Orpotrin: A novel vasoconstrictor peptide from the venom of the Brazilian Stingray Potamotrygon gr. orbignyi

Characterization of the peptide content of venoms has a number of potential benefits for basic research, clinical diagnosis, development of new therapeutic agents, and production of antiserum. In order to analyze in detail the peptides and small proteins of crude samples, techniques such as chromatography and mass spectrometry have been employed. The present study describes the isolation, biochemical characterization, and sequence determination of a novel peptide, named Orpotrin from the venom of Potamotrygon gr. orbignyi. The natural peptide was shown to be effective in microcirculatory environment causing a strong vasoconstriction. The peptide was fully sequenced by de novo amino acid sequencing with mass spectrometry and identified as the novel peptide. Its amino acid sequence, HGGYKPTDK, aligns only with creatine kinase residues 97-105, but has no similarity to any bioactive peptide. Therefore, possible production of this peptide from creatine kinase by limited proteolysis is discussed. Taken together, the results indicate the usefulness of this single-step approach for low molecular mass compounds in complex samples such as venoms. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Desenvolvimento de sistemas de screening utilizando procedimentos em fluxo para monitoramento de sulfonamidas em urina e produtos de origem animal

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desenvolvimento de métodos para determinação de sulfonamidas, dipirona e citrato de sildenafil em matrizes diversas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo SABE: Sintomas depressivos em idosos do município de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Metabolômica, uma abordagem otimizada para exploração da biodiversidade brasileira: estado da arte, perspectivas e desafios

Brazilian biodiversity is a colossal source of secondary metabolites with remarkable structural features, which are valuable in further biodiscovery studies. In order to fully understand the relations and interactions of a living system with its surroundings, efforts in natural product chemistry are directed toward the challenge of detecting and identifying all the molecular components present in complex samples. It is plausible that this endeavor was born out of recent technological sophistication in secondary metabolite identification with sensitive spectroscopic instruments (MS and NMR) and higher resolving power of chromatographic systems, which allow a decrease in the amount of required sample and time to acquire data. Nevertheless, the escalation of data acquired in these analyses must be sorted with statistical and multi-way tools in order to select key information. Chromatography is also of paramount importance, more so when selected compounds need to be isolated for further investigation. However, in the course of pursuing a greener environment, new policies, with an aim to decrease the use of energy and solvents, are being developed and incorporated into analytical methods. Metabolomics could be an effective tool to answer questions on how living organisms in our huge biodiversity work and interact with their surroundings while also being strategic to the development of high value bio-derived products, such as phytotherapeutics and nutraceuticals. The incorporation of proper phytotherapeutics in the so-called Brazilian Unified Health System is considered an important factor for the urgent improvement and expansion of the Brazilian national health system. Furthermore, this approach could have a positive impact on the international interest toward scientific research developed in Brazil as well as the development of high value bio-derived products, which appear as an interesting economic opportunity in national and global markets. Thus, this study attempts to highlight the recent advances in analytical tools used in detection of secondary metabolites, which can be useful as bioproducts. It also emphasizes the potential avenues to be explored in Brazilian biodiversity, known for its rich chemical diversity.

A trade off between separation, detection and sustainability in liquid chromatographic fingerprinting

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

Desenvolvimento de método por cromatografia líquida bidimensional abrange para documentação química de extratos vegetais e estudos metabolômicos

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Relative abundance and population biology of the non-indigenous crab Charybdis hellerii (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) in a southwestern Atlantic estuary-bay complex

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

Elucidating the Evolution of the Red Brocket Deer Mazama americana Complex (Artiodactyla; Cervidae)

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

Induction of apoptosis in A549 pulmonary cells by two Paracoccidioides brasiliensis samples

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Magnetic interactions and spin-reversal mechanism in ErMn1-xCoxO3-delta samples

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

Taenia saginata: polymerase chain reaction for taeniasis diagnosis in human fecal samples

The taeniasis-cysticercosis complex is a zoonosis of great medical and economic importance where humans play an important role as the carrier of adult stage of Taenia solium and Taenia saginata. This paper describes PCR standardization that can be applied in human fecal samples for taeniasis diagnosis. DNA extraction was achieved with DNAzol reagent, after egg disruption with glass beads. DNA prepared from fecal specimens was first purified and PCR amplified generating fragments of 170 and 600 bp. The assay described herein provides an important tool for T saginata identification in human fecal samples. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. (USA). All rights reserved.

Detection of turkey astrovirus in young poults affected with poult enteritis complex in Brazil

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of turkey astrovirus (TAstV) capsid and polymerase genes was applied to the bursa of Fabricius (BF), thymus (TH), spleen (SP) and cloacal swabs (CS) of young poults with "Poult enteritis complex" (PEC). The histological lesions included atrophy, lymphoid depletion, cellular infiltration and necrosis of the BF, TH and SP, respectively. The RT-PCR reactions were positive for the polymerase gene of TAstV-2 in all 100 CSs, 7 out of 10 of BFs and 10 out of 20 THs and SPs, respectively. Five out of 10 THs and SPs samples, considered to be negative by RT-PCR, were positive when specific primers designed for the TAstV-2 capsid gene were applied. This is the first description of turkey astrovirus infection presenting PEC in Latin America.

Short-term evaluation of the pulpo-dentin complex response to a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement and a bonding agent applied in deep cavities

Objectives. To evaluate the response of the pulpo-dentin complex following application of a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement or an adhesive system in deep cavities performed in human teeth.Methods. Deep class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface of 26 premolars. In Group I the cavity walls (dentin) and enamel were conditioned with 32% phosphoric acid and the dentin adhesive system One Step (Bisco, Inc., Itasca, IL, USA) was applied. In Groups 2 and 3, before total etching and application of bonding agent, the cavity floor was lined with the resin-modified glass-ionomer cement-Vitrebond (3M ESPE Dental Products Division, St. Paul, MN, USA) or the calcium hydroxide cement-Dycal (control group, Dentsply, Mildford, DE, USA), respectively. The cavities were restored using light-cured Z-100 composite resin (3M ESPE). The teeth were extracted between 5 and 30 days and prepared for microscopic assessment. Serial sections were stained with H/E, Masson's trichrome, and Brown and Brenn techniques.Results. In Group 1, the inflammatory response was more evident than in Groups 2 and 3. Diffusion of dental material components across dentinal tubules was observed only in Group 1, in which the intensity of the pulp response increased as the remaining dentin thickness decreased. Bacteria were evidenced in the lateral walls of two samples (Group 2) which exhibited no inflammatory response or tissue disorganization.Conclusions. Based on the experimental conditions, it was concluded total acid etching followed by application of One Step bonding agent cannot be recommended as adequate procedures. In this clinical condition the cavity walls should be lined with a biocompatible dental material, such as Vitrebond or Dycal. 2003 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New species of Moenkhausia Eigenmann, 1903 (Characiformes: Characidae) with comments on the Moenkhausia oligolepis species complex

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