New genes of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri involved in pathogenesis and adaptation revealed by a transposon-based mutant library

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

Influence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis outer proteins (Yops) on interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha and nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages

An essential key to pathogenicity in Yersinia is the presence of a 70 kb plasmid (pYV) which encodes a type-III secretion system and several virulence outer proteins whose main function is to enable the bacteria to survive in the host. Thus, a specific immune response is needed in which cytokines are engaged. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) released by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis on the production of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide (NO) by murine peritoneal macrophages. To this end, female Swiss mice were infected intravenously with wild-type Y pseudotuberculosis or with mutant strains unable to secrete specific Yops (YopE, YopH, YopJ, YopM, and YpkA). on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after infection, the animals were sacrificed and the cytokines and NO were assayed in the peritoneal macrophages culture supernatants. A fall in NO production was observed during the course of infection with all the strains tested, though during the infection with the strains that did not secrete YopE and YopH, the suppression occurred later. There was, in general, an unchanged or sometimes increased production of TNF-alpha between the 7th and the 21st day after infection, compared to the control group, followed by an abrupt decrease on the last day of infection. The IL-12 production was also suppressed during the infection, with most of the strains tested, except with those that did not secrete YopJ and YopE. The results suggest that Yops may suppress IL-12, TNF-alpha, and NO production and that the most important proteins involved in this suppression are YopE and YopH. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A teoria da ruína aplicada em um modelo de empresa financeira com risco de crédito

In this work we study a new risk model for a firm which is sensitive to its credit quality, proposed by Yang(2003): Are obtained recursive equations for finite time ruin probability and distribution of ruin time and Volterra type integral equation systems for ultimate ruin probability, severity of ruin and distribution of surplus before and after ruin

Comparative genomics analyses of citrus-associated bacteria

Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c (XF-9a5c) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (XAC) are bacteria that infect citrus plants. Sequencing of the genomes of these strains is complete and comparative analyses are now under way with the genomes of other bacteria of the same genera. In this review, we present an overview of this comparative genomic work. We also present a detailed genomic comparison between XF-9a5a and XAC. Based on this analysis, genes and operons were identified that might be relevant for adaptation to citrus. XAC has two copies of a type II secretion system, a large number of cell wall-degrading enzymes and sugar transporters, a complete energy metabolism, a whole set of avirulence genes associated with a type III secretion system, and a complete flagellar and chemotatic system. By contrast, XF-9a5c possesses more genes involved with type IV pili biosynthesis than does XAC, contains genes encoding for production of colicins, and has 4 copies of Type I restriction/modification system while XAC has only one.

Novel insights into the genomic basis of citrus canker based on the genome sequences of two strains of Xanthomonas fuscans subsp aurantifolii

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

Isozyme characterization of Eucalyptus urophylla (S.T. Blake) and E-grandis (Hill ex Maiden) populations in Brazil

Seedling taken from 2 species of Eucalyptus growing in Brazil were electrophoretically analysed at 14 isozyme loci representing 6 enzyme systems: alpha-EST, beta-EST, SKDH, IDH, MDH, and LAP. Genetic variability measures were determined using 11 putative isozyme loci. on average, 81.8% and 54.5% of the loci were found to be polymorphic by the criterion of 95% in E. urophylla and E. grandis, respectively. The mean number of alleles per loci was 3.0 in E. urophylla and 2.5 in E. grandis. Observed mean heterozygosity was 0.283 in E. urophylla and 0.166 in E. grandis. Levels of genetic diversity in these species were similar to those in other Eucalyptus species which have widespread distributions. The possible hybridization of E. urophylla with E. alba is also discussed.

Comparative genomic analysis of plant-associated bacteria

This review deals with a comparative analysis of seven genome sequences from plant-associated bacteria. These are the genomes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Mesorhizobium loti, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri, Xylella fastidiosa, and Ralstonia solanacearum. Genome structure and the metabolism pathways available highlight the compromise between the genome size and lifestyle. Despite the recognized importance of the type III secretion system in controlling host compatibility, its presence is not universal in all necrogenic pathogens. Hemolysins, hemagglutinins, and some adhesins, previously reported only for mammalian pathogens, are present in most organisms discussed. Different numbers and combinations of cell wall degrading enzymes and genes to overcome the oxidative burst generally induced by the plant host are characterized in these genomes. A total of 19 genes not involved in housekeeping functions were found common to all these bacteria.

Papel das Yops secretadas por Yersinia sobre a resposta imune do hospedeiro

The genus Yersinia contains three species pathogenic to humans: Y. pestis, Y. enterocolitica e Y. pseudotuberculosis. The pathogenicity of Yersinia is linked to the presence of a 70-kb virulence plasmid (pYV) that is common to the three species and codifies a type III secretion system and a set of virulence proteins, including those known as Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), that are exported by this system when the bacteria encounter host cells. Two Yops translocators (YopB and YopD) are inserted into the host plasma membrane and transport six effectors (YopO, YopH, YopM, YopJ and YopT) across the membrane into the cytosol of the host cell. The Yops effectors interfere with multiple signaling pathways of the infected cell, affecting both the innate and adaptive immune responses. This article focuses on the role of Yops in the modulation of the host immune response.

Simulation of the flow through automatic valves of hermetic compressors by the immersed boundary method approach

The main goal of the present work is to verify the applicability of the Immersed Boundary Method together with the Virtual Physical Model to solve the flow through automatic valves of hermetic compressors. The valve was simplified to a two-dimensional radial diffuser, with diameter ratio of D/d = 1.5, and simulated for a one cycle of opening and closing process with a imposed velocity of 3.0 cm/s for the reed, dimensionless gap between disks in the range of 0.07 < s/d < 0.10, and inlet Reynolds number equal to 1500. The good results obtained showed that the methodology has great potential as project tool for this type of valve systems. © The Authors, 2011.

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the agriculture sector in Trinidad And Tobago

The economic impact of climate change on root crop, fisheries and vegetable production for Trinidad and Tobago under the A2 and B2 scenarios were modeled, relative to a baseline ―no climate change‖ case, where the mean temperature and rainfall for a base period of 1980 – 2000 was assumed for the years up to 2050. Production functions were used, using ARMA specifications to correct for serial autocorrelation. For the A2 scenarios, rainfall is expected to fall by approximately 10% relative to the baseline case in the 2020s, but is expected to rise thereafter, until by the 2040s rainfall rises slightly above the mean for the baseline case. For the B2 scenario, rainfall rose slightly above the mean for the baseline case in the current decade, but falls steadily thereafter to approximately 15% by the 2040s. Over the same period, temperature is expected to increase by 1.34C and 1.37C under A2 and B2 respectively. It is expected that any further increase in rainfall should have a deleterious effect on root crop production as a whole, since the above mentioned crops represent the majority of the root crops included in the study. Further expected increases in temperature will result in the ambient temperature being very close to the optimal end of the range for most of these crops. By 2050, the value of yield cumulative losses (2008$) for root crops is expected to be approximately 248.8 million USD under the A2 scenario and approximately 239.4 million USD under the B2 scenario. Relative to the 2005 catch for fish, there will be a decrease in catch potential of 10 - 20% by 2050 relative to 2005 catch potentials, other things remaining constant. By 2050 under the A2 and B2 scenarios, losses in real terms were estimated to be 160.2 million USD and 80.1 million USD respectively, at a 1% discount rate. For vegetables, the mean rainfall exceeds the optimal rainfall range for sweet peppers, hot peppers and melongene. However, while the optimal rainfall level for tomatoes is 3000mm/yr, other vegetables such as sweet peppers, hot peppers and ochroes have very low rainfall requirements (as low as 300 mm/yr). Therefore it is expected that any further decrease in rainfall should have a mixed effect on individual vegetable production. It is expected that any further increase in temperature should have a mixed effect on individual vegetable production, though model results indicated that as a group, an increase in temperature should have a positive impact on vegetable production. By 2050, the value of yield cumulative gains (2008$) for vegetables is expected to be approximately 54.9 million USD under the A2 scenario and approximately 49.1 million USD under the B2 scenario, given a 1% discount rate. For root crops, fisheries and vegetables combined, the cumulative loss under A2 is calculated as approximately 352.8 million USD and approximately 270.8 million USD under B2 by 2050. This is equivalent to 1.37% and 1.05% of the 2008 GDP under the A2 and B2 scenarios respectively by 2050. Sea Level Rise (SLR) by 2050 is estimated to be 0.255 m under A2 and 0.215 m under B2. GIS estimation indicated that for a 0.255 m sea level rise, combined with a 0.5 m high tide, there would be no permanent inundation of agricultural land in Trinidad. The total inundation area is 1.18 km2. This occurs only in the Caroni Watershed, on the western coast of Trinidad, and the areas are outside the Caroni Swamp. Even with an additional rise of 0.5 m to simulate a high rainfall event, the estimated inundated area is 4.67 km2, but with no permanent inundation, though likely to be subject to flooding. Based on eleven (11) evaluation criteria, the top potential adaptation options were identified: 1. Use of water saving irrigation systems and water management systems e.g. drip irrigation; 2. Mainstream climate change issues into agricultural management; 3. Repair/maintain existing dams; 4. Alter crop calendar for short-term crops; 5. Adopt improved technologies for soil conservation; 6. Establish systems of food storage; 7. Promote water conservation – install on-farm water harvesting off roof tops; 8. Design and implement holistic water management plans for all competing uses; 9. Build on- farm water storage (ponds and tanks); 10. Agricultural drainage; and 11. Installation of greenhouses. The most attractive adaptation options, based on the Benefit-Cost Ratio are: (1) Build on- farm water storage such as ponds and tanks (2) Mainstreaming climate change issues into agricultural management and (3) Water Harvesting. However, the options with the highest net benefits are, (in order of priority): (1) Build on- farm water storage such as ponds and tanks, (2) Mainstreaming climate change issues into agricultural management and (3) Use of drip irrigation. Based on the area burnt in Trinidad and Tobago between 2005 and 2009, the average annual loss due to fires is 1717.3 ha. At US$17.41 per carbon credit, this implies that for the total land lost to forest fires on average each year, the opportunity cost of carbon credit revenue is 74.3 million USD. If a teak reforestation programme is undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago, the net benefit of reforestation under a carbon credit programme would be 69 million USD cumulatively to 2050.

Papel das Yops de yersinia pseudotuberculosis na modulação da resposta imune celular durante infecção experimental

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Metodologia baseada em sistema fuzzy intervalar do tipo-2 para detecção e identificação de faltas de incipientes em motores de indução

Desde a incorporação da automação no processo produtivo, a busca por sistemas mais eficientes, objetivando o aumento da produtividade e da qualidade dos produtos e serviços, direcionou os estudos para o planejamento de estratégias que permitissem o monitoramento de sistemas com o intuito principal de torna-los mais autônomos e robustos. Por esse motivo, as pesquisas envolvendo o diagnóstico de faltas em sistemas industriais tornaram-se mais intensivas, visto a necessidade da incorporação de técnicas para monitoramente detalhado de sistemas. Tais técnicas permitem a verificação de perturbações, falta ou mesmo falhas. Em vista disso, essa trabalho investiga técnicas de detecção e diagnostico de faltas e sua aplicação em motores de indução trifásicos, delimitando o seu estudo em duas situações: sistemas livre de faltas, e sobre atuação da falta incipiente do tipo curto-circuitoparcial nas espiras do enrolamento do estator. Para a detecção de faltas, utilizou-se analise paramétrica dos parâmetros de um modelo de tempo discreto, de primeira ordem, na estrutura autoregressivo com entradas exógenas (ARX). Os parâmetros do modelo ARX, que trazem informação sobre a dinâmica dominante do sistema, são obtidos recursivamente pela técnica dos mínimos quadrados recursivos (MQR). Para avaliação da falta, foi desenvolvido um sistema de inferência fuzzy (SIF) intervala do tipo-2, cuja mancha de incerteza ou footprint of uncertainty (FOU), características de sistema fuzzy tipo-2, é ideal como forma de representar ruídos inerentes a sistemas reais e erros numéricos provenientes do processo de estimação paramétrica. Os parâmetros do modelo ARX são entradas para o SIF. Algoritmos genéricos (AG’s) foram utilizados para otimização dos SIF intervalares tipo-2, objetivando reduzir o erro de diagnóstico da falta identificada na saída desses sistemas. Os resultados obtidos em teste de simulação computacional demonstram a efetividade da metodologia proposta.

Diversidade genética de Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, caracterização molecular e patogênica de Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolii e detecção de Xanthomonas alfalfae em citrumelo ‘Swingle’ (Citrus paradisi Macf. x Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) no Brasil

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Comparative proteomic analysis reveals that T3SS, Tfp, and xanthan gum are key factors in initial stages of Citrus sinensis infection by Xanthomonas citri subsp citri

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

Biologia floral de Zeyheria tuberculosa (Bignoniaceae)

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