Pregnancy malaria: cryptic disease, apparent solution

Malaria during pregnancy can be severe in non-immune women, but in areas of stable transmission, where women are semi-immune and often asymptomatic during infection, malaria is an insidious cause of disease and death for mothers and their offspring. Sequelae, such as severe anaemia and hypertension in the mother and low birth weight and infant mortality in the offspring, are often not recognised as consequences of infection. Pregnancy malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is mediated by infected erythrocytes (IEs) that bind to chondroitin sulphate A and are sequestered in the placenta. These parasites have a unique adhesion phenotype and distinct antigenicity, which indicates that novel targets may be required for development of an effective vaccine. Women become resistant to malaria as they acquire antibodies against placental IE, which leads to higher haemoglobin levels and heavier babies. Proteins exported from the placental parasites have been identified, including both variant and conserved antigens, and some of these are in preclinical development for vaccines. A vaccine that prevents P. falciparum malaria in pregnant mothers is feasible and would potentially save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

Identification of serological biomarkers of infection, disease progression and treatment efficacy for leprosy

Although leprosy is curable with drug treatment, the identification of biomarkers of infection, disease progression and treatment efficacy would greatly help to reduce the overall prevalence of the disease. Reliable biomarkers would also reduce the incidence of grade-2 disability by ensuring that those who are most at risk are diagnosed and treated early or offered repeated treatments in the case of relapse. In this study, we examined the reactivity of sera from lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy patients (LPs) against a panel of 12 recombinant Mycobacterium leprae proteins and found that six proteins were strongly recognised by multibacillary (MB) patients, while only three were consistently recognised by paucibacillary patients. To better understand the dynamics of patient antibody responses during and after drug therapy, we measured antibody titres to four recombinant proteins, phenolic glycolipid-I and lipoarabinomannan at baseline and up to two years after diagnosis to investigate the temporal changes in the antibody titres. Reactivity patterns to individual antigens and decreases in antibody titres were patient-specific. Antibody titres to proteins declined more rapidly vs. those to carbohydrate and glycolipid antigens. Compared to baseline values, increases in antibody titres were observed during reactional episodes in one individual. Additionally, antibody responses against a subset of antigens that provided a good prognostic indicator of disease progression were analysed in 51 household contacts of MB index cases for up to two years. Although the majority of these contacts showed no change or exhibited decreases in antibody titres, seven individuals developed higher titres towards one or more of these antigens and one individual with progressively higher titres was diagnosed with borderline lepromatous leprosy 19 months after enrolment. The results of this study indicate that antibody titres to specific M. leprae antigens can be used to monitor treatment efficacy in LPs and assess disease progression in those most at risk for developing this disease.

Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae present on Ziehl-Neelsen-stained microscopic slides and in skin biopsy samples from leprosy patients in different geographic regions of Brazil

We analysed 16 variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) and three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in Mycobacterium leprae present on 115 Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N)-stained slides and in 51 skin biopsy samples derived from leprosy patients from Ceará (n = 23), Pernambuco (n = 41), Rio de Janeiro (n = 22) and Rondônia (RO) (n = 78). All skin biopsies yielded SNP-based genotypes, while 48 of the samples (94.1%) yielded complete VNTR genotypes. We evaluated two procedures for extracting M. leprae DNA from Z-N-stained slides: the first including Chelex and the other combining proteinase and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Of the 76 samples processed using the first procedure, 30.2% were positive for 16 or 15 VNTRs, whereas of the 39 samples processed using the second procedure, 28.2% yielded genotypes defined by at least 10 VNTRs. Combined VNTR and SNP analysis revealed large variability in genotypes, but a high prevalence of SNP genotype 4 in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Our observation of two samples from RO with an identical genotype and seven groups with similar genotypes, including four derived from residents of the same state or region, suggest a tendency to form groups according to the origin of the isolates. This study demonstrates the existence of geographically related M. leprae genotypes and that Z-N-stained slides are an alternative source for M. leprae genotyping.

Realizar pesquisa sem ação ou pesquisa-ação na área de Administração? Uma reflexão metodológica

Neste artigo, o objetivo é analisar como a pesquisa-ação tem sido aplicada nos estudos da área de Administração no Brasil. Apresenta-se um recorte da pesquisa-ação nos estudos brasileiros em Administração, escrutinando trabalhos de 44 periódicos nacionais de Administração, e 38 encontros ou simpósios da Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração (Anpad), entre os anos de 2000 e 2010. Identificaram-se 22 artigos em periódicos e quatro em eventos da Anpad que referenciavam pesquisa-ação, porém, apenas 21 compuseram o estrato final de artigos examinados. Analisaram-se objetivos, procedimentos, nível de engajamento de outsiders e consequências do ciclo acadêmico e do ciclo da ação, tanto para a ciência quanto para a realidade sob intervenção. Nos resultados da pesquisa, indica-se que, no geral, os autores não distinguem apropriadamente as duas intenções da metodologia, salvo poucas exceções. Especula-se, então, sobre a utilização da pesquisa-ação no campo de estudo da administração no Brasil. Conclui-se que o conceito de pesquisa-ação é reconhecido e internalizado pelos autores, mas os relatos de sua aplicação ainda são deficientes. Por fim, argumenta-se que pesquisa e ação na área de Administração podem e devem caminhar juntas e propõem-se algumas sugestões de pesquisas.

The effect of plantation silviculture on soil organic matter and particle-size fractions in Amazonia

Eucalyptus grandis and other clonal plantations cover about 3.5 million ha in Brazil. The impacts of intensively-managed short-rotation forestry on soil aggregate structure and Carbon (C) dynamics are largely undocumented in tropical ecosystems. Long-term sustainability of these systems is probably in part linked to maintenance of soil organic matter and good soil structure and aggregation, especially in areas with low-fertility soils. This study investigated soil aggregate dynamics on a clay soil and a sandy soil, each with a Eucalyptus plantation and an adjacent primary forest. Silvicultural management did not reduce total C stocks, and did not change soil bulk density. Aggregates of the managed soils did not decrease in mass as hypothesized, which indicates that soil cultivation in 6 year cycles did not cause large decreases in soil aggregation in either soil texture. Silt, clay, and C of the sandy plantation soil shifted to greater aggregate protection, which may represent a decrease in C availability. The organic matter in the clay plantation soil increased in the fractions considered less protected while this shift from C to structural forms considered more protected was not observed.

Dry matter production and nutrient accumulation after successive crops of lettuce, tomato, rice, and andropogongrass in a substrate with zeolite

Zeolites are hydrated crystalline aluminosilicate minerals of natural occurrence, structured in rigid third dimension net that can be used as slow release plant-nutrient source. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant growth substrate under zeolite application, enriched with N, P and K, on dry matter yield and on nutrient contents in consecutive crops of lettuce, tomato, rice, and andropogon grass. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with 3 kg pots with an inert substrate, evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of four types of enrichment of concentrated natural zeolite: concentrated zeolite (Z) only, zeolite + KNO3 (ZNK), zeolite + K2HPO4 (ZPK) and zeolite + H3PO4 + apatite (ZP), and a control grown in substrate fertilized with a zeolite-free nutrient solution. Four levels of enriched zeolite were tested: 20, 40, 80, and 160 g/pot. Four successive crops were grown on the same substrate in each pot: lettuce, tomato, rice, and andropogon grass. Results indicated that N, P and K enriched zeolite was an adequate slow-release nutrient source for plants. The total dry matter production of above-ground biomass of four successive crops followed a descending order: ZP > ZPK > ZNK > Z.

DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC CARBON IN DIFFERENT SOIL FRACTIONS IN ECOSYSTEMS OF CENTRAL AMAZONIA

Organic matter plays an important role in many soil properties, and for that reason it is necessary to identify management systems which maintain or increase its concentrations. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality and quantity of organic C in different compartments of the soil fraction in different Amazonian ecosystems. The soil organic matter (FSOM) was fractionated and soil C stocks were estimated in primary forest (PF), pasture (P), secondary succession (SS) and an agroforestry system (AFS). Samples were collected at the depths 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-160, and 160-200 cm. Densimetric and particle size analysis methods were used for FSOM, obtaining the following fractions: FLF (free light fraction), IALF (intra-aggregate light fraction), F-sand (sand fraction), F-clay (clay fraction) and F-silt (silt fraction). The 0-5 cm layer contains 60 % of soil C, which is associated with the FLF. The F-clay was responsible for 70 % of C retained in the 0-200 cm depth. There was a 12.7 g kg-1 C gain in the FLF from PF to SS, and a 4.4 g kg-1 C gain from PF to AFS, showing that SS and AFS areas recover soil organic C, constituting feasible C-recovery alternatives for degraded and intensively farmed soils in Amazonia. The greatest total stocks of carbon in soil fractions were, in decreasing order: (101.3 Mg ha-1 of C - AFS) > (98.4 Mg ha-1 of C - FP) > (92.9 Mg ha-1 of C - SS) > (64.0 Mg ha-1 of C - P). The forms of land use in the Amazon influence C distribution in soil fractions, resulting in short- or long-term changes.

Desenvolvimento das fases imaturas de Chrysoperla externa alimentadas com ninfas de Bemisia tabaci criadas em três hospedeiros

Insetos da família Chrysopidae têm sido encontrados em ovos e ninfas de moscas-brancas em diferentes agroecossistemas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a duração e a viabilidade das fases imaturas de Chrysoperla externa alimentada com ninfas de Bemisia tabaci, biótipo B, criadas em folhas de pepino (Cucumis sativus), couve (Brassica oleracea) e na erva adventícia leiteiro (Euphorbia heterophylla). Discos foliares dos hospedeiros contendo ninfas da mosca-branca foram acondicionados em placas de Petri contendo ágar-água a 1% e mantidos a 25±1ºC, 70±10% UR e fotófase de 12 horas. Em cada placa foi colocada uma larva de C. externa recém-eclodida, num total de dez repetições. Avaliaram-se a duração e a viabilidade de cada ínstar, de toda fase de larva, das fases de pré-pupa e pupa e peso após 24 horas de idade em cada estádio e fase do desenvolvimento. A espécie de planta hospedeira da mosca-branca afetou a duração do primeiro e terceiro ínstares de C. externa, registrando-se redução no período larval, quando alimentadas com presas oriundas de folhas de pepino. A fase de pré-pupa foi prolongada quando utilizadas folhas de leiteiro. Os pesos foram afetados pelo tipo de hospedeiro do aleirodídeo, porém esse efeito não influencia a viabilidade das fases imaturas.

Performance of Holstein heifers fed sugarcane silages treated with urea, sodium benzoate or Lactobacillus buchneri

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of heifers fed sugarcane silages produced with and without additives. Thirty-two Holstein heifers were randomly assigned, in a block design, to evaluate rations (46% silage; 54% concentrate; 12% crude protein) containing silages treated with (fresh basis) urea (0.5%), sodium benzoate (0.1%) or Lactobacillus buchneri (3.64x10(5) cfu g-1 ). Inoculation with L. buchneri improved daily gain (1.24 vs. 0.94 kg day-1 ), and the addition of benzoate resulted in better feed conversion (7.6 vs. 9.4 kg of dry matter per kg of live weight), in relation to the untreated silage (control). Treatments did not affect dry matter intake (mean of 2.19% of live weight). Rations containing silages treated with benzoate or L. buchneri showed lower cost per kg of weight gain. Treatment with urea did not improve animal performance, but the cost per kg of weight gain was lower than that of the control ration.

New species emergence via recombination among isolates of the Brazilian tomato infecting Begomovirus complex

Partial nucleotide sequences of five tomato infecting Begomovirus isolates were determined from DNA-A fragments, corresponding to the 5' region of the replication associated protein gene, the intergenic region and the 5' region of the coat protein gene. Isolate DFM shared 95% identity with Tomato mottle leaf curl virus (TMoLCV), isolates 34, PA-05, and Ta4 were 88% identical to Tomato yellow vein streak virus and isolate DF-BR3 shared 77% identity with TMoLCV. Recombination analysis indicated that isolate DF-BR3 was a chimaera, and it provided evidence that there is a complex and actively recombining population of tomato infecting begomoviruses in Brazil.

Ecology and the challenge of a multifunctional use of soil

Soil zoology and soil ecology have become very active fields of research since the early 1990s. A search in the ISI Web of Science databases showed a steady increase in publications about that theme over the last two decades, and 3,612 bibliographic references were found for that theme for the period of 2004 to 2008. The researches covered mostly soil environmental issues, toxicology and ecology. The issue of theoretical development in soil ecology is discussed, and arguments are presented against the idea that the soil ecology theory is deficient. Finally, the need for a general model of soil function and soil management is discussed and some options are presented to reach this goal.

Soil macrofauna under integrated crop-livestock systems in a Brazilian Cerrado Ferralsol

The objective of this work was to assess the effects of integrated crop-livestock systems, associated with two tillage and two fertilization regimes, on the abundance and diversity of the soil macrofauna. Four different management systems were studied: continuous pasture (mixed grass); continuous crop; two crop-livestock rotations (crop/pasture and pasture/crop); and native Cerrado as a control. Macrofauna was sampled using a modified Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility method, and all individuals were counted and identified at the morphospecies level for each plot. A total of 194 morphospecies were found, distributed among 30 groups, and the most representative in decreasing order of density were: Isoptera, Coleoptera larvae, Formicidae, Oligochaeta, Coleoptera adult, Diplopoda, Hemiptera, Diptera larvae, Arachnida, Chilopoda, Lepidoptera, Gasteropoda, Blattodea and Orthoptera. Soil management systems and tillage regimes affected the structure of soil macrofauna, and integrated crop-livestock systems, associated with no-tillage, especially with grass/legume species associations, had more favorable conditions for the development of "soil engineers" compared with continuous pasture or arable crops. Soil macrofauna density and diversity, assessed at morphospecies level, are effective data to measure the impact of land use in Cerrado soils.

Relação entre macrofauna edáfica e atributos químicos do solo em diferentes agroecossistemas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do uso do solo sobre a densidade e a diversidade da macrofauna invertebrada, bem como a relação dessa com atributos químicos do solo em diferentes agroecossistemas. Foram estudados cinco agroecossistemas: sistema ecológico com três anos de adoção (SE3), sistemas agroflorestais com seis (SAF6) e dez (SAF10) anos de adoção; agricultura de corte e queima (ACQ), e floresta nativa (FN). Em cada sistema, foram coletadas aleatoriamente cinco amostras solo, em forma de blocos (25x25 cm), na profundidade de 10 cm, nas épocas seca (outubro, 2006) e chuvosa (maio, 2007). A relação entre os atributos químicos e a macrofauna edáfica, nos diferentes sistemas de uso do solo, foi determinada por meio da análise da coinércia. Maior abundância da macrofauna foi observada na época chuvosa. Os sistemas SE3, SAF6 e SAF10 apresentaram maior riqueza de espécies e índices de Shannon e Pielou, independentemente da época de coleta. O manejo agroflorestal favoreceu a ocorrência de "engenheiros do ecossistema". Os sistemas agroflorestais propiciam melhores características químicas do solo e aumentos na abundância e riqueza da macrofauna invertebrada do solo.

Diagnose nutricional de nitrogênio em folhas de feijoeiro pela análise digital de imagens

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso da análise digital de imagens na diagnose nutricional de N no feijoeiro. Foram avaliados quatro tratamentos, em que se combinaram duas doses de N e de P aplicadas ao solo. Na emissão de vagens, determinou-se o índice de clorofila Falker, digitalizaram-se as imagens dos trifólios e determinou-se o teor foliar de N. Nas imagens, foi atribuída uma nota com o programa AFSoft, baseada na área ocupada por padrões de verde. O teor foliar de N correlacionou-se ao índice de clorofila Falker e à nota atribuída com o AFSoft, mas a correlação entre o índice de clorofila e a nota AFSoft foi superior.

Manejo de lepidópteros-praga na cultura do milho com o evento Bt piramidado Cry1A.105 e Cry2Ab2

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia do evento piramidado (MON 89034), que expressa as proteínas Cry1A.105 e Cry2Ab2, no controle dos principais lepidópteros-praga da cultura do milho no Brasil, Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa spp. e Diatraea saccharalis. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em quatro regiões do país, com o híbrido DKB 390, submetido a seis tratamentos: híbrido com o evento piramidado, híbrido com o evento que expressa apenas a proteína Cry1A(b) (MON 810) e híbrido convencional (não Bt), todos com e sem manejo integrado de S. frugiperda. Para o evento piramidado, não foi necessário o controle químico em nenhum dos locais avaliados. Diferenças significativas foram observadas entre os tratamentos quanto aos danos e à presença de lagartas. Em geral, essas variáveis foram mais baixas no híbrido com o evento piramidado e mais altas no híbrido convencional, sem controle químico. Sob alta infestação, o controle químico reduziu os danos causados por S. frugiperda e D. saccharalis, tanto no evento que expressa apenas uma proteína, como no híbrido convencional. Com base nos danos causados pelos insetos, o evento piramidado Cry1A.105 e Cry2Ab2 é eficiente no controle dos principais lepidópteros-pragas do milho no Brasil.