Effect of L-glutamine levels in piglets diets challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysacharides / Efecto de los niveles de L-glutamina en dietas para lechones desafiados con lipopolisacáridos de Escherichia coli

Objective. To evaluate the effect of different levels of L-glutamine on weaned and immunologically challenged piglets with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on performance parameters, serum cortisol and defense cells. Materials and methods. Four levels of L -glutamine were evaluated (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0%) as well as the addition, or no addition, of LPS (0.3µg). 96 piglets were used (48 castrated males and 48 females) of Agroceres x PenArlan lineage, with an initial age of 21 days and 6.06±0.852 kg live weight. An experimental design was used on randomized blocks in a factorial setting 4 x 2 (levels of L- glutamine with or without challenge). Results. Cubic effect was shown for daily weight gain of unchallenged animals, and was better with the addition of 0.41% L- glutamine. Feed conversion improved with increased levels of L -glutamine for challenged animals. In the evaluation of defense cells, there was interaction of leukocytes with the levels of L- glutamine and the immune challenge. Eosinophils and lymphocytes showed a quadratic effect for the levels of L -glutamine, with a maximum value of 1.30% and 0.5%, respectively. Conclusions. L -glutamine supplementation of up to 2% in the diet improves feed conversion and favors the immune serum of weaned piglets challenged with LPS of E. coli.

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de diferentes niveles de L-glutamina en lechones destetados y desafiados imunológicamente con lipopolisacáridos de Escherichia coli (LPS) sobre parámetros de desempeño, cortisol sérico y células de defensa. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron cuatro niveles de L-glutamina (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0%) y la adición o no de LPS (0.3 µg). Se utilizaron 96 lechones (48 machos castrados y 48 hembras) de linaje Agroceres x PenArlan, con edad inicial de 21 días y 6.06 ± 0.852 kg de peso vivo. Se utilizó un diseño experimental en bloques al azar en un arreglo factorial 4 x 2 (niveles de L-glutamina con o sin desafío). Resultados. Se evidenció efecto cúbico para la ganancia de peso diaria para los animales no desafiados, que fue mejor con la inclusión de 0.41% de L-glutamina. La conversión alimenticia mejoró con el aumento de los niveles de L-glutamina para los animales desafiados. En la evaluación de las células de defensa hubo interacción de los leucocitos con los niveles de L-glutamina y el desafío inmunológico. Lo esosinofilos y linfocitos presentaron un efecto cuadrático para los niveles de L-glutamina siendo el valor máximo de 1.30% y 0.59%, respectivamente. Conclusiones. El suplemento de L-glutamina hasta el 2% en la dieta, mejora la conversión alimenticia y favorece la inmunidad sérica de lechones destetados y desafiados con LPS de E. coli.

Mitochondrial DNA mapping of social-biological interactions in Brazilian Amazonian African-descendant populations

The formation of the Brazilian Amazonian population has historically involved three main ethnic groups, Amerindian, African and European. This has resulted in genetic investigations having been carried out using classical polymorphisms and molecular markers. To better understand the genetic variability and the micro-evolutionary processes acting in human groups in the Brazilian Amazon region we used mitochondrial DNA to investigate 159 maternally unrelated individuals from five Amazonian African-descendant communities. The mitochondrial lineage distribution indicated a contribution of 50.2 percent from Africans (L0, L1, L2, and L3), 46.6 percent from Amerindians (haplogroups A, B, C and D) and a small European contribution of 1.3 percent. These results indicated high genetic diversity in the Amerindian and African lineage groups, suggesting that the Brazilian Amazonian African-descendant populations reflect a possible population amalgamation of Amerindian women from different Amazonian indigenous tribes and African women from different geographic regions of Africa who had been brought to Brazil as slaves. The present study partially mapped the historical biological and social interactions that had occurred during the formation and expansion of Amazonian African-descendant communities.

Paleogenetic and taphonomic analysis of human bones from Moa, Beirada, and Zé Espinho Sambaquis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The present paper discusses mtDNA and taphonomy of human remains from Moa, Beirada, and Zé Espinho sambaquis of Saquarema, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. New human bone dating by 14C-AMS for Moa archeological site (3810+50 BP - GX-31826-AMS) is included. Preservation of microscopic lamellae and DNA is not related to the macroscopic integrity of the bones. Results here suggest that the preservation of amplifiable DNA fragments may have relation to the preservation of the lamellar arrangement as indicated by optical microscopic examination (polarized light). In 13 human bone fragments from Moa, Beirada, and Zé Espinho it was possible to sequence mtDNA from the 3 individuals of Moa, and from 1 of 4 individuals of Beirada, whose bones also show extensive areas with preserved lamellar structures. The 6 human bone fragments of Zé Espinho and 3 of the 4 fragments of Beirada showed extensive destruction of cortical microstructure represented by cavities, intrusive minerals, and agglomerated microscopic bodies of fungi and bacteria; it was not possible to extract mtDNA from these samples. The results support the hypothesis that the preservation of the microscopic osteon organization is a good predictor for DNA preservation. It was also confirmed the C haplogroup antiquity in Brazil.

Genetic characterization of the population of São Luís, MA, Brazil

Five loci (vWA1, F13A1, D12S67, Apo-B and D1S80) were investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining in a sample of 177 individuals from the population of São Luís, State of Maranhão, Brazil. A total of 70 different alleles were identified. A statistically significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in a single locus (F13A1, p = 0.0075). The average heterozygosity (H) was estimated at 77.7 percent, the mean number of alleles per locus as 14. The PD (capacity of genotype differentiation at each locus) ranged from 88.9 percent (vWA1) to 96.7 percent (F13A1). The combined PE (power of exclusion) of these five loci was 99.8 percent. In terms of racial admixture (42 percent European, 39 percent Indian, and 19 percent African Black ancestry), São Luís presented an estimate similar to Belém, another trihybrid Amazonian population.

Frequency of the Q192R and L55M polymorphisms of the human serum paraoxonase gene (PON1) in ten Amazonian Amerindian tribes

Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) is an esterase associated with high density lipoproteins (HDLs) in the plasma and may confer protection against coronary artery disease. Serum PON1 levels and activity vary widely among individuals and populations of different ethnic groups, such variations appearing to be related to two coding region polymorphisms (L55M and Q192R). Several independent studies have indicated that the polymorphism at codon 192 (the R form) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease in some populations, although this association has not been confirmed in other populations. Given the possible associations of these mutations with heart diseases and the fact that little or nothing is known of their prevalence in Amerindian populations, we investigated the variability of both polymorphisms in ten Amazonian Indian tribes and compared the variation found with that of other Asian populations in which both polymorphisms have been investigated. The results show that the LR haplotype is the most frequent and the MR haplotype is absent in all Amerindians and Asian populations. We also found that South America Amerindians present the highest frequency of the PON1192*R allele (considered a significant risk factor for heart diseases in some populations) of all the Amerindian and Asian populations so far studied.

Genetical-demographic data from two amazonian populations composed of descendants of african slaves: Pacoval and Curiau

The Amazon region of Brazil includes communities founded by escaped slaves, some of which still remain relatively isolated. We studied two such Afro-Brazilian communities (Pacoval and Curiau), in the rural area of Alenquer, Pará, and in the metropolitan region of Macapá, Amapá, respectively. Among 12 blood loci, alleles considered as markers of African ancestry, such as HBB*S, HBB*C, TF*D1, HP*2M, ABO*B, RH*D-, and CA2*2 were found at frequencies that are expected for populations with a predominantly African origin. Estimates of interethnic admixture indicated that the degree of the African component in Curiau (74 per cent) is higher than that of Pacoval (44 per cent); an Amerindian contribution was not detected in Curiau. Estimated values of African ancestry fit well with the degree of isolation and mobility of the communities. Pacoval exhibited a high proportion of immigrants among the parents and grandparents of the individuals studied, whereas persons living in Curiau exhibited a low level of mobility, despite its location in the metropolitan area of Macapá city, suggesting a relatively strong barrier against the interethnic admixture in this population. In addition, analysis of genetic data in a sub-sample consisting of individuals whose parents and grandparents were born in the study site, and that probably represents the populations two generations ago, indicated that gene flow from non-black people is not a recent event in both populations.

Migration and ethnic change in an admixed population from the Amazon region (Santarém, Pará)

Dados genéticos e demográficos da populaçäo de Santarém, PA, foram analisados. Oitenta e dois por cento dos indivíduos estudados nasceram no Estado do Pará e 11,7 por cento dos imigrantes nasceram na regiäo Nordeste do Brasil. A análise da migraçäo individual média, distância marital média, distância genitor-prole e índice de exogamia identificou uma elevada mobilidade populacional. Alelos característicos dos três principais grupos étnicos foram encontrados, como BCHE*A (caucasóides) ALB*Maku (indígenas) e HBB*S e HBB*C (negros). As proporçöes de ancestralidade negra, índia e branca foram estimadas em 28 por cento, 35 por cento e 37 por cento, respectivamente. Condiderando-se o local de nascimento dos avós, a presença de uma subpopulaçäo pôde ser observada (nativos de Santarém). As proporçöes de ancestralidade negra e índia foram de 11 por cento e 52 por cento respectivamente, significantemente diferentes da amostra total. A estratégia usada, portanto, mostrou-se eficiente para a caracterizaçäo dos fatores responsáveis pela estrutura genético-demográfica desta populaçäo.