Trichomycetes (Zygomycota) in the digestive tract of arthropods in Amazonas, Brazil

Eight species of Harpellales and three species of Eccrinales (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes) were found associated with the digestive tract of arthropods from terrestrial and aquatic environments in the central Amazon region of Brazil. New species of Harpellales include: Harpella amazonica, Smittium brasiliense, Genistellospora tropicalis in Simuliidae larvae and Stachylina paucispora in Chironomidae larvae. Axenic cultures of S. brasiliense were obtained. Probable new species of Enterobryus (Eccrinales), Harpella, and Stachylina (Harpellales) are described but not named. Also reported are the previously known species of Eccrinales, Passalomyces compressus and Leidyomyces attenuatus in adult Coleoptera (Passalidae), and Smittium culisetae and Smittium aciculare (Harpellales) in Culicidae and Simuliidae larvae, respectively. Comments on the distribution of some of these fungi and their hosts in the Neotropics are provided.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex differentiation using gyrB-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) members are causative agents of human and animal tuberculosis. Differentiation of MTBC members is required for appropriate treatment of individual patients and for epidemiological purposes. Strains from six MTBC species - M. tuberculosis, M. bovis subsp. bovis, M. bovis BCG, M. africanum, M. pinnipedii, and "M. canetti" - were studied using gyrB-restriction fragment length polymorphism (gyrB-RFLP) analysis. A table was elaborated, based on observed restriction patterns and published gyrB sequences. To evaluate applicability of gyrB-RFLP at Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory, 311 MTBC clinical isolates, previously identified using traditional methods as M. tuberculosis (306), M. bovis (3), and M. bovis BCG (2), were analyzed by gyrB-RFLP. All isolates were correctly identified by the molecular method, but no distinction between M. bovis and M. bovis BCG was obtained. Differentiation of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis is of utmost importance, because they require different treatment schedules. In conclusion, gyrB-RFLP is accurate and easy-to-perform, with potential to reduce time needed for conventional differentiation methods. However, application for epidemiological studies remains limited, because it cannot differentiate M. tuberculosis from M. africanum subtype II, and "M. canetti", M. africanum subtype I from M. pinnipedii, and. M. bovis from M. bovis BCG.

Application of PCR ribotyping and tDNA-PCR for Klebsiella pneumoniae identification

PCR analysis of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (PCR ribotyping) and tRNA intergenic spacer (tDNA-PCR) were evaluated for their effectiveness in identification of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and differentiation with related species. For this purpose both methods were applied to forty-three clinical isolates biochemically identified as K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae isolated from patients clinical specimens attended at five hospitals in three Brazilian cities. References strains of K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae, K. oxytoca, K. planticola and Enterobacter aerogenes were also analyzed. Both PCR methods showed specific patterns for each species. A conserved PCR ribotype pattern was observed for all clinical K. pneumoniae isolates, while differing from other related analyzed species. tDNA-PCR revealed five distinct patterns among the K. pneumoniae clinical isolates studied, demonstrating a predominant group with 90,6% of isolates presenting the same pattern of K. pneumoniae type strain. Both PCR-based methods were not able to differentiate K. pneumoniae subspecies. On the basis of the results obtained, both methods were efficient to differentiate the Klebsiella species analyzed, as well as E. aerogenes. Meanwhile tDNA-PCR revealed different tRNA arrangements in K. pneumoniae, suggesting intra-species heterogeneity of their genome organization, the polymorphism of the intergenic spacers between 16S and 23S rRNA genes appears to be highly conserved whithin K. pneumoniae clinical isolates, showing that PCR ribotyping can be an useful tool for identification of K. pneumoniae isolates.

Trypanocidal constituents in plants: 7. Mammea-type coumarins

Calophyllum brasiliense and Mammea americana (Clusiaceae) are two trees from the tropical rain forests of the American continent. A previous screening showed high trypanocidal activity in the extracts of these species. Several mammea-type coumarins, triterpenoids and biflavonoids were isolated from the leaves of C. brasiliense. Mammea A/AA was obtained from the fruit peels of M. americana. These compounds were tested in vitro against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The most potent compounds were mammea A/BA, A/BB, A/AA, A/BD and B/BA, with MC100 values in the range of 15 to 90 g/ml. Coumarins with a cyclized ,-dimethylallyl substituent on C-6, such as mammea B/BA, cyclo F + B/BB cyclo F, and isomammeigin, showed MC100 values > 200 g/ml. Several active coumarins were also tested against normal human lymphocytes in vitro, which showed that mammea A/AA and A/BA were not toxic. Other compounds from C. brasiliense, such as the triterpenoids, friedelin, canophyllol, the biflavonoid amentoflavone, and protocatechuic and shikimic acids, were inactive against the epimastigotes. The isopropylidenedioxy derivative of shikimic acid was inactive, and its structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Our results suggest that mammea-type coumarins could be a valuable source of trypanocidal compounds.

Ilha de santiago (Cabo Verde) - Notas Florísticas e Fitogeográficas

Dez taya (Achyranthes aspera var.pubescens, Andropogon/astigiatus, Anthephora cristata, Cenchrus bgorus, Chamaecrista mimosoides, Commelina d~@sa subsp. d$iia, Forsskaolea viridis, Tephrosia linearis, Tolpis/arinulosa e Stylosanthes humilis) sãom encionadopse lap rimeirav ez paraS antiagoE. stacitacáo constitui também,p ara4 deles,a suap rimeirar eferencia para o arquipélagod e CaboV erde. A ~orrkcia de espéciese ndémicasc,u ja presentan estai lha não era verificada desdeh á longa data, é ylientada. Pelo valor dasc omunidadevse getaisq uen eleso correm, sãor eferidosa lgunslo caisp articti+nente importantes.

Novas bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas na cultura do trigo em interação com a adubação nitrogenada, no campo

Bactérias diazotróficas pertencentes a diferentes espécies podem estar associadas a gramíneas, como o trigo, promovendo incrementos no crescimento e na produtividade de grãos. Foi realizado um experimento, em condições de campo, com o objetivo de avaliar os benefícios e a viabilidade econômica da inoculação de novos isolados homólogos de bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas em genótipos de trigo sob diferentes doses de N. Foram empregados três isolados de bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas (IAC-AT-8-Azospirillum brasiliense, IAC-HT-11-Achromobacter insolitus e IAC-HT-12-Zoogloea ramigera), dois genótipos de trigo (ITD- 19-Triticum durum L. e IAC-370-Triticum aestivum hard L.) e três doses de N (0, 60 e 120 kg ha-1). Foram avaliados, no estádio de perfilhamento e de maturidade fisiológica, a matéria seca, o N acumulado e o índice de eficiência de utilização do N na parte aérea e na colheita; a produtividade de grãos, os componentes de rendimento e os índices de colheita para biomassa e N. No estádio de perfilhamento, somente houve aumento na produção de biomassa com a inoculação de Azospirillum brasiliense e Achromobacter insolitus no genótipo IAC-370, com a adição de N. Entretanto, não houve especificidade dos genótipos de trigo empregados e essas novas bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas para as demais caracaterísticas avaliadas. Houve aumento no acumulado de N na espiga com a inoculação de Azospirillum brasiliense. A inoculação de Achromobacter insolitus propiciou aumento da produtividade de grãos, na maior dose de N utilizada (120 kg ha-1). A inoculação, embora não tenha substituído a adubação nitrogenada, reverteu-se em lucro para o agricultor.

Evaluación taxonómica de la variabilidad intraespecífica de Galium brockmannii briq. (Rubiaceae).

5 poblaciones diferentes, utilizados como referencia externa en este análisis, se muestran claramente agrupados y separados de las poblaciones de G. brockmannii. En resumen, todos los dados disponibles sugieren que G. brockmannii subsp. aterratzense debe ser considerado un sinónimo de G. brockmannii.

Palaeogene Charophytes of the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Fossil charophytes were recorded in two different stratigraphic units from the non-marine Palaeogene of the Balearic Islands. In the Peguera Limestone Fm. of Mallorca the charophyte flora is characterised by two assemblages. The first contains Raskyella peckii subsp. meridionale, Harrisichara caeciliana and Maedleriella mangenoti, from the Bartonian and Lutetian; whilst the second is characterised by Harrisichara vasiformistuberculata and Nitellopsis (Tectochara) aemula, Middle Priabonian in age. The Cala Blanca Detrital Fm. has yielded Lychnothamnus stockmansii and Sphaerochara inconspicua in Menorca whilst in Mallorca it contains Lychnothamnus praelangeri, L. langeri and Sphaerochara hirmeri. This flora is Late Priabonian and Oligocene in age. These results suggest that the beginning of Paleogene non-marine deposition was diachronic in Mallorca. In terms of biogeography, the Eocene charophytes of Mallorca show affinity with North-African floras. The presence of the Eocene African subspecies Raskyella peckii meridionale in Mallorca enables the biogeographic boundary between this form and the European subspecies R. peckii peckii to be drawn at about 32º N latitude in the Iberian Plate.

Notas nomenclaturales, taxonomicas y corologicas sobre el género Cuphea (Lythraceae) en el Paraguay.

Se presenta el tratamiento nomenclatural del genero Cuphea (Lythraceae) en el Paraguay, que reúne el nombre correcto para las 28 especies reconocidas y su correspondiente sinonimia. Para la mayoría de taxones que se mencionan en el texto se ha revisado su tipificación. Se tipifican por primera vez el subgénero Lytrocuphea Koehne y las secciones Brachyandra Koehne y Enatiocuphea Koehne y se lectotipifican C. tuberosa Cham. & Schltdl., C. inaequalifolia Koehne. C. punctulata Koehne, además de varios sinónimos. Se proponen las siguientes combinaciones nomenclaturales: C. corisperma subsp. hexasperma (Koehne) Duré & Molero. C. racemosa subsp. longiflora (Koehne) Duré & Molero y C. racemosa var. ramosior (Koehne ) Duré & Molero. Desde el punto de vista corológico se citan por primera vez para el Paraguay C. micrahtha Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth. Cuphea rusbyi Lourteig y C. sessilifoila Mart. Se incluyen también algunos comentarios taxonómicos sobre táxones críticos como C. corisperma Koehne, C. hassleri Koehne y C. racemosa (L. f.) Sprengel , entre otros.

Contribucion al estudio biotaxonomico de Thymus loscosii Willk. y Thymus fontqueri (Jalas) Molero & Rovira, stat. nov.

Después de estudiar comparativamente la morfología, corología, ecología, número cromosomático y aceite esencial de los táxones Thymus loscosii Willk. y Thymus loscosii Willk. subsp. fontqueri Jalas, se concluye, de forma razonada, que el status más adecuado para este último es el de especie, combinándose de nuevo cpmo Thymus fontqueri (Jalas) Molero & Rovira; también se propone su inclusión en la sección Serpyllum (Miller) Bentham. En el estudio del aceite esencial de ambos tomillos por CGL e IR se han identificado 14 de sus componentes, destacando el p-citral, mirceno, cineol y alcanfor como mayoritarios. El cromatograma que presentan es muy parecido, pudiéndose atribuir a un quimótipo común P-citral (y otro compuesto no identificado). Entre los componentes la oscilación es máxima para el mirceno, claramente predominante en el T. fontqueri.

Noves aportacions a la flora de les comarques meridionals de Catalunya.

Data about 89 taxa are presented. Arabis nova Vill. subsp. iberica Rivas Mart. ex Talavera, Cistus × nigricans Pourr. and Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. are new records for the Catalan flora, and 15 taxa (Allium oporinanthum Brullo et al., Apera interrupta (L.) Beauv., Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. trichomanes, Campanula affinis Schult., Carex sylvatica Huds. subsp. paui (Sennen) A. and O. Bolòs, Epilobium angustifolium L., Limonium hibericum Erben, Melilotus messanensis (L.) All., Minuartia funkii (Jord.) Graebner, Onosma triceros-perma subsp. catalaunica (Sennen) O. Bolòs and Vigo, Orchis palustris Jacq., Orchis simia Lam., Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring, Stellaria neglecta Weihle in Bluff and Fingerh. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. are new records for Southern Catalonia.

Aportaciones a la Flora del sudeste Iberico

Se da a conocer una lista de 82 táxones, en su mayoría recolectados en la franja costera de las provincias de Alicante y Murcia. Alrededor de la mitad representan primeras citas provinciales y el resto han sido muy escasamente citados. Se describen dos nuevos táxones: Nepeta amethystina Poiret in Lam. & Poiret subsp. microglandulosa]. Molerò, subsp. nova y Misopates orontium (L.) Rafin. var. pusillus J . Molerò, var. nova. Se propone una nueva combinación nomenclatura]: Armeria filicaulis (Boiss.) Boiss. subsp. willkommiana (Bernis) J . Molerò, comb. nova.

Aportacions a la flora de les comarques transiberiques (Terra Alta, Ribera d'Ebre i Baix Ebre)

Exposem un recull de les dades florístiques més interessants de les comarques catalanes al sud de l'Ebre. La majoria d'elles representen novetat per a la flora del migjorn de Cataluña. Erodium foetidum (L. & Nath.) L'Hér subsp. valentinum (Lange in Willk. & Lange) 0. de Bolòs & Vigo, Zigophyllum fabago L., Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. i Milium vernale Bieb., es citen per primera vegada al Principat.

Aportacions a la flora dels Prepirineus centrals catalans

Se comenta la presencia y corología de algunos táxones no conocidos anteriormente del Prepirineo central catalán: Bassia hyssopifolia, Crypsis schoenoides, Lepidium virginicHm, Pucanellia fasáculata. Para otros táxones, con muy pocas citas previas para Cataluña, se amplían notablemente sus áreas de distribución: Adonis aestivalis subsp. aestivalis, Cbenopodium botryoides, Odontites pyrenaea subsp. pyrenaea, Oenothera biennis subsp. suaveolens, Rorippa islándica, Sorbus mougeotii. Veronica peregrina se indica por segunda vez en Cataluña. Panicum antidótale, es una planta adventicia indicada por primera vez en la Península Ibérica.

Contribucion al conocimiento de la flora del Sistema Iberico Septentrional

Se aporta un catálogo florístico de 313 táxones seleccionados procedentes de algunas de las sierras septentrionales del Sistema Ibérico aragonés: Sierras de Villarroya, Vicort, Cucalón y Retuerta, Monte de Herrera, la Modorra de Bádenas y Baños de Segura. La visita a algunas de las localidades clásicas de ASSO, ha permitido confirmar numerosas citas de las que aparecen en su Synopsis stirpium indigenarum Aragoniae (1779), así como establecer algunas sinonimias. En el aspecto nomenclatural se propone una nueva combinación: Androsace elongata L. subsp. breistrofferi (Charpin & Greuter) J . Molero & JM. Montserrat, comb. nova. En el aspecto corológico, una lista, que no pretende ser exahustiva, sobre novedades para la Flora aragonesa y otras especies escasamente citadas que incluye: Paronychia rouyana, Suene scabriflora, Sisymbrium macroloma, Hutera hispida, Saxifraga losae var. camarae, Rosa arvensis, Aphanes cornucopioides, Lathyrus cirrhosus, Trifolium retusum, Trifolium gemellum, Seseli cantabricum, Daucus durieua, Anthemis alpestris fma. ligulata , Hieracium castellanum, Festuca capillifolia , Avenula pubescens, Carex tomentosa, etc.