Phytochemistry Letters

p.168–170From the methanolic extract of the leaves of Peltophorum dubium Taub (Leguminosae) was isolated after successive chromatographic procedures a new C-glucoside benzoic acid derivative, 3aC-glucopyranosil-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-benzoic acid. The structure of this compound was determined by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data analysis. The new compound showed moderate antioxidant activity in the assay and the auto-oxidation of b-carotene in a linolenic acid suspension method

Detecção de anticorpos anti-Rickettsia spp. em cães e equinos no estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

This study evaluated the infection caused by Rickettsia spp. among dogs and horses from Mato Grosso State. A total of 384 dogs and 460 horses were tested by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) for Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommii, Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia bellii Overall, 3.12% (12/384) of the dogs were seroreactive for at least one Rickettsia species. A total of 7 (1.82%) canine sera showed titers to R. bellii at least 4-fold higher than those to any of the other rickettsial antigens, allowing us to consider that these dogs were infected by R. bellii. In horses, 273 (59.34 %) samples were positives for at least one antigen tested, and highest anti-Rickettsia spp. endpoint titers were observed for R. amblyommii, suggesting homologous reactions to this agent or a very closely related organism. The results showed that dogs are under low exposition to ticks infected with spotted fever group Rickettsia, indicating low risk of human infection by these agents. However, R. amblyommii is widely distributed in the State.Este estudo avaliou a infecção causada por Rickettsia spp. em cães e equinos no Estado de Mato Grosso . Um total de 384 cães e 460 equinos foi testado pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) para Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommii, Rickettsia rhipicephali e Rickettsia bellii. No total, 3,12 % (12/384) dos cães foram soros reagentes para pelo menos uma espécie de Rickettsia. Um total de sete (1,82 %) soros caninos apresentaram títulos para R. bellii, pelo menos 4 vezes maior do para qualquer um dos outros antígenos de riquétsia, permitindo considerar que estes cães foram infectados por R. bellii. Nos equinos, 273 (59,34 %) foram positivos para pelo menos um antígeno testado, e os maiores títulos finais anti-Rickettsia spp. foram observados para R. amblyommii, sugerindo reações homólogas a este agente ou um organismo intimamente relacionado. Os resultados mostraram que os cães estão sob baixa exposição a carrapatos infectados com riquétsias do grupo da febre maculosa, indicando baixo risco de infecção humana por esses agentes. No entanto, R. amblyommii está amplamente distribuída no Estado

Unravelling the genome of the brackish water malaria vector Anopheles aquasalis

Abstract Malaria is a severe public health problem in several developing tropical and subtropical countries. Anopheles aquasalis is the primary coastal malaria vector in Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands, and it has the peculiar feature of living in water with large changes in salinity. Recent research has recognised An. aquasalis as an important model for studying the interactions of murine and human Plasmodium parasites. This study presents the complete genome of An. aquasalis and offers insights into its evolution and physiology. The genome is similar in size and gene content to other Neotropical anophelines, with 162 Mb and 12,446 protein-coding genes. There are 1387 single-copy orthologs at the Diptera level (eg. An. gambiae, An. darlingi and Drosophila melanogaster). An. aquasalis diverged from An. darlingi, the primary malaria vector in inland South America, nearly 20 million years ago. Proteins related to ion transport and metabolism belong to the most abundant gene families with 660 genes. We identified gene families relevant to osmosis control (e.g., aquaporins, vacuolar-ATPases, Na+/K+-ATPases, and carbonic anhydrases). Evolutionary analysis suggests that all osmotic regulation genes are under strong purifying selection. We also observed low copy number variation in insecticide resistance and immunity-related genes for all known classical pathways. The data provided by this study offers candidate genes for further studies of parasite-vector interactions and for studies on how anophelines of brackish water deal with the high fluctuation in water salinity. We also established data and insights supporting An. aquasalis as an emerging Neotropical malaria vector model for genetic and molecular studies

A test of color-based taxonomy in nudibranchs: Molecular phylogeny and species delimitation of the Felimida clenchi (Mollusca: Chromodorididae) species complex

Traditionally, species identification in nudibranch gastropods relies heavily on body color pattern. The Felimida clenchi species complex, a group of brightly colored Atlantic and Mediterranean species in the family Chromodorididae, has a history of exceptional controversy and discussion among taxonomists. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that the complex includes four species (Felimida clenchi, F. neona, F. binza and F. britoi), each with a characteristic body color pattern. In this study, we investigated the taxonomic value of coloration in the Felimida clenchi complex, using molecular phylogenetics, speciesdelimitation analyses (ABGD, GMYC, PTP), haplotype-network methods, and the anatomy of the reproductive system. None of our analyses recovered the traditional separation into four species. Our results indicated the existence of three species, a result inconsistent with previous taxonomic hypotheses. We distinguished an undescribed species of Felimida and redefined the concepts of F. clenchi and F. binza, both highly polychromatic species. For the first time, molecular data support the existence of extreme color polymorphism in chromatic nudibranch species, with direct implications for the taxonomy of the group and its diversity. The polychromatism observed in the F. clenchi complex apparently correlates with the regional occurrence of similar color patterns in congeneric species, suggesting different mimicry circles. This may represent a parallel in the marine environment to the mechanisms that play a major role in the diversification of color in terrestrial and fresh-water chromatic groups, such as heliconian butterflies.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/[CGL2010-17187]//EspañaUniversity of Costa Rica/[810-B1-136]/UCR/Costa RicaCentro de Investigaciones en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología/[] CIMAR/Costa RicaPAPIME-UNAM/[PE207210]//MéxicoPrograma de Biodiversidad Marina de Yucatán/[]/ BDMY/México/[SCHR667/13]/DFG/GermanyMinisterio de Ambiente y Energía/[]/SINAC-MINAET/Costa RicaConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/[108285]/CONACyT-SEMARNAT/México/[]/CEI-MAR journal publication/EspañaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR