Geographic variation in a South American clade of mormoopid bats, Pteronotus (Phyllodia), with description of a new species

The subgenus Phyllodia (genus Pteronotus) comprises 9 species ranging from the western coast of Mexico to central Brazil, including Greater and Lesser Antilles. Two of them, Pteronotus rubiginosus and Pteronotus sp. 1, form an endemic South American clade within Phyllodia and are reported in sympatry for several localities in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. We herein performed a comprehensive investigation to fully characterize the cranial variation and genetic intraspecific structuring within this clade. We also integrated genetic, morphological, and acoustic evidence to formally describe the species previously reported as Pteronotus sp. 1. Specimens of P. rubiginosus occurring in sympatry with the new species have a more distinctive cranial phenotype than those from allopatric areas, suggesting character displacement as a potential force promoting divergence by decreasing resource competition or reproductive interactions between them. Although the 2 species are sympatric in several localities, the divergence in their echolocation calls also may be promoting resource partitioning at the microhabitat level, with P. rubiginosus foraging in less cluttered areas and the new species restricted to more cluttered areas. © 2018 American Society of Mammalogists, www.mammalogy.org

EJA no acampamento Elizabeth Teixeira: a construção coletiva de um calendário como instrumento de divulgação da vida e luta de trabalhadores(as) rurais

Este trabalho refere-se aos círculos de cultura e alfabetização desenvolvidos no acampamento Elizabeth Teixeira durante o ano de 2011. Relata experiências desse projeto de extensão universitária e aborda noções úteis para a educação de adultos. As atividades realizadas resultaram na confecção de um calendário que conta a história e a construção desse acampamento sem-terra através de um percurso fotográfico pelo cotidiano da moradia e do plantio e de textos produzidos nos círculos da EJA, dando a conhecer um pouco da vivência destes trabalhadores. A EJA no acampamento em questão é parte de uma jornada que se reiniciou em março de 2011 pelo coletivo de estudantes Universidade Popular, da Unicamp, depois de ter sido vivenciada entre os anos de 2008 e 2009. O Universidade Popular nasceu no ano de 2007, e, em meio à greve e indignação com a gestão e ensino universitários, adotou como princípio de trabalho a educação popular. Desde então, o grupo tem realizado atividades junto a assentamentos e cooperativas. O acampamento Elizabeth Teixeira está situado no município de Limeira desde 2007, mas até os dias atuais a área ainda não foi regularizada, o que impede as famílias acampadas de acessar os créditos pelo INCRA. Nesse contexto, o calendário produzido é uma tentativa de fazer reconhecer a legitimidade da luta de ocupações e a necessidade da regularização da terra em que vivem essas famílias

Unprecedented in Vitro Antitubercular Activitiy of Manganese(II) Complexes Containing 1,10- Phenanthroline and Dicarboxylate Ligands: Increased Activity, Superior Selectivity, and Lower Toxicity in Comparison to Their Copper(II) Analogs

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis. The demand for new chemotherapeutics with unique mechanisms of action to treat (multi)resistant strains is an urgent need. The objective of this work was to test the effect of manganese(II) and copper(II) phenanthroline/dicarboxylate complexes against M. tuberculosis. The water-soluble Mn(II) complexes, [Mn2(oda)(phen)4(H2O)2][Mn2(oda)(phen)4(oda)2]·4H2O (1) and ([Mn(3,6,9-tdda)(phen)2]·3H2O·EtOH)n (3) (odaH2 = octanedioic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, tddaH2 = 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioic acid), and water-insoluble complexes, [Mn(ph)(phen)(H2O)2] (5), [Mn(ph)(phen)2(H2O)]·4H2O (6), [Mn2(isoph)2(phen)3]·4H2O (7), ([Mn(phen)2(H2O)2])2(isoph)2(phen)·12H2O (8) and [Mn(tereph)(phen)2]·5H2O (9) (phH2 = phthalic acid, isophH2 = isophthalic acid, terephH2 = terephthalic acid), robustly inhibited the viability of M. tuberculosis strains, H37Rv and CDC1551. The water-soluble Cu(II) analog of (1), [Cu2(oda)(phen)4](ClO4)2·2.76H2O·EtOH (2), was significantly less effective against both strains. Whilst (3) retarded H37Rv growth much better than its soluble Cu(II) equivalent, ([Cu(3,6,9-tdda)(phen)2]·3H2O·EtOH)n (4), both were equally efficient against CDC1551. VERO and A549 mammalian cells were highly tolerant to the Mn(II) complexes, culminating in high selectivity index (SI) values. Significantly, in vivo studies using Galleria mellonella larvae indicated that the metal complexes were minimally toxic to the larvae. The Mn(II) complexes presented low MICs and high SI values (up to 1347), indicating their auspicious potential as novel antitubercular lead agents. © 2018 McCarron, McCann, Devereux, Kavanagh, Skerry, Karakousis, Aor, Mello, Santos, Campos and Pavan

Cuidando a quienes cuidan, experiencias del servicio de contención virtual en tiempos de pandemia COVID19

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo describir las características del dispositivo creado para la contención y el acompañamiento de profesionales de la salud en tiempos de pandemia por el Coronavirus Covid-19, promoviendo la salud y el bienestar emocional. Se detalla la conformación del equipo de trabajo y la implementación de la atención remota como así también los datos estadísticos obtenidos. Luego de las medidas implementadas por el Gobierno de la Nación, en marco de emergencia sanitaria mundial por el Coronavirus (COVID-19), el 26 de Marzo de 2020 se pone en marcha el servicio. El equipo de trabajo brinda orientación, acompañamiento y contención psicológica a los efectores/efectoras de la Salud que trabajan en diversas instituciones públicas y privadas de nuestra provincia y a docentes y no docentes que se desempeñan en dependencias de la UNC. Desde la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, el Ministerio de Salud, la Secretaría de Salud Mental de la Provincia de Córdoba y la Municipalidad de Córdoba, se gestiona este este servicio surge como un dispositivo de intervención virtual para el cuidado de quienes cuidan la salud de la población y los que brindan transferencia de conocimiento a alumnos de la UNC.publishedVersionFil: López, Nahuel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Chávez, Lorena Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Salvetti, Marcela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Ré, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Scorza, Diana Rita. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba. Secretaría de Salud Mental; Argentina.Fil: Irueste, Paula. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Serena, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Figueroa, Maximiliano Rubén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Pavan, María Avila. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Alvo, Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Moreno Andueza, Mayra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Neme Villarroel, Yanina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Colombo, Judith J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Cabanillas, José Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Moreno Frías, Ana Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Espeche, Ana Beatriz. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba. Secretaría de Salud Mental; Argentina.Fil: Estrada, Ezequiel Matías. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Zandivarez, Paola Fátima. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Wortley, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Servicio Cuidando a Quienes Cuidan: Servicio de Contención Virtual para Efectores/as de la Salud, Docentes y No docentes; Argentina.Fil: Waigel, Vanina Alejandra. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba. Secretaría de Salud Mental; Argentina.Fil: Simonini, Claudia. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba. Secretaría de Salud Mental; Argentina.Fil: Tumas, Paula. Municipalidad de Córdoba. Secretaría de Salud; Argentina

New insights into the evolution of the Trypanosoma cruzi clade provided by a new trypanosome species tightly linked to Neotropical Pteronotus bats and related to an Australian lineage of trypanosomes

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Bat trypanosomes are implicated in the evolution of the T. cruzi clade, which harbours most African, European and American trypanosomes from bats and other trypanosomes from African, Australian and American terrestrial mammals, including T. cruzi and T. rangeli, the agents of the American human trypanosomiasis. The diversity of bat trypanosomes globally is still poorly understood, and the common ancestor, geographical origin, and evolution of species within the T. cruzi clade remain largely unresolved.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Trypanosome sequences were obtained from cultured parasites and from museum archived liver/blood samples of bats captured from Guatemala (Central America) to the Brazilian Atlantic Coast. Phylogenies were inferred using Small Subunit (SSU) rRNA, glycosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH), and Spliced Leader (SL) RNA genes.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Here, we described Trypanosoma wauwau n. sp. from Pteronotus bats (Mormoopidae) placed in the T. cruzi clade, then supporting the bat-seeding hypothesis whereby the common ancestor of this clade likely was a bat trypanosome. T. wauwau was sister to the clade T. spp-Neobats from phyllostomid bats forming an assemblage of trypanosome species exclusively of Noctilionoidea Neotropical bats, which was sister to an Australian clade of trypanosomes from indigenous marsupials and rodents, which possibly evolved from a bat trypanosome. T. wauwau was found in 26.5 % of the Pteronotus bats examined, and phylogeographical analysis evidenced the wide geographical range of this species. To date, this species was not detected in other bats, including those that were sympatric or shared shelters with Pteronotus. T. wauwau did not develop within mammalian cells, and was not infective to Balb/c mice or to triatomine vectors of T. cruzi and T. rangeli.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud Trypanosoma wauwau n. sp. was linked to Pteronotus bats. The positioning of the clade T. wauwau/T.spp-Neobats as the most basal Neotropical bat trypanosomes and closely related to an Australian lineage of trypanosomes provides additional evidence that the T. cruzi clade trypanosomes likely evolved from bats, and were dispersed in bats within and between continents from ancient to unexpectedly recent times.This work was supported by grants from the Brazilian agencies CNPq (PROSUL,\ud PRAFRICA and PROTAX), CAPES (PNIPB and PNPD) and FAPESP. The analysis of\ud bats from Central America, Suriname and Guyana was supported by grant\ud ‘Investissements d’Avenir’ from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Canada\ud (ANR-10-LABX-25-01). Archived samples from Brazilian Pteronotus were donated\ud to ACP by VC Tavares, A Césari, PA Rocha, FM Martins, MOG Lopes, CS Bernabé,\ud TG Oliveira, E Gonçalves and M Marcos. We are grateful to many student from\ud USP and researches of other universities for the inestimable help in the\ud fieldworks. We also thanks JA Rosa for the generous contribution with\ud triatomines from the insectary of UNESP-Araraquara, and CE Jared and MM\ud Antoniazzi for the access to electron microscopic facilities of the Institute\ud Butantan, Brazil. Luciana Lima is postdoctoral fellow sponsored by FAPESP, and\ud Oneida Espinosa-Álvarez is recipient of a PhD fellowship from CNPq (PROTAX)

A Nanostructured Lipid System to Improve the Oral Bioavailability of Ruthenium(II) Complexes for the Treatment of Infections Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that mainly affects the lungs. Fortunately, tuberculosis is a curable disease, and in recent years, death rates for this disease have decreased. However, the existence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the occurrence of co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), have led to increased mortality in recent years. Another area of concern is that one-third of the world′s population is currently infected with M. tuberculosis in its latent state, serving as a potential reservoir for active TB. In an effort to address the failure of current TB drugs, greater attention is being given to the importance of bioinorganic chemistry as an ally in new research into the development of anti-TB drugs. Ruthenium (Ru) is a chemical element that can mimic iron (Fe) in the body. In previous studies involving the following heteroleptic Ru complexes, [Ru(pic)(dppb)(bipy)]PF6 (SCAR1), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(Me-bipy)]PF6 (SCAR2), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(phen)]PF6 (SCAR4), cis-[Ru(pic)(dppe)2]PF6 (SCAR5), and [Ru(pic)(dppe)(phen)]PF6 (SCAR7), we observed excellent anti-TB activity, moderate cell-toxicity, and a lack of oral bioavailability in an in vivo model of these complexes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and oral bioavailability of these complexes by loading them into a nanostructured lipid system. The nanostructured lipid system was generated using different ratios of surfactant (soybean phosphatidylcholine, Eumulgin®, and sodium oleate), aqueous phase (phosphate buffer with a concentration of 1X and pH 7.4), and oil (cholesterol) to generate a system for the incorporation of Ru(II) compounds. The anti-TB activity of the compounds was determined using a microdilution assay with Resazurin (REMA) against strains of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and clinical isolates resistant. Cytotoxicity assay using J774.A1 cells (ATCC TIB-67) and intra-macrophage activity were performed. The oral bioavailability assay was used to analyze blood collected from female BALB/C mice. Plasma collected from the same mice was analyzed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify the number of Ru ions. The complexes loaded into the nanostructured lipid system maintained in vitro activity and toxicity was found to be reduced compared with the compounds that were not loaded. The complexes showed intra-macrophagic activity and were orally bioavailable

Comparative phylogeography in the Atlantic forest and Brazilian savannas: pleistocene fluctuations and dispersal shape spatial patterns in two bumblebees

Background: Bombus morio and B. pauloensis are sympatric widespread bumblebee species that occupy two major Brazilian biomes, the Atlantic forest and the savannas of the Cerrado. Differences in dispersion capacity, which is greater in B. morio, likely influence their phylogeographic patterns. This study asks which processes best explain the patterns of genetic variation observed in B. morio and B. pauloensis, shedding light on the phenomena that shaped the range of local populations and the spatial distribution of intra-specific lineages. Results: Results suggest that Pleistocene climatic oscillations directly influenced the population structure of both species. Correlative species distribution models predict that the warmer conditions of the Last Interglacial contributed to population contraction, while demographic expansion happened during the Last Glacial Maximum. These results are consistent with physiological data suggesting that bumblebees are well adapted to colder conditions. Intra-specific mitochondrial genealogies are not congruent between the two species, which may be explained by their documented differences in dispersal ability. Conclusions: While populations of the high-dispersal B. morio are morphologically and genetically homogeneous across the species range, B. pauloensis encompasses multiple (three) mitochondrial lineages, and show clear genetic, geographic, and morphological differences. Because the lineages of B. pauloensis are currently exposed to distinct climatic conditions (and elevations), parapatric diversification may occur within this taxon. The eastern portion of the state of São Paulo, the most urbanized area in Brazil, represents the center of genetic diversity for B. pauloensis