Capture and commercialization of blue land crabs ("guaiamum") Cardisoma guanhumi (Lattreille, 1825) along the coast of Bahia State, Brazil: an ethnoecological approach

Background

Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) is one of the most important crustacean species captured and commercialized in Brazil. Although this species is not considered to be threatened with extinction, populations of C. guanhumi are known to be rapidly diminishing due to heavy harvesting pressures and degradation of their natural habitats, highlighting the necessity of developing and implanting management and protection strategies for their populations. There have been no ethnozoological publications that have focused specifically on C. guanhumi, in spite of importance of this type of information for developing efficient management plans of resource utilization. So, the present work describes the ethnoecological aspects of the capture and commercialization of C. guanhumi by a fishing community in northeastern Brazil.

Methods

Field work was carried out in the municipality of Mucuri, Bahia in Brazil, between the months of January and March/2011 through the use of open semi-structured interviews with all of the crustacean harvesters in city who acknowledged their work in capturing this species, totaling 12 interviewees. The informants were identified through the use of the "snowball" sampling technique. In addition to the interviews themselves, the "guided tour" technique and direct observations was employed.

Results

According all the interviewees, the C. guanhumi is popularly called "guaiamum" and is collected in "apicum" zones. They recognize sexual dimorphism in the species based on three morphological characteristics and the harvesters also pointed two stages in the reproductive cycle during the year and another phase mentioned by the interviewees was ecdysis. All of the interviewed affirmed that the size and the quantities C. guanhumi stocks in Mucuri have been diminishing. All of the interviewees agreed that the species and other mangrove resources constituted their principal source of income. The harvesters dedicated three to five days a week to collect Blue Land Crabs and the principal technique utilized for capturing is a trap called a "ratoeira" (rat-trap).

Conclusions

The results of the present work demonstrated that the community retains a vast and important volume of knowledge about C. guanhumi that could subsidize both scientific studies and the elaboration of viable management and conservation strategies for this species.     

Slipped-strand mispairing in a plastid gene: rpoC2 in grasses (Poaceae)

An exception to the generally conservative nature of plastid gene evolution is the gene coding for the beta" subunit of RNA polymerase, rpoC2. Previous work by others has shown that maize and rice have an insertion in the coding region of rpoC2, relative to spinach and tobacco. To assess the distribution of this extra coding sequence, we surveyed a broad phylogenetic sample comprising 55 species from 17 angiosperm families by using Southern hybridization. The extra coding sequence is restricted to the grasses (Poaceae). DNA sequence analysis of 11 species from all five subfamilies within the grass family demonstrates that the extra sequence in the coding region of rpoC2 is a repetitive array that exhibits more than a twofold increase in nucleotide substitution, as well as a large number of insertion/deletion events, relative to the adjacent flanking sequences. The structure of the array suggests that slipped-strand mispairing causes the repeated motifs and adds to the mechanisms through which the coding sequence of plastid genes are known to evolve. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequence data from grass species support several relationships previously suggested by morphological work, but they are ambiguous about broad relationships within the family.      

Complementation by BCL2 and C-HA-RAS oncogenes in malignant transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts.

The BCL2 (B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2) and C-HA-RAS oncogenes encode membrane-associated proteins of 26 and 21 kilodaltons, respectively. Although RAS proteins have long been known for their ability to bind and hydrolyze GTP, recent investigations suggest that BCL2 encodes a novel GTP-binding protein (S. Haldar, C. Beatty, Y. Tsujimoto, and C. M. Croce, Nature [London] 342:195-198, 1989). Cotransfection of BCL2 and HA-RAS oncogenes resulted in morphological transformation of early-passage rodent fibroblasts, rendering these cells tumorigenic in animals and enabling them to grow in semisolid medium. In contrast, cotransfection of BCL2 with oncogenes that encode nuclear proteins (E1A and C-MYC) did not produce malignant transformation, whereas HA-RAS did complement with these genes. These findings suggest that proteins encoded by oncogenes such as BCL2 and HA-RAS, although having similar subcellular locations and perhaps similar biochemical properties, can regulate distinct complementary pathways involved in cellular transformation.     

Sublethal damage during cryopreservation of rainbow trout sperm

Although cellular damage during cryopreservation of freshwater fish spermatozoa has been reported in several studies, there is a lack of correlation between this damage and the fertility rates of eggs using postthawed milt. The apparent lack of such correlation may be due to other undetected sublethal cryodamage, which could affect the cell functionality and viability. This may be extremely important for freshwater fish spermatozoa whose ability to fertilize the egg requires dilution in water or hypoosmotic solutions, an hazardous environment for the cells. This study tested the change in cell permeability during cryopreservation, using Hoechst 33258 to assess cell permeability. The permeability of spermatozoa at different times after dilution in several hypoosmotic media were investigated. In the first trial, fresh semen, sperm diluted in freezing media (CPT), and freeze/thawed semen were studied. Three CPT were tested (Me2SO, DMA, and methanol). In the second trial, the addition of egg yolk as a membrane stabilizer was investigated. Samples were frozen at -20 degreesC/min in a programmable cooler and thawed in a 25 degreesC water bath. Dilution in the CPTs slightly increased the susceptibility of cells to damage but freezing/thawing caused a dramatic increase in the fragility of cells, which were killed in a few seconds after their contact with the hypoosmotic solutions. Egg yolk provided a significant protection to the membrane, allowing the cells a greater and more prolonged survival in the fertilization media. Samples frozen with Me2SO displayed the best results. These results are consistent with the achieved fertility rates that demonstrated sublethal cryodamage in the function of the sperm membrane that was not detected by standard procedures. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Edible Lepidoptera in Mexico: Geographic distribution, ethnicity, economic and nutritional importance for rural people

In this paper, we reported the butterflies and moths that are consumed in Mexico. We identified 67 species of Lepidoptera that are eaten principally in their larval stage in 17 states of Mexico. These species belong to 16 families: Arctiidae, Bombycidae, Castniidae, Cossidae, Geometridae, Hepialidae, Hesperiidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Pyralidae, Saturniidae, Sesiidae, and Sphingidae. Saturniidae, Pieridae, Noctuidae and Nymphalidae were the more species consumed with 16, 11, 9, and 8 species, respectively. The genera with the largest numbers of species were: Phassus, Phoebis, Hylesia and Spodoptera, with three species. Their local distribution, corresponding to each state of Mexico, is also presented.     

Analysis of silver binding nucleolar organizer regions in exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions

Nucleolar organizer regions are nucleolar components that contain proteins that are stained selectively by silver methods; they can be identified as black dots throughout the nucleolus and are known as silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR). The number of AgNOR is related to the cell cycle and the proliferative activity of the cells. We investigated AgNOR using exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant oral lesions. Eighty individuals were divided into four equal groups: healthy controls, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean number of AgNOR in each study group gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative index was increased in the oral premalignant and malignant patients compared to normal subjects. The mean AgNOR size gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spherical shaped AgNOR were most common in controls, whereas large, clustered and kidney shapes were most common in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Multiparameter analysis of AgNOR in oral exfoliative smears is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective method for differentiating premalignant from malignant lesions and can be used in conjunction with routine cytomorphological evaluation.     

Characterization of the Human and Rat Phospholemman (PLM) cDNAs and Localization of the Human PLM Gene to Chromosome 19q13.1

Previous reports have demonstrated that the phospholemman (PLM), a 72-residue plasma-membrane protein enriched in skeletal muscle and heart, is a major substrate phosphorylated in response to insulin and adrenergic stimulation. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of human and rat PLM cDNA from the heart. Both PLM proteins share significant nucleotide and amino acid sequence and structural similarities with the previously published canine PLM and, to a lesser degree, with Na⁺/K⁺– ATPase γ subunit, Mat-8 protein, and CHIF protein. Despite the functional diversity, all these proteins are quite small and possess a single transmembrane domain. Human PLM appears to be a unique gene localized on chromosome 19q13.1. The PLM mRNA is widely distributed in human tissues, with the highest expression in skeletal muscle and heart, suggesting a functional role in muscle contraction. Like canine PLM, both human and rat PLM induce a hyperpolarization-activated chloride current when expressed inXenopusoocytes. The high degree of sequence and functional conservation among the mammalian PLM proteins indicates that this gene is conserved throughout evolution.     

Optimized labeling of bone marrow mesenchymal cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> visualization by magnetic resonance imaging

Background  

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising addition to traditional treatments for a number of diseases. However, harnessing the therapeutic potential of stem cells requires an understanding of their fate in vivo. Non-invasive cell tracking can provide knowledge about mechanisms responsible for functional improvement of host tissue. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been used to label and visualize various cell types with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study we performed experiments designed to investigate the biological properties, including proliferation, viability and differentiation capacity of mesenchymal cells (MSCs) labeled with clinically approved SPIONs.     

Determination of Kupffer cell Fc receptor function in vivo following injury

This study was carried out to determine whether Kupffer cell Fc receptor function is depressed after injury. Three approaches to the determination of Fc receptor function were evaluated: IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) were used as the receptor probe with a perfused liver system, EIgG were used as the receptor probe in vivo, and small aggregates of IgG (AIgG) were used as the receptor probe in vivo. Nearly half of the injected dose of EIgG was taken up by the perfused liver (nonrecirculating, serum-free system). In contrast, only 2.6% of erythrocytes not coated with IgG were taken up, and only 5.6% of erythrocytes coated with IgM were taken up by the perfused liver. Thus, there was little nonspecific or complement-dependent uptake of EIgG by the liver. The uptake of EIgG by the perfused liver was depressed following thermal injury, endotoxemia, and the phagocytosis of EIgG. These results were interpreted as indicating that Kupffer cell Fc receptor function was depressed under these conditions. The results obtained with the hepatic uptake of EIgG in vivo were very similar to those with EIgG in the perfused liver. However, since it was found that complement receptors as well as Fc receptors were probably involved in the in vivo clearance of EIgG, these results could be due to a depression of one or both of these receptors. The hepatic uptake of AIgG was not depressed by complement depletion, but was decreased by the injection of large aggregates of IgG. However, the hepatic uptake of AIgG was not depressed following thermal injury, endotoxemia, or the phagocytosis of EIgG. Thus, AIgG was not sensitive to the effects of injury on Kupffer cell function, whereas the uptake of EIgG by the perfused liver may provide an indication of Kupffer cell Fc receptor function. The depression of Kupffer cell Fc receptor function following injury may contribute to the impairment of host defense caused by injury.