Eranina Monné (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) e novo gênero de Hemilophini

Novas espécies descritas em Eranina Monné, 2005: E. moysesi e E. esquinas da Costa Rica; E. rondonia do Brasil (Rondônia) e E. hovorei do Equador. Acrescenta-se chave para as 34 espécies de Eranina. O gênero monotípico Eraninella gen. nov. é criado para Eranina longiscapus (Bates, 1881).

Iidemyia, um novo gênero neotropical de Pachygastrinae (Diptera, Stratiomyidae)

Iidemyia, gen.nov., é proposto para Panacris microdonta Kertész (novo registro no Brasil, Estados do Espírito Santo e São Paulo). O novo gênero difere dos gêneros afins Panacris, Spyridopa e Tijucameru na terminália do macho, forma do escutelo e espinhos escutelares, e pela presença do calo supra-alar.

Novo gênero e espécie de Portanini Linnavuori, e notas taxonômicas (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Xestocephalinae)

Nove espécies são transferidas de Portanus Ball, 1932 para Paraportanus gen. nov.: Paraportanus longicornis (Osborn, 1923) comb. nov. = Portanus chelatus DeLong, 1976 syn. nov.; Paraportanus elegans (Kramer, 1961) comb. nov.; Paraportanus facetus (Kramer, 1961) comb. nov.; Paraportanus eburatus (Kamer, 1964) comb. nov.; Paraportanus filamentus (DeLong, 1980) comb. nov.; Paraportanus bicornis (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus bimaculatus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus cinctus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.; Paraportanus variatus (Carvalho & Cavichioli, 2003) comb. nov.. Novos dados de distribuição geográfica são registrados para: P. facetus; P. elegans e P. longicornis. Chave para identificação das espécies é apresentada.

Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii infection in a patient with AIDS: rapid diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction-sequencing.

We describe an original case of disseminated infection with Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) var. duboisii in an African patient with AIDS who migrated to Switzerland. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis was suggested using direct examination of tissues and confirmed in 24 h with a panfungal polymerase chain reaction assay. The variety duboisii of Hc was established using DNA sequencing of the polymorphic genomic region OLE. Molecular tools allow diagnosis of histoplasmosis in 24 h, which is drastically shorter than culture procedures.

Monitoring of NY-ESO-1 specific CD4+ T cells using molecularly defined MHC class II/His-tag-peptide tetramers.

MHC-peptide tetramers have become essential tools for T-cell analysis, but few MHC class II tetramers incorporating peptides from human tumor and self-antigens have been developed. Among limiting factors are the high polymorphism of class II molecules and the low binding capacity of the peptides. Here, we report the generation of molecularly defined tetramers using His-tagged peptides and isolation of folded MHC/peptide monomers by affinity purification. Using this strategy we generated tetramers of DR52b (DRB3*0202), an allele expressed by approximately half of Caucasians, incorporating an epitope from the tumor antigen NY-ESO-1. Molecularly defined tetramers avidly and stably bound to specific CD4(+) T cells with negligible background on nonspecific cells. Using molecularly defined DR52b/NY-ESO-1 tetramers, we could demonstrate that in DR52b(+) cancer patients immunized with a recombinant NY-ESO-1 vaccine, vaccine-induced tetramer-positive cells represent ex vivo in average 1:5,000 circulating CD4(+) T cells, include central and transitional memory polyfunctional populations, and do not include CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) regulatory T cells. This approach may significantly accelerate the development of reliable MHC class II tetramers to monitor immune responses to tumor and self-antigens.

The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.

Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Some ants, such as the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, are also major pests. Here, we present a draft genome of S. invicta, assembled from Roche 454 and Illumina sequencing reads obtained from a focal haploid male and his brothers. We used comparative genomic methods to obtain insight into the unique features of the S. invicta genome. For example, we found that this genome harbors four adjacent copies of vitellogenin. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that an ancestral vitellogenin gene first underwent a duplication that was followed by possibly independent duplications of each of the daughter vitellogenins. The vitellogenin genes have undergone subfunctionalization with queen- and worker-specific expression, possibly reflecting differential selection acting on the queen and worker castes. Additionally, we identified more than 400 putative olfactory receptors of which at least 297 are intact. This represents the largest repertoire reported so far in insects. S. invicta also harbors an expansion of a specific family of lipid-processing genes, two putative orthologs to the transformer/feminizer sex differentiation gene, a functional DNA methylation system, and a single putative telomerase ortholog. EST data indicate that this S. invicta telomerase ortholog has at least four spliceforms that differ in their use of two sets of mutually exclusive exons. Some of these and other unique aspects of the fire ant genome are likely linked to the complex social behavior of this species.

Novo registro e novas espécies de Cerambycinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) de Trinidad and Tobago e da Venezuela

Novas espécies descritas de Trinidad and Tobago: Plocaederus dozieri sp. nov. (Cerambycini, Cerambycina), Anelaphus trinidadensis sp. nov. (Elaphidionini), Piezocera rufula sp. nov. (Piezocerini), Assycuera marcelae sp. nov. and Ceralocyna venusta sp. nov. (Trachyderini, Ancylocerina). Neocompsa pallida sp. nov. (Ibidionin) é descrita de Trinidad and Tobago e da Venezuela. Ommata (O.) gallardi Peñaherrera & Tavakilian, 2004 (Rhinotragini), descrita originalmente da Guiana Francesa, é registrada para Trinidad and Tobago.

Os Impactos Económicos Dos Eventos Turísticos: A Percepção dos Agentes Económicos Sobre as Festividades de São João Baptista em Porto Novo – Santo Antão

A realização de eventos tem vindo a ser encarada como uma das mais importantes manifestações do turismo em quase todo o mundo, sendo evidente que os mesmos geram uma dinâmica económica nas localidades. Assim, este trabalho monográfico debruça-se sobre a análise da percepção dos agentes económicos do sector do turismo sobre os impactos económicos das festividades de São João Baptista no Porto Novo, enquanto evento turístico. Para dar uma resposta coerente à problemática deste estudo baseouse numa abordagem económica do turismo, tendo em conta as nomenclaturas desenvolvidas no âmbito da Conta Satélite do Turismo e ainda recorreu-se a um conjunto de conclusões de vários estudos científicos que permitiu desenvolver as hipóteses de investigação a serem testadas. Assim, recorreu-se a um inquérito por questionário, dirigido aos agentes económicos residentes na Cidade do Porto Novo, com uma amostra de 91 agentes do sector do turismo, analisando a interacção entre o evento turístico São João Batista e um conjunto de variáveis económicas tais como o emprego, o rendimento, as receitas locais e governamentais, a sazonalidade, os investimentos, a inflação, entre outros. Pelos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que as festividades de São João Batista contribui positivamente para o aumento do emprego para os residentes, o aumento do rendimento, o fomento do empreendedorismo no Concelho, aumentar a qualidade de vida dos residentes, aumentar o PIB e criar riqueza para a ilha. No que diz respeito aos investimentos, pode-se constatar que, São João contribui para melhorar as Infraestruturas locaais, criar mais investimento no sector do turismo do que nos outros sectores económicos e contribui ainda para o desenvolvimento do Concelho.

Synthesis of a radioiodinated photoreactive MAGE-1 peptide derivative and photoaffinity labeling of cell-associated human leukocyte antigen-A1 molecules.

The synthesis of a photoreactive derivative of the human leukocyte antigen-A1 (HLA-A1)-restricted MAGE-1 peptide 161-169 (EADPTGHSY) is described. Using conventional automated solid-phase peptide synthesis, a photoreactive derivative of this peptide was synthesized by replacing histidine-167 with photo-reactive N-beta-4-azidosalicyloyl-L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid. The C-terminal tyrosine was incorporated as phosphotyrosine. This peptide derivative was radioiodinated in the presence of chloramine T. This iodination took place selectively at the photoreactive group, because the phosphate ester prevented tyrosine iodination. Following dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase and chromatographic purification, the radiolabeled peptide derivative was incubated with cells expressing HLA-A1 or other HLA molecules. Photoactivation resulted in efficient photoaffinity labeling of HLA-A1. Other HLA molecules or other cellular components were not detectably labeled. This labeling was inhibited by HLA-A1 but not by HLA-A2-binding peptides. This synthesis is generally applicable and can also be adapted to the synthesis of well-defined radiolabeled nonphotoreactive peptide derivatives.

As Tecnologias Informáticas e a emergência de um novo estilo de Humanidade

O presente artigo resulta da leitura crítica e reflexiva do penúltimo dos quinze capítulos de As Tecnologias da Inteligência: o Futuro do Pensamento na Era Informática, da autoria de Pierre Lévy41 –, publicada pelas Edições Piaget em 1994, intitulado “As colectividades pensantes e o fim da metafísica”.

The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere. Specific amino acids in the HLA-B peptide binding groove, as well as an independent HLA-C effect, explain the SNP associations and reconcile both protective and risk HLA alleles. These results implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major factor modulating durable control of HIV infection.

The role of proteolytic processing and the stable signal peptide in expression of the Old World arenavirus envelope glycoprotein ectodomain.

Maturation of the arenavirus GP precursor (GPC) involves proteolytic processing by cellular signal peptidase and the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin isozyme 1 (SKI-1)/site 1 protease (S1P), yielding a tripartite complex comprised of a stable signal peptide (SSP), the receptor-binding GP1, and the fusion-active transmembrane GP2. Here we investigated the roles of SKI-1/S1P processing and SSP in the biosynthesis of the recombinant GP ectodomains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Lassa virus (LASV). When expressed in mammalian cells, the LCMV and LASV GP ectodomains underwent processing by SKI-1/S1P, followed by dissociation of GP1 from GP2. The GP2 ectodomain spontaneously formed trimers as revealed by chemical cross-linking. The endogenous SSP, known to be crucial for maturation and transport of full-length arenavirus GPC was dispensable for processing and secretion of the soluble GP ectodomain, suggesting a specific role of SSP in the stable prefusion conformation and transport of full-length GPC.

The predictive value of preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide in children undergooing heart surgery.

Introduction: Low cardiac output syndrome is frequent in childrenafter heart surgery for congenital heart disease and may result in pooroutcome and increased morbidity. In the adult population, preoperativebrain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was shown to be predictive of postoperative complications. In children, the value of preoperative BNP onpostoperative outcome is not so clear. The aim of this study was todetermine the predictive value of preoperative BNP on postoperativeoutcome and low cardiac output syndrome in children after heartsurgery for congenital heart disease.Methods: We examined, retrospectively, the postoperative course of97 pediatric patients (mean age 3.7 years, range 0-14 years old) whounderwent heart surgery in a tertiary care pediatric intensive caresetting. NTproBNP was measured preoperatively in all patients(median 412 pg/ml, range 12-35'000 pg/ml). Patients were divided intothree groups according to their NTproBNP levels (group 1: 0-300 pg/ml, group 2: 300-600 pg/ml, group 3: >600 pg/ml) and then,correlations with postoperative outcomes were examined.Results: We found that patients with a high preoperative BNP requiredmore frequently prolonged (>2 days) mechanical ventilation (33%vs 40% vs 61%, p = 0.045) and stayed more frequently longer than6 days in the intensive care unit (42% vs 50% vs 71%, p = 0.03).However, high preoperative BNP was not correlated with occurrenceof low cardiac output syndrome.Conclusion: Preoperative BNP cannot be used, in children, as areliable and sole predictor of postoperative low cardiac outputsyndrome. However it may help identify, before surgery, those patientsat risk of having a difficult postoperative course.