Allelopathic effect of the Cladonia verticillaris lichen extracts and fumarprotocetraric acid on the early growth of germinated seedlings in Allium cepa L.

The allelopathic activity of the different type of Cladonia verticillaris lichen extracts and fumarprotocetraric acid on the early growth of A. cepa (IPA 6) germinated seedlings depends on their chemical composition and concentration, respectively. It was observed that the length of the radicle was significantly stimulated by fumarprotocetraric acid at high concentrations and by the total extract of C. verticillaris thalli, which contained high level of fumarprotocetraric, acid confirmed by HPLC – technique. In addition, it was found, that the phosphate buffer extract, which contained high level of methy betha-orcinol carboxilate measured by HPLC, significantly reduced the length of the hypocotyls. Under our experimental conditions there was no influence of different type of extract and fumarprotocetraric acid on the seed germination ratio of A. cepa, in relation to control. From the study of HPLC it was found that fumarprotocetraric acid and methy betha-orcinol carboxilate were present in all extracts at different concentrations, according to the method of extraction

Regulación de ureasa en Parmelia Roystonea Vicente & Xavier Filho y Cladonia Verticillaris (Raddi) Fr

La distinción de una nueva especie para la ciencia es muy difícil, al tener en cuenta la selección natural y por lo tanto la influencia del ambiente; por otra parte, muchos estudiosos de la taxonomía vegetal nos hacen ver de una forma muy clara las interaciones entre el medio ambiente, el genotipo y su importancia en la taxonomía y evolución vegetal.En el caso de Parmelia roystonea, la diferencia fundamental para la separación de una nueva especie se centra; la distinción del soredio y también la presencia de ácido caperático como indicador de la quimiotaxonomía. En las especies estudiadas de Parmelia roystonea y Cladonia verticillaris, la actividad ureásica se desarrolla prácticamente en la oscuridad cuando el talo liquénico es incubado en urea, alcanzando en la segunda especie un valor aproximadamente de 60 veces superior al que alcanza en la primera especie. En condiciones de iluminación, el desarrollo de la actividad enzimática alcanza niveles discretos para anularse con posteridad. Como se verá después, esta anulación está en función de los ácidos liquénicos sintetizados paralelamente. En la utilización de inhibidores de la síntesis de proteínas en Cladonia verticillaris establece definitivamente que el enzima se sintetiza de novo, ya que en presencia de los antimetabolitos no aparece actividad enzimática en todo el tiempo de la experimentación. En Parmelia roystonea los datos obtenidos no son definitorios, aunque a partir de la cuarta hora de incubación la actividad enzimática puede considerarse nula; esto haría que tampoco pueda definirse como centro de síntesis para las enzimas el citoplasma o los orgánulos. Por tanto, definimos un fenómeno de indución de ureasa por urea deshechando la hipótesis de que podría tratarse de una activación de un enzima inactivo preexistente. Todos los mecanismos descritos estarían de acuerdo con la teoría de Almadjian de la regulación de la simbiosis liquénica enunciada en los términos que han sido expuestos en la introducción y que posteriormente fueron confirmados para Evernia prunastri y Lobaris pulmonaria. Sin embargo, existe un hecho que hace distinta en cierta manera la interpretación del mecanismo para las dos especies citadas y las dos estudiadas en la presente memoria

Avaliação do desempenho de estirpes de rizóbio em feijão-caupi: dados de rede referente ao 1º ano de experimentação.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar os resultados de avaliação da inoculação de estirpes de rizóbio em feijão-caupi, como critério para a recomendação de estirpes

Animal Performance and Pasture Characteristics of \u3cem\u3eBrachiaria decumbens\u3c/em\u3e Stapf., \u3cem\u3eGliricidia sepium\u3c/em\u3e (Jacq.) Steud, and \u3cem\u3eMimosa caesalpiniifolia\u3c/em\u3e Benth. in Silvipastoral Systems

Grasslands are the major source of feed for ruminants (Zanine 2005). Seasonality of production, however, is a constraint in forage-based systems. Silvopastoril systems combine different components (animals, trees, and forages) into one integrated system and may improve forage distribution across seasons. Resource use is usually more efficient both spatially and temporally, increasing land use efficiency (Nair 1993). Tree legumes present potential for silvopastoril systems because they can fix N from the atmosphere, improve cattle diet, and lead to a faster N cycle. In addition, trees provide shade and may reduce heat stress for grazing animals in warm-climate grasslands. Legume trees are commonly found in warm-season climates and present potential for use in silvopastoril systems. This research studied the animal performance and pasture characteristics of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) in pure stand or in silvopastoril systems with Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud or Mimosa caesalpinifolia Benth

Molecular modeling and inhibitory activity of cowpea cystatin against bean bruchid pests.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T01:01:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ID278851.pdf: 325253 bytes, checksum: 9561dcac2d70f9704f44dd57019d07c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-01-16bitstream/item/178117/1/ID-27885-1.pd

Phenotypic and Functional Signatures of Peripheral Blood and Spleen Compartments of Cynomolgus Macaques Infected With T. cruzi: Associations With Cardiac Histopathological Characteristics

We performed a detailed analysis of immunophenotypic features of circulating leukocytes and spleen cells from cynomolgus macaques that had been naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, identifying their unique and shared characteristics in relation to cardiac histopathological lesion status. T. cruzi-infected macaques were categorized into three groups: asymptomatic [CCC(-)], with mild chronic chagasic cardiopathy [CCC(+)], or with moderate chronic chagasic cardiopathy [CCC(++)]. Our findings demonstrated significant differences in innate and adaptive immunity cells of the peripheral blood and spleen compartments, by comparison with non-infected controls. CCC(+) and CCC(++) hosts exhibited decreased frequencies of monocytes, NK and NKT-cell subsets in both compartments, and increased frequencies of activated CD8+ T-cells and GranA+/GranB+ cells. While a balanced cytokine profile (TNF/IL-10) was observed in peripheral blood of CCC(-) macaques, a predominant pro-inflammatory profile (increased levels of TNF and IFN/IL-10) was observed in both CCC(+) and CCC(++) subgroups. Our data demonstrated that cardiac histopathological features of T. cruzi-infected cynomolgus macaques are associated with perturbations of the immune system similarly to those observed in chagasic humans. These results provide further support for the validity of the cynomolgus macaque model for pre-clinical research on Chagas disease, and provide insights pertaining to the underlying immunological mechanisms involved in the progression of cardiac Chagas disease

Evidence against Zika virus infection of pets and peri-domestic animals in Latin America and Africa

Decades after its discovery in East Africa, Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil in 2013 and infected millions of people during intense urban transmission. Whether vertebrates other than humans are involved in ZIKV transmission cycles remained unclear. Here, we investigate the role of different animals as ZIKV reservoirs by testing 1723 sera of pets, peri-domestic animals and African non-human primates (NHP) sampled during 2013–2018 in Brazil and 2006–2016 in Côte d'Ivoire. Exhaustive neutralization testing substantiated co-circulation of multiple flaviviruses and failed to confirm ZIKV infection in pets or peri-domestic animals in Côte d'Ivoire (n=259) and Brazil (n=1416). In contrast, ZIKV seroprevalence was 22.2% (2/9, 95% CI, 2.8–60.1) in West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and 11.1% (1/9, 95% CI, 0.3–48.3) in king colobus (Colobus polycomos). Our results indicate that while NHP may represent ZIKV reservoirs in Africa, pets or peri-domestic animals likely do not play a role in ZIKV transmission cycles.Peer Reviewe

Consórcios de caupi e milho em cultivo orgânico para produção de grãos e espigas verdes.

No período de outono-inverno-primavera de 2007, foi conduzido um estudo em Seropédica, Região Metropolitana do estado do Rio de Janeiro (Baixada Fluminense), com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes tipos de consórcio entre caupi (cv. Mauá) e milho (cv. AG-1051), em sistema orgânico de produção. O experimento foi instalado em área de Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de diferentes épocas ou intervalos de tempo de semeadura do caupi em relação à do milho, a saber: (E1) 21 dias antes do milho; (E2) 14 dias antes do milho; (E3) 7 dias antes do milho; e (E4) no mesmo dia do milho. Tratamentos correspondentes aos cultivos solteiros do caupi e do milho foram incluídos, ambos semeados na data do tratamento E4. O cultivo consorciado com o caupi não interferiu na produtividade do milho em espigas verdes e também em termos de comprimento e diâmetro basal dessas espigas, independentemente do intervalo entre semeaduras. Com referência ao caupi, a produtividade em grãos verdes no cultivo solteiro foi superior à dos consórcios com o milho. Os valores obtidos para os Índices de Equivalência de Área (IEA), foram todos acima de 1,0, indicando que os consórcios foram eficientes quanto ao desempenho agronômico/biológico. Considerando, ainda a produtividade de cada cultura participante do consórcio, a semeadura do caupi antecipada de 21 dias em relação à do milho afigura-se mais adequada ao manejo orgânico adotado e às condições edafoclimáticas da região

From plant scent defense to biopesticide discovery: evaluation of toxicity and acetylcholinesterase docking properties for Lamiaceae monoterpenes.

Monoterpenes are a highly diverse group of chemical scents that originate from plant secondary metabolic processes, one purpose of which is to serve as a defense against herbivores. Plant-derived monoterpenes pro- duced from Lamiaceae species have demonstrated acaricidal activity against pest mites and ticks. However, the mechanism by which these compounds carry out the demise of this group of arachnids is poorly understood. Here, we review the chemistry and bioactivity of these promising compounds and subsequently assess their potential toxicity to mites and ticks through measurement of their docking ability to amino acid residues of the binding pocket of Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase (AChE). We identified 27 monoterpenes of the Lamiaceae family from the literature that were effective against mite (Varroidae, Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae) and tick (Ixodidae) species that are problematic in agricultural production. Screening of these compounds showed that monoterpenoids possessing methyl groups, such as carvacrol, linalool, ?-terpineol, bornyl acetate, and terpine-4-ol, strongly bind to D. melanogaster AChE. Linalool, which fits into the binding pocket in the amino acid catalytic triad of AChE (oxyanion hole residues, hydrogen bond interaction with GLU 237, and anionic binding with TRP 83), was identified as the most promising target for further optimization studies. We propose that monoterpenes which interact strongly with amino acid residues of the AChE receptor be targeted for development of effective, naturally produced biocontrol pesticides, as this model demonstrates potential for discovery of new acaricide compounds in a high throughput manne

Accidental Jorge Lobo's disease in a worker dealing with Lacazia loboi infected mice: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Jorge Lobo's disease (Lacaziosis) is a subcutaneous infection of humans living in the Amazon region of Latin America, and in dolphins inhabiting the east coastal areas of the United States. The disease mainly affects people from rural areas living or working in close contact with vegetation and aquatic environments. Most patients refer having developed lesions after accidental trauma with plant thorns or insect bites. Inter-human transmission has never been confirmed suggesting that <it>Lacazia loboi </it>is acquired from environmental propagules.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 41-year-old woman from São Paulo, Brazil, a non-endemic area of Jorge Lobo's disease, with <it>L. loboi </it>skin infection most likely accidentally acquired while manipulating experimentally infected mice in the laboratory.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Because many patients with Jorge Lobo's disease do not recall accidental skin trauma before their infections, the possibility of accidentally acquired Jorge Lobo's disease through unnoticed broken skin should be considered during the clinical investigation of nodular skin diseases in people who have contact with the fungus or who live in endemic areas. This is the second report of animal to human transmission of this disease.</p