VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A CAPTIVE CRAB-EATING FOX CERDOCYON THOUS

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

Estudo comparativo dos métodos diagnósticos para Leishmaniose Visceral em cães oriundos de Ilha Solteira, SP

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

Electrochemistry of organometallic compounds. Part IV. Oxidations of benzylic derivatives and p-substituted benzylic derivatives of bis(dimethylglyoximato) and bis(salicylaldehyde)o-phenylenediimine cobalt(III) in dimethylformamide

The electrochemical oxidation of some p-substituted benzylic derivatives of Co(III) dimethylglyoximato and Co(III)bis(salicylaldehydc)o-phenylenediimine in dimethylformamide. 0.2 M in tetraethyammonium perchlorate, on a platinum electrode, at several temperatures, is described as an ECE type, the first electrochemical step being a quasi-reversible one-electron charge transfer at room temperature. At temperatures around -20°C, or lower, the influence of the irreversible chemical decomposition of the oxidized species, via a solvent or other nucleophilic-assisted reaction, is negligible. It is suggested that at low temperatures the oxidation to the formally CoIV-R species is followed by an isomerization reaction in which this complex is partially transformed in a CoIII-(R) species or a s π-complex which undergoes an electroreduction at less positive potentials than those corresponding to the reduction of the CoIV-R species. © 1982.

The electrochemistry of ferrocene in non-aqueous solvents

the electrochemical oxidation of ferrocene on Pt in dimethylformamide, ethanol, propylene carbonate and their aqueous solutions was studied at 25°C. The concentration of the supporting electrolyte, NaClO4, was varied from 0.1 to 0.5 M. The results show that the electrode process may be described as a quasi-reversible one-electron charge transfer, followed by slow decomposition of the oxidized species. © 1987.

Kinetic aspects of ion exchange in KhFek[Fe(CN)(6)](l)center dot mH(2)O compounds: A combined electrical and mass transfer functions approach

The present paper quantifies and develops the kinetic aspects involved in the mechanism of interplay between electron and ions presented elsewhere(1) for KhFek[Fe(CN)(6)](l)center dot mH(2)O (Prussian Blue) host materials. Accordingly, there are three different electrochemical processes involved in the PB host materials: H3O+, K+, and H+ insertion/extraction mechanisms which here were fully kinetically studied by means of the use of combined electronic and mass transfer functions as a tool to separate all the processes. The use of combined electronic and mass transfer functions was very important to validate and confirm the proposed mechanism. This mechanism allows the electrochemical and chemical processes involved in the KhFek[Fe(CN)(6)](l)center dot mH(2)O host and Prussian Blue derivatives to be understood. In addition, a formalism was also developed to consider superficial oxygen reduction. From the analysis of the kinetic processes involved in the model, it was possible to demonstrate that the processes associated with K+ and H+ exchanges are reversible whereas the H3O+ insertion process was shown not to present a reversible pattern. This irreversible pattern is very peculiar and was shown to be related to the catalytic proton reduction reaction. Furthermore, from the model, it was possible to calculate the number density of available sites for each intercalation/deintercalation processes and infer that they are very similar for K+ and H+. Hence, the high prominence of the K+ exchange observed in the voltammetric responses has a kinetic origin and is not related to the amount of sites available for intercalation/deintercalation of the ions.

Análise da interação funcional entre as proteínas elF5A e Yptl em S. cerevisiae

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Desenvolvimento de eletrodos modificados com poli ácido glutâmico e sua aplicação na análise de compostos antioxidantes e farmacêuticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Passive immunity transfer and serum constituents of crossbred calves

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

Detection and transfer of antimicrobial resistance gene integron in Salmonella Enteritidis derived from avian material

The expansion of global poultry production has increased the need to reduce or control the agents responsible for economic losses, including Salmonella spp. These bacteria are also of public health concern due to their potential to cause food poisoning, and, more recently, due to the antimicrobial resistance presented by these bacteria. Molecular biology is an important tool currently used in the diagnosis and research studies of main poultry diseases. The present studied analyzed 100 samples of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) isolated from avian material aiming at detecting the class 1 integron gene, Integroninvolved in antimicrobial resistance, by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and comparing it with plate inhibition test. Subsequently, SE samples were evaluated for their capacity to horizontally transfer this gene. There was no direct relationship between the presence of the class 1 integron gene and SE resistance to the 14 antimicrobials tested, as 80% of the studied samples were resistant to up to three antimicrobials, and did not present the aforementioned gene. However, horizontal transfer of this gene was accomplished in vitro (from Escherichia coli to Salmonella Enteritidis), demonstrating that capacity class 1 integron gene can be disseminated among enterobacteria.

A polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Brucella canis in semen of naturally infected dogs

The objective was to evaluate a PCR assay for the detection of Brucella canis in canine semen, comparing its performance with that of bacterial isolation, serological tests and PCR assay of blood. Fifty-two male dogs were examined clinically to detect reproductive abnormalities and their serum was tested by the rapid slide agglutination test, with and without 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME-RSAT and RSAT, respectively). In addition, microbiological culture and PCR assays were performed on blood and semen samples. The findings of the semen PCR were compared (Kappa coefficient and McNemar test) to those of blood PCR, culture of blood and semen, RSAT, and 2ME-RSAT. Nucleic acid extracts from semen collected from dogs not infected with B. canis were spiked with decreasing amounts of B. canis RM6/66 DNA and the resulting samples subjected to PCR. In addition, semen samples of non-infected dogs were spiked with decreasing amounts of B. canis CFU and the resulting suspensions were used for DNA extraction and amplification. of the 52 dogs that were examined, the following tests were positive: RSAT, 16 (30.7%); 2ME-RSAT, 5 (9.6%); blood culture, 14 (26.9%); semen culture, 11 (21.1%); blood PCR, 18 (34.6%); semen PCR, 18 (34.6%). The PCR assay detected as few as 3.8 fg of B. canis DNA experimentally diluted in 444.9 ng of canine DNA (extracted from semen samples of noninfected dogs). In addition, the PCR assay amplified B. canis genetic sequences from semen samples containing as little as 1.0 x 10(0) cfu/mL. We concluded that PCR assay of semen was a good candidate as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of brucellosis in dogs; its diagnostic performance was similar to blood culture or blood PCR. Furthermore, the PCR assay of semen was more sensitive than the 2ME-RSAT or semen culture. Examination of semen by PCR should be included for diagnosis of brucellosis prior to natural mating or AI; in that regard, some dogs that were negative on serological and microbiological examinations as well as blood PCR were positive on PCR of semen. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A polymerase chain reaction for detection of Brucella canis in vaginal swabs of naturally infected bitches

A PCR assay for the detection of Brucella canis in canine vaginal swab samples was evaluated, comparing its performance with that of bacterial isolation, serological tests, and a blood PCR assay. One hundred and forty-four female dogs were clinically examined to detect reproductive problems and they were tested by the rapid slide agglutination test, with and without 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME-RSAT and RSAT, respectively). In addition, microbiological culture and PCR were performed on blood and vaginal swab samples. The results of the vaginal swab PCR were compared to those of the other tests using the Kappa coefficient and McNemar test. of the 144 females that were examined, 66 (45.8%) were RSAT positive, 23 (15.9%) were 2ME-RSAT positive, 49 (34.02%) were blood culture positive, 6 (4.1%) were vaginal swab culture positive, 54 (37.5%) were blood PCR positive, 52 (36.2%) were vaginal swab PCR positive, and 50.69% (73/144) were positive by the combined PCR. The PCR was able to detect as few as 3.8 fg of B. canis DNA experimentally diluted in 54 ng of canine DNA, extracted from vaginal swab samples of non-infected bitches. In addition, the PCR assay amplified B. canis genetic sequences from vaginal swab samples containing 1.0 x 10(0) cfu/mL. In conclusion, vaginal swab PCR was a good candidate as a confirmatory test for brucellosis diagnosis in bitches suspected to be infected, especially those negative on blood culture or blood PCR; these animals may be important reservoirs of infection and could complicate attempts to eradicate the disease in confined populations. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The use of transmission electron microscopy and oocyte transfer to evaluate in vitro maturation of equine oocytes in different culture conditions

The current study evaluates the ability of equine oocytes matured in different conditions to undergo nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation.. After oocyte transfer, embryonic development was diagnosed at 1.5 and 90 days of gestation. For each group, immature oocytes obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in vitro (5 replicates). In experiment I, three different media were tested. HTF:BME, SOFaa, and TCM 199. In experiment 11, the HTF:BME was chosen as maturation medium containing pFSH, eFSH, or eFSH + eGH. Nuclear maturation was estimated after stripping the oocytes and staining with Hoechst 33342. The evaluation of cytoplasmic maturation was performed by transmission electron microscopy. For oocyte transfer, six non-cycling recipient mares were used, and 8 to 15 oocytes were transferred in each mare. In experiment I, the results showed no differences (P > .05) in nuclear maturation (MII) among experimental groups. The percentage of MII was 29.3 ( +/- 9.6), 23.4 ( +/- 8.4), and 13.5 ( +/- 12.4) for HTF:BME, SOF, and TCM, respectively. In experiment II, all media tested were efficient in inducing metaphase II. Also, no statistical differences (P > .05) were observed in percentages of nuclear maturation rates when porcine (37.1 +/- 22.4) or equine (25.8 +/- 8.2) FSH were used, or when eFSH + eGH was added to HTF:BME (29.4 +/- 12.3). The analysis of cytoplasmic morphology of oocytes cultured in TCM 199 and SOFaa showed signs of incomplete cytoplasmic maturation and premature cortical reaction. Meanwhile, oocytes cultured in HTF:BME medium presented cytoplasmic characteristics similar to those described by others for in vivo-matured oocytes. The addition of eFSH to the HTF:BME medium resulted in an improvement of cytoplasmic morphology. After oocyte transfer, two mares became pregnant, one from pFSH group and one from eFSH+eGH group. These results indicate that although in vitro matured equine oocytes are capable of fertilization and embryonic development, the percentage of competent oocytes is still low.

Viability of OPS Vitrified Sheep Embryos After Direct Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability in the effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification procedure of sheep embryos after direct transference. Embryos were produced in vivo and cryopreserved in slow freezing or OPS vitrification. The survival rates of cryopreserved embryos were compared to non-frozen standard pattern. In a first set of experiments, embryos at morula and blastocyst stages were dived in ethylene glycol (1.5 M) and frozen in an automatic freezer. After being thawed, they were directly or indirectly transferred to ewes recipient. A second group of embryos were drawn into OPS and plunged into liquid nitrogen after being exposed at room temperature for 1 min and 45 s in 10% EG plus 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), then again for 30 s in 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose. After being warmed, embryos were also directly transferred using a French mini straw as the catheter for the transplantation process or after in vitro dilution of cryoprotectants (two-step-process). No significant difference was observed among fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos on pregnancy rate (50.0%, 38.6% and 55.8%). However, when we evaluated only the direct transference, the pregnancy rate of OPS vitrified embryos was higher than that of frozen embryos (57.1% vs 34.8%) (p = 0.07). In addition, vitrified morulae had a higher pregnancy rate than the one with frozen embryos (64.0% vs 38.9%) (p = 0.07). Finally, our results indicate that OPS vitrification technique in association with direct transference improves the viability of sheep embryos with potential applications to field conditions.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the spider community (Arachnida: Araneae) in three Atlantic forest remnants in southeastern Brazil.

This work was developed in three remnants of Atlantic forest in southeastern Brazil. We aimed to assess edge effects in the spider community in a well conserved fragment and to study the variation of spider diversity among fragments of different sizes. The spider families with the highest richness were Theridiidae (38 sp), Araneidae (31 sp) and Salticidae (25 sp). The control area showed the highest diversity (D=0.98) and exclusive species (58.9%). We concluded that spider richness is higher in the large and best preserved fragment. In addition, we found that species richness and abundance increased towards the interior.

Identification of Eimeria mitis and Eimeria praecox in broiler feces using polymerase chain reaction

There are few reports concerning the epidemiology of Eimeria praecox and Eimeria mitis in Brazil. In the present experiment, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify these species in 156 samples of broiler chicken feces from several Brazilian states and the Federal District. Oocysts present in feces samples were purified by sodium chloride flotation followed by addition of DNAzol reagent (Invitrogen®) for extraction of genomic DNA. DNA was precipitated and stored following DNAzol reagent manufacture's instructions. The primers and PCR conditions were as described by Schnitzler et al. (1999). In the 156 field samples analyzed by PCR, 70 and 45 were positive for E. praecox and E. mitis, respectively. In this study we have shown that DNA extraction using DNAzol followed by PCR can be a useful tool in epidemiological studies, since it provides fast and reliable detection of Eimeria sp. in field samples.