Venenos e toxinas ofídicas purificadas como ferramenta biotecnológica para o controle de Ralstonia solanacearum

The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of snake venoms and purified toxins on the phytopathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. The evaluations were performed with 17 crude venoms (13 from Bothrops, 3 from Crotalus, and 1 from Lachesis) and seven toxins (1 from Bothrops and 6 from Crotalus). Antibacterial activity was assessed in MB1 medium containing solubilized treatments (1 μL mL‑1). A total of 100 μL bacterial suspension (8.4 x 109 CFU mL-1) was used. After incubation at 28°C, the number of bacterial colonies at 24, 48, and 72 hours after inoculation was evaluated. SDS-PAGE gel at 15% was used to analyze the protein patterns of the samples, using 5 μg protein of each sample in the assay. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and lethal concentration (LC50) values were determined by the Probit method. Venoms and toxins were able to reduce more than 90% of R. solanacearum growth. These results were either equivalent to those of the positive control chloramphenicol or even better. While MIC values ranged from 4.0 to 271.5 µg mL-1, LC50 ranged from 28.5 µg mL-1 to 4.38 mg mL-1. Ten crude venoms (7 from Bothrops and 3 from Crotalus) and two purified toxins (gyroxin and crotamine) are promising approaches to control the phytopathogenic bacterium R. solanacearum.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana in vitro de venenos e toxinas purificadas de serpentes sobre a bactéria fitopatogênica Ralstonia solanacearum. As avaliações foram realizadas em 17 venenos brutos (13 de Bothrops, 3 de Crotalus e 1 de Lachesis) e sete toxinas (1 de Bothrops e 6 de Crotalus). A atividade antibacteriana foi avaliada em meio MB1 que continha os tratamentos solubilizados (1 μL mL-1). Utilizou-se o total de 100 μL de suspensão bacteriana (8,4 x 109 UFC mL-1). Após incubação a 28°C, avaliou-se o número de colônias bacterianas às 24, 48 e 72 horas após a inoculação. O gel SDS-PAGE a 15% foi usado para analisar o perfil proteico das amostras, tendo-se utilizado 5 μg de proteína no ensaio. Além disso, os valores de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e concentração letal (CL50) foram determinados pelo método Probit. Os venenos e as toxinas foram capazes de reduzir mais de 90% do crescimento de R. solanacearum. Esses resultados foram ou equivalentes aos do controle positivo cloranfenicol ou até melhores. Enquanto os valores de CIM variaram de 4,0 a 271,5 µg mL-1, a CL50 variou de 28,5 µg mL-1 a 4,38 mg mL-1. Dez venenos brutos (7 de Bothrops e 3 de Crotalus) e duas toxinas (giroxina e crotamina) são abordagens promissoras para o controle da bactéria fitopatogênica R. solanacearum

Brazilian consortium for the study on renal diseases associated with COVID-19 : a multicentric effort to understand SARS-CoV-2-related nephropathy

Kidney involvement appears to be frequent in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite this, information concerning renal involvement in COVID-19 is still scarce. Several mechanisms appear to be involved in the complex relationship between the virus and the kidney. Also, different morphological patterns have been described in the kidneys of patients with COVID-19. For some authors, however, this association may be just a coincidence. To investigate this issue, we propose assessing renal morphology associated with COVID-19 at the renal pathology reference center of federal university hospitals in Brazil. Data will come from a consortium involving 17 federal university hospitals belonging to Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERH) network, as well as some state hospitals and an autopsy center. All biopsies will be sent to the referral center for renal pathology of the EBSERH network. The data will include patients who had coronavirus disease, both alive and deceased, with or without pre-existing kidney disease. Kidney biopsies will be analyzed by light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for various inflammatory cells (i.e., cells expressing CD3, CD20, CD4, CD8, CD138, CD68, and CD57) as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) will be performed on paraffinized tissue sections. In addition to ultrastructural assays, in situ hybridization (ISH), IHC and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) will be used to detect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in renal tissue. For the patients diagnosed with Collapsing Glomerulopathy, peripheral blood will be collected for apolipoprotein L-1 (APOL1) genotyping. For patients with thrombotic microangiopathy, thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), antiphospholipid, and complement panel will be performed. The setting of this study is Brazil, which is second behind the United States in highest confirmed cases and deaths. With this complete approach, we hope to help define the spectrum and impact, whether immediate or long-term, of kidney injury caused by SARS-CoV-2

ATLANTIC BIRDS: a data set of bird species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

South America holds 30% of the world's avifauna, with the Atlantic Forest representing one of the richest regions of the Neotropics. Here we have compiled a data set on Brazilian Atlantic Forest bird occurrence (150,423) and abundance samples (N = 832 bird species; 33,119 bird individuals) using multiple methods, including qualitative surveys, mist nets, point counts, and line transects). We used four main sources of data: museum collections, on-line databases, literature sources, and unpublished reports. The data set comprises 4,122 localities and data from 1815 to 2017. Most studies were conducted in the Florestas de Interior (1,510 localities) and Serra do Mar (1,280 localities) biogeographic sub-regions. Considering the three main quantitative methods (mist net, point count, and line transect), we compiled abundance data for 745 species in 576 communities. In the data set, the most frequent species were Basileuterus culicivorus, Cyclaris gujanensis, and Conophaga lineata. There were 71 singletons, such as Lipaugus conditus and Calyptura cristata. We suggest that this small number of records reinforces the critical situation of these taxa in the Atlantic Forest. The information provided in this data set can be used for macroecological studies and to foster conservation strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Data Paper if data are used in publications and teaching events. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ

Territórios da ciência e espaço público: A pertinência dos campos da Biossegurança, da Biosseguridade e da Biovigilância, e as particularidades da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro

O artigo discute a pertinência das ações de Biossegurança, Biosseguridade e Biovigilância, no contexto de risco e vulnerabilidade dos espaços ocupados por instituições de saúde, pesquisa e ensino, situadas na Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, na ocorrência de manifestações populares e ações deliberadas que possam interferir na normalidade de suas funções. Destacam-se os riscos inerentes de manipulação e estocagem de agentes biológicos, químicos e radioativos existentes nas instituições e as fronteiras abertas com o espaço público. A base conceitual afirma a Biossegurança como campo que trabalha a formulação de ações preventivas, controles e/ou eliminação de riscos inerentes às atividades de pesquisa, ensino, serviços e desenvolvimento tecnológico. A Biosseguridade, como medidas que visam impedir a dispersão deliberada de agentes tóxicos e/ou biológicos no ambiente e a Biovigilância, como sistema de informações direcionado para o biomonitoramento

ATLANTIC BIRDS: a data set of bird species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

South America holds 30% of the world's avifauna, with the Atlantic Forest representing one of the richest regions of the Neotropics. Here we have compiled a data set on Brazilian Atlantic Forest bird occurrence (150,423) and abundance samples (N = 832 bird species; 33,119 bird individuals) using multiple methods, including qualitative surveys, mist nets, point counts, and line transects). We used four main sources of data: museum collections, on-line databases, literature sources, and unpublished reports. The data set comprises 4,122 localities and data from 1815 to 2017. Most studies were conducted in the Florestas de Interior (1,510 localities) and Serra do Mar (1,280 localities) biogeographic sub-regions. Considering the three main quantitative methods (mist net, point count, and line transect), we compiled abundance data for 745 species in 576 communities. In the data set, the most frequent species were Basileuterus culicivorus, Cyclaris gujanensis, and Conophaga lineata. There were 71 singletons, such as Lipaugus conditus and Calyptura cristata. We suggest that this small number of records reinforces the critical situation of these taxa in the Atlantic Forest. The information provided in this data set can be used for macroecological studies and to foster conservation strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Data Paper if data are used in publications and teaching events. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ