Screening for pectinolytic activity of wood-rotting basidiomycetes and characterization of the enzymes

Seventy-five fungal strains from different groups of basidiomycetes, newly isolated from rotten wood, were screened for pectinolytic activity. Despite the fact that basidiomycetes are scarcely referred to as pectinase producers, the polygalacturonase (PG) activity was detected in 76 % of the strains; 16 % with activity higher than 40 nkat/g, 40 % between 13.3 and 40 nkat/g, and 44 % with activity lower than 13.3 nkat/g. The highest productions were obtained among the fungi from order Aphyllophorales, family Polyporaceae. The characterization of the enzymes from the highest PG producers (Lentinus sp., Gloeophyllum striatum, Pycnoporus sanguineus, Schizophyllum commune) showed optimum temperature for catalytic activity at 60-70°C and two peaks of pH optimum (3.5-4.5 and 8.5-9.5). The enzymes exhibited high pH stability (3.0-11.0) but after incubation at 40°C for 1 h their activity dropped by 18-73 %.

Flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) de área de cerrado no Município de Corumbataí, Centro-leste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

Distribution and ecology knowledge of sandfly species is essential for epidemiology vigilance and risk determination for transmission of leishmaniasis. Sandfly trapping was carried out in a cerrado strictu sensu vegetation fragment in a rural area of Corumbataí Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil, during July to November 2004. Two CDC light traps were used from 18h to 8h, once a month, resulting in 112 total hours of capture. During this period, 60 sandfly specimens of ten different species were sampled. The most abundant species and the one found in all captures was Pintomyia monticola totalizing 15 (25.0%) specimens, the second more abundant one was P. pessoai with 14 (23.3%) and the third one was Brumptomyia guimaraesi with 12 (20.0%) individuals collected. Other captured species were Psathyromyia aragaoi, B. avellari, B. brumpti, B. cunhai, P. bianchigalatiae, Evandromyia termitophila and Nyssomyia whitmani which corresponded to 19 (31.2%) specimens captured. Pintomyia pessoai and N. whitmani presence indicates transmission risk of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the area.

Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) on plants of the central region of the Brazilian cerrado

Four surveys of Phytoseiidae species associated with native plants were conducted in ten fragments of Cerrado sensu stricto to determine the species associated with the plants of this region. Twelve of the most common plant species were sampled in each fragment. Twenty six phytoseiid species were recorded during the surveys. Stryphnodendron adstringens was the host plant that had the highest number of species (eight species). Amblyseius neochiapensis Lofego, Moraes and McMurtry 2000 and Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon) 1967 were the most common phytoseiid species. These species occurred on 24 and 20 host species, respectively. Approximately 76 % of the phytoseiids found belonged to the subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma, 1961. Almost 27 % of phytoseiid species recorded were associated with only one plant species. In addition, approximately two thirds of species found in this study also occur in the Atlantic Forest. The comparison of our results from the central areas with previous surveys in peripheral areas of the Cerrado showed that only 12 phytoseiid species were common to both areas.

Richness and similarity of the Cerrado vascular flora in the central west region of São Paulo state, Brazil

This study aims to characterize and compare three Cerrado areas (one cerradão and two cerrado sensu stricto areas) in Patrânia, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, concerning the floristic composition. In total, 250 taxa were found belonging to four species of pteridophytes, one species of an exotic gymnosperm and 243 species of angiosperms. Differences in species number and proportion of the woody and herbaceous components were observed among the three Cerrado areas. The similarity analysis revealed that the cerradão seems quite peculiar, showing low similarity level with the cerrado sensu stricto areas contiguous to it, being more similar to other cerradão areas located in nearby municipalities. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Chemical properties and decay resistance of eucalyptus grandis wood from steamed logs

The objective of this study was evaluate the effect of the log steaming on the chemical properties and decay resistance of Eucalyptus grandis wood. Logs with diameter between 20 and 22 cm were studied. Half of logs were kept in its on original condition, and the other half was steamed at 90°C for 13 hours. The holocellulosc, Klason lignin, total extractives content and the weight loss caused by the decay fungus Pycnoporus sanguineous were characterized. The results showed that the log steaming of E. grandis wood cause: (l)a significantly decreased in holocellulose content; (2) an increase of 4.8% and 4.4% in total extractives and lignin content, respectively; and (3) a decrease in its durability against the decay fungus P. sanguineus in order of 13.03%. Copyright © (2012) by WCTE 2012 Committee.

Analysis of the risk factors related to the immune humoral anti-Anaplasma marginale in dairy cattle

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent pathogen of cattle transmitted by ticks in the world. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for anaplasmosis in dairy cattle. Fifty dairy cattle from the herd of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria do Estado do Rio de Janeiro were selected by proportional stratified sampling. The risk factors evaluated were: physiological state, race pattern, number of lactations, milk production, infestation by Rhipicephalus microplus and animal density. Antibody activity against A. marginale was determined using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentual values of seroprevalence for A. marginale were submitted to X2 test, and the level of minimum significance, to keep a factor in the model of logistic regression, was fixated in 5%. It was observed that pregnancy and lactation influenced significantly (p<0.05) in the seropositivity of the animals. Bos indicus animals had 5.21 times more chances of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous female had 88% more chances of being seropositive than pluriparous female. Animals with high milk production were 63% more positive than low production animals. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. Bos indicus animals presented 5.21 times more chance of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous females presented 88% more chance of being seropositive than the pluriparous ones. High milk production animals were 63% more positive than the low production ones. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. High density grazing provided for the animals 3.2 times more chances of being seropositive than low density ones. The herd was classified as erratic to A. marginale, even being placed in a steady enzootic area.

Yeast proteins originated from the production of brazilian bioethanol quantification and content

The purpose of this work was to determine the levels of protein and the amino acid distribution in the cell mass of yeast strains (Saccharomyces sensu stricto) originated from Brazilian bioethanol industries. The protein was analyzed with the Kjeldahl method and the amino acids, by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The percentages of the protein found ranged from 39 to 49%. The results show that in spite of some variation in numbers between the different yeast strains, all of them presented an amino acid profile similar to the one in the literature for S. cerevisae. The amino acids that have occurred in the largest amounts were: aspartic, glutamic acids and lysine, and those in the lowest amounts were: cysteine and methionine. Although the characteristics of the feedstock used and the process conditions are determinant of the protein values obtained in dry mass, this work elucidates that the intrinsic properties of the yeast strain influence these values.

Resistance of beef cattle of two genetic groups to ectoparasites and gastrointestinal nematodes in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

The resistance to infestations by ectoparasites and infections by gastrointestinal nematodes was studied in 45 animals (males and females) of two genetic groups: purebred Nelore (NI, n=28) and Three-Cross (1/2 Angus+1/4 Canchim+1/4 Nelore - TC, n=17). The animals were monitored for 24months, during which they were left to graze in tropical pastures without receiving treatment for parasites. Each month the animals were examined for infestations by external parasites, to count the numbers of cattle ticks Rhipicephalus microplus with diameter greater than 4.5mm present on the left side, horn flies (Haematobia irritans) present in the lumbar region and botfly larvae (Dermatobia hominis) present on the entire body. The H. irritans counts were performed with the aid of digital photographs. At the time of examination, fecal samples were collected to count the eggs per gram (EPG) and to perform coprocultures, and peripheral blood samples were drawn to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) and to count the eosinophils. For statistical analysis, the count data were transformed into log10 (n+1), where n is the number of parasites. For PCV, significant effects (P<0.05) were found for collection month (CO), genetic group (GG) and gender (SX), with means and respective standard errors of 41.5±0.65% for the NI animals, 39.3±0.83% for the TC, 41.5±0.72% for the females and 39.3±0.77% for the males. Regarding the eosinophil counts, only the effect of sex was significant (P<0.01), with means and respective standard errors of 926.0±46.2/μL, for males and 1088.0±43.8/μL of blood, for females. The NI animals presented lower mean counts for all the external parasites compared to the TC animals (P<0.01). For ticks, the transformed means followed by standard errors for the NI and TC animals were 0.06±0.01 and 0.34±0.02, while for horn flies these were 0.92±0.05 and 1.36±0.06 and for botfly larvae they were 0.05±0.03 and 0.45±0.05, respectively. The average EPG values were only influenced by CO (P<0.01). The coprocultures revealed the presence of the following endoparasites: Haemonchus spp., Cooperia spp., Oesophagostomum spp. and Trichostrongylus spp., the last in smaller proportion. There were no significant differences between the genetic groups for the endoparasite loads, except for Cooperia spp., which were present in greater number (P<0.05) in the NI group. The results obtained in this experiment confirm previous findings of greater susceptibility of the Nelore breed to Cooperia spp. and high resistance to ectoparasites. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

A dramaturgia do trabalho no teatro paulistano contemporâneo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise filogenética e revisão taxonômica as espécies de Moenkhausia Eigenmann, 1903 do grupo M. Lepidura (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ácaros associados a plantas da região Core do Cerrado e sua influência na acarofauna em cultivos de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merril) (Fabaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Biologia, arquitetura de ninhos e coleta de substratos no cerrado por formigas cultivadoras de fungo, Trachymyrmex holmgreni Wheeler, 1925 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Attini)

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

A espermiogênese e a ultraestrutura dos espermatozóides de representantes de alguns gêneros incertae sedis em characidae, anteriormente alocados em tetragonopterinae(Teleostei: Characiformes) com ênfase em Moenkhausia, e suas aplicações filogenéticas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Determinação de ácido abscísico e respostas metabólicas em espécies congenéricas de savana e mata do cerrado paulista

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Fenologia e sucesso reprodutivo de Attalea geraensis e Syagrus petraea (Arecaceae) na borda e interior de um fragmento de cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC