Ancient Dispersal of the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus gattii from the Amazon Rainforest

Over the past two decades, several fungal outbreaks have occurred, including the high-profile 'Vancouver Island' and 'Pacific Northwest' outbreaks, caused by Cryptococcus gattii, which has affected hundreds of otherwise healthy humans and animals. Over the same time period, C. gattii was the cause of several additional case clusters at localities outside of the tropical and subtropical climate zones where the species normally occurs. In every case, the causative agent belongs to a previously rare genotype of C. gattii called AFLP6/VGII, but the origin of the outbreak clades remains enigmatic. Here we used phylogenetic and recombination analyses, based on AFLP and multiple MLST datasets, and coalescence gene genealogy to demonstrate that these outbreaks have arisen from a highly-recombining C. gattii population in the native rainforest of Northern Brazil. Thus the modern virulent C. gattii AFLP6/VGII outbreak lineages derived from mating events in South America and then dispersed to temperate regions where they cause serious infections in humans and animals.

Metallomic study of mercury in fish from Amazon region - Brazil

This paper presents preliminary findings for a metallomics study of mercury in the muscle of the fish from Amazonas region - Brazil, after protein separation by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and subsequent evaluation of mercury by Thermal Decomposition and Amalgamation Coupled with Atomic Absorption (TTA-CAAS). It was found that mercury is present in 18 protein spots of dourada muscle (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) and 9 protein spots of pacu muscle (Myleus sp.). The protein spots in which they were determined the presence of mercury present molecular weight of 13.5 and 21.4 kDa and isoelectric point of 3.8 and 9.2, respectively.

Polymorphisms in Osteopontin Gene in Amazon Buffaloes

The aim of this work was to identify polymorphisms in the osteopontin gene. It was used in this experiment 306 male buffaloes, older than 18 months, bred in two farms, one in the State of Amapa and the other farm in the State of Para. There was identified three SNP polymorphisms for the region amplified by the primer OS4 (5'upstream) and four SNP polymorphisms for the region amplified by the primer OS9 (exon 5 to exon 6). The polymorphisms were in positions 1478, 1513 and 1611 in the region amplified by OS4 and positions 6690, 6737, 6925 and 6952 in the region amplified by OS9. These data indicate that the osteopontin gene is important because it can have a substantial influence on the reproductive traits of male buffaloes.

Perceptions of environmental change and use of traditional knowledge to plan riparian forest restoration with relocated communities in Alcantara, Eastern Amazon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of the acute exposition to glyphosate-based herbicide on oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant responses in a hybrid Amazon fish surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute glyphosate (active ingredient) exposure on the oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant defenses of a hybrid surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp). The fish were exposed to different herbicide concentrations for 96 h. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls and antioxidant responses were verified. The 15 mg a.p L-1 of herbicide resulted in the death of 50% of the fish after 96 h. An increase in liver and muscle TBARS levels was observed when fish were exposed to the herbicide. The protein carbonyl content was also increased in the liver (4.5 mg a.p L-1 concentration) and brain (2.25 mg a.p L-1 concentration). The antioxidant activities decreased in the liver and brain after exposure to herbicide. Levels of ascorbic acid in the liver (2.25 mg a.p L-1 and 4.5 mg a.p L-1 concentrations) and brain (2.25 mg a.p L-1 concentration) were increased post-treatment. Levels of total thiols were increased in the liver and brain (2.25 mg L-1 and 7.5 mg a.p L-1, respectively). Glyphosate exposure, at the tested concentrations affects surubim health by promoting changes that can affect their survival in natural environment. Some parameters as TBARS and protein carbonyl could be early biomarkers for Roundup exposure in this fish species. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Amazon forest biomass density maps: tackling the uncertainty in carbon emission estimates

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

Reproductive variability of the Amazon River prawn, Macrobrachium amazonicum (Caridea, Palaemonidae): influence of life cycle on egg production

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessing the potential of partial replacing of artemia by practical inert diet in the larviculture of the Amazon River prawn

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

DIGESTIVE PROTEASES FROM WILD AND FARMED MALE MORPHOTYPES OF THE AMAZON RIVER PRAWN (MACROBRACHIUM AMAZONICUM)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of tank colour on larval performance of the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of ambient nitrite on amazon river prawn, macrobrachium amazonicum, larvae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of Water Exchange and Mechanical Aeration on Grow-out of the Amazon River Prawn in Ponds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Clinical aspects of envenomation caused by Tityus obscurus (Gervais, 1843) in two distinct regions of Para state, Brazilian Amazon basin: a prospective case series

Background: Scorpion envenomations are a major public health problem in Brazil, whose most dangerous cases are attributable to the genus Tityus. This study was designed to compare the clinical and demographic features of envenomations by Tityus obscurus in two areas of the state of Para located in the Amazon basin. Were compared demographic findings, local and systemic signs and symptoms of human envenomations caused by T. obscurus that occurred in western and eastern areas of the state.Results: Forty-eight patients with confirmed envenomation by T. obscurus were evaluated from January 2008 to July 2011. Most of them came from the eastern region, where male and female patients were present in similar numbers, while males predominated in the west. Median age groups were also similar in both areas. Most scorpion stings took place during the day and occurred significantly more frequently on the upper limbs. The time between the sting and admission to the health center was less than three hours in both areas. Most eastern patients had local manifestations while in the west, systemic manifestations predominated. Local symptoms were similar in both areas, but systemic signs and symptoms were more common in the west. Symptoms frequently observed at the sting site were local and radiating pain, paresthesia, edema, erythema, sweating, piloerection and burning. The systemic manifestations were significantly higher in patients from the west. Futhermore, neurological symptoms such as general paresthesia, ataxia, dysarthria, myoclonus, dysmetria, and electric shock-like sensations throughout the body were reported only by patients from the west.Conclusion: The present study shows that two regions of Para state differ in the clinical manifestations and severity of confirmed envenomation by T. obscurus which suggests a toxicity variation resulting from the diversity of T. obscurus venom in different areas of the Brazilian Amazon basin, and that T. serrulatus antivenom can be successfully used against T. obscurus.

Degenerative joint disease in cattle and buffaloes in the Amazon region: a retrospective study

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

New species of Cyphocharax (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the upper rio Negro, Amazon basin

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