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INTRODUCTION AND AIM Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is known to be capable of causing chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa that slowly progresses through the premalignant stages, reaching localized gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Its outcome is closely related to the stage at which diagnosis is made. The aim of the present study was to determine cost-benefit by comparing esophagogastroduodenoscopy, serum pepsinogen detection, and no screening at all. MATERIAL AND METHODS Utilizing Markov chains and Monte Carlo simulation, the costs and effects of various detection modalities were simulated to analyze the cost-benefit of each strategy. For our population, we used the published data of patients with gastric cancer, applicable to the Mexican population. RESULTS The results were reported as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. The best strategy was serum pepsinogen determination, followed by the strategy of endoscopic examination with continued monitoring every 3 years. CONCLUSIONS The performance of serum pepsinogen serology and directed endoscopic examination (and continued monitoring, if necessary) for GAC screening could be a cost-effective intervention in Mexico, despite the low-to-moderate general prevalence of the disease.

Simple Summary Mesenchymal conversion occurring in malignant epithelial neoplasms is undesirable in tumors since it promotes more aggressive tumor behavior. This phenomenon is not exclusive to head and neck carcinomas, and it is likely to be found in most neoplasms, as carcinomas are frequently aggressive. Mesenchymal conversion depends on different molecular interactions, signaling pathways, and tumor microenvironments that are related to the activation of several growth factors and diverse matrix metalloproteinases that promote ideal environments for the progression of tumor cells that are primarily associated with metastasis. This manuscript aims to review the interactions of the main molecules related to EMT. Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are aggressive, recurrent, and metastatic neoplasms with a high occurrence around the world and can lead to death when not treated appropriately. Several molecules and signaling pathways are involved in the malignant conversion process. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been described in HNSCCs, a major type of aggressive carcinoma. EMT describes the development of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells, which depends on several molecular interactions and signaling pathways that facilitate mesenchymal conversion. This is related to interactions with the microenvironment of the tumor, hypoxia, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, and the presence of viral infections. In this review, we focus on the main molecules related to EMT, their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, plasticity phenomena, epigenetic regulation, hypoxia, inflammation, their relationship with immune cells, and the inhibition of EMT in the context of HNSCCs.

This study examines the impact of the body mass index (BMI) at calving on the development and postpartum efficiency of cows of Zebu origin. The study involved 87 cows and their calves [pure Nellore (N) or predominant Nellore composition in a cross with Charolais (C) (3/4N1/4C and 5/8N3/8C)]. The mothers were grouped into classes according to their BMI at calving, namely, ‘small’, ‘moderate’ and ‘large’. Body mass index was determined by dividing the body weight of the cows by their length and by hip height and then dividing the result by 10. Cows were weighed at calving, at weaning, at the end of the breeding period and at the diagnosis of pregnancy. Calves were weighed at birth, at early weaning (63 days) and at 210 of age. To evaluate milk yield and quality, milk was collected at 21, 42 and 63 days after calving. Milk yield was measured by the direct method, with manual milking, followed by analysis of the lactose, fat, total solids and crude protein contents. Pregnancy rate was similar between the three BMI groups; however, cows with a lower BMI were more efficient at calving in producing kilograms of calf per kilogram of cow kept. Higher BMI provide higher milk yields, without affecting its quality, as well as heavier calves at early weaning and at 210 days of age.

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) synthesis using microalgae is a promising low-cost sustainable alternative. High CO2 tolerant microalgae have not yet been explored for this application. This study pretends to determine the potential of an environmental green algae Desmodesmus abundans acclimated to low and high CO2 (LCA and HCA strains, respectively) as a platform for AgNPs synthesis and evaluate the effect of pH (5, 7.5, 11) and biological component (cells, supernatant and both components) in comparison to a collection strain Spirulina platensis. Exponential grown cultures were centrifuged, the pellet resuspended in 10 mM AgNO3 prepared in water or supernatant at different pH and incubated for 40 h (24 °C, continuous light). After, the filtrated solution was characterized using UV–visible absorption spectra, Zetasizer and scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results showed drastic differences between strains. No nanoparticles were observed with strain LCA, except at pH 11 using the pellet, which generated large particles (127.8 ± 14.8 nm diameter, −26.7 ± 2.4 mV zeta potential). In contrast, the HCA strain in these conditions showed the smallest AgNPs with the lowest zeta potential (14.9 ± 6.4 nm, −32.7 ± 5.3 mV). When the supernatant was conserved, HCA exhibited AgNPs in all pH solutions, with smallest sizes at pH 11 (27.7 ± 14.0 nm, −20.0 ± 1.8 mV). In addition, the HCA supernatant alone showed reducing potential for AgNP synthesis (51.8 ± 20.7 nm, −17.4 ± 1.3 mV). S. platensis also generated AgNPs in all conditions, but nanoscale particles were observed only at pH 11 (18.3 ± 7.5 nm, −33.9 ± 2.4 mV). In conclusion, high CO2 atmospheres seem to potentiate AgNPs synthesis by microalgae with interesting properties accordingly to biological component employed, representing a potential byproduct in CO2 mitigation systems.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) can be a high-demand crop for the production of biodiesel, an alternative biofuel similar to conventional diesel. The objective of the work has been to optimize the method of obtaining biodiesel from a “green technology” process, directly splitting the seeds of three macerated castor varieties, without prior extraction of the oil with n-hexane as is traditional. Also using low-cost heterogeneous basic catalysts, friendly to the environment. It has been shown that it is feasible to obtain biodiesel as an eco-fuel from castor beans directly, without prior oil extraction with the consequent saving of n-hexane solvent and the non-use of sodium hydroxide. It is feasible to substitute methanol for ethanol (less toxic and cheaper), and as a novel aspect, the use of BaCO3 as a heterogeneous catalyst, not reported in any reference of those consulted. Yield percentages ranging between 31% and 45% were obtained, comparable to those obtained from previous oil extractions. It was concluded that of the three varieties of castor bean evaluated, the variety HG-A-1 (collected in Atotonilco el Grande, Municipality of the State of Hidalgo) classified as IBEA type, is the one that presents the best results. Keywords: Barium carbonate, Castor oil, Eco-fuel, Ethanol, Seed.

Background W1282X-CFTR variant (c.3846G>A) is the second most common nonsense cystic fibrosis (CF)-causing mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Even though remarkable breakthroughs have been done towards CF treatment with the approval of four CFTR protein modulators, none of these are approved for patients with nonsense mutations. CRISPR gene editing tools can be of great value to permanently correct the genetic defects caused by these mutations. Methods We compared the capacity of homology-directed repair (HDR) mediated by Cas9 or Cas12a to correct W1282X CFTR mutation in the CFF-16HBEge W1282X CFTR cell line (obtained from CFF), using Cas9/gRNA and Cas12a/gRNA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and single strand DNA (ssODN) oligonucleotide donors. Results Cas9 shows higher levels of correction than Cas12a as, by electroporating cells with Cas9 RNPs and ssODN donor, nearly 18% of precise editing was achieved compared to just 8% for Cas12a. Such levels of correction increase the abundance of CFTR mRNA and protein, and partially restore CFTR function in the pool of edited cells to 18% of WT CFTR function. Moreover, homozygous corrected clones produced levels of mRNA, protein, and function comparable to those of cells expressing WT CFTR. Conclusion Altogether, this work demonstrates the potential of gene editing as a therapeutic strategy for CF directly correcting the root cause of the disease.

Impedance spectroscopy is a technique used to characterize electrochemical systems, increasing its applicability as well to monitor cell cultures. During their growth, Bacillus species have different phases which involve the production and consumption of different metabolites, culminating in the cell differentiation process that allows the generation of bacterial spores. In order to use impedance spectroscopy as a tool to monitor industrial interest Bacillus cultures, we conducted batch fermentations of Bacillus species such as B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. licheniformis coupled with this technique. Each fermentation was characterized by the scanning of 50 frequencies between 0.5 and 5 MHz every 30 min. Pearson’s correlation between impedance and phase angle profiles (obtained from each frequency scanned) with the kinetic profiles of each strain allowed the selection of fixed frequencies of 0.5, 1.143, and 1.878 MHz to follow-up of the fermentations of B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis, respectively. Dielectric profiles of impedance, phase angle, reactance, and resistance obtained at the fixed frequency showed consistent changes with exponential, transition, and spore release phases.

The main objective of this study is investigate how tDCS promotes biochemical and cellular modulation post-stroke.

Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) is one of the most clinically challenging cerebrovascular diseases, mainly due to its high incidence in the world population and the complex multifactorial etiology involved in its pathological process. The risk factors involved are classified as extrinsic and intrinsic, for example hormonal contraceptives are classified as extrinsic risk factors. Several studies verify the neuroprotective capacity of female gonadal hormones, making these hormones important objects of study for possible therapeutic targets. We are going to develop a systematic review to understand the different effects of the use of female gonadal hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in the face of stroke.

Parasitoids of three mealybug pests (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Pseudococcus sociabilis Hambleton, and Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) have been identified for the first time in Brazil. Mealybugs were collected in fruit-growing areas along southern Brazil during 2013-2016. An integrative approach, combining morphological and molecular methods, was used to identify the Brazilian parasitoids to the species level. Fifteen species were recorded, including 14 primary parasitoids belonging to Encyrtidae and Platygastridae and a single secondary parasitoid species belonging to Signiphoridae. The encyrtid parasitoids Acerophagus flavidulus (Brethes), Anagyrus calyxtoi Noyes and Zaplatycerus sp., and the signiphorid secondary parasitoid Chartocerus axillaris De Santis are reported for the first time in Brazil., Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Vegetal

The family of PIM serine/threonine kinases includes three highly conserved oncogenes, PIM1, PIM2, and PIM3, which regulate multiple prosurvival pathways and cooperate with other oncogenes such as MYC. Recent genomic CRISPR-Cas9 screens further highlighted oncogenic functions of PIMs in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells, justifying the development of small-molecule PIM inhibitors and therapeutic targeting of PIM kinases in lymphomas. However, detailed consequences of PIM inhibition in DLBCL remain undefined. Using chemical and genetic PIM blockade, we comprehensively characterized PIM kinase–associated prosurvival functions in DLBCL and the mechanisms of PIM inhibition–induced toxicity. Treatment of DLBCL cells with SEL24/MEN1703, a pan-PIM inhibitor in clinical development, decreased BAD phosphorylation and cap-dependent protein translation, reduced MCL1 expression, and induced apoptosis. PIM kinases were tightly coexpressed with MYC in diagnostic DLBCL biopsies, and PIM inhibition in cell lines and patient-derived primary lymphoma cells decreased MYC levels as well as expression of multiple MYC-dependent genes, including PLK1. Chemical and genetic PIM inhibition upregulated surface CD20 levels in an MYC-dependent fashion. Consistently, MEN1703 and other clinically available pan-PIM inhibitors synergized with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in vitro, increasing complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-mediated phagocytosis. Combined treatment with PIM inhibitor and rituximab suppressed tumor growth in lymphoma xenografts more efficiently than either drug alone. Taken together, these results show that targeting PIM in DLBCL exhibits pleiotropic effects that combine direct cytotoxicity with potentiated susceptibility to anti-CD20 antibodies, justifying further clinical development of such combinatorial strategies. Significance: These findings demonstrate that inhibition of PIM induces DLBCL cell death via MYC-dependent and -independent mechanisms and enhances the therapeutic response to anti-CD20 antibodies by increasing CD20 expression.

Vascular epiphytes are one of the most important forest components, contributing to microclimatic maintenance. These plants find ideal conditions for development in the Amazon due to the spatial heterogeneity and high temperature and humidity typical of this biome. In recent years, the Brazilian Amazon has undergone dramatic changes in its landscape, mainly due to the increase in deforestation and fire rates. We present here the floristic composition and analyze the community structure of epiphytic angiosperms of an urban forest fragment in Eastern Amazon. A total of 71 epiphytic individuals were recorded belonging to eight species and four families. Orchidaceae was the most representative family, corroborating the pattern for surveys of epiphytic diversity in the Neotropical region. Epiphytic species were found on 24 individuals of 10 tree species. The epiphytic importance value (IVe) was low for all species, except for Aechmea tocantina and Rhipsalis baccifera. Cactaceae was the family with the highest IVe. Most epiphytes were found in the crown of trees (83.1%). The diversity index of the fragment was H’ = 1.80 and the equity index was J= 0.87, reflecting the absence of highly dominant species. Conservation of urban forest fragments is necessary for the maintenance of epiphytic flora and ecosystem services.

Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus) are iconic waterfowl endemic to Alaska and adjacent areas of northeastern Russia that are considered to be near threatened by the International Union for Conservation. This species has been identified as harboring diverse viruses and parasites which have, at times, been associated with disease in other avian taxa. To better assess if disease represents a vulnerability for Emperor Geese breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, we evaluated if haemosporidian parasites were associated with decreased mass or survival among adult female nesting birds captured during 2006–2016. Through molecular analyses, we detected genetically diverse Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium parasites in 28%, 1%, and 1% of 607 blood samples screened in triplicate, respectively. Using regression analysis, we found evidence for a small effect of Leucocytozoon infection on the mass of incubating adult female Emperor Geese. The estimated mass of infected individuals was approximately 43 g (95% CI: 20–67 g), or approximately 2%, less than uninfected birds when captured during the second half of incubation (days 11–25). We did not, however, find support for an effect of Leucocytozoon infection on survival of adult female nesting Emperor Geese using a multi-state hidden Markov framework to analyze mark-resight and recapture data. Using parasite mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences, we identified 23 haplotypes among infected Emperor Geese. Leucocytozoon haplotypes clustered into three phylogenetically supported clades designated as ‘L. simondi clade A’, ‘L. simondi clade B’, and ‘other Leucocytozoon’. We did not find evidence that parasites assigned to any of these clades were associated with differential mass measures among nesting adult female Emperor Geese. Collectively, our results provide negligible evidence for Leucocytozoon parasites as causing detrimental effects to adult female Emperor Geese breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

This study evaluated species richness and rickettsial infection in ticks infesting non-volant small mammals in a preserved area of the Cerrado biome, located in the region of the Araguaia Valley, M...

Introduction: Giardia duodenalis, a unicellular, eukaryotic, and flagellated protozoan, presents two evolutionary forms in its life cycle, namely, trophozoites and cysts. It causes diarrhea in humans, dogs, cats, rodents, and ungulates. Despite being morphologically similar, the isolates of G. duodenalis are genetically diverse, affecting the stability and unanimity of taxonomic classification. Since different Giardia assemblages may occur within one isolate, multilocus genotyping is recommended for the genetic identification. Methodology: To determine the frequency of G. duodenalis infections in domiciled dogs in Cuiabá Municipality (State of Mato Grosso, Midwestern Brazil) and characterize its genetic variability, fecal samples were collected from 147 dogs. Results: Overall, 6.8% (10/147) of the samples presented cysts of G. duodenalis, which sequencing and genotypic characterization using tpi and gluD revealed assemblages C and A, genetic grouping of G. duodenalis. Only three samples amplified by tpi and one sample amplified by gluD. Conclusions: The risk factors age, gender, breed, diet and the presence of other dogs in the same house were not correlationated with giardiasis. The host-specific and zoonotic genotype warns of the risk of inter and intraspecies transmission and it provides, for the first time, information about genetic characterization of G. duodenalis isolates in dogs in Cuiabá, Midwest region of Brazil.

The steady demand for fish in the aquaculture sector has led to the study and implementation of new compounds of natural origin which seek to standardize and maximize production by ensuring reproductive performance. Microalgae have emerged as a renewable source with specific nutritive qualities that allows the enhancement of captive breeding, and the use of local strain aims to facilitate cultivation and reduce production costs. Therefore, in this study, the effect of a diet supplemented with a diatom of the genus Grammatophora obtained from La Paz Bay, Mexico, was evaluated on the reproductive performance of 5-year-old Pacific Red snapper (Lutjanus peru). Two isoproteic and isolipidic diets were compared: the control semi-humid diet (R0) and the experimental enriched diet with 3% of Grammatophora sp. silage made by fermentation (R1). Fishes were fed ad libitum 3 months previous to the spawning season during 7 months. Hatching rate was significantly (P

Severe malarial anemia (SMA) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum transmission regions. To gain enhanced understanding of predisposing factors for SMA, we explored the relationship between complement component 3 (C3) missense mutations [rs2230199 (2307C>G, Arg>Gly102) and rs11569534 (34420G>A, Gly>Asp1224)], malaria, and SMA in a cohort of children (n = 1617 children) over 36 months of follow-up. Variants were selected based on their ability to impart amino acid substitutions that can alter the structure and function of C3. The 2307C>G mutation results in a basic to a polar residue change (Arg to Gly) at position 102 (β-chain) in the macroglobulin-1 (MG1) domain, while 34420G>A elicits a polar to acidic residue change (Gly to Asp) at position 1224 (α-chain) in the thioester-containing domain. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, longitudinal analyses revealed that inheritance of the homozygous mutant (GG) at 2307 enhanced the risk of SMA (RR = 2.142, 95%CI: 1.229–3.735, P = 0.007). The haplotype containing both wild-type alleles (CG) decreased the incident risk ratio of both malaria (RR = 0.897, 95%CI: 0.828–0.972, P = 0.008) and SMA (RR = 0.617, 95%CI: 0.448–0.848, P = 0.003). Malaria incident risk ratio was also reduced in carriers of the GG (Gly102Gly1224) haplotype (RR = 0.941, 95%CI: 0.888–0.997, P = 0.040). Collectively, inheritance of the missense mutations in MG1 and thioester-containing domain influence the longitudinal risk of malaria and SMA in children exposed to intense Plasmodium falciparum transmission.

The debate on the use of cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes is constantly on the rise. This overview aimed to map the evidence on the therapeutic effects of cannabis derivatives and their synthetic analogs. Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomized trials were identified through a comprehensive search in several databases, and their methodological quality were evaluated with AMSTAR-2. The results for main outcomes are presented, prioritizing those from updated and better quality SRs. Finally, 68 SRs, addressing 37 different health conditions, were included. The methodological quality was high for eight SRs. The evidence certainty (GRADE) for the effects of cannabinoids is not high for any of the outcomes identified. Evidence certainty was moderate for the following: (a) cannabidiol appears to be beneficial for quality of life but increases the risk of adverse events in ulcerative colitis; (b) cannabinoids in general appear to have no clinically important benefit for chronic non-oncologic pain, spasticity-related pain in multiple sclerosis, or for acute post-operative pain; (c) cannabinoids in general appear to have a benefit in reducing chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. For all other outcomes from remaining comparisons, the evidence certainty was low, very low, or not evaluated, which prevents recommendations for or against their routine use.

Resumen La calidad fisiológica de la semilla garantiza óptimos rendimientos de cultivo. En el de Posgrado de Agronomía de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), estado Lara, Venezuela, se estudiaron los factores que inciden en la calidad de semillas de Allium cepa L. En el estudio se evaluaron la calidad fisiológica, microbiota con potencial fitopatógeno y metabolitos secundarios en cuatro materiales comerciales de semillas de cebolla (Allium cepa L.): Texas 438 identificados como TX1 y TX2, y Yellow Granex YG1 y YG2. Para las pruebas de vigor se realizó el conteo de germinación, porcentaje de emergencia (PE), velocidad de emergencia (VE), índice de velocidad de emergencia (IVE), además de una prueba de viabilidad con tetrazolio (Tz). La microbiota fue determinada por incubación en medio de cultivo para hongos y bacterias y los metabolitos secundarios fueron determinados por cromatografía de capa fina. Para las evaluaciones de germinación, emergencia e identificación de patógenos se dispusieron cuatro repeticiones de 100 semillas cada una. Los resultados mostraron que el porcentaje de germinación de los materiales evaluados estaba por debajo de los estándares internacionales (80%), la germinación fue afectada por las condiciones de almacenamiento que influyeron en la de viabilidad de las semillas, lo cual se reflejó en el estado fitosanitario con presencia de Aspergillus sp., A. niger, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillum y algunas bacterias. Los metabolitos secundarios presentes (fenoles y flavonoides) desempeñaron un papel fundamental en la defensa contra la microbiota presente, encontrando valores altos de los mismos en las semillas con menor cantidad de patógenos. Abstract The physiological quality of the seed guarantees optimal crop yields. At the Graduate School of Agronomy of the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Lara state, Venezuela, factors that influence the quality of Allium cepa L seeds were studied. In the study, the physiological quality, microbiota with pathogenic potential and secondary metabolites in four commercial onion seed materials (Allium cepa L.): Texas 438 identified as TX1 and TX2, and Yellow Granex YG1 and YG2. For the vigor tests, the germination count, emergence percentage (PE), emergence speed (VE), emergence speed index (IVE) was performed, as well as a viability test with tetrazolium (Tz). The microbiota was determined by incubation in culture medium for fungi and bacteria and secondary metabolites were determined by thin layer chromatography. For germination, emergence and pathogen identification evaluations, four replications of 100 seeds each were arranged. The results showed that the germination percentage of the evaluated materials was below international standards (80%), germination was affected by the storage conditions that influenced the viability of the seeds, which was reflected in the phytosanitary state with the presence of Aspergillus sp., A. niger, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Ntucor, Penicillum and some bacteria. The secondary metabolites present (phenols and flavonoids) played a fundamental role in the defense against the microbiota present, finding high values of them in the seeds with fewer pathogens.

Neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Parkinson’s disease, among others, are characterized by the pathological processing and accumulation of tau protein. AD is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by two lesions: neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuritic plaques. The presence of NFTs in the hippocampus and neocortex in early and advanced stages, respectively, correlates with the patient’s cognitive deterioration. So far, no drugs can prevent, decrease, or limit neuronal death due to abnormal pathological tau accumulation. Among potential non-pharmacological treatments, physical exercise has been shown to stimulate the development of stem cells (SCs) and may be useful in early stages. However, this does not prevent neuronal death from the massive accumulation of NFTs. In recent years, SCs therapies have emerged as a promising tool to repopulate areas involved in cognition in neurodegenerative diseases. Unfortunately, protocols for SCs therapy are still being developed and the mechanism of action of such therapy remains unclear. In this review, we show the advances and limitations of SCs therapy. Finally, we provide a critical analysis of its clinical use for AD.

Sarcoptic mange is a disease caused by an infectious parasite in the vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) from South America. Although molecular studies have provided much information about the epidemiology of this disease, this information is still unknown in vicuñas. This study determined the prevalence and molecular characterization of Sarcoptes scabiei from vicuñas from Southern Peruvian Andes. During the 2018 shearing season, 181 vicuñas were clinically evaluated for lesions compatible with mange. Sarcoptes scabiei was detected in 35 (19.3%) vicuñas, and 50 mites from 25 vicuñas were selected for molecular analyses of the mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (ITS2) genetic markers. Molecular analyses of the cox1 and ITS2 sequences showed an identity of 94–99% and 99.8–100% with previous S. scabiei sequences registered in the GenBank, respectively. Sequence polymorphisms were more evident in the ITS2 than in the cox1, but only the cox1 had an association with the host. Phylogenetic analysis of S. scabiei cox1 sequences from vicuñas showed a cluster with S. scabiei cox1 sequences from canids, suggesting that the origin of S. scabiei from vicuña is associated with canid mites. This research is the first molecular analysis of S. scabiei from vicuñas. Future molecular studies will be necessary to determine the species variety, geographic segregation and host–parasite adaptation for this vicuña's mite.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: SIRT5 plays pleiotropic roles via post-translational modifications, serving as a tumor suppressor, or an oncogene, in different tumors. However, the role SIRT5 plays in the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unknown. METHODS: Published datasets and tissue arrays with SIRT5 staining were used to investigate the clinical relevance of SIRT5 in PDAC. Furthermore, to define the role of SIRT5 in the carcinogenesis of PDAC, we generated autochthonous mouse models with conditional Sirt5 knockout. Moreover, to examine the mechanistic role of SIRT5 in PDAC carcinogenesis, SIRT5 was knocked down in PDAC cell lines and organoids, followed by metabolomics and proteomics studies. A novel SIRT5 activator was utilized for therapeutic studies in organoids and patient-derived xenografts. RESULTS: SIRT5 expression negatively regulated tumor cell proliferation and correlated with a favorable prognosis in PDAC patients. Genetic ablation of Sirt5 in PDAC mouse models promoted acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, precursor lesions, and pancreatic tumorigenesis, resulting in poor survival. Mechanistically, SIRT5 loss enhanced glutamine and glutathione metabolism via acetylation-mediated activation of GOT1. A selective SIRT5 activator, MC3138, phenocopied the effects of SIRT5 overexpression and exhibited anti-tumor effects on human PDAC cells. MC3138 also diminished nucleotide pools, sensitizing human PDAC cell lines, organoids, and patient-derived xenografts to gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, we identify SIRT5 as a key tumor suppressor in PDAC, whose loss promotes tumorigenesis through increased non-canonical utilization of glutamine via GOT1, and that SIRT5 activation is a novel therapeutic strategy to target PDAC.

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium rich in proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive compounds, such as C-phycocyanin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and possible lipid and glucose metabolism effects. This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of spirulina on lipid profile, glucose metabolism, and anti-inflammatory markers (CRD42018097156). After systematically searching for randomized controlled trials evaluating spirulina supplementation in adults with obesity, diabetes, or dyslipidemia on Scopus, Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases and assessing the risk of bias (Rob 2.0), a random-effects meta-analysis (Mean Difference, CI 95%) was conducted on seven selected articles (n = 338). We found that spirulina supplementation significantly reduced the triglycerides (TG) (mean difference (MD): −15.34 mg/dL; 95% CI: −29.76 to −0.91) and total cholesterol (TC) levels (MD: −11.83 mg/dL; 95% CI: −20.56 to −3.10). However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (MD: −7.80 mg/dL; 95% CI: −16.94 to 1.33), fasting blood glucose (FBS) (MD: −3.38 mg/dL; 95% CI: −9.88 to 3.12), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (MD: −0.27%; 95% CI: −0.94 to 0.39) levels were not significantly reduced. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL C) (MD: 0.73 mg/dL; 95% CI: −2.49 to 3.94) was also increased but not significantly. Spirulina supplementation resulted in a decrease in TG and TC levels; it improved the lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, overweight, or obesity, showing its significant role as an adjuvant treatment.

This work aimed to assess the effect of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum, on the levels of leptin, IGF-1 and their receptors on the hepatopancreatic tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and then correlate fish growth performance and gut microbiological parameters. Fish juveniles (±23g) were reared in a recirculation system with constant aeration and temperature (25°C). They were distributed into six polyethylene tanks (45L) and fed twice a day at 5% of the tank biomass with the respective diets: control (commercial diet without probiotic) and supplemented with L. plantarum inoculum (1 x 108 CFU mL-1), both in triplicate. After 30 days of feeding, L. plantarum-fed fishes showed greater weekly growth rate, final weight, and feed conversion rate, in addition to higher count of lactic-acid bacteria and lower count of pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract, when compared to the control group. The immunostaining intensity for IGF-1 and leptin hormones was lower after L. plantarum supplementation than in the control group, with no change in the level for receptors. This reduction could implicate important changes in fish metabolism and homeostasis. RESUMO O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da cepa probiótica Lactobacillus plantarum sobre os níveis de leptina, IGF-1 e seus receptores no tecido hepatopancreático de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) e correlacionar com o desempenho zootécnico e os parâmetros microbiológicos intestinais dos peixes. Juvenis de tilápia-do-nilo (±23g) foram distribuídos em seis tanques de polietileno (45L) conectados a um sistema de recirculação, com aeração e temperatura constantes (25°C). Os peixes foram alimentados duas vezes ao dia, a 5% da biomassa do tanque, com as respectivas dietas: controle (dieta comercial sem probiótico) e suplementada com L. plantarum (1 x 108 UFC mL-1), ambas em triplicata. Após 30 dias de cultivo, os peixes alimentados com L. plantarum apresentaram maiores ganho de peso semanal, peso final e conversão alimentar, bem como maior contagem de bactérias ácido-láticas e menor contagem de bactérias patogênicas no trato intestinal das tilápias alimentadas com dieta probiótica, em comparação ao grupo controle. A intensidade da imunomarcação para os hormônios IGF-1 e leptina foi menor com a suplementação de L. plantarum do que no grupo controle, sem alterar os níveis de seus receptores. Essa redução pode implicar mudanças importantes no metabolismo e na homeostase dos peixes.

Passiflora species have high industrial and medicinal relevance, due to presence of specific metabolites and their recognized pharmacological activities. In vitro systems allow the modulation of secondary metabolites production according to culture conditions. In this work, we report the effect of different light emitting diodes (LED) on induction, metabolite production, and antioxidant properties of calluses derived from stem and leaf segments of P. setacea cv BRS Perola do Cerrado. Friable calluses were induced on MSM medium supplemented with picloram, under different light qualities (white fluorescent lamps or different types of LEDs) or in the dark. Light quality contributed more significantly for biomass accumulation than the other variables. Callus formation was observed in response to all treatments, although the highest biomass accumulation was induced by red LED. Chromatographic analyses indicated that blue LED induced the highest production of bioactive substances. All samples displayed low antioxidant potential by the DPPH assay, but showed a high capacity to chelate iron. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was also evaluated. The incubation under red LED caused an increase on the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in calluses derived from internodal segments induced under red LED. This is the first study evaluating the effect of lighting conditions in in vitro systems of P. setacea cv BRS Perola do Cerrado, thus opening new possibilities of study and utilization. Callus induction was affected by light quality, whereas bioactive compounds were modulated by the dedifferentiation process since flavonoids were detected in leaf tissues and fatty acids in calluses extracts.

The striking diversity among herbivorous Scarabaeoidea is still poorly understood. Therefore, we compare in these work linear measurements of body features of Neotropical and Old World linages of Sericini chafers to uncover patterns possibly linked to foraging behavior (day or night activity) or to the success of their diversification in terms of diversity. If diversity in Sericini chafers would be linked to morphological disparity, we would expect in the much less diverse Neotropical lineage a very clear drop of morphological disparity. Comparing the two major sister clades, Old World and Neotropical Sericini, in terms of their disparity and diversity, the here elaborated distance data do not support the hypothesis that morphological disparity could be a driver for the diversity of Sericini in the Old World. The influence of the metacoxal length on morphological disparity appears to represent a possible key for a better understanding of the evolution of Sericini in the Neotropical region (including their lower diversity) and answers the question of why they are so much less diverse than their sister lineage in the Old World. The increasing length of the metacoxal plate appears to be a result of the presence of a secondary metacoxal joint in Old World Sericini, which has a crucial impact on hind leg mobility and digging behavior. General body shape and single morphological characters appear under similar general evolutionary pressure: high morphometric disparity between nocturnal and diurnal Neotropical species was also corroborated by disparity estimated from discrete morphological characters.

Astrocytes are abundant cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and are involved in processes including synapse formation/function, ion homeostasis, neurotransmitter uptake, and neurovascular coupling. Recent evidence indicates that astrocytes show diverse molecular, structural, and physiological properties within the CNS. This heterogeneity is reflected in differences in astrocyte structure, gene expression, functional properties, and responsiveness to injury/pathological conditions. Deeper investigation of astrocytic heterogeneity is needed to understand how astrocytes are configured to enable diverse roles in the CNS. While much has been learned about astrocytic heterogeneity in rodents, much less is known about astrocytic heterogeneity in the primate brain where astrocytes have greater size and complexity. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a promising non-human primate model because of similarities between marmosets and humans with respect to genetics, brain anatomy, and cognition/behavior. Here, we investigated the molecular and structural heterogeneity of marmoset astrocytes using an array of astrocytic markers, multi-label confocal microscopy, and quantitative analysis. We used male and female marmosets and found that marmoset astrocytes show differences in expression of astrocytic markers in cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These differences were accompanied by intra-regional variation in expression of markers for glutamate/GABA transporters, and potassium and water channels. Differences in astrocyte structure were also found, along with complex interactions with blood vessels, microglia, and neurons. This study contributes to our knowledge of the cellular and molecular features of marmoset astrocytes and is useful for understanding the complex properties of astrocytes in the primate CNS.

Context Cow–calf operations in Argentina are managed under extensive grazing condition and the quality of forages is often poor during the second half of gestation. The severity of nutrient restriction in bovine gestation, caused by seasonal pasture production, often results in poor production traits in progeny. Aims The objective of the current study was to determine whether different levels of maternal nutrient intake in beef cows during late gestation affect fetal and postnatal growth, glucose metabolism, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) concentrations in offspring of beef cattle. Methods At 180 ± 4 days of gestation, multiparous Angus cows (n = 56) were blocked by bodyweight (BW) and expected calving date, and assigned to pens (2 or 3 cows/pen). Pens (n = 8 per treatment) were then randomly assigned to the following treatments: severely restricted (SR; 50% of net energy and 58% of CP requirements), moderately restricted (MR; 75% of net energy and 85% of CP requirements), or control (CON; 100% of net energy and 116% of CP requirements). Pen was the experimental unit and data were analysed by ANOVA or repeated measures analysis, as appropriate. After calving, all cows were managed in a single group until weaning. Key results Cow BW and body condition score decreased as nutritional restriction increased (P 0.10) or glucose–insulin metabolism of offspring during lactation (P > 0.10). Concentration of IGF1 tended to be lower in MR progeny than in SR and CON progeny during lactation (P = 0.09). Conclusions Late gestation maternal nutrient restriction, irrespective of the severity of the restriction, decreased birth weight of offspring; however, severe nutrient restriction induced early postnatal compensatory growth. Implications The severe nutritional restriction produced calves with weaning weights indistinguishable from the control cows due to early postnatal compensatory growth. However, the longer-term effects of nutritional restriction of the dam in the second half of pregnancy on metabolic and reproductive performance in replacement heifers or meat production/quality in steers is yet to be determined.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir na compilação de artigos científicos sobre as plantas medicinais que possuem efeitos embriotóxicos e teratogênicos comprovados através de testes experimentais in vivo e in vitro. Foi realizado um levantamento nas bases de dados Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Biblioteca virtual em saúde, Lilacs e Scielo com os descritores, “Medicinal plants, embryotoxicity”; “Medicinal plants, Teratogenic effects”; “Medicinal plants, teratogenicity” e seus correspondentes em português: “Plantas medicinais, embriotoxicidade”; “Plantas medicinais, efeitos Teratogênicos”; “Plantas Medicinais Teratogenicidade”. Oito artigos de ensaios in vivo e quatro de in vitro e um que apresenta os dois ensaios, preencheram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão e foram selecionados para esta revisão. Destes, cinco foram realizados na América, um na Europa, três na África e dois na Ásia. Na maioria dos estudos in vivo o extrato da planta foi injetado no animal, observando assim seus efeitos. A partir deste estudo, foi verificado que as plantas podem apresentar algum tipo de efeito no processo embrionário, portanto, o consumo durante o estado gravidico deve ser avaliado por um profissional da área. Palavras-chave: Gestação. Planta medicinal. Embriotoxicidade. Teratogênico.

Objective Receptor activator of NF-κβ ligand (RANKL) is crucial for the development of hepatic insulin resistance and poor glucose uptake; therefore, inhibiting RANKL with Denosumab could improve fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin (FPI). Methods A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effects of Denosumab on glycemic parameters. PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and LILACS databases were searched for studies that investigated the effect of Denosumab on FPG, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), FPI, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA1-IR). The pooled standard difference in means (SDM) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. The results were stratified into (1) Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT) and (2) Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). Results Six publications (1203 participants) were included. There was a significant association between Denosumab and FPG (SDM = −0.388, 95%CI: −0.705 to −0.070, p = .017) and with HOMA1-IR (SDM = −0.223, 95%CI: −0.388 to −0.058, p = .008), but not for HbA1c and FPI. When stratified by glucose tolerance, the association between Denosumab and FPG, HbA1c, and HOMA1-IR was present for the IGT group. Lastly, Denosumab had a time-dependent effect on HbA1c (slope = −0.037, 95%CI: −0.059 to −0.015, p

We report functional relationships between humans and canines based on observations in the village of Santa Cruz (Toledo District, Belize), emphasizing the cultural ecology of dogs in this lowland tropical rainforest setting and milpa agriculture subsistence system. Dogs pursue animals threatening field crops; they deter forest herbivores by leaving their scent along the myriad trails from the village to the milpa field plots; and they guard the homestead and foods stored there. Dogs also aid in daytime hunts for species that can be cornered. They are less useful in pursuits of fast species like deer and are protected from pursuing especially dangerous species like anteater or warri. Litter survival rates are low, and the lifespan of hunting dogs is significantly shorter than that of guard dogs due to hazards of forest pursuit. Explicit training for hunting is limited and maintenance costs are low as dogs are fed a partial ration of tortillas and otherwise scavenge for their diet. The village population of dogs appears not to be under genetic selection for hunting skills. Our results advance the comparative ethnographic study of this important domesticate; they should aid in the formulation and assessment of hypotheses about dog domestication and co-evolution with human society.

Lagothrix flavicauda (Humboldt, 1812), commonly known as the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, is one of the largest New World primates. Its diet is based on fruits and leaves, and occasionally flowers, buds, epiphyte roots, invertebrates, and some vertebrates. It is endemic to the cloud forests of northern Peru, in Amazonas, San Martín, Huánuco, Junín, La Libertad, and Loreto departments at elevations from 1,000 to 2,800 m. It lives in groups of up to 30 individuals. Lagothrix flavicauda is listed as “Critically Endangered” (CR) by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and under Peruvian legislation, and on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Spike (S) protein has been recognized as a promising molecular target for diagnostic, vaccines and antiviral drugs development for COVID-19. In this study, we analyzed the most predominant mutations in the S protein of Brazilian isolates and predicted the effect of these amino acid alterations to protein conformation. A total of 25,924 sequences were obtained from GISAID for five regions of Brazilian territory (Midwest, North, Northeast, South, and Southeast), according to exclusion criteria. Most of the SARS-CoV-2 isolates belongs to the G clade and showed a large occurrence of D614G, N501Y and L18F substitutions. Prediction effects of these amino acid substitutions on the structure dynamics of the spike protein indicated a positive ΔΔG values and negative ΔΔSVib in most cases which is associated to structural stabilization and flexibility reduction of the S protein. Mutations E484K, N501Y and K417N belong to several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, and showed high incidence among Brazilian isolates. These mutations have been described to increase RBD affinity to ACE-2 host and abolishment of RBD affinity to potent neutralizing ant-RBD. The increase in rates of infection and reinfection requires continuous genomic surveillance studies in order to characterize emerging mutations and monitor vaccine efficacy, and thus consideration structural data and dynamics in the observed phenotypes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

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.

Brosimum alicastrum is a native tree widely distributed in the Yucatan peninsula where is called Ramon. Some studies have reported that Ramon seeds contain high starch content, recently used in developing novel and sustainable biomaterials. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the extractive solution on the starch isolation Ramon seed flour; for that, distilled water (S1) and NaOH solution (S2) were used. The Ramon starch yield was 28.0 ± 1.4% and 31.9 ± 1.7% for S1 and S2. The morphology of starches was observed with scanning electronic microscopy, the functional groups were determined through Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy and crystallinity was calculated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results indicate that both types of starch presented spherical morphology, similar functional groups and crystallinity values, suggesting that both extraction methods are suitable. The starches isolated exhibited similar thermal behavior assessed by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.

Commercial cultivation of sugarcane is usually carried out by planting culm segments (sett) carrying buds in their internodes. However, this is an inefficient practice due to high sprouting irregularity. In this work, we inspect the first stages of the physiological preparation of the culm for sprouting, trying to identify compounds that actively participate in this process. We compared, during the first 48 h, the metabolic profile of sugarcane against energy cane, a cultivar known to have higher sprouting speed and consistency. In fact, during this short period it was possible to observe that energy cane already had a higher physiological activity than sugarcane, with significant changes in the catabolism of amino acids, increased levels of reducing sugars, lipids and metabolic activity in the phenylpropanoid pathway. On the other hand, sugarcane samples had just begun their activity during this same period, with an increase in the level of glutamate as the most significant change, which may be linked to the strategy of these cultivars to develop their roots before leaves, opposite of what is seen for energy cane. These results contribute to the development of strategies for increasing the efficiency of sprouting in sugarcane.

Dairy bull fertility is traditionally evaluated using semen production and quality traits; however, these attributes explain only part of the differences observed in fertility among bulls. Alternatively, bull fertility can be directly evaluated using cow field data. The main objective of this study was to investigate bull fertility in the Italian Brown Swiss dairy cattle population using confirmed pregnancy records. The data set included a total of 397,926 breeding records from 1,228 bulls and 129,858 lactating cows between first and fifth lactation from 2000 to 2019. We first evaluated cow pregnancy success, including factors related to the bull under evaluation, such as bull age, bull inbreeding, and AI organization, and factors associated with the cow that receives the dose of semen, including herd-year-season, cow age, parity, and milk yield. We then estimated sire conception rate using only factors related to the bull. Model predictive ability was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation with 10 replicates. Interestingly, our analyses revealed that there is a substantial variation in conception rate among Brown Swiss bulls, with more than 20% conception rate difference between high-fertility and low-fertility bulls. We also showed that the prediction of bull fertility is feasible as our cross-validation analyses achieved predictive correlations equal to 0.30 for sire conception rate. Improving reproduction performance is one of the major challenges of the dairy industry worldwide, and for this, it is essential to have accurate predictions of service sire fertility. This study represents the foundation for the development of novel tools that will allow dairy producers, breeders, and artificial insemination companies to make enhanced management and selection decisions on Brown Swiss male fertility.

Aims: Estimate the population density of deer in the municipality of Tzucacab, Yucatán in the periods of 2003-2004, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, determine the use of the habitat by these populations and the sustainability of the deer harvest from the estimated population densities. Study Design: A descriptive and vertical free-living deer population study was carried out in southern Yucatan, Mexico over a three-year period. Methodology: The map of the municipality of Tuzcacab was zoned in quadrants of 36 km2, completing a total of 36 quadrants; Unrestricted random sampling was applied to select seven quadrants in the period from 2003 to 2004 and 18 in each annual period between 2007 and 2009. Population samplings were carried out by applying three population estimation methods: direct sighting in a linear transect of 5 km in length, count of tracks in transect except period 2003-2004 and faecal pellets group count in plots. The evaluation of the use of habitat was carried out using the Bonferroni intervals, from the data of faecal pellets count. The evaluation of the deer harvest was carried out using the sustainable harvest model. Results: The population densities were different in each method, the density by the excreta count was 4.63 ± 2.49 deer / km2 in 2003-2004, 0.294 ± 0.198 deer / km2 in 2007-2008, and in the year 2008-2009 was 0.419 ± 0.0000085 deer / km2. Habitat use in 2007-08 and 2008-2009 was higher in the tropical forest, lower in agriculture and similar to that expected in secondary succession forest (acahual). The values of sustainable harvest, taking as a value the density per count of excreta in the plot because it showed the highest statistical precision, in the period 2003-04 it is sustainable, but in the period from 2007 to 2009 it is not sustainable. Conclusion: The population densities of deer (O. virginianus and M. americana) in Tuzcacab by means of the excreta count method, have decreased significantly. The habitat use preference is the tropical forest. The deer harvest in the period from 2007 to 2009 is not sustainable.

The use of biostimulants in fish diets is a promising strategy to reduce the use of antibiotics, enhance the biochemical and immune response, which contributes to improving productive yields and reducing economic losses. The biochemical and immune response was evaluated in juvenile red tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus), with different levels: 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% chitosan in diet. 270 animals (7.53 ± 0.50 g of initial weight), distributed in a completely randomized design of 6 treatments with 3 replicates and 45 tilapia.treatment-1, were sown in 18 tanks with 90 L of water in a closed system. The juveniles were fed for 55 days with the experimental diets and at the end of the bioassay the tissue and blood plasma samples were taken. Differences were found (p

Normalmente, as águas superficiais e das chuvas são insuficientes para atender às demandas dos produtores regionais no Norte de Minas Gerais. Assim, aqueles que possuem recursos hídricos subterrâneos satisfatórios vêm utilizando tal fonte para atender às necessidades hídricas das frutíferas regionais. No entanto, essas frutíferas comumente possuem teores elevados de carbonato e bicarbonato de cálcio, os quais promovem alterações nas características químicas dos solos, com elevação do pH e dos teores de Ca, após alguns anos de cultivo, proporcionando complicações no estado nutricional dos bananais. Nas áreas em que se tem excesso de Ca, proveniente das águas de irrigação, normalmente, esse induz deficiência de Mg e K nas plantas, comprometendo a produtividade e a longevidade dos bananais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo definir a melhor combinação entre doses de KCl e MgSO4, em solos cultivados com bananeira ‘Nanica’, em sistema de cultivo irrigado com água de natureza calcária, no Norte de Minas Gerais. Os tratamentos foram definidos pela combinação de 0, 10, 20, 30 e 50 g de MgSO4 /família/trimestre e de 0, 40, 80, 120 e 160 g de KCl/família/mês, utilizando a matriz experimental Quadrado Duplo. Foram avaliadas características de desenvolvimento vegetativo e de produção da bananeira. Apenas as doses de KCl influenciaram as características de desenvolvimento vegetativo e de produção. Não existiu efeito da adubação com MgSO4, mesmo a análise inicial do solo tendo apontado deficiência da referida base. A duração do ciclo do plantio à colheita foi em média 486 dias. Palavras-chave: Musa sp. Equilíbrio Nutricional. Adubação Potássica e Magnesiana. Qualidade de Água para Irrigação. Abstract Normally, surface and rainwater are insufficient to meet the demands of regional producers in northern Minas Gerais. Thus, those who have satisfactory groundwater resources have been using this source to meet the water needs of regional fruit trees. However, they commonly have high levels of calcium carbonate and bicarbonate, which promote changes in the soils chemical characteristics , with an increase in pH and Ca levels, after some years of cultivation, providing complications in the banana trees’ nutritional status. In areas where there is an excess of Ca, from irrigation water, it usually induces deficiency of Mg and K in plants, compromising the f banana trees productivity and longevity. The present work had as objective to define the best combination between doses of KCl and MgSO4 in soils cultivated with banana 'Nanica' in a cultivation system irrigated with limestone water, in the northern Minas Gerais. The treatments were defined by the combination of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 50 g of MgSO4 / family / quarter and 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 g of KCl / family / month, using the experimental Double Square matrix. Banana vegetative development and production characteristics were evaluated. Only KCl doses influenced the characteristics of vegetative development and production. There was no effect of fertilization with MgSO4, even though the initial soil analysis showed a deficiency of the referred base. The cycle duration from planting to harvest was on average 486 days. Keywords: Musa sp. Nutritional Balance. Potassium and Magnesium Fertilization. Water Quality for Irrigation.

Plant micropropagation comprises biotechnological tools used for the conservation and mass propagation of orchid species. However, there are few reports of its use for orchids of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae. The present study evaluated the effects of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) on shoots formation and development of Dryadella zebrina (Porsch) Luer. For this, seeds were in vitro germinated, and the plantlets were submitted to different concentrations of BAP (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 µM). The plantlets derived from the treatments 0, 6, and 15 µM of BAP were collected after 60 days in culture and subjected to light microscopy analysis. Our results indicated that BAP increased the formation of the new shoots of D. zebrina, especially in treatment with 6 µM, and its use is indicated for the in vitro multiplication phase. The anatomical analyses of the roots showed a deleterious effect of 15 µM BAP on the meristematic region, with the presence of more vacuolated cells in this zone. Our results represent the first successful report of in vitro propagation for the genus Dryadella and may serve as a basis for further studies of in vitro propagation of phylogenetically related species.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact worldwide, with an incommensurable social and economic burden. The rapid development of safe and protective vaccines against this disease is a global priority. CoronaVac is a vaccine prototype based on inactivated SARS-CoV-2, which has shown promising safety and immunogenicity profiles in pre-clinical studies and phase 1/2 trials in China. To this day, four phase 3 clinical trials are ongoing with CoronaVac in Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. This article reports the safety and immunogenicity results obtained in a subgroup of participants aged 18 years and older enrolled in the phase 3 Clinical Trial held in Chile. METHODS: This is a multicenter phase 3 clinical trial. Healthcare workers aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned to receive two doses of CoronaVac or placebo separated by two weeks (0-14). We report preliminary safety results obtained for a subset of 434 participants, and antibody and cell-mediated immunity results obtained in a subset of participants assigned to the immunogenicity arm. The primary and secondary aims of the study include the evaluation of safety parameters and immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 after immunization, respectively. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT04651790 ). FINDINGS: The recruitment of participants occurred between November 27 (th) , 2020, until January 9 (th) , 2021. 434 participants were enrolled, 397 were 18-59 years old, and 37 were ≥60 years old. Of these, 270 were immunized with CoronaVac, and the remaining 164 participants were inoculated with the corresponding placebo. The primary adverse reaction was pain at the injection site, with a higher incidence in the vaccine arm (55.6%) than in the placebo arm (40.0%). Moreover, the incidence of pain at the injection site in the 18-59 years old group was 58.4% as compared to 32.0% in the ≥60 years old group. The seroconversion rate for specific anti-S1-RBD IgG was 47.8% for the 18-59 years old group 14 days post immunization (p.i.) and 95.6% 28 and 42 days p.i. For the ≥60 years old group, the seroconversion rate was 18.1%, 100%, and 87.5% at 14, 28, and 42 days p.i., respectively. Importantly, we observed a 95.7% seroconversion rate in neutralizing antibodies for the 18-59 years old group 28 and 42 days p.i. The ≥60 years old group exhibited seroconversion rates of 90.0% and 100% at 28 and 42 days p.i. Interestingly, we did not observe a significant seroconversion rate of anti-N-SARS-CoV-2 IgG for the 18-59 years old group. For the participants ≥60 years old, a modest rate of seroconversion at 42 days p.i. was observed (37.5%). We observed a significant induction of a T cell response characterized by the secretion of IFN-γ upon stimulation with Mega Pools of peptides derived from SARS-CoV-2 proteins. No significant differences between the two age groups were observed for cell-mediated immunity. INTERPRETATION: Immunization with CoronaVac in a 0-14 schedule in adults of 18 years and older in the Chilean population is safe and induces specific IgG production against the S1-RBD with neutralizing capacity, as well as the activation of T cells secreting IFN-γ, upon recognition of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. FUNDING: Ministry of Health of the Chilean Government; Confederation of Production and Commerce, Chile; Consortium of Universities for Vaccines and Therapies against COVID-19, Chile; Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy.

Cavia tschudii inhabits coastal and Andean wetlands where it is important prey for medium carnivores, but its habitat selection and its role in the wetlands are unknown. In order to reduce this lack of knowledge, we evaluated changes in the abundance for two seasons and the habitat selection of C. tschudii in a wetland on the central coast of Peru. Additionally, we report information on their movement distances and provide comments on their predators. We carried out six evaluations during the autumn and spring of 2019, with nine grids in three plant communities: grassland, bulrush community, and cattail community. Each captured individual was marked with a numbered ear tag. We compared the relative abundance between seasons using the Mann-Whitney U test, and calculated the relative abundance per evaluated month and carried out regressions to model its behavior. The use/availability of habitat was evaluated with the Chi-square test together with Bonferroni confidence intervals to show habitat selection. Finally, we estimate the mean maximum distance moved (MMDM) of recaptured individuals. The results show significant differences between the seasons, with higher relative abundance in autumn. The relative abundance showed a peak in April, from which the values decrease. Likewise, we found significant differences in habitat selection, showing positive selection for the cattail community, neutral selection for the bulrush community, and negative selection for the grassland. The MMDM was 36.5 ± 15.7 m. We report a decrease in the relative abundance of C. tschudii , possibly related to seasonal changes in habitat quality or to the presence of predators. The peak of abundance in mid-autumn and the apparent decrease in the population until late spring resembles the annual dynamics reported for C. aperea . It is also confirmed that C. tschudii , like other Cavia , select environments with greater plant coverage, possibly as an anti-predation strategy. We report dogs predating C. tschudii and provide a list of other potential predators. This study increases the information on C. tschudii in coastal wetlands and gives a first approach to the necessary knowledge for its management and conservation within these fragile ecosystems.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most used species for hydroponic green fodder. The chemical properties of fodders may be enhanced through use of various strategies during crop production, including stress applications. In this context, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used as a stress factor in controlled elicitation, a technique used to increase secondary metabolites in food. The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of using controlled elicitation with H2O2 for enhancing the chemical properties of hydroponic barley fodder. H2O2 was applied to the seeds as a pre-germination treatment at three concentrations: 50, 100 and 150 mM. Morphological changes, enzymatic defence-related activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, chalcone isomerase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), total phenolics content, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Significant increases in total phenolics content, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and ABTS antioxidant capacity were obtained when seeds were treated with 50 mM H2O2. Plant growth was promoted with 100 mM and 150 mM H2O2 treatments, and germination of seeds with 100 mM H2O2. It was established that controlled elicitation using H2O2 increased some morphological and biochemical variables of hydroponic barley fodder related to food properties.