Identification of two novel cytolysins from the hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis (Cnidaria)

Although the hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis is the most common jellyfish associated with human envenomation in southeastern and southern Brazil, information about the composition of its venom is rare. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze pharmacological aspects of O. sambaquiensis venom as well as clinical manifestations observed in affected patients. Crude protein extracts were prepared from the tentacles of animals; peptides and proteins were sequenced and submitted to circular dichroism spectroscopy. Creatine kinase, cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity were evaluated by specific methods.

Identification of two novel cytolysins from the hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis (Cnidaria)

Although the hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis is the most common jellyfish associated with human envenomation in southeastern and southern Brazil, information about the composition of its venom is rare. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze pharmacological aspects of O. sambaquiensis venom as well as clinical manifestations observed in affected patients. Crude protein extracts were prepared from the tentacles of animals; peptides and proteins were sequenced and submitted to circular dichroism spectroscopy. Creatine kinase, cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity were evaluated by specific methods.

Ultra morphology of the digestive system of Anastrepha fraterculus AND Ceratitis capitata (DIPTERA TEPHRITIDAE)

Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata are widely distributed fruit flies that cause significant damageto fruit crops in tropical and temperate regions. The economic importance of these flies has resulted innumerous studies of their biology, with particular emphasis on their control and management. However,various aspects of the biology of these species are still poorly understood. In this work, we used scanningelectron microscopy (SEM) to examine the external anatomy and organization of the digestive system inthese two species. Adult males and females of A. fraterculus and females of C. capitata were dissected inphysiological saline solution, and the digestive tracts were removed and prepared for microscopy. SEMshowed that the crop was covered by a strong muscular layer that consisted of circular fibers connected bylongitudinal fibers; this arrangement was probably related to the post-feeding behavior of these flies in whichthe crop contents are regurgitated and reingested. The size of the rectum varied and was probably related tothe different body sizes of the two species.

Ultramorphology and histology of the larval salivary gland of Pachycondyla villosa (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae) / Utramorfologia e histologia da glândula salivar larval de Pachycondyla villosa (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae)

The salivary gland possesses a single anterior duct with a columnar epithelium, two lateral ducts with simple cubical epithelium, which becomes columnar in the proximal portion, and two thin-walled reservoirs, from which two secretory regions arise. The dorsal and ventral branches of the secretory regions are connected via transverse commissures and ends in a loop. The secretory region is uniform and consists on a simple cubical epithelium. This paper also presents a review on the morphology of the salivary glands in insects, mainly in Hymenoptera-Aculeata.

A glândula salivar apresenta-se com um duto anterior único, formado por um epitélio colunar, dois dutos laterais curtos, os quais apresentam-se com epitélio cúbico simples e que na sua porção mais proximal torna-se colunar. Posterior a estes, encontram-se os dois reservatórios, os quais possuem o epitélio bastante delgado e é neste reservatório que a região secretora da glândula se abre. Os ramos dorsal e ventral da região secretora da glândula conectam-se por meio de comissuras transversais, sendo que, posteriormente, a região secretora termina em forma de "alça". A região secretora é uniforme, não apresenta tipos celulares distintos e é formada por um epitélio cúbico simples. Neste trabalho é apresentada, também, a revisão sobre a morfologia da glândula salivar larval em insetos, principalmente com relação aos Hymenoptera-Aculeata.