Age polyethism in Plebeia emerina (Friese) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies related to propolis handling

Stingless bees collect plant resins and make it into propolis, although they have a wider range of use for this material than do honey bees (Apis spp.). Plebeia spp. workers employ propolis mixed with wax (cerumen) for constructing and sealing nest structures, while they use viscous (sticky) propolis for defense by applying it onto their enemies. Isolated viscous propolis deposits are permanently maintained at the interior of their colonies, as also seen in other Meliponini species. Newly-emerged Plebeia emerina (Friese) workers were observed stuck to and unable to escape these viscous propolis stores. We examined the division of labor involved in propolis manipulation, by observing marked bees of known age in four colonies of P. emerina from southern Brazil. Activities on brood combs, the nest involucrum and food pots were observed from the first day of life of the marked bees. However, work on viscous propolis deposits did not begin until the 13th day of age and continued until the 56th day (maximum lifespan in our sample). Although worker bees begin to manipulate cerumen early, they seem to be unable to handle viscous propolis till they become older

Macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) cake from biodiesel processing: a low-cost substrate to produce lipases from Moniliella spathulata R25L270 with potential application in the oleochemical industry

[Background]: Biodiesel industry wastes were evaluated as supplements for lipase production by Moniliella spathulata R25L270, which is newly identified yeast with great lipolytic potential. Macaúba cake (MC), used for the first time in this work as inducer to produce lipases, and residual oil (RO) were mixed to maximise enzyme production. The lipase secreted was biochemically characterised.[Results]: The best ratio for the mixture (MC:RO) was 0.66:0.34 and the fitted values for lipase activity and total protein concentration were 0.98 U mL−1 and 0.356 mg mL−1, respectively. Maximum activity obtained (2.47 U mL−1) was achieved at 31.5°C and pH 6.7, and the enzyme was stable in this condition. A novel enzyme was purified and identified for the first time by mass spectrometry. The lipase efficiently hydrolysed different natural oils and exhibited selectivity in the production of eicosapentaenoic acid from fish oil.[Conclusion]: The use of MC and RO as a supplement to produce the new lipase from M. spathulata R25L270 may be one alternative for reducing lipase production costs and simultaneously adding value to biodiesel industry residues. The potential application of the lipase in the oleochemical industry was demonstrated by its pH and temperature stabilities and selective hydrolysis.This research was supported by Brazilian agencies: CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), INCT (Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia) de Nanomateriais de Carbono, FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais), Rede Mineira de Toxinas com Ação Terapêutica and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).Peer reviewe

Targeting lactate transport suppresses in vivo breast tumour growth.

BACKGROUND Most cancers, including breast cancer, have high rates of glucose consumption, associated with lactate production, a process referred as "Warburg effect". Acidification of the tumour microenvironment by lactate extrusion, performed by lactate transporters (MCTs), is associated with higher cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and increased cell survival. Previously, we have described MCT1 up-regulation in breast carcinoma samples and demonstrated the importance of in vitro MCT inhibition. In this study, we performed siRNA knockdown of MCT1 and MCT4 in basal-like breast cancer cells in both normoxia and hypoxia conditions to validate the potential of lactate transport inhibition in breast cancer treatment. RESULTS The effect of MCT knockdown was evaluated on lactate efflux, proliferation, cell biomass, migration and invasion and induction of tumour xenografts in nude mice. MCT knockdown led to a decrease in in vitro tumour cell aggressiveness, with decreased lactate transport, cell proliferation, migration and invasion and, importantly, to an inhibition of in vivo tumour formation and growth. CONCLUSIONS This work supports MCTs as promising targets in cancer therapy, demonstrates the contribution of MCTs to cancer cell aggressiveness and, more importantly, shows, for the first time, the disruption of in vivo breast tumour growth by targeting lactate transport.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (grant number PTDC/ SAU-FCF/104347/2008), under the scope of “Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade” (COMPETE) of “Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III” and co-financed by the Fundo Europeu De Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER). FM-S, VM-G and AHJM received doctoral fellowships from FCT (refs. SFRH/BD/87139/2012, SFRH/BD/ 51997/2012 and SFRH/ BD/68270/2010, respectively). SG received a postdoctoral fellowship from UMINHO/BPD/18/2014 and CP from FCT (ref. SFRH/BPD/69479/2010)

In vitro protective effect and antioxidant mechanism of Resveratrol induced by Dapsone Hydroxylamine in human cells

Dapsone (DDS) hydroxylamine metabolites cause oxidative stress- linked adverse effects in patients, such as methemoglobin formation and DNA damage. This study evaluated the ameliorating effect of the antioxidant resveratrol (RSV) on DDS hydroxylamine (DDSNHOH) mediated toxicity in vitro using human erythrocytes and lymphocytes. The antioxidant mechanism was also studied using in-silico methods. In addition, RSV provided intracellular protection by inhibiting DNA damage in human lymphocytes induced by DDS-NHOH. However, whilst pretreatment with RSV (10-1000 μM significantly attenuated DDS-NHOH-induced methemoglobinemia, but it was not only significantly less effective than methylene blue (MET), but also post-treatment with RSV did not reverse methemoglobin formation, contrarily to that observed with MET. DDS-NHOH inhibited catalase (CAT) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, but did not alter superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in erythrocytes. Pretreatment with RSV did not alter these antioxidant enzymes activities in erythrocytes treated with DDS-NHOH. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory methods showed that DDS-NHOH has a pro-oxidant effect, whereas RSV and MET have antioxidant effect on ROS. The effect on methemoglobinemia reversion for MET was significantly higher than that of RSV. These data suggest that the pretreatment with resveratrol may decrease heme-iron oxidation and DNA damage through reduction of ROS generated in cells during DDS therapy

Performance of cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, whole blood, and urine in HIV-infected patients with culture-proven cryptococcal meningitis admitted at a Brazilian referral center

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common cause of opportunistic meningitis in HIV-infected patients in Brazil and causes unacceptable high mortality rates. In this study, HIV-infected patients with a first episode of culture-proven cryptococcal meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were prospectively included in order to evaluate sensitivity of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA) in serum, CSF, whole blood (fingerstick), and fresh urine. In addition, HIV-infected patients with other neurological confirmed diseases were included in order to evaluate the specificity of CrAg LFA in serum. Twenty patients with cryptococcal meningitis were included and in 19 of them, CrAg LFA in CSF, serum, and whole blood were positive (95% sensitivity). In 18 patients, India ink test was positive in CSF (90% sensitivity), and in 16 cases, CrAg LFA was positive in urine (80% sensitivity). Thirty-six HIV-infected patients with other neurological diseases had negative results of CrAg LFA in serum (100% specificity). In conclusion, CrAg LFA in serum, CSF, and whole blood showed high sensitivity and specificity. Whole blood CrAg LFA seems to be a good and reliable strategy to improve AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis in Brazil

Preferencias matrimoniales en el área de los Cerrillos Canelones–Uruguay

El objetivo de la investigación es estudiar las preferencias matrimoniales de la segunda y tercera generación de descendientes de inmigrantes canarios en el área de influencia de Los Cerrillos, Departamento de Canelones, Uruguay. A partir de 105 entrevistas realizadas a los descendientes canarios establecidos en la zona, se realizó la reconstrucción genealógica a través del programa GenoPro (2095 individuos en total, 67 ancestros fundadores), con el fin de estimar las preferencias matrimoniales de los mismos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una tendencia a uniones dentro del grupo de pertenencia, encontrándose valores altos de endogamia y consanguinidad; los cuales se mantienen a través de varias generaciones. Se discute si las causas que contribuyen a mantener esta conducta en la elección del cónyuge, son de carácter cultural (la búsqueda de reafirmar la identidad como elemento unificador), geográfico (la existencia de barreras naturales que aislan a las familias) o económicas (mantener dentro de la familia los bienes y la tierra adquiridas).Sesión de posters.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina (AABRA

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI: COMPOSITION, LENGHT EXTRARADICAL MYCELIUM AND GLOMALIN IN AREAS OF ATLANTIC FOREST, RIO DE JANEIRO

A Mata Atl\ue2ntica \ue9 considerada um ambiente de ampla biodiversidade, no entanto, por estar constantemente sendo submetida a uma intensa press\ue3o antr\uf3pica, encontra-se bastante fragmentada e desconectada, circundada por extensas matrizes formadas de pastos, capoeiras, monoculturas e \ue1reas urbanas. A fragmenta\ue7\ue3o, bem como determinados sistemas de uso e manejo do solo, pode ocasionar altera\ue7\uf5es na composi\ue7\ue3o e atividade de microrganismos do solo, como os fungos micorr\uedzicos arbusculares (FMAs). Dessa forma, o trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a composi\ue7\ue3o da popula\ue7\ue3o dos FMAs em diferentes \ue1reas de Mata Atl\ue2ntica, determinar a influ\ueancia do tipo de cobertura vegetal na abund\ue2ncia de esporos de FMAs, no comprimento de mic\ue9lio extrarradicular (CMET) e nos teores de prote\uedna do solo relacionada \ue0 glomalina no solo (PSRG). Os sistemas avaliados foram: agricultura anual (AgAn); agricultura perene (AgP), pasto, floresta secund\ue1ria est\ue1dio inicial (FSEI); floresta secund\ue1ria est\ue1dio m\ue9dio (FSEM); floresta secund\ue1ria est\ue1dio avan\ue7ado (FSEA). Coletaram-se amostras de terra na profundidade de 0\u20135 cm, em duas \ue9pocas distintas (ver\ue3o e inverno). Um total de 27 morfotipos de esporos de FMAs foi coletado, sendo que a esp\ue9cie Glomus macrocarpum Tulasne & Tulasne foi presente em todas as \ue1reas estudadas, em ambas as \ue9pocas de coleta e na maioria das vezes com uma elevada frequ\ueancia de ocorr\ueancia. A abund\ue2ncia de esporos de FMAs foi influenciada pelo tipo de cobertura vegetal. Uma baixa esporula\ue7\ue3o dos FMAs foi observada na \ue1rea de AgAn em ambas as coletas. As \ue1reas agr\uedcolas modificaram a composi\ue7\ue3o das esp\ue9cies de FMAs em rela\ue7\ue3o aos sistemas florestais. Os teores de PSRG - facilmente extra\uedvel (PSRG-FE) reduziram-se quando da passagem de FSEM para agricultura.The Atlantic Forest is considered an environment of great biodiversity. However, by constantly being subjected to intense human pressure, is very fragmented and disconnected, surrounded by extensive matrices formed by pastures, capoeiras, monocultures and urban areas. Fragmentation, as well as certain uses and soil management can cause changes in the composition and activity of soil microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Fragmentation, as well as certain uses and soil management may entail a reduction of edaphic microflora. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the composition of the population of mycorrhizal fungi (MF) in different areas, to determine the influence of vegetation on the abundance of AMF spores in the length of extraradical mycelium (LEM) and levels of Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) the ground. The systems were evaluated: annual crops (Anag); perennial agriculture (PAG), pasture, secondary forest early stage (SFES), secondary forest medium stage (SFME); advanced stage secondary forest (ASSF). Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-5 cm, in two different seasons (summer and winter), and analyzed the abundance of spores and species composition of AMF, the LEM, and the presence of GRSP. It was recovered a total of 27 morphotypes of spores of AMF, and AMF species was that which was present in all areas studied in both seasons and in most cases with a high frequency of occurrence. The abundance of AMF spores was influenced by the type of vegetation. A low AMF sporulation was observed in the area of Anag both stations. The agricultural areas have changed the species composition of AMF in relation to forest systems. The concentration of GRSP - easily extractable (GRSP-EE) fell in the SFME for agriculture

Preferencias matrimoniales en el área de los Cerrillos Canelones–Uruguay

El objetivo de la investigación es estudiar las preferencias matrimoniales de la segunda y tercera generación de descendientes de inmigrantes canarios en el área de influencia de Los Cerrillos, Departamento de Canelones, Uruguay. A partir de 105 entrevistas realizadas a los descendientes canarios establecidos en la zona, se realizó la reconstrucción genealógica a través del programa GenoPro (2095 individuos en total, 67 ancestros fundadores), con el fin de estimar las preferencias matrimoniales de los mismos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una tendencia a uniones dentro del grupo de pertenencia, encontrándose valores altos de endogamia y consanguinidad; los cuales se mantienen a través de varias generaciones. Se discute si las causas que contribuyen a mantener esta conducta en la elección del cónyuge, son de carácter cultural (la búsqueda de reafirmar la identidad como elemento unificador), geográfico (la existencia de barreras naturales que aislan a las familias) o económicas (mantener dentro de la familia los bienes y la tierra adquiridas).Sesión de posters.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina (AABRA