Fauna of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) in a pasture area in Altamira, Eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil / Fauna de Noctuidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) em uma área de pastagem na Amazônia Oriental em Altamira, Pará, Brasil

This study evaluated the nocturnal fauna of Noctuidae in a pasture area in Altamira, Pará. Samples were collected monthly for two nights at the new moon period, from August 2007 to July 2008. We collected a total of 345 specimens (N) of 66 species (S). The most abundant species were Ptichodes basilans (Guenée) (n = 87), Leucania jaliscana (Schaus), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (n = 28) and Argidia palmipes Guenée (n = 21). For the entire period, the following indexes were found: Shannon diversity H′= 3.20 and Brillouin H = 2.94, evenness of Shannon E′= 0.76 and Brillouin E= 0.76, and Berger-Parker dominance BP= 0.252. The greatest diversity was found in the dry season. According to the estimates of species richness, it is possible that between 14 to 72 more species exist in the region.

A diversidade de Noctuidae noturnos foi estudada em área de pastagem em Altamira, Pará. As coletas foram feitas com armadilha luminosa, mensalmente durante duas noites no período de lua nova, entre agosto de 2007 a julho de 2008. Foi coletado um total de 345 espécimes (N) de 66 espécies (S). As espécies mais abundantes foram Ptichodes basilans (Guenée) (n=87), Leucania jaliscana (Schaus), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (n=28) e Argidia palmipes Guenée (n=21). Para todo o período de estudo foram encontrados os seguintes índices: diversidade de Shannon H′= 3,20 e de Brillouin H= 2,94, uniformidade de Shannon E′= 0,76 e Brillouin E= 0,76, e dominância Berger-Parker BP= 0,252. A estação menos chuvosa apresentou maior diversidade. As estimativas de riqueza apresentaram a possibilidade de se encontrar entre 14 a 72 espécies a mais.

Antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 messenger RNA fail to treat experimental tuberculosis

In the last several years, the use of dendritic cells has been studied as a therapeutic strategy against tumors. Dendritic cells can be pulsed with peptides or full-length protein, or they can be transfected with DNA or RNA. However, comparative studies suggest that transfecting dendritic cells with messenger RNA (mRNA) is superior to other antigen-loading techniques in generating immunocompetent dendritic cells. In the present study, we evaluated a new therapeutic strategy to fight tuberculosis using dendritic cells and macrophages transfected with Hsp65 mRNA. First, we demonstrated that antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA exhibit a higher level of expression of co-stimulatory molecules, suggesting that Hsp65 mRNA has immunostimulatory properties. We also demonstrated that spleen cells obtained from animals immunized with mock and Hsp65 mRNA-transfected dendritic cells were able to generate a mixed Th1/Th2 response with production not only of IFN-γ but also of IL-5 and IL-10. In contrast, cells recovered from mice immunized with Hsp65 mRNA-transfected macrophages were able to produce only IL-5. When mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated with antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA (therapeutic immunization), we did not detect any decrease in the lung bacterial load or any preservation of the lung parenchyma, indicating the inability of transfected cells to confer curative effects against tuberculosis. In spite of the lack of therapeutic efficacy, this study reports for the first time the use of antigen-presenting cells transfected with mRNA in experimental tuberculosis.