The role of landscape change and paleoclimatic events in shaping the evolutionary history of the Polioptila gnatcatchers (Passeriformes,Polioptilidae) with emphasis on species associated with open habitats

We conducted a large‐scale phylogenetic and biogeographical inference of the Poliptila gnatcatchers and investigated the evolutionary history of two closely related neotropical bird species linked to open habitats, Polioptila dumicola and Polioptila plumbea. A Bayesian inference was employed based on the NADH subunit 2 gene to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of the gnatcatchers, and ancestral area reconstructions were estimated using BioGeoBEARS. For the phylogeographic analysis, we analyzed two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and ND2, of 102 individuals from P. dumicola and P. plumbea distributed throughout the complete range of both species. To reconstruct the dates related to the splitting events, we included a subset of sequences from the nuclear gene beta‐fibrinogen intron‐7. A striking result was the recovery of the sister relationship between the lineages of P. dumicola /plumbea and the paraphyly among the subspecies of P. plumbea: the first group was formed by P. dumicola, P. p. plumbea, P. p. parvirostris, P. p. atricapilla and P. lactea, occurring mainly on the Brazilian shield; while the second group consisted of lineages from north of the Amazon, west of the Andes, and Central America, and included P. maior, P. p. cinericia, P. p. bilineata and P. p. innotata. Significant phylogeographic structure was evident within lineages attributed to P. plumbea, with high levels of differentiation in the well‐defined clades according to all phylogenetic analyses. Our biogeographic analyses support distinct evolutionary histories related to founder events and vicariance, occurring during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Several dispersal episodes between North/Central America and South America led to the establishment of populations which became differentiated due to landscape changes, such as the establishment of riverine barriers, the uplift of the Andes and the formation of the Panama Isthmus.     

Anti-inflammatory and redox-protective activities of citronellal

The anti-inflammatory and redox protective effects of the citronellal (CT) were evaluated using in vivo and in vitro tests. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CT (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) inhibited (p < 0.05) the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity. Additionally, the carrageenan- and arachidonic acid-induced rat hind paw edema was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) by i.p. administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg of the compound. When the redox activity was evaluated, CT (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced hepatic lipoperoxidation (p < 0.001), as well as oxidation of plasmatic (p < 0.05) and hepatic (p < 0.01) proteins. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that CT possesses anti-inflammatory and redox protective activities. It is suggested that its effects are associated with the inhibition of the enzymes in the arachidonic acid pathway, which prevent cell migration by inhibiting leukotriene production, edema formation and the increase of reactive oxygen species in tissues. Therefore, CT is of potential benefit to manage inflammatory disorders and correlated damages caused by oxidant agents.     

Antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons in Salmonella enterica isolates from wild boars and Bísaro pigs

The antibiotic resistance phenotype and genotype and the integron type were characterized in 58 Salmonella enterica isolates recovered from Bísaro pigs and wild boars (20 S. Typhimurium, 17 S. Rissen, 14 S. Enteritidis and 7 S. Havana). Most S. Typhimurium isolates (15/20 of Bísaro pigs and wild boars) showed ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resistances. Of the 17 S. Rissen isolates of both origins, 13 were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Among the S. Enteritidis isolates of Bísaro pigs, eight were nalidixic acid-resistant and three were sulfonamide-resistant. The tet(A) or tet(G) genes were detected in most tetracycline-resistant isolates. The intI1 gene was identified in 72.5% of S. enterica isolates in which the conserved region 3' of class 1 integrons (qacEΔ1+sul1) was also amplified, whereas none had the intI2 gene. The dfrA12+orfF+aadA2 gene cassette arrangement was found in the variable region of class 1 integrons in 14 S. Rissen isolates. Fifteen S. Typhimurium isolates had two integrons with variable regions of 1000 and 1200 bp that harbored the aadA2 and blaPSE-1 gene cassettes, respectively. In these isolates the floR and tet(G) genes were also amplified, indicative of the genomic island 1 (SGI1). Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Rissen of animal origin frequently show a multi-antimicrobial resistant phenotype, which may have implications in public health.     

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Not Associated with Worsening of Intestinal Inflammatory Activity

Background

Cytomegalovirus is highly prevalent virus and usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. The pathophysiology and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease often induce a state of immunosuppression. Because this, there are still doubts and controversies about the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and cytomegalovirus.

Aim

Evaluate the frequency of cytomegalovirus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and identify correlations.

Methods

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease underwent an interview, review of records and collection of blood and fecal samples. The search for cytomegalovirus was performed by IgG and IgM blood serology, by real-time PCR in the blood and by qualitative PCR in feces. Results were correlated with red blood cell levels, C-reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rates and fecal calprotectin levels for each patient.

Results

Among the 400 eligible patients, 249 had Crohn''s disease, and 151 had ulcerative colitis. In the group of Crohn''s disease, 67 of the patients had moderate or severe disease, but 126 patients presented with active disease, based on the evaluation of the fecal calprotectin. In patients with ulcerative colitis, only 21 patients had moderate disease, but 76 patients presented with active disease, based on the evaluation of the fecal calprotectin. A large majority of patients had positive CMV IgG. Overall, 10 patients had positive CMV IgM, and 9 patients had a positive qualitative detection of CMV DNA by PCR in the feces. All 400 patients returned negative results after the quantitative detection of CMV DNA in blood by real-time PCR. Analyzing the 19 patients with active infections, we only found that such an association occurred with the use of combined therapy (anti-TNF-alpha + azathioprine)

Conclusion

The findings show that latent cytomegalovirus infections are frequent and active cytomegalovirus infection is rare. We did not find any association between an active infection of CMV and inflammatory bowel disease activity.     

A review of the palm genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acrocomia</Emphasis>: Neotropical green gold

The genus Acrocomia, popularly known as macaw palm or macaúba, occurs in savanna areas and open forests of tropical America, with distribution from Central to southern South America. They are important oleaginous palm trees, due to their role in ecosystems and local economies and their potential for biofuel production and vegetable oil. Although the taxonomy of the genus is not resolved because of observed phenotypic diversity in A. aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., there are several conflicting treatments. Some authors recognize three caulescent spp. occurring in South America: A. aculeata, A. intumescens Drude, and A. totai Mart, although a new one was described recently—Acrocomia corumbaensis. Because some Latin American governments want to expand production of macaw palm in their territory as raw material for agro-energy, several groups have been encouraged to study this genus, focusing on the production of biodiesel, seed germination, phenotypic aspects, and genetic diversity. The goal of this review is to compile key information available in the literature and herbarium data, focusing on South American populations of the genus.     

Leishmanicidal effect of Spiranthera odoratíssima (Rutaceae) and its isolated alkaloid skimmianine occurs by a nitric oxide dependent mechanism

Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected diseases. High cost, systemic toxicity, and diminished efficacy due to development of resistance by the parasites has a negative impact on the current treatment options. Thus, the search for a new, effective and safer anti-leishmanial drug becomes of paramount importance. Compounds derived from natural products may be a better and cheaper source in this regard. This study evaluated the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of Spiranthera odoratíssima (Rutaceae) fractions and isolated compounds, using promastigote and amastigote forms of different Leishmania species. J774 A.1 macrophage was used as the parasite host cell for the in vitro assays. Evaluations of cytoxicity, nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-10 and in silico analysis were carried out. In vitro experiments showed that the fruit hexanic fraction (Fhf) and its alkaloid skimmianine (Skm) have a significant (P<0·001) effect against L. braziliensis. This anti-L. braziliensis activity of Fhf and Skm was due to increased production of NO and attenuation of IL-10 production in the macrophages at concentrations ranging from 1·6 to 40·0 μg/ml. The in silico assay demonstrated significant interaction between Skm and amino acid residues of NOS2. Skm is thus a promising drug candidate for L. braziliensis due to its potent immunomodulatory activity.     

RAPD-based genetic linkage maps of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg.).

A single cross between two clones of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg., 2n = 18) was selected for genetic mapping. The mapping population was composed of 90 F1 plants derived from a cross between 'IAPAR 123' (female parent) and 'IAPAR 06' (male parent). A total of 380 RAPD primers were analyzed according to two-way pseudo-testcross mapping design. The linkage analysis was performed using Mapmaker version 3.0 with LOD 4.0 and a maximum recombination fraction (theta) of 0.30. Map distances were estimated using the Kosambi mapping function. Linkage maps were constructed with 269 loci (2.38 markers/primer), of which 255 segregated 1:1, corresponding to a heterozygous state in one parent and null in the other. The linkage map for 'IAPAR123' consisted of 135 markers. A total of nine linkage groups were assembled covering 727.7 cM, with an average distance of 11.20 cM between framework loci. The sizes of the linkage groups ranged from 56 to 144.6 cM. The linkage map for 'IAPAR 06' consisted of 96 markers, covering 783.5 cM. The average distance between framework loci was 12.2 cM. The length of the nine linkage groups ranged from 20.6 to 144.2 cM. On average, both maps provided 61% genome coverage. Twenty-four loci (8.9%) remained unlinked. Among their many applications, these maps are a starting point for the identification of quantitative trait loci for resistance to the main bacterial disease affecting passion fruit orchards in Brazil, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. passiflorae, because parental genotypes exhibit diverse responses to bacterial inoculation.     

PURIFIED DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN IN THE ULTRACENTRIFUGE AND IN THE ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS

Ultracentrifugation studies of diphtheria antitoxin showed that: 1. Purified antitoxin of high activity obtained from horse plasma without enzymatic treatment has exactly the same sedimentation constant as the globulin fraction obtained in a similar way from normal horse plasma s ₂₀ ^water = 6.9 x 10^–13. 2. Purified antitoxin obtained with trypsin digestion of the toxin-antitoxin complex has a sedimentation constant of s ₂₀ ^water = 5.5 ± 0.1 x 10^–13, a diffusion constant of D ₂₀ ^water = 5.7₆ x 10^–7, and a molecular weight of about 90,000. Electrophoresis experiments demonstrated that: 1. The trypsin-purified antitoxin has an isoelectric point not far from pH 7.0. 2. The reversible spreading noticed at about pH 7.3 cannot be attributed to heterogeneous preparation. 3. The large increase in the γ-globulin fraction occurring during immunization consists either of antitoxin of various degrees of activity or of some inert protein in addition to the antitoxin.