Vocal Repertoire of Golden-backed Uakaris (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacajao melanocephalus</Emphasis>): Call Structure and Context

The study of vocal behavior can reveal important aspects of how and why a species communicates in relation to ecological and social challenges. We here focus on vocal communication in golden-backed uakaris (Cacajao melanocephalus), diurnal, pitheciine monkeys that exhibit fission-fusion social organization and typically inhabit dense forests that limit the potential for visual communication. Moreover, the species spends little time engaged in tactile or olfactory communication, e.g., social grooming and scent marking, respectively. Hence, vocalizations may be very important for the coordination of social organization in these monkeys. We 1) categorized golden-backed uakari vocalizations, 2) ascertained their behavioral context, and 3) investigated whether golden-backed uakari calls can encode information about the signaler. We observed the monkeys during 2 wet seasons in the flooded igapó forest of Jaú National Park, Brazil. We showed that golden-backed uakaris have 9 call types in their vocal repertoire, all distinguishable by ear and from analysis of spectrograms. Some calls, e.g., play-specific calls, were used only in particular behavioral contexts, and by individuals of specific age, whereas others were emitted under a range of situations. The structure of the loud tchó call varied among individuals, and according to behavioral context, i.e., whether individuals were foraging/feeding, traveling, or performing agonistic interactions. This knowledge of the species’ vocal repertoire is valuable for surveying the monkeys acoustically in habitats where visual surveys are difficult.     

Inclusion complexes of pyrimethamine in 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin: characterization, phase solubility and molecular modelling

The inclusion complexation of pyrimethamine in 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin has been investigated by 2D (1)H NMR, FTIR and UV/visible spectroscopy and also by molecular modelling methods (AM1, PM3, MM3). From the phase-solubility diagram a linear increase was observed in pyrimethamine aqueous solubility in the presence of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, evidencing the formation of a soluble inclusion complex. According to the continuous variation method (Job's plot) applied to fluorescence measurements, a 1:1 stoichiometry has been proposed for the complex. Concerning the structure of the complex, a Cl-in orientation of pyrimethamine in the 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin cavity has been proposed from the theoretical calculations, being confirmed by two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy (ROESY). The thermal behaviour has also been studied, providing complementary evidences of complex formation.     

Structural analysis of Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata lectins complexed with different dimannosides: new insights into the understanding of the structure-biological activity relationship in legume lectins

Plant lectins, especially those purified from species of the Leguminosae family, represent the best studied group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The legume lectins from Diocleinae subtribe are highly similar proteins that present significant differences in the potency/efficacy of their biological activities. The structural studies of the interactions between lectins and sugars may clarify the origin of the distinct biological activities observed in this high similar class of proteins. In this way, this work presents a crystallographic study of the ConM and CGL (agglutinins from Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata, respectively) in the following complexes: ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-2)Man(alpha1-O)Me, ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-3)Man(alpha1-O)Me and ConM/CGL:Man(alpha1-4)Man(alpha1-O)Me, which crystallized in different conditions and space group from the native proteins. The structures were solved by molecular replacement, presenting satisfactory values for R(factor) and R(free). Comparisons between ConM, CGL and ConA (Canavalia ensiformis lectin) binding mode with the dimannosides in subject, presented different interactions patterns, which may account for a structural explanation of the distincts biological properties observed in the lectins of Diocleinae subtribe.     

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS): sialometric and sialochemical analysis and salivary protein profile

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyse the characteristics of salivary production and its composition in individuals with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Study Design: Salivary flow rate, concentrations of potassium, iron, chloride, thiocyanate, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein and urea, as well as the expression profile of salivary proteins were analysed by SDS‐PAGE. Results: The mean salivary flow rate among control patients was lower than that of BMS patients. Chloride, phosphorus and potassium levels were elevated in patients with BMS (p = 0.041, 0.001 and 0.034, respectively). Total salivary protein concentration was reduced in individuals with BMS (p = 0.223). Analysis of the expression of salivary proteins by Coomassie blue SDS‐PAGE revealed a lower expression of low molecular weight proteins in individuals with BMS compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: These results indicate that the identification and characterisation of low molecular weight salivary proteins in BMS may be important in understanding BMS pathogenesis, thus contributing to its diagnosis and treatment.     

Green algae (Viridiplantae) in sediments from three lakes on Vega Island,Antarctica, assessed using DNA metabarcoding

Molecular Biology Reports - Vega Island is located off the eastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (Maritime Antarctica), in the Weddell Sea. In this study, we used metabarcoding to investigate...     

Reproductive biology of the lane snapper,Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus 1758) (Perciformes,Lutjanidae), in the Maranhão continental shelf,Northeast of Brazil

Environmental Biology of Fishes - To clarify the reproductive activity of lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris, a total of 359 specimens of lane snapper were collected in partnership with an artisanal...     

The galactose‐binding lectin isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides Mart seeds inhibits neutrophil rolling and adhesion via primary cytokines

In this study, the amino acid sequence and anti‐inflammatory effect of Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL) lectin were evaluated. Tandem mass spectrometry revealed that BBL possesses 86 amino acid residues. BBL (1 mg/kg) intravenously injected in rats 30 min prior to inflammatory stimuli inhibited the cellular edema induced by carrageenan in only the second phase (21% – 3 h, 19% – 4 h) and did not alter the osmotic edema induced by dextran. BBL also inhibited carrageenan peritoneal neutrophil migration (51%), leukocyte rolling (58%) and adhesion (68%) and the neutrophil migration induced by TNF‐α (64%). These effects were reversed by the association of BBL with galactose, demonstrating that the carbohydrate‐binding domain is essential for lectin activity. In addition, BBL reduced myeloperoxidase activity (84%) and TNF‐α (68%) and IL1‐β (47%) levels. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that BBL contains highly homologous isolectins, resulting in a total of 86 amino acid residues, and exhibits anti‐inflammatory activity by inhibiting neutrophil migration by reducing TNF‐α and IL1‐β levels via the lectin domain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vascular smooth muscle relaxation by a lectin from Pisum arvense: evidences of endothelial NOS pathway

The vasorelaxant effect of the lectin of Pisum arvense (PAL) seeds was investigated in rat aorta. PAL (10-100 μg/ml) was applied on aorta rings, with or without endothelium, pre-contracted with phenylephrine (Phe; 0.1 μM). Participation of endothelium derived relaxant factors was evaluated incubating the tissue with indomethacin (10 μM), L-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 μM) and tetraethylammonium (TEA, 5 mM) before addition of PAL. The role of the lectin domain was investigated by addition of PAL into tissue in presence of glucose (3x 10?? M), or N-acetyl Dglucosamine (GlcNAc; 3 x 10?? M). The importance of extracellular calcium (Ca2?e) or interaction with muscarinic receptors in the relaxant effect was evaluated by addition of PAL into aorta rings containing calcium free solution (OCa) and atropine (1 μ M), respectively. PAL induced concentration-dependent relaxation in endothelized aorta (IC50 =58.38 ± 1.87 μg/ml), which was reversed by L-NAME and glucose. The lectin effect was totally inhibited when the preparation was inserted in OCa, but not in presence of atropine. Summarizing, our data showed a relaxant effect of PAL in isolated rat aorta rings in presence of endothelium, suggestive of interaction between the lectin carbohydrate binding sites with specific receptors located in vascular endothelial cells leading to nitric oxide synthase activation. This effect seems to require Ca2?e but is independent on muscarinic receptors interaction.     

Effects of 24 weeks of progressive resistance training on knee extensors peak torque and fat-free mass in older women

This study examined the effects of resistance training (RT) on knee extensor peak torque (KEPT) and fat-free mass (FFM) in older women. Seventy-eight volunteers (67.1 ± 5.9 years old) underwent 24 weeks of progressive RT (RTG) while 76 (67.4 ± 5.9 years old) were studied as controls (CG). Dominant knee extension peak torque was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 3) and FFM measurements were performed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength and FFM were evaluated before and after the intervention in all volunteers. Participants in the RTG trained major muscle groups 3 times per week during 24 weeks. Training load was kept at 60% of 1 repetition maximum in the first 4 weeks, 70% in the following 4 weeks, and 80% in the remaining 16 weeks, with repetitions, respectively, decreasing from 12, 10, and 8. A Split-plot analysis of variance was performed to examine between- and within-group differences, and the level of significance was accepted at p ≤ 0.05. It was observed that the RTG showed significant increases in KEPT (from 89.9 ± 21.8 to 102.8 ± 22.6 N·m; p < 0.05) and FFM (from 36.4 ± 4.0 to 37.1 ± 4.2 kg, p < 0.05). Appendicular FFM was also significantly increased after the intervention period in the RTG (13.9 ± 1.8 to 14.2 ± 1.9 kg, p < 0.05). None of these changes were observed for the CG. Consistent with the literature, it is concluded that a progressive RT program promotes not only increases in muscle strength, as evaluated by an isokinetic dynamometer, but also in FFM as evaluated by the DXA, in elderly women.