Reproductive biology of endemic Solanum melissarum Bohs (Solanaceae) and updating of its current geographic distribution as the basis for its conservation in the Brazilian Cerrado / Biologia reprodutiva da endêmica Solanum melissarum Bohs (Solanaceae) e atualização da distribuição geográfica atual, como base para a sua conservação no Cerrado Brasileiro

Abstract The genus Solanum (family Solanaceae) includes more than 1400 species and has buzz-pollinated flowers with poricidal anthers. The present study aimed to describe the distribution, breeding system and pollination mechanism of Solanum melissarum, a species endemic to Brazil. The study of breeding system was conducted in an urban forest fragment in Jataí, GO. Distribution data were gathered from floristic surveys and digital plant databases. The floral morphology and the pollination mechanism were studied on through field observations and preserved flowers. The breeding system was determined through hand pollination treatments. The species has a distribution only in the Brazilian Atlantic forest coastal, and this study provides the first records of S. melissarum for the state of Goiás. The pendulous flowers have poricidal anthers close to the stigma, with membranous thecae joined by a connective bearing osmophores that attract males of Euglossa cordata bees. As they collect fragrances, the bees press the thecae and pollen is released through a bellows mechanism. Based on the hand-pollination treatments, this species is self-incompatible. Isolated forest fragments may not include enough pollinators to ensure the pollination of plants with specialized systems. However, they are essential for the conservation of species with interesting phytogeographic patterns, such as the vicariance observed in S. melissarum, and for the conservation of regional diversity.

Resumo O gênero Solanum (família Solanaceae) inclui mais de 1400 espécies e apresenta polinização vibrátil e flores com anteras poricidas. O estudo tem o objetivo de descrever a distribuição, sistema reprodutivo e o mecanismo de polinização de Solanum melissarum, uma espécie endêmica do Brasil. O estudo da biologia reprodutiva foi conduzido em um fragmento florestal urbano em Jataí, GO. As informações de distribuição foram obtidas através de trabalhos florísticos e de banco de dados digitais de plantas. A morfologia floral e o mecanismo de polinização foram estudados através de observações diretas em campo e em flores preservadas. O sistema reprodutivo foi determinado a partir de tratamentos de polinização manual. A espécie apresentava distribuição somente na Mata Atlântica litorânea brasileira, e este estudo demonstrou o primeiro registro de S. melissarum para o estado de Goiás. As flores são pendentes e com anteras poricidas próximas ao estigma, com tecas membranosas envoltas por um conectivo giboso com osmóforos que atraem machos da abelha Euglossa cordata. Na coleta de fragrâncias, as abelhas pressionam as tecas e o polén é liberado por um mecanismo de fole. Baseado nos tratamentos de polinização manual, a espécie é autoincompatível. Fragmentos florestais isolados podem não incluir polinizadores suficientes para garantir a polinização das plantas com sistemas especializados, no entanto, eles são essenciais para a conservação de espécies com padrões fitogeográficos interessantes, como o vicariância observada em S. melissarum, e também para a conservação da diversidade regional.

Antibody response between pigs of Piau and a commercial breed naturally infected with Porcine circovirus 2 / Resposta sorológica entre suínos da raça Piau e linhagem comercial em rebanho naturalmente infectado pelo Porcine circovirus 2

Brazilian pig population is made up of several naturalized breeds; among them the Piau breed is known for its rusticity and large fat stores. The naturalized breeds, in comparison with commercial ones, may have an increased resistance to diseases circulating in their territory. Thus, this study aimed to verify if there are differences between the serologic profile against Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) of Piau pigs and that of a commercial breed from a farm naturally infected by PCV2. The serum viral load was measured by qPCR, and levels of anti-PCV2 antibodies were measured by ELISA. The results showed that the serum viral load was similar across all animals. However, Piau piglets showed higher levels of antibodies compared to commercial piglets (P= 0.05), while sows of the commercial breed showed higher levels than the Piau breed (P< 0.01). There was not a statistical difference between pigs of different production stages in the seroprevalence of PCV2 or the blood viral load. This work demonstrates that, with regard to a natural PCV2 infection, the Piau breed has a different humoral immune response compared to the response developed by the commercial pigs. The results support the importance of conservation of native breeds.(AU)

O rebanho de suínos brasileiro é constituído por diversas raças naturalizadas, entre elas a raça Piau, que é conhecida por sua rusticidade e pela grande deposição de toucinho. As raças naturalizadas, em comparação com as linhagens comerciais, podem ter uma maior resistência a doenças que circulam em seu território. Dessa forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar se existem diferenças no perfil sorológico contra o Porcine circovirus 2 (PVC2) entre suínos da raça Piau e de uma linhagem comercial de uma granja naturalmente infectada pelo PCV2. Foram realizadas mensurações da carga viral sérica por qPCR e dos níveis de anticorpos anti-PCV2 por meio da técnica de ELISA. Os resultados mostraram que a carga viral sérica se manteve homogênea em todos os animais e que os leitões da raça Piau apresentaram níveis de anticorpos superiores em comparação com os leitões da linhagem comercial (P=0,05), enquanto as porcas de linhagem comercial apresentaram níveis superiores aos da raça Piau (P<0,01). Este trabalho fornece indícios de que a raça Piau apresenta uma resposta imune humoral distinta diante de uma infecção natural pelo PCV2, quando comparada com a resposta desenvolvida pela linhagem comercial. Os resultados obtidos reforçam a importância da conservação das raças nativas.(AU)

Plantas medicinais referenciadas por raizeiros no município de Jataí, estado de Goiás / Medicinal Plants referenced by"raizeiros" from Jataí county, Goiás state

RESUMO Este trabalho objetivou pesquisar as plantas medicinais referenciadas por raizeiros do município de Jataí-GO, evidenciando o Valor de Uso Reportado (VUR) e a conexão com os níveis filogenéticos atuais. Com cerca de 200 anos de história, Jataí localiza-se no Planalto Central do Brasil, Sudoeste de Goiás (17°52’53’’S e 51°42’52’’W), tendo atualmente, como principal fonte de renda o agronegócio. Para a seleção dos raizeiros e coleta dos dados aplicou-se o método bola de neve e a técnica de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Determinou-se a etnoespécie, parte usada, uso, modo de preparo, sintomas / doenças relacionando aos sistemas corporais. Foram reportadas 515 referências etnobotânicas para 112 etnoespécies principalmente dos clados Fabídeas, Lamídeas, e Campanulídeas. Sobressaíram as etnoespécies Pé-de-perdiz (Croton antisyphilliticus), Sangra-dágua (C. urucurana), Pau-terra-de-folha-larga (Qualea grandiflora), Erva-de-Santa Maria (Chenopodium album), Amaro-leite (Operculina alata), Algodãozinho-do-campo (Cochlospermum regium), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale) e Jaborandi (Piper aduncum), com VUR maior que 10. Os sistemas corporais mais importantes com relação ao número de etnoespécies relatadas foram respiratório, digestivo, circulatório e tegumentar. As etnoespécies mais versáteis em uso nos sistemas corporais foram Copaíba (Copaifera langsdorffii), Pé-de-perdiz (Croton antisyphiliticus), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale), Alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis) e Fruta-de-lobo (Solanum paniculatum). A prática da medicina tradicional em Jataí evidencia a conexão entre a escolha de plantas e os níveis filogenéticos derivados. Algumas destas etnoespécies estão na listagem de plantas medicinais que o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil escolheu para a realização de monografias, fato que fortalece o valor do conhecimento do uso da flora nas práticas da medicina tradicional.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to research medicinal plants referenced by “raizeiros” from Jataí-GO, showing the Reported Use Value (RUV) and connection with current phylogenetic levels. With nearly 200 years of history, Jataí is located in the Central Plateau of Brazil, Southwest Goiás (17°52’53 ‘’S and 51°42’52’’W), where the main source of income is agribusiness. For the “raizeiros” selection and data collection the snowball method and semi-structured interview techniques were applied. The ethnospecies, used part, usage, method of preparation for estimatedReported Value of Use (VU). There were 515 related ethnopharmacological citations of 112 ethnospecies, mainly Fabídeas, Lamídeas and Campanulídeas. Pé-de-perdiz (Croton antisyphilliticus), Sangra-dágua (C. urucurana), Pau-terra-de-folha-larga (Qualea grandiflora), Erva-de-Santa Maria (Chenopodium album), Amaro-leite (Operculina alata), Algodãozinho-do-campo (Cochlospermum regium), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale) andJaborandi (Piper aduncum), Pau-terra-de-folha-larga (Qualea grandiflora), Erva-de-Santa Maria (Chenopodium album), Amaro-leite (Operculina alata), Algodãozinho-do-campo (Cochlospermum regium), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale) andJaborandi (Piper aduncum)highlightedmorethan10RUV. The most important bodily systems in the number of reported plants were respiratory, digestive, circulatory and integumentary. The most versatile, useful plant systems were Copaíba (Copaiferalangsdorffii), Pé-de-perdiz (Crotonantisyphiliticus), Cavalinha (Equisetumhiemale), Rosemary (Rosmarinusofficinalis) and Fruita-de-lobo (Solanumpaniculatum).The practice of traditional medicine in Jataí reveals the link between the choice of plants and derived phylogenetic levels. Many referenced species are used medicinally in the Cerrado, including some that are part of the national health care system’s list, for the realization of monographs, which strengthen the knowledge of these traditional medicine practices in Goiás.

Avaliação das silagens do sorgo BRS-610 em sete estádios de maturação pela técnica in vitro semiautomática de produção de gases / Evaluation of the silages of sorghum BRS-610 at seven stages of maturation by semi-automated in vitro gas production technique

Avaliou-se a qualidade da silagem do sorgo BRS-610 produzida em sete estádios de maturação dos grãos, pela técnica in vitro semiautomática de produção de gases. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições por tratamento, e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste Scott-knott. Os parâmetros potencial máximo de produção de gases, tempo de colonização, taxa de produção de gases e degradabilidade efetiva da matéria seca para as taxas de passagem de 2, 5 e 8 por cento/h foram obtidos pelo modelo de France et al. O potencial máximo de produção de gases não diferiu entre as silagens e indicou média de 170,5mL/g de matéria seca. Entre leitoso/pastoso e pastoso houve menor tempo de colonização. As maiores taxas de fermentação foram observadas nas silagens produzida entre os estádios pastoso/farináceo a seco. As degradabilidades efetivas foram semelhantes entres as silagens, com média de 46,2 por cento. O sorgo BRS-610 produziu silagem de qualidade satisfatória, com destaque para a silagem produzida com a planta no estádio pastoso/farináceo, por associar melhor taxa de fermentação e menor tempo de colonização.

The quality of the silages of sorghum BRS-610 produced at seven stages of grain maturation was evaluated by the semi-automatic gas production technique. It was used a complete randomized design, with four repetitions per treatment, and the means were compared by the Scott-knott test (P<0.05). The potential of production of gases, lag phase, rates of gas production, and effective dry matter degradability for 2, 5, and 8 percent/h rates of passage were obtained by the model of France et al. The potential of gas production did not differ among the silages, showing mean of 170.5mL/dry matter. The stages between milky/soft dough to soft dough showed shorter lag phase. The highest rate of gas production was observed in the silages produced between soft dough/floury to dry stages. The effective degradabilities were similar among the silages, averaging 46.2 percent. The sorghum BRS-610 produced satisfactory quality silage, mainly for the silage produced with the plant at soft dough/floury stage, for associating better rate of gas production and shorter lag phase.

Pharmacokinetic and parasitological evaluation of the bone marrow of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis submitted to multiple dose treatment with liposome-encapsulated meglumine antimoniate

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a multiple dose regimen of a liposomal formulation of meglumine antimoniate (LMA) on the pharmacokinetics of antimony in the bone marrow of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis and on the ability of LMA to eliminate parasites from this tissue. Dogs naturally infected with Leishmania chagasi received 4 intravenous doses of either LMA (6.5 mg antimony/kg body weight, N = 9), or empty liposomes (at the same lipid dose as LMA, N = 9) at 4-day intervals. A third group of animals was untreated (N = 8). Before each administration and at different times after treatment, bone marrow was obtained and analyzed for antimony level (LMA group) by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, and for the presence of Leishmania parasites (all groups). There was a significant increase of antimony concentration from 0.76 æg/kg wet organ (4 days after the first dose) to 2.07 æg/kg (4 days after the fourth dose) and a half-life of 4 days for antimony elimination from the bone marrow. Treatment with LMA significantly reduced the number of dogs positive for parasites (with at least one amastigote per 1000 host cells) compared to controls (positive dogs 30 days after treatment: 0 of 9 in the LMA group, 3 of 9 in the group treated with empty liposomes and 3 of 8 in the untreated group). However, complete elimination of parasites was not achieved. In conclusion, the present study showed that multiple dose treatment with LMA was effective in improving antimony levels in the bone marrow of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis and in reducing the number of positive animals, even though it was not sufficient to achieve complete elimination of parasites.

Cytoskeletal and cellular adhesion proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio) myogenesis

The current myogenesis and myofibrillogenesis model has been based mostly on in vitro cell culture studies, and, to a lesser extent, on in situ studies in avian and mammalian embryos. While the more isolated artificial conditions of cells in culture permitted careful structural analysis, the actual in situ cellular structures have not been described in detail because the embryos are more difficult to section and manipulate. To overcome these difficulties, we used the optically clear and easy to handle embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio. We monitored the expression of cytoskeletal and cell-adhesion proteins (actin, myosin, desmin, alpha-actinin, troponin, titin, vimentin and vinculin) using immunofluorescence microscopy and video-enhanced, background-subtracted, differential interference contrast of 24- to 48-h zebrafish embryos. In the mature myotome, the mononucleated myoblasts displayed periodic striations for all sarcomeric proteins tested. The changes in desmin distribution from aggregates to perinuclear and striated forms, although following the same sequence, occurred much faster than in other models. All desmin-positive cells were also positive for myofibrillar proteins and striated, in contrast to that which occurs in cell cultures. Vimentin appeared to be striated in mature cells, while it is developmentally down-regulated in vitro. The whole connective tissue septum between the somites was positive for adhesion proteins such as vinculin, instead of the isolated adhesion plaques observed in cell cultures. The differences in the myogenesis of zebrafish in situ and in cell culture in vitro suggest that some of the previously observed structures and protein distributions in cultures could be methodological artifacts

Distribution of liposome-encapsulated antimony in dogs

The achievement of complete cure in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis is currently a great challenge, since dogs are the main reservoir for the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis to humans and they respond poorly to conventional treatment with pentavalent antimonials. In order to improve the efficacy of treatment, we developed a novel formulation for meglumine antimoniate based on the encapsulation of this drug in freeze-dried liposomes (LMA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biodistribution of antimony (Sb) in dogs following a single intravenous bolus injection of LMA. Four healthy male mongrel dogs received LMA at 3.8 mg Sb/kg body weight and were sacrificed 3, 48 and 96 h and 7 days later. Antimony was determined in the blood, liver, spleen and bone marrow. In the bone marrow, the highest Sb concentration was observed at 3 h (2.8 æg/g wet weight) whereas in the liver and spleen it was demonstrated at 48 h (43.6 and 102.4 æg/g, respectively). In these organs, Sb concentrations decreased gradually and reached levels of 19.1 æg/g (liver), 28.1 æg/g (spleen) and 0.2 æg/g (bone marrow) after 7 days. Our data suggest that the critical organ for the treatment with LMA could be the bone marrow, since it has low Sb levels and, presumably, high rates of Sb elimination. A multiple dose treatment with LMA seems to be necessary for complete elimination of parasites from bone marrow in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis