Survival of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in soil and bean crop debris

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

Análises estatísticas em redes complexas: propriedades topológicas, críticas e dinâmicas

In this thesis, we address two issues of broad conceptual and practical relevance in the study of complex networks. The first is associated with the topological characterization of networks while the second relates to dynamical processes that occur on top of them. Regarding the first line of study, we initially designed a model for networks growth where preferential attachment includes: (i) connectivity and (ii) homophily (links between sites with similar characteristics are more likely). From this, we observe that the competition between these two aspects leads to a heterogeneous pattern of connections with the topological properties of the network showing quite interesting results. In particular, we emphasize that there is a region where the characteristics of sites play an important role not only for the rate at which they get links, but also for the number of connections which occur between sites with similar and dissimilar characteristics. Finally, we investigate the spread of epidemics on the network topology developed, whereas its dissemination follows the rules of the contact process. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the competition between states (infected/healthy) sites, induces a transition between an active phase (presence of sick) and an inactive (no sick). In this context, we estimate the critical point of the transition phase through the cumulant Binder and ratio between moments of the order parameter. Then, using finite size scaling analysis, we determine the critical exponents associated with this transition

Maus ares e malária: entre os pântanos de Natal e o feroz mosquito africano (1892-1932)

The development of epidemiological practices in the last years of the nineteenth and early twentieth century was characterized by both an influence of medical geography and the emergence of microbes and vectors of diseases. Both theories were used to explain outbreaks in Rio Grande do Norte specially in Natal. In this process were organized new institutions linked to public health, unhealthy spaces and prescribed hygiene measures. The redefinitions of the spaces were linked to updated elements of Hippocratic medicine such as aerism and emphasis on medical topography. How the physicians of the town were organized in the face of new meanings and fields of expertise in the demarcation of diseases and regulation of their own practices against the illegal medical practitioners? Likewise, the very occurrence of epidemics mobilized people, urban institutions and apparatuses. But how the Hippocratic legacy that leads to the idea of bad air originated by swamps from the eighteenth and nineteenth century has been linked to new microbial assumptions and disease vectors in the early twentieth century? How an invader from Africa, (the mosquito A. gambiae) mobilized transnational efforts to combat malaria and redefined the epidemiological practices? The aim of this work is to understand how epidemiological practices redefine the way we define spaces, practices and disease from both an approach influenced by a relational history of spaces and a theoretical synergy which includes topics in Science Studies, Post Structuralist Geography and some elements of Feminist Studies. Documentary research were surveyed in the reports of the provincial presidents, government posts to the Provincial Assembly, specialized medical articles and theses, and documents from the Rockefeller Foundation and national and international journals. In this regard shall be given to both material and discursive aspects of space-related practical epidemiological that Natal as much (in general) Rio Grande do Norte between bad air and malaria.

Biological properties of medicinal plants: a review of their antimicrobial activity

Plants have been used for thousands of years to flavor and conserve food, to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary vegetal metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of some plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, data on the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empirical, have been scientifically confirmed, concomitantly with the increasing number of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from plants may potentially control microbial growth in diverse situations and in the specific case of disease treatment, numerous studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of these plant antimicrobials and the mechanisms involved in microbial growth inhibition, either separately or associated with conventional antimicrobials. Thus, in the present work, medicinal plants with emphasis on their antimicrobial properties are reviewed.

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism and heteroplasmy in populations of Aedes aegypti in Brazil

The tropical mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) is the most important domestic vector of urban yellow fever and dengue viruses. Ae. aegypti originated from Africa and was probably introduced into Brazil during the colonial period through embarkations, and dengue epidemics soon followed. Genetic analysis of 12 Ae. aegypti populations from five states in Brazil was conducted based on two mitochondrial DNA fragments: cytochrome oxidase I and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4. Analyses comparing individual haplotypes indicated the existence of two well-defined clades, probably representing two mitochondrial lineages. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant variability in genetic structure among collections within groups. Mantel regression analysis showed a correlation between genetic and geographic distances, mainly because of northern and northeastern populations, in comparison with those in the southeast. The population from Santos, the largest port in Brazil, showed the greatest diversity, with 10 unique haplotypes, an indication of recent introductions that have not yet spread to other Brazilian cities. Different mitochondrial DNA sequences were found in three specimens, indicating the presence of heteroplasmy.

The invasion of five alien species in the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, Northeastern Brazil

Marine biological invasions have been regarded as one of the major causes of native biodiversity loss, with shipping and aquaculture being the leading contributors for the introductions of alien species in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, five aquatic alien species (one mollusk, three crustaceans and one fish species) were detected during dives, shore searches and from the fisheries on the coast of the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, in the States of Piaui and Maranhao, Northeastern Brazil. The species were the bicolor purse-oyster Isognomon bicolor, the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Charybdis hellerii and, the muzzled blenny Omobranchus punctatus. Ballast water (I. bicolor, C. hellerii, and O. punctatus) and aquaculture activities (L. vannamei and M. rosenbergii) in adjacent areas are the most likely vectors of introduction. All exotic species found have potential impact risks to the environment because they are able to compete against native species for resources (food and habitat). Isognomon bicolor share the same habitat and food items with the native bivalve species of mussels and barnacles. Litopenaeus vannamei share the same habitat and food items with the native penaeids such as the pinkspot shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis, the Southern brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus subtilis, and the Southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti, and in the past few years L. vannamei was responsible for a viral epidemics in the cultivation tanks that could be transmitted to native penaeid shrimps. Charybdis hellerii is also able to cause impacts on the local fisheries as the species can decrease the populations of native portunid crabs which are commercialized in the studied region. Macrobrachium rosenbergii may be sharing natural resources with the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. Omobranchus punctatus shares habit with the native redlip blenny Ophioblennius atlanticus and other fishes, such as the frillfin goby Bathigobius soporator. Some immediate remedial measures to prevent further introductions from ballast water and shrimp farm ponds should be: (i) to prevent the release of ballast water by ship/vessels in the region; (ii) to reroute all effluent waters from shrimp rearing facilities through an underground or above-ground dry well; (iii) to install adequate sand and gravel filter which will allow passage of water but not livestock; (iv) outdoor shrimp pounds located on floodable land should be diked, and; (v) to promote environmental awareness of those directly involved with ballast water (crews of ship/vessels) and shrimp farms in the region. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 909-923. Epub 2010 September 01.

Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors

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

Imigração e epidemias no estado de São Paulo

Esse artigo tem por objetivo apresentar e discutir aspectos de interesse sanitário no processo de imigração estrangeira para o estado de São Paulo, na primeira década após a proclamação da República. Objetiva também apresentar as relações da imigração com a formação dos serviços sanitários estaduais e com a elaboração do modelo tecno-assistencial por eles adotado a partir da década de 1890. Num momento em que a febre amarela era a mais freqüente e letal das epidemias que afetavam o estado, matando principalmente os estrangeiros, a defesa do fluxo migratório foi um dos fios condutores das ações em saúde pública. A combinação entre os interesses da cafeicultura, a expansão ferroviária, imigração e febre amarela definiu os rumos da ação sanitária promovida pelas oligarquias no poder nesse período em São Paulo. A organização autoritária do Estado brasileiro não dava espaço à implantação de ações individuais de assistência à saúde. Sempre reivindicada pela população urbana e rural, somente com o desenvolvimento da medicina previdenciária no país, na década de 1930, difundiram-se as ações de assistência individual à saúde.

A relação entre o social e o natural nas abordagens de hazards e de desastres

O artigo aborda as teorias dos Hazards e dos Desastres. Nos últimos anos estas duas tradições teóricas têm recebido novos impulsos pela renovação de seus marcos de referência conceitual. Construídas em torno de uma longa tradição de pesquisa empírica, estas teorias explicam os impactos provocados por fenômenos como enchentes, terremotos, tornados e epidemias mediante a integração analítica das dimensões natural e social. Neste sentido, seu estudo pode fornecer subsídios para a interpretação destes problemas no Brasil.

Implantação de aterros sanitários: Comparação de métodos de seleção de áreas

Historically, the incorrect waste disposal has been related to epidemics which resulted in thousand of deaths. Despite the efforts to develop sanitary disposal methods in the 19 century, even today, uncontrolled dumps are often found in undeveloped countries. These places are responsible for environment pollution and for several diseases. The process of adequate waste disposal begins with the selection of suitable landfill areas, based on environmental characteristics. The goal of this research was to compare two methods of landfill site selection: the first one developed by IG-SMA (1999), and the other by Basílio (2001). Both methods were developed and applied in the same area - region of Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil and this fact explains the choice for them; the comparison was made by superposing maps. Despite the same geographic area, the result was very different and few areas in common were found; IG-SMA (1999) obtained more suitable areas than Basílio (2001). This has been attributed to scale, criteria and attribute differences and, as a conclusion, Basílio (2001) was considered more restrictive than IG-SMA (1999).

At least two indigenous species of the Bemisia tabaci complex are present in Brazil

Bemisia tabaci is one of the most important global agricultural insect pests, being a vector of emerging plant viruses such as begomoviruses and criniviruses that cause serious problems in many countries. Although knowledge of the genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations is important for controlling this pest and understanding viral epidemics, limited information is available on this pest in Brazil. A survey was conducted in different locations of São Paulo and Mato Grosso states, and the phylogenetic relationships of B. tabaci individuals from 43 populations sampled from different hosts were analysed based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (mtCOI) sequences. According to the recently proposed classification of the B. tabaci complex, which employs the 3.5% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold for species demarcation, most of the specimens collected were found to belong to the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 species, which includes the invasive populations of the commonly known B biotype, within the Africa/Middle East/Asia Minor high-level group. Three specimens collected from Solanun gilo and Ipomoea sp. were grouped together and could be classified in the New World species that includes the commonly known A biotype. However, six specimens collected from Euphorbia heterophylla, Xanthium cavanillesii and Glycine maxima could not be classified into any of the 28 previously proposed species, although according to the 11% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold, they belong to the New World high-level group. These specimens were classified into a new recently proposed species named New World 2 that includes populations from Argentina. Middle East-Asia Minor 1, New World and New World 2 were differentiated by RFLP analysis of the mtCOI gene using TaqI enzyme. Taq I analysis in silico also differentiates these from Mediterranean species, thus making this method a convenient tool to determine population dynamics, especially critical for monitoring the presence of this exotic pest in Brazil. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH.

Circulation of Different Lineages of Dengue Virus 2, Genotype American/Asian in Brazil: Dynamics and Molecular and Phylogenetic Characterization

The American/Asian genotype of Dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) was introduced into the Americas in the 80′s. Although there is no data showing when this genotype was first introduced into Brazil, it was first detected in Brazil in 1990. After which the virus spread throughout the country and major epidemics occurred in 1998, 2007/08 and 2010. In this study we sequenced 12 DENV-2 genomes obtained from serum samples of patients with dengue fever residing in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo (SJRP/SP), Brazil, in 2008. The whole open reading frame or envelope sequences were used to perform phylogenetic, phylogeographic and evolutionary analyses. Isolates from SJRP/SP were grouped within one lineage (BR3) close to isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Isolates from SJRP were probably introduced there at least in 2007, prior to its detection in the 2008 outbreak. DENV-2 circulation in Brazil is characterized by the introduction, displacement and circulation of three well-defined lineages in different times, most probably from the Caribbean. Thirty-seven unique amino acid substitutions were observed among the lineages, including seven amino acid differences in domains I to III of the envelope protein. Moreover, we dated here, for the first time, the introduction of American/Asian genotype into Brazil (lineage BR1) to 1988/89, followed by the introduction of lineages BR2 (1998-2000) and BR3 (2003-05). Our results show a delay between the introduction and detection of DENV-2 lineages in Brazil, reinforcing the importance and need for surveillance programs to detect and trace the evolution of these viruses. Additionally, Brazilian DENV-2 differed in genetic diversity, date of introduction and geographic origin and distribution in Brazil, and these are important factors for the evolution, dynamics and control of dengue. © 2013 Drumond et al.

Seleção de áreas para implantação de aterros sanitários: análise comparativa de métodos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dengue: padrões ambientais, conhecimento da população e cenários potenciais à transmissão em duas regiões de Jaboticabal, SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

As doenças infectocontagiosas em cidades de médio porte: uma abordagem qualitativa da Aids em Piracicaba/SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE