Ontogenetic shifts in the digestive tube and diet of Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908 (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

Aim: Studies on feeding of early life stages are very important to the understanding of the biology and trophic ecology of fish species. Therefore, the aim of this work is to describe the development of the digestive tube, and to characterize the diet of larvae and juveniles of Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908 of the upper Parana River floodplain; Methods: Larvae were obtained from, monthly samples during nychthemeral cycles with four-hour interval between samplings from February/91 to February/92, utilizing a conical-cylindrical plankton net; Results: At the preflexion stage, larvae at approximately 4.00 mm SL, showed a morphologically undifferentiated straight tube, with the anterior region more dilated. At the flexion stage a differentiation in the anterior region of the digestive tube occurs, with the intestine wall getting thicker (8.30 mm SL). The formation of pyloric caeca occurs at 9.00 mm SL. At the postflexion stage the first loop is formed at 9.25 mm SL and the second loop at about 10.00 mm SL. Bryconamericus stramineus consumed mainly cladocerans, also ingesting copepods, rotifers, nematodes, algae, insects and inorganic particles. Along the development, there was an increase in the number of food items and a diversification in the number of consumed taxa; Conclusions: Changes in the diet of B. stramineus larvae were not observed, being them zooplanktivores during all the initial development. However, an increase of large preys, such as insects larvae, was observed at the end of the larval period and in juveniles, suggesting a tendency towards invertivory. Larvae and juveniles preferentially fed during the night.

The use of biodiversity as source of new chemical entities against defined molecular targets for treatment of malaria, tuberculosis, and T-cell mediated diseases: a review

The modern approach to the development of new chemical entities against complex diseases, especially the neglected endemic diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, is based on the use of defined molecular targets. Among the advantages, this approach allows (i) the search and identification of lead compounds with defined molecular mechanisms against a defined target (e.g. enzymes from defined pathways), (ii) the analysis of a great number of compounds with a favorable cost/benefit ratio, (iii) the development even in the initial stages of compounds with selective toxicity (the fundamental principle of chemotherapy), (iv) the evaluation of plant extracts as well as of pure substances. The current use of such technology, unfortunately, is concentrated in developed countries, especially in the big pharma. This fact contributes in a significant way to hamper the development of innovative new compounds to treat neglected diseases. The large biodiversity within the territory of Brazil puts the country in a strategic position to develop the rational and sustained exploration of new metabolites of therapeutic value. The extension of the country covers a wide range of climates, soil types, and altitudes, providing a unique set of selective pressures for the adaptation of plant life in these scenarios. Chemical diversity is also driven by these forces, in an attempt to best fit the plant communities to the particular abiotic stresses, fauna, and microbes that co-exist with them. Certain areas of vegetation (Amazonian Forest, Atlantic Forest, Araucaria Forest, Cerrado-Brazilian Savanna, and Caatinga) are rich in species and types of environments to be used to search for natural compounds active against tuberculosis, malaria, and chronic-degenerative diseases. The present review describes some strategies to search for natural compounds, whose choice can be based on ethnobotanical and chemotaxonomical studies, and screen for their ability to bind to immobilized drug targets and to inhibit their activities. Molecular cloning, gene knockout, protein expression and purification, N-terminal sequencing, and mass spectrometry are the methods of choice to provide homogeneous drug targets for immobilization by optimized chemical reactions. Plant extract preparations, fractionation of promising plant extracts, propagation protocols and definition of in planta studies to maximize product yield of plant species producing active compounds have to be performed to provide a continuing supply of bioactive materials. Chemical characterization of natural compounds, determination of mode of action by kinetics and other spectroscopic methods (MS, X-ray, NMR), as well as in vitro and in vivo biological assays, chemical derivatization, and structure-activity relationships have to be carried out to provide a thorough knowledge on which to base the search for natural compounds or their derivatives with biological activity.

First report of endocytobionts in the digestive tract of ponerine ants

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

Ultra-structure and histochemistry of digestive cells of Podisus nigrispinus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) fed with prey reared on bt-cotton

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Early physical activity promotes lower prevalence of chronic diseases in adulthood

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

Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors

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

Skin diseases in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Paranagua estuary, Brazil: A possible indicator of a compromised marine environment

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

Iron chelating-mediated antioxidant activity of Plectranthus barbatus extract on mitochondria

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

Relative antioxidant activity of Brazilian medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases

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

Essential oil of Lithraea molleoides (Vell.): chemical composition and antimicrobial activity

Lithraea molleoides(Vell.) (Anacardiaceae) é uma árvore encontrada no Brasil, Paraguai, Bolívia, Uruguai, Argentina e Chile. É popularmente usada na forma de extrato alcoólico, decocção e infusão para o tratamento de tosse, bronquite, artrite, doenças do sistema digestivo, como diurético, tranqüilizante, hemostático e tônico. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a extração do óleo essencial dos frutos maduros, folhas e outras partes aéreas da planta e o rendimento do mesmo; a identificação e quantificação dos principais componentes e a determinação da atividade antimicrobiana. O rendimento do óleo essencial dos frutos maduros foi de 1%, entretanto, não foi encontrado óleo essencial nas partes aéreas da planta. A análise do óleo essencial por cromatografia gasosa com espectrometria de massa, mostrou a presença de limoneno (89,89%), alfa-pineno (3,48%), beta-pineno (2,63%), alfa-terpineol (1.27%), mirceno (0,64%), sabineno (0,54%), 4-terpineol (0,28%), canfeno (0,22%) e delta-3-careno (0,13%). O óleo essencial foi ativo contra algumas bactérias Gram positivas e leveduras testadas e não apresentou atividade contra bactérias Gram negativas.

Post-embrionic development of the digestive tube of Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus) (Diptera, Cuterebridae)

The digestive tube of 2nd and 3rd instar larvae, pupae and newly emerged adults of Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus, 1781) was studied anatomically. The specimens were dissected in buffer saline under a stereomicroscope, and the digestive tubes were placed on slides and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Each tube was measured using a micrometric eye piece, and drawings were made with camera lucida. The results showed that the midgut, the hindgut and the Malpighian tubules with their ducts grow gradually during the larval development. The oesophagus and the salivary glands with their ducts grow only during the moult from the 2nd to the 3rd instar. In the pupal period, salivary glands grow gradually but disappeared after the 20th day. After metamorphosis the digestive tube regressed. This is expected since adult D. hominis lives about nine days without feeding. This fly, similar to other calyptratae muscoid flies shows no vestige of a crop during all post-embrionic development, and the adult has no salivary glands.

Análise das condições de saúde e de vida da população urbana de Botucatu, São Paulo (Brasil): IV - Morbidade referida em entrevistas domiciliárias, 1983-1984

Objetivou-se estudar a morbidade referida pela população urbana amostrada, no Município de Botucatu, SP, Brasil, em 1983/84, segundo sexo, idade, escolaridade e renda per capita. O método consistiu em entrevistas domiciliárias, com aplicação de dois formulários pré-codificados. Os entrevistadores eram leigos treinados e supervisionados, e a pessoa entrevistada foi quase sempre a mãe de família. O período recordatório estabelecido em relação aos eventos informados (queixas, sintomas, acidentes comuns e diagnósticos) foi de três semanas. Das 7.075 pessoas amostradas (12% da população), 56% apresentaram episódios mórbidos, totalizando 6.649 episódios. As mulheres, bem como o grupo etário de 50 e mais anos apresentaram maior freqüência de queixas. A escolaridade e a renda per capita não diferenciaram os entrevistados quanto à ocorrência maior ou menor de episódios. A prevalência de episódios mórbidos foi de 939/1.000 entrevistados. Predominaram queixas do aparelho respiratório (20% do total de queixas), principalmente as infecções respiratórias agudas. em segundo lugar, os sinais e sintomas mal definidos (19%) e, a seguir, as doenças do sistema osteo-muscular, do sistema nervoso e do sistema circulatório, com proporções similares (ao redor de 9%) e, finalmente, as do sistema digestivo e as lesões e envenenamentos (ao redor de 8%). Foram estimados os coeficientes de prevalência por grupos de doença (pela CID), segundo as variáveis estudadas. São comentadas as dificuldades de comparação dos resultados obtidos com os de trabalhos congêneres, face às diferenças nos métodos usados, apontando-se para a necessidade de uma padronização metodológica dos estudos de morbidade referida, cuja importância epidemiológica e para o planejamento em saúde vem sendo amplamente reconhecida.

Effect of broiler breeder age on pancreas enzymes activity and digestive tract weight of embryos and chicks

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

Morphology of the digestive tube of Macuxitermes triceratops and its phylogenetic implications (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

The gross morphology of digestive tube of Macuxitermes triceratops is described and illustrated. The gut of this species is very similar to those of Embiratermes and Ibitermes, and does not show any obvious autopomorphic character. The phylogenetic relations of this genus are discussed based on the available evidence, and it is concluded that it is probably the sister group of Armitermes + Curvitermes + Cryilliotermes.