Evaluation of n-Butyl Cyanoacrylate Adhesive in Rat Subcutaneous Tissue

Background Tissue adhesives have been widely used for wound closure, especially in children, because they are painless, fast, and easy to use and result in minimal scarring.Objective To analyze the biocompatibility of an adhesive based on n-butyl-cyanoacrylate in the subcutaneous tissue of rats.Materials and Methods Two surgical sites were prepared (approximately 3 cm apart): one on the left side of the animal and the other on the right side); polyethylene tubes were implanted in each surgical site. The tube on the left was filled with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate (treated group) and the tube on the right side was unfilled (control group). After 7, 30, and 120 days, the animals were killed, and the specimens were processed for histologic analysis.Results No significant inflammatory reaction occurred in the treated group, showing results similar to the control group.Conclusion This adhesive based on n-butyl-cyanoacrylate is biocompatible in the subcutaneous tissue of rats.

Bacterial cellulose-collagen nanocomposite for bone tissue engineering

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

Biological Response to Wollastonite Doped alpha-Tricalcium Phosphate Implants in Hard and Soft Tissues in Rats

The biological response following subcutaneous and bone implantation of beta-wollastonite(beta-W)-doped alpha-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics in rats was evaluated. Tested materials were: tricalciurn phosphate (TCP), consisting of a mixture of alpha- and beta-polymorphs; TCP doped with 5 wt. % of beta-W (TCP5W), composed of alpha-TCP as only crystalline phase; and TCP doped with 15 wt. % of beta-W (TCP15), containing crystalline alpha-TCP and beta-W. Cylinders of 2x1 mm were implanted in tibiae and backs of adult male Rattus norvegicus, Holtzman rats. After 7, 30 and 120 days, animals were sacrificed and the tissue blocks containing the implants were excised, fixed and processed for histological examination. TCP, TCP5W and TCP15W implants were biocompatible but neither bioactive nor biodegradable in rat subcutaneous tissue. They were not osteoinductive in connective tissue either. However, in rat bone tissue beta-W-doped alpha-TCP implants (TCP5W and TCP15W) were bioactive, biodegradable and osteoconductive. The rates of biodegradation and new bone formation observed for TCP5W and TCP15W implants in rat bone tissue were greater than for non-doped TCP.

O ensino da digestão-nutrição na era das refeições rápidas e do culto ao corpo

Mudanças notáveis nos hábitos alimentares, acompanhadas de práticas fisioculturistas intensas, são a tônica dos dias atuais, com registros de carências nutricionais e de obesidade bastante preocupantes, do ponto de vista da saúde pública, entre crianças, jovens e adultos. Mas o que conhecem as crianças e os adolescentes sobre o processo de digestão-nutrição, os conceitos básicos envolvidos e as condutas alimentares adequadas à boa saúde humana? Como é desenvolvido esse tema nas escolas públicas e particulares de ensino? Tais questionamentos desencadearam um estudo sobre a natureza das práticas desenvolvidas por professores de ciências e biologia e o conhecimento apresentado por alunos de escolas públicas e particulares. Os resultados revelaram inadequação no tratamento metodológico de ensino do processo de digestão e conceitos envolvidos nesse tema, que levam os alunos ao desinteresse e a manterem praticamente inalterados os conhecimentos ordinários que possuem. O processo de digestão e nutrição, bem como suas implicações para a saúde, configuraram-se como fenômenos desvinculados do aluno, à semelhança do que observamos nos livros didáticos por eles utilizados. A dinâmica das inter-relações alimentares entre seres vivos são superficialmente consideradas em ecologia e passam ao largo das adaptações comportamentais, morfológicas e fisiológicas envolvidas. Considerando esses resultados, propõe-se conteúdo baseado em abordagem ecológica, voltado para determinadas atividades experimentais, jogos e interações coevolutivas de seres vivos - aspectos biológicos e sociais, para o despertar de posturas reflexivas e críticas diante das transformações sociais em curso e de nossas necessidades biológicas no que se refere à alimentação e saúde.

Subcellular localization of the coat protein in tobacco cells infected by cucumber mosaic virus isolated from Catharanthus roseus

Electron microscopy and immunolabelling with antiserum specific to cucumber mosaic virus coat protein were used to examine tobacco leaf cells infected by cucumber mosaic virus isolated from Catharanthus roseus (CMV-Cr). Crystalline and amorphous inclusions in the vacuoles were the most obvious cytological modifications seen. Immunogold labelling indicated that the crystalline inclusion was made up of virus particles and amorphous inclusions contained coat protein. Rows of CMV-Cr particles were found between membranes of dictyosomes, but membranous bodies and tonoplast-associated vesicles were not evident. Virus particles and/or free coat protein were easily detected in the cytoplasm by immunolabelling. No gold labelling was found within nuclei, chloroplasts and mitochondria.

Evidence supporting the recognition of Cole latent virus as a distinct carlavirus

Some molecular properties are described of Cole latent virus (CoLV), hitherto designated a tentative species of the Carlavirus genus. CoLV genomic RNA (Ribonucleic acid) of 8.3 Kb is polyadenylated. Two unencapsidated polyadenylated subgenomic RNAs (2.6 and 1.3 Kb) and three double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) (8.3, 2.6 and 1.3 Kbp), which are twice the size of the genomic and subgenomics ssRNAs, are produced in CoLV-infected plants, two additional dsRNAs (7.2 and 6.3 Kbp) were also detected plant extracts. By using a Carlavirus specific primer and a CoLV cDNA, a-3'-terminus fragment of 116 bp was amplified; it had homology with the carlaviruses Potato virus M (62%)., Hop latent virus (37%) and Blueberry scorch virus (36%) but no significant homology with 11 other carlaviruses. These results support the classification of CoLV as a distinct species of the Carlavirus genus.

Limited movement of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in yellow passion flower in Brazil

Symptoms of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on yellow passion flower (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) are characterized by bright yellow mottling on leaves, starting at random points on the vine and diminishing in intensity towards the tip, which becomes symptomless as it grows. To determine whether symptomless portions of vines are CMV-free or represent latent infection, leaves with and without symptoms were collected from infected vines in the field. Biological, serological (plate-trapped antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PTA-ELISA), Western blot and dot-blot hybridization assays showed that portions of the vines without symptoms were CMV-free. Vegetatively propagated vines with symptoms showed remission of symptoms on newly developed leaves. One year later, no CMV was detected in the upper leaves of these plants. Mechanically inoculated passion flower seedlings behaved similarly; symptoms were shown by few leaves after inoculation. Afterwards, plants became symptomless and CMV was not detected in the upper leaves or root system, 40 or 85 days after inoculation. The mechanism responsible for remission of symptoms accompanied by CMV disappearance is not known.

Caracterização da região 3'-terminal do genoma de um isolado brasileiro do Southern bean mosaic virus

O presente trabalho caracteriza a região 3'-terminal do genoma de um isolado do Southern bean mosaic virus encontrado no Estado de São Paulo (SBMV-SP). O RNA foi extraído de partículas virais purificadas e submetido a RT-PCR usando oligonucleotídeos desenhados para amplificar 972 nt da região 3'-terminal do RNA viral. Foi obtido fragmento de tamanho esperado que inclui o gene da proteína capsidial e a região 3'-terminal não codificadora. O gene da proteína capsidial (ORF4) contém 801 nucleotídeos, incluindo-se o códon de terminação UGA, com seqüência deduzida de 266 aminoácidos e massa molecular estimada de 28.800 Da. Sessenta e um aminoácidos terminais da ORF2 estão sobrepostos na ORF4. O sinal de localização nuclear, encontrado dentro do Domínio R na região 5'-terminal da ORF4 de alguns sobemovírus, não foi identificado no SBMV-SP. Esse dado pode explicar a ausência de partículas virais do SBMV-SP no núcleo celular. A seqüência do SBMV-SP apresentou identidade de nucleotídeos e aminoácidos de, respectivamente, 91% e 93% com o isolado Arkansas (SBMV-ARK) descrito nos EUA. Os resultados obtidos indicam que o SBMV-SP e o SBMV-ARK são isolados muito proximamente relacionados.

A degenerate primer allows amplification of part of the 3 '-terminus of three distinct carlavirus species

Sequences of the coat protein amino acids of definitive and tentative species of carlaviruses deposited in GenBank were aligned and a region of seven amino acids (GLGVPTE) was found to be conserved. The corresponding nucleotides were aligned, allowing the design of a degenerate primer that together with an oligo dT anti-sense primer, was effective for the detection of three distinct carlavirus species, two transmitted by aphids and one by whitefly. These primers have the advantage that about 940 nt from the 3'-terminus, comprising part of the CP gene (about 60%), the 11 K gene, and the terminal untranslated region can be amplified for sequencing. The fact that this amino acid sequence is conserved in almost all of the sequenced carlaviruses, allows the prediction that this primer pair will be useful as a diagnostic tool for carlavirus species. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification and characterization of a potyvirus isolated from siratro plants

The present work describes the identification and characterization of a potyvirus isolated from siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.) in the north-west region of the State of Sdo Paulo, Brazil. The virus was transmitted by mechanical inoculation. Its host range was restricted mainly to members of the Fabaceae. A cDNA fragment of about 930 bp was amplified by RT/PCR, cloned and sequenced. The fragment, which included the coat protein gene, had amino acid identity percentages between 88 and 98% with isolates of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the. siratro potyvirus and BCMV isolates in 99% of the replicates, including Azuki mosaic virus, Dendrobium mosaic virus, Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus and Peanut stripe virus, which have been classified as BCMV strains. This is the first citation on the presence of BCMV in siratro plants in Brazil.

Completion of the Nucleotide Sequence of a Brazilian Isolate of Southern bean mosaic virus

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

Detection and partial characterization of a carlavirus causing stem necrosis of soybean in Brazil

No ano agrícola de 2000/2001, ocorreu um surto de nanismo e necrose da haste em soja (Glycine max) plantada em duas áreas do Brasil Central e na safra seguinte, esta anomalia foi constatada em outras regiões produtoras, mesmo distantes mais de 2.000 km de onde fora inicialmente constatada. Estudos envolvendo ensaios de transmissão (enxertia, mecânica e insetos vetores), microscopia eletrônica, purificação, sorologia e ensaios moleculares indicaram que a enfermidade foi causada por um carlavirus transmitido por mosca branca, possivelmente relacionado ao Cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV).

Detecção do Southern bean mosaic virus no Paraná, e separação do Bean rugose mosaic virus em feijoeiro

Em lavouras de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris) da cultivar Carioca Comum, no município de Londrina, Estado do Paraná, foram encontradas plantas com sintomas de necrose da haste, mosaico clorótico leve e porte reduzido, semelhantes aos sintomas causados por infecção viral. Exames de microscopia eletrônica revelaram a presença de partículas isométricas. em testes de imunodifusão dupla em gel de ágar os extratos foliares de plantas infetadas reagiram positivamente com anti-soro específico para o Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV). O vírus foi purificado e a massa molecular de sua proteína capsidial foi estimada em 30 kDa, valor esperado para proteínas do capsídeo de vírus do gênero Sobemovirus. A gama de hospedeiras do SBMV isolado no Paraná foi restrita ao feijoeiro e a algumas cultivares de soja (Glycine max). A separação de dois vírus isométricos comuns em infecções mistas no feijoeiro foi possível através da reação de imunidade ao SBMV apresentada por Crotalaria sp, Chenopodium quinoa e Mucuna deeringiana, e da reação de susceptibilidade dessas mesmas hospedeiras ao Bean rugose mosaic virus (BRMV).

Propriedades moleculares de um isolado brasileiro do Southern bean mosaic virus

Um isolado do Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), gênero Sobemovirus, encontrado em feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris) no Estado de São Paulo, foi purificado e algumas de suas propriedades moleculares determinadas. As partículas virais apresentam diâmetro de 28-30 nm e proteína capsidial com massa molecular estimada em 30 kDa. Das partículas virais foi extraído RNA de vários tamanhos (4,2 Kb, 3,1 Kb, 2,65 Kb, 2,15 Kb, 1,64 Kb, 1,36 Kb e 1,0 Kb) sendo aquele de 4,2 Kb o RNA genômico e o de 1,0 Kb supostamente um subgenômico que codifica para a proteína capsidial. Ácidos ribonucleicos de mesmo tamanho foram também detectados in vivo, indicando estar associados à replicação viral. Na análise do RNA de fita dupla (dsRNA), somente duas espécies foram detectadas (4,2 Kpb e 1,0 Kpb) correspondendo às formas replicativas do RNA genômico e do subgenômico para proteína capsidial. Os resultados indicam que somente estes dois RNA são replicados por meio de formas replicativas (RFs), enquanto os demais devem ser formados talvez por iniciação interna da fita negativa do RNA genômico. O SBMV-B SP apresentou propriedades moleculares análogas àquelas do SBMV descrito na América do Norte.