First record of forktailed bass Parasphyraenops incisus (Perciformes: Serranidae) in South‐western Atlantic

We reported the genus Parasphyraenops (Perciformes: Serranidae) in the Brazilian Biogeographic Province. Four Parasphyraenops incisus specimens were identified based in body shape and color pattern through underwater remote video records, on shallow coral reefs in the Bahia state, Brazil. In the video frames P. incisus was observed swimming close to the pomacentrid Chromis multilineata at 14 m depth, being this the shallowest record for this species. The present record expands on 6.500 km the southern limit of distribution of P. incisus in the Western Atlantic.     

Assessing systems properties of yeast mitochondria through an interaction map of the organelle

Mitochondria carry out specialized functions; compartmentalized, yet integrated into the metabolic and signaling processes of the cell. Although many mitochondrial proteins have been identified, understanding their functional interrelationships has been a challenge. Here we construct a comprehensive network of the mitochondrial system. We integrated genome-wide datasets to generate an accurate and inclusive mitochondrial parts list. Together with benchmarked measures of protein interactions, a network of mitochondria was constructed in their cellular context, including extra-mitochondrial proteins. This network also integrates data from different organisms to expand the known mitochondrial biology beyond the information in the existing databases. Our network brings together annotated and predicted functions into a single framework. This enabled, for the entire system, a survey of mutant phenotypes, gene regulation, evolution, and disease susceptibility. Furthermore, we experimentally validated the localization of several candidate proteins and derived novel functional contexts for hundreds of uncharacterized proteins. Our network thus advances the understanding of the mitochondrial system in yeast and identifies properties of genes underlying human mitochondrial disorders.     

The involvement of osmolarity in the safety of contrast media

Background

New non-ionic contrast agents, classified into low osmolar agents and iso-osmolar agents, present different biochemical characteristics that may influence the allergic reactions they cause. The aim of our study was to evaluate how osmolarity may affect safety in the use of contrast agents.

Case presentation

Six patients with a positive history for reaction to contrast agent were included in this study. Only one patient prick and intradermal skin test was positive. However, in 5 cases, patients presented an immediate reaction after administration of contrast agent that was not IgE mediated.

Conclusions

In this study, we focused on iodixanol, an iso-osmolar contrast agent, finding good safety of this product in patients with previous hypersensitivity reactions to contrast agent.

     

Influence of the bacterioplankton community of a tropical eutrophic lagoon on the bacterial community of its neighbouring ocean

The Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon (RFL) is a tropical eutrophic coastal ecosystem located in the urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This environment consists of freshwater but has communication with the ocean through a channel (Jardim de Alah’s Channel). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lagoon water on the nearby ocean using molecular and traditional microbiological methods. We hypothesised that due to the eutrophic low-salinity environment, the bacterioplankton community from the RFL would have a native “brackish” composition influenced by both freshwater and marine phylotypes, and that bacterial phylotypes of this community would be detected in oceanic samples closer to the channel between the lagoon and the ocean. The cultivation and microscopy experiments clearly showed this influence. Bacterial cell counts revealed that the greater amounts of bacterial cells present in the lagoon increased the observed values seen at oceanic stations near the channel. The Denaturing gradient gel eletrophoresis community profiles also showed a clear influence of Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon waters on the adjacent beaches. The band patterns found for the stations near the channel showed that these communities were mixtures of the communities of the lagoon and sea, and as the distance from the channel increased, the samples became more similar to ocean bacterial communities. A 16S rRNA gene clone library was constructed using a sample acquired from the connection point between the lagoon and the ocean. Around 52% of the sequences in the library showed similarity to the genus Proteobacteria (1% Alpha, 21% Beta, 19% Gamma and 29% unclassified Proteobacteria), and the second most abundant genus was Bacteroidetes, with 15% of the total clones. The results showed that the structure of the bacterial community had both freshwater and marine characteristics.     

Efficacy of botanical extracts from Brazilian savannah against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diabrotica speciosa</Emphasis> and associated bacteria

Botanical extracts are a plentiful resource of molecules with different biological activities, such as insecticides and antimicrobial pesticides. In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of botanical extracts from the Brazilian savannah against Diabrotica speciosa and bacterial strains isolated from the gut of this insect under aseptic conditions. The bacterial isolates were identified by genomic and proteomic approaches, and bioassayed against eighteen botanical extracts in vitro. The best results of bacterial inhibitions were obtained for the extracts of Casearia sylvestris and Psidium laruotteanum. Fractions of C. sylvestris and P. laruotteanum, quantitatively evaluated by chromatographic analyses, showed a relationship between the bactericidal activity and phytochemical profile. In vivo assays showed that P. laruotteanum was also effective for the control of D. speciosa. Those results show that selected natural products can have both antimicrobial and insecticidal activities.     

New PEGs for peptide and protein modification, suitable for identification of the PEGylation site

New PEG derivatives were studied for peptide and protein modification, based upon an amino acid arm, Met-Nle or Met-beta Ala, activated as succinimidyl ester. PEG-Met-Nle-OSu or PEG-Met-beta Ala-OSu react with amino groups in protein-yielding conjugates with stable amide bond. From these conjugates PEG may be removed by BrCN treatment, leaving Nle or beta Ala as reporter amino acid, at the site where PEG was bound. The conjugation of PEG and its removal by BrCN treatment was assessed on a partial sequence of glucagone and on lysozyme as model peptide or protein. Furthermore, insulin, a protein with three potential sites of PEGylation, was modified by PEG-Met-Nle, and the PEG isomers were separated by HPLC. After removal of PEG, as reported above, the sites of PEGylation were identified by characterization of the two insulin chains obtained after reduction and carboxymethylation. Mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis and Edman sequence, could reveal the position of the reporter norleucine that corresponds to the position of PEG binding.     

Intraperitoneal implant of recombinant encapsulated cells overexpressing alpha-L-iduronidase partially corrects visceral pathology in mucopolysaccharidosis type I mice

Background aimsMucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is characterized by deficiency of the enzyme alpha-l-iduronidase (IDUA) and storage of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in several tissues. Current available treatments present limitations, thus the search for new therapies. Encapsulation of recombinant cells within polymeric structures combines gene and cell therapy and is a promising approach for treating MPS I.MethodsWe produced alginate microcapsules containing baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells overexpressing IDUA and implanted these capsules in the peritoneum of MPS I mice.ResultsAn increase in serum and tissue IDUA activity was observed at early time-points, as well as a reduction in GAG storage; however, correction in the long term was only partially achieved, with a drop in the IDUA activity being observed a few weeks after the implant. Analysis of the capsules obtained from the peritoneum revealed inflammation and a pericapsular fibrotic process, which could be responsible for the reduction in IDUA levels observed in the long term. In addition, treated mice developed antibodies against the enzyme.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the encapsulation process is effective in the short term but improvements must be achieved in order to reduce the immune response and reach a stable correction.     

Association of microparticles and preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a syndrome characterized by poor placentation and endothelial dysfunction. The diagnosis for this syndrome is based in hypertension and proteinuria presented after the 20th week of pregnancy. Despite intensive research, PE is still one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, although reliable screening tests or effective treatments of this disease have yet to be proposed. Microparticles (MPs) are small vesicles released after cell activation or apoptosis, which contain membrane proteins that are characteristic of the original parent cell. MPs have been proven to play key role in thrombosis, inflammation, and angiogenesis, as well as to mediate cell–cell communication by transferring mRNAs and microRNA from the cell of origin to target cells. Placenta-derived syncytiotrophoblast MPs are one of the most increased MPs during PE and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Therefore, a better overall understanding of the role of MPs in PE may be useful for new clinical diagnoses and therapeutic approaches.     

Lipopolysaccharides from Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis differently modulate human dendritic cell functions resulting in divergent prevalence of Th17-polarized responses

Bordetella pertussis and B. parapertussis are the etiological agents of pertussis, yet the former has a higher incidence and is the cause of a more severe disease, in part due to pertussis toxin. To identify other factors contributing to the different pathogenicity of the two species, we analyzed the capacity of structurally different lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from B. pertussis and LPS from B. parapertussis to influence immune functions regulated by dendritic cells. Either B. pertussis LOS and B. parapertussis LPS triggered TLR4 signaling and induced phenotypic maturation and IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-23, IL-6, and IL-1beta production in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC). B. parapertussis LPS was a stronger inducer of all these activities as compared with B. pertussis LOS, with the notable exception of IL-1beta, which was equally produced. Only B. parapertussis LPS was able to induce IL-27 expression. In addition, although MDDC activation induced by B. parapertussis LPS was greatly dependent on soluble CD14, B. pertussis LOS activity was CD14-independent. The analysis of the intracellular pathways showed that B. parapertussis LPS and B. pertussis LOS equally induced IkappaBalpha and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, but B. pertussis LOS triggered ERK1/2 phosphorylation more rapidly and at higher levels than B. parapertussis LPS. Furthermore, B. pertussis LOS was unable to induce MyD88-independent gene induction, which was instead activated by B. parapertussis LPS, witnessed by STAT1 phosphorylation and induction of the IFN-dependent genes, IFN regulatory factor-1 and IFN-inducible protein-10. These differences resulted in a divergent regulation of Th cell responses, B. pertussis LOS MDDC driving a predominant Th17 polarization. Overall, the data observed reflect the different structure of the two LPS and the higher Th17 response induced by B. pertussis LOS may contribute to the severity of pertussis in humans.