Surface-expressed enolase contributes to the adhesion of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to host cells

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Current Research on the Immune Response to Experimental Sporotrichosis

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

Sporothrix schenckii lipid inhibits macrophage phagocytosis: Involvement of nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor-alpha

The role of cell-wall compounds in the immune response to sporotrichosis is unknown. The effect of cell-wall compounds and exoantigen obtained from Sporothrix schenckii in macrophage/fungus interaction was analysed with respect to nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The lipid compound of the cell wall plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this mycosis and was found to inhibit the phagocytic process and to induce high liberation of NO and TNF-alpha in macrophage cultures in the present study. This is a very interesting result because it is the first report about one compound of the fungus S. schenckii that presents this activity.

Efeito de aditivos no valor nutritivo de silagens feitas com subproduto da extração do palmito de pupunha (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K.)

O objetivo deste experimento foi determinar a qualidade e o valor nutritivo de silagens do subproduto da pupunha, produzidas com aditivos, conforme os tratamentos: T1 - Testemunha (sem aditivo); T2 - Adição de 2,5% de açúcar; T3 - Adição de 10,0% de polpa cítrica e T4 - Adição de 10,0% de milho moído, base da matéria natural. Verificou-se que a adição 10% de polpa cítrica (PC) ou milho moído (MM) elevou o teor de matéria seca da massa a ser ensilada, bem como da silagem, em 6,5 e 8,0 unidades percentuais, respectivamente. Silagens com aditivos apresentaram menores valores de nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH3 / NT) e pH. O consumo de matéria seca foi maior para as silagens feitas com PC ou MM, atingindo 85 g/kg PV0,75 ou 2,1% do PV, contra 44,7 g/kgPV0,75 ou 1,12%, para as silagens sem aditivo ou com 2,5% de açúcar. O coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca, também foi superior para as silagens contendo 10% de PC ou MM (65,0%) em relação à média das demais (52,0%). A digestibilidade da parede celular não mostrou tendência definida em função dos tratamentos. A silagem de subproduto da pupunha feita com a adição de 10% de polpa cítrica ou milho moído, apresentou valor nutritivo semelhante às silagens de forrageiras convencionais.

Extração e análise da fração lipídica da microalga monoraphidium sp., síntese e caracterização do seu biodiesel

The cultivation of microalgae biomass in order to produce biodiesel arises as an extremely promising aspect, in that the microalgae culture includes short cycle of reproduction, smaller areas for planting and residual biomass rich in protein content. The present dissertation evaluates the performance and features, through spectrometry in the region of infrared with transformed Fourier (FTIR) and spectrometry in the region of UVvisible (UV-Vis), of the extracted lipid material (LM) using different techniques of cell wall disruption (mechanical agitation at low and at high spin and agitation associated with cavitation). The technique of gas chromatography (GC) brought to light the success of alkaline transesterification in the conversion of oil into methyl monoesters (MME), which was also analyzed by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, proton magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and carbon (13C NMR). Through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were analyzed the lipid material (LM), biodiesel and the microalgae biomass. The method which provided the best results concerning the efficiency in extraction of the LP of Monoraphidium sp. (12,51%) was by mechanical agitation at high spin (14 000 rpm), for 2 hours being the ideal time, as shown by the t test. The spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR and FTIR) confirmed that the structure of methyl monoesters and the chromatographic data (CG) revealed a high content of saturated fatty acid esters (about 70%) being the major constituent eicosanoic acid (33,7%), which justifies the high thermal stability of microalgae biodiesel. The TGA also ratified the conversion rate (96%) of LM into MME, pointing out the quantitative results compatible with the values obtained through GC (about 98%) and confirmed the efficiency of the extraction methods used, showing that may be a good technique to confirm the extraction of these materials. The content of LM microalgae obtained (12,51%) indicates good potential for using such material as a raw material for biodiesel production, when compared to oil content which can be obtained from traditional oil for this use, since the productivity of microalgae per hectare is much larger and requires an extremely reduced period to renew its cultivation

Produção e composição bromatológica de forrageiras em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária em diferentes épocas de semeadura

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de matéria seca e a composição bromatológica de forrageiras em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária, em diferentes datas de semeadura. Foi usado delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4x3, com quatro forrageiras - braquiária, Urochloa brizantha; capim-moa, Setaria italica; milheto, Pennisetum glaucum; e sorgo forrageiro, Sorghum bicolor - semeadas em três datas nas estações inverno/primavera e verão/outono, em sucessão à soja. O milheto e o sorgo forrageiro produziram maior quantidade de matéria seca em todas as datas de semeadura, nas duas estações de cultivo e, ao contrário da braquiária e do capim-moa, não diminuíram o teor de nutrientes digestíveis totais no inverno/primavera. Os teores de proteína bruta reduziram com o avanço das datas de semeadura no inverno/primavera e aumentaram no verão/outono, exceto para braquiária e milheto. O sorgo apresentou os menores teores de fibras em detergente neutro nas segunda e terceira datas de semeadura no inverno/primavera, e na primeira data de semeadura no verão/outono. Nas segunda e terceiras datas do inverno/primavera, o sorgo apresentou menor teor de fibras em detergente ácido. Quanto aos constituintes da parede celular, apenas os teores de hemicelulose não se alteram nas forrageiras em virtude das datas de semeadura, em ambas as estações.

Comparative genomics analyses of citrus-associated bacteria

Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c (XF-9a5c) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (XAC) are bacteria that infect citrus plants. Sequencing of the genomes of these strains is complete and comparative analyses are now under way with the genomes of other bacteria of the same genera. In this review, we present an overview of this comparative genomic work. We also present a detailed genomic comparison between XF-9a5a and XAC. Based on this analysis, genes and operons were identified that might be relevant for adaptation to citrus. XAC has two copies of a type II secretion system, a large number of cell wall-degrading enzymes and sugar transporters, a complete energy metabolism, a whole set of avirulence genes associated with a type III secretion system, and a complete flagellar and chemotatic system. By contrast, XF-9a5c possesses more genes involved with type IV pili biosynthesis than does XAC, contains genes encoding for production of colicins, and has 4 copies of Type I restriction/modification system while XAC has only one.

Desempenho produtivo de alevinos de tilápia-do-nilo alimentados com levedura e derivados

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo e a composição químico-bromatológica do filé de tilápia-do-nilo alimentada com rações contendo levedura íntegra desidratada, levedura autolisada e parede celular. Rações práticas, isoprotéicas (32% de proteína digestível) e isoenergéticas (3.200 kcal de energia digestível por kg) suplementadas com levedura íntegra (1, 2 e 3%), levedura autolisada (1, 2 e 3%) e parede celular (0,1; 0,2 e 0,3%), e uma controle, sem ingredientes-teste, foram avaliadas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições. Peixes que receberam rações suplementadas com levedura e derivados apresentaram índice de desempenho produtivo superior ao controle. A suplementação da levedura autolisada proporcionou melhor resposta quanto ao ganho de peso (p<0,05). Não houve diferença na composição químico-bromatológica do filé, quando se compararam os contrastes entre totais de tratamento. A suplementação de levedura e derivados em rações para alevinos de tilápia-do-nilo melhora o desempenho produtivo, sem alterações na composição do filé, e entre os microingredientes avaliados, a levedura autolisada proporciona desempenho superior, quando utilizada entre 1,30 e 1,59%.

Digestibilidade aparente de rações contendo levedura íntegra, levedura autolisada e parede celular pela tilápia do Nilo

Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, gross energy, of diets supplemented with spray dried whole yeast (1.0; 2.0 e 3.0%), autolyzed (1.0; 2.0 e 3.0%), yeast cell wall (0.1; 0.2 e 0.3%) plus a additional diet with no yeast and yeast derivatives were evaluated to Nile tilapia. Eighty juveniles (83.0+/-8.5g) were placed in eight 250L aquaria for feeding and four aquaria of the same volume for collecting faecal samples. Both sets were equipped with flow-trough recirculation system provided with mechanical and biological filter. Diets supplemented with whole yeast, autolyzed yeast, and yeast cell wall presented, as mean, superior apparent coefficient digestibility than control. It can be concluded that supplementation of yeast and yeast derivatives improve apparent coefficient digestibility of experimental diets and diets supplemented with estimated level of 2.13-2.36% autolyzed yeast shows better digestibility.

Peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities, phenolic acid contents, and allelochemicals-inhibited root growth of soybean

The influence of the allelochemicals ferulic (FA) and vanillic (VA) acids on peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activities and their relationships with phenolic acid (PhAs) contents and root growth of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were examined. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solution containing FA or VA (0.1 to 1 mM) for 48 h. Both compounds (at 0.5 and 1 mM) decreased root length (RL), fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) and increased PhAs contents. At 0.5 and 1 mM, FA increased soluble POD activity (18% and 47%, respectively) and cell wall (CW)-bound POD activity (61% and 34%), while VA increased soluble POD activity (33% and 17%) but did not affect CW-bound POD activity. At I mM, FA increased (82%) while VA reduced (32%) PAL activities. The results are discussed on the basis of the role of these compounds on phenylpropanoid metabolism and root growth and suggest that the effects caused on POD and PAL activities are some of the many mechanisms by which allelochemicals influence plant growth.

Structural and ultrastructural aspects of ontogenesis and differentiation of resin secretory cavities in Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) leaves

Cell lysis in the formation of secretory cavities in plants has been questioned by some authors and considered as result of technical artifacts. To describe the formation of secretory resin cavities in Hymenaea stigonocarpa leaves, leaflet samples at different stages of differentiation were collected, fixed, and processed for light and electron microscopy as per usual methods. The initial cells of secretory resin cavities are protodermal and grow towards the mesophyll ground meristem; these cells then divide producing cell groups that are distinguished by the shape and arrangement of cytoplasm, and density. At the initial stages of differentiation of the secretory cavities, some central cells in these groups show dark cytoplasm and condensed nuclear chromatin. Later, there is cell wall loosening, tonoplast and plasmalemma rupture resulting in cell death. These cells, however, maintain organelle integrity until lysis, when the cell wall degrades and the plasmalemma ruptures, releasing protoplast residues, marked characteristics of programmed cell death. The secretory epithelium remains active until complete leaf expansion when the cavity is filled with resin and the secretory activity ceases. There are no wall residues between central cells in adult cavities. Our results demonstrate lysigeny and the importance of ontogenetic studies in determining the origin of secretory cavities.

Imbibition of Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) seeds: the role of stomata

Background and Aims the occurrence of stomata in seed coats is uncommon and there is limited information about their function(s). The aim of this study was to verify the distribution of stomata in seed coats of Swietenia macrophylla and to relate it to the imbibition process and aspects of the structure of the outer integument layers.Methods For the structural and ultrastructural studies, the seeds were processed using the usual techniques and studied under light and scanning electron microscopes. Histochemical tests were employed to identify the cell wall composition in the different seed coat portions. To assess the role of the stomata in the imbibition, non-impervious seeds were compared with partially impervious ones, in which only the embryo, median or hilar regions were left free. Further, the apoplastic pathway marker was employed to confirm the role of the stomata as sites of water passage during imbibition.Key Results A positive relationship was observed between seed coat thickness and stomata density. The stomata were devoid of movement, with a large pore. They occurred in large numbers in the embryo region and extended with lower frequency towards the wing. Imbibition rates were related to stomata density, suggesting that the stomata act as preferential sites for water entry in the S. macrophylla seeds.Conclusions At maturity, the stomata in the seed coat play a significant role in seed imbibition. The data may also infer that these permanently opened stomata have an important role in gas exchange during seed development, aiding embryo respiration.

Collenchyma in Panicum maximum (Poaceae): localisation and possible role

This work relates the occurrence and distribution of collenchyma in Panicum maximum Jacq. P. maximum leaves were collected at different phases of development and sampled from both the base of the sheath and from the sheath-leaf blade transition area. For the stems, the study was made by using hand-cut sections of the internodal base. In the leaves, analyses of serial sections showed, at the base and sheath-leaf blade transition area, a sudden change of tissue at vascular bundle. The vascular bundles are surrounded by sclerenchyma, both in the sheath and the leaf blade, as well as by fibrous threads that occur on the adaxial side of the central bundles. However, at the base of the sheath and at the sheath-leaf blade transition area, sclerenchyma was substituted for collenchyma. In the stem, the substitution of sclerenchyma associated with vascular bundles for collenchyma occurs at the base of the internode, in the pulvinus region. The analyses from transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of lamellated cell wall and active protoplast in collenchyma cells.

Simultaneous effects of ferulic and vanillic acids on peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in soybean (Glycine max) roots

Simultaneous effects of ferulic (FA) and vanillic (VA) acids on peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activities on soybean (Glycine max (L.) MERR.) root growth were analyzed. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solution containing FA or VA (0.5 mM; 1.0 mM or equimolar mixtures) for 48 h. Acting alone, both compounds (at 0.5 or 1.0 mM) decreased root length (RL), fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and increased soluble POD and cell wall (CW)-bound POD activities. At 1.0 mM, FA increased (but VA decreased) the PAL activity. Acting simultaneously, the effects of the allelochemical interaction were lower than the sum of the effects of each compound tested separately, suggesting antagonism.

Ultrastructure of the intercellular protuberances in leaves of Paepalanthus superbus Ruhl. (Eriocaulaceae)

Folhas adultas de Paepalanthus superbus mostram protuberâncias intercelulares, entre a parede periclinal interna das células epidérmicas e superfície de células parenquimáticas; depósitos semelhantes ocorrem na superfície das células parenquimáticas do mesofilo. Estas protuberâncias são mais proeminentes ao redor de células parenquimáticas, formando uma estrutura que lembra uma cápsula gelatinosa. Testes histoquímicos com vermelho de rutênio evidenciam sua natureza péctica, com inclusões lipídicas dispersas, detectadas por sudan IV e sudan black B. Ultra-estruturalmente as protuberâncias mostram matriz fibrilar permeada por estruturas fimbriadas e tubulares, com margem distinta formada por estrutura membranosa. Nossos resultados sugerem que estas protuberâncias são derivadas de atividade secretora, sendo formadas após o desenvolvimento dos espaços intercelulares. em P. superbus esta estrutura pode representar uma especialização da parede celular, relacionada com adesão e mecanismos de transporte entre células.