Two peptides, TsAP-1 and TsAP-2, from the venom of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus: evaluation of their antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Here we report two novel 17-mer amidated linear peptides (TsAP-1 and TsAP-2) whose structures were deduced from cDNAs cloned from a venom-derived cDNA library of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus. Both mature peptides were structurally-characterised following their location in chromatographic fractions of venom and synthetic replicates of each were subjected to a range of biological assays. The peptides were each active against model test micro-organisms but with different potencies. TsAP-1 was of low potency against all three test organisms (MICs 120-160µM), whereas TsAP-2 was of high potency against the Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 5µM) and the yeast, Candida albicans (10µM). Haemolytic activity of TsAP-1 was low (4% at 160µM) and in contrast, that of TsAP-2 was considerably higher (18% at 20µM). Substitution of four neutral amino acid residues with Lys residues in each peptide had dramatic effects on their antimicrobial potencies and haemolytic activities, particularly those of TsAP-1. The MICs of the enhanced cationic analogue (TsAP-S1) were 2.5µM for S.aureus/C.albicans and 5µM for E.coli but with an associated large increase in haemolytic activity (30% at 5µM). The same Lys residue substitutions in TsAP-2 produced a dramatic effect on its MIC for E.coli lowering this from >320µM to 5µM. TsAP-1 was ineffective against three of the five human cancer cell lines tested while TsAP-2 inhibited the growth of all five. Lys residue substitution of both peptides enhanced their potency against all five cell lines with TsAp-S2 being the most potent with IC50 values ranging between 0.83 and 2.0 µM. TsAP-1 and TsAP-2 are novel scorpion venom peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer cell activities the potencies of which can be significantly enhanced by increasing their cationicity.

Playing free: an ethnography of Brazilian free improvisers

In this article I investigate the practice of free music improvisation in Brazil. The reflections and findings presented here are derived from research conducted as part of a four months Higher Education Academy (HEA, UK) Fellowship, carried out between February and June 2014. The aim was to enquire whether or how the practice of free improvisation is taught in the Brazilian higher education system.
As part of this ethnographic study visits to the following universities were scheduled:
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ
The Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)
The University of São Paulo - USP
The Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG
The Federal University of Bahia – UFBA.
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Natal (UFRN) and
The ELM, the Escola Livre de Música in Unicamp.

I discuss here some general background thinking to the research process, specifically recalling the work of French composer and educator Alain Savouret. I proceed to examine the improvisational spirit, the improvisatory worldmaking approach (the ‘jeitinho brasileiro’) that is often considered to be integral to the Brazilian way of life. In the final part of the article I discuss applied ethnographic methodologies, including the design of questions that were used for over 50 video interviews with Brazilian musicians during the research. I conclude with a final reflection on the video interviews with a specific focus on whether free improvisation can be taught, and the importance of listening in the context of free improvisation practices.

Reframing the Favela, Remapping the City: Territorial Embeddedness and (Trans)locality in “Framing Content” on Brazilian Favela Blogs

In recent years, the internet has become a key site for the portrayal of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. This article examines blogging by favela residents and argues that digital culture constitutes a vital, and as yet not systematically explored, arena of research on the representation of Rio de Janeiro and its favelas. Based on ethnographically inspired research carried out in 2009–2010, this article examines two examples of blog ‘framing content’ (a sidebar and a static page) encountered during fieldwork, which functioned to establish a concrete link between the posts on the blogs in question, their authors, and a named favela, even when the posts were not explicitly about that favela. At the same time, the framing content also made visible, and affirmed, the translocal connections between that favela, other favelas, and the city as a whole. These illustrative examples from a wider study show how favela bloggers are engaged in resignifying and remapping the relationships between different empirical scales of locality (and associated identities) in Rio de Janeiro, demonstrating the contribution an interdisciplinary approach to the digital texts and practices of favela residents can make to an understanding of the contemporary city and its representational conundrums, from the perspective of ‘ordinary practitioners’.

Multi-scale dynamics on the Eastern Brazilian margin

Este trabalho combina esforços de simulação numérica e de análise de dados para investigar a dinâmica em diversos compartimentos (oceano aberto, plataforma continental e zona costeira-estuarina) e, em multiplas escalas, na Margem Continental Leste Brasileira (MCLB). A circulação de largo e mesoescala espacial e a propagação da maré barotrópica são investigadas através de uma configuração aninhada do modelo numérico ROMS. O estudo da dinâmica regional da Baía de Camamu (CMB) baseia-se na análise de dados locais. A MCLB, localizada a SW do Atlântico Sul entre 8±S e 20±S, possui plataforma estreita, batimetria complexa, e baixa produtividade primária. A sua dinâmica é influenciada pela divergência da Corrente Sul Equatorial (CSE). As simulações refletem as conexões sazonais e espaciais entre a Corrente do Brasil e a Contra Corrente Norte do Brasil , em conexão com a dinâmica da CSE. As simulações revelam atividades vorticais nas proximidades da costa e interações com a dinâmica costeira, cujos padrões são descritos. A validação do modelo em mesoescala é baseada em cálculos de energia cinética turbulenta e em dados históricos de transporte. A CMB, localizada a 13±400S, abriga uma comunidade piscatória tradicional e extenso de manguezal. Situa-se porém sobre uma bacia sedimentar com grande reservas de óleo e gás, estando em tensão permanente de impacto ambiental. Neste trabalho sumarizamos as condições físicas regionais e investigamos sua dinâmica interna, focando sua variabilidade em amostragens realizadas sob condições de seca (Setembro de 2004) e de chuva (Julho de 2005). Finalmente, o modelo numérico ROMS é forçado com o sinal de maré, empregando-se uma configuração simples (com coeficientes de atrito de fundo constantes e condições hidrográficas homogéneas), com o intuito de avaliar sua resposta e investigar a natureza da propagação da maré barotrópica na MCLB, convergindo na CMB. A análise da resposta do modelo à maré basea-se em séries históricas do nível do mar para a MCLB e dados recentes da CMB.

Brazilian savanna forest : conservation, medicinal reservoir and bioprospecting

This study aimed to analyse the Brazilian savanna forest from a Legal Reserve (LR) area from a perspective of conservation, reservoir of organic carbon and medicinal biomass for a prospective use of native medicinal plants. An ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological survey was carried out close to a community settled in the rural area in the south of Tocantins, being selected 9 of the most cited species (cajuí- Anacardium othonianum; inharé-Brosimum gaudichaudii; jatobá-Hymenaeae courbaril; jenipapo-Genipa americana, aroeira-Myracrodruon urundeuva; negramina-Siparuna guianensis; barbatimão- Stryphnodendron obovatum; assa peixe-Vernonia brasiliana, embaúba-Cecropia pachystachya). Crude foliar extracts were subjected to a preliminary phytochemical prospection and triage of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity of potential interest in health and familiar agriculture. Phenolic compounds, terpenes and flavonoids were detected in the extracts of most species, which suggests the presence of antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-insect activities. It was evident the need to better know the LR as a reservoir of medicinal biomass in an area under ecological tension where 35% (610ha) of the property is LR and should be protected by law. Therefore, a forest inventory of live woody species was performed using the allometric or indirect method. This identified a rare remnant of Semidecidual Seasonal Forest amidst the largest world savannah, the Cerrado biome. An analysis of the forest average productivity per basal area (m².ha), aerial live biomass (ton.ha-1) and carbon stock was carried out. The forest fragment was considered relatively rich in species and diversity, although showing signs of disturbance and dominance by a few species. Its horizontal structure suggests biotic regeneration conditions. It is an important reservoir of medicinal plants. Of the families (57.5%) presenting medicinal species, 19 from a total of 33 are represented in the area and contain 44% (27) of the total species (61) and 63% (432) of the total individuals catalogued. Medicinal species have ecological importance for the equilibrium of the local flora and represent 80% of the 10 species with higher Importance Value Index (IVI): Tetragastris altissima, Chrysophyllum marginatum, Oenocarpus distichus, Sclerolobium paniculatum, Simarouba versicolor, Alibertia macrophylla, Siparuna guianensis, Maprounea guianensis, Licania parvifolia e Physocalymma scaberrimum. Medicinal productivity was high for this type of phytophysionomy: 183,2 ton. ha-1 of biomass and 91,51 ton. ha-1 of carbon representing 66% of the total biomass and carbon of this Cerrado forest. From this stage S. guianensis (Siparunaceae) was selected for performing bioassays in order to verify its biological activity against microorganisms of health and agricultural relevance. This is a native aromatic medicinal plant recommended as priority for conservation, with local popular medicinal validation and availability of medicinal feedstock (3300 Kg.ha-1), with the foliar fraction giving 38Kg/ha of crude extract and 5L/ha of essential oil. Foliar crude extracts and essential oil were obtained and tested in vitro using a disk diffusion bioassay. Different concentrations of these natural products were tested against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and ATCC 35218; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145) and fungi (Candida albicans ATCC 6258 e Fusarium oxysporum). The essential oil inhibited the growth of S. aureus in its crude concentration (380μg.mL-1), as well as diluted to half (190μg.mL-1) and a quarter strength (95μg.mL-1). It’s likely that such action is due to sesquiterpenes major components, such as bisabolol and bisabolene (10.35%), measured by gas chromatography (GC-MS, GC-FID). Extracts did not exhibit any antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms tested. The native medicinal plants prospective market is an alternative that favours the conservation of biodiversity while generating benefits for the development of sustainable family productive activities within local ecosystems instead of the current inappropriate uses. This strengthens conservation policies of Legal Reserve in rural settlements and is in agreement with public policy on global warming and climate changes.

Ecology and conservation of felids in the Brazilian pantanal

Habitat conversion and environmental degradation have reached alarming levels in the Pantanal, endangering all its biodiversity. This scenario is complicated by the fact that the biome relies on only a few protected areas, which combined do not exceed 10% of the territory. Felids, as predators, play a vital role in the maintenance of this ecosystem, but require large areas, have low population densities and, typically, are very sensitive to environmental disturbances. Amolar Mountain Ridge is considered an area of extreme importance and high priority for conservation within the biome. There are four species of felids in this region: the jaguar (Panthera onca), the puma (Puma concolor), the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). However, little is known about the ecology of these species in this region or the magnitude of interaction between the communities living around the protected areas and the animals. The goal of this study was to increase our knowledge about these felids and understand how people interact with them in order to contribute to their conservation in the network of parks within Amolar. Camera trapping surveys were carried out in two areas of the network, covering approximately 83,000 hectares, in order to identify the species of mammals occurring in the region, those that may be potential prey for the felids, and to obtain basic ecological data about both felids and prey. In addition, we conducted surveys in three riverside schools in order to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of schoolchildren regarding the four focal felids, and surveys among the adult population to assess their perceptions and attitudes towards the jaguar. We recorded a total of 33 species of mammals from both study areas. The large cats were cathemeral, reflecting the temporal activity of larger prey, whereas the ocelot was nocturnal, mirroring the activity of smaller prey. Jaguar occupancy was influenced by prey abundance, while puma occupancy was influenced by patch density in drier dense forest. Jaguars and pumas may be competitors over temporal and spatial scales, while no resource overlap was found for ocelots. Overall, both adults and children tended to have negative perceptions about the cats, which were related to the fear of being attacked. To increase awareness about the species and to maximize the effectiveness of protective measures in the network of reserves, it is recommended to develop and implement an Environmental Educational Program in the medium- to long-term in order to minimize the fear of these felids and to counsel locals on the role of felids in the maintenance of the Pantanal’s biodiversity.

Environmental factors, clipping and fire: effects on cerrado (Brazilian savanna) native and invasive grasses

The Brazilian Cerrado houses a hugely diverse biota and is considered a conservation hotspot. One of the greatest threats to the integrity of this ecosystem is introduced African grasses, which can competitively exclude native grasses and cause changes in the microclimate and other disturbances. The Cerrado is a mosaic vegetation that provides different combinations, both spatially and temporally, of conditions that can become natural stressors to the herbaceous vegetation (water, nutrient and light availability). These mosaics are reflected in differences in relationships among native and invasive species, affecting competition and creating situations (place/season) that are more, or less, susceptible to invasion. The present study aimed to identify the different biological responses of native (Aristida recurvata, Aristida setifolia, Axonopus barbigerus, Echinolaena inflexa, Gymnopogon spicatus, Paspalum gardnerianum, Paspalum stellatum, Schizachyrium microstachyum, Schizachyrium sanguineum) and invasive (Melinis minutiflora and Andropogon gayanus) grasses to variations in natural stressors and to disturbance (fire and clipping), in order to understand changes in ecosystem functioning and competition processes between the grasses, and to understand invasion dynamics in this ecosystem. The presence of invasive species proved to affect the ecosystem functioning by increasing soil feeding activity. These differences were no longer observed in the dry season or when fires were frequent, showing that water availability and fire are more detrimental to soil feeding activity than is the vegetation. Laboratory experiments showed that both drought and flood simulated scenarios damaged both species, although the invasive species performed better under all watering conditions and responded better to fertilization. Underlying mechanisms such as the efficiency of photosynthesis and antioxidant mechanisms helped to explain this behavior. The invasive species grew faster and showed less cellular damage and a healthier photosystem, reflected in higher assimilation rates under stress. These differences between the native and invasive species were reduced with clipping, especially in dry soil with no fertilization, where the native species recovered better in relation to the pre-clipping levels. Flooding was as stressful as drought, but the invasive species can bypass this issue by growing an extensive root system, especially in the better-drained soils. Fire is more detrimental than clipping, with a slower recovery, while post-fire temperatures affect the germination of both invasive and native seeds and may be an important factor influencing the persistence of a diverse biota. This approach will finally contribute to the choice of the appropriate management techniques to preserve the Cerrado’s biodiversity.

Brazilian fruit pulps as functional foods and additives: Evaluation of bioactive compounds

Eight tropical fruit pulps from Brazil were simultaneously characterised in terms of their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Antioxidant activity was screened by DPPH radical scavenging activity (126–3987 mg TE/100 g DW) and ferric reduction activity power (368–20819 mg AAE/100 g DW), and complemented with total phenolic content (329–12466 mg GAE/100 g DW) and total flavonoid content measurements (46–672 mg EE /100 g DW), whereas antimicrobial activity was tested against the most frequently found food pathogens. Acerola and açaí presented the highest values for the antioxidant-related measurements. Direct correlations between these measurements could be observed for some of the fruits. Tamarind exhibited the broadest antimicrobial potential, having revealed growth inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Açaí and tamarind extracts presented an inverse relationship between antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and therefore, the antibacterial activity cannot be attributed (only) to phenolic compounds.

Business plan analysis of a Brazilian software company

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

New perspectives on the history of brazilian agriculture.

One of the objectives of this book has been to highlight the importance of the history of agriculture in today's food production and consumption patterns, recovering parts of this history which are not easily found or which have been forgotten or neglected, but which have had a large impact on what we are today.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV): differential pathological and immunological profiles of two Brazilian variants.

2015

Identification of CNVs on the genome of Brazilian chicken lines.

2016

Brazilian equity risk premium analysis: A macroeconomic approach

Double Degree Masters in Economics Program from Insper and NOVA School of Business and Economics