Diversity of Archaea in Brazilian savanna soils

Although the richness of Bacteria and Fungi in Cerrado’ soils has been reported, here we report, for the first time, the archaeal community in Cerrado’s soils. DNA extracted from soil of two distinct vegetation types, a dense subtype of sensu strict (cerrado denso) and riverbank forest (mata de galeria), was used to amplify Archaea-specific 16S rRNA gene. All of the fragments sequenced were classified as Archaea into the phylum Thaumarchaeota, predominantly affiliated to groups I.1b and I.1c. Sequences affiliated to the group I.1a were found only in the soil from riverbank forest. Soils from ‘cerrado denso’ had greater Archaea richness than those from ‘mata de galeria’ based on the richness indexes and on the rarefaction curve. β-Diversity analysis showed significant differences between the sequences from the two soil areas studied because of their different thaumarchaeal group composition. These results provide information about the third domain of life from Cerrado soils.     

Integrin participates in the effect of thyroxine on plasma membrane in immature rat testis

Background

The secretory activity of Sertoli cells (SC) is dependent on ion channel functions and protein synthesis and is critical to ongoing spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action associated with a non-metabolizable amino acid [¹⁴C]-MeAIB (α-(methyl-amino)isobutyric acid) accumulation stimulated by T₄ and the role of the integrin receptor in this event, and also to clarify whether the T₄ effect on MeAIB accumulation and on Ca²⁺ influx culminates in cell secretion.

Methods

We have studied the rapid and plasma membrane initiated effects of T₄ by using ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake and [⁴⁵C]-MeAIB accumulation assays, respectively. Thymidine incorporation into DNA was used to monitor nuclear activity and quinacrine to analyze the secretory activity on SC.

Results

The stimulation of MeAIB accumulation by T₄ appears to be mediated by the integrin receptor in the plasma membrane since tetrac and RGD peptide were able to nullify the effect of this hormone. In addition, T₄ increases extracellular Ca²⁺ uptake and Ca²⁺ from intracellular stocks to enhance nuclear activity, but this genomic action seems not to influence SC secretion mediated by T₄. Also, the cytoskeleton and ClC-3 chloride channel contribute to the membrane-associated responses of SC.

Conclusions

T₄ integrin receptor activation ultimately determines the plasma membrane responses on amino acid transport in SC, but it is not involved in calcium influx, cell secretion or the nuclear effect of the hormone.

General significance

The integrin receptor activation by T₄ may take a role in plasma membrane processes involved in the male reproductive system.     

Elevated oxidative damage is correlated with reduced fitness in interpopulation hybrids of a marine copepod

Aerobic energy production occurs via the oxidative phosphorylation pathway (OXPHOS), which is critically dependent on interactions between the 13 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded and approximately 70 nuclear-encoded protein subunits. Disruptive mutations in any component of OXPHOS can result in impaired ATP production and exacerbated oxidative stress; in mammalian systems, such mutations are associated with ageing as well as numerous diseases. Recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress plays a role in fitness trade-offs in life-history evolution and functional ecology. Here, we show that outcrossing between populations with divergent mtDNA can exacerbate cellular oxidative stress in hybrid offspring. In the copepod Tigriopus californicus, we found that hybrids that showed evidence of fitness breakdown (low fecundity) also exhibited elevated levels of oxidative damage to DNA, whereas those with no clear breakdown did not show significantly elevated damage. The extent of oxidative stress in hybrids appears to be dependent on the degree of genetic divergence between their respective parental populations, but this pattern requires further testing using multiple crosses at different levels of divergence. Given previous evidence in T. californicus that hybridization disrupts nuclear/mitochondrial interactions and reduces hybrid fitness, our results suggest that such negative intergenomic epistasis may also increase the production of damaging cellular oxidants; consequently, mtDNA evolution may play a significant role in generating postzygotic isolating barriers among diverging populations.     

Novel fungi from an ancient niche: lachnoid and chalara-like fungi on ferns

A survey was conducted in Brazil to collect fungi on ferns. Based on morphology and inferred phylogeny from DNA sequences of two loci, namely the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), several species belonging to chalara-like genera and lachnoid fungi were recognized. Eighteen fungal isolates, collected from five host species, representing 10 different localities were studied. Three novel genera (Lachnopsis, Scolecolachnum and Zymochalara), and six novel species (Bloxamia cyatheicola, Lachnopsis catarinensis, Lachnopsis dicksoniae, Scolecolachnum pteridii, Zymochalara lygodii and Zymochalara cyatheae) are introduced. Furthermore, two new combinations (Erioscyphella euterpes and Erioscyphella lushanensis) are proposed. Two novel taxa (Lachnopsis catarinensis and Lachnopsis dicksoniae) may be included in the list of potentially endangered fungal species in Brazil, if proven to be restricted to their tree-fern host, Dicksonia sellowiana, which is included in the official list of endangered plant species in Brazil.     

Species delimitation methods reveal cryptic diversity in the Hypnea cornuta complex (Cystocloniaceae,Rhodophyta)

The simple and convergent morphologies of many red algae make these species difficult to identify using traditional morphological characters. Many cryptic species have been described in recent years based on molecular datasets, and this has led to the application of an integrative taxonomy approach in species delimitation. Here, we performed several species delimitation methods (mBGD, ABGD, SPN, PTP, GMYCs and GMYCm) based on two different loci (COI-5P and rbcL) in species of the Hypnea cornuta complex. These methods were combined with morphological and phylogenetic data, extensive sampling, analysis of topotype material, and historically relevant herbarium samples. Our findings demonstrate that the groups morphologically assigned to H. cornuta and H. stellulifera consist of five different cryptic species. H. cornuta is a polyphyletic taxon composed of three well-separated lineages, thus requiring sequencing of type or topotype specimens to determine which one is Hypnea cornuta sensu stricto. We have revealed that the distribution of H. stellulifera is limited to Asia, while the Brazilian specimens initially assigned to this species were clarified as a new endemic species: Hypnea cryptica sp. nov. Our results indicated that only an integrative approach combining several lines of evidence, including morphology, nomenclature history, molecular data, biogeography and ecology can correctly solve the taxonomic status of widely distributed cryptic species.     

Taenia crassiceps organic acids detected in cysticerci

Taenia crassiceps cysticerci is used as an experimental model to cysticercosis studies; however there are subcutaneous cases of cysticercosis caused by these cysticerci. It remains unclear in the literature the energetic and fatty acid metabolism in cestodes. Its metabolic study may provide knowledge of pathways that may serve as potential anti-helminthic drugs sites of action. In this work we studied the citric acid cycle organic acids and the fatty acid oxidation in cysticerci removed from mice with 21 and 42 days of infection in two different evolutive stages: growing and final. The organic acids were extracted using perchloric acid and analyzed by HPLC methodology. We found significant statistically differences in oxalate, malate, lactate, and beta-hydroxybutirate concentrations between cysticerci. These results indicate the aerobic metabolism in vivo in spite of the low oxygen concentration of its habitat, and also indicate the presence of fatty acid oxidation as an alternative energetic source.     

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis membrane protein Rv2560--biochemical and functional studies

The characterization of membrane proteins having no identified function in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is important for a better understanding of the biology of this pathogen. In this work, the biological activity of the Rv2560 protein was characterized and evaluated. Primers used in PCR and RT-PCR assays revealed that the gene encoding protein Rv2560 is present in M. tuberculosis complex strains, but transcribed in only some of them. Sera obtained from rabbits inoculated with polymer peptides from this protein recognized a 33 kDa band in the M. tuberculosis lysate and a membrane fraction corresponding to the predicted molecular mass (33.1 kDa) of this protein. Immunoelectron microscopy analysis found this protein on the mycobacterial membrane. Sixteen peptides covering its entire length were chemically synthesized and tested for their ability to bind to A549 and U937 cells. Peptide 11024 (121VVALSDRATTAYTNTSGVSS140) showed high specific binding to both cell types (dissociation constants of 380 and 800 nm, respectively, and positive receptor-ligand interaction cooperativity), whereas peptide 11033 (284LIGIPVAALIHVYTYRKLSGG304) displayed high binding activity to A549 cells only. Cross-linking assays showed the specific binding of peptide 11024 to a 54 kDa membrane protein on U937. Invasion inhibition assays, in the presence of shared high-activity binding peptide identified for U937 and A549 cells, presented maximum inhibition percentages of 50.53% and 58.27%, respectively. Our work highlights the relevance of the Rv2560 protein in the M. tuberculosis invasion process of monocytes and epithelial cells, and represents a fundamental step in the rational selection of new antigens to be included as components in a multiepitope, subunit-based, chemically synthesized, antituberculosis vaccine.     

Chitosan-based delivery systems for curcumin: A review of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects

Effective drug delivery is one of the most important issues associated with the administration of therapeutic agents that have low oral bioavailability. Curcumin is an active ingredient in the turmeric plant, which has low oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. One strategy that has been considered for enhancing the aqueous solubility, and, thus, its oral bioavailability, is the use of chitosan as a carrier for curcumin. Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer that is relatively water-soluble. Therefore, various studies have sought to improve the aqueous solubility of chitosan. The use of different pharmaceutical excipients and formulation strategies has the potential to improve aqueous solubility, formulation processing, and the overall delivery of hydrophobic drugs. This review focuses on various methods utilized for chitosan-based delivery of curcumin.