Oral treatment with Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain UFMG 905 modulates immune responses and interferes with signal pathways involved in the activation of inflammation in a murine model of typhoid fever

AbstractSalmonella spp. are Gram-negative, facultative, intracellular pathogens that cause several diarrheal diseases ranging from self-limiting gastroenteritis to typhoid fever. Previous results from our laboratory showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain UFMG 905 isolated from ‘cachaça’ production presented probiotic properties due to its ability to protect against experimental infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. In this study, the effects of oral treatment with S. cerevisiae 905 were evaluated at the immunological level in a murine model of typhoid fever. Treatment with S. cerevisiae 905 inhibited weight loss and increased survival rate after Salmonella challenge. Immunological data demonstrated that S. cerevisiae 905 decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and modulated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 and JNK, but not ERK1/2), NF-κB and AP-1, signaling pathways which are involved in the transcriptional activation of proinflammatory mediators. Experiments in germ-free mice revealed that probiotic effects were due, at least in part, to the binding of Salmonella to the yeast. In conclusion, S. cerevisiae 905 acts as a potential new biotherapy against S. Typhimurium infection due to its ability to bind bacteria and modulate signaling pathways involved in the activation of inflammation in a murine model of typhoid fever

Fontes e Níveis de Energia Digestível em Rações para Suínos Machos Inteiros dos 60 aos 100 kg Lipidic Sources and Digestible Energy Levels in Rations for 60 to 100 kg Boars

Visando avaliar o efeito de duas fontes lipídicas (óleo de soja e gordura de coco) e de quatro níveis de energia digestível (3350, 3450, 3550 e 3650 kcal/kg de ração) sobre o desempenho de suínos machos inteiros, dos 60 aos 100 kg, foram utilizados oitenta animais, distribuídos num arranjo fatorial 2 x 4 (fontes x níveis de energia), em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições de dois animais por baia. As rações experimentais, formuladas à base de milho, farelo de soja e suplemento mineral-vitamínico; foram fornecidas à vontade até o fim do período experimental, quando os animais atingiram o peso médio de 100,40 &plusmn; 5,67 kg. Não houve efeito do nível de energia digestível (ED) sobre o consumo de ração diário e ganho de peso diário; no entanto, estes parâmetros foram influenciados pela fonte de energia, sendo os melhores resultados obtidos com a utilização da gordura de coco. A conversão alimentar foi influenciada de forma quadrática pelos níveis de ED, quando se utilizou a gordura de coco. Não se observou efeito do óleo de soja sobre a conversão alimentar. A eficiência de utilização da energia para ganho melhorou de forma quadrática, com a utilização da gordura de coco e piorou linearmente com o uso do óleo de soja nas rações. O consumo de energia digestível não foi influenciado pela variação dos níveis de ED e o consumo de lisina diário também não foi influenciado pelos níveis de ED, embora tenha sido maior quando a gordura de coco foi utilizada como fonte lipídica. Rações contendo gordura de coco como fonte lipídica proporcionaram melhor resultado de ganho de peso. A melhor resposta de conversão alimentar dos animais que receberam as rações contendo gordura de coco foi estimada no nível de 3583 kcal.<br>To evaluate the effects from two lipid sources (soybean oil and coconut oil) and of four energy levels (3350, 3450, 3550 and 3650 kcal/kg ration) on performance from 60 to 100 kg boars, eighty animals were used. The experimental design of randomized blocks with a factorial arrangement of 2 x 4 (sources x energy levels), with five replications of two animals per box, was used. Experimental diets formulated on the basis of maize, soybean meal and vitaminic and mineral supplement were feed ad libitum until the end of the experimental period when animals reached 100.40 &plusmn; 5.67 kg average weight . There was no effect of the digestible energy (DE) level on the daily feed intake neither on the daily weight gain; however, these parameters were influenced by the energy source and the best results obtained with the use of the coconut oil. The feed:gain ratio was influenced in a quadratic way by the DE levels, when using the coconut oil. No effects of the soybean oil were observed on feed:gain ratio. The efficiency of the energy use for weight gain was improved in a quadratic way when using the coconut oil and linearly worsened when using the soybean oil in the diets. The digestible energy intake was not influenced by changing in the DE levels. The daily intake of lysine was not influenced by the DE levels, although it was higher when the coconut oil was used as lipidic source. Diets with coconut oil as lipidic source showed the best results of weight gain. The best value of feed:gain ratio of the animals that received diets with coconut oil was estimated in level of 3583 kcal

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora