Comentario general sobre crucero de evaluación de recursos pelágicos BIC SNP-1 9602-04

Presenta un comentario general sobre los principales resultados alcanzados durante el crucero 9602-04, de evaluación de los principales recursos pelágicos durante el verano 1996, documento basado en la información sobre la biomasa, distribución y concentración; aspectos biológicos de la anchoveta, sardina, jurel y caballa, además del medio ambiente marino.

Distribución, concentración y biomasa de los principales recursos pelágicos durante el verano de 1996. Crucero BIC SNP-1 9602-04

El Crucero 9602-04 se realizó a bordo del BIC SNP-1, del 07 de febrero al 05 de abril de 1996 comprendiendo toda el área de litoral peruano desde la frontera sur (18°17 'S) hasta la frontera norte (03°36 'S) y hasta las 120 mn, con el propósito de evaluar los recursos pelágicos. Se presentan los estimados de biomasa y distribución de los principales recursos pelágicos: anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), sardina (Sardinops sagax sagax), jurel (Trachurus picturatus murphyi) y caballa (Scomber japonicus peruanus). Los estimados de biomasa fueron los siguientes: anchoveta 6,69 x 106 t (16,17%),sardina 2,41 x 106 t (22,62%), jurel 3,08 x 106 t (31,23%) y caballa 2,91 x 106 t (21,4%)

Condiciones oceanográficas del mar peruano durante el crucero de evaluación de los recursos pelágicos BIC SNP-1 9602-04

Presenta las condiciones oceanográficas físicas observadas durante el crucero de evalaución de los recursos pelágicos, correspondiente al verano de 1996, tanto de la superficie como de las capas sub-superficiales del mar. Las condiciones oceanográficas registradas durante el verano de 1996 muestran una continuación del proceso de enfriamiento registradodesde la primavera de 1995, y existe una tendencia a que estas condiciones frías se mantengan hasta el inicio de la estación de invierno de 1996.

Evaluación del recurso merluza (Crucero BIC SNP-1 9505/06)

Evalúa la situación de la merluza sobre la plataforma continental para ayudar en la toma de decisiones para el ordenamiento de la pesquería sobre esta especie. Asimismo, se concluye que el afloramiento costero alcanzó su mayor intensidad, principalmente, entre Supe y Pimentel.

Identification of infectious agents in onychomycoses by PCR-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism.

A fast and reliable assay for the identification of dermatophyte fungi and nondermatophyte fungi (NDF) in onychomycosis is essential, since NDF are especially difficult to cure using standard treatment. Diagnosis is usually based on both direct microscopic examination of nail scrapings and macroscopic and microscopic identification of the infectious fungus in culture assays. In the last decade, PCR assays have been developed for the direct detection of fungi in nail samples. In this study, we describe a PCR-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) assay to directly and routinely identify the infecting fungi in nails. Fungal DNA was easily extracted using a commercial kit after dissolving nail fragments in an Na(2)S solution. Trichophyton spp., as well as 12 NDF, could be unambiguously identified by the specific restriction fragment size of 5'-end-labeled amplified 28S DNA. This assay enables the distinction of different fungal infectious agents and their identification in mixed infections. Infectious agents could be identified in 74% (162/219) of cases in which the culture results were negative. The PCR-TRFLP assay described here is simple and reliable. Furthermore, it has the possibility to be automated and thus routinely applied to the rapid diagnosis of a large number of clinical specimens in dermatology laboratories.

Identification of C(4)-dicarboxylate transport systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizes preferentially C(4)-dicarboxylates such as malate, fumarate, and succinate as carbon and energy sources. We have identified and characterized two C(4)-dicarboxylate transport (Dct) systems in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Inactivation of the dctA(PA1183) gene caused a growth defect of the strain in minimal media supplemented with succinate, fumarate or malate, indicating that DctA has a major role in Dct. However, residual growth of the dctA mutant in these media suggested the presence of additional C(4)-dicarboxylate transporter(s). Tn5 insertion mutagenesis of the ΔdctA mutant led to the identification of a second Dct system, i.e., the DctPQM transporter belonging to the tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) family of carriers. The ΔdctA ΔdctPQM double mutant showed no growth on malate and fumarate and residual growth on succinate, suggesting that DctA and DctPQM are the only malate and fumarate transporters, whereas additional transporters for succinate are present. Using lacZ reporter fusions, we showed that the expression of the dctA gene and the dctPQM operon was enhanced in early exponential growth phase and induced by C(4)-dicarboxylates. Competition experiments demonstrated that the DctPQM carrier was more efficient than the DctA carrier for the utilization of succinate at micromolar concentrations, whereas DctA was the major transporter at millimolar concentrations. To conclude, this is the first time that the high- and low-affinity uptake systems for succinate DctA and DctPQM have been reported to function coordinately to transport C(4)-dicarboxylates and that the alternative sigma factor RpoN and a DctB/DctD two-component system regulates simultaneously the dctA gene and the dctPQM operon.

Identification of an agrin mutation that causes congenital myasthenia and affects synapse function.

We report the case of a congenital myasthenic syndrome due to a mutation in AGRN, the gene encoding agrin, an extracellular matrix molecule released by the nerve and critical for formation of the neuromuscular junction. Gene analysis identified a homozygous missense mutation, c.5125G>C, leading to the p.Gly1709Arg variant. The muscle-biopsy specimen showed a major disorganization of the neuromuscular junction, including changes in the nerve-terminal cytoskeleton and fragmentation of the synaptic gutters. Experiments performed in nonmuscle cells or in cultured C2C12 myotubes and using recombinant mini-agrin for the mutated and the wild-type forms showed that the mutated form did not impair the activation of MuSK or change the total number of induced acetylcholine receptor aggregates. A solid-phase assay using the dystrophin glycoprotein complex showed that the mutation did not affect the binding of agrin to alpha-dystroglycan. Injection of wild-type or mutated agrin into rat soleus muscle induced the formation of nonsynaptic acetylcholine receptor clusters, but the mutant protein specifically destabilized the endogenous neuromuscular junctions. Importantly, the changes observed in rat muscle injected with mutant agrin recapitulated the pre- and post-synaptic modifications observed in the patient. These results indicate that the mutation does not interfere with the ability of agrin to induce postsynaptic structures but that it dramatically perturbs the maintenance of the neuromuscular junction.

Pictorial identification key for species of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of potential forensic importance in southern Brazil

Pictorial identification key for species of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of potential forensic importance in southern Brazil. Species of the subfamily Sarcophaginae are important to forensic entomology due to their necrophagous habits. This contribution presents a pictorial key for the identification of 22 Sarcophaginae species in 10 genera that are commonly found in southern Brazil. Photographs of the main structures used in species identification, mainly from the male terminalia, are provided.

Identification and Characterization of Natural Anti-Breast Cancer Compound: Costunolide

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, 23% (1.3 million) of the total of new cases and the second leading cause of cancer death in women exceeded only by lung cancer. Natural medicines have been proven to be a central source of narrative agents with a pharmaceutical potential. Costunolide is sesquiterpene lactones consisting of diverse plant chemicals that exhibit anti cancer action through cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. The objectives of present study were to explore the effects of natural compounds on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and to determine the role of ROS in natural compounds-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells with a therapeutic potential. Results showed that costunolide screened, possess potent anticancer properties against breast cancer MCF-7 cells, Costunolide was observed as strong anti-proliferative agent with IC50 = 50µM. The anti-proliferative effect of costunolide on MCF cells was confirmed by live/dead assay using fluorescent probes calcein AV/PI. The results demonstrated that treatment of cells with costunolide decreased the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To determine the costunolide-induced apoptosis, flow cytometric analysis was carried out. The results showed that costunolide induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer MCF-7cells. ROS are well known mediators of intracellular signaling of cascades. The excessive generation of ROS can induce oxidative stress, loss of cell functioning, and apoptosis. In the present study, we assumed that costunolide might arouse ROS level, which could be involved in induction of apoptosis. Therefore, the intracellular ROS level was measured using the ROS-detecting fluorescence dye 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). Interestingly these effects were significantly abrogated when the cells were pretreated with N-acetyl- cysteine (NAC), a specific ROS inhibitor. Costunolide induces apoptosis through extrinsic pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, In order to examine whether costunolide suppresses cell growth inducing apoptotic cell death, we analyzed DNA contents and apoptosis-related proteins expression level by flow cytometry and western blot, respectively in MCF-7 breast cancer cells we investigated whether costunolide activates extrinsic apoptotic pathway. We examined the expression levels of death receptor signaling-related proteins, caspase-3, and PARP. The results showed that procaspase-3 was cleaved to yield 17 and 20kDa fragments and activation of PARP in treated cells with 25 and 50μM of costunolide. Costunolide induce apoptosis through intrinsic mitochondria pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer Cells. We examined the expression levels of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway related proteins such as anti-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma protein-2 (Bcl2), and pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Costunolide involved in the down regulation of Bcl-2 and up regulation of Bax. These results suggest that costunolide may have beneficial effects for the reduction of breast cancer growth, and new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human cancers.

Crucero de investigaciones sobre el recurso calamar gigante o pota a bordo del BIC SNP-1. CR.9510-11 Chicama - Pto. Pizarro

Indica los acondicionamiento al BIC SNP-1 para la pesca del calamar y los resultados obtenidos entre la zona de Chicama hasta Pto. Pizarro, en octubre y noviembre de 1995. Asimismo, presenta los resultados de la aplicación del método de captura con máquinas calamareras, sistema de luces y sistema de anclaje y de los muestreos oceanográficos, acústicos y biológicos-pesqueros.

Investigación sobre el calamar gigante o pota en primavera 1996 en el área de Puerto Pizarro a Paita. Crucero BIC SNP-1 9609-10

Presenta los resultados de la prospección acústica pesquera, en la zona de Puerto Pizarro a Paita, hasta las 320 millas náuticas de distancia a la costa, del 25 de setiembre al 20 de Octubre 1996. El recurso se encontró muy disperso en casi toda el área prospectada, asociado a temperaturas superficiales y salinidades.

Distribución, concentración y biomasa de los principales recursos pelágicos peruanos entre noviembre y diciembre de 1996. Crucero BIC SNP-1 9611-12

Permite conocer la distribución de los recursos pelágicos y sus niveles de biomasa, asimismo se monitoreó la evolución de los parámetros oceanográficos lo cual permitió conocer aspectos biológicos relativos a las especies en estudio. Esta prospección se ejecutó durante 40 días entre Tacna y Paita desde el 13 de noviembre al 22 de diciembre de 1996.

Crucero de investigación del calamar gigante BIC SNP-2 9903-04, 23 marzo al 12 abril 1999

Presenta los resultados del crucero de Investigación del calamar gigante, realizado a bordo del BIC SNP-2, del 23 de marzo al 12 de abril de 1999, de Puerto Pizarro al Callao, con el objeto de recopilar información actualizada sobre el estado biológico poblacional del recurso y las condiciones oceanográficas en el área y período de estudio.

Identification of sap-feeder instars in Angelabella tecomae Vargas & Parra (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) feeding on Tecoma fulva fulva (Bignoniaceae)

The number of sap-feeding instars of the leaf-miner Angelabella tecomae Vargas & Parra, 2005 was determined by measuring the head capsule exuviae collected from mines (n = 125) on the shrub Tecoma fulva fulva D. Don (Bignoniaceae) in the Azapa Valley, northern Chile. Sap-feeding larvae went through four instars in 120 occasions while five larvae went through five instars. The possible causes for this variation and the usefulness of this tool for future studies are discussed.

White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution

White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution. The objective of this study was to survey the occurrence and geographic distribution of white grub species (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in cultivated and non-cultivated fields of the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil and develop a key at genus-level. Twenty-eight species from 15 genera and three subfamilies were recorded: Dynastinae, Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. The species or genera recorded for the first time in the state are: Cyclocephala metrica, C. tucumana, Isonychus albicinctus, Liogenys bidenticeps, L. fusca, L. obesa and L. sinuaticeps, Paranomala violacea, as well as unidentified species of Amononyx, Dicrania, Leucothyreus, Macrodactylus, Plectris and Rhizogeniates. Among the species recorded, 23 were associated with winter crops. Only Cyclocephala metrica, Dyscinetus rugifrons, two species of Leucothyreus and one species of the tribe Sericini were not present in cultivated crop fields. Cyclocephala flavipennis and Diloboderus abderus occurred in most of the municipalities sampled, often associated with Plectris sp., C. modesta and C. putrida. The highest richness of melolonthids was concentrated in the northeast of the Planalto region.