Nesting Biology and Fungiculture of the Fungus-Growing Ant, Mycetagroicus cerradensis: New Light on the Origin of Higher Attine Agriculture

The genus Mycetagroicus is perhaps the least known of all fungus-growing ant genera, having been first described in 2001 from museum specimens. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis of the fungus-growing ants demonstrated that Mycetagroicus is the sister to all higher attine ants (Trachymyrmex, Sericomyrmex, Acromyrmex, Pseudoatta, and Atta), making it of extreme importance for understanding the transition between lower and higher attine agriculture. Four nests of Mycetagroicus cerradensis near Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil were excavated, and fungus chambers for one were located at a depth of 3.5 meters. Based on its lack of gongylidia (hyphal-tip swellings typical of higher attine cultivars), and a phylogenetic analysis of the ITS rDNA gene region, M. cerradensis cultivates a lower attine fungus in Clade 2 of lower attine (G3) fungi. This finding refines a previous estimate for the origin of higher attine agriculture, an event that can now be dated at approximately 21–25 mya in the ancestor of extant species of Trachymyrmex and Sericomyrmex

Protective immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a highly susceptible mouse strain after vaccination with genes encoding the amastigote surface protein-2 and trans-sialidase

Protective immunity against lethal infection is developed when BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice are immunized with plasmids containing genes from the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. However, genetic vaccination of the highly susceptible mouse strain A/Sn promoted limited survival after challenge. This observation questioned whether this type of vaccination would be appropriate for highly susceptible individuals. Here, we compared the protective efficacy and the immune response after individual or combined genetic vaccination of A/Sn mice with genes encoding trans-sialidase (TS) or the amastigote surface protein-2 (ASP-2). After challenge, a significant proportion of A/Sn mice immunized with either the asp-2 gene or simultaneously with asp-2 and ts genes, survived infection. in contrast, the vast majority of mice immunized with the ts gene or the vector alone died. Parasitological and histological studies performed in the surviving mice revealed that these mice harbored parasites; however, minimal inflammatory responses were seen in heart and striated muscle. We used this model to search for an in vitro correlation for protection. We found that protective immunity correlated with a higher secretion of interferon-gamma by spleen cells on in vitro restimulation with ASP-2 and the presence of ASP-2-specific CD8 cells. Depletion of either CD4 or CD8 or both T-cell subpopulations prior to the challenge rendered the mice susceptible to infection demonstrating the critical contribution of both cell types in protective immunity. Our results reinforce the prophylactic potential of genetic vaccination with asp-2 and ts genes by describing protective immunity against lethal T. cruzi infection and chronic tissue pathology in a highly susceptible mouse strain.UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, CINTERGEN, BR-04044010 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04044010 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, ICB, Dept Imunol, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Bioquim & Imunol, BR-30190002 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFiocruz MS, Ctr Pesquisas Rene Rachou, BR-30190002 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, CINTERGEN, BR-04044010 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04044010 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Frequência semanal de um programa de intervenção motora para bebês de berçário

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi comparar o efeito de um Programa de Intervenção Motora no desenvolvimento de bebês de escolas de educação infantil públicas de Porto Alegre. Participaram do estudo 59 bebês, estratificados aleatoriamente em três grupos: 18 bebês atendidos três vezes por semana (G3X); 23 bebês atendidos uma vez por semana (G1X) e 18 bebês do grupo controle (GC). Foram realizadas tarefas de perseguição visual (três minutos), manipulação de objetos (sete minutos) e força, mobilidade e estabilização (dez minutos). O instrumento utilizado foi a Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) para avaliar o desenvolvimento motor dos bebês. Os resultados do estudo mostraram que os bebês do G1X foram os que melhoraram na classificação (p=0,007); nas posturas, foram os bebês do G3X que obtiveram diferença significativa maior na postura prono, sentado e em pé, mesmo sendo mais novos. Em conclusão, os bebês que realizaram intervenção motora, uma ou três vezes por semana, obtiveram melhores resultados quando comparados ao grupo controle