Numerical and structural chromosome variation in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia decorata Gribodo 1896 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

The Neotropical Polistinae wasps are diverse in taxonomy, social behavior, and nesting founding characteristics. Although some species in this group have been used as models for studies on wasp’s biology, they are poorly known in terms of cytogenetics. Here we reported an intraspecific numerical-structural chromosome variation in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia decorata from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest using conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques. The observed structural chromosome change involved a telomeric fusion that resulted in a chromosome number range of 2n = 34–36. The origin and geographic distribution of the variant chromosome forms as well as their frequency and maintenance in the studied populations are discussed. In addition, we reported a novel and geographically restricted deletion in the fused chromosomes indicating that the species is undergoing a continued process of karyotype evolution leading to fused chromosome stabilization by elimination of inactive centromeric sequences. Evidence of differences in the telomeric sequences of this wasp was also found by in situ hybridization using the motif (T₂AG₂)₇ as probe.     

Synthesis and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of naphthoquinone-containing triazoles: Electrochemical studies on the effects of the quinoidal moiety

In our continued search for novel trypanocidal compounds, twenty-six derivatives of para- and ortho-naphthoquinones coupled to 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized. These compounds were evaluated against the infective bloodstream form of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Compounds 17–24, 28–30 and 36–38 are described herein for the first time. Three of these novel compounds (28–30) were found to be more potent than the standard drug benznidazole, with IC₅₀/24 h values between 6.8 and 80.8 μM. Analysis of the toxicity to heart muscle cells led to LC₅₀/24 h of <125, 63.1 and 281.6 μM for 28, 29 and 30, respectively. Displaying a selectivity index of 34.3, compound 30 will be further evaluated in vivo. The electrochemical properties of selected compounds were evaluated in an attempt to find correlations with trypanocidal activity, and it was observed that more electrophilic quinones were generally more potent.     

Using common mycorrhizal networks for controlled inoculation of Quercus spp. with Tuber melanosporum: the nurse plant method

The high cost and restricted availability of black truffle spore inoculum for controlled mycorrhiza formation of host trees produced for truffle orchards worldwide encourage the search for more efficient and sustainable inoculation methods that can be applied globally. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the nurse plant method for the controlled inoculation of Quercus cerris and Quercus robur with Tuber melanosporum by mycorrhizal networks in pot cultures. Pine bark compost, adjusted to pH?7.8 by liming, was used as substrate for all assays. Initially, Q. robur seedlings were inoculated with truffle spores and cultured for 12 months. After this period, the plants presenting 74 % mycorrhizal fine roots were transferred to larger containers. Nurse plants were used for two treatments of two different nursling species: five sterilized acorns or five 45-day-old, axenically grown Q. robur or Q. cerris seedlings, planted in containers around the nurse plant. After 6 months, colonized nursling plant root tips showed that mycorrhiza formation by T. melanosporum was higher than 45 % in the seedlings tested, with the most successful nursling combination being Q. cerris seedlings, reaching 81 % colonization. Bulk identification of T. melanosporum mycorrhizae was based on morphological and anatomical features and confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA of selected root tips. Our results show that the nurse plant method yields attractive rates of mycorrhiza formation by the Périgord black truffle and suggest that establishing and maintaining common mycorrhizal networks in pot cultures enables sustained use of the initial spore inoculum.     

Potential role of oxidative exoenzymes of the extremophilic fungus Pestalotiopsis palmarum BM-04 in biotransformation of extra-heavy crude oil

Large amount of drilling waste associated with the expansion of the Orinoco Oil Belt (OOB), the biggest proven reserve of extra-heavy crude oil (EHCO) worldwide, is usually impregnated with EHCO and highly salinized water-based drilling fluids. Oxidative exoenzymes (OE) of the lignin-degrading enzyme system (LDS) of fungi catalyse the oxidation of a wide range of toxic pollutants. However, very little evidences on fungal degradation or biotransformation of EHCO have been reported, which contain high amounts of asphaltenes and its biodegradation rate is very limited. The aims of this work were to study the ability of Pestalotiopsis palmarum BM-04 to synthesize OE, its potential to biotransform EHCO and to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Enzymatic studies of the LDS showed the ability of this fungus to overproduce high amounts of laccase (LACp) in presence of wheat bran or lignin peroxidase (LIPp) with EHCO as sole carbon and energy source (1300 U mgP⁻¹ in both cases). FT-IR spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) analysis showed the enzymatic oxidation of carbon and sulfur atoms in both maltenes and asphaltenes fractions of biotreated EHCO catalysed by cell-free laccase-enriched OE using wheat bran as inducer. UV-visible spectrophotometry analysis revealed the oxidation of the petroporphyrins in the asphaltenes fraction of biotreated EHCO. Tolerance assays showed the ability of this fungus to grow up to 50 000 p.p.m. of EHCO and 2000 mM of NaCl. These results suggest that P. palmarum BM-04 is a hopeful alternative to be used in remediation processes in extreme environmental conditions of salinity and EHCO contamination, such as the drilling waste from the OOB.     

An integrated practical implementation of continuous aqueous two‐phase systems for the recovery of human IgG: From the microdevice to a multistage bench‐scale mixer‐settler device

Aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPS) are a liquid‐liquid extraction technology with clear process benefits; however, its lack of industrial embracement is still a challenge to overcome. Antibodies are a potential product to be recovered by ATPS in a commercial context. The objective of this work is to present a more integral approach of the different isolated strategies that have arisen in order to enable a practical, generic implementation of ATPS, using human immunoglobulin G (IgG) as experimental model. A microfluidic device is used for ATPS parameters preselection for product recovery. ATPS were continuously operated in a mixer‐settler device in one stage, multistage and multistage with recirculation configuration. Single‐stage pure IgG extraction with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350‐phophates ATPS within continuous operation allowed a 65% recovery. Further implementation of a multistage platform promoted a higher particle partitioning reaching a 90% recovery. The processing of IgG from a cell supernatant culture harvest in a multistage system with top phase recirculation resulted in 78% IgG recovery in bottom phase. This work conjugates three not widely spread methodologies for ATPS: microfluidics, continuous and multistage operation.