Haplotype distribution of and linkage disequilibrium between four polymorphic markers near the CFTR locus in Brazilian cystic fibrosis patients

To contribute to a better understanding of the origin and distribution of CFTR mutations in the Brazilian population, we have investigated the linkage between four polymorphic markers (XV2c, KM19, GATT, and TUB9) within or near the CFTR locus. The distribution of alleles for each polymorphism for both parental and cystic fibrosis (CF) chromosomes from Rio de Janeiro CF families were ascertained using a maximum-likelihood method. This same method was applied to study the distribution of the haplotypes defined by these markers. There was no significant association between the XV2c and KM19 loci on the parental and CF chromosomes. On the other hand, a strong association between GATT and TUB9 loci was observed on both CF and parental chromosomes, and striking linkage disequilibrium between the GATT-TUB9 pair and deltaF508 was observed (chi2 = 26.48, p < 0.0001). Remarkable linkage disequilibrium between the GATT-TUB9 marker pair and non-deltaF508 was also found (chi2 = 17.05, p < 0.0001). Our finding of a linkage disequilibrium between GATT-TUB9 and the CFTR locus could suggest that gene flow between different ethnic groups, mainly sub-Saharan and Mediterranean populations, with Brazilian populations could have resulted in some CF mutations originating on chromosomes that carried the GATT-TUB9 marker haplotype 7-2 (OR = 1.34 < 2.83 < 6.00; p = 0.0066).     

Savannas after afforestation: Assessment of herbaceous community responses to wildfire versus native tree planting

Afforestation and fire exclusion are pervasive threats to tropical savannas. In Brazil, laws limiting prescribed burning hinder the study of fire in the restoration of Cerrado plant communities. We took advantage of a 2017 wildfire to evaluate the potential for tree cutting and fire to promote the passive restoration of savanna herbaceous plant communities after destruction by exotic tree plantations. We sampled a burned pine plantation (Burned Plantation); a former plantation that was harvested and burned (Harvested & Burned); an unburned former plantation that was harvested, planted with native trees, and treated with herbicide to control invasive grasses (Native Tree Planting); and two old-growth savannas which served as reference communities. Our results confirm that herbaceous plant communities on post-afforestation sites are very different from old-growth savannas. Among post-afforestation sites, Harvested & Burned herbaceous communities were modestly more similar in composition to old-growth savannas, had slightly higher richness of savanna plants (3.8 species per 50-m²), and supported the greatest cover of native herbaceous plants (56%). These positive trends in herbaceous community recovery would be missed in assessments of tree cover: whereas canopy cover in the Harvested & Burned site was 6% (less than typical of savannas of the Cerrado), the Burned Plantation and Native Tree Planting supported 34% and 19% cover, respectively. By focusing on savanna herbaceous plants, these results highlight that tree cutting and fire, not simply tree planting and fire exclusion, should receive greater attention in efforts to restore savannas of the Cerrado.     

On the need of legal frameworks for assessing restoration projects success: new perspectives from São Paulo state (Brazil)

Despite growing worldwide commitment to large‐scale ecosystem restoration, national public policies on restoration are few, and those that exist tend to be vague. Brazil and especially São Paulo state stand out. In a pioneering attempt to improve restoration projects and their outcomes, the Secretariat for the Environment of the State of São Paulo has enacted a legal instrument to drive planning and to assess whether the goals and targets of mandatory ecological restoration are being achieved. Regardless of the restoration techniques applied, the effectiveness of mandatory or public‐funded projects will henceforth be assessed by using three ecological indicators: (1) ground coverage with native vegetation; (2) density of native plants spontaneously regenerating; and (3) number of spontaneously regenerating native plant species. We analyze how this science‐based legal framework is expected to promote greater restoration success, improve cost‐effectiveness, and help bridge the all‐too‐familiar knowledge‐action gap in environmental policies. Notably, scientists, professionals, public agents, and stakeholders from different institutions have collaborated to advance the refinement and rolling out of this legal instrument. By 2037, it is expected that more than 300,000 restoration projects will be carried out in São Paulo state and monitored using this set of indicators. We also suggest that this approach could be usefully applied to the growing number of ecological restoration programs being carried out worldwide, especially in the context of offset policies intended to achieve serious compensation for environmental degradation or loss of biodiversity.     

Method for Eliminating Anticomplementary Activity in Animal Sera

A method is described for removing the anticomplementary activity of sera by the addition of normal porcine serum. Results of sera taken from four animal species immunized with influenza, coxsackievirus, echovirus, and vaccinia viral antigens are presented.