Investigação do papel modulador do Haloperidol sobre os níveis de proteínas relacionadas à plasticidade e preferência por objetos novos em camudongos

Dopamine (DA) is known to regulate both sleep and memory formations, while sleep plays a critical role in the consolidation of different types of memories. We believe that pharmacological manipulation of dopaminergic pathways might disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, leading to mnemonic deficits, which can be observed in both behavioral and molecular levels. Therefore, here we investigated how systemic injections of haloperidol (0.3 mg/kg), immediately after training in dark and light periods, affects learning assessed in the novel object preference test (NOPT) in mice. We also investigated the hippocampal levels of the plasticity-related proteins Zif-268, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases II (CaMKII-P) in non-exposed (naïve), vehicle-injected controls and haloperidol-treated mice at 3, 6 and 12 hours after training in the light period. Haloperidol administration during the light period led to a subsequent impairment in the NOPT. In contrast, preference was not observed during the dark period neither in mice injected with haloperidol, nor in vehicle-injected animals. A partial increase of CaMKII-P in the hippocampal field CA3 of vehicle-injected mice was detected at 3h. Haloperidol-treated mice showed a significant decrease in the dentate gyrus of CaMKII-P levels at 3, 6 and 12h; of Zif-268 levels at 6h, and of BDNF levels at 12h after training. Since the mnemonic effects of haloperidol were only observed in the light period when animals tend to sleep, we suggest that these effects are related to REM sleep disruption after haloperidol injection

Avaliação do retinol em parturientes com diabetes mellitus gestacional no pós parto imediato

Micronutrient deficiencies affect individuals mainly in developing countries, where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem worldwide more worrying, especially in groups with increased physiological needs such as children and women of reproductive age. Vitamin A is supplied to the body through diet and has an important role in the visual process, cell differentiation, maintenance of epithelial tissue, reproductive and resistance to infection. The literature has demonstrated the relationship between vitamin A and diabetes, including gestational, leading to a risk to both mother and child. Gestational diabetes is any decrease in glucose tolerance of variable magnitude diagnosed each the first time during pregnancy, and may or may not persist after delivery. Insulin resistance during pregnancy is associated with placental hormones, as well as excess fat. Studies have shown that retinol transport protein produced in adipose tissue in high concentrations, this would be associated with resistance by interfering with insulin signaling. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the concentration of retinol in serum and colostrum from healthy and diabetic mothers in the immediate postpartum period. One hundred and nine parturient women were recruited, representing seventy-three healthy and thirty-six diabetic. Retinol was extracted and subsequently analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Among the results highlights the mothers with gestational diabetes were older than mothers healthy, had more children and a higher prevalence of cases of cesarean section. Fetal macrosomia was present in 1.4% of healthy parturient women and in 22.2% of diabetic mothers. The maternal serum retinol showed an average of 39.7 ± 12.5 mg/dL for healthy parturients 35.12 ± 15 mg/dL for diabetic and showed no statistical difference. It was observed that in the group of diabetic had 17% vitamin A deficiency, whereas in the healthy group, only 4% of the women were deficentes. Colostrum, the concentration of retinol in healthy was 131.3 ± 56.2 mg/dL and 125.3 ± 41.9 mg/dL in diabetic did not differ statistically. This concentration of retinol found in colostrum provides approximately 656.5 mg/day for infants born to healthy mothers and 626.5 mg/day for infants of diabetic mothers, based on a daily consumption of 500 mL of breast milk and need Vitamin A 400 mg/day, thus reaching the requirement of the infant. The diabetic mothers showed significant risk factors and complications related to gestational diabetes. Although no 11 difference was found in serum retinol concentration and colostrum among women with and without gestational diabetes, the individual analysis shows that parturients women with diabetes are 4.9 times more likely to develop vitamin A deficiency than healthy parturients. However, the supply of vitamin A to the newborn was not committed in the presence of gestational diabetes

Avaliação da suplementação com vitamina E, na forma natural ou sintética, em mulheres no pós-parto imediato e sua concentração no colostro

The Vitamin E consists of eight chemically homologous forms, designated alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols and tocotrienols. Biologically, the alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH) is the most important. Commercially, are found two types of α-TOH a natural (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) and another synthetic (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol). Both forms are absorbed in the intestine, the liver is a preference in favor of forms 2R, due to transfer protein α-TOH. It has higher affinity to these stereoisomers. Newborns are considered high risk for vitamin E deficiency, mainly premature, these have breast milk as a food source for maintenance of serum α-TOH. Clinical signs such as thrombocytosis, hemolytic anemia, retrolental fibroplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and spinocerebellar degeneration can be found in case of a low intake of α-TOH. Thus, maternal supplementation on postpartum with α-TOH can be an efficient way to increase levels of vitamin E in breast milk and thus the consequently increase the supply of micronutrient for the newborn. However, most studies with vitamin E supplementation have been conducted in animals and little is known about the effect of maternal supplementation in humans, as well as on its efficiency to increase levels of α-TOH in human milk, depending on the shape natural or synthetic. The study included 109 women, divided into three groups: control without supplementation (GC) (n=36), supplemented with natural capsule (GNAT) (n=40) and the synthetic capsule (GSINT) (n=33). Blood samples were collected for determination of maternal nutritional status, and colostrums at initial contact and after 24 hours post-supplementation. Analyses were performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Values of α-TOH in serum below 499.6mg/dL were considered deficient. We used the Kruskal-Wallis test and Tukey test to confirm the increase of alpha-tocopherol in milk and efficiency of administered capsules. Daily consumption of α-TOH was based on daily intake of 500 mL of colostrum by the newborn and compared with the nutritional requirement for children from 0 to 6 months of age, 4 mg / day. The mothers had mean concentration of serum α-TOH in 1016 ± 52, 1236 ± 51 and 1083 ± 61 mg / dL, in CG, GNAT and GSINT respectively. There were no women with deficiiency. The GC did not change the concentrations of α-TOH in colostrum. While women supplemented with natural and synthetic forms increased concentrations of α-TOH colostrum in 57.6% and 39%, respectively. By comparing supplemented groups, it was observed a significant difference (p=0.04), the natural capsule more efficient than the synthetic, approximately 49.6%. Individually, 21.1% of the women provided below 4mg/day of α-TOH, after supplementation for this index declined4.1%. Thus, maternal supplementation postpartum raised the levels of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum, and increased efficiency was observed with the natural form

Avaliação das atividades antioxidantes e citotóxicas de extratos ricos em polissacarídeos extraídos das hastes de mandacaru (Cereus Jamacaru de Candolle, Cactaceae)

The use of medicinal plants to cure and treat various diseases is a common practice in the world and in Brazil. In several regions of the Brazil´s Northeast, the cactus Cereus jamacaru, known as mandacaru, is used popularly as a treatment to many diseases, including those related to heart respiratory diseases, gastric ulcers, scurvy, and kidney diseases. However, there is a scarcity in the scientific literature that proves scientifically the popular application of this cactus. Like other plants, Cereus jamacaru synthesizes several potentially bioactive molecules, like as polysaccharides. In this work, three polysaccharides-rich aqueous extracts, MCA80, MPM and MCP60, were obtained from this plant and analyzed chemically, as well as their cytotoxic and antioxidant potential. The data showed that all extracts consist mainly of polysaccharides (89.42 to 95.76%), but also protein (> 2%) and phenolic (3 to 8.87%) contaminants were detected. All extracts are rich in galactose, glucose and mannose. In addition, glucuronic acid was found in MCA80 and MCP60. The extracts showed total antioxidant capacity ranged from 55.21 to 68.13 of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE). Besides, they exhibited reducer power and cupric chelation in a dose-dependent manner. None of the extracts inhibited the MTT reduction in the presence of prostate tumor cells (PC-3). However, MCP60 was the most effective extract by preventing the reduction of MTT by about 80% in the presence of cells 786. Nuclear fragmentation tests showed that this extract induces cell death. The data indicated that mandacaru synthesizes bioactive polysaccharides with potential as antioxidant and antitumor agents. For future studies, it is intended to purify and characterize these polysaccharides and its antioxidant and antitumor mechanisms

Atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória de uma fração rica em heterogalactana sulfatada extraída da alga codium isthmocladum (vickers 1905)

Sulfated polysaccharides comprise a complex group of macromolecules with a range of several biological activities, including antiviral activity, anticoagulant, antiproliferative, antiherpética, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These anionic polymers are widely distributed in tissues of vertebrates, invertebrates and algae. Seaweeds are the most abundant sources of sulfated polysaccharides in nature. The green algal sulfated polysaccharides are homo or heteropolysaccharides comprised of galactose, glucose, arabinose and/or glucuronic acid. They are described as anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-angiogenic, antitumor compounds. However, there are few studies about elucidation and evaluation of biological/pharmacological effects of sulfated polysaccharides obtained from green algae, for example, there is only one paper reporting the antinociceptive activity of sulfated polysaccharides of these algae. Therefore this study aimed to obtain sulfated polysaccharides of green seaweed Codium isthmocladum and evaluates them as potential antinociceptive agents. Thus, in this study, the total extract of polysaccharides of green alga C. isthmocladum was obtained by proteolytic digestion, followed by fractionation resulting in five fractions (F0.3, F0.5, F0.7, F0.9 and F1.2) by sequential precipitation with acetone. Using the test of abdominal contractions we observed that the fraction F0.9 was the most potent antinociceptive aompound. F0.9 consists mainly of a sulfated heterogalactana. More specific tests showed that Fo.9 effect is dose and time dependent, reaching a maximum at 90 after administration (10 mg / kg of animal). F0.9 is associated with TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors and inhibits painful sensation in animals. Furthermore, F0.9 inhibits the migration of lymphocytes induced peritonitis test. On the other hand, stimulates the release of NO and TNF-α. These results suggest that F0.9 has the potential to be used as a source of sulfated galactan antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory

Purificação e caracterização parcial de duas n-acetil-B-hexosaminidases do equinoderma marinho echinometra lucunter

Two b-N-acetylhexosaminidases (F11 e F15) were purified from Echinometra lucunter gonads extracts. The purified enzymes were obtained using ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by gel filtration chromatographies (Sephacryl S-200, Sephadex G-75 and Sephacryl S-200). The F11 fraction was purified 192.47 -fold with a 28.5% yield, and F15 fraction 85.41 -fold with a 32.3% yield. The molecular weights of the fractions were 116 kDa for F11 and 42 kDa for F15 using SDS-PAGE. In Sephacryl S-200, F15 was 84 kDa, indicating that it is a dimeric protein. When p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glycosaminide was used as substrate, we determined an apparent Km of 0.257 mM and Vmax of 0.704 for F11 and for F15 the Km was 0.235 mM and Vmax of 0.9 mM of product liberated by hour. Both enzymes have optimum pH and temperature respectively at 5.0 and 45 °C. The enzymes showed inhibition by silver nitrate, while the glucuronic acid was a potent activator. The high inhibition of F15 by N-etylmaleimide indicates that sulphydril groups are involved in the catalysis of synthetic substrate

Efetividade da doxiciclina na profilaxia contra letptospirose

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis of considerable medical and economical importance that affects humans in both urban and rural contexts, as well as domestic animals and wild fauna. Leptospira interrogans is the causative agent and is transmitted to humans by indirect contact with contaminated soil or water. The clinical syndromes include sub clinical infection, self-limited anicteric febrile illness, and severe and potentially fatal illness, known as Weil´s syndrome. In developed countries, leptospirosis is related to occupational or recreational activities while in developing countries, outbreaks occur during floods. In those regions, traditional strategies to prevent the transmission are difficulties to be implemented because of costs and lack of community acceptance. In addition, no efficient vaccine is available for human use. Several studies have suggested that chemoprophylaxis with doxycycline pre and post-exposure may be effective to prevent leptospirosis. Leptospirosis has been reported in rural areas of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil since 1985 in rice farmers who present the anicteric illness. The disease cause great social and economics impact. The study was conducted in São Miguel where an epidemic of leptospirosis in rice farmers was reported. The main objective was to determine the efficacy of doxycycline in preventing Leptospira exposure. A taxa de soroprevalência de leptospirose na população estudada antes e após a colheita foi de 14,2% (n=22) e de 16.6% (n=27) respectivamente. Anti-Leptospira serology was determined for 61 subjects in two instances, pre and post-exposure to potential contaminated water. There was an increased risk of 29.0 per cent in acquiring infection for individuals that did not use doxycycline. In addition, an increased risk of 30.0 % observed in farmers who did not use protection when exposed to Leptospira. The adhesion to preventive chemoprophylaxis was 55.7%. Therefore doxycycline, under specific circunstances appears to be an effective alternative to protect against leptosprirosis infection. A large sample composed of individuals to adhere to preventive therapy is needed to define time, dosage and length of use of doxycycline in this area

Estudo comparativo de carragenanas comerciais Kappa, Iota e Lambda no processo inflamatório em ratos :edema intraplantar e pleurisia

The Iota, Kappa and Lambda commercial carrageenans are rarely pure and normally contain varying amounts of the other types of carrageenans. The exact amount of impurity depends on the seaweed source and extraction procedure. Then, different analysis methods have been applied for determination of the main constituents of carrageenans because these three carrageenans are extensively used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. The electrophoresis of these compounds proved that the carrageenans are constituted by sulfated polysaccharides. These compounds were characterized by colorimetric methods and was observed that the Lambda carrageenan shown the greater value (33.38%) of sulfate. These polymers were examined by means of 13C NMR spectroscopy and infrared spectra. The polysaccharides consisted mainly of units alternating of sulfated galactoses and anhydrogalactoses. The aim of the study was also to test the inflammatory action of these different polysaccharides. A suitable model of inflammation is acute sterile inflammation of the rat hind limb induced by carrageenan. Paw edema was induced by injecting carrageenans (κ, ι and λ) in saline into the hind paw of a male Wistar rats (175–200 g). The pathway to acute inflammation by carrageenan (kappa, iota and lambda) were expressed as time-edema dependence and measured by paw edema volume. For this purpose, was used an apparatus (pakymeter), which makes it possible to measure the inflammation (swelling of the rat foot) with sufficient accuracy. The results showed that κ-carrageenan (1%) have an edema of 3.7 mm and the paw edema increase was time and dose dependent; the ι-carrageenan (0.2%) caused an edema of 4 mm and the λ-carrageenan (1%) caused an edema of 3.6 mm. Other model was used in this study based in the inflammation of pleura for comparatives studies. Injection of carrageenans into the pleural cavity of rat induced an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, a large number of neutrophils and raised NO production. The levels of NO were measured by Griess reactive. The ι-carrageenan caused the greater inflammation, because it has high concentration of nitrite/nitrate (63.478 nmoles/rat), exudato volume (1.52 ml) and PMNs (4902 x 103 cells). Quantitative evaluation of inflammations of rats is a useful and important parameter for the evaluation of the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs

Efeito do Fucoidam de Fucus vesiculosus em um modelo experimental de artrite reumatóide

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is systemic auto imune disorder. It is caracterized by chronic inflammation of joints leading to progressive erosion of cartilage and bone. We investigated the effect of the administration of fucoidan, sulfated polysaccharides, from algae Fucus vesiculosus in the acute (6h) in zymosan-induced arthritis (AZy). Wistar rats (180-230 g) were used for all groups experimental. Non-treated animals received just intraarticular injection of 1 mg the zymosan, control group received intraarticular injection of 50 µL the saline, groups received either fucoidan of Fucus vesiculosus (15, 30, 50 or 70 mg/Kg) or parecoxib (1 mg/Kg) 1 hour after injection of zymosan. After 6 h, the articular exudates were collected for evaluation of the cell influx and nitrite (Griess reaction) release. The sinovial membranes and articular cartilages were excised for histopathological analysis and by determination of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG), respectively. ZyA led to increased NO and cell influx into the joints. Therapeutic administration of the fucoidan or parecoxib did significantly inhibited the cell influx and the synovitis, as compared to non-treated rats (p<0,05), though being able to reduced NO release. Representative agarose gel electrophoresis of the GAGs, the content of condroitin-sulphate was observed during the process. These findings suggest that the fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus has potential anti-inflammatory activity

Vicilina de sementes da leguminosa selvagem Anadenanthera macrocarpa (AmV): purificação, caracterização, efeito deletério e mecanismo de ação para bruquídeo callosobruchus maculatus

Grains and legume seeds are foods that form the basis of the diets of many cultures around the world, winch contritbute to the daily nutrient requirements of humans. Vicilins (7S globulin) are storage proteins found in legume seeds, and may have an additional function constitutive defense of the embryo against pests and pathogens. In this work the vicilin from Anadenanthera macrocarpa - AmV (red-angico), was purified and partially characterized, its effect on development and larval survival and adult emergence of Callosobruchus maculatus was evaluated by determination of LD50, WD50 and ED50 in system bioassay. Purification of vicilin was initiated by the chitin affinity chromatography and then gel filtration (Superdex 75 Tricorn 10x300 mm) FPLC system followed by reverse phase chromatography (C8 phenomenex) on HPLC system. Bioassays WD50 and LD50 for larvae were 0.32% and 0.33% (w:w) respectively, since the ED50 for adults was 0.096%. The probable mechanism of action was evaluated by testing digestibility of AmV in vitro, and observed for the involvement of two fragments vicilins immunoreactive against polyclonal Anti-vicilin from Erythrina velutina (Anti-EvV) about of 22 and 13 kDa chitin binding. The AmV in its native form has been recognized by the anti-EvV, indicating that there is a conserved region in the vicilin and is probably corresponding to the chitin binding domains. These results point to a new vicilin chitin binding that can subsequently be used as a possible biopesticide protein source, in order to control insect pest C. maculatus and confirm literature findings that demonstrate vicilin in the presence of different kinds of ligands to conserved regions chitin not yet characterized

Identificação de genes MUTM em BACs da cana-de-açucar e caracterização preliminar destes genes e seus promotores

Sugarcane has an importance in Brazil due to sugar and biofuel production. Considering this aspect, there is basic research being done in order to understand its physiology to improve production. The aim of this research is the Base Excision Repair pathway, in special the enzyme MUTM DNA-glycosylase (formamidopyrimidine) which recognizes oxidized guanine in DNA. The sugarcane scMUTM genes were analyzed using four BACs (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome) from a sugarcane genomic library from R570 cultivar. The resulted showed the presence in the region that had homology to scMUTM the presence of transposable elements. Comparing the similarity, it was observed a highest similarity to Sorghum bicolor sequence, both nucleotide and peptide sequences. Furthermore, promoter regions from MUTM genes in some grass showed different cis-regulatory elements, among which, most were related to oxidative stress, suggesting a gene regulation by oxidative stress

Análise filogenética e funcional de dois genes de reparo homólogos a AP endonuclease em cana-de-açúcar: ScARP1 e ScARP3

The genome of all organisms constantly suffers the influence of mutagenic factors from endogenous and/or exogenous origin, which may result in damage for the genome. In order to keep the genome integrity there are different DNA repair pathway to detect and correct these lesions. In relation to the plants as being sessile organisms, they are exposed to this damage frequently. The Base Excision DNA Repair (BER) is responsible to detect and repair oxidative lesions. Previous work in sugarcane identified two sequences that were homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana: ScARP1 ScARP3. These two sequences were homologous to AP endonuclease from BER pathway. Then, the aim of this work was to characterize these two sequence using different approaches: phylogenetic analysis, in silico protein organelle localization and by Nicotiana tabacum transgenic plants with overexpression cassette. The in silico data obtained showed a duplication of this sequence in sugarcane and Poaceae probably by a WGD event. Furthermore, in silico analysis showed a new localization in nuclei for ScARP1 protein. The data obtained with transgenic plants showed a change in development and morphology. Transgenic plants had slow development when compared to plants not transformed. Then, these results allowed us to understand better the potential role of this sequence in sugarcane and in plants in general. More work is important to be done in order to confirm the protein localization and protein characterization for ScARP1 and ScARP3

Caracterização estrutural e avaliação das atividades farmacológicas da fucana B extraída da alga Dictyota menstrualis

Seaweeds are a major source of biologically active compounds . In the extracellular matrix of these organisms are sulfated polysaccharides that functions as structural components preventing it against dehydration. The fraction 0.9 (FucB) rich in sulfated fucans obtained from brown seaweed Dictyota menstrualis was chemical characterized and evaluated for pharmacological activity by testing anticoagulant activity, stimulatory action on the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate, antioxidant activity and its effects in cell proliferation. The main components were FucB carbohydrates (49.80 ± 0.10 %) and sulfate (42.30 ± 0.015 %), with phenolic compounds ( 3.86 ± 0.016 %) and low protein contamination ( 0.58 ± 0.001 % ) . FucB showed polydisperse profile and analysis of signals in the infrared at 1262, 1074 and 930 cm -1 and 840 assigned to S = O bonds sulfate esters , CO bond presence of 3,6- anhydrogalactose , β -D- galactose non- sulfated sulfate and the axial position of fucose C4 , respectively. FucB exhibited moderate anticoagulant activity , the polysaccharides prolonged time (aPTT ) 200 ug ( > 90s ) partial thromboplastin FucB no effect on prothrombin time (PT), which corresponds to the extrinsic pathway of coagulation was observed. This stimulation promoted fraction of about 3.6 times the synthesis of heparan sulfate (HS) by endothelial cells of the rabbit aorta ( RAEC ) in culture compared with cells not treated with FucB . This has also been shown to compete for the binding site with heparin. The rich fraction sulfated fucans exhibited strong antioxidant activity assays on total antioxidant (109.7 and 89.5 % compared with BHT and ascorbic acid standards ) , reducing power ( 71 % compared to ascorbic acid ) and ferric chelation ( 71 , comparing with 5 % ascorbic acid). The fraction of algae showed cytostatic activity on the RAEC cells revealed that the increase of the synthesis of heparan sulfate is not related to proliferation. FucB showed antiproliferative action on cell lines modified as Hela and Hep G2 by MTT assay . These results suggest that FucB Dictyota menstrualis have anticoagulant , antithrombotic , antioxidant potential as well as a possible antitumor action, promoting the stimulation of the synthesis of antithrombotic HS by endothelial cells and is useful in the prevention of thrombosis, also due to its inhibitory action on species reactive oxygen ( ROS ) in some in vitro systems , being involved in promoting a hypercoagulable state

Extração, caracterização estrutural e atividades farmacológicas do olginato obtido da alga marrom Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Oliveira Filho, 1977

The alginic acid or alginates are acidic polysaccharides found in brown seaweed widely used in food, cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical industry. This paper proposes the extraction, chemical characterization and verification of the pharmacological activities of brown seaweed variegata Lobophora . The alginate was extracted from the seaweed Lobophora variegata and part was sulphated for comparative purposes. The native extract showed 42% total sugar, 65% uronic acid, 0,36 % protein and 0% of sulfate, while the sulfate showed 39% , 60%, 0.36% and 27,92 % respectively. The presence of a sulfate group may be observed by the metachromasia with toluidine blue in electrophoresis system and characteristic vibration 1262,34 cm-1 in infrared spectroscopy connections assigned to S = O. We observed the formation of films and beads of native alginate, where more concentrated solution 6% resulted in a thicker and more consistent film. Native alginate showed proliferative activity at concentrations (25 and 50 mcg), (50 mg) and (100 mg) in 3T3 cell line in 24h, 48h and 72h, respectively , as the sulfated (100 mg) in 24 . Also showed antiproliferative or cytotoxic activity in HeLa cells of strain, (25 and 100 mg), (25 and 100 mg) and (25, 50 and 100 mg), to native, now for the sulfate concentrations (100 mg) in 24 (25, 50 and 100 mg) in 48 hours, and (50 and 100 mg ) 72h. For their antioxidant activity, the sulfated alginates have better total antioxidant activity reaching 29 % of the native activity while 7.5 % of activity . For the hydroxyl radical AS showed high inhibition ( between 77-83 % ) in concentrations, but the AN surpassed these numbers in the order of 78-92 % inhibition. The reducing power of AN and AS ranged between 39-82 % . In the method of ferric chelation NA reached 100 % chelating while the AS remained at a plateau oscillating 6.5%. However, in this study , we found alginates with promising pharmacological activities, to use in various industries as an antioxidant / anti-tumor compound

Estudo do genoma do vírus causador da mionecrose infecciosa em camarões e desenvolvimento de métodos para detecção de diferentes variantes

Shrimp farming is one of the activities that contribute most to the growth of global aquaculture. However, this business has undergone significant economic losses due to the onset of viral diseases such as Infectious Myonecrosis (IMN). The IMN is already widespread throughout Northeastern Brazil and affects other countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and China. The main symptom of disease is myonecrosis, which consists of necrosis of striated muscles of the abdomen and cephalothorax of shrimp. The IMN is caused by infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), a non-enveloped virus which has protrusions along its capsid. The viral genome consists of a single molecule of double-stranded RNA and has two Open Reading Frames (ORFs). The ORF1 encodes the major capsid protein (MCP) and a potential RNA binding protein (RBP). ORF2 encodes a probable RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and classifies IMNV in Totiviridae family. Thus, the objective of this research was study the IMNV complete genome and encoded proteins in order to develop a system differentiate virus isolates based on polymorphisms presence. The phylogenetic relationship among some totivirus was investigated and showed a new group to IMNV within Totiviridae family. Two new genomes were sequenced, analyzed and compared to two other genomes already deposited in GenBank. The new genomes were more similar to each other than those already described. Conserved and variable regions of the genome were identified through similarity graphs and alignments using the four IMNV sequences. This analyze allowed mapping of polymorphic sites and revealed that the most variable region of the genome is in the first half of ORF1, which coincides with the regions that possibly encode the viral protrusion, while the most stable regions of the genome were found in conserved domains of proteins that interact with RNA. Moreover, secondary structures were predicted for all proteins using various softwares and protein structural models were calculated using threading and ab initio modeling approaches. From these analyses was possible to observe that the IMNV proteins have motifs and shapes similar to proteins of other totiviruses and new possible protein functions have been proposed. The genome and proteins study was essential for development of a PCR-based detection system able to discriminate the four IMNV isolates based on the presence of polymorphic sites