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Usnic acid is a secondary metabolitefound in several species oflichens, organisms resulting from the symbiosis between fungi andalgae. This compound has been extensively studied because of its pharmacologicalproperties. Despite its potential medicinal importance, it exhibitsa high degree of toxicity. The confinement of the usnic acid withinliposomes has been investigated as a possibility to reduce its toxicity.In this work, we characterize the interaction of usnic acid in itsneutral and anionic states (usniate) with DPPC and DOPC by means ofmolecular dynamics simulations. A lamellar to nonlamellar transitionis observed for both membranes upon contact with usniate within 100ns time scale. The transition suggests the formation of a liposome-likestructure encapsulating the metabolyte. Furthermore, such processoccurs at a significantly shorter time frame for DOPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of damages caused by Heilipodus naevulus Mann. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to the development of eucalyptus young plantation, and to record, for the first time, the occurrence on Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The critical period of occurrence was observed between October to December according with rain regime. The damages caused by the pest reduced the development and quality of eucalyptus trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to record, for the first time, the damage caused by a pruner beetle on hybrid eucalypts cloned trees (Eucalyptus urophylla vs. E. grandis), located in Bahia and Espírito Santo States, Brazil. The specie was determined as Chalcodermus bicolor Fiedler, 1936 (Curculionidae: Molytinae). The female prunes the tree shoot and lays a single egg inside a small hole, just below the incision point. Eucalypt is the first host recorded to this pruner beetle specie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]