Competitive interactions between C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei during biofilm formation and development of experimental Candidiasis

In this study, we evaluated the interactions between Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida glabrata in mixed infections. Initially, these interactions were studied in biofilms formed in vitro. CFU/mL values of C. albicans were lower in mixed biofilms when compared to the single biofilms, verifying 77% and 89% of C. albicans reduction when this species was associated with C. glabrata and C. krusei, respectively. After that, we expanded this study for in vivo host models of experimental candidiasis. G. mellonella larvae were inoculated with monotypic and heterotypic Candida suspensions for analysis of survival rate and quantification of fungal cells in the haemolymph. In the groups with single infections, 100% of the larvae died within 18 h after infection with C. albicans. However, interaction groups achieved 100% mortality after 72 h of infection by C. albicans-C. glabrata and 96 h of infection by C. albicans-C. krusei. C. albicans CFU/mL values from larvae hemolymph were lower in the interacting groups compared with the monoespecies group after 12 h of infection. In addition, immunosuppressed mice were also inoculated with monotypic and heterotypic microbial suspensions to induce oral candidiasis. C. albicans CFU/mL values recovered from oral cavity of mice were higher in the group with single infection by C. albicans than the groups with mixed infections by C. albicans-C. glabrata and C. albicans-C. krusei. Moreover, the group with single infection by C. albicans had a higher degree of hyphae and epithelial changes in the tongue dorsum than the groups with mixed infections. We concluded that single infections by C. albicans were more harmful for animal models than mixed infections with non-albicans species, suggesting that C. albicans establish competitive interactions with C. krusei and C. glabrata during biofilm formation and development of experimental candidiasis.

Efeito da densidade e proporção de plantas de tomate industrial e de maria-pretinha em competição

O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de quantificar as interações competitivas e os índices de competitividade entre plantas de tomate industrial (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Heinz 9553) e maria-pretinha (Solanum americanum). Usou-se como método um experimento substitutivo, com densidade total de 40 plantas m-2 e 11 proporções, além das monoculturas em densidades, que variaram de 20 a 100 plantas m-2, em intervalos de 20 plantas, conduzidos no delineamento de blocos casualizados com três repetições. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados pelo método convencional de análise de experimentos substitutivos e pela produção recíproca total. A maria-pretinha mostrou ser um competidor mais agressivo que o tomate, sendo mais importante a competição interespecífica para a planta cultivada. Para a biomassa seca total, as duas espécies não competiram pelos mesmos fatores de crescimento. Já para a área foliar, as duas espécies se mostraram competidoras pelos mesmos fatores de crescimento, mostrando ser essa a característica mais sensível à interferência.

Interações competitivas de triticale (Triticum turgidosecale) e nabiça (Raphanus raphanistrum) em função da população e proporção de plantas

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de quantificar as interações competitivas e os índices de competitividade entre plantas de triticale e nabiça. A metodologia utilizada foi a de um experimento em monocultura, que variou de 25 a 500 plantas m-2 para determinar o valor a partir do qual a produção se torna independente do aumento da densidade para cada espécie, e um experimento substitutivo, com população total de 300 plantas m-2 e sete proporções de nabiça: triticale (0:300, 50:250, 100:200, 150:150, 200:100, 250:50 e 300:0), sendo conduzidos em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Os resultados foram analisados pelo método convencional de análise de experimentos substitutivos e pelo método da produção recíproca total e por planta. Os índices calculados, a partir da massa seca das plantas, indicaram o triticale como competidor superior à nabiça.

Intraspecific and interspecific pre-adult competition on the neotropical region colonizer Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) under laboratory conditions

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

Effects of artificial substratum types and exposure time on macroalgal colonization in a tropical stream

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

ATTENDANCE and CO-OCCURRENCE of BIRDS FOLLOWING ARMY ANTS IN THE ATLANTIC RAIN FOREST

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Distribuição, dieta e ecomorfologia das espécies de peixes no sistema do Ribeirão Grande, no município de Pindamonhangaba, SP

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

The community-level effect of light on germination timing in relation to seed mass: a source of regeneration niche differentiation

Within a community, species may germinate at different times so as to mitigate competition and to take advantage of different aspects of the seasonal environment (temporal niche differentiation). We illustrated a hypothesis of the combined effects of abiotic and biotic competitive factors on germination timing and the subsequent upscale effects on community assembly. We estimated the germination timing (GT) for 476 angiosperm species of the eastern Tibetan Plateau grasslands under two light treatments in the field: high (i.e. natural) light and low light. We also measured the shift in germination timing (SGT) across treatments for all species. Furthermore, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to test if GT and SGT were associated with seed mass, an important factor in competitive interactions. We found a significant positive correlation between GT and seed mass in both light treatments. Additionally, small seeds (early germinating seeds) tended to germinate later and large seeds (late germinating seeds) tended to germinate earlier under low light vs high light conditions. Low light availability can reduce temporal niche differentiation by increasing the overlap in germination time between small and large seeds. In turn, reduced temporal niche differentiation may increase competition in the process of community assembly.

Sobre a produção de Novas Rainhas e o acasalamento em Synoeca surinama (Vespidae; Polistinae: Epiponini)

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Competitive release and area effects

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)