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Friction ridges are important and unique biometric features that have been studied in fingerprint science since antiquity and used for human identification. This study aimed to analyze palmprints and soleprints of Callithrix penicillata, including the description of flexion creases, regions, minutiae classification, and delta counting, in order to evaluate the uniqueness of these data and feasibility of using this information as an identification method. Palmprints and footprints were collected using commercial fingerprint ink on A4 size paper. Following image digitalization using the GIMP (2.10.14) image editing program, regions and flexion creases were identified. A total of 600 minutiae were classified in females (288 palms and 312 soles) and 732 in males (360 palms and 372 soles), and all deltas were counted. It was possible to identify three main inconstant flexion creases, in both palmprints and soleprints, with different distribution and orientation when compared to those in humans. Less variety in the types of minutiae and differences in the distribution of deltas were found when compared to human studies. In addition, the hypothesis of non-coincident characteristics in each sample was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out a literature review to investigate the taxonomic and functional β diversity of zooplankton and its species replacement (βrepl) and richness difference (βrich) components in Brazilian rivers. In addition, the taxonomic (LCBD-t) and functional ecological uniqueness (LCBD-f) were also measured. We tested the following hypotheses: (i) The βrepl component is the main driver of taxonomic β diversity, while βrich is most important for functional β diversity, due to functional simplification; (ii) Sites with lower taxonomic and functional richness are the ones that most contribute to LCBD. Contrary to expectations, βrich drove the taxonomic and functional β diversity. This may have occurred due to environmental constraints and geographic distance, thus causing a loss or gain of species and traits between hydrographic regions. For just two regions, the sites with the lowest functional richness were the ones that most contributed to LCBD-f. This reinforces that sites with lower richness can support species that perform unique functions in the ecosystem. As studies involving zooplankton from lotic systems are still limited in Brazil, we suggest that future research should consider the patterns of β diversity in these dynamic, diverse, and threatened aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution patterns in the Brazilian Marine Province (BMP) are extensively debated, nevertheless no study used a multi-taxa approach to investigate possible biotic distinctions and the role of environmental factors in determining biogeographical patterns in this province. Here, we compiled the largest distributional multi-taxa dataset in the southern Atlantic (2412 reef species) to address the following: (1) similarities among areas accounting for species composition and environmental characteristics; (2) the absolute species richness of nine taxonomic groups among geographical bins; and (3) how species biogeographical patterns are explained by the environmental similarities. We hypothesized sub-provinces' limits will be strongly correlated to environmental delimitations, being sea surface temperature a central component influencing biotic subdivision on the BMP. We found eight different geographical bins considering the environmental factors, while five considering species distributions. We also observed a latitudinal gradient of species richness for most taxa, some presenting a "mid-domain" shape pattern. Beta diversity among sub-provinces was low, and the nestedness component more important, indicating high connectivity along the BMP. Using a db-RDA, we demonstrated that environmental variables explained 64% of species clustering patterns, with sea surface temperature, water turbidity and current velocity explaining the biotic clustering of the Brazilian northeastern coast. Sub-provinces North and Abrolhos Bank were the most distinct areas regarding environmental and biotic data. Our study highlights the importance of using a multi-taxa approach to understand the relationship between biogeographical patterns, as well as its response to environmental and historical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the obvious negative effects caused by invasive species, some recent studies have shown that the impacts at local scale are diverse and not necessarily negative. Arborescent benthic organisms such as octocorals form three-dimensional structures capable of increasing the amount of substrate available and providing shelter for epibiont species. We investigated the role of the alien octocoral Carijoa riisei on the diversity of benthic communities in three shipwrecks on the north-eastern coast of Brazil. We expected that (a) the fauna associated with the octocoral are richer and more diverse compared to the adjacent; (b) some species are exclusively associated with C. riisei; (c) the species that are present both in the areas with and without C. riisei have a greater abundance when associated with the octocoral. For this, we compared the macrobenthic communities associated with C. riisei to those found in adjacent areas where the octocoral was absent. Our study showed that the communities associated with the octocoral were 1.5 times richer and 10 times more abundant than adjacent communities, with 29 exclusive taxa. The dominant taxa were the amphipods Ericthonius brasiliensis and Podocerus brasiliensis and polychaetes of the family Syllidae. These taxa were present in areas with presence and absence of C. riisei, but their abundance was significantly greater where the octocoral was present. Our results reinforce the idea that Carijoa riisei acts as an ecosystem engineer in coastal reefs, creating new habitats and increasing diversity at a local scale, even though it is an alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last five years, two colossal environmental disasters involving iron-enriched mine tailings have occurred in Brazil, affecting many aquatic ecosystems over the short, medium and long-terms. This study investigated whether these iron-enriched mine tailings affect the main biotic strategy to restore zooplankton populations affected by severe stress, i.e., hatching of dormant stages. A 30 day hatching experiment was conducted, using a resting egg bank from a natural lake, exposed to 3 concentrations of mine tailings: control (0 g), T25 (25 g) and T50 (50 g). A total of 22, 15 and 16 species hatched in the control, T25 and T50, respectively. Conochilus sp., Filinia terminalis, Hexartha mira, Bosmina longirostris and Ceriodaphnia silvestrii hatched only in the control, which suggests that these species are sensitive to any concentration of mine tailings. A gradual decrease in richness and hatchling abundance was recorded, from the control (8.0 ± 1.0 SE species and 1597 ± 73.9 hatchlings) to T25 (4.6 ± 1.2 species and 1279 ± 136.5 hatchlings) and then to T50 (2.3 ± 1.2 species and 603.3 ± 61.9 hatchlings). Our results suggest that exposure of zooplankton resting eggs to iron-enriched mine tailings may negatively impact these egg banks in natural ecosystems, with potential impacts on the restoration of zooplankton communities after even short-term exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore spatial patterns of shallow-water sea anemones in the Southwest Atlantic (SWA). The following hypotheses were tested: (1) the distribution of sea anemones (Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) corroborates SWA biogeographic provinces, (2) their distribution presents a richness peak at mid-latitudes, and (3) temperature is the main abiotic driver that structures their species composition. Occurrences/registries were obtained mainly from published sources. We adopted Sørensen dissimilarity and cluster analyses to compare fauna compositions. To verify latitudinal richness patterns, we used a Hill’s numbers approach through rarefaction and extrapolation techniques. Partial redundancy analysis was performed to identify which drivers contribute more to the distribution. The sea anemone faunas are congruent with the following SWA provinces: Brazilian province (BP, 0 to 33° S), Argentinian province (36 to 43° S), and Patagonian province (43 to 56° S), and all differ from the Caribbean province (CP). Although there is a high similarity among the BP and the CP, they form significant clusters with well-supported endemism levels (> 19%). An elevated richness was found at 19–23° S, in the BP southeast (34 spp. and 13% of endemism), supporting an SWA biodiversity center. Temperature explained 64% of the distribution, and the Amazonas-Orinoco and La Plata estuaries act as soft barriers. The sea anemone distribution can be explained by features of the local current systems, combined with isolation through barriers and different ecological tolerances. Furthermore, the patterns reported herein (unprecedented for the group) are similar to those of other marine taxa. A transition zone between tropical and subtropical waters indicates diversity and species accumulation in the SWA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to endow the cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) S413-PV with adequate features towards a safe and effective application in cancer gene therapy. Methods: Peptide/siRNA complexes were prepared with two new derivatives of the CPP S413-PV, which combine a lauroyl group attached to the N- or C-terminus with a histidine-enrichment in the N-terminus of the S413-PV peptide, being named C12-H5-S413-PV and H5-S413-PV-C12, respectively. Physicochemical characterization of siRNA complexes was performed and their cytotoxicity and efficiency to mediate siRNA delivery and gene silencing in cancer cells were assessed in the absence and presence of serum. Results: Peptide/siRNA complexes prepared with the C12-H5-S413-PV derivative showed a nanoscale (ca. 100 nm) particle size, as revealed by TEM, and efficiently mediated gene silencing (37%) in human U87 glioblastoma cells in the presence of 30% serum. In addition, the new C12-H5-S413-PV-based siRNA delivery system efficiently downregulated stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, a key-enzyme of lipid metabolism overexpressed in cancer, which resulted in a significant decrease in the viability of U87 cells. Importantly, these complexes were able to spare healthy human astrocytes. Conclusions: These encouraging results pave the way for a potential application of the C12-H5-S413-PV peptide as a promising tool in cancer gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft corals show a wide variety of reproductive strategies, including both asexual and sexual reproduction which can influence macro-evolutionary processes. The octocoral Carijoa riisei has an ample geographical distribution in Pacific and southern Atlantic and also in Caribbean region. This species was considered invasive in Hawaii, and its capacity for rapid proliferation is recognized, but recent studies, however, have indicated that it appears to be native to the Indo-Pacific region. The present study examined the reproductive biology of C. riisei in the Atlantic basin. The results were then compared to previous studies of the same species from the Pacific (Hawaii) and Caribbean (Puerto Rico) regions to examine the hypothesis that the reproductive patterns of C. riisei populations are the same throughout its geographical distribution, independent of its native or non-native status. Samples were collected on a monthly basis from May/2007 to April/2008 at Porto de Galinhas (Pernambuco State, Brazil). This species was found to have similar reproduction patterns in Brazil, the Caribbean, and in Hawaii (a gonochoric reproductive pattern and continuous and asynchronous gamete release). The similarities of their traits contribute to its rapid proliferation and occupation of spaces left by other species, independent of its native or non-native status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Babesia bigemina is a protozoan parasite that causes babesiosis, a disease with a world-wide distribution in mammals, principally affecting cattle and man. The unveiling of the genome of B. bigemina is a project in active progress that has already revealed a number of new targets with potential interest for the design of anti-babesiosis drugs. In this context, babesipain-1 has been identified as a proteolytically active enzyme whose three-dimensional structure has not been resolved yet, but which is known to be inhibited by cysteine proteases inhibitors such as E64, ALLN, leupeptin, and vinyl sulfones. In this work, we introduce (1) a homology model of babesipain-1; (2) a comparison between babesipain-1 and falcipain-2, a cysteine protease of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum; (3) in vitro data for babesipain-1 inhibition by HEDICINs and HECINs, previously reported as modest inhibitors of falcipain-2; and (4) the docked binding conformations of HEDICINs and HECINs in the model of babesipain-1. HEDICINs presented similar preferred binding conformations for both babesipain-1 and falcipain-2. However, in vitro bioassay shows that HEDICINs and HECINs are better inhibitors of babesipain-1 than of falcipain-2, which could be explained by observed differences between the active pockets of these proteins in silico. Results presented herein provide a valuable contribution to future computer-aided molecular design of new babesipain-1 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., are very significant in agriculture because they can be found almost everywhere and have a wide host range. In summer 2009, two soil samples from maize and kiwi crops, from the area of Kavalla in North Greece, were analyzed for the presence of nematodes. RKN were detected in both samples and identified as M. ethiopica on the basis of biochemical (esterases) and sequence data (18S rDNA). Meloidogyne ethiopica poses a significant threat to farmers in Greece and the establishment and spread of this species has to be controlled. This is the first report of M. ethiopica in Greece and the second report of this species for Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) based on three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies were conducted on a series (39 molecules) of peptidyl vinyl sulfone derivatives as potential Plasmodium Falciparum cysteine proteases inhibitors. Two different methods of alignment were employed: (i) a receptor-docked alignment derived from the structure-based docking algorithm GOLD and (ii) a ligand-based alignment using the structure of one of the ligands derived from a crystal structure from the PDB databank. The best predictions were obtained for the receptor-docked alignment with a CoMFA standard model ( q = 0.696 and r = 0.980) and with CoMSIA combined electrostatic, and hydrophobic fields ( q = 0.711 and r = 0.992). Both models were validated by a test set of nine compounds and gave satisfactory predictive r values of 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. CoMFA and CoMSIA contour maps were used to identify critical regions where any change in the steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic fields may affect the inhibitory activity, and to highlight the key structural features required for biological activity. Moreover, the results obtained from 3D-QSAR analyses were superimposed on the Plasmodium Falciparum cysteine proteases active site and the main interactions were studied. The present work provides extremely useful guidelines for future structural modifications of this class of compounds towards the development of superior antimalarials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early detection of primary melanoma tumors is essential because there is no effective treatment for metastatic melanoma. Several linear and cyclic radiolabeled α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analogs have been proposed to target the melanocortin type 1 receptor (MC1R) overexpressed in melanoma. The compact structure of a rhenium-cyclized α-MSH analog (Re-CCMSH) significantly enhanced its in vivo tumor uptake and retention. Melanotan II (MT-II), a cyclic lactam analog of α-MSH (Ac-Nle- cyclo[Asp-His- dPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2]), is a very potent and stable agonist peptide largely used in the characterization of melanocortin receptors. Taking advantage of the superior biological features associated with the MT-II cyclic peptide, we assessed the effect of lactam-based cyclization on the tumor-seeking properties of α-MSH analogs by comparing the pharmacokinetics profile of the 99mTc-labeled cyclic peptide βAla-Nle- cyclo[Asp-His- d-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2 with that of the linear analog βAla-Nle-Asp-His- dPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys-NH2 in melanoma-bearing mice. We have synthesized and coupled the linear and cyclic peptides to a bifunctional chelator containing a pyrazolyl-diamine backbone (pz) through the amino group of βAla, and the resulting pz–peptide conjugates were reacted with the fac-[99mTc(CO)3]+ moiety. The 99mTc(CO)3-labeled conjugates were obtained in high yield, high specific activity, and high radiochemical purity. The cyclic 99mTc(CO)3-labeled conjugate presents a remarkable internalization (87.1% of receptor-bound tracer and 50.5% of total applied activity, after 6 h at 37 °C) and cellular retention (only 24.7% released from the cells after 5 h) in murine melanoma B16F1 cells. A significant tumor uptake and retention was obtained in melanoma-bearing C57BL6 mice for the cyclic radioconjugate [9.26 ± 0.83 and 11.31 ± 1.83% ID/g at 1 and 4 h after injection, respectively]. The linear 99mTc(CO)3-pz–peptide presented lower values for both cellular internalization and tumor uptake. Receptor blocking studies with the potent (Nle4, dPhe7)-αMSH agonist demonstrated the specificity of the radioconjugates to MC1R (74.8 and 44.5% reduction of tumor uptake at 4 h after injection for cyclic and linear radioconjugates, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we approach the end of the antibiotic era, newer therapeutic options, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are in urgent demand. AMP surface grafting onto biomaterials has been described as a good strategy to overcome problems associated with their in vivo stability. Helicobacter pylori is among the bacteria that pose greatest threat to human health, being MSI-78A one of the few bactericidal AMPs against this bacterium. Here, we report that MSI-78A grafted onto model surfaces (Self-Assembled Monolayers –SAMs), in a concentration of 30.3 ± 1.2 ng/cm2 determined by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), was able to kill, by contact, 98% of planktonic H. pylori in only 2 h. This fact was not verified against the control bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis), although the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MSI-78A in solution is much lower for S. epidermidis (2 μg/mL) than for H. pylori (64 μg/mL). Our results also demonstrated that, in opposite to other bacteria, H. pylori cells were attracted to ethylene glycol terminated (antiadhesive) surfaces, which can explain the high bactericidal potential of grafted MSI-78A. This proof of concept study establishes the foundations for development of MSI-78A grafted nanoparticles for gastric infection management within a targeted nanomedicine concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]