Protection induced in BALB/c mice by the high-molecular-mass (hMM) fraction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracoccidioides brasiliensis</Emphasis>

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The present study investigated the protective activity of the P. brasiliensis high-molecular-mass (hMM) fraction (~380 kDa) in experimental murine PCM. In the first step, lymphocyte proliferation and production of IFNγ (but not IL-4) were observed in “in vitro” spleen cells (from female BALB/c mice infected (i.v.) with P. brasiliensis) that were stimulated with hMM fractions. In the second step, female BALB/c mice were previously immunized (s.c.) with hMM fraction (25 μg/protein = F-25 and 50 μg/protein = F-50), and the colony-forming units (CFU) of the lung and spleen, the histopathological characteristics of the granulomatous lesions, and plasmatic gp43 soluble antigens and anti-hMM IgG levels were analyzed at 28 and 56 days after infection. The lung and liver CFU were lower in mice previously immunized with the hMM fraction (P < 0.05). The granulomatous lesions revealed a greater degree of compaction and organization, with no dissemination of the fungus to other organs. Lower soluble antigen levels (P < 0.05) and higher IgG anti-hMM fraction (P < 0.05) were observed in immunized groups. The results for CFU, histopathology and antigenemia suggest that the hMM fraction has a protective effect in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis in BALB/c mice.     

Paracoccidioidomycosis in wild monkeys from Paraná State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in wild New World monkeys (Cebus sp. and Alouatta caraya). A total of 93 animals (Cebus sp., n = 68 and Alouatta caraya, n = 25) were captured in the Paraná River basin, Paraná State, Brazil and the serum samples were analyzed by ELISA and immunodiffusion using P. brasiliensis gp43 and exoantigen as antigens, respectively. The seropositivity observed by ELISA was 44.1% and 60% for Cebus sp. and A. caraya, respectively, while by immunodiffusion test Cebus sp. showed positivity of 2.9% only. No significant difference was observed in relation to age and sex. This is the first report of paracoccidioidomycosis in wild capuchin monkeys and in wild-black and golden-howler monkeys. The high positivity to P. brasiliensis infection in both species evaluated in our study and the positivity by immunodiffusion test in Cebus sp. suggest that natural disease may be occurring in wild monkeys living in paracoccidioidomycosis endemic areas.     

Effect of interleukin-10 on the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis killing by gamma-interferon activated human neutrophils

Paracoccidioidomycosis, a deep mycosis endemic in Latin America, is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Phagocytic cells play a critical role against this fungus, and several studies have shown the effects of activator and suppressive cytokines on macrophage and monocyte functions. However, studies on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), that are the first cells recruited to the infection sites, are scarcer. Thus, the objective of this paper was to assess whether interleukin-10 (IL-10), a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, is able to block the activity of IFN-gamma-activated human PMNs upon P. brasiliensis intracellular killing, in vitro. The results showed that IFN-gamma-activated PMNs have an effective fungicidal activity against the fungus. This activity was associated with the release of high levels of H(2)O(2), the metabolite involved in phagocytic cells antifungal activities. However, the concomitant incubation of these cells with IFN-gamma and IL-10 significantly blocked IFN-gamma activation. As a consequence, PMNs killing activity and H(2)O(2) release were inhibited. Together, our results show the importance of PMNs exposure to activator or suppressor cytokines in the early stages of paracoccidioidomycosis infection.     

巴西橡胶树线粒体50S核糖体蛋白L21cDNA的克隆与分析

在橡胶生产中,死皮生理综合症严重制约了橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)单产的提高。在早期构建的差减文库中,筛选到一条在死皮植株中下调表达的基因片段,该片段编码的蛋白与线粒体50S核糖体蛋白L21(mRPL21)同源。通过ESTs序列拼接和RT-PCR,获得一条853 bp的cDNA序列(命名为HbmRPL21,GenBank登录号为HM800425),该序列包含一个完整的开放读码框,编码271个氨基酸,理论分子量为30.52 kD,等电点为8.40。同源比对表明,植物和动物界间mRPL21序列差异很大,而植物界内则相对比较保守。生物信息学分析表明,HbmRPL21是一个包含Ribosomal_L21p保守结构域的线粒体定位蛋白。     

Degradation of Metsulfuron Methyl by Agaricus blazei Murrill Spent Compost Enzymes

Metsulfuron methyl (MM) is an herbicide used in cereal crops. The white rot mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill is an important edible and medicinal mushroom reported to be a major laccase producer, a lignin-degrading enzyme with low substrate specificity. A search for assaying the potential use of A. blazei spent mushroom compost (SMC) as a remediation tool for cleaning MM polluted soils was carried out. A phytotoxic dose of this herbicide was separately incubated with two enzyme preparations obtained from the SMC after the second mushroom fruiting flush; the phytotoxicity of the resulting reaction mixtures was then assayed by using a plantlet growing test with Brassica napus L. Thus, the crude enzyme SMC extract preparation (I) or the partially purified enzyme SMC extract (II) and their dilutions, 1:10 and 1:100, were mixed with MM (5 × 10^?3 ppm final concentration) and incubated at 25°C for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Plantlets separately exposed for 72 and 96 h to the resulting reaction mixtures between MM and those enzyme preparations showed a highly significant increase in their hypocotyl length with respect to plantlets exposed to MM alone. It was thus demonstrated the ability that complex enzyme fractions present in A. blazei SMC have to degrade MM during the right incubation time to compounds with no or lower phytotoxicity than this herbicide.     

一种启动子克隆的改良Adaptor-PCR方法及在橡胶树上的应用实例

真核生物通过顺式作用元件和反式作用因子相互作用实现基因的转录调控,而启动子区域含有多种顺式元件,作为基因表达调控网络的枢纽控制着基因转录的起始与效率,一直是基因表达调控研究的重点[1]。本文提供了一种改良的基于Adaptor-PCR启动子克隆方法,改进了接头序列,设计了适合两步法PCR的接头引物。选取了25种限制性内切酶对橡胶树基因组DNA进行酶切,在所有酶切产物都平端化后,与改进的接头连接,成功构建了以Adaptor-PCR为基础的橡胶树基因启动子克隆文库,并利用此文库成功克隆了橡胶树6个蔗糖转运蛋白基因、1个转化酶基因和1个海藻糖合酶基因的启动子。本文研究结果为橡胶树基因启动子克隆提供了一个高效平台,也为其他生物基因启动子克隆提供了有益的参考。     

DNA barcoding Neotropical fishes: recent advances from the Pampa Plain,Argentina

The fish fauna of the Pampa Plain, the southernmost distribution range of many Neotropical species, was barcoded in this study. COI sequences were analysed by means of distance (K2P/NJ) and character‐based (ML) models, as well as the Barcode Index Number (BIN). K2P/NJ analysis was able to discriminate among all previously identified species while also revealing the likely occurrence of two cryptic species that were further supported by BIN and ML analyses. On the other hand, both BIN and ML were not able to discriminate between two species of Rineloricaria. Despite the small genetic divergence between A. cf. pampa and A. eigenmanniorum, a tight array of haplotypes was observed for each species in both the distance and character‐based methods. Deep intraspecific divergences were detected in Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (5%) and Salminus brasiliensis (6%). For Salminus brasiliensis, these findings were further supported by character‐based (ML) evidence and meristic and morphological data. Our results also showed that Pampa Plain representatives of Salminus brasiliensis, Rhamdia quelen, Hoplias malabaricus, Synbranchus marmoratus, Australoheros facetus, Oligosarcus jenynsii and Corydoras paleatus differed by more than 3% from their conspecifics from other parts of South America. Overall, this study was able to highlight the likely occurrence of a cryptic species in Salminus brasiliensis and also illustrate the strong geographical structure in the COI sequence composition of seven fish species from South America.