Using Species Distribution Models to Predict Potential Landscape Restoration Effects on Puma Conservation

A mosaic of intact native and human-modified vegetation use can provide important habitat for top predators such as the puma (Puma concolor), avoiding negative effects on other species and ecological processes due to cascade trophic interactions. This study investigates the effects of restoration scenarios on the puma’s habitat suitability in the most developed Brazilian region (São Paulo State). Species Distribution Models incorporating restoration scenarios were developed using the species’ occurrence information to (1) map habitat suitability of pumas in São Paulo State, Southeast, Brazil; (2) test the relative contribution of environmental variables ecologically relevant to the species habitat suitability and (3) project the predicted habitat suitability to future native vegetation restoration scenarios. The Maximum Entropy algorithm was used (Test AUC of 0.84 ± 0.0228) based on seven environmental non-correlated variables and non-autocorrelated presence-only records (n = 342). The percentage of native vegetation (positive influence), elevation (positive influence) and density of roads (negative influence) were considered the most important environmental variables to the model. Model projections to restoration scenarios reflected the high positive relationship between pumas and native vegetation. These projections identified new high suitability areas for pumas (probability of presence >0.5) in highly deforested regions. High suitability areas were increased from 5.3% to 8.5% of the total State extension when the landscapes were restored for ≥ the minimum native vegetation cover rule (20%) established by the Brazilian Forest Code in private lands. This study highlights the importance of a landscape planning approach to improve the conservation outlook for pumas and other species, including not only the establishment and management of protected areas, but also the habitat restoration on private lands. Importantly, the results may inform environmental policies and land use planning in São Paulo State, Brazil.     

Affinity purification of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from human, rhesus monkey, baboon, rabbit, rat and mouse liver

An affinity purification system based on elution of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from a methoxycitronellyl thiol ligand with 4-azidochalcone oxide was applied to a variety of samples including liver from human, monkey, baboon, rabbit, rat and mouse as well as mammary gland from mouse. Hepatic tissues yielded a major 58 kDa band on SDS-PAGE, but the system had to be modified slightly to remove a 33 kDa band for rat. All of the affinity purified hydrolases showed similar properties with regard to substrate selectivity, pH dependence and mobilities on SDS-PAGE.     

Experimental Adaptation of Rotaviruses to Tumor Cell Lines

A number of viruses show a naturally extended tropism for tumor cells whereas other viruses have been genetically modified or adapted to infect tumor cells. Oncolytic viruses have become a promising tool for treating some cancers by inducing cell lysis or immune response to tumor cells. In the present work, rotavirus strains TRF-41 (G5) (porcine), RRV (G3) (simian), UK (G6-P5) (bovine), Ym (G11-P9) (porcine), ECwt (murine), Wa (G1-P8), Wi61 (G9) and M69 (G8) (human), and five wild-type human rotavirus isolates were passaged multiple times in different human tumor cell lines and then combined in five different ways before additional multiple passages in tumor cell lines. Cell death caused by the tumor cell-adapted isolates was characterized using Hoechst, propidium iodide, 7-AAD, Annexin V, TUNEL, and anti-poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) and -phospho-histone H2A.X antibodies. Multiple passages of the combined rotaviruses in tumor cell lines led to a successful infection of these cells, suggesting a gain-of-function by the acquisition of greater infectious capacity as compared with that of the parental rotaviruses. The electropherotype profiles suggest that unique tumor cell-adapted isolates were derived from reassortment of parental rotaviruses. Infection produced by such rotavirus isolates induced chromatin modifications compatible with apoptotic cell death.     

Genetic instability of sporulation-associated characters in a Bacillus subtilis mutant: relationship between sporulation, segregation and the synthesis of extracellular enzymes (kinetic studies).

In the genetically unstable, protease-overproducing 'medusa (M) strains of Bacillus subtilis, segregation of stable, wild-type-like B cells occurred mainly during sporulation. After the end of the exponential growth phase, a small fraction of M cells sporulated quickly and formed M spores, while the majority of the cells, after a 'critical period', gave rise to B segregants which sporulated after a delay. Segregation occurred without cell division. Delayed sporulation, segregation and protease overproduction are related. Similar but more complex results were obtained with the highly unstable TD strains. Sporulation and the kinetics of protease overproduction were also followed in several stable segregants. Depending on the strain, either the rate of protease production or both the rate and time course were affected. The results are interpreted in terms of sequential activation and de-activation of sporulation genes. The production of the alkaline and the neutral proteases was, in general, under common genetic control. In some strains alpha-amylase was also overproduced.     

Structural and ecophysiological adaptations to forest gaps

To survive new microclimatic conditions of a forest gap environment, plant species must physiologically and structurally adjust. A morpho-anatomical, ultrastructural and ecophysiological study was performed at three different times in a forest gap that was created by illegal selective logging. The study followed the early successional Actinostemon verticillatus and the late-successional Metrodorea brevifolia, to elucidate the adaptive strategies of acclimation to gaps. Additionally, Schinus terebinthifolius was included in the study in order to test the plasticity of a pioneer species that grows on forest edges, where this species had higher values of leaf thickness, leaf mass area and succulence. M. brevifolia had succulent leaves, high leaf area and a thin cuticle. A. verticillatus presented the densest leaves and was the only species to show leaf morpho-anatomical plasticity. Ultrastructural and physiological differences were observed only in A. verticillatus and M. brevifolia leaves from the gap: increase in the stroma volume, oil droplets, plastoglobuli, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching. Photosynthetic efficiency showed that the early stages of gap formation are the most critical. Acclimation strategies of A. verticillatus suggest this species invests in the efficiency of photosynthesis by increasing its leaf thickness, leaf mass area and in water content maintenance by increasing the density of its leaves, at the expense of gas exchange, was compensated by a high density of stomata. M. brevifolia compensates for the higher cost of leaves and lower leaf plasticity with ultrastructural changes that are used to adjust the photosynthetic process, which promotes a shorter leaf payback time.     

Retinol (Vitamin A) Increases α-Synuclein, β-Amyloid Peptide,Tau Phosphorylation and RAGE Content in Human SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Line

Retinoids (vitamin A and derivatives) are recognized as essential factors for central nervous system (CNS) development. Retinol (vitamin A) also was postulated to be a major antioxidant component of diet as it modulates reactive species (RS) production and oxidative stress in biological systems. Oxidative stress plays a major role either in pathogenesis or development of neurodegenerative diseases, or even in both. Here we investigate the role of retinol supplementation to human neuron-derived SH-SY5Y cells over RS production and biochemical markers associated to neurodegenerative diseases expressed at neuronal level in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease: α-synuclein, β-amyloid peptide, tau phosphorylation and RAGE. Retinol treatment (24 h) impaired cell viability and increased intracellular RS production at the highest concentrations (7 up to 20 µM). Antioxidant co-treatment (Trolox 100 µM) rescued cell viability and inhibited RS production. Furthermore, retinol (10 µM) increased the levels of α-synuclein, tau phosphorylation at Ser396, β-amyloid peptide and RAGE. Co-treatment with antioxidant Trolox inhibited the increased in RAGE, but not the effect of retinol on α-synuclein, tau phosphorylation and β-amyloid peptide accumulation. These data indicate that increased availability of retinol to neurons at levels above the cellular physiological concentrations may induce deleterious effects through diverse mechanisms, which include oxidative stress but also include RS-independent modulation of proteins associated to progression of neuronal cell death during the course of neurodegenerative diseases.