pendant la saison humide, tandis qu'elles sont faibles et la reproduction réduite durant la saison sèche pendant laquelle les J2 survivent à l'intérieur du corps de la femelle (dans les oeufs ou libres après éclosion). (Résumé d'auteur

Ultrastructure of the body cuticle of Atalodera gibbosa Souza & Huang, 1994 (Tylenchida : Heteroderinae)

L'ultrastructure de la cuticule d'#Atalodera gibbosa$ Souza & Huang, 1994 est décrite. La cuticule est composée des couches A, B, C et D qui peuvent être subdivisées en couches supplémentaires désignées par des sous-exposants. Les couches A1, A2 et A3 sont semblables à celles des autres Heteroderidae. Une nouvelle couche - A4 - signalée chez les juvéniles de deuxième stade (J2). La couche B est normale chez les J2 et les mâles, alors que chez les femelles, elle est caractérisée par une disposition particulière de fibres parallèles - par rapport à la surface de la cuticule - et de fibres radiales. Les troisième et quatrième stades juvéniles présentent une couche C structurée et une couche D néo-formée. Les jeunes femelles possèdent une couche D normale, mais chez les femelles matures existe une couche supplémentaire, D2, rapportée ici pour la première fois, et formée de fibres paraboliques disposées en deux strates minces. (Résumé d'auteur

Interleukin-21 expanded NKDC in vitro reduces the B16F10 tumor growth in vivo

AbstractInnate immunity to tumors is mediated mainly by natural killer cells (NKs) and dendritic cells (DCs). The function of these cells is coordinated by cytokines produced during the inflammatory process. NK cells are highly active against tumors, being an important source of IFN-γ. Natural killer dendritic cells (NKDCs) were recently identified as a group of hybrid cells; some studies claim that they have lytic activity, produce IFN-γ and can also stimulate antigen-specific T cells. Interleukin 21 (IL-21) regulates the proliferation capacity and cytotoxicity of NK and T cells. The main objective of this study was to investigate if IL-21 influences the frequency of NKDCs in vitro as well as IFN-γ production and also to verify if these cells could enhance the antitumor activity against B16F10 tumor model in vivo. Splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice were isolated and the DC were enriched by immunomagnetic beads and cultured for four days with recombinant IL-21 (10, 20, 40 or 100ng/ml). NKDC population was characterized as CD11clow/medB220+NK1.1+. Expanded cells were used to treat B16F10 tumor bearing mice and tumor growth was compared between the doses of IL-21 10ng/ml and 20ng/ml. The results indicate that IL-21 increases the expansion of splenic NKDCs in vitro in doses of 10ng/ml and 20ng/ml and these cells produce IFN-γ. In vivo, cells expanded with IL-21 and injected directly into the growing tumor efficiently reduced the tumor size. Together, these results showed for the first time that IL-21 influences the biology and the effector activity of NKDCs

Modeling of coastal water contamination in Fortaleza (Northeastern Brazil)

An important tool in environmental management projects and studies due to the complexity of environmental systems, environmental modeling makes it possible to integrate many variables and processes, thereby providing a dynamic view of systems. In this study the bacteriological quality of the coastal waters of Fortaleza (Brazil) was modeled considering multiple contamination sources. Using the software SisBaHiA, the dispersion of thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli from three sources of contamination (rivers, storm drains and submarine outfall) was analyzed. The models took into account variations in bacterial decay due to solar radiation and other environmental factors. Fecal pollution discharged from rivers and storm drains is transported westward by coastal currents, contaminating strips of beach water to the left of each storm drain or river. Exception to this condition only occurs on beaches protected by the breakwater of the harbor, where counterclockwise vortexes reverse this behavior. The results of the models were consistent with field measurements taken during the dry and the rainy season. Our results show that the submarine outfall plume was over 2 km from the nearest beach. The storm drains and the Maceió stream are the main factors responsible for the poor water quality on the waterfront of Fortaleza

Observation of Vortex Matching Phenomena in Antidot Array of NbN Thin Film

We report vortex matching phenomenon in rectangular antidot array fabricated on epitaxial NbN thin film. The antidot array was fabricated using Focussed Ion Beam milling technique. The magneto-transport measurements points to a period doubling transition at higher magnetic field for rectangular lattices. The results are discussed within the light of several models including the multi-vortex model, the matched lattice model and the super-matched lattice model.Comment: Added references, modified abstract and discussions and corrected typo-graphic errors. Accepted for proceedings of M2S-IX 2009, Tokyo (Physica C

Principais causas de condenação de fígado bovino em estabelecimento sob Serviço de Inspeção Federal na Zona da Mata mineira

Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a prevalência das principais causas de condenação de fígado bovino em abatedouro frigorífico sob Serviço de Inspeção Federal, situado na Zona da Mata mineira. Para obtenção dos dados, foram consultadas fichas relativas ao movimento mensal de abate de bovinos e de causas de condenação, no período compreendido entre 2007 e 2013, no referido estabelecimento. Durante esse período, foram abatidos 150.752 bovinos, e a prevalência de condenação hepática entre os anos variou de 9,38% a 14,09%. As principais patologias envolvidas foram abscesso, telangiectasia e fasciolose, responsáveis por 32,03%, 29,20% e 21,95% das condenações, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observada tendência de redução na frequência de condenação por abscesso (3,26%) e telangiectasia (0,68%) ao ano e, em contraposição, aumento por fasciolose de 3,40% ao ano. Conclui-se que as patologias responsáveis pelas condenações de fígado bovino foram abscesso, telangiectasia e fasciolose e que a inspeção post mortem tem grande importância no monitoramento da saúde e da produção animal e na qualidade da carne a ser comercializada.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of the main causes for condemnation of bovine liver in an abattoir/cold store under the Federal Inspection Services, located in the Zona da Mata of the state of Minas Gerais, between 2007 and 2013. Study data was collated from forms containing information about the number of cattle slaughtered per month and the causes for liver condemnation at the studied abattoir. During the period under study, 150,752 cattle were slaughtered, and the frequency of liver condemnation varied between 9.38% and 14.09% from year to year. The main pathologies that led to liver condemnation were abscesses, telangiectasis, and fasciolosis, which were responsible for 32.03%, 29.20%, and 21.95% of the condemnations, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of abscesses and telangiectasis showed a trend of decline, 3.26% and 0.68% per year, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of fasciolosis, however, showed a trend of increase by 3.40% per year. This study shows the usefulness of post mortem inspection of animal health and production monitoring

Setting priority conservation management regions to reverse rapid range decline of a key neotropical forest ungulate

Mammals are important components of biodiversity that have been drastically and rapidly impacted by climate change, habitat loss, and anthropogenic pressure. Understanding key species distribution to optimize conservation targets is both urgent and necessary to reverse the current biodiversity crisis. Herein, we applied habitat suitability models for a key Neotropical forest ungulate, the white-lipped peccary (WLP Tayassu pecari), to investigate the effects of climate and landscape modifications on its distribution, which has been drastically reduced in Brazil. We used 318 primary records of WLP to derive habitat suitability maps across Brazil. Our models included bioclimatic, topographic, landscape, and human influence predictors in two modelling approaches. Models including all categories of predictors obtained the highest predictive ability and showed prevalence of suitable areas in forested regions of the country, covering 49% of the Brazilian territory. Filtering out small forest fragments (<2050 ha) reduced the suitable area by 5%, with a further reduction of 4% that was caused by deforestation until 2020, therefore until 2020, the species has suffered a reduction of ~60% from its historical range in Brazil. Of the 40% of the Brazilian territory suitable to WLP, only 12% are protected. In the Atlantic Forest, only half of all protected areas have suitable habitat for WLP and even less in Pantanal (44%), Cerrado (14%) and Caatinga (7%). In a second modelling approach, mapping the areas with suitable climate and those with suitable landscapes separately, allowed us to identify four categories of conservation values, and showed that only 17% of the Brazilian territory has both high landscape and climatic suitability for WLP. Our models can help with complementary conservation management strategies and actions that could be essential in slowing down and possibly reversing current trends of population and geographic range reductions for te species, thereby averting a possible future collapse of forest ecosystem functioning in the Neotropical region

A Leishmania-specific hypothetical protein expressed in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum employed for the serodiagnosis of, and as a vaccine candidate against, visceral leishmaniasis

Background: LiHyV is an antigenic hypothetical protein present in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum, which was recently identified by an immunoproteomic approach. A recombinant version of this protein (rLiHyV) was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for canine VL (CVL). In addition, the prophylactic efficacy of the rLiHyV protein, and two of its CD8+ T cell epitopes, has been analyzed in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods: Initially, the rLiHyV protein was evaluated by an ELISA technique for the serodiagnosis of CVL. Secondly, vaccines composed of the recombinant protein and both chemically synthesized peptides, combined with saponin as an adjuvant; were administered subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. The cellular and humoral responses generated by vaccination were evaluated. In addition, the parasite burden and immune response were studied 10 weeks after L. infantum infection. Results: The rLiHyV protein was recognized by antibodies of VL dogs. No cross-reactivity was obtained with sera from dogs vaccinated with a Brazilian commercial vaccine, with sera from animals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis, or those from non-infected animals living in an endemic area for leishmaniasis. After challenge with L. infantum, spleen cells of BALB/c mice vaccinated with rLiHyV/saponin stimulated with parasite antigens showed a higher production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF, than the same cells obtained from mice vaccinated with the individual peptides, or mice from control (inoculated with saline or saponin) groups. This Th1-type cellular response observed in rLiHyV/saponin vaccinated mice was accompanied by the induction of parasite-specific IgG2a isotype antibodies. Animals immunized with rLiHyV/saponin showed significant reductions in the parasite burden in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and in the lymph nodes draining the paws relative to control mice. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that the L. infantum LiHyV protein could be considered as a vaccine candidate against L. infantum infection, as well as a diagnostic marker for CVLThis work was supported by grants from Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nanobiofarmacêutica (INCT-Nanobiofar), FAPEMIG (CBB-APQ-00819-12), and CNPq (APQ-472090/2011-9, RHAE-456287/2012-4, APQ-482976/2012-8, and APQ-488237/2013-0). MACF is a grant recipient of FAPEMIG/CAPES. EAFC and APF are grant recipient of CNP