Honest error,precaution or alertness advertisement? Reactions to vertebrate pseudopredators in red‐nosed cuxiús (Chiropotes albinasus), a high‐canopy neotropical primate

Predation on primates is considered to have far‐reaching effects on the foraging and social ecology of a species. Primate species display a variety of responses to predator proximity and attack, ranging from active physical defense and mobbing, to flight and concealment. Warning calls are often given, and potentially threatening animals may be tracked, either actively or with head movements. Such behaviors take time that could be used for other activities. Accordingly, there should be strong selection to respond only to those species that represent a genuine threat. However, primates give defense‐based behaviors to non‐predator species. We tested the hypotheses that responses to pseudopredators are (i) precautionary calls made by individuals following the Dinner/Life Principle, or (ii) represent the ontogeny of species recognition. Of the species that ellicted a response from the cuxiús, 80% resembled a primate predator; 95% of the encounters that elicited a response from the cuxiús occurred when the distance between the pseudopredator and cuxiús was ≤20 m. In regard to the frequency of responses to pseudopredators, we found no difference between adults and juveniles (47.6% and 52.4%, respectively) and no differences between adult males and adult females (60% and 40% of the responses, respectively). However, reactions to pseudopredators were of shorter duration ( ± standard error (SE): 42.2 ± 15.9 s) than were reactions to actual predator species ( ± SE: 1,024.3 ± 329.1 s). There were only three instances where alarm calls were made to species that did not resemble predators, and 66.7% (N = 2) were made by adult cuxiús and only 33.3% (N = 1) were made by a juvenile cuxiú. Therefore, we found partial support for the Dinner/Life Principle hypothesis, but no support for the ontogeny hypothesis. Examination of such responses to pseudopredators in other primate and non‐primate species may help understand the evolution of such behaviors.     

Morphometric analyses and new taxonomic circumscription of South American species of Flourensia (Asteraceae,Heliantheae, Enceliinae)

Flourensia (Asteraceae, Heliantheae, Enceliinae) is an amphitropical genus of resinous subshrubs, shrubs and small trees with 13 North American and 20 South American species among which disagreement on the species limits of some members still exists. To resolve the taxonomy of the South American taxa, we carried out a combination of clustering (Ward's method with Gower distance coefficient) and ordination analyses (Principal Coordinate Analyses) based on 34 vegetative and reproductive characters scored from herbarium material, including types. Based on the results, we recognize 12 South American species: F. angustifolia, F. cajabambensis, F. fiebrigii, F. heterolepis, F. hirtissima, F. macrophylla, F. niederleinii; F. peruviana, F. polycephala, F. thurifera, F. tortuosa and F. suffrutescens. A number of species are placed in synonymy: Flourensia blakeana and F. hirta are synonymized under the name F. fiebrigii; Flourensia campestris, F. leptopoda, F. oolepis and F. riparia are synonymized under F. thurifera; Flourensia macroligulata is synonymized under F. tortuosa, and Flourensia polyclada is synonymized under F. suffrutescens. A taxonomic treatment of four redefined species as well as a key and distribution maps to all South American Flourensia species are provided.     

Anatomy of vegetative organs,inflorescence axis and pedicel in the Neoregelia bahiana complex (Bromeliaceae): taxonomic and ecological importance

Delimitation of genera and species in Bromeliaceae is often problematic, for example in the Neoregelia bahiana complex which is distributed throughout the rocky fields of the Espinhaço Range, Brazil. Considering that the anatomical characterisation of different organs is potentially important for taxonomic and ecological interpretation of this complex, we analysed roots, stems (stolon), leaves, inflorescence axes (peduncle) and pedicels in individuals from different populations. In all the studied individuals, the roots are composed of velamen, a heterogeneous cortex, and a polyarch vascular cylinder with sclerenchymatous pith. The stolon features a parenchymatous cortex and collateral vascular bundles randomly distributed in the vascular cylinder. This organ may increase in diameter by the formation of new vascular bundles and a multi‐layered cork. The leaf blade has epidermal cells with U‐shaped thickened walls and peltate scales occur on the adaxial surface. The mesophyll consists of mechanical and water‐storage hypodermis and a heterogeneous chlorenchyma. The inflorescence axis and the pedicel have a parenchymatous cortex and vascular bundles randomly distributed in an aerenchyma. Some variable leaf characters, such as presence of air lacunae in the mesophyll, are related to the size of the individuals and were interpreted as phenotypic variations related mainly to sunlight incidence. In contrast, leaf characters such as lamina shape, distribution of the peltate scales, and number of cell layers forming the water‐storage hypodermis distinguish the populations of the Serra do Cabral and one population of the Diamantina (Minas Gerais) from the remaining studied populations, suggesting the existence of more than one taxon.     

Compatibility and combination of selected bacterial antagonists in the biocontrol of sisal bole rot disease

Sisal (Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm; Asparagaceae) bole rot is a devastating disease caused by Aspergillus niger Tiegh, which contributes to the decline of this crop in Brazil. Currently, there are no control measures available, but biocontrol is being investigated as a promising management strategy. Five previously selected bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Paenibacillus sp. 512, Brevibacterium sp. 90 and Bacillus sp. 105, BMH and INV, and tested for their capacity to control bole rot in vitro and in field experiments. Individual bacterial isolates and their combinations significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of A. niger. In two independent field experiments, the application of isolates 512, 105, 90, INV, and 127 + INV reduced disease incidence to levels varying from 44 to 75%. Although there was no synergistic effect in their combined use, these bacteria have potential to be used against bole rot disease in the field.     

Protein profile in Aspergillus nidulans recombinant strains overproducing heterologous enzymes

Filamentous fungi are robust cell factories and have been used for the production of large quantities of industrially relevant enzymes. However, the production levels of heterologous proteins still need to be improved. Therefore, this article aimed to investigate the global proteome profiling of Aspergillus nidulans recombinant strains in order to understand the bottlenecks of heterologous enzymes production. About 250, 441 and 424 intracellular proteins were identified in the control strain Anid_pEXPYR and in the recombinant strains Anid_AbfA and Anid_Cbhl respectively. In this context, the most enriched processes in recombinant strains were energy pathway, amino acid metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, translation, endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, and repression under secretion stress (RESS). The global protein profile of the recombinant strains Anid_AbfA and Anid_Cbhl was similar, although the latter strain secreted more recombinant enzyme than the former. These findings provide insights into the bottlenecks involved in the secretion of recombinant proteins in A. nidulans, as well as in regard to the rational manipulation of target genes for engineering fungal strains as microbial cell factories.     

A Fluorescence‐Based Sensor Assay that Monitors General Protein Aggregation in Human Cells

Protein conformational disorders are characterized by disruption of protein folding and toxic accumulation of protein aggregates. Here we describe a sensitive and simple method to follow and monitor general protein aggregation in human cells. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is an oligomeric small heat shock protein that binds and keeps unfolded proteins in a folding competent state. This high specificity of HSP27 for aggregated proteins can be explored to monitor aggregation in living cells by fusing it to a fluorescent protein as Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). We have constructed a HeLa stable cell line expressing a HSP27:GFP chimeric reporter protein and after validation, this stable cell line is exposed to different agents that interfere with proteostasis, namely Arsenite, MG132, and Aβ‐peptide. Exposure to proteome destabilizers lead to re‐localization of HSP27:GFP fluorescence to foci, confirming that our reporter system is functional and can be used to detect and follow protein aggregation in living cells. This reporter is a valuable tool to setup wide‐genetic screens to identify genes and pathways involved in protein misfolding and aggregation.     

Sex Differences in Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase mRNA in Neonatal Rat Brain: Implications for Sexual Differentiation

Sexual differentiation of rodent brain is dependent upon hormonal exposure during a “critical period” beginning in late gestation and ending in early neonatal life. Steroid hormone action at this time results in anatomical and physiological sexual dimorphisms in adult brain, but the mechanism mediating these changes is essentially unknown. The inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, is involved in regulation of sexually dimorphic patterns of behavior and gonadotropin secretion in the adult. Recent evidence suggests that during development GABA is excitatory and provides critical neurotrophic and neuromodulatory influences. We hypothesized that steroid-induced changes in GABAergic neurotransmission during this critical period are important mediators of sexual differentiation in brain. Therefore, we quantified levels of mRNA for GAD, the rate-limiting enzyme in GABA synthesis. On Postnatal Day 1, males had significantly higher levels of GAD mRNA in the dorsomedial nucleus, arcuate nucleus, and CA1 region of hippocampus. On Postnatal Day 15, after the critical period for sexual differentiation has ended, these differences were no longer present. We examined the role of gonadal steroids in regulating GAD by removing testes of males and administering testosterone to females at birth. Exposure to testosterone was correlated with increased GAD mRNA in the dorsomedial nucleus. A sex difference in GAD mRNA was also observed in the medial preoptic area, but the influence of testosterone was inconclusive. We conclude that sex differences in the GABAergic system during development are partially hormonally mediated, and that these differences may contribute to the development of sexually dimorphic characteristics in adult brain.     

Carbohydrate and lipid components of hyphae and conidia of human pathogenFonsecaea pedrosoi

The carbohydrate and lipid components of mycelium and conidia ofFonsecaea pedrosoi (Brumpt) were analysed by paper, thin-layer and gas-chromatography, mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Glucose, mannose, galactofuranose, rhamnose and glucosamine were polysaccharide components identified inF. pedrosoi. Significant changes in the carbohydrate pattern occurred during the conversion of mycelium into conidia. Rhamnose was predominant in conidia whereas galactose was prominent in mycelium. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids were the fatty acids identified in the total lipid fraction. Palmitic and oleic acids were major fatty acids. Marked alterations in the fatty acid constituents were observed between the cell types ofF. pedrosoi. Arachidonic acid was detected only in conidia and linoleic acid was preferentially identified in mycelium. Differences in the sterol composition was also associated with morphogenesis inF. pedrosoi. Two main sterols, ergosterol and another less polar sterol, not fully characterized, were found in mycelium whereas in conidia only the latter sterol was present.     

Ascomycetous yeasts from tropical intertidal dark mud of southeast Brazilian estuaries

Four different intertidal estuarine sediments had distinct yeast communities. One-hundred-ninety-three yeast isolates were classified in 47 species, with 34 of these in the genus Candida. Candida tropicalis was the only ascomycetous species isolated from all four sites. Other opportunistic pathogens including Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei were present, especially at the more polluted sites. Pichia species were also frequent isolates with Pichia membranaefaciens, and its anamorph, Candida valida, and other phenotypically similar low assimilation profile species the most frequent. Kluyveromyces aestuarii was prevalent at the only site with well established mangrove vegetation, but not present at the other sites. The sediment yeast communities were distinct from each other, but more similar to each other than to the yeast communities of other ecosystems in the same geographic region.