Comportamento fisiologico do porta-enxerto de macieira M-9 (Malus pumila) "in vitro"densidade estomatica e area foliar

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Curso de Agronomia

Relato de caso sobre Dioctophyma renale em cão residente no município de Três Barras/SC

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Biologia.O trabalho tem como objetivo descrever as características biológicas do nematódeo Dioctophyma renale e relatar um caso clínico em cão parasitado na cidade de Três Barras/SC. Buscando atender essa finalidade, primeiramente foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica apresentando as características taxonômicas e morfológicas, distribuição geográfica e áreas de ocorrência da doença, o ciclo biológico do parasito e as formas de transmissão para os hospedeiros intermediários e definitivo. A patogenia e os sinais clínicos do hospedeiro definitivo infectado, as formas de diagnosticar a presença do verme no hospedeiro, os possíveis tratamentos e controle dessa parasitose também são abordados. Em seguida, foi apresentado um relato de caso em um cão residente no município de Três Barras/SC. Os resultados obtidos foram apresentados de modo a conhecer esse verme e relatar sua ocorrência em nossa região. O trabalho demonstrou que, apesar de diferentes fontes de informações, referências, publicações, ainda há necessidade de se aprofundar a pesquisa desta parasitose, que é bastante comum em animais domésticos no Brasil podendo inclusive acometer a espécie humana.The goals of research are to show the biological features of Dioctophyma renale worm and reports a case in a dog located in Três Barras city/SC. To report these goals, at the first it was realized a bibliography research showing taxonomics and morphological features, geographic distribution and places of disease´s occurrence, biological cycle of the worm and the ways of streaming to definitive and intermediaries host. The pathogeny and the clinical symptons at infected definitive host, the manner to diagnose the worn presence at the definitive host, possible treatment and how to control the disease are reported too. Then it was presented a case in a dog at Três Barras city/SC. The results were presented in a way to know this worn and to show its occurence in our region. The research showed that we have several information, references, publications, but it´s necessary to reach away about this disease because it´s very commom in domestic animals and this can cause the streaming at human being too

Relato de caso sobre Dioctophyma renale em cão residente no município de Três Barras / SC

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Biologia.O trabalho tem como objetivo descrever as características biológicas do nematódeo Dioctophyma renale e relatar um caso clínico em cão parasitado na cidade de Três Barras/SC. Buscando atender essa finalidade, primeiramente foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica apresentando as características taxonômicas e morfológicas, distribuição geográfica e áreas de ocorrência da doença, o ciclo biológico do parasito e as formas de transmissão para os hospedeiros intermediários e definitivo. A patogenia e os sinais clínicos do hospedeiro definitivo infectado, as formas de diagnosticar a presença do verme no hospedeiro, os possíveis tratamentos e controle dessa parasitose também são abordados. Em seguida, foi apresentado um relato de caso em um cão residente no município de Três Barras/SC. Os resultados obtidos foram apresentados de modo a conhecer esse verme e relatar sua ocorrência em nossa região. O trabalho demonstrou que, apesar de diferentes fontes de informações, referências, publicações, ainda há necessidade de se aprofundar a pesquisa desta parasitose, que é bastante comum em animais domésticos no Brasil podendo inclusive acometer a espécie humana.The goals of research are to show the biological features of Dioctophyma renale worm and reports a case in a dog located in Três Barras city/SC. To report these goals, at the first it was realized a bibliography research showing taxonomics and morphological features, geographic distribution and places of disease´s occurrence, biological cycle of the worm and the ways of streaming to definitive and intermediaries host. The pathogeny and the clinical symptons at infected definitive host, the manner to diagnose the worn presence at the definitive host, possible treatment and how to control the disease are reported too. Then it was presented a case in a dog at Três Barras city/SC. The results were presented in a way to know this worn and to show its occurence in our region. The research showed that we have several information, references, publications, but it´s necessary to reach away about this disease because it´s very commom in domestic animals and this can cause the streaming at human being too

Root architecture of apple rootstocks inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A arquitetura do sistema radicular tem implicações na capacidade da planta de obter nutrientes e água do solo; aspecto, este, não muito considerado nos estudos de desenvolvimento vegetal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento do sistema radicular de dois porta-enxertos micropropagados de macieira (Malus spp.), em razão da associação micorrízica. Foram utilizados um porta-enxerto vigoroso e com grande capacidade de enraizamento (Marubakaido) e outro ananicante e com sistema radicular pouco desenvolvido (M.9). As plantas oriundas de micropropagação foram transferidas para substrato à base de solo, a fim de serem enraizadas ex vitro. Antes ou após o enraizamento, inoculou-se uma mistura de três isolados de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares ou um filtrado com a biota não-micorrízica do inoculante. Aos 51 e 81 dias, avaliaram-se o número e o comprimento de eixos radiculares e das raízes de ordem 1, 2, 3 e 4. A inoculação micorrízica antes do enraizamento aumentou o número e o comprimento de raízes do porta-enxerto Marubakaido, porém, o porta-enxerto M.9 teve o número e o comprimento de raízes diminuído quando a inoculação micorrízica ocorreu antes da fase de enraizamento.Root architecture is scarcely considered in plant physiology studies, despite its great importance to plant growth and development. In order to evaluate the behavior of the root systems of two varieties of apple (Malus spp.) rootstock when subjected to mycorrhizal association. Two apple rootstocks were tested: Marubakaido, which is vigorous and roots easily, and M.9, which is dwarfing and poorly rooted. The micropropagated plantlets were transferred to a soil-based substrate and received AMF inoculum, or its non-mycorrhizal biota, before and after a 21-day rooting and weaning period. After 51 and 81 days, the number and length of root axes and of first-, second-, third- and fourth- order roots were evaluated. AMF inoculation before weaning and rooting enhanced the number and length of roots in the Marubakaido rootstock. On the other hand, M.9 rootstock plantlets had their root number and length reduced when mycorrhizal inoculation was performed before the rooting period, as compared to plants receiving the AMF inoculum after the rooting period

SAHA-induced TRAIL-sensitisation of Multiple Myeloma cells is enhanced in 3D cell culture

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is currently incurable despite many novel therapies. Tumour Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is a potential anti-tumour agent although effects as a single agent are limited. In this study, we investigated whether the Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor SAHA can enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis and target TRAIL resistance in both suspension culture, and 3D cell culture as a model of disseminated MM lesions that form in bone. The effects of SAHA and/or TRAIL in 6 Multiple Myeloma cell lines were assessed in both suspension cultures and in an Alginate-based 3D cell culture model. The effect of SAHA and/or TRAIL was assessed on apoptosis by assessment of nuclear morphology using Hoechst 33342/Propidium Iodide staining. Viable cell number was assessed by CellTiter-Glo luminescence assay, Caspase-8 and -9 activities were measured by Caspase-Glo™ assay kit. TRAIL-resistant cells were generated by culture of RPMI 8226 and NCI-H929 by acute exposure to TRAIL followed by selection of TRAIL-resistant cells. TRAIL significantly induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in OPM-2, RPMI 8226, NCI-H929, U266, JJN-3 MM cell lines and ADC-1 plasma cell leukaemia cells. SAHA amplified TRAIL responses in all lines except OPM-2, and enhanced TRAIL responses were both via Caspase-8 and -9. SAHA treatment induced growth inhibition that further increased in the combination treatment with TRAIL in MM cells. The co-treatment of TRAIL and SAHA reduced viable cell numbers all cell lines. TRAIL responses were further potentiated by SAHA in 3D cell culture in NCI-H929, RPMI 8226 and U266 at lower TRAIL + SAHA doses than in suspension culture. However TRAIL responses in cells that had been selected for TRAIL resistance were not further enhanced by SAHA treatment. SAHA is a potent sensitizer of TRAIL responses in both TRAIL sensitive and resistant cell lines, in both suspension and 3D culture, however SAHA did not sensitise TRAIL-sensitive cell populations that had been selected for TRAIL-resistance from initially TRAIL-sensitive populations. SAHA may increase TRAIL sensitivity in insensitive cells, but not in cells that have specifically been selected for acquired TRAIL-resistance. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Expression of osteoprotegerin and its ligands, RANKL and TRAIL, in rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand (RANKL) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) have been involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathophysiology. In this study, we assessed messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of these molecules by qPCR in peripheral blood from 26 patients with RA (12 of them with ischemic heart disease -IHD) and 10 healthy controls. Correlation coefficients between OPG, RANKL and TRAIL expression levels in RA patients and their clinical and demographic characteristics were also evaluated. Whereas OPG and OPG/TRAIL ratio expression were significantly increased in RA patients compared to controls (fold change?=?1.79, p?=?0.013 and 2.07, p?=?0.030, respectively), RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly decreased (fold change?=?0.50, p?=?0.020). No significant differences were found between patients and controls in RANKL and TRAIL expression. Interestingly, TRAIL expression was significantly higher in RA patients with IHD compared to those without IHD (fold change?=?1.46, p?=?0.033). Moreover, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) significantly decreased RANKL expression in RA patients (p?=?0.016). Our study supports an important role of OPG and TRAIL in RA. Furthermore, it highlights an effect of biologic DMARDs in the modulation of RANKL

Targeting Tumour-Initiating Cells with TRAIL Based Combination Therapy Ensures Complete and Lasting Eradication of Multiple Myeloma Tumours In Vivo

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease despite improvements to available treatments and efforts to identify new drug targets. Consequently new approaches are urgently required. We have investigated the potential of native tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), in combination with doxorubicin, to induce apoptotic cell death in phenotypically distinct populations of myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxic potential of TRAIL alone, and in combination with DOX, was assessed in vitro in purified CD138+ and CD138− cells from the MM cell lines and samples from patients with MM. Mouse xenografts obtained by implanting CD138− MM cells were used to assess the efficacy of TRAIL, alone and in combination with DOX, in vivo. CD138− cells were shown to be more resistant to the cytotoxic activity of TRAIL than CD138+ cells and have reduced expression of TRAIL death receptors. This resistance results in preferential killing of CD 138+ cells during exposure of MM culture to TRAIL. Furthermore, prolonged exposure results in the appearance of TRAIL-resistant CD138− cells. However, when TRAIL is combined with doxorubicin, this results in complete eradication of MM cells in vivo. Most importantly, this treatment successfully eliminates CD138− cells implicated in tumour initiation and growth maintenance. These findings may explain the failure of current therapies and offer a promising new approach in the quest to cure MM and disseminated cancers

From bones to blood pressure, developing novel biologic approaches targeting the osteoprotegein pathway for pulmonary vascular disease.

Osteoprotegerin (tnfsf11b, OPG) is a soluble member of the TNF superfamily originally described as an important regulator of osteoclastogenesis almost 20years ago. OPG is a heparin-binding secreted glycoprotein that exists as a 55-62kDa monomer or a 110-120kDa disulphide-linked homodimer. Acting as a soluble decoy receptor for RANKL, OPG actively regulates RANK signalling, and thereby osteoclastogenesis. OPG has subsequently been shown to also be a decoy receptor TNF related apoptosis inducing-ligand (tnfsf10, TRAIL, Apo2L). TRAIL is a type II transmembrane protein that is widely expressed in a variety of human tissues, including the spleen, lung, and prostate. Through binding to TRAIL, OPG can inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. More recently OPG has been demonstrated to be secreted by, and influence, vascular smooth muscle cells phenotype particularly related to vascular calcification and pulmonary vascular remodelling. In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) suppression of BMP, and induction of 5-HT and IL-1 signalling have been shown to stimulate the release of OPG in vitro, which causes cell migration and proliferation. Patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) demonstrate increased circulating and tissue levels of OPG, and circulating serum levels predict survival. In pre-clinical models OPG levels correlate with disease severity. Since OPG is a naturally circulating protein we are investigating the potential of novel biologic antibody therapies to rescue PAH phenotype in disease models. Further pre-clinical and mechanistic data are forthcoming but we believe current published data identifies OPG as an exciting and novel therapeutic target in PAH

Molecular Surveillance of True Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: An Evaluation of PCR Screening Assays

BackgroundUnambiguous identification of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is not possible by conventional microbiology. Molecular characterisation of phenotypically defined NTHi isolates suggests that up to 40% are Haemophilus haemolyticus (Hh); however, the genetic similarity of NTHi and Hh limits the power of simple molecular techniques such as PCR for species discrimination.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we assess the ability of previously published and novel PCR-based assays to identify true NTHi. Sixty phenotypic NTHi isolates, classified by a dual 16S rRNA gene PCR algorithm as NTHi (n = 22), Hh (n = 27) or equivocal (n = 11), were further characterised by sequencing of the 16S rRNA and recA genes then interrogated by PCR-based assays targeting the omp P2, omp P6, lgtC, hpd, 16S rRNA, fucK and iga genes. The sequencing data and PCR results were used to define NTHi for this study. Two hpd real time PCR assays (hpd#1 and hpd#3) and the conventional iga PCR assay were equally efficient at differentiating study-defined NTHi from Hh, each with a receiver operator characteristic curve area of 0.90 [0.83; 0.98]. The hpd#1 and hpd#3 assays were completely specific against a panel of common respiratory bacteria, unlike the iga PCR, and the hpd#3 assay was able to detect below 10 copies per reaction.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data suggest an evolutionary continuum between NTHi and Hh and therefore no single gene target could completely differentiate NTHi from Hh. The hpd#3 real time PCR assay proved to be the superior method for discrimination of NTHi from closely related Haemophilus species with the added potential for quantification of H. influenzae directly from specimens. We suggest the hpd#3 assay would be suitable for routine NTHi surveillance and to assess the impact of antibiotics and vaccines, on H. influenzae carriage rates, carriage density, and disease

Cellular and molecular biology of Neisseria meningitidis colonization and invasive disease

The human species is the only natural host of Neisseria meningitidis, an important cause of bacterial meningitis globally, and, despite its association with devastating diseases, N. meningitidis is a commensal organism found frequently in the respiratory tract of healthy individuals. To date, antibiotic resistance is relatively uncommon in N. meningitidis isolates but, due to the rapid onset of disease in susceptible hosts, the mortality rate remains approx. 10%. Additionally, patients who survive meningococcal disease often endure numerous debilitating sequelae. N. meningitidis strains are classified primarily into serogroups based on the type of polysaccharide capsule expressed. In total, 13 serogroups have been described; however, the majority of disease is caused by strains belonging to one of only five serogroups. Although vaccines have been developed against some of these, a universal meningococcal vaccine remains a challenge due to successful immune evasion strategies of the organism, including mimicry of host structures as well as frequent antigenic variation. N. meningitidis express a range of virulence factors including capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide and a number of surface-expressed adhesive proteins. Variation of these surface structures is necessary for meningococci to evade killing by host defence mechanisms. Nonetheless, adhesion to host cells and tissues needs to be maintained to enable colonization and ensure bacterial survival in the niche. The aims of the present review are to provide a brief outline of meningococcal carriage, disease and burden to society. With this background, we discuss several bacterial strategies that may enable its survival in the human respiratory tract during colonization and in the blood during infection. We also examine several known meningococcal adhesion mechanisms and conclude with a section on the potential processes that may operate in vivo as meningococci progress from the respiratory niche through the blood to reach the central nervous system