Control of Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium intracellulare infections with respect to distinct granuloma formations in livers of BALB/c mice

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing nontuberculous Mycobacterium that can cause a range of diseases in humans. Complications from M. fortuitum infection have been associated with numerous surgical procedures. A protective immune response against pathogenic mycobacterial infections is dependent on the granuloma formation. Within the granuloma, the macrophage effector response can inhibit bacterial replication and mediate the intracellular killing of bacteria. The granulomatous responses of BALB/c mice to rapidly and slowly growing mycobacteria were assessed in vivo and the bacterial loads in spleens and livers from M. fortuitum and Mycobacterium intracellulare-infected mice, as well as the number and size of granulomas in liver sections, were quantified. Bacterial loads were found to be approximately two times lower in M. fortuitum-infected mice than in M. intracellulare-infected mice and M. fortuitum-infected mice presented fewer granulomas compared to M. intracellulare-infected mice. These granulomas were characterized by the presence of Mac-1+ and CD4+ cells. Additionally, IFN-γmRNA expression was higher in the livers of M. fortuitum-infected mice than in those of M. intracellulare-infected mice. These data clearly show that mice are more capable of controlling an infection with M. fortuitum than M. intracellulare. This capacity is likely related to distinct granuloma formations in mice infected with M. fortuitum but not with M. intracellulare.

Polymorphisms IL10-819 and TLR-2 are potentially associated with sepsis in Brazilian patients

Genetic variation in immune response is probably involved in the progression of sepsis and mortality in septic patients. However, findings in the literature are sometimes conflicting or their significance is uncertain. Thus, we investigated the possible association between 12 polymorphisms located in the interleukin-6 (IL6), IL10, TLR-2, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), tumor necrosis factor-α and tumor necrosis factor-β (lymphotoxin α - LTA) genes and sepsis. Critically ill patients classified with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock and 207 healthy volunteers were analyzed and genotyped. Seven of the nine polymorphisms showed similar distributions in allele frequencies between patients and controls. Interestingly, our data suggest that the IL10-819 and TLR-2 polymorphisms may be potential predictors of sepsis.

Phylogeny, ultrastructure, histopathology and prevalence of Myxobolus oliveirai sp. nov., a parasite of Brycon hilarii (Characidae) in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil

This paper presents the morphological, histological and ultrastructural characteristics of Myxobolus oliveirai sp. nov., a parasite of the gill filaments in Brycon hilarii from the Brazilian Pantanal. Out of 216 B. hilariispecimens examined (126 wild and 90 cultivated), 38.1% of wild specimens (n = 48) were infected. The parasites form elongated plasmodia primarily in the tip of gill filaments, reaching about 3 mm in length. A thorough comparison with all the Myxobolus species described from South American hosts, as well as nearly all the Myxobolus species described so far is provided. Partial sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene revealed a total of 1,527 bp. The Myxobolus species parasite of B. hilarii did not match any of the Myxozoa available in GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis, M. oliveirai sp. nov. composed a monophyletic group with eight other species: five species of Myxobolus parasites of mugilid fishes, two parasites of pangasiid and one of centrarchid. Infection prevalence values of the parasite revealed no significant differences between wet and dry seasons or between males and females. The importance of the infection to the farming of the host species is emphasized.

Species diversity of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) during different seasons and in different environments in the district of Taquaruçú, state of Tocantins, Brazil

Phlebotomine sandflies are the vectors for the protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniasis. The present study investigated the species composition of sandfly fauna in the rural district of Taquaruçú, municipality of Palmas, state of Tocantins, Brazil and compared the diversity of species among intradomicile, peridomicile and forest environments during the dry and rainy seasons. Sandflies were collected using CDC light traps over the course of three months during the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 767 specimens were captured, belonging to different 32 species. The most abundant species were Micropygomyia goiana (Martins, Falcão & Silva), Sciopemyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte), Evandromyia carmelinoi (Ryan Fraiha, Lainson & Shaw), Evandromyia termitophila (Martins, Falcão & Silva), Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva). The highest species diversity (30) and the greatest percentage of specimens (78.3%) were obtained during the rainy season. During the dry season, the species richness and abundance were greater in domestic environments. However, during the rainy season, the forest displayed the highest species richness and the domestic environment exhibited the greatest species abundance. Several important vector species are reported in this study.

Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Lábrea, state of Amazonas, Brazil, with a description of Evandromyia (Aldamyia) apurinan Shimabukuro, Figueira & Silva, sp. nov.

An entomological survey was conducted from July-December 2009 and September-December 2010, as part of the epidemiological monitoring of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in the municipality of Lábrea, state of Amazonas (AM), Brazil. Sandflies were collected using CDC light traps installed in intra and peridomiciliary locations, as well as the border of forested areas around houses where autochthonous cases of ACL were recorded. A total of 510 sandflies belonging to 26 species were collected. The most abundant species was Nyssomyia antunesi (44.5%) followed by Evandromyia walkeri (10.6%) and Micropygomyia rorotaensis (9.8%). Here we also describe Evandromyia (Aldamyia) apurinan sp. nov. and report new records for Trichophoromyia flochi and Evandromyia sipani in AM and Brazil, respectively. Our results describe the composition of the sandfly fauna in the south of AM and suggest Ny. antunesi as the putative vector in the transmission of Leishmania in this area of the Amazon Region.

Social and immunological differences among uninfected Brazilians exposed or unexposed to human immunodeficiency virus-infected partners

Understanding the social conditions and immunological characteristics that allow some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed patients to remain uninfected represents an on-going challenge. In this study, the socio-demographic and sexual behaviour characteristics and immune activation profiles of uninfected individuals exposed to HIV-infected partners were investigated. A confidential and detailed questionnaire was administered and venous blood was tested using HIV-1/enzyme immunoassays, plasma HIV-1 RNA levels/bDNA and immunophenotyping/flow cytometry to determine the frequencies of CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing activation markers. The data analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for immune parameters in individuals who were uninfected, albeit exposed to HIV-infected partners, compared with unexposed individuals. In particular, the exposed, uninfected individuals had a higher frequency (median, minimum-maximum) of CD4+HLA-DR+ (4.2, 1.8-6.1), CD8+HLA-DR+ (4.6, 0.9-13.7), CD4+CD45RO+ (27.5, 14.2-46.6), CD4+CD45RO+CD62L+ (46.7, 33.9-67.1), CD8+CD45RA+HLA-DR+ (12.1, 3.4-35.8) and CD8+CD45RO+HLA-DR+ (9.0, 3.2-14.8) cells, a decreased percentage of CD8+CD28+ cells (11.7, 4.5-24.0) and a lower cell-surface expression of Fcγ-R/CD16 on monocytes (56.5, 22.0-130.0). The plasma HIV-1 RNA levels demonstrated detectable RNA virus loads in 57% of the HIV-1+ female partners. These findings demonstrate an activation profile in both CD4 and CD8 peripheral T cells from HIV-1 exposed seronegative individuals of serodiscordant couples from a referral centre in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais.

Interleukin-10 rs1800896 and CXCR2 rs1126579 polymorphisms modulate the predisposition to septic shock

Despite major improvements in its treatment and diagnosis, sepsis is still a leading cause of death and admittance to the intensive care unit (ICU). Failure to identify patients at high risk of developing septic shock contributes to an increase in the sepsis burden and rapid molecular tests are currently the most promising avenue to aid in patient risk determination and therapeutic anticipation. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the genetic susceptibility that affects sepsis outcome in 72 sepsis patients admitted to the ICU. Seven polymorphisms were genotyped in key inflammatory response genes in sepsis, including tumour necrosis factor-α,interlelukin (IL)-1β, IL-10,IL-8, Toll-like receptor 4, CXCR1and CXCR2. The primary finding showed that patients who were homozygous for the major A allele in IL-10rs1800896 had almost five times higher chance to develop septic shock compared to heterozygotes. Similarly, selected clinical features and CXCR2rs1126579 single nucleotide polymorphisms modulated septic shock susceptibility without affecting survival. These data support the hypothesis that molecular testing has clinical usefulness to improve sepsis prognostic models. Therefore, enrichment of the ICU portfolio by including these biomarkers will aid in the early identification of sepsis patients who may develop septic shock.

Primary dengue haemorrhagic fever in patients from northeast of Brazil is associated with high levels of interferon-β during acute phase

Dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) that according to clinical manifestations can be classified as asymptomatic, mild or severe dengue. Severe dengue cases have been associated with an unbalanced immune response characterised by an over secretion of inflammatory cytokines. In the present study we measured type I interferon (IFN-I) transcript and circulating levels in primary and secondary DENV infected patients. We observed that dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients express IFN-I differently. While DF and DHF patients express interferon-α similarly (52,71 ± 7,40 and 49,05 ± 7,70, respectively), IFN- β were associated with primary DHF patients. On the other hand, secondary DHF patients were not able to secrete large amounts of IFN- β which in turn may have influenced the high-level of viraemia. Our results suggest that, in patients from our cohort, infection by DENV serotype 3 elicits an innate response characterised by higher levels of IFN- β in the DHF patients with primary infection, which could contribute to control infection evidenced by the low-level of viraemia in these patients. The present findings may contribute to shed light in the role of innate immune response in dengue pathogenesis.

Avaliação de genótipos de tomateiro tipo Santa Cruz no período de inverno, em Araguari, MG

Desenvolveu-se um trabalho de pesquisa na fazenda Jordão (município de Araguari, MG), na época de inverno, com o objetivo de verificar o desempenho agronômico de genótipos de tomateiro tipo Santa Cruz. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com 14 tratamentos (genótipos) e quatro repetições. A parcela experimental foi constituída por duas fileiras com 12 plantas cada, no espaçamento de 1,00 m entre linhas e 0,60 m entre plantas (duas plantas por cova). As colheitas iniciaram-se em 25/8/96 e encerraram em 19/10/96, perfazendo um total de 17. De forma geral, todos os genótipos apresentaram produtividades elevadas, comparativamente ao rendimento médio nacional, principalmente os genótipos Santa Clara I-5300, Débora Plus, Santa Clara, Santa Clara Importada e Santa Clara III, todos com produtividade superior a 125 t/ha, podendo ser recomendados para plantio na região, no período de inverno. Apenas o genótipo Tom-556 e a cultivar Ângela Gigante I-5100 não tiveram peso médio de frutos superior a 100 g. As cultivares Saladinha, Santa Clara Importada, Concord e Jumbo, tiveram peso médio superior a 130 g, os quais se destacaram, também, em porcentagem de frutos tipo extra AA, juntamente com Santa Clara, Santa Clara I-5300, IAC Santa Clara, enquanto os genótipos Tom-556, Tex-015 e Ângela Gigante I-5100, se destacaram em frutos tipo extra A.

Avaliação de genótipos de tomateiro tipo Santa Cruz no período de verão, em Araguari, MG

O trabalho foi desenvolvido na fazenda Jordão (município de Araguari, MG), na época do verão (período das águas), com o objetivo de verificar o desempenho agronômico de genótipos de tomateiro tipo Santa Cruz. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental blocos casualizados, com 16 tratamentos (genótipos) e quatro repetições. A parcela experimental foi constituída por duas fileiras com 12 plantas cada, no espaçamento de 1,00 m entre linhas e 0,55 m entre plantas (1 planta/cova). Efetuaram-se 17 colheitas, sendo a primeira aos 69 dias após o transplante. Vários genótipos apresentaram um bom desempenho agronômico, principalmente Saladinha, Débora Plus, SM-16 e Atlas, podendo ser cultivados no período de verão. Apenas Saladinha e Atlas ultrapassaram 140 g de peso médio, destacando-se também em frutos do tipo extra AA. Observou-se uma correlação significativa e negativa com r = -0,52 e -0,54 na primeira avaliação, e r = -0,55 e -0,45 na segunda avaliação para a produção total e produção comercial, respectivamente, em relação à incidência de geminivírus nos diferentes genótipos. Os híbridos Saladinha e SM-16 apresentaram o menor número de plantas viróticas, enquanto Santa Clara Importada, Santa Clara, Jumbo AG-592 e IAC Santa Clara, apresentaram o maior número.

Germinação de sementes de jenipapo: temperatura, substrato e morfologia do desenvolvimento pós-seminal

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos definir o tipo de substrato e a temperatura mais adequados à germinação de sementes de jenipapo (Genipa americana L.), conhecer a morfologia das sementes e seu desenvolvimento pós-seminal, caracterizando as plântulas normais, o tipo de germinação e os padrões de anormalidade. Para tanto, realizou-se um experimento colocando-se as sementes sobre os seguintes substratos: papel, vermiculita e solo, nas temperaturas constantes de 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, e 35°C e alternada de 20°C-30°C. O delineamento estatístico empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado (5 x 3), com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. Foram analisados os parâmetros germinação normal (%) e velocidade de germinação. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos nas temperaturas constantes de 25°C, 30°C e 35°C, e nos substratos vermiculita e solo.

Pollination efficiency of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida on greenhouse sweet pepper

The present study was carried out in Northeastern Region of Brazil, in order to investigate the use of stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke in the pollination of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments of hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination by bees and restricted pollination were performed. Results showed that despite sweet pepper flowers are considered autogamous, this crop benefits from pollination by M. subnitida, producing fruits significantly heavier and wider, containing a greater number of seeds and of better quality (lower percentage of malformed fruits) than self-pollinated sweet pepper. Thus, M. subnitida can be considered an efficient pollinator of greenhouse sweet pepper.

Substrato, temperatura de germinação e desenvolvimento pós-seminal de sementes de Dalbergia nigra

O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir o tipo de substrato e a temperatura mais adequada à germinação de sementes de Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Fr. All. Ex Benth (jacarandá-da-bahia), e conhecer a morfologia de seu desenvolvimento pós-seminal e caracterizar as plântulas normais, o tipo de germinação e os padrões de anormalidade. As sementes foram semeadas nos substratos sobre papel, rolo de papel e sobre vermiculita, nas temperaturas constantes de 20, 25, 30 e 35°C e alternadas de 20-30°C e 20-35°C. O delineamento estatístico empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado (6x3), com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de germinação normal (plântulas normais) e velocidade de emergência de plântulas. Os melhores resultados foram verificados nas temperaturas de 25°C e 20-30°C, nos substratos sobre vermiculita e rolo de papel. Plântulas normais foram caracterizadas como faneroepígeas em relação ao tipo de germinação.

Potencial de obtenção de novos porta-enxertos em cruzamentos envolvendo limoeiro 'Cravo', laranjeira 'Azeda', tangerineira 'Sunki' e híbridos de Poncirus Trifoliata

O limoeiro 'Cravo' e a laranjeira 'Azeda' são importantes porta-enxertos de citros. Com o objetivo de explorar seu potencial genético, distintas seleções de limoeiro 'Cravo', empregadas como parentais femininos, foram cruzadas com seleções de laranjeira 'Azeda', tangerineira 'Sunki Maravilha' e híbridos de Poncirus trifoliata. Semelhantemente, seleções de 'Azeda' foram hibridadas com seleções de 'Cravo' e híbridos de P. trifoliata. Avaliaram-se a taxa de vingamento de frutos, a porcentagem de híbridos no conjunto total de indivíduos obtidos (zigóticos e nucelares), a altura e o diâmetro do caule destes, em torno dos 12 meses de idade. O cruzamento entre limoeiro 'Cravo', seleções comum e 'Santa Cruz', com tangerineira 'Sunki 'Maravilha' resultou nas maiores taxas de vingamento de frutos (média de 87,5%) e maior percentual de híbridos (média de 64,0%), sendo estes relativamente vigorosos, segundo comparações com seedlings nucelares desse limoeiro. Quanto às hibridações envolvendo a laranjeira 'Azeda', mostraram-se promissoras 'Azeda Jacarandá' x (tangerineira 'Cleópatra' x P. trifoliata seleção 'Swingle 245'), pela relativamente elevada taxa de vingamento de frutos (50%), boa porcentagem de híbridos (32,3%) e possibilidade de obtenção de híbridos vigorosos, e laranjeira 'Azeda' comum x limoeiro 'Cravo' seleções comum e 'Santa Cruz', pela possibilidade de obtenção de híbridos vigorosos e em quantidades relativamente altas, em torno de 40% de plantas híbridas.

Características agronômica de híbridos diploides de bananeira em três ciclos de produção em Cruz das Almas, Bahia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar agronomicamente híbridos diploides de bananeira, em três ciclos de produção, visando à seleção de genótipos para utilização em programas de melhoramento. O experimento foi conduzido entre os anos de 2005 e 2007, em blocos casualizados, no esquema de parcela subdividida no tempo, com quatro repetições, em Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Os híbridos diploides 4279-06, TH03-01, 8987-01, 0323-03, 1318-01, 0116-01, 8694-20, 1304-06 e 9179-03 foram avaliados quanto à altura de plantas, diâmetro do pseudocaule, número de folhas vivas na floração e na colheita, presença de pólen, período de formação do cacho, número de pencas e frutos, e massa média dos frutos. O híbrido 1304-06 apresentou a maior altura nos três ciclos estudados, enquanto o 0323-03 e o 1318-01 apresentaram porte intermediário. À exceção des 8987-01, 0323-03, 1304-06 e 9179-03, os demais híbridos apresentaram número de folhas, na floração, superior a oito. Na colheita, 0323-03, 1318-01, 0116-01, 1304-06 e 9179-03 destacaram-se com os maiores números de folhas. Existe variabilidade genética entre os híbridos diploides de bananeira estudados. Os híbridos 4279-06, 0323-03, 1318-01, 0116-01, 1304-06 e 9179-03 apresentaram características agronômicas favoráveis e podem ser utilizados como genitores em programas de melhoramento genético da bananeira.