Electrophysiological characterization of Tityus obscurus β toxin 1 (To1) on Na+-channel isoforms

To1, previously named Tc49b, is a peptide neurotoxin isolated from venom of the scorpion Tityus obscurus that is responsible for lethal human poisoning cases in the Brazilian Amazonian region. Previously, To1 was shown to be lethal to mice and to change Na⁺ permeation in cerebellum granular neurons from rat brain. In addition, To1 did not affect Shaker B K⁺ channels. Based on sequence similarities, To1 was described as a β-toxin. In the present work, To1 was purified from T. obscurus venom and submitted to an electrophysiological characterization in human and invertebrate Na_V channels. The analysis of the electrophysiological experiments reveal that To1 enhances the open probability at more negative potentials of human Na_V 1.3 and 1.6, of the insect channel BgNa_V1 and of arachnid VdNa_V1 channel. In addition, To1 reduces the peak of Na⁺ currents in some of the Na_Vs tested. These results support the classification of the To1 as a β-toxin. A structure and functional comparison to other β-toxins that share sequence similarity to To1 is also presented.     

Age structure and multi-model growth estimation of longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus (Dasyatidae: Myliobatoidei) from north-east Brazil

We collected 729 Hypanus guttatus from the northern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), of which 196 were used to estimate age and growth. Ninety-five were male (12.7 to 57.0 cm disc width; W_D) and 101 were female (13.0 to 88.5 cm W_D); females were significantly larger than males. Cross sections of vertebrae showed band-pairs ranging from 0 to > 14 in females and from 0 to 9 in males. New-borns presented an opaque edge at birth in vertebrae without a birthmark. The average percentage of error (APE; %E) for the entire sample provided evidence that ages were repeatable. The mean monthly marginal increment (I_M) indicates annual band-pair formation from August to November. The annual cycle model for one band-pair deposition provided the best fit to data based on the AIC, with peaks between August and October, similar to that found in the I_M analysis, suggesting an annual formation pattern. A multi-model approach that included four models based on the observed mean W_D at age indicated a modified von Bertalanffy growth model as the best for describing the species growth: W₀ (W_D at birth) = 14.6 cm for both sexes; females W_∞ = 98.61 cm (95% CI = 87.34–114.61 cm); k = 0.112 year⁻¹ (CI = 0.086–0.148 year⁻¹); males W_∞ = 60.22 cm (CI = 55.66–65.35 cm); k = 0.219 year⁻¹ (CI = 0.185–0.276 year⁻¹). The age-at-maturity in males and females is 5 years and 7 years, respectively. The age composition shows that most (84%) specimens were aged 0 to 2 years. The information provided here is essential for analytical assessments of H. guttatus, which is subject to significant fishing pressure mainly on new-borns and juveniles.     

In silico and in vivo analysis of ABI3 and VAL2 genes during somatic embryogenesis of Coffea arabica: competence acquisition and developmental marker genes

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - The employment of biotechnology-based approaches such as somatic embryogenesis has been applied to several plants including Coffea sp. Despite the...     

Length–weight relationship of thirteen demersal fishes from the tropical Brazilian continental shelf

This study provides the length‐weight relationship (LWR) for 13 demersal fish species belonging to 11 families and 8 orders. Data were collected in the northeast Brazilian continental shelf during two scientific surveys (2015 and 2017) using a bottom trawl net (side length of body mesh: 40 mm, side length of cod‐end mesh: 25 mm) at 35 stations between 15 and 60 m of depth. We provide novel LWRs for four species and expand the size range of 9 relationships previously established.     

Evaluation of neuroprotective activity of digoxin and semisynthetic derivatives against partial chemical ischemia

Recently, cardiotonic steroids (CTS) have been shown to lead to the activation of Na,K-ATPase at low concentrations in brain, promoting neuroprotection against ischemia. We report here the results of the use of digoxin and its semisynthetic derivatives BD-14, BD-15, and BD-16 against partial chemical ischemic induction followed by reperfusion in murine neuroblastoma cells neuro-2a (N2a). For chemical ischemic induction, sodium azide (5 mM) was used for 5 hours, and then reperfusion was induced for 24 hours. Na,K-ATPase activity and protein levels were analyzed in membrane preparation of N2a cells pretreated with the compounds (150 nM), in the controls and in induced chemical ischemia. In the Na,K-ATPase activity and protein levels assays, the steroids digoxin and BD-15 demonstrated a capacity to modulate the activity of the enzyme directly, increasing its levels of expression and activity. Oxidative parameters, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH) levels, hydrogen peroxide content, and the amount of free radicals (reactive oxygen species) during induced chemical ischemia were also evaluated. Regarding the redox state, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide content, and GPx activity, we have observed an increase in the chemical ischemic group, and a reduction in the groups treated with CTS. SOD activity increased in all treated groups when compared to control and GSH levels decreased when treated with sodium azide and did not change with CTS treatments. Regarding the lipid profile, we saw a decrease in the content of phospholipids and cholesterol in the chemical ischemic group, and an increase in the groups treated with CTS. In conclusion, the compounds used in this study demonstrate promising results, since they appear to promote neuroprotection in cells exposed to chemical ischemia.     

Seasonal variation in natural mortality factors of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in open‐field tomato cultivation

The seasonal variation in natural mortality of phytophagous insects is determined by the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in agroecosystems. Knowledge regarding these factors throughout the year represents a key concern for IPM programmes. Seasonal population fluctuations of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, led to an investigation of its natural mortality factors during the rainy season when the population level is low and during the dry season when population peaks occur. The aim of this study was to verify the seasonal variation in T. absoluta mortality factors in tomato crops. Immature stages of T. absoluta were obtained from laboratory‐rearing in the laboratory. These were taken to the field and monitored over two years. The mortality causes for each stage of insect development from egg to adult were assessed daily. Multiple biotic and abiotic mortality factors affected the immature T. absoluta stages such as rainfall, physiological disturbances, diseases, parasitoids and predators. The key T. absoluta mortality factor during summer–spring was predation. In addition, larvae predation correlated positively with temperature, wind velocity, photoperiod and rainfall. Nevertheless, during winter–fall, the key mortality factor was parasitism. Therefore, the critical stage for mortality was 3rd‐ and 4th‐instar larvae, being more vulnerable to natural control factors. Finally, the results showed the importance of vertical and horizontal action on natural mortality factors.     

Formicidal activity of indole derivatives on Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier): Lethal,behavioural and locomotive effects

The leaf‐cutting ants of the genus Atta are of extreme importance for agriculture and forestry. Few active products can be employed to control these pests and, therefore, the discovery of new insecticidal products represents a fundamental strategy for its management. In this study, we evaluated the mortality, behaviour and locomotion of workers of Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier) exposed to synthesized indole derivatives. The most active compound was 4d [1‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)pentan‐1‐one] (LD₅₀ = 0.018 μg/mg), while the 4e [1‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)hexan‐1‐one] (LD₅₀ = 3.82 μg/mg) was the least active compound. These two derivatives reduced the survival of A. opaciceps over time and altered the behaviour and locomotion of these ants. This study demonstrates the potential of indole derivatives to produce new formicidal products, since, in addition to being effective, it also affects the ant's behaviour and locomotion.     

Haplotypes of single cancer driver genes and their local ancestry in a highly admixed long-lived population of Northeast Brazil

Admixed populations have not been examined in detail in cancer genetic studies. Here, we inferred the local ancestry of cancer-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of a highly admixed Brazilian population. SNP array was used to genotype 73 unrelated individuals aged 80-102 years. Local ancestry inference was performed by merging genotyped regions with phase three data from the 1000 Genomes Project Consortium using RFmix. The average ancestry tract length was 9.12-81.71 megabases. Strong linkage disequilibrium was detected in 48 haplotypes containing 35 SNPs in 10 cancer driver genes. All together, 19 risk and eight protective alleles were identified in 23 out of 48 haplotypes. Homozygous individuals were mainly of European ancestry, whereas heterozygotes had at least one Native American and one African ancestry tract. Native-American ancestry for homozygous individuals with risk alleles for HNF1B, CDH1, and BRCA1 was inferred for the first time. Results indicated that analysis of SNP polymorphism in the present admixed population has a high potential to identify new ancestry-associated alleles and haplotypes that modify cancer susceptibility differentially in distinct human populations. Future case-control studies with populations with a complex history of admixture could help elucidate ancestry-associated biological differences in cancer incidence and therapeutic outcomes.     

The interplay of fibroblasts,the extracellular matrix,and inflammation in scar formation

Various forms of fibrosis, comprising tissue thickening and scarring, are involved in 40% of deaths across the world. Since the discovery of scarless functional healing in fetuses prior to a certain stage of development, scientists have attempted to replicate scarless wound healing in adults with little success. While the extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, and inflammatory mediators have been historically investigated as separate branches of biology, it has become increasingly necessary to consider them as parts of a complex and tightly regulated system that becomes dysregulated in fibrosis. With this new paradigm, revisiting fetal scarless wound healing provides a unique opportunity to better understand how this highly regulated system operates mechanistically. In the following review, we navigate the four stages of wound healing (hemostasis, inflammation, repair, and remodeling) against the backdrop of adult versus fetal wound healing, while also exploring the relationships between the ECM, effector cells, and signaling molecules. We conclude by singling out recent findings that offer promising leads to alter the dynamics between the ECM, fibroblasts, and inflammation to promote scarless healing. One factor that promises to be significant is fibroblast heterogeneity and how certain fibroblast subpopulations might be predisposed to scarless healing. Altogether, reconsidering fetal wound healing by examining the interplay of the various factors contributing to fibrosis provides new research directions that will hopefully help us better understand and address fibroproliferative diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, systemic sclerosis, progressive kidney disease, and cardiovascular fibrosis.