Expressed sequence tags from Atta laevigata and identification of candidate genes for the control of pest leaf-cutting ants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leafcutters are the highest evolved within Neotropical ants in the tribe Attini and model systems for studying caste formation, labor division and symbiosis with microorganisms. Some species of leafcutters are agricultural pests controlled by chemicals which affect other animals and accumulate in the environment. Aiming to provide genetic basis for the study of leafcutters and for the development of more specific and environmentally friendly methods for the control of pest leafcutters, we generated expressed sequence tag data from <it>Atta laevigata</it>, one of the pest ants with broad geographic distribution in South America.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis of the expressed sequence tags allowed us to characterize 2,006 unique sequences in <it>Atta laevigata</it>. Sixteen of these genes had a high number of transcripts and are likely positively selected for high level of gene expression, being responsible for three basic biological functions: energy conservation through redox reactions in mitochondria; cytoskeleton and muscle structuring; regulation of gene expression and metabolism. Based on leafcutters lifestyle and reports of genes involved in key processes of other social insects, we identified 146 sequences potential targets for controlling pest leafcutters. The targets are responsible for antixenobiosis, development and longevity, immunity, resistance to pathogens, pheromone function, cell signaling, behavior, polysaccharide metabolism and arginine kynase activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The generation and analysis of expressed sequence tags from <it>Atta laevigata </it>have provided important genetic basis for future studies on the biology of leaf-cutting ants and may contribute to the development of a more specific and environmentally friendly method for the control of agricultural pest leafcutters.</p

Representações sociais da relação auxiliar de enfermagem-usuário no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família Representaciones sociales de la relación auxiliar de enfermería-usuario en el contexto del Programa de Salud de la Familia Social representations of the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user in the Health Program context

Os profissionais da enfermagem têm se responsabilizado pela "arte" de cuidar, sendo eles os que dedicam a maior parte do seu tempo ao usuário. Neste estudo, objetivou-se compreender a relação entre auxiliar de enfermagem e usuário através das representações sociais do ato de tocar, construídas por esses profissionais no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família (PSF). Trata-se de uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa com 25 profissionais. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: associação livre de palavras, entrevista e questionário. Evidenciou-se que o toque representa possibilidades de aproximação entre profissional-usuário, expressando-se na prática cotidiana, pois auxilia na cura do usuário e humaniza a relação.<br>Los profesionales de la enfermería tienen se responsabilizado por la "arte" de cuidar, siendo los que dedican la mayor parte de su tiempo al usuario. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender la relación entre auxiliar de enfermería-usuario por las representaciones sociales del acto de tocar construidas por esos profesionales en el Programa Salud de la Familia. Se trata de una investigación cuali-cuantitativa con 25 profesionales. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: asociación libre de palabras, entrevista y cuestionario. Se evidenció que el toque representa posibilidades de aproximación entre profesional-usuario, expresándose en la práctica cotidiana, pues posibilita la cura del usuario y humaniza la relación.<br>Nursing professionals have themselves held liable for the "art" of take care of the users and are the ones who dedicate the major part of their time to them. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user expressed by the social representations of the touch act by these professionals in the Family Health Program (PSF) context. The qualitative-quantitative research involved 25 nursing assistants. The instruments utilized were: free word association, interview, and questionnaire. It was observed that the touch represents possibilities of approximation between the professional and the user, as it helps in the user’s cure and humanizes the relationship