Biodiversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in South America: A Review

Identification of species is crucial in understanding how diversity changes affect ecosystemic processes. Particularly, soil microbial are key factors of ecosystemic functioning .Among soil microbes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota) are worldwide distributed and form symbiotic associations with almost 80% of the vascular plants of the earth, except for one species, Geosiphon pyriformis, which associates with the cyanobacteria Nostoc. AMF comprise around 300 morphologically defined or 350–1000 molecularly defined taxa. Since AMF associate with aboveground community, their occurrence and composition can influence ecosystemic processes either through affecting plant community composition and thus its processes rates, or soil microbial communities, which are directly involved in nutrient cycling. Soil microorganisms are considered a potentially suitable target for studying regional and local effects on diversity. The symbiosis with AMF not only increases nutrient uptake by the plant of mainly phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in exchange for plant-assimilated carbon (C), but also improves the tolerance of plants to various biotic and abiotic stresses such as pathogens, salinity, and drought

Correlation between the cytotoxicity of self-etching resin cements and the degree of conversion

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the cytotoxicity and degree of conversion (DC) of self-etch resin cements with or without photopolymerization. Materials and Methods: Three self-etching resin cements with or without photopolymerization were evaluated. Six test groups and one control group represented by a standardized L929-fibroblast cell culture were formed. The DC was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and was correlated with cell culture survival. Statistical Analysis: The analysis of variance and Bonferroni–Holm tests were applied (P < 0.05). Results:The results show that, the cytotoxicity of self-etching resin cements is directly related to the DC. With the exception of Unicem, the other cements show some level of cytotoxicity, even with photopolymerization. Conclusion: These results indicate that photopolymerization of dual cure self-etching resin cements decrease toxic effects on cell culture. Adequate photopolymerization should be considered during cementation when using dual polymerization self-etching resin cements

Correlation between the cytotoxicity of self-etching resin cements and the degree of conversion

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the cytotoxicity and degree of conversion (DC) of self-etch resin cements with or without photopolymerization. Materials and Methods: Three self-etching resin cements with or without photopolymerization were evaluated. Six test groups and one control group represented by a standardized L929-fibroblast cell culture were formed. The DC was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and was correlated with cell culture survival. Statistical Analysis: The analysis of variance and Bonferroni–Holm tests were applied (P < 0.05). Results:The results show that, the cytotoxicity of self-etching resin cements is directly related to the DC. With the exception of Unicem, the other cements show some level of cytotoxicity, even with photopolymerization. Conclusion: These results indicate that photopolymerization of dual cure self-etching resin cements decrease toxic effects on cell culture. Adequate photopolymerization should be considered during cementation when using dual polymerization self-etching resin cements

Molecular genetics of primary congenital glaucoma in Brazil

PURPOSE. To determine the distribution of CYP1B1 gene mutations in Brazilian patients with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). METHODS. PCG diagnosis was established by presence of buphthalmos in at least one affected eye and associated high intraocular pressures before the age of 3 years. CYP1B1 mutation screening of 52 patients with PCG was performed by SSCP and direct sequencing of PCR fragments. RESULTS. Eleven mutations, four of which are novel, were observed in 26 (50%) individuals. A new frameshift mutation (4340delG) was observed in 20.2% of all individuals screened. These individuals had early-onset, bilateral glaucoma that necessitated multiple surgical interventions. CYP1B1 mutations were twice as frequent in affected individuals of European descent as in individuals of African descent. Analysis of six intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) established 5'-C-C-G-G-T-A-3' as the most common haplotype among the affected Brazilian individuals. A nonsense mutation (W57X) previously reported in an individual with Peters anomaly (compound heterozygote) was also observed in two individuals with PCG but combined with different Mutations. A newly developed SSCP assay enabled us to detect all DNA mutations and polymorphisms previously detected by direct sequencing. CONCLUSIONS. Our results indicate that CYP1B1 mutations may be responsible for half of cases of PCG in the Brazilian population. The SNP haplotype 5'-C-C-G-G-T-A-3' was associated with the majority of CYP1B1 mutations. This haplotype harbors the high-activity V432 allele, which is emerging as a putative susceptibility factor in several cancers.O TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE FEVEREIRO DE 2015.4361820182

Abundance and stratification of soil macroarthropods in a Caatinga Forest in Northeast Brazil

In arid and semiarid environments, seasonality usually exerts a strong influence on the composition and dynamics of the soil community. The soil macroarthropods were studied in a Caatinga forest located in the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Fazenda Almas, São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba, Brazil. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons following the method proposed by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Program (TSBF), with minor modifications. At each station, 15 soil blocks (20 × 20 × 30 cm: 12 L) were extracted and divided into three layers: A (0-10 cm), B (10-20 cm), and C (20-30 cm). In the rainy and dry seasons 1,306 ± 543(se) and 458 ± 212 ind.m-2 macroarthropods were found, respectively, with 35 and 18 respective taxa recorded. The abundance of individuals and taxa were significantly higher in the rainy season. Isoptera (57.8%) was the most abundant taxon, followed by Hymenoptera: Formicidae (17.2%), Coleoptera larvae (7.3%), and Araneae (3.5%). In the rainy season, abundance in layer A (576 ± 138 ind.m-2) was significantly higher than that of layer C (117 ± 64 ind.m-2), but was not different from layer B (613 ± 480 ind.m-2). There was also no difference between the layer B and C abundances. In the dry season, abundance in layer B (232 ± 120 ind.m-2) was not significantly different compared to layer A (182 ± 129 ind.m-2), but was significantly higher than abundance in layer C (44 ± 35 ind.m-2). During the rainy season, layer A (34 taxa) was significantly richer in taxa than layers B (19 taxa) and C (11 taxa). On the other hand, during the dry season the richness of layers A (12 taxa) and B (12 taxa) was equal, but significantly higher than that of layer C (6 taxa). Richness of taxa and abundance were positively correlated with soil organic matter and negatively correlated with soil temperature. The community of soil macroarthropods in the area of Caatinga studied has taxonomic and functional structures that are relatively complex and is therefore likely to exert an influence on ecosystem productivity due to its physical effects on soil profile and necromass fragmentation, as occurs in other arid and semiarid ecosystems throughout the world