The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications.

Atributos químicos e físicos de um solo tratado com biossólido industrial e cultivado com milho

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of Removing Seminal Plasma Using a Sperm Filter on the Viability of Refrigerated Stallion Semen

Cooling of equine semen obtained from some stallions results in lower seminal quality and viability when the seminal plasma (SP) is present. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the removal of SP using a Sperm Filter on the viability of cooled stallion semen. For this purpose, 31 stallions were used. Their ejaculates were divided into three groups: CN, semen was diluted with an extender; FLT, SP was removed by filtration; and CT, SP was removed by centrifugation and cooled to 15°C for 24 hours. Sperm kinetics and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated immediately after collection (T0) and after 24 hours of refrigeration (T1). No difference (P > .05) was noted at T1 for total sperm motility (TM), progressive sperm motility, or plasma membrane integrity when semen samples from all the stallions were analyzed. However, when samples from stallions termed bad coolers were analyzed (TM = <30% at T1), a difference was observed in TM and progressive sperm motility for CN compared with FLT and CT at T1. Sperm recovery was greater when SP was removed using the filter (FLT) to that when the SP was removed by centrifugation (CN) (89% vs. 81%). Thus, we concluded that filtering with a Sperm Filter is an efficient and practical method for removal of SP from stallion ejaculates, with lower sperm loss than centrifugation. We also found that the presence of SP reduces the quality and viability of cooled semen from stallions whose semen is sensitive to the process of refrigeration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Grupo interdisciplinar: Construção de unidade educacional sistematizada em aprendizagem baseada em problemas

In 2003 the construction team of the 1st grade of the medical and nursing courses from a medical school began a work aiming at curriculum reconstruction, and restructured cognitive contents and the integration of basic and clinical aspects, in order to adapt to the incentive program for Curriculum Changes (PROMED) which allows for the continuity of curricular innovations. This team worked considering the group dynamics, a method already used in tutorial sessions which teachers have some familiarity with. For a good group performance the team participants were divided into two subgroups: one for constructing educational problems and the other for doing cognitive assessment exercises. The team and the subgroups met weekly, and every 15 days the group met for socialization of information, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the process and/or products. A good adhesion, an active involvement of participants and satisfaction expressed by each participant with their inclusion in the group were reflected in the final product and contributed to the subjects' commitment to the proposal. This way, in the process the individual transformations and relations in a situation requiring the collaboration of professionals were essential in the process of permanent curricular reconstruction.

Paracoccidoides brasiliensis 30 kDa Adhesin: Identification as a 14-3-3 Protein, Cloning and Subcellular Localization in Infection Models

Paracoccidoides brasiliensis adhesion to lung epithelial cells is considered an essential event for the establishment of infection and different proteins participate in this process. One of these proteins is a 30 kDa adhesin, pI 4.9 that was described as a laminin ligand in previous studies, and it was more highly expressed in more virulent P. brasiliensis isolates. This protein may contribute to the virulence of this important fungal pathogen. Using Edman degradation and mass spectrometry analysis, this 30 kDa adhesin was identified as a 14-3-3 protein. These proteins are a conserved group of small acidic proteins involved in a variety of processes in eukaryotic organisms. However, the exact function of these proteins in some processes remains unknown. Thus, the goal of the present study was to characterize the role of this protein during the interaction between the fungus and its host. To achieve this goal, we cloned, expressed the 14-3-3 protein in a heterologous system and determined its subcellular localization in in vitro and in vivo infection models. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed the ubiquitous distribution of this protein in the yeast form of P. brasiliensis, with some concentration in the cytoplasm. Additionally, this 14-3-3 protein was also present in P. brasiliensis cells at the sites of infection in C57BL/6 mice intratracheally infected with P. brasiliensis yeast cells for 72 h (acute infections) and 30 days (chronic infection). An apparent increase in the levels of the 14-3-3 protein in the cell wall of the fungus was also noted during the interaction between P. brasiliensis and A549 cells, suggesting that this protein may be involved in host-parasite interactions, since inhibition assays with the protein and this antibody decreased P. brasiliensis adhesion to A549 epithelial cells. Our data may lead to a better understanding of P. brasiliensis interactions with host tissues and paracoccidioidomycosis pathogenesis. © 2013 Silva et al.

Synthesis, crystal structures, antimicrobial, antifungal and antituberculosis activities of mixed ligand silver(I) complexes

The biological activity of some new mixed silver-phosphane-thio-ligand complexes, with 1:1:2, 1:1:1 and 1:2:1 (Ag:phospine:ligand) compositions, have been examined. Ten compounds were prepared using a series of silver(I) salts [AgX, where X = NO3, ClO4, PF6 and Br], tertiary phosphines and the ligands thi-osemicarbazide, 2-(propan-2-ylidene) hydrazinecarbothioamide, and thiazolidine-2-thione. The syntheses were carried out under ambient conditions, and the ten complexes obtained were found to be light stable. All 10 compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy, whereas nine compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The anti-proliferative activities were evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC: lg/mL) in an aqueous suspension system and they all show promising potential activity against selective strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungous and Mycrobaterium tuberculosis H37Rv. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prática pedagógica do/a professor/a coordenador/a no contexto da política educacional paulista: 1995-2002

Pós-graduação em Educação - FCT

A prática de uma professora bem sucedida: uma leitura comportamental

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cais da Sagração e a sua tradução para o inglês: uma análise de elementos estruturais e culturais da narrativa

Pós-graduação em Letras - IBILCE

Contribuições da perspectiva histórico-cultural para a alfabetização nas séries iniciais do ensino fundamental

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Transdisciplinaridade e plantas medicinais no empoderamento de mulheres em busca de sustentabilidade no sul do Brasil e norte da Espanha: experiências de resgate de conhecimentos

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

A recriação do siglo de oro espanhol em El Capitán Alatriste, de Arturo Pérez-Reverte

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

José Paulo Paes: o poeta da sensibilidade

Pensar que a Poesia escrita para crianças não deve apresentar complexidade temática e textual é considerar a Literatura Infantil, em suas mais variadas tipologias textuais, um discurso não dialógico para o leitor-mirim. Por isso, neste texto, discutiremos o problema da atual formação do leitor de poesia na escola e sua efetiva interação com o texto poético. Esta interação com a estética verbal, pressupõe que o leitor seja aquele capaz de penetrar gradualmente nas camadas profundas do texto, o que nem sempre acontece no ambiente escolar, seja pelo despreparo do professor diante da poesia seja pela pouca ou má divulgação da poesia infantil de qualidade. Palavras-chave: Ensino; poesia infantil; sensibilidade.

Formação de professores: limites contemporâneos e alternativas necessárias

Essa coletânea de textos produzidos por professores e alunos da linha de pesquisa Teorias Pedagógicas, Trabalho Educativo e Sociedade, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Escolar, da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), campus de Araraquara, traz uma contribuição original a um campo no qual muito tem sido publicado nas duas últimas décadas no Brasil, o da formação de professores. A especificidade dessa coletânea reside na abordagem historicizante e crítica tanto das diretrizes oficiais para a formação de professores como das teorias pedagógicas e respectivas propostas metodológicas nesse terreno. São nove textos, que vão desde um balanço crítico do legado deixado pelo século XX no que se refere à formação de professores até questões específicas relacionadas ao trabalho do professor, passando pela questão do debate contemporâneo sobre as teorias pedagógicas.