Impaired dendritic cell differentiation and maturation in the absence of C3

Human monocytes can be differentiated into immature dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of serum and cytokines. One of the main functions of immature DCs is to capture and process antigens. Following maturation, they differentiate into antigen presenting cells. The role of complement in the differentiation process from monocytes towards immature DCs remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that complement 3 (C3) has a regulatory impact on the expression of specific DC surface molecules and DC-derived cytokine production during DC differentiation. We isolated human adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF plus IL-4 in medium supplemented with normal human serum or C3 deficient serum. The lack of C3 during DC differentiation negatively impacted the expression of C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN, the antigen presenting molecules HLA-DR and CD1a, and the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. Further, the spontaneous production of IL-6 and IL-12 was reduced in the absence of C3. Moreover, the maturation of immature DCs in response to LPS challenge was impaired in the absence of C3 as evidenced by reduced MHC-II, co-stimulatory molecule expression as well as modulated IL-12 and TNF-alpha production. Collectively, our results provide evidence for a novel role of C3 as a critical cofactor in human DC differentiation and maturation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

L-Proline uptake in Crithidia deanei is influenced by its endosymbiont bacterium

Crithidia deanei, a monoxenic trypanosomatid, presents an endosymbiotic bacterium in its cytoplasm. Both the protozoan and the bacterium maintain intensive metabolic exchange, resulting in an interesting model to study the coevolution of metabolisms. The relevance of L-proline for the growth of C. deanei and its transport into these cells was studied. Both the endosymbiont-containing (wild) and the endosymbiont-free protozoa (aposymbiont or cured) strains, when grown in medium supplemented with L-proline, reached higher cell densities than those grown in unsupplemented media. We biochemically characterized the uptake of L-proline in both the wild (K(m)=0.153 +/- 0.022 mM, V(max)=0.239 +/- 0.011 nmol min(-1) per 4 x 10(7) cells) and the aposymbiont strains (K(m)=0.177 +/- 0.049 mM, V(max)=0.132 +/- 0.012 nmol min(-1) per 4 x 10(7) cells). These data suggest a single type of proline transporter whose activity is upregulated by the presence of the symbiotic bacterium. Proline transport was further characterized and was found to be insensitive to the extracellular concentration of Na(+), but sensitive to K(+) and pH. The abolition of proline uptake by respiratory chain inhibitors and valinomycin indicates that the proline transport in C. deanei is dependent on the plasma membrane K(+) gradient.

Root uptake and reduction of hexavalent chromium by aquatic macrophytes as assessed by high-resolution X-ray emission

Aquatic macrophytes Salvinia auriculata, Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes were chosen to investigate the Cr(VI) reduced by root-based biosorption in a chromium uptake experiment, using a high-resolution XRF technique. These plants were grown in hydroponics medium supplied with non-toxic Cr concentrations during a 27-day metal uptake experiment. The high-resolution Cr-K beta fluorescence spectra for dried root tissues and Cr reference material (100% Cr, Cr(2)O(3), and CrO(3)) were measured using an XRF spectrometer. For all species of aquatic plant treated with Cr(VI), the energy of the Cr-K beta(2,5) line was shifted around 8 eV below the same spectral line identified for the Cr(VI) reference, but it was also near to the line identified for the Cr(III) reference. Moreover, there was a lack of the strong Cr-K beta"" line assigned to the Cr(VI) reference material within the Cr(VI)-treated plant spectra, suggesting the reduction of Cr(VI) for other less toxic oxidation states of Cr. As all Cr-K beta spectra of root tissue species were compared, the peak energies and lineshape patterns of the Cr-K beta(2,5) line are coincident for the same aquatic plant species, when they were treated with Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Based on the experimental evidence, the Cr(VI) reduction process has happened during metal biosorption by these plants. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Square wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltarnmetry automated by sequential injection analysis - Potentialities and limitations exemplified by the determination of methyl parathion in water samples

This paper describes the development and evaluation of a sequential injection method to automate the determination of methyl parathion by square wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry exploiting the concept of monosegmented flow analysis to perform in-line sample conditioning and standard addition. Accumulation and stripping steps are made in the sample medium conditioned with 40 mmol L-1 Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 10) in 0.25 mol L-1 NaNO3. The homogenized mixture is injected at a flow rate of 10 mu Ls(-1) toward the flow cell, which is adapted to the capillary of a hanging drop mercury electrode. After a suitable deposition time, the flow is stopped and the potential is scanned from -0.3 to -1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl at frequency of 250 Hz and pulse height of 25 mV The linear dynamic range is observed for methyl parathion concentrations between 0.010 and 0.50 mgL(-1), with detection and quantification limits of 2 and 7 mu gL(-1), respectively. The sampling throughput is 25 h(-1) if the in line standard addition and sample conditioning protocols are followed, but this frequency can be increased up to 61 h(-1) if the sample is conditioned off-line and quantified using an external calibration curve. The method was applied for determination of methyl parathion in spiked water samples and the accuracy was evaluated either by comparison to high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, or by the recovery percentages. Although no evidences of statistically significant differences were observed between the expected and obtained concentrations, because of the susceptibility of the method to interference by other pesticides (e.g., parathion, dichlorvos) and natural organic matter (e.g., fulvic and humic acids), isolation of the analyte may be required when more complex sample matrices are encountered. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Consumo para obtenção de status: estudo empírico entre meninas pré-dolescentes de São Luis do Maranhão

The consumption of goods from brands in vogue, which symbolize status, popularity, success and social distinction, among those from the same social group in a pre-teenage girls¿ environment, has been a topic for academic studies as well as the market, due to their relevant consumption power for the companies worldwide. This paper aims to check out the use of these goods by them in São Luís, in order to become popular, succesful and socially distinguished; and the relation of the consumption for status with the brand image consumed and the pre-teenage girl self image; how familiar with the goods and the brand they are; and their attitude concerning their qualities. The empirical metodology had two phases: a qualitative and a quantitative one. The first one started with a specific group of 8 (eight) pre-teenage girls from high and medium classes, with the purpose of collecting some basis in order to reinforce the theory once the hypothesis were elaborated and used to guide the quantitative research as well as to adapt some North American scales. In the second stage of the qualitative research, a survey was applied in a convenience sample of 300 (three hundred) pre-teenage girls from São Luís, all from the high, medium high and low classes. The main result showed the pre-teenage girls from São Luís consume goods and brands for status, so they could get prestige, success, and social distinction, however, they do not define themselves or judge the social status of those from their social group based only on the clothes they wear and the brands which indicate their consumption power. Some other status symbols are important too, like, housing, the family car, the neighborhood where they dwell, the parents¿ occupation; the school they go to, the long and straight hair, how correct they speak Portuguese and their holiday trips. Another result highlighted was the strong relation of the brand image with their self image in the consumption for status.

Cidades desejáveis e o impacto de iniciativas verdes para torná-las possíveis

O presente trabalho trata do impacto de iniciativas verdes para o aprimoramento do desenvolvimento urbano, com o objetivo de discorrer sobre algumas opções para melhoria e ampliação de áreas verdes no município de São Paulo, verificando seu impacto na cidade e no alcance de benefícios de forma transversal. A metodologia utilizada foi uma breve revisão de conceitos em evidência para modelagem de cidades desejáveis e de seus pontos de conexão, assim como das definições e experiências relativas a algumas iniciativas verdes que possam ser aplicadas no curto e médio prazo com efetivo impacto positivo nas cidades. A análise tem como norte a situação atual e as perspectivas tangíveis à realidade do município de São Paulo, concluindo-se que atualmente há um esforço no sentido da concretização de políticas sustentáveis, projetos que podem ser otimizados em benefício da qualidade da cidade e da vida de seus cidadãos.

Análise metagenômica da microbiota de ambientes aquáticos do estado do Rio Grande do Norte - Brasil

The screening for genes in metagenomic libraries from soil creates opportunities to explore the enormous genetic and metabolic diversity of microorganisms. Rivers are ecosystems with high biological diversity, but few were examined using the metagenomic approach. With this objective, a metagenomic library was constructed from DNA soil samples collected at three different points along the Jundiaí-river (Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil). The points sampled are from open area, rough terrain and with the direct incidence of sunlight. This library was analyzed functionally and based in sequence. For functional analysis Luria-Bertani solid medium (LB) with NaCl concentration varied from 0.17M to 0.85M was used for functional analysis. Positives clones resistant to hypersaline medium were obtained. The recombinant DNAs were extracted and transformed into Escherichia coli strain DH10B and survival curves were obtained for quantification of abiotic stress resistance. The sequences of clones were obtained and submitted to the BLASTX tool. Some clones were found to hypothetical proteins of microorganisms from both Archaea and Bacteria division. One of the clones showed a complete ORF with high similarity to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase which participates in the synthesis of glycerol pathway and serves as a compatible solute to balance the osmotic pressure inside and outside of cells. Subsequently, in order to identify genes encoding osmolytes or enzymes related halotolerance, environmental DNA samples from the river soil, from the water column of the estuary and ocean were collected and pyrosequenced. Sequences of osmolytes and enzymes of different microorganisms were obtained from the UniProt and used as RefSeqs for homology identification (TBLASTN) in metagenomic databases. The sequences were submitted to HMMER for the functional domains identification. Some enzymes were identified: alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase, L-ectoina synthase (EctC), transaminase L-2 ,4-diaminobutyric acid (EctB), L-2 ,4-diaminobutyric acetyltransferase (EctA), L-threonine 3 dehydrogenase (sorbitol pathway), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, inositol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, chaperones, L-proline, glycine betaine binding ABC transporter, myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase protein of proline simportadora / PutP sodium-and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase These proteins are commonly related to saline environments, however the identification of them in river environment is justified by the high salt concentration in the soil during prolonged dry seasons this river. Regarding the richness of the microbiota the river substrate has an abundance of halobacteria similar to the sea and more than the estuary. These data confirm the existence of a specialized response against salt stress by microorganisms in the environment of the Jundiaí river

Germinação de sementes e otimização de técnicas de micropropagação de umbuzeiro (spondias tuberosa, arr.) anacardiaceae

The brazilian-plum (Spondias tuberosa, His) is a tropical fruit tree that has been consolidated in the market for agribusiness processing, due to its characteristic flavor of fruit. Accordingly, studies to optimize the propagation of plants are necessary for production of seedlings with agronomic and quality assurance measures. This study aimed at determining the efficient techniques for uniform seed germination, as brazilian-plum seed present mechanical dormancy, and establish optimal culture media for multiplication of shoots from the in vitro micropropagation. Firstly, in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, was evaluated the influence of different methods of breaking dormancy in the emergence of seedlings of brazilian-plum and speed of germination (IVG) of seeds. After 60 days of cultivation, it was found that splay in the distal portion of the seed was the best treatment, with rates of 85.33% in germinability and 3.415 of IVG, compared with the treatment of seed-soaking in water for 12h + humus and the control group. Subsequently, new sources of seedling explants were obtained in studies of tissue culture. Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology that the university, was used stem apex, nodal segments and internodes in search of decontamination with various concentrations of calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCl)2] and micropropagation, inoculating them in half WPM (1980) with various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). We used 10 sample units with three replications for different concentrations of [Ca(OCl)2], BAP and explants type. After thirty days, which was observed for the control of contamination, during the establishment in vitro, concentrations of [Ca(OCl)2] between 0.5% and 2.0% were effective in combating exogenous contamination of the apex. In nodal segments and internodes, concentrations of [Ca(OCl)2] between 1.0% and 2.0% and 1.5% and 2.0% were respectively, sufficient to reduce the percentage of losses in these infestations explants. For micropropagation, the culture medium supplemented with 0.1 mg.L-1 BAP promotes better development of multiple shoots per explants from nodal segment. However, success does not get to shoot training in internodal segment

Cultivo de Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Reisch) Korsikov (Chlorophyta) em laboratório utilizando meio CHU12 e de macrófita com NPK

Two different culture media, namely CHU12 and inorganic fertilizer NPK (20-5-20) associated with macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) extract, were used to evaluate the development of A. gracilis. Growth rate, development, nutritional value and medium water quality were analyzed. A. gracilis in macrophyte+NPK medium had mean cell density (333x10(5) cells/mL) higher than medium CHU12 (302x10(5) cells/mL). Protein rate (12.52% PS), dry weight (397x10(7) pg/cell) and ashes (4.08x10(7) pg/cell) in A. gracilis was higher (p<0.05) than medium macrophyte+NPK. on the other hand, lipids, carbohydrates and fibers had the same rate (p>0.05) in both media. When hydrological variables in the culture medium of A. gracilis are taken into account, dissolved oxygen and free CO2 alone failed to have any significant difference (p>0.05) between the media employed. A. gracilis in the macrophyte+NPK medium had the same nutritional rate as the commercial medium CHU12, with excellent results for alga growth. Macrophyte medium may be used for large scale alga culture in the feed of fish larvae.

Trichodina heterodentata (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae): a new parasite for Piaractus mesopotamicus (Pisces: Characidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

DESENVOLVIMENTO DE CALOS em EXPLANTES DE CUPUAÇUZEIRO (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) em FUNÇÃO da CONCENTRAÇÃO DE AUXINAS E do MEIO LÍQUIDO

Objetivou-se estudar o efeito da concentração de auxina e do meio líquido sobre o desenvolvimento de calos de cupuaçuzeiro. Segmentos de eixos embrionários e cotilédones, obtidos de frutos de cupuaçu dos tipos Mamorana e Redondo, foram cultivados em 4 meios de cultura diferentes: 1) meio MS (50%), suplementado com 2,4-D (1; 2; 4; 8 mg/L); 2) sais N6 (SIGMA) (4 g/L), acrescidos de 2,4-D (0; 2; 4 mg/L) e ANA (0; 3; 5 mg/L); 3) igual ao anterior, suplementado apenas com ANA (3 mg/L); e 4) meio MS, acrescido com ANA (1 mM). Calos com aspecto branco e brilhante foram observados em segmentos de eixos embrionários e cotilédones, cultivados nas menores concentrações de meio 1 (1 e 2 mg/L), enquanto nas maiores concentrações (4 e 8 mg/L) se observou a formação de calos e massa calosa branco-opaca, em eixos embrionários e em segmentos cotiledonares, estas estruturas tornaram-se escuras dentro de oito semanas. Usando o meio 2, um grande número de raízes foram formadas, enquanto o mesmo meio suplementado apenas com ANA (3; 5 mg/L) originou uma massa calosa. A combinação de ANA e 2,4-D, 3 e 2 mg/L, respectivamente, promoveu a formação de calos brancos e raízes. A transferência das culturas para meio líquido, sem regulador de crescimento, promoveu aumento de tamanho dos explantes e escurecimento dos mesmos. O cultivo desses explantes no meio 3 resultou no aparecimento de calos amarelos, com aspecto friável, que permaneceram com a mesma aparência no meio 4.

Indução de embriogênese somática em cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.)

Folhas jovens de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) foram empregadas para indução de embriogênese somática, as quais foram cultivadas inicialmente em meio MS suplementado com 6,0 mg/L BAP e 0,5 mg/L AIA (meio de estabelecimento), seguindo-se o cultivo em meio MS suplementado com 2,20 mg/L TDZ (meio de indução). A região da nervura mostrou intumescimento três dias após inoculação no meio de estabelecimento, o qual foi seguido pela formação de cachos de calos. As massas calosas foram transferidas para o meio de indução, e as estruturas com características pró-embriogênicas puderam ser observadas após uma semana. Estudos de microscopia eletrônica de varredura revelaram estruturas com características de embriões somáticos no meio com TDZ.

Germination and mycelial growth of Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho as influenced by herbicides and surfactants

Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho é um forte candidato para o controle de Euphorbia heterophylla L. (amendoim bravo). Este fungo pode ser aplicado em combinação com herbicidas para controlar um maior espectro de espécies daninhas. Para tanto, experimentos laboratoriais foram realizados para verificar a possibilidade da utilização de mistura de tanque de esporos de B. euphorbiae e herbicidas ou surfatantes recomendados para a cultura da soja. Crescimento micelial e germinação de conídios foram avaliados em meio BDA acrescido dos herbicidas, nas concentrações recomendadas dos produtos comerciais, oxasulfuron (80 g/ha), glifosato (4 L/ha), bentazon (1.5 L/ha), fomesafen (1 L/ha), chlorimuron-ethyl (80 g/ha), lactofen (1 L/ha) e imazetaphyr (1 L/ha) e dos surfatantes Energic (2 ml/L), Aterbane (2,5 ml/L), Silwet L-77Ag (1 ml/L), Herbitensil (2 ml/L) e Natur L'óleo (10 ml/L). Diluições dos herbicidas de 50% e 25% foram avaliadas com um consumo de calda equivalente a 300 L/ha. Os surfatantes foram somente utilizados nas concentrações recomendadas. O crescimento micelial não foi afetado por bentazon e fomesafen e apenas levemente por oxasulfuron. Porém, glifosato, chlorimuron-ethyl, lactofen, Energic, Herbitensil, Silwet, e Aterbane o reduziram drasticamente. A redução observada com imazetaphyr foi intermediária e Natur L' óleo promoveu o crescimento micelial. Na presença dos surfatantes, observou-se que todos permitiram uma porcentagem de germinação equivalente àquela alcançada na presença de água. Energic e Herbitensil causaram um retardamento expressivo. Com Herbitensil, o processo germinativo iniciou somente aos 120 minutos. Com herbicidas, foi observado que somente na presença de glifosato e imazetaphyr a germinação dos conídios não seguiu a tendência observada com água, como ocorreu com os outros produtos testados.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 during in vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro culture of bovine embryos

Avaliaram-se o efeito do IGF-I na maturação in vitro (MIV) (experimento I) e no desenvolvimento embrionário (DE) (experimento II) de oócitos bovinos fecundados in vitro, quanto às taxas de clivagem (TC), de blastocistos (TB) e de eclosão (TE). Para MIV, complexos cumulus-oócitos imaturos foram cultivados em meio TCM-199 suplementado com HEPES, bicarbonato e piruvato de sódio, aditivos, soro fetal bovino (meio B-199) e gonadotrofinas 14U/ml de PMSG e 7U/ml de hCG). Para o desenvolvimento embrionário, os oócitos/zigotos foram cultivados em meio B-199 com células epiteliais do oviduto bovino em suspensão sob óleo de silicone. As condições de cultivo in vitro para ambos os experimentos seguiram os tratamentos: 1- meio B-199 + 200 ng/ml IGF-I; 2- B-199 + 100 ng/ml IGF-I; 3- B-199 + 50 ng/ml IGF-I; 4- B-199 + 10 ng/ml IGF-I; 5- B-199 + 0 ng/ml IGF-I. Todas as culturas foram realizadas a 38,5° C em atmosfera com 5% de CO2 e os dados foram analisados pelo teste do qui-quadrado. No experimento I, não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos quanto às TC, TB e TE, quando o meio de MIV foi suplementado com IGF-I. No experimento II, a adição de IGF-I ao meio de DE resultou em aumento na TC (P<0,05) mas não influenciou a TB e a TE. A adição de 200 ng/ml de IGF-I ao meio DE melhorou a TC (71,1%) quando comparada com a TC dos grupos de 100 ng/ml de IGF-I (57,6%) ou controle (56,7%), entretanto não houve diferença quando comparada com a dos grupos de 50 ng/ml (69,4%) ou 10 ng/ml (73,1%) de IGF-I. Não houve efeito benéfico na adição de 10 a 200 ng/ml de IGF-I nos meios de MIV e de DE com relação ao desenvolvimento de embriões produzidos a partir de oócitos maturados e fecundados in vitro.

Crescimento in vitro de plântulas de Caularthron bicornutum em diferentes concentrações de sacarose

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