A kinetic model for Xylella fastidiosa adhesion, biofilm formation, and virulence

Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis and Pierce's disease which are the major threat to the citrus and wine industries. The most accepted hypothesis for Xf diseases affirms that it is a vascular occlusion caused by bacterial biofilm, embedded in an extracellular translucent matrix that was deduced to be the exopolysaccharide fastidian. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that virulent cells which form biofilm on glass have low fastidian content similar to the weak virulent ones. This indicates that high amounts of fastidian are not necessary for adhesion. In this paper we propose a kinetic model for X fastidiosa adhesion, biofilm formation, and virulence based on electrostatic attraction between bacterial surface proteins and xylem walls. Fastidian is involved in final biofilm formation and cation sequestration in dilute sap. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genomics-based design of defined growth media for the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

Based on the genetic analysis of the phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa genome, five media with defined composition were developed and the growth abilities of this fastidious prokaryote were evaluated in liquid media and on solid plates. All media had a common salt composition and included the same amounts of glucose and vitamins but differed in their amino acid content. XDM1 medium contained amino acids threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, for which complete degradation pathways occur in X fastidiosa; XDM2 included serine and methionine, amino acids for which biosynthetic enzymes are absent, plus asparagine and glutamine, which are abundant in the xylem sap; XDM3 had the same composition as XDM2 but with asparagine replaced by aspartic acid due to the presence of complete degradation pathway for aspartic acid; XDM4 was a minimal medium with glutamine as a sole nitrogen source; XDM5 had the same composition as XDM4, plus methionine. The liquid and solidified XDM2 and XDM3 media were the most effective for the growth of X. fastidiosa. This work opens the opportunity for the in silico design of bacterial defined media once their genome is sequenced. (C) 2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Qualidades físicas e químicas do abacaxi comercializado na CEAGESP São Paulo

O presente trabalho buscou conhecer a variação das características físicas e químicas do abacaxi comercializado no Entreposto Terminal de São Paulo (ETSP), da Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (CEAGESP), no período de setembro de 2005 a março de 2006. As avaliações foram realizadas na CEAGESP e nos laboratórios do Departamento de Agroindústria, Alimentos e Nutrição da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz - ESALQ/USP. Foram realizadas coletas em intervalos de duas semanas, em três atacadistas, com as amostras recolhidas de forma aleatória, padronizadas em frutos tipo 10 (caixa contendo 10 frutos), compostas de dez frutos por atacadista/origem. As amostras foram coletadas nos lotes oferecidos para comercialização pelos atacadistas. Foram avaliadas as seguintes características físicas e químicas: peso do fruto inteiro, peso da coroa, avaliação visual da coloração da casca, densidade, coloração da polpa, pH, teor de sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), além da relação SS/AT. Para a análise estatística, foi utilizado o Programa SAS. Pelos resultados, observou-se que, dentre as regiões produtoras de abacaxi, destacaram-se, com relação à regularidade de oferta para os três atacadistas, os pólos de Canápolis ('Smooth Cayenne'), Sapé e Miracema do Tocantins ('Pérola'). As diferentes regiões produtoras de abacaxi 'Pérola' apresentaram uma grande variação em relação ao peso médio dos frutos comercializados, indicando diferenças na tecnologia de produção adotada. Dentre as regiões produtoras de abacaxi, houve variação estatística no teor de sólidos solúveis ao longo do período analisado nos pólos de Canápolis ('Smooth Cayenne') e Itaberaba, Sapé e Miracema do Tocantins ('Pérola'). Dentre os parâmetros químicos analisados, a determinação do teor de sólidos solúveis por amostragem com uso do refratômetro manual, associado à maturação aparente (cor da casca), pode representar um avanço significativo na indicação da qualidade dos frutos comercializados, o que permite concluir ser desnecessário o uso de etefon na fase de pré-colheita.

Resistance of squash cultivars to Aphis gossypii

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

Relação entre o consumo de água e a absorção de herbicidas em plantas daninhas e cana-de-açúcar

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre o consumo de água pelas plantas de cana-de-açúcar e plantas daninhas e a absorção de herbicidas. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em dois experimentos: no primeiro, mediu-se o consumo de água através da pesagem diária das espécies de plantas daninhas Digitaria horizontalis, Panicum maximum, Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea hederifolia, Brachiaria decumbens, assim como para os cultivares de cana-deaçúcar PO8862, SP80 3280 e RB83 5486; e, no segundo, foram determinadas as concentrações do amicarbazone, imazapic, tebuthiuron e hexazinone no xilema dos três cultivares de cana-deaçúcar e de I. grandifolia por meio da bomba de Schollander e de cromatografia e espectrometria de massas (LC-MS). A taxa de transpiração e, consequentemente, a taxa de consumo de água mostraram-se determinantes da taxa de absorção de herbicidas pelas plantas de diferentes espécies de plantas daninhas e cultivares de cana-de-açúcar. As concentrações de herbicidas na seiva do xilema foram variáveis em função da espécie e do herbicida em contato com o sistema radicular, indicando que a facilidade de absorção pelas raízes pode ser determinante para eficácia e/ou seletividade de herbicidas.

Avaliação da intoxicação de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e I. grandifolia ao amicarbazone

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a intoxicação de planta daninha e cultivares de cana-de-açúcar ao amicarbazone. Para isso, utilizou-se Ipomoea grandifolia como planta daninha representante e os cultivares de cana-de-açúcar PO8862, SP80 3280 e RB83 5486, caracterizados como sensível, intermediário e tolerante aos herbicidas, respectivamente. Foi verificado o consumo de água e quantificada a concentração do amicarbazone em seiva de xilema dos três cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e de I. grandifolia por meio da bomba de Schollander e da cromatografia e espectrometria de massas (LC-MS). A intoxicação das plantas foi verificada através de leituras da fluorescência, com auxílio do fluorômetro portátil, que permitiu a correlação da taxa de transporte de elétrons (ETR) com a concentração de amicarbazone absorvido pelos cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e por I. grandifolia. Verificou-se, através do experimento, que a redução dos valores da ETR pode ser utilizada para indicar o nível de intoxicação de I. grandifolia e de plantas de cana-de-açúcar ao amicarbazone. I. grandifolia destacou-se em relação à cana-de-açúcar pela maior sensibilidade ao amicarbazone. A suscetibilidade diferencial dos cultivares de cana-de-açúcar PO8862, SP80 3280 e RB83 5486 pode ser justificada, possivelmente, pela absorção diferencial do amicarbazone entre os cultivares.

Seletividade e absorção radicular do sulfentrazone em clones de eucalipto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a seletividade e a absorção do sulfentrazone em clones de eucalipto. O primeiro experimento foi instalado em casa de vegetação, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, no esquema fatorial 2 x 4, sendo duas doses do sulfentrazone (400 e 600 g ha-1) e quatro clones de eucalipto, híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla (FB1, FB2, FB3 e FB4). Foram realizadas avaliações visuais de intoxicação das plantas de eucalipto e, no final do estudo, determinou-se a massa seca da parte aérea dos clones. No segundo experimento, foram utilizados os mesmos clones, sendo estes acondicionados em tubos falcon com 50 mL da solução contendo o sulfentrazone na concentração de 129 mM. As plantas de eucalipto permaneceram por 24 horas com as raízes imersas na solução e, em seguida, foi realizada a extração da seiva do xilema das plantas por meio de uma câmara de pressão. A concentração de sulfentrazone na seiva das plantas foi determinada através de cromatografia líquida e espectrometria de massas. O clone FB3 apresentou menor acúmulo de massa seca em relação aos demais, o que pode estar diretamente associado aos altos níveis de intoxicação observados. O clone FB2, apesar de mostrar elevada intoxicação, não apresentou níveis tão elevados de redução de massa seca em relação à testemunha. No tocante às concentrações de sulfentrazone nas plantas, elas foram proporcionais ao acúmulo de massa seca, o que indica que as variações na seletividade dos clones de eucalipto podem estar relacionadas à absorção diferenciada do herbicida.

Caracterização de um isolado de Bidens mosaic virus proveniente de alface

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

Nutrientes na seiva de plantas cítricas fertirrigadas

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

Caracterização da área de Ensino de Biologia e Ciências no mestrado profissional da UFRN a partir das dissertações

The deployment of master professionals in Mathematics and Science Teaching by CAPES provided an interesting perspective, involving institutional incentive to upgrade teacher training in this modality. In this sense, the objective was to map the profile of the candidates in the Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics UFRN (PPGECNM), develop a database with specific descriptors for dissertations and research the group creation biology research and dissertations produced by graduate students in the Master course. This thesis has three threads, where the first is entitled: "The teaching of science as part of research: emergency, improvement and current reflections", giving a brief description of the creation of graduate studies and the emergence of Brazil in Science education. The second topic: "Professional Masters in Teaching of Natural Sciences and Mathematics-UFRN: candidate profile the biological ', shows the general characteristics of PPGECNM-UFRN and who are the candidates seeking the biological area of the Graduate Program. The third topic. "The construction and consolidation of the research group in biology education in PPGECNM-UFRN", a survey was made of data on the creation of the research group in biology education from the analysis of academic productions of teachers and masters graduates this Masters course, for those involved, some additional interviews about the experience in training in biology education. Data used in these investigations related to these students correspond to the technical product to be used in other studies profile teachers /dissertations from the PPGECNM / UFRN. Research shows that: the existence of a larger number of postgraduate courses in the field of Science Education provides greater productivity in academic research on the subject, the emergence of a research group on education in biology, tied to a post degree in education, is an attraction to strengthen lines of research in science education by teachers researchers in other disciplines, the candidates seeking permanent area for research in biology education signals the importance of this investment because if shows the need to search for the continuing education of practicing teachers, demands with interests in investigations from real problems from school

A educação permanente em saúde na ótica dos cirurgiões dentistas

This study aimed to examine the perception of dentist-surgeon about the Permanent Education in Health (PEH). It is characterized as a qualitative research with focus in the field of public health policies. It refers specifically to the development of Permanent Education policy in Health in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. They were participants of this research 42 dentist surgeons and 83.3% females and 16.7% males, participants in Specialization courses approved and agreed by the Permanent Education Center in Health (PEC-RN) in the period 2005 to 2007. These professionals are part of the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and 11.9% work in management at the central level and 88.1% are directly related to oral health care in the Basic Health Units of the Family, 30 cities in the state. Data collection was through a questionnaire, with questions that guided the research development and achieve the objectives proposed. The socio-demographic data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and subjective content was subjected to content analysis by Bardin. The emerging categories from the textual material generated by respondents were: program content, methodological approach and concepts of Permanent Education in Health. The subjects surveyed reported that the program content is more comprehensive and directs to the reflection of everyday practices, with regard to the methodological approach, concern that occurs through discussion and reflection with dynamic, participative, varied and constructive activities, questioning and putting as the main focus. As for understanding of the concepts of the PEH, there was a consensus that define as education stable strategies which contributing to transform and improve the health workers to have the upgrade, improvement of practices, being based on everyday experience and taking into account the accumulation and renewal of these experiences. Therefore, results presented showed that there is a clear understanding of the subjects on the proposals and guidelines of the PEH. It was concluded that lack continuous access to the policies proposed by Ministry of Health involving health workers, managers, communities, through social control and the teaching-service integration and that they are worked within the health system and can classify all these segments of society favor the existence of a more participatory, effective, fair and better quality health service

Efeito do propofol associado à efedrina no tempo de latência do cisatracúrio

OBJETIVOS: Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a eficácia da efedrina na prevenção dos efeitos hemodinâmicos induzidos pela associação do propofol e do remifentanil, assim como os efeitos sobre o tempo de latência do cisatracúrio. MÉTODOS: Sessenta pacientes com idade entre 18 e 52 anos, estado físico ASA I ou II, foram divididos em três grupos, aleatoriamente: G I - propofol 1%; G II - propofol 1% + efedrina 0,5 mg.ml-1 e G III - propofol 1% + efedrina 1,0 mg.ml-1 (velocidade de infusão igual a 180 ml.h-1), até a perda da consciência. Administrou-se remifentanil (0,5 mg.kg-1.min-1) e cisatracúrio na dose de 0,15 mg.kg-1. Foram registrados os dados demográficos, os sinais vitais (PAS, PAM, PAD, FC e SpO2) e o tempo de latência do cisatracúrio. RESULTADOS: Os grupos foram homogêneos com relação aos dados demográficos. Houve diminuição estatisticamente significativa dos valores de PAS, PAM, PAD e FC, um e três minutos após a administração do propofol, porém sem significado clínico importante e sem diferença entre os grupos. As medianas para os tempos de latência do cisatracúrio foram: 178 s (G2 e G3) e 183 s (G1), mas sem diferença significante entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diminuição clinicamente importante dos parâmetros hemodinâmicos avaliados nos grupos que receberam ou não a efedrina e o tempo de latência do cisatracúrio foi o mesmo para os diferentes grupos.

Evaluation of Hemodynamic, Metabolic, and Electrolytic Changes After Graft Reperfusion in a Porcine Model of Intestinal Transplantation

Background. We sought to establish an anesthetic protocol to evaluate the hemodynamic, metabolic, and electrolytic changes after graft reperfusion in pigs undergoing orthotopic intestinal transplant (ITX).Methods. Fifteen pigs were distributed into two groups: GI (n = 6), without immunosuppression, and GII (n = 9), immunosuppressed before surgery with tacrolimus (0.3 mg/kg). The animals were premedicated at 1 hour before surgery with IM acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg), morphine (0.4 mg/kg), ketamine (10 mg/kg), and atropine (0.044 mg/kg IM). Anesthesia induction used equal proportions of diazepam and ketamine (0.1-0.15 mL/kg/IV) and for maintenance in IV infusion of xylazine (1 mg/mL), ketamine (2 mg/mL), and guaiacol glyceryl ether 5% (50 mg/mL), diluted in 250 mL of 5% glucose solution. In addition, recipient pigs were treated with isofluorane inhalation. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), mean (MAP), and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, pulse oximetry, respiratory frequency (f), capnography, body temperature (T), blood gas analysis (pH, PaCO(2), PaO(2), base excess, BE; HCO(3)(-), SatO(2)), serum potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium, hematocrit (Hct), and glucose (Glu) were measured at four times; MO: after incision (basal value); M1: 10 minutes before reperfusion; and M2 and M3: 10 and 20 minutes after graft reperfusion.Results. All groups behaved in a similar pattern. There was significant hypotension after graft reperfusion in GI and GII (M2 = 56.2 +/- 6.4 and M3 = 57.2 +/- 8.3 mm Hg and M2 = 65.7 +/- 10.2 and M3 = 67.8 +/- 16.8 mm Hg, respectively), accompanied by elevated HR. The ETCO(2) was elevated at M2 (42 mm Hg) and M3 (40 mm Hg). Metabolic acidosis was observed after reperfusion, with significant increase in K levels.Conclusion. The anesthetic protocol for donors and recipients was safe to perform the procedure, allowing control of hemodynamic and metabolic changes after reperfusion without differences regarding immunosuppression.

Comparative study on the sedative effects of morphine, methadone, butorphanol or tramadol, in combination with acepromazine, in dogs

To compare the effects of morphine (MOR), methadone (MET), butorphanol (BUT) and tramadol (TRA), in combination with acepromazine, on sedation, cardiorespiratory variables, body temperature and incidence of emesis in dogs.Prospective randomized, blinded, experimental trial.Six adult mixed-breed male dogs weighing 12.0 +/- 4.3 kg.Dogs received intravenous administration (IV) of acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1)) and 15 minutes later, one of four opioids was randomly administered IV in a cross-over design, with at least 1-week intervals. Dogs then received MOR 0.5 mg kg(-1); MET 0.5 mg kg(-1); BUT 0.15 mg kg(-1); or TRA 2.0 mg kg(-1). Indirect systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f(R)), rectal temperature, pedal withdrawal reflex and sedation were evaluated at regular intervals for 90 minutes.Acepromazine administration decreased SAP, HR and temperature and produced mild sedation. All opioids further decreased temperature and MOR, BUT and TRA were associated with further decreases in HR. Tramadol decreased SAP whereas BUT decreased f(R) compared with values before opioid administration. Retching was observed in five of six dogs and vomiting occurred in one dog in MOR, but not in any dog in the remaining treatments. Sedation scores were greater in MET followed by MOR and BUT. Tramadol was associated with minor changes in sedation produced by acepromazine alone.When used with acepromazine, MET appears to provide better sedation than MOR, BUT and TRA. If vomiting is to be avoided, MET, BUT and TRA may be better options than MOR.

A clinical comparison of remifentanil or alfentanil in propofol-anesthetized cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Sixteen cats were used to compare the cardiovascular and anesthetic effects of remifentanil (REMT) or alfentanil (ALF) in propofol-anesthetized cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. After premedication with acepromazine, anesthesia was induced and maintained with a constant rate infusion of propofol (0.3 mg/kg/min). REMT or ALF infusions were administered simultaneously with propofol. Heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), pulse oximetry (SpO(2)), rectal temperature (RT), and response to surgical stimulation were recorded at predefined time points during anesthesia. Data [mean +/- standard deviation (SD)] were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures followed by a Dunnett's test and Student t-test (P < 0.05). SAP was significantly lower in ALF group than in REMI group. Extubation time was significantly shorter in REMI than in ALF group. Overall infusion rate of REMI and ALF was 0.24 +/- 0.05 mu g/kg/min and 0.97 +/- 0.22 mu g/kg/min, respectively. The combination of propofol and REM! or ALF provided satisfactory anesthesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. (C) 2011 ISFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.