Controle das micobacterioses suínas no sul do Brasil: identificação e correção dos fatores de risco.

bitstream/CNPSA/15615/1/cot249.pd

Extraction and purification of phycobiliproteins from algae and their applications

Microalgae, macroalgae and cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms, prokaryotic or eukaryotic, living in saline or freshwater environments. These have been recognized as valuable carbon sources, able to be used for food, feed, chemicals, and biopharmaceuticals. From the range of valuable compounds produced by these cells, some of the most interesting are the pigments, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phycobiliproteins. Phycobiliproteins are photosynthetic light-harvesting and water-soluble proteins. In this work, the downstream processes being applied to recover fluorescent proteins from marine and freshwater biomass are reviewed. The various types of biomasses, namely macroalgae, microalgae, and cyanobacteria, are highlighted and the solvents and techniques applied in the extraction and purification of the fluorescent proteins, as well as their main applications while being fluorescent/luminescent are discussed. In the end, a critical perspective on how the phycobiliproteins business may benefit from the development of cost-effective downstream processes and their integration with the final application demands, namely regarding their stability, will be provided.publishe

Mudanças no diagnóstico pré-natal cromossómico: indicações clínicas, amostras biológicas, metodologias e cromossomopatias

Introdução: As mudanças no diagnóstico pré-natal de anomalias cromossómicas (DPN) nos últimos 10-15 anos foram contínuas e significativas. Objetivos: Propômo-nos analisar essa evolução: mudanças nas indicações clínicas; introdução das biópsias de vilosidades coriónicas (BVC); utilização do diagnóstico rápido de aneuploidias (DRA); estudos por microarray; alterações cromossómicas encontradas. Metodologia: Fez-se a avaliação retrospetiva nas gestações com amostras estudadas nos triénios 2004-2006 e 2014-2016. Analisaram-se os parâmetros indicação clínica, tipo de amostra, metodologias utilizadas e resultados. Resultados: Identificaram-se 68 fetos com cariotipo anormal em 2210 cariotipos (3,1%) em 2004-2006 e 208 fetos com cariotipo anormal em 2315 cariotipos (9,0%) em 2014-2016. A maior frequência de anomalias encontrou-se nos casos de rastreios ecográficos e combinados indicativos de risco acrescido de anomalia numérica e de progenitores portadores de alterações cromossómicas. As BVC permitiram respostas precoces nas gestações com anomalias numéricas e, adicionalmente, um aumento desses cariotipos (7.5% das amostras). O DRA permitiu ter uma resposta rápida nas anomalias numéricas mais frequentes (2 dias). As anomalias estruturais foram menos preponderantes nos cariotipos anormais (32,4% em 2004-2006 e 14.4% em 2014-2016). Discussão e conclusões: O DRA reduziu o tempo de resposta e das decisões sobre o futuro das gestações. O microarray permitiu identificar alterações sindromáticas em situações não resolúveis por outras metodologias. A utilização de BVC permite estabelecer uma melhor correlação fenotipo-genotipo em menores idades gestacionais. No entanto, as gestações com anomalias numéricas têm algum risco de perda fetal no primeiro e início do segundo trimestres. Assim, algumas BVC com cariotipos anormais resultariam em perdas espontâneas, o que poderia disponibilizar outros casos para DPN. Por outro lado, o menor número de anomalias estruturais equilibradas encontrado pode reduzir o conhecimento da variação genética nas famílias e na população. Um novo paradigma resulta da implementação dos testes não invasivos no DPN, para os quais ainda não conhecemos todas as limitações e repercussões.N/

Parasitological assessment in hybrids Serrasalmidae fish farmed in Brazil.

Abstract: This study evaluated the parasitic fauna of hybrids tambacu (Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus mesopotamicus) and patinga (P. mesopotamicus × Piaractus brachypomus) and their host-parasite-environment interaction during the warm and cold seasons in two fish farms located in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, South America. A total of 120 fish, being 60 fish for species (30 in the warm season and 30 in the cold season) were examined. Water quality was measured weekly to evaluate the interaction between environmental conditions and parasitism. Fifteen species of parasites were found: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Chilodonella hexasticha e Trichodina sp. (Protozoa), Henneguya piaractus, Myxobolus colossomatis and Myxobolus cuneus (Myxozoa); Anacanthorus penilabiatus, Mymarothecium boegeri, Mymarothecium viatorum, and Notozothecium janauachensis (Monogenoidea), Goezia spinulosa and Goezia sp. (Nematoda), Echinorhynchus jucundus (Acanthocephala), and Dolops carvalhoi, Lernaea cyprinacea (Crustacea). The ciliate protozoan I. multifiliis and monogenoids were the most prevalent parasites in the cold and warm seasons for both hybrids in the different culture systems intensive production and sportive fishing. It was observed that the serrasalmid hybrids are more susceptible to parasites and harbor high diversity of parasites in relation to the parental species C. macropomum, P. mesopotamicus and P. brachypomus, with a predominance of ectoparasites. -- Resumo: Este estudo avaliou a fauna parasitária de híbridos tambacu (Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus mesopotamicus) e patinga (P. mesopotamicus × Piaractus brachypomus) e a interação hospedeiro-parasito-ambiente durante as estações quente e fria em duas pisciculturas localizadas no estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, América do Sul. Foram examinados um total de 120 peixes, sendo 60 peixes por espécie. A qualidade da água foi mensurada semanalmente para avaliar a interação entre condições ambientais e parasitismo. Foram encontradas quinze espécies de parasitos: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Chilodonella hexasticha e Trichodina sp. (Protozoa); Henneguya piaractus, Myxobolus colossomatis e Myxobolus cuneus (Myxozoa), Anacanthorus penilabiatus, Mymarothecium boegeri, Mymarothecium viatorum e Notozothecium janauachensis (Monogenoidea), Goezia spinulosa e Goezia sp. (Nematoda), Echinorhynchus jucundus (Acanthocephala), Dolops carvalhoi eLernaea cyprinacea (Crustacea). O protozoário ciliado I. multifiliis e helmintos monogenoides foram os parasitos mais prevalentes nas estações fria e quente para ambos os híbridos nos diferentes sistemas de cultivo, produção intensiva comercial e pesca esportiva. Observou-se que os híbridos de serrasalmídeos são mais suscetíveis aos parasitos e abrigam alta diversidade parasitária em relação às espécies parentais, C. macropomum, P. mesopotamicus e P. brachypomus em ambiente de cultivo com predominância de ectoparasitos

Uncovering the Use of Fucoxanthin and Phycobiliproteins into Solid Matrices to Increase Their Emission Quantum Yield and Photostability

In the search for a better and brighter future, the use of natural luminescent renewable materials as substitutes for synthetic ones in the energy field is of prime importance. The incorporation of natural pigments (e.g., xanthophylls and phycobiliproteins) is a fundamental step in a broad spectrum of applications that are presently marred by their limited stability. The incorporation of bio-based luminescent molecules into solid matrices allows the fabrication of thin films, which may dramatically increase the range of applications, including sustainable photovoltaic systems, such as luminescent solar concentrators or downshifting layers. In this work, we incorporated R-phycoerythrin (R-PE), C-phycocyanin (C-PC), and fucoxanthin (FX) into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and studied their optical properties. It was found that the emission and excitation spectra of the phycobiliproteins and FX were not modified by incorporation into the PVA matrix. Moreover, in the case of FX, the emission quantum yield (η) values also remained unaltered after incorporation, showing the suitability of the PVA as a host matrix. A preliminary photostability study was performed by exposing the solid samples to continuous AM1.5G solar radiation, which evidenced the potential of these materials for future photovoltaics.publishe

Interstitial deletion on chromosome 14q in prenatal diagnosis

A limited number of prenatal diagnosis (PND) cases have reported interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 14 involving the 14q31-32 region. Those cases presented cardiac anomalies, urogenital anomalies, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and mild pyelectasis. We report the PND of a 33-year-old pregnant woman, who underwent chorionic villus sampling at 12 weeks of gestation after a positive combined 1st trimester screen. The karyotype revealed a 14q interstitial deletion. Amniocentesis was performed at 18 weeks of gestation to confirm the deletion and to exclude a confined placental mosaicism and a microarray analysis was performed in order to accurately define the deletion breakpoints. Cytogenetics analysis revealed a karyotype 46,XY,del(14)(q31q32.2)dn. Microarray analysis allowed to redefined the breakpoints accurate localization and the identification of a ~21Mb deletion (arr[hg19] 14q31.1q32.31(79917376_101568230)x1). At 18 weeks of gestation the fetus presented abnormal fetal biometric parameters (occipitofrontal diameter, cephalic perimeter and abdominal circumference) on ultrasound. After counseling the couple opted for pregnancy termination. The postmorten analysis presented decreased biometry, low weight and low fetal size, facial dysmorphism, clinodactyly, club foot, overlapping fingers and short penis. In internal habitus he presented thymus hypoplasia, bladder hypoplasia, and horseshoe kidneys. The genotype-phenotype correlation in PND pure del(14q) cases is not well established. Furthermore, to our knowledge, del(14q) had not been reported so early in the gestation yet. In this case the positive 1st trimester screen was related to the inverted ductus venosus and low PAPP-A value. The urogenital anomalies (as horseshoe kidneys) and biometry anomalies are described in the literature. However, to our knowledge, some features of the present case were not seen in other reported cases, for instance clinodactyly, club foot, overlapping fingers, thymus hypoplasia and bladder hypoplasia. Other reports described cardiac and cerebral anomalies, diaphragmatic hernia, and also UPD(14)like phenotypes, which are possibly liked to the 14q32 imprinted region. The establishment of a phenotype-genotype correlation is difficult given the size of the deletion, which includes a large number of genes in distinct regions. Nevertheless, this work contributes to a better identification of additional features associated to del(14q) that can be present in PND.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bio-based solar energy harvesting for onsite mobile optical temperature sensing in Smart Cities

The Internet of Things (IoT) fosters the development of smart city systems for sustainable living and increases comfort for people. One of the current challenges for sustainable buildings is the optimization of energy management. Temperature monitoring in buildings is of prime importance, as heating account for a great part of the total energy consumption. Here, a solar optical temperature sensor is presented with a thermal sensitivity of up to 1.23% °C-1 based on sustainable aqueous solutions of enhanced green fluorescent protein and C-phycocyanin from biological feedstocks. These photonic sensors are presented under the configuration of luminescent solar concentrators widely proposed as a solution to integrate energy-generating devices in buildings, as windows or façades. The developed mobile sensor is inserted in IoT context through the development of a self-powered system able to measure, record, and send data to a user-friendly website.publishe

Actionable perturbations of damage responses by TCL1/ATM and epigenetic lesions form the basis of T-PLL

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare and poor-prognostic mature T-cell malignancy. Here we integrated large-scale profiling data of alterations in gene expression, allelic copy number (CN), and nucleotide sequences in 111 well-characterized patients. Besides prominent signatures of T-cell activation and prevalent clonal variants, we also identify novel hot-spots for CN variability, fusion molecules, alternative transcripts, and progression-associated dynamics. The overall lesional spectrum of T-PLL is mainly annotated to axes of DNA damage responses, T-cell receptor/cytokine signaling, and histone modulation. We formulate a multi-dimensional model of T-PLL pathogenesis centered around a unique combination of TCL1 overexpression with damaging ATM aberrations as initiating core lesions. The effects imposed by TCL1 cooperate with compromised ATM toward a leukemogenic phenotype of impaired DNA damage processing. Dysfunctional ATM appears inefficient in alleviating elevated redox burdens and telomere attrition and in evoking a p53-dependent apoptotic response to genotoxic insults. As non-genotoxic strategies, synergistic combinations of p53 reactivators and deacetylase inhibitors reinstate such cell death execution.Peer reviewe