Expressão transiente em tecidos intactos de Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. via eletroporação

A transformação genética através da eletroporação de protoplastos foi estabelecida para espécies vegetais comercialmente importantes. Neste trabalho, fontes de explante, intensidades de campo elétrico, soluções de eletroporação, configuração da molécula de DNA e pré-tratamentos osmóticos foram avaliados para otimizar a expressão transiente do gene repórter em tecidos eletroporados de Stylosanthes guianensis, uma leguminosa forrageira tropical. Taxas elevadas de transformação foram obtidas empregando-se explantes cotiledonares e 250 V cm-1 de intensidade de campo elétrico. DNA plasmidial linear, solução de eletroporação livre de cloro e pré-tratamento osmótico com 1,6 mol L-1 de manitol favorecerem a expressão transiente do gene repórter, porém não significativamente. A amplificação por PCR específica do transgene foi usada para demonstrar a ocorrência de transformação nos tecidos.Genetic transformation though protoplast electroporation has been established for commercially important plant species. In this work, explant sources, electric field strengths, electroporation buffers, DNA forms and osmotic pretreatment were assayed in order to optimize transient reporter gene expression in electroporated tissues of Stylosanthes guianensis, a tropical forage legume. Higher transformation rates were obtained employing cotyledonary explants and an electric field strength of 250 V cm-1. Linear plasmid DNA, chloridefree electroporation buffer and osmotic pretreatment with 1.6 mol L-1 mannitol also improved transient transformation but non-significantly. Transgene specific PCR amplification was employed to prove the transformed status of the tissues

Caracterização cariotípica de Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae)

Malpighia emarginata Sessé & Mociño ex DC. or West Indian cherry (acerola) is a wild plant originated in southern Mexico, Central America and the northern region of South America. The species was introduced to Brazil about 60 years ago and now the country is the world's biggest producer. Even though the fruits of acerola have high commercial value, as they are an important source of the natural vitamin C, very little chromosome information is available for this species. Previous studies showed that most Malpighia species are diploids, including M. emarginata with 2n = 20. In the present paper, the chromosome number of acerola was confirmed, and for the first time, its karyotype was described, providing the identification of the homologues for the ideogram construction. The acerola chromosomes are small (1.71 to 2.56 µm) and metacentric with the exception of chromosome 2 that is classified as submetacentric. In addition, it is recommended a protocol to produce rooted-plantlets in vitro for mitotic studies that could be also used for micropropagation of acerola.Malpighia emarginata Sessé e Mociño ex DC., ou acerola, é uma planta silvestre originada do sul do México, América Central e região norte da América do Sul. A espécie foi introduzida no Brasil há cerca de 60 anos e o País é o maior produtor mundial. Embora os frutos da acerola tenham alto valor comercial, pois são uma importante fonte natural de vitamina C, pouco se conhece sobre os cromossomos da espécie. Estudos prévios mostraram que a maioria das espécies de Malpighia é diploide, incluindo M. emarginata com 2n = 20. No presente trabalho, foi confirmado o número cromossômico da acerola e foi descrito, pela primeira vez, o seu cariótipo, provendo a identificação dos homólogos para a construção do ideograma. Os cromossomos da acerola são pequenos (1,71 a 2,56 µm) e metacêntricos, com exceção do cromossomo 2, que foi classificado como submetacêntrico. Além disso, definiu-se um protocolo para produzir plântulas enraizadas in vitro para estudos mitóticos, o qual pode, igualmente, ser usado para a micropropagação da acerola.CNP

Cytogenetic studies in some species of Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae): a review emphasizing Brazilian species

The Passifloraceae is represented by species of tropical and subtropical origin. The Passiflora is the richest genus with approximately 450 species, 200 of them being native to Brazil. Recent karyological studies have reported the basic chromosome number for the Passiflora genus as x = 6, whereas x = 9, x = 10 and x = 12 were established as secondary basic numbers. High rates of fertility occur in most Passiflora species, since both meiotic index and pollen viability are above 90%. Unusual meiotic behavior has been described in some taxa. Unviable pollen were observed in some diploids species. The genome size varies from 1.83 to 5.36 pg, and significant interspecific variance has been observed. Studies using the FISH methodology have shown that there are two to three rDNA 45S sites and one 5S site in the species analyzed. In this review, information about the above-mentioned studies is presented and discussed in detail.A família Passifloraceae é representada por espécies de origem tropical e subtropical. Passiflora é o gênero mais rico, com aproximadamente 450 espécies, cerca de 200 delas nativas do Brasil. Recentes estudos cariológicos têm relatado o número básico de cromossomos para o gênero Passiflora como sendo x = 6, enquanto x = 9, x = 10 e x = 12 foram considerados números básicos secundários. Altas taxas de fertilidade são observadas na maioria das espécies de Passiflora, uma vez que o índice meiótico e a viabilidade polínica apresentam-se acima de 90%.Comportamento meiótico irregular tem sido descrito para alguns taxas. Grãos de pólen inviáveis foram observados em espécies diplóides. O tamanho do genoma varia de 1,83 a 5,36 pg, e variação interespecífica significativa tem sido observada. Estudos usando a metodologia de hibridização in situ (FISH) tem demonstrado haver de dois a três sites de DNAr 45S e um site de DNAr 5S nas espécies analisadas. Nesta revisão, informações sobre os estudos acima mencionados são apresentados e discutidos em detalhes

Seleção de espécies de Passiflora inoculadas com o vírus do mosaico do caupi revela a imunidade de uma espécie selvagem

Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is a potyvirus that causes the most serious virus disease of passion fruit crops in Brazil. It is transmitted by several species of aphids in a non-persistent, non-circulative manner. The reaction of 16 species of Passiflora to infection by mechanical inoculation with four Brazilian isolates of CABMV was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Only P. suberosa, a wild species, was resistant to infection by all virus isolates, in two independent assays. P. suberosa grafted onto infected P. edulis f. flavicarpa did not develop symptoms; neither was the virus detected by RT-PCR in the upper leaves, suggesting that this species is immune to CABMV.O vírus do mosaico do caupi (Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus - CABMV) é um potyvirus que causa uma das mais importantes doenças do maracujazeiro no Brasil. O vírus é transmitido por diversas espécies de afídeos de maneira não persistente, não circulativa. A reação de 16 espécies de Passiflora à infecção com quatro isolados brasileiros do CABMV, por meio de inoculação mecânica foi avaliada em condições de casa-de-vegetação. Somente a espécie selvagem P. suberosa foi resistente à infecção com todos os isolados do CABMV, em dois ensaios independentes. Plantas de P. suberosa enxertadas em plantas de P. edulis f. flavicarpa infectadas com o CABMV também não desenvolveram sintomas da doença. O vírus também não foi detectado por RT-PCR nas folhas superiores das plantas, sugerindo que essa espécie é imune ao CABMV.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

CAPILLARIA PLICA IN AN ASYMPTOMATIC FELINE – AN ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDING

The aim of this report was to describe a case of urinary capilariosis in a feline and an ultrasonographic finding of Capillaria plica in the urinary bladder. A female feline, 14-years-old, was seen presenting a history of weight loss and anorexia for five days. A hemogram, renal and hepatic serum biochemistry, total protein dosages and albumin and urinalysis were performed. The urinalysis showed dark yellow urine, elevated density, turbid aspect, proteinuria, hematuria, cylindruria, presence of leucocytes and bacteria. The microscopic examination of the urinary sediment revealed the presence of oval and colourless eggs with a thick capsule and bioperculated, characterized as being of C. plica. Treatment with levamisole was carried out, however some of the parasites’ eggs were still verified after the therapy. An abdominal ultrasonography was performed being visualized, in the urinary bladder, a filiform mobile hyperechoic structure of 0.59 cm of length and 0.28 of thickness, besides a thickening of the organ’s wall. Ivermectine was administered at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg, IM. After this treatment, C. plica eggs were no longer found in the urinary sediment. The ultrasonographic examination of the urinary bladder may be a good tool for the confirmation of the diagnosis in these cases

Variabilidade isoenzimática em populações tropicais de milho sob seleção recorrente recíproca

O milho (Zea mays L.) é uma das culturas em que a variabilidade genética tem sido extensivamente estudada com base em locos isoenzimáticos. A variabilidade genética das populações de milho BR-105 e BR-106, e dos sintéticos IG-3 e IG-4, obtidos após um ciclo de seleção recorrente de elevada intensidade, foi investigada para sete locos isoenzimáticos. Foram identificados 20 alelos, sendo que a maioria dos alelos exclusivos foi detectada na população BR-106. Um ciclo de seleção recorrente recíproca (RRS) causou reduções de 12% no número de alelos em ambas populações. Mudanças nas freqüências alélicas foram observadas entre populações e sintéticos, principalmente para o loco Est 2. As populações mostraram similaridade para número de alelos por loco, porcentagem de locos polimórficos, e para heterozigosidade observada e esperada. Houve decréscimo nas estimativas da variabilidade dos sintéticos em conseqüência dos efeitos da deriva genética e redução do tamanho efetivo populacional. A distribuição da diversidade genética dentro e entre as populações revelou que a maior parte da diversidade permaneceu dentro delas, i.e. BR-105 x BR-106 (G ST = 3,5%) e IG-3 x IG-4 (G ST = 4,0%). A distância genética entre as populações e os sintéticos aumentou em torno de 21%. Houve aumento na divergência genética entre as populações, porém sem comprometer novos procedimentos de seleção.Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the crops in which the genetic variability has been extensively studied at isoenzymatic loci. The genetic variability of the maize populations BR-105 and BR-106, and the synthetics IG-3 and IG-4, obtained after one cycle of a high-intensity reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS), was investigated at seven isoenzymatic loci. A total of twenty alleles were identified, and most of the private alleles were found in the BR-106 population. One cycle of reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) caused reductions of 12% in the number of alleles in both populations. Changes in allele frequencies were also observed between populations and synthetics, mainly for the Est 2 locus. Populations presented similar values for the number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, and observed and expected heterozygosities. A decrease of the genetic variation values was observed for the synthetics as a consequence of genetic drift effects and reduction of the effective population sizes. The distribution of the genetic diversity within and between populations revealed that most of the diversity was maintained within them, i.e. BR-105 x BR-106 (G ST = 3.5%) and IG-3 x IG-4 (G ST = 4.0%). The genetic distances between populations and synthetics increased approximately 21%. An increase in the genetic divergence between the populations occurred without limiting new selection procedures

Increase of reactive oxygen species by desferrioxamine during experimental Chagas' disease.

Oxidative stress is common in inflammatory processes associated with many diseases including Chagas' disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a murine model, biomarkers of oxidative stress together with components of the antioxidant system in order to provide an overview of the mechanism of action of the iron chelator desferrioxamine (DFO). The study population comprised 48 male Swiss mice, half of which were treated daily by intraperitoneal injection of DFO over a 35-day period, while half were administered sterile water in a similar manner. On the 14th day of the experiment, 12 DFO-treated mice and an equal number of untreated mice were experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Serum concentrations of nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase and hepatic levels of total glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonyl, were determined on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 post-infection. The results obtained revealed that DFO enhances antioxidant activity in the host but also increases oxidative stress, indicating that the mode of action of the drug involves a positive contribution to the host together with an effect that is not beneficial to the parasite

Leprosy: The Present Of A Disease From The Past

Introduction: Leprosy is one of the oldest and most stigmatizing diseases to affect mankind and is still considered a public health problem in many developing countries.  Objective: To analyze how the social representations of leprosy patients are structured.  Method: The purpose of this study was to analyze how the social consequences of leprosy affect people carrying the disease. A multi-method approach was used, based on the Theory of Social Representations. A total of 100 subjects participated in this study (50 males and 50 females). Data were analyzed using the following software: SPSS (to assess social, economic, and clinical aspects, EVOC, SIMI, and AVRIL (to integrate the structure of social consequences).  Results: The central core for women was “family”. In the similitude test, this word was associated with “exclusion”. For men, the central core was composed of “family”, “work”, and “treatment”.  Conclusions: The healthcare model must strive to take into account the day-to-day concerns of leprosy patients, with a view towards greater consideration of gender differences and the development of a more humanized care system based on full assistance in order to control this disease

Covid-19 in adolescent patients in the Brazilian population with sickle cell anemia: A Review

Introduction: Sickle cell anemia due to recent scientific evidence suggests that individuals with disease are considered a risk group and SARS-CoV-2 and spreads rapidly in this group of patients with diseases due to lack of inherited immunity, has a high lethality rate among young people and children and patients with associated comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus. Objective: to analyze the profile of patients with sickle cell anemia and their immunological motivations for worsening in positive cases of COVID-19 from a systematic review. Results: Initially, 217 articles were identified, of which 213 were removed because they were not related to the theme of the review, or because they were duplicated or did not have the abstract. The 04 selected articles were classified into two thematic axes to be performed the analysis. Discussion:  This systematic review study is the first with sickle cell anemia and COVID-19 in the adolescent population with a limited resource configuration that shows the inherent need in the management of both diseases. However, in this systematic review, the four included studies showed a favorable evolution of the infectious process by COVID-19, and deaths occurred in adolescent patients who concomitantly had multiple comorbidities, for example, DM. Conclusion: It was found in this systematic review study that COVID-19 infection may accentuate the presence of vasculopathy in patients with sickle cell anemia and may increase pain to varying degrees