Natural Products from Antarctic Colonial Ascidians of the Genera Aplidium and Synoicum: Variability and Defensive Role

Ascidians have developed multiple defensive strategies mostly related to physical, nutritional or chemical properties of the tunic. One of such is chemical defense based on secondary metabolites. We analyzed a series of colonial Antarctic ascidians from deep-water collections belonging to the genera Aplidium and Synoicum to evaluate the incidence of organic deterrents and their variability. The ether fractions from 15 samples including specimens of the species A. falklandicum, A. fuegiense, A. meridianum, A. millari and S. adareanum were subjected to feeding assays towards two relevant sympatric predators: the starfish Odontaster validus, and the amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus. All samples revealed repellency. Nonetheless, some colonies concentrated defensive chemicals in internal body-regions rather than in the tunic. Four ascidian-derived meroterpenoids, rossinones B and the three derivatives 2,3-epoxy-rossinone B, 3-epi-rossinone B, 5,6-epoxy-rossinone B, and the indole alkaloids meridianins A-G, along with other minoritary meridianin compounds were isolated from several samples. Some purified metabolites were tested in feeding assays exhibiting potent unpalatabilities, thus revealing their role in predation avoidance. Ascidian extracts and purified compound-fractions were further assessed in antibacterial tests against a marine Antarctic bacterium. Only the meridianins showed inhibition activity, demonstrating a multifunctional defensive role. According to their occurrence in nature and within our colonial specimens, the possible origin of both types of metabolites is discussed.

Genotypic classification of patients with Wolfram syndrome: insights into the natural history of the disease and correlation with phenotype

Purpose: Wolfram syndrome is a degenerative, recessive rare disease with an onset in childhood. It is caused by mutations in WFS1 or CISD2 genes. More than 200 different variations in WFS1 have been described in patients with Wolfram syndrome, which complicates the establishment of clear genotype-phenotype correlation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of WFS1 mutations and update the natural history of the disease. Methods: This study analyzed clinical and genetic data of 412 patients with Wolfram syndrome published in the last 15 years. Results: (i) 15% of published patients do not fulfill the current ­inclusion criterion; (ii) genotypic prevalence differences may exist among countries; (iii) diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy might not be the first two clinical features in some patients; (iv) mutations are nonuniformly distributed in WFS1; (v) age at onset of diabetes mellitus, hearing defects, and diabetes insipidus may depend on the patient"s genotypic class; and (vi) disease progression rate might depend on genotypic class. Conclusion: New genotype-phenotype correlations were established, disease progression rate for the general population and for the genotypic classes has been calculated, and new diagnostic criteria have been proposed. The conclusions raised could be important for patient management and counseling as well as for the development of treatments for Wolfram syndrome.

Inversion polymorphism in two Serbian natural populations of Drosophila subobscura: Analysis of long-term changes

To study whether inversions (or arrangements) by themselves or karyotypes are the main global warming adaptive target of natural selection, two Drosophila subobscura Serbian populations (Apatin and Petnica) were re analyzed using different statistical approaches. Both populations were sampled in an approximately 15 years period: Apatin in 1994 and 2008 + 2009 and Petnica in 1995 and 2010. For all chromosomes, the four collections studied were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Thus, it seems that inversions (or arrangements) combined at random to constitute populations" karyotypes. However, there were differences in karyotypic fre quencies along the years, although they were significant only for Apatin population. It is possible to conclude that inversions (or arrangements) are likely the target of natural selection, because they presented long term changes, but combine at random to generate the corresponding karyotypic combinations. As a consequence, the frequencies of karyotypes also change along time.

The Bacterium Frischella perrara Causes Scab Formation in the Gut of its Honeybee Host.

UNLABELLED: Honeybees harbor well-defined bacterial communities in their guts. The major members of these communities appear to benefit the host, but little is known about how they interact with the host and specifically how they interface with the host immune system. In the pylorus, a short region between the midgut and hindgut, honeybees frequently exhibit scab-like structures on the epithelial gut surface. These structures are reminiscent of a melanization response of the insect immune system. Despite the wide distribution of this phenotype in honeybee populations, its cause has remained elusive. Here, we show that the presence of a common member of the bee gut microbiota, the gammaproteobacterium Frischella perrara, correlates with the appearance of the scab phenotype. Bacterial colonization precedes scab formation, and F. perrara specifically localizes to the melanized regions of the host epithelium. Under controlled laboratory conditions, we demonstrate that exposure of microbiota-free bees to F. perrara but not to other bacteria results in scab formation. This shows that F. perrara can become established in a spatially restricted niche in the gut and triggers a morphological change of the epithelial surface, potentially due to a host immune response. As an intermittent colonizer, this bacterium holds promise for addressing questions of community invasion in a simple yet relevant model system. Moreover, our results show that gut symbionts of bees engage in differential host interactions that are likely to affect gut homeostasis. Future studies should focus on how these different gut bacteria impact honeybee health. IMPORTANCE: As pollinators, honeybees are key species for agricultural and natural ecosystems. Their guts harbor simple communities composed of characteristic bacterial species. Because of these features, bees are ideal systems for studying fundamental aspects of gut microbiota-host interactions. However, little is known about how these bacteria interact with their host. Here, we show that a common member of the bee gut microbiota causes the formation of a scab-like structure on the gut epithelium of its host. This phenotype was first described in 1946, but since then it has not been much further characterized, despite being found in bee populations worldwide. The scab phenotype is reminiscent of melanization, a conserved innate immune response of insects. Our results show that high abundance of one member of the bee gut microbiota triggers this specific phenotype, suggesting that the gut microbiota composition can affect the immune status of this key pollinator species.

DIVERSIDADE GENÉTICA E SELEÇÃO DE INICIADORES ISSR EM UMA POPULAÇÃO NATURAL DE MANGABA (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) (APOCYNACEAE)

RESUMO O conhecimento da diversidade genética de espécies nativas é de grande valia quando se objetiva o melhoramento e a conservação de populações naturais. Neste sentido, o objetivodeste trabalho foi selecionar iniciadores ISSR (inter repetições de sequências simples) para Hancornia speciosa (Apocynaceae), assim como quantificar a variabilidade genética em uma população natural. Foramamostrados 15 indivíduos de uma população localizada em Natal-RN. Amostras de caule foram coletadas para a posterior extração do DNA. DNA. Para a seleção, 19 primers ISSR foram testados, dos quais seis foram eficientes, apresentando locos nítidos e em maior número (UBC 808; UBC 810; UBC 826; UBC 827; UBC 841 e UBC 842), totalizando 63 locos. Desses, apenas 30 (47,62%) apresentaram polimorfismo. O valor de PIC (conteúdo de informações polimórficas) para os primers selecionados atingiu a média de 0,37, variando de 0,26 a 0,44. A diversidade genética foi considerada baixa dentro da população, com o número de alelos observados (na =1,48), número de alelos efetivos (ne = 1,32), índice de diversidade de Nei (He = 0,18) e índice de Shannon (I = 0,26). Os padrões de diversidade alélica encontrados indicam a ocorrência de um gargalo populacional recente. A utilização de marcadores ISSR para Hancornia speciosa mostrou-se eficaz para a quantificação da diversidade genética dos indivíduos, servindo como aporte para estratégias e planos que visem à conservação e à manutenção da espécie.

Vestibular Schwannoma: The Evolution of Hearing and Tumor Size in Natural Course and after Treatment by LINAC Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: To review the natural course of tumor size and hearing during conservative management of 151 patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma (VS), and to evaluate the same parameters for the part of the group (n = 84) who were treated by LINAC stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS: In prospectively collected data, patients underwent MRI and complete audiovestibular tests at inclusion, during the conservative management period and after SRS. Hearing was graded according to the Gardner-Robertson (GR) scale and tumor size according to Koos. Statistics were performed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate analyses including linear and logistic regression. Specific insight was given to patients with serviceable hearing. RESULTS: During the conservative management period (mean follow-up time: 24 months, range: 6-96), the annual risk of GR class degradation was 6% for GRI and 15% for GR II patients. Hearing loss as an initial symptom was highly predictive of further hearing loss (p = 0.003). Tumor growth reached 25%. For SRS patients, functional hearing preservation was 51% at 1 year and 36% at 3 years. Tumor control was 94 and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In VS patients, hearing loss at the time of diagnosis is a predictor of poorer hearing outcome. LINAC SRS is efficient for tumor control. Patients who preserved their pretreatment hearing presented less hearing loss per year after SRS than before treatment, suggesting a protective effect of SRS when cochlear function can be preserved.

Vestibular schwannoma : the evolution of hearing and tumor size in natural course and after treatment by Linac stereotactic radiosurgery

Objectif : D'analyser l'évolution naturelle de la taille de la tumeur et de l'audition chez 151 patients avec schwannome vestibulaire (VS) en suivi et d'évaluer les mêmes paramètres pour une partie du group traité par Radiochirurgie Stéréotaxique Linac (SRS). Méthodes: Etude prospective des patients bilantés par IRM et tests audio-vestibulaires à l'inclusion, pendant la période du suivi et après SRS. L'audition a été gradé selon l'échelle de Gardner-Robertson (GR) et la taille tumorale selon l'échelle de Koos. L'analyse statistique inclut l'analyse de survie de Kaplan-Meier, analyse multivariée avec régression linéaire et logistique. Les patients avec une audition utile ont étés spécifiquement analysés. Résultats: Pendant la période du suivi (moyenne 24 mois, déviation 6-96), le risqué annuel de dégradation de la classe GR était 6% pour les patients GRI et 15% pour les GRII. La perte auditive comme symptôme initial était un facteur signifïcativement prédictif pour une aggravation auditive ultérieure (p=0.003). La croissance tumorale était de 25% à la dernière observation pendant le suivi. Pour les patients traités par Linac, la préservation d'une audition utile était 51% à 1 an et 36% à 3 ans. Le contrôle tumoral était 94 % and 91% respectivement. Conclusion: Chez les patients avec VS, la perte auditive déjà présente au diagnostique est un facteur prédictif négatif pour l'évolution de l'audition. La Radiochirurgie Stéréotaxique Linac est efficace pour le contrôle tumoral. Les patients ayant préservés leur status auditif prétraitement présentent un rythme annuel de perte auditive diminué après SRS compare à celle-ci avant le traitement. Cette constatation suggère un effet protectif potentiel de la SRS, à condition que la fonction cochléaire soit préservée.

On the relative abundance of autopolyploids and allopolyploids.

The prevalence of autopolyploids in angiosperms has long been a subject of debate. Meurountzing (1936) and Darlington (1937) conclude d that autopolyploids were common and important evolutionary entities. However, Clausen et al. (1945) and Stebbins (1947) subsequently considered them rare, in part because the criteria upon which interpretations of autopolyploidy were rendered were not rigorous. This position was reiterated by Grant (1981) decades later, although evidence was mounting that autopolyploid taxa might be important in natural populations (Lewis, 1980). As cytological and genetic data have accumulated, it has become increasingly apparent that the latter view is likely to be correct (Soltis et al., 2004b, 2007, 2010). However, it still appears that the majority of polyploids are allopolyploids (Parisod et al., 2010; Soltis et al., 2010), even though Ramsey & Schemske (1998, p. 467) conclude that 'the rate of autopolyploid formation may often be higher than the rate of allopol yploid formation.' In this letter we survey the literature to assess whether allopolyploids are indeed the prevailing cytotype in nature. Using our new estimates for the incidence of autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy, we discuss some of the evolutionary dynamics that may be driving their frequencies in nature. Finally, we suggest avenues for future research on polyploidy that build on our results and other recent progress in the field.

Estudo da estrutura e da solvatação do HNP-3, um antibiótico natural, por dinâmica molecular

The structure and hydration of the HNP-3 have been derived from molecular dynamics data using root mean square deviation, radial and energy distributions. Three antiparallel beta sheets were found to be preserved. 15 intramolecular hydrogen bonds were identified together with 36 hydrogen bonds on the backbone and 35 on the side chain atoms. From the point of view of the hydration dynamics, the analysis shows a high solvent accessibility of the monomer and attractive interactions with water molecules.

Flow analysis by using solenoid valves for As(III) determination in natural waters by an on-line separation and pre-concentration system coupled to a tungsten coil atomizer

A flow system coupled to a tungsten coil atomizer in an atomic absorption spectrometer (TCA-AAS) was developed for As(III) determination in waters, by extraction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) as complexing agent, and by sorption of the As(III)-DDTC complex in a micro-column filled with 5 mg C18 reversed phase (10 µL dry sorbent), followed by elution with ethanol. A complete pre-concentration/elution cycle took 208 s, with 30 s sample load time (1.7 mL) and 4 s elution time (71 µL). The interface and software for the synchronous control of two peristaltic pumps (RUN/ STOP), an autosampler arm, seven solenoid valves, one injection valve, the electrothermal atomizer and the spectrometer Read function were constructed. The system was characterized and validated by analytical recovery studies performed both in synthetic solutions and in natural waters. Using a 30 s pre-concentration period, the working curve was linear between 0.25 and 6.0 µg L-1 (r = 0.9976), the retention efficiency was 94±1% (6.0 µg L-1), and the pre-concentration coefficient was 28.9. The characteristic mass was 58 pg, the mean repeatability (expressed as the variation coefficient) was 3.4% (n=5), the detection limit was 0.058 µg L-1 (4.1 pg in 71 µL of eluate injected into the coil), and the mean analytical recovery in natural waters was 92.6 ± 9.5 % (n=15). The procedure is simple, economic, less prone to sample loss and contamination and the useful lifetime of the micro-column was between 200-300 pre-concentration cycles.

Chemical modifications of a natural xanthone and antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus and cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines

A series of 15 ω-aminoalkoxylxanthones containing methyl, ethyl, propyl, tert-butylamino and piperidinyl moieties were synthesized from a natural xanthone isolated from a lichen species. These compounds were tested for their in vitro antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and cytotoxicity against a number of human tumor cell lines was too evaluated. The newly synthesized derivatives revealed selective activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), and the most promising results are for a multidrug resistant strain, for which six of these compounds showed good activity (MICs 4 µg/mL). Many derivatives inhibited tumor cells growth and most compounds were active on multiple lines.

Composição florística e estrutura da regeneração natural de floresta secundária de várzea baixa no estuário amazônico

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a estrutura da regeneração natural de uma floresta explorada de várzea baixa localizada no município de Afuá, no norte do Estado do Pará. Foram amostradas 25 subparcelas de 100 m², nas quais foram medidos a altura de todos os indivíduos das espécies arborescentes com altura (h) ³ 0,30 m e diâmetro a 1,30 m do nível do solo (DAP) < 15,0 cm e o diâmetro das espécies com h ³ 3,0 m e DAP < 15,0 cm, além de ter sido realizada a identificação botânica. Foram amostrados 13.380 indivíduos/ha, distribuídos em 63 espécies, 51 gêneros e 23 famílias botânicas. As espécies mais importantes da fitocenose foram: Euterpe oleracea, Astrocaryum murumuru, Crudia bracteata, Gustavia augusta e Inga edulis. Mais de 60% das espécies estudadas apresentaram padrão de distribuição agregado, e o índice de diversidade de Shannon-Weaver (H') foi de 3,05.

Estrutura fitossociológia de um fragmento natural de floresta inundável em área de orizicultura irrigada, município de Lagoa da Confusão, Tocantins

Os fragmentos naturais de florestas inundáveis conhecidos como ipucas localizam-se na planície do Araguaia, sob a forma de depressões naturais, que no Estado do Tocantins estão situados em áreas de planícies de inundação, que favorece seu alagamento e, conseqüentemente, o maior tempo de retenção da água em épocas de elevada precipitação. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido na fazenda Lago Verde, Município de Lagoa da Confusão, Tocantins, situado entre as coordenadas UTM: 643586 e 644060 leste e 8792795 e 8799167 norte. O objetivo do trabalho foi caracterizar a estrutura de um fragmento de floresta inundável de aproximadamente um hectare, inserido em área de orizicultura irrigada. Para o levantamento fitossociológico, foram amostrados todos os indivíduos arbustivo-arbóreos com perímetro a 1,30 m do solo (PAP) > 15 cm. Ao todo, foram encontrados 807 indivíduos, 35 famílias e 70 espécies. As espécies com maior VC, em ordem decrescente, foram Hirtella racemosa Lam., Qualea multiflora Mart. e Cecropia pachystachya Trécul. As famílias mais ricas em espécies foram Fabaceae (9), Vochysiaceae (6), Annonaceae e Malvaceae (4). O índice de diversidade de Shannon (H') foi de 3,44. A distribuição de classes de diâmetro apresentou curva na forma de "J" invertido, estando a maioria dos indivíduos na primeira classe.