Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Serra da Canastra National Park in Minas Gerais,Brazil: species,abundance, ecological and seasonal aspects with notes on rickettsial infection

The Cerrado Biome is the second largest in Brazil covering roughly 2 million km², with varying features throughout its area. The Biome is endangered but it is also source of animal species for rural, green urban and degraded rainforest areas. Ticks are among Cerrado species that establish at anthropogenic sites and although information about them is steadily increasing, several features are unknown. We herein report tick species, abundance and some ecological relationships within natural areas of the Cerrado at higher altitudes (800–1500 m) within and around Serra da Canastra National Park, in Minas Gerais State Brazil. In total of 1196 ticks were collected in the environment along 10 campaigns held in 3 years (2007–2009). Amblyomma sculptum was the most numerous species followed by Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma brasiliense. Distribution of these species was very uneven and an established population of A. brasiliense in the Cerrado is reported for the first time. Other tick species (Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma parvum, Ixodes schulzei and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) were found in lesser numbers. Domestic animals displayed tick infestations of both rural and urban origin as well as from natural areas (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor nitens, A. sculptum, A. ovale, Amblyomma tigrinum, Argas miniatus). Amblyomma sculptum had the widest domestic host spectrum among all tick species. DNA of only one Rickettsia species, R. bellii, was found in an A. dubitatum tick. Several biological and ecological features of ticks of the studied areas are discussed.     

Darting Primates: Steps Toward Procedural and Reporting Standards

Darting, a common method of capturing wild primates, poses risks to the individuals that must be appropriately minimized. A recent article in the International Journal of Primatology by Cunningham et al. (International Journal of Primatology, 36(5), 894–915, 2015) presented a literature review of the reporting of darting procedures in primatology and anonymously surveyed primatologists on darting methods and their effects, to report general trends in the field. We quantitatively reexamined 29 articles described by the authors as having information on fatalities and/or injuries. We think that the various body masses of primates (1 kg–150 kg), along with their locations and habitat types, and the degree of experience of the darting team, should be considered when estimating mortality and injury rates, and thus preclude the computation of an average mortality value across taxa. Nevertheless, we computed an average (mean) for comparison with the previous analyses. Our mean estimated mortality rate was 2.5% and the mean estimated injury risk was 1.5% (N = 21 articles). Thus, our estimated mortality rate is smaller than the combined mortality and injury rate of 5% reported by Cunningham et al. (International Journal of Primatology, 36(5), 894–915, 2015) and smaller than the mortality rates of medium-sized terrestrial mammals they used for comparison. Our study strongly suggests the critical need for more data to be analyzed in a standardized fashion.     

The cluster [Re<Subscript>6</Subscript>Se<Subscript>8</Subscript>I<Subscript>6</Subscript>]<Superscript>3−</Superscript> penetrates biological membranes: drug-like properties for CNS tumor treatment and diagnosis

Tumorigenic cell lines are more susceptible to [Re₆Se₈I₆]^3? cluster-induced death than normal cells, becoming a novel candidate for cancer treatment. Still, the feasibility of using this type of molecules in human patients remains unclear and further pharmacokinetics analysis is needed. Using coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, we determined the Re-cluster tissue content in injected mice, as a biodistribution measurement. Our results show that the Re-cluster successfully reaches different tissues, accumulating mainly in heart and liver. In order to dissect the mechanism underlying cluster biodistribution, we used three different experimental approaches. First, we evaluate the degree of lipophilicity by determining the octanol/water partition coefficient. The cluster mostly remained in the octanol fraction, with a coefficient of 1.86?±?0.02, which indicates it could potentially cross cell membranes. Then, we measured the biological membrane penetration through a parallel artificial membrane permeability assays (PAMPA) assay. The Re-cluster crosses the artificial membrane, with a coefficient of 122 nm/s that is considered highly permeable. To evaluate a potential application of the Re-cluster in central nervous system (CNS) tumors, we analyzed the cluster’s brain penetration by exposing cultured blood–brain-barrier (BBB) cells to increasing concentrations of the cluster. The Re-cluster effectively penetrates the BBB, reaching nearly 30% of the brain side after 24 h. Thus, our results indicate that the Re-cluster penetrates biological membranes reaching different target organs—most probably due to its lipophilic properties—becoming a promising anti-cancer drug with high potential for CNS cancer’s diagnosis and treatment.     

Desulfoferrodoxin structure determined by MAD phasing and refinement to 1.9-Å resolution reveals a unique combination of a tetrahedral FeS4 centre with a square pyramidal FeSN4 centre

The structure of desulfoferrodoxin (DFX), a protein containing two mononuclear non-heme iron centres, has been solved by the MAD method using phases determined at 2.8?Å resolution. The iron atoms in the native protein were used as the anomalous scatterers. The model was built from an electron density map obtained after density modification and refined against data collected at 1.9?Å. Desulfoferrodoxin is a homodimer which can be described in terms of two domains, each with two crystallographically equivalent non-heme mononuclear iron centres. Domain I is similar to desulforedoxin with distorted rubredoxin-type centres, and domain II has iron centres with square pyramidal coordination to four nitrogens from histidines as the equatorial ligands and one sulfur from a cysteine as the axial ligand. Domain I in DFX shows a remarkable structural fit with the DX homodimer. Furthermore, three β-sheets extending from one monomer to another in DFX, two in domain I and one in domain II, strongly support the assumption of DFX as a functional dimer. A calcium ion, indispensable in the crystallisation process, was assumed at the dimer interface and appears to contribute to dimer stabilisation. The C-terminal domain in the monomer has a topology fold similar to that of fibronectin III.     

Incorporating movement in the modelling of shark and ray population dynamics: approaches and management implications

The explicit incorporation of movement in the modelling of population dynamics can allow improved management of highly mobile species. Large-scale movements are increasingly being reported for sharks and rays. Hence, in this review we summarise the current understanding of long-scale movement patterns of sharks and rays and then present the different methods used in fisheries science for modelling population movement with an emphasis on sharks and rays. The use of movement data for informing population modelling and deriving management advice remains rare for sharks and rays. In the few cases where population movement was modelled explicitly, movement information has been solely derived from conventional tagging. Though shark and ray movement has been increasingly studied through a range of approaches these different sources of information have not been used in population models. Integrating these multiple sources of movement information could advance our understanding of shark and ray dynamics. This, in turn, would allow the use of more adequate models for assessing stocks and advising management and conservation effort.     

Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant,Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of South Brazilian Organic Propolis

South Brazilian organic propolis (OP), which has never been studied before, was assessed and its chemical composition, scavenging potential of reactive oxygen species, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities are herein presented. Based on the chemical profile obtained using HPLC, OP was grouped into seven variants (OP1–OP7) and all of them exhibited high scavenging activity, mainly against superoxide and hypochlorous acid species. OP1, OP2, and OP3 had the smallest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus aureus (12.5–100 μg/mL). OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4 were more effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative), with MIC values ranging from 100 to 200 μg/mL. OP6 showed anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing NF-kB activation and TNF-α release in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and expressing the NF-κB-luciferase reporter stable gene. Therefore, south Brazilian OP can be considered an excellent source of bioactive compounds with great potential of application in the pharmaceutical and food industry.     

Survival of athymic (nu/nu) mice after Theiler''s murine encephalomyelitis virus infection by passive administration of neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

Little or no antiviral immune response is mounted in athymic nude mice infected with the Daniels strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. In these athymic mice, increasing levels of infectious virus could be detected in the central nervous system. Seventy-five percent (9 of 12) of the nude mice were moribund or dead by 4 weeks postinfection. In contrast, treatment of Theiler's virus-infected nude mice with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (H7-2) against the viral protein VP-1 resulted in a dramatic reduction of infectious virus within the central nervous system. All antibody-treated nude animals survived beyond 4 weeks postinfection. Monoclonal antibody titers could be maintained by passive transfer in treated nude mice at levels comparable to those of polyclonal antibody titers found in heterozygous infected nu/+ littermates. Areas of demyelination were detected in the untreated animals as early as 7 days after infection with little or no remyelination present. In approximately one-half of the antibody-treated nude animals, no demyelinating lesions were found. However, the rest of these treated mice were found to have areas of both demyelination and remyelination. Thus, anti-Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus antibody against VP-1 can play a dramatic role in the survival of mice, clearance of virus, limiting viral spread, and altering the pattern of disease in the absence of a functional T-cell response.     

Two new diterpenoids from Plectranthus species

Two new diterpenoids, ent-7α-acetoxy-15-beyeren-18-oic acid and (13S,15S)-6β,7α,12α,19-tetrahydroxy-13β,16-cyclo-8-abietene-11,14-dione, have been isolated from Plectranthus saccatus and Plectranthus porcatus, respectively, and their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. The new diterpenes showed no activity against Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans (yeast strain). Among Gram-positive bacteria, the lower MIC value was 62.50 μg/ml for the abietane derivative against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538.     

Sequence Analysis and Expression of the Attachment and Fusion Proteins of Canine Distemper Virus Wild-Type Strain A75/17

The biological properties of wild-type A75/17 and cell culture-adapted Onderstepoort canine distemper virus differ markedly. To learn more about the molecular basis for these differences, we have isolated and sequenced the protein-coding regions of the attachment and fusion proteins of wild-type canine distemper virus strain A75/17. In the attachment protein, a total of 57 amino acid differences were observed between the Onderstepoort strain and strain A75/17, and these were distributed evenly over the entire protein. Interestingly, the attachment protein of strain A75/17 contained an extension of three amino acids at the C terminus. Expression studies showed that the attachment protein of strain A75/17 had a higher apparent molecular mass than the attachment protein of the Onderstepoort strain, in both the presence and absence of tunicamycin. In the fusion protein, 60 amino acid differences were observed between the two strains, of which 44 were clustered in the much smaller F2 portion of the molecule. Significantly, the AUG that has been proposed as a translation initiation codon in the Onderstepoort strain is an AUA codon in strain A75/17. Detailed mutation analyses showed that both the first and second AUGs of strain A75/17 are the major translation initiation sites of the fusion protein. Similar analyses demonstrated that, also in the Onderstepoort strain, the first two AUGs are the translation initiation codons which contribute most to the generation of precursor molecules yielding the mature form of the fusion protein.