Fishers’ ecological knowledge on the reproduction of fish and shrimp in a subtropical coastal ecosystem

Hydrobiologia - Fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) has contributed to a better understanding about the reproduction of fishery resources, especially where biological data are scarce or...     

Aerobic training prevents cardiometabolic changes triggered by myocardial infarction in ovariectomized rats

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of aerobic training (AT) on autonomic, cardiometabolic, ubiquitin‐proteasome activity, and inflammatory changes evoked by myocardial infarction (MI) in ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups: sedentary + sham (SS), sedentary + MI (SI), AT + sham surgery (TS), AT + MI (TI). AT was performed on a treadmill for 8 weeks before MI. Infarcted rats previously subjected to AT presented improved physical capacity, increased interleukin‐10, and decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Metabolomic analysis identified and quantified 62 metabolites, 9 were considered significant by the Vip Score. SS, SI, and TS groups presented distinct metabolic profiles; however, TI could not be distinguished from the SS group. MI dramatically increased levels of dimethylamine, and AT prevented this response. Our findings suggest that AT may be useful in preventing the negative changes in functional, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters related to MI in ovariectomized rats.     

Crystal Structure and Pathophysiological Role of the Pneumococcal Nucleoside-binding Protein PnrA

Nucleotides are important for RNA and DNA synthesis and, despite a de novo synthesis by bacteria, uptake systems are crucial. Streptococcus pneumoniae, a facultative human pathogen, produces a surface-exposed nucleoside-binding protein, PnrA, as part of an ABC transporter system. Here we demonstrate the binding affinity of PnrA to nucleosides adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, thymidine and uridine by microscale thermophoresis and indicate the consumption of adenosine and guanosine by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In a series of five crystal structures we revealed the PnrA structure and provide insights into how PnrA can bind purine and pyrimidine ribonucleosides but with preference for purine ribonucleosides. Crystal structures of PnrA:nucleoside complexes unveil a clear pattern of interactions in which both the N- and C- domains of PnrA contribute. The ribose moiety is strongly recognized through a conserved network of H-bond interactions, while plasticity in loop 27–36 is essential to bind purine- or pyrimidine-based nucleosides.Further, we deciphered the role of PnrA in pneumococcal fitness in infection experiments. Phagocytosis experiments did not show a clear difference in phagocytosis between PnrA-deficient and wild-type pneumococci. In the acute pneumonia infection model the deficiency of PnrA attenuated moderately virulence of the mutant, which is indicated by a delay in the development of severe lung infections. Importantly, we confirmed the loss of fitness in co-infections, where the wild-type out-competed the pnrA-mutant. In conclusion, we present the PnrA structure in complex with individual nucleosides and show that the consumption of adenosine and guanosine under infection conditions is required for virulence.     

Muscle fatigue and metabolic responses following three different antagonist pre-load resistance exercises

PurposePreload of antagonist muscles can be achieved by reciprocal actions (RAs) or by opposing muscle actions. However, evidence concerning neuromuscular and fatigue responses are scarce.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of different knee flexor (KF) preload methods on knee extension (KE) vastus medialis muscle fatigue, based on EMG-spectral index (FI), load range (LR), total work (TW), blood lactate (LAC) and biceps femoris co-activation (BFc) during resistance exercise.MethodsTwenty-four healthy men (23.5 ± 3.6 yrs) performed three antagonist pre-load isokinetic exercises (4 sets, 10 repetitions, 60° s^?1, 1 min rest between sets): RA (KF contraction immediately followed by KE); Superset (SS; one KF set immediately followed by one KE set); Multiple Set (MS; four KF sets followed by four KE sets).ResultsTotal work was significantly greater in RA. There was no significant decrease in LR between sets in RA. The BFc did not differ between protocols (p = 0.063). However, RA presented greater biceps femoriscoactivation. The FI was greater during SS compared to RA and MS (p < 0.05). The SS had greater LAC when compared to MS and RA (p = 0.005 and p = 0.007, respectively).ConclusionIt is suggested that the RA protocol is more neuromuscular and metabolic efficient during the performance of knee extension resistance exercise.     

High School Gay–Straight Alliances (GSAs) and Young Adult Well-Being: An Examination of GSA Presence,Participation, and Perceived Effectiveness

Gay–Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student-led, school-based clubs that aim to provide a safe environment in the school context for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, as well as their straight allies. The present study examines the potential for GSAs to support positive youth development and to reduce associations among LGBT-specific school victimization and negative young adult well-being. The sample includes 245 LGBT young adults, ages 21–25, who retrospectively reported on the presence of a GSA in their high school, their participation in their school's GSA, and their perceptions of whether or not their GSA was effective in improving school safety. Findings revealed that the presence of a GSA, participation in a GSA, and perceived GSA effectiveness in promoting school safety were differentially associated with young adult well-being and, in some cases, buffered the negative association between LGBT-specific school victimization and well-being. Implications for future research and schools are discussed.     

Entomological surveillance,spatial distribution,and diversity of Culicidae (Diptera) immatures in a rural area of the Atlantic Forest biome,State of São Paulo,Brazil

Because of the high adaptive capacity of mosquitoes, studies that focus on transitional environments become very important, such as those in rural areas, which are considered as bridges between wild diseases and human populations of urban areas. In this study, a survey of the existing species of mosquitoes was performed in an Atlantic Forest area of the city of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo state, Brazil, using traps for immatures and analyzing the frequency and distribution of these insects over the sampling months. Five mosquito species were found: Aedes albopictus (the most frequent species), Aedes aegypti, Aedes fluviatilis, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Toxorhynchites theobaldi. The 4,524 eggs collected in ovitraps showed the presence of the tribe Aedini. Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus were identified after larval hatching in the laboratory, with different spatial distributions: the first of which coincides with the area of greatest diversity calculated using the Simpson index, while the second does not. The association of ecological analysis of spatial diversity with simple methods of data collection enables the identification of possible epidemiological risk situations and is a strategy that may be implemented to monitor ecological processes resulting from the interaction among different species of mosquitoes.     

Breakthrough pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection with multiple triazole resistance in a Spanish patient with chronic myeloid leukemia

BackgroundAn allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) patient presented with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis associated to pulmonary graft versus host disease (GVHD) and was treated for a long time with several antifungal agents that were administered as prophylaxis, combination therapies, and maintenance treatment. The patient suffered from a breakthrough invasive pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus after long-term antifungal therapy.Material and methodsSeveral isolates were analyzed. First isolates were susceptible in vitro to all azole agents. However, after prolonged treatment with itraconazole and voriconazole a multiple azole resistant A. fumigatus isolate was cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) when the patient was suffering from an invasive infection, and cavitary lesions were observed.ResultsAnalysis of the resistant mechanisms operating in the last strain led us to report the first isolation in Spain of an azole resistant A. fumigatus strain harboring the L98H mutation in combination with the tandem repeat (TR) alteration in CYP51A gene (TR-L98H). Long-term azole therapy may increase the risk of resistance selecting strains exhibiting reduced susceptibility to these compounds. However, since the isolates were genetically different the suggestion that could be made is that the resistance was not induced during the prolonged azole therapy but the patient might simply have acquired this resistant isolate from the environment, selected by the therapy.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that in all long-term treatments with antifungal agents, especially with azoles, repeated sampling and regular susceptibility testing of strains isolated is necessary as resistant isolates could be selected.