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...     

Variation in behavioral responses of the South American sea lion to tourism disturbance: Implications for tourism management

Due to the highly predictable patterns of occupancy on land, pinnipeds are one of the main marine resources observed by tourists, which, in turn, could strongly perturb their behavior. We analyzed the behavioral responses of the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) to the presence of tourists and its variation according to temporal (2012 vs. 2013 austral summer months), spatial (breeding vs. nonbreeding sites of the colony), and age/sex class (adult males vs. subadult males vs. females) factors, and determined the relationship between the degree of responses by sea lions and the distance of the vessel to the colony, visitation time, and tourist behavior. We recorded 1,232 boat visits during 2012 and 2013. Subadult males were the age/sex class most affected in the breeding site, followed by adult females at the nonbreeding site. More disturbing conduct by tourists, longer visitation time, and vessels closer to the colony caused greater responses by sea lions. The established minimum distance from the colony is not enforced, generating an adverse response by sea lions. We recommend the development of management plans with the local coastal communities to decrease the impact of ecotourism on the species and enhance the sustainability of this industry.     

High osmolarity glycerol response PtcB phosphatase is important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal pathogen that is capable of adapting to different host niches and to avoid host defenses. An enhanced understanding of how, and which, A. fumigatus signal transduction pathways are engaged in the regulation of these processes is essential for the development of improved disease control strategies. Protein phosphatases are central to numerous signal transduction pathways. To comprehend the functions of protein phosphatases in A. fumigatus, 32 phosphatase catalytic subunit encoding genes were identified. We have recognized PtcB as one of the phosphatases involved in the high osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway. The ΔptcB mutant has both increased phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK (SakA) and expression of osmo‐dependent genes. The ΔptcB strain was more sensitive to cell wall damaging agents, had increased chitin and β‐1,3‐glucan, and impaired biofilm formation. The ΔptcB strain was avirulent in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These results stress the importance of the HOG pathway in the regulation of pathogenicity determinants and virulence in A. fumigatus.     

First record of a spawning aggregation for the tropical eastern Pacific endemic grouper Mycteroperca olfax in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

This study provides direct and indirect evidence of temporally and spatially consistent spawning aggregations for the grouper Mycteroperca olfax. Recently reported declines in population numbers, probably related to the direct targeting of aggregations by artisanal fishermen, highlight the urgent need for species‐specific management actions in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, such as minimum and maximum landing sizes, and the importance of protecting key aggregation sites with the declaration of no‐take areas and the establishment of total fishing bans during the reproductive season.     

Fruits of Heterocoma (Vernonieae‐Lychnophorinae): taxonomic significance and a new pattern of phytomelanin deposition in Asteraceae

Heterocoma is a Brazilian endemic genus resulting from the dismemberment of Sipolisiinae, in which only representatives with fruit containing phytomelanin were included in the genus. As the fruits of Asteraceae are known to be systematically important at various taxonomic levels and Heterocoma fruit has not been described previously, we studied the morphology and anatomy of the cypselas of all species of the genus, comparing them with other fruits in the family containing phytomelanin and evaluating the systematic potential at the specific and tribal levels. The fruits were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. The morphological features of the fruit, including the carpopodium, ribs and pappi, varied in the genus and demonstrated potential for species discrimination. The anatomy showed a pattern for the genus with a uniseriate exocarp, the outer mesocarp composed of fibres arranged in several layers, the inner mesocarp composed of several layers of parenchyma, the endocarp, and phytomelanin deposited between the inner and outer mesocarp. This anatomical pattern of phytomelanin deposition differs from that of other Asteraceae with phytomelanin in their fruit. Heterocoma is also the only genus in Vernonieae that has phytomelanin deposition in the cypselas. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 255–265.     

Infestation of arboreal nests of coatis by triatomine species,vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi,in a large Neotropical wetland

The coati (Nasua nasua, Carnivora) is a medium‐sized mammal common in the Pantanal of Brazil. Unlike most mammals, coatis construct arboreal nests used for resting and reproduction. In this region, the coati is an important host of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. There are two possible routes through coatis can be infected by T. cruzi: the oral route or the vectorial route. However, the relative importance of each of these routes in the infection of coatis and its role in the sylvatic cycle of the parasite are unknown. Our objectives were to investigate: (i) whether coati nests were infested by triatomine bugs, (ii) what species were frequent in the nests, (iii) whether the triatomines in nests were infected by T. cruzi, and (iv) what were the food resources of these triatomines. Eight of the 24 nests sampled were infested with triatomines, a total of 37 specimens of at least two species (Rhodnius stali and Triatoma sordida). In one nest, R. stali and T. sordida co‐occurred and both fed on multiple resources, including coatis. This is the first report of triatomines occurring in arboreal nests of coatis. The co‐occurrence of two different genera of triatomine vectors and coatis within the limited space of the coati nests provide multiple opportunities for the exchange of the protozoan parasite through both the vectorial and oral transmission routes.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling as a key mediator of melanocyte malignant transformation associated with sustained stress conditions

Melanoma cell lines and cells corresponding to premalignant melanocytes were established by our group after subjecting a nontumorigenic murine melanocyte lineage, melan-a, to sequential cycles of anchorage blockade. Previous results showed that in melan-a cells the superoxide level increases after such procedure. Superoxide production during melanocyte de-adhesion was inhibited by L-sepiapterin, the precursor of eNOS cofactor BH4, and increased by the inhibitor of BH4 synthesis, DAHP, hence indicating a partial uncoupling state of eNOS. The eNOS uncoupling seems to be maintained in cells derived from melan-a, because they present decreased nitric oxide and increased superoxide levels. The inhibition of superoxide production in Tm5 melanoma cells with L-sepiapterin reinforces their eNOS-uncoupled state. The maintenance of oxidative stress seems to be important in melanoma apoptosis resistance because Mn(III)TBAP, a superoxide scavenger, or L-sepiapterin renders Tm5 cells more sensitive to anoikis and chemotherapy. More importantly, eNOS uncoupling seems to play a pivotal role in melanocyte malignant transformation induced by sustained anchorage impediment, because no malignant transformation was observed when L-NAME-treated melanocytes were subjected to sequential cycles of de-adhesion. Our results show that uncoupled eNOS contributes to superoxide production during melanocyte anchorage impediment, contributing to anoikis resistance and malignant transformation.