Water conditions influence the detectability of Crossodactylus gaudichaudii (Anura,Hylodidae) in streams of the Atlantic Forest

Stream-dwelling amphibians' occurrence, behaviour and reproductive success are strongly influenced by dynamic abiotic factors, for example, water flow and spray. These factors can disproportionately affect these frogs due to their dependency on specific favourable conditions for development and incapacity to disperse from unfavourable environments. We analysed the influence of environmental covariates on the detectability of Crossodactylus gaudichaudii, an amphibian species endemic to streams in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We conducted sampling in the streams of the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve, Brazil, and we measured air and water temperature, air humidity and pH of water on each sampling occasion. We estimated the effects of variables on the detectability of the species using single-season occupancy models. Our results indicated that the detectability of the species increases on occasions with higher water temperatures (24–26°C) and lower pH (5.0–5.5). We investigated the influence of these covariates only on the detectability of adult frogs, but it is likely that the physiochemical properties of stream water are more important to aquatic larvae, and hence, the probability of their detection. Given this, further studies should examine the relevance of covariates on the detectability of adult frogs as well as larvae.     

The legacy of forest logging on organic matter inputs and storage in tropical streams

Riparian forests play an important role in stream ecosystems, as they support biodiversity, reduce water erosion, and provide litter that fuels aquatic biota. However, they are affected by great array of anthropogenic threats (e.g., fire, logging, and organic pollution), which alter species composition and their physical structure. Although forest recovery after disturbance such as logging can take decades, the legacy of forest clear-cut logging on key processes in tropical riparian ecosystems is mostly unknown. Here, we investigated how litter inputs (leaves, twigs, and reproductive parts) and storage, key processes for carbon and nutrient recycling and for forest and stream biota, are influenced by riparian vegetation undergoing succession (after 28 years from logging) through the comparison of reference and logged forest sites in the Cerrado biome. Litterfall was overall similar between forest types, but litterfall of twigs was twofold higher at logged than reference sites. Similarly, litter inputs from the bank to the stream (i.e., lateral inputs) and streambed storage were 50–60% higher at logged than reference sites. The higher litterfall observed in logged forests could be related to higher proportion of tree species that are characteristic of primary and secondary successional stages, including fast-growing and liana species, which often are more productive and common in anthropogenic areas. Our results showed that the legacy impact of clear-cut logging, even if residual woody vegetation is maintained in riparian buffers, can shift the type, quantity, and seasonality of litter subsidies to tropical streams. This knowledge should be considered within the context of management and conservation of communities and ecosystem processes in the forest-stream interfaces.     

Influence of seasonal variation to the population growth and ecophysiology of Typha domingensis (Typhaceae)

Journal of Plant Research - Precipitation is an important climatic element that defines the hydrological regime, and its seasonal variation produces annual dry and wet periods in some areas. This...     

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: From now to the future

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometric particles that enclose cell-derived bioactive molecules in a lipid bilayer and serve as intercellular communication tools. Accordingly, in various biological contexts, EVs are reported to engage in immune modulation, senescence, and cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, EVs could be key elements for potential off-the-shelf cell-free therapy. Little has been studied regarding EVs derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-EVs), even though hPSCs offer good opportunities for induction of tissue regeneration and unlimited proliferative ability. In this review article, we provide an overview of studies using hPSC-EVs, focusing on identifying the conditions in which the cells are cultivated for the isolation of EVs, how they are characterized, and applications already demonstrated. The topics reported in this article highlight the incipient status of the studies in the field and the significance of hPSC-EVs’ prospective applications as PSC-derived cell-free therapy products.     

Non-histone protein methylation in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Post-translational methylation of proteins, which occurs in arginines and lysines, modulates several biological processes at different levels of cell signaling. Recently, methylation has been demonstrated in the regulation beyond histones, for example, in the dynamics of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. However, the presence and role of non-histone methylation in Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, has not yet been elucidated. Here, we applied mass spectrometry-based-proteomics (LC-MS/MS) to profile the methylproteome of T. cruzi epimastigotes, describing a total of 1252 methyl sites in 824 proteins. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis show that protein methylation impacts important biological processes of the parasite, such as translation, RNA and DNA binding, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, 171 of the methylated proteins were previously reported to bear phosphorylation sites in T. cruzi, including flagellar proteins and RNA binding proteins, indicating that there may be an interplay between these different modifications in non-histone proteins. Our results show that a broad spectrum of functions is affected by methylation in T. cruzi, indicating its potential to impact important processes in the biology of the parasite and other trypanosomes.     

Rapid identification of Vibrio anguillarum by Colony hybridization

A 562 base pair fragment of DNA from a serotype A strain of Vibrio anguillarum was cloned into pUC9 and used as a hybridization probe for the rapid identification of Vibrio anguillarum by colony hybridization. The probe was tested on nine different fish pathogens, 15 Vibrio isolates, 2 organisms closely related to Vibrio, and 9 serotypes of V. anguillarum. The probe hybridized only with the DNA of V. anguillarum serotypes A and H. The sequence of the 562 nucleotides have been determined. This probe allows rapid, reliable, and specific detection of V. anguillarum in freshwater ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis.     

The effect of light levels on daily patterns of chlorophyll fluorescence and organic acid accumulation in the tropical CAM treeClusia hilariana

Sandy plains are characteristic of the coastal region of Brazil. We investigated the diel patterns of changes in organic acid levels, leaf conductance and chlorophylla fluorescence for sun-exposed and shaded plants ofClusia hilariana, one of the dominant woody species in the sandy coastal plains of northern Rio de Janeiro state. Both exposed and shaded plants showed a typical CAM pattern with considerable diel oscillations in organic acid levels. The degradation of both malic and citric acids during the midday stomatal closure period could lead to potential CO₂ fixation rates of 28 mol m^-2 s^-1 in exposed leaves. Moreover, exposed leaves exhibited large increases in total non-photochemical quenching (q_N) accompanied by a substantial decrease in effective quantum yield during the course of the day. However, these potential high rates of CO₂ fixation and the increases inqn of exposed plants were not enough to maintain the primary electron acceptor of photosystem II (q_A) in a low reduction state, similar to that of shaded plants. As a result, there was a moderate increase in the reduction state of q_A throughout the day. Most of the decline in photochemical efficiency of exposed leaves ofC. hilariana was reversible, as evidenced by the high levels of pre-dawn potential quantum yields (F_v/F_m) and their rapid recovery after sunset. However, the depletion of the organic acid pool in the afternoon resulted in an accentuated subsequent drop in F_v/F_m, suggesting that prolonged periods of water stress accompanied by high irradiance levels may expose plants ofC. hilariana in unprotected habitats to the danger of photoinhibition.     

Antibody studies in mice of outer membrane antigens for use in an improved meningococcal B and C vaccine

Abstract Since 1988, N. meningitidis , B:4:P1.15, ET-5 complex, has been responsible for an epidemic of meningococcal disease in Greater São Paulo, Brazil. Despite current trials to develop an effective vaccine against group B meningococci, children less than 2 years old have not been protected. It has been suggested that iron-regulated proteins (IRPs) should be considered as potential antigens for meningococcal vaccines. The vaccines under study consisted of outer-membrane vesicles depleted of lipooligosaccharide from three serogroup B strains and one serogroup C strain, IRPs, meningococcal group C polysaccharide and aluminum hydroxide. Four different protein and C polysaccharide concentrations were studied. The ELISA and bactericidal results showed a higher antibody response when 2 injections of 2.0 μg doses were administered. Despite higher IgG reactivity against antigen preparations containing IRPs seen in ELISA, the bactericidal activity was not increased if the target strain was grown in iron-restricted medium. The influence of addition of alkaline-detoxified lipooligosaccharide (dLOS) on immunogenicity of the vaccine was also investigated, and the dLOS provided for a more functionally specific antibody response.     

Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system is modulated through signal transduction pathways involvingcGMP and Ca2+ as second messengers

Ehrlich cell plasma membrane ferricyanide reductase activity increased in the presence of mastoparan, a generic activator of G proteins, using either whole cells or isolated plasma membrane fractions. Agents that increase intracellularcAMP also increased the rate of ferricyanide reduction by Ehrlich cells. For the first time, evidence is shown on a modulation of plasma membrane redox system bycGMP. In fact, permeant analogs ofcGMP, dibutyrylcGMP, and 8-bromo-cGMP increased the rate of ferricyanide reduction by the Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system. Furthermore, specific inhibition ofcGMP-phosphodiesterases by dipyridamole was also accompanied by an enhancement in the rate of ferricyanide reduction. On the other hand, treatments expected to increase cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentrations were accompanied by a remarkable stimulation of the reductase activity. Taking all these data together, it seems that the Ehrlich cell plasma membrane redox system is under a multiple and complex regulation by different signal transduction pathways involving G proteins, cyclic nucleotides, and Ca²⁺ ions.