Teaching of Veterinary Parasitology to University students in Trinidad, West Indies: are our local wildlife species neglected? / Ensino de parasitologia veterinária para estudantes universitários em Trinidad, Índias Ocidentais: nossas espécies selvagens locais são negligenciadas?

Parasites of veterinary importance have been heavily focused on domesticated livestock that was introduced into the neo-tropics. The text used in the teaching parasitology to veterinary students in Trinidad has only investigated the parasites of domesticated species. In the reviewed veterinary parasitology text no mention was made on the parasites that affect wild neo-tropical animals. Information on wild neo-tropical animals had to be sourced from texts on the management of wild life animals in the Neotropics. The texts that were reviewed in this document spanned from the mid-1950s to 2020. The information presented in this review reveals the exhaustive work done on the parasites of domesticated species but also revealed little information on neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. In conclusion, this review reveals the gap of information that is missing from parasitology texts used in the teaching of veterinary students. In the future these parasitology texts can be revised to include chapters on the parasites of neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. At present students that graduate from the veterinary parasitology course has little information on the parasites of animals which are present in their 'backyards'.

Parasitas de importância veterinária têm se concentrado fortemente em animais domésticos que foram introduzidos na região neotrópica. O texto usado no ensino de parasitologia para estudantes de veterinária em Trinidad investigou apenas os parasitas de espécies domesticadas. No texto de parasitologia veterinária revisado, nenhuma menção foi feita sobre os parasitas que afetam os animais selvagens neotropicais. As informações sobre animais selvagens neotropicais tiveram que ser obtidas a partir de textos sobre o manejo de animais selvagens nos Neotrópicos. Os textos revisados neste documento vão de meados da década de 1950 até 2020. As informações apresentadas nesta revisão revelam o trabalho exaustivo realizado sobre os parasitas de espécies domesticadas, mas também revelaram poucas informações sobre animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Em conclusão, esta revisão revela a lacuna de informação que existe nos textos de parasitologia utilizados no ensino de estudantes de veterinária. No futuro, esses textos de parasitologia podem ser revisados para incluir capítulos sobre os parasitas de animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Atualmente, os alunos que se formam no curso de parasitologia veterinária têm poucas informações sobre os parasitas de animais que estão presentes em seus "quintais".

Teaching of Veterinary Parasitology to University students in Trinidad, West Indies; are our local wildlife species neglected?

Abstract Parasites of veterinary importance have been heavily focused on domesticated livestock that was introduced into the neo-tropics. The text used in the teaching parasitology to veterinary students in Trinidad has only investigated the parasites of domesticated species. In the reviewed veterinary parasitology text no mention was made on the parasites that affect wild neo-tropical animals. Information on wild neo-tropical animals had to be sourced from texts on the management of wild life animals in the Neotropics. The texts that were reviewed in this document spanned from the mid-1950s to 2020. The information presented in this review reveals the exhaustive work done on the parasites of domesticated species but also revealed little information on neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. In conclusion, this review reveals the gap of information that is missing from parasitology texts used in the teaching of veterinary students. In the future these parasitology texts can be revised to include chapters on the parasites of neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. At present students that graduate from the veterinary parasitology course has little information on the parasites of animals which are present in their backyards.

Resumo Parasitas de importância veterinária têm se concentrado fortemente em animais domésticos que foram introduzidos na região neotrópica. O texto usado no ensino de parasitologia para estudantes de veterinária em Trinidad investigou apenas os parasitas de espécies domesticadas. No texto de parasitologia veterinária revisado, nenhuma menção foi feita sobre os parasitas que afetam os animais selvagens neotropicais. As informações sobre animais selvagens neotropicais tiveram que ser obtidas a partir de textos sobre o manejo de animais selvagens nos Neotrópicos. Os textos revisados neste documento vão de meados da década de 1950 até 2020. As informações apresentadas nesta revisão revelam o trabalho exaustivo realizado sobre os parasitas de espécies domesticadas, mas também revelaram poucas informações sobre animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Em conclusão, esta revisão revela a lacuna de informação que existe nos textos de parasitologia utilizados no ensino de estudantes de veterinária. No futuro, esses textos de parasitologia podem ser revisados para incluir capítulos sobre os parasitas de animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Atualmente, os alunos que se formam no curso de parasitologia veterinária têm poucas informações sobre os parasitas de animais que estão presentes em seus quintais.

Teaching of Veterinary Parasitology to University students in Trinidad, West Indies; are our local wildlife species neglected? / Ensino de parasitologia veterinária para estudantes universitários em Trinidad, Índias Ocidentais; nossas espécies selvagens locais são negligenciadas?

Abstract Parasites of veterinary importance have been heavily focused on domesticated livestock that was introduced into the neo-tropics. The text used in the teaching parasitology to veterinary students in Trinidad has only investigated the parasites of domesticated species. In the reviewed veterinary parasitology text no mention was made on the parasites that affect wild neo-tropical animals. Information on wild neo-tropical animals had to be sourced from texts on the management of wild life animals in the Neotropics. The texts that were reviewed in this document spanned from the mid-1950s to 2020. The information presented in this review reveals the exhaustive work done on the parasites of domesticated species but also revealed little information on neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. In conclusion, this review reveals the gap of information that is missing from parasitology texts used in the teaching of veterinary students. In the future these parasitology texts can be revised to include chapters on the parasites of neo-tropical animals with the potential for domestication. At present students that graduate from the veterinary parasitology course has little information on the parasites of animals which are present in their 'backyards'.

Resumo Parasitas de importância veterinária têm se concentrado fortemente em animais domésticos que foram introduzidos na região neotrópica. O texto usado no ensino de parasitologia para estudantes de veterinária em Trinidad investigou apenas os parasitas de espécies domesticadas. No texto de parasitologia veterinária revisado, nenhuma menção foi feita sobre os parasitas que afetam os animais selvagens neotropicais. As informações sobre animais selvagens neotropicais tiveram que ser obtidas a partir de textos sobre o manejo de animais selvagens nos Neotrópicos. Os textos revisados neste documento vão de meados da década de 1950 até 2020. As informações apresentadas nesta revisão revelam o trabalho exaustivo realizado sobre os parasitas de espécies domesticadas, mas também revelaram poucas informações sobre animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Em conclusão, esta revisão revela a lacuna de informação que existe nos textos de parasitologia utilizados no ensino de estudantes de veterinária. No futuro, esses textos de parasitologia podem ser revisados ​​para incluir capítulos sobre os parasitas de animais neotropicais com potencial para domesticação. Atualmente, os alunos que se formam no curso de parasitologia veterinária têm poucas informações sobre os parasitas de animais que estão presentes em seus "quintais".

Learning from the llama: on the broad contours of cultural contributions and geographic expansion / Aprendendo com a lhama: sobre os amplos contornos de contribuições culturais e expansão geográfica

Abstract The llama (Lama glama) is the largest domesticated animal species from South America and is today found worldwide. Andean peoples have used the llama for millennia for meat, wool, packing, spiritual etc. In order to know the history of the llama, we must learn about the peoples that have known the animal and the ways those relationships have changed over time. While also considering closely related species, including alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña, this article posits three eras of llama/human entanglements: the era of domestication in pre-Columbian Andean sites; the era of dispersal and co-mingling, from 1530s to the 1890s; and finally popular fads and global appeal.

Resumo A lhama (Lama glama) é a maior espécie animal domesticada da América do Sul e atualmente é encontrada em todo o mundo. Os povos andinos a utilizam há milênios para transporte de carga, obtenção de lã e carne, uso espiritual etc. Para conhecer sua história, precisamos aprender sobre os povos que conhecem e se relacionam com esse animal, e como esses relacionamentos se transformaram ao longo do tempo. O artigo considera ainda outras espécies relacionadas, incluindo alpaca, guanaco e vicunha, e apresenta três eras da interação lhamas/humanos: a da domesticação em sítios andinos pré-colombianos; a da dispersão e mistura, dos anos 1530 à década de 1890; e, finalmente, modismos e interesse global.

Comparación del neurocráneo entre el gato doméstico (Felis catus Linneas 1758) y el montés (Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777) mediante técnicas de morfometría geométrica / Comparison of neurocranium between domestic cat (fFlis catus Linneas 1758) and wild cat (Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777) by means of geometric morphometric techniques

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar objetivamente las diferencias en la forma total (tamaño y forma pura) del neurocráneo entre un grupo de cráneos de gatos domésticos (Felis catus, n=81), y un grupo de gato montés (Felis silvestris, n=12) mediante técnicas de morfometría geométrica. Para ello se obtuvieron fotografías digitales del lado izquierdo de los cráneos de un modo estandarizado, y en las que se ubicaron 8 landmarks y 9 semilandmarks. Después de una superposición generalizada de Procrustes se procedió a un análisis de componentes principales y a otro de canónico a fin de comparar y detectar las posibles diferencias. Los tamaños neurocraneales no mostraron diferencias entre ambos grupos, pero sí que aparecieron diferencias significativas en la forma. Los cambios de forma afectarían principalmente la sutura escamoso-parietal-alisfenoidal y, en menor medida, puntos caudales del cráneo, lo que sugeriría cambios a nivel de músculos masticatorios. A conocimiento del autor, constituye esta la primera investigación que caracteriza y compara el cráneo de los gatos mediante métodos de morfometría geométrica, recomendándose un mayor uso de esta técnica dada la escasez de publicaciones al respecto en mamíferos domésticos.

SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to objectively compare the differences in the total shape (size and pure shape) of the neurocranium between a group of domestic cat skulls (Felis catus, n=81), and wildcats (Felis silvestris, n=12) by means of geometric morphometric techniques. To achieve it, we obtained digital photographs of the left side of the skulls in a standardized form, in which 8 landmarks and 9 semilandmarks were located. After a Generalized Procrustes Superimposition, a Principal Component Analysis and a Canonical Analysis one were performed to compare and detect possible differences. Neurocranial sizes showed no differences between the two groups, however, significant differences in shape did appear. Shape changes would mainly affect the squamosal-coronal suture and, to a lesser extent, caudal skull points, therefore suggesting changes in masticatory muscles. As far as this author´s knowledge, this is the first research that characterizes and compares the skull of cats using geometric morphology methods, recommending greater use of this technique given the scarcity of publications on this subject in domestic mammals.

Morpho-agronomic characterization of Varronia curassavica germplasm conservated "Ex situ" / Caracterização morfoagronômica de germoplasma de Varronia curassavica conservado "Ex situ"

Varronia curassavica Jacq. is a medicinal and aromatic plant native to Brazil. The essential oil of this species is valued by the pharmaceutical industry due to its bioactive substances containing anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to morpho-agronomically characterize 27 accessions of the collection of V. curassavica of the Active Germplasm Bank of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Federal University of Sergipe. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with three replications. The morphological characterization occurred in the field, by evaluating the variables plant height; canopy width; canopy shape; stem diameter; stem color; leaf blades width, length, and length/width ratio; leaves, petals, and sepals color. The agronomic characterization was performed using the essential oils extracted from dried leaves by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus. Leaves dry matter yield per plant and essential oil yield and content were also evaluated. The accessions showed great variation for leaves color, with different shades of green, which allowed separating them into dark green leaf and light green leaf plants. Plant height values ranged from 101.33 cm (VCUR-801) to 345.33 cm (VCUR-701). The clustering analysis of the traits revealed seven distinct groups. The accessions VCUR-103 and VCUR-001 were the most divergent, whereas the accessions VCUR-401 and VCUR-404 were the most similar. The morpho-agronomic characterization of V. curassavica accessions provides a correct description of the species by pointing out perspectives for genetic improvement, besides optimizing the conservation process. KEYWORDS: Cordiaceae. Medicinal plant. Aromatic plant. Essential oil. Domestication. Genetic breeding INTRODUCTION Brazil is rich in plant biodiversity (SOUZA et al., 2010). However, in recent years, its biodiversity has undergone accelerated destruction,mainly affecting the natural vegetation. This fact is due to agricultural expansion, fires, logging, extractivism, and uncontrolled urban growth. All these changes have posed a great threat to several plant species in the country (OLIVEIRA, 2010). An alternative for the maintenance and conservation of endangered species is the formationof collections in Active Germplasm Banks, which holds base collections for the conservation of a broad plant genetic variability, enabling biodiversity maintenance (SILVA et al., 2012). Varronia curassavica Jacq. (ex Cordia verbenacea DC.)] is a medicinal and aromatic plant native to Brazil, belonging to the Cordiaceae family (GASPARINO; BARROS, 2009). It occurs from Central America to southern Brazil (LORENZI; MATOS, 2008) in a wide range of habitats, such as beaches, restinga, forests, and cerrado (WANDERLEY et al., 2002). V. curassavica has stood out both in folk medicine and in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly due to the anti-inflammatory substances present in its essential oil (PASSOS et al., 2007; PARISSOTO et al., 2012; PIMENTEL et al., 2012). The effectiveness of V. curassavica is recognized by the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). The plant is included in the List of the Unified Health System (SUS) and the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System (RENISUS) (BRASIL, 2011). Due to its therapeutic properties, several studies have been developed aimed at the selection Received: 14/05/18 Accepted: 20/11/19

Varronia curassavica Jacq. é uma planta medicinal e aromática nativa do Brasil. O óleo essencial desta espécie é utilizado pela indústria farmacêutica por conter substâncias bioativas com propriedades anti-inflamatórias. Objetivou-se caracterizar morfoagronomicamente 27 acessos da coleção de V. curassavica do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Plantas Medicinais e Aromáticas da Universidade Federal de Sergipe. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com três repetições. A caracterização morfológica foi realizada em campo, por meio da avaliação da altura da planta; largura da copa; formato da copa; diâmetro do caule a 10 cm do solo; cor do caule; largura, comprimento e relação comprimento/largura das lâminas foliares; e cor das folhas, pétalas e sépalas. A caracterização agronômica foi realizada a partir dos óleos essenciais extraídos de folhas secas por hidrodestilação em aparelho Clevenger. Foi avaliado o rendimento de massa seca das folhas por planta e o teor e rendimento do óleo essencial. Grande variação foi observada entre os acessos para a coloração das folhas, as quais apresentaram diferentes tonalidades de verde, sendo possível separá-las entre plantas com folhas verde-escuro e plantas com folhas verde-claro. Para a variável altura de planta, os valores variaram de 101,33 cm (VCUR-801) a 345,33 cm (VCUR-701). Sete grupos distintos foram formados na análise de agrupamento realizada a partir dos caracteres avaliados. Os acessos VCUR-103 e VCUR-001 foram os que se mostraram mais divergentes, enquanto que os mais semelhantes foram os acessos VCUR-401 e VCUR-404. A caracterização morfoagronômica dos acessos de erva-baleeira permitirá a realização de uma correta descrição da espécie, apontando perspectivas para o melhoramento genético, além de possibilitar a otimização do processo de conservação.

Hello, kitty: could cat allergy be a form of intoxication?

The relationship between slow loris (Nycticebus spp.) venom (BGE protein) and the major cat allergen (Fel d 1) from domestic cat (Felis catus) is known for about two decades. Along this time, evidence was accumulated regarding convergences between them, including their almost identical mode of action. Methods: Large-scale database mining for Fel d 1 and BGE proteins in Felidae and Nycticebus spp., alignment, phylogeny proposition and molecular modelling, associated with directed literature review were assessed. Results: Fel d 1 sequences for 28 non-domestic felids were identified, along with two additional loris BGE protein sequences. Dimer interfaces are less conserved among sequences, and the chain 1 shows more sequence similarity than chain 2. Post-translational modification similarities are highly probable. Conclusions: Fel d 1 functions beyond allergy are discussed, considering the great conservation of felid orthologs of this protein. Reasons for toxicity being found only in domestic cats are proposed in the context of domestication. The combination of the literature review, genome-derived sequence data, and comparisons with the venomous primate slow loris may point to domestic cats as potentially poisonous mammals.(AU)

Breeding of Hyphomicrobium denitrificans for high production of pyrroloquinoline quinone by adaptive directed domestication / 生物工程学报

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is widely distributed in organisms and has physiological functions such as boosting body growth, maintaining mitochondrial function, promoting synthesis of nerve growth factor and regulating free radical levels in the body. It has broad application prospects in the fields of medicine, food and cosmetics. In order to improve the PQQ production of Hyphamicrobium denitrificans FJNU-6, the high-concentration methanol was used as the antagonistic factor for laboratory adaptive domestication. The PQQ positive mutants were selected using rapid screening system by spectroscopy. After 6 rounds of adaptive domestication, about 10% mutants were acquired with a doubled yield, and over 90% positive mutation rate of each round of domestication was reached. Subsequently, the mutant strain FJNU-R8 was fermented by 5 L fermenter. Compared with the original strain, the expression of pqq and moxF gene clusters were higher at different methanol concentrations and similar to each other. Meanwhile, the methanol consumption rate and growth rate were slower than the original strain. Finally, the PQQ yield was increased by 1.42 times to 1 087.81 mg/L (143 h), indicating good industrial application potential. The adaptive domestication combined with rapid screening system described in this study can easily and rapidly obtain mutants with high yield of PQQ, which can be used as reference for high-throughput screening of other high-yield PQQ mutants of methylotrophic bacteria.

Sobre a relação humano-cão / Concerning the human-dog relationship / La relation homme-chien / Sobre la relación humano-perro

Resumo Neste artigo são discutidos aspectos concernentes ao início do convívio entre cães e humanos e às diferenças culturais que afetam as relações entre as duas espécies. O estudo das interações entre humanos e cães precisa trazer à tona a pluralidade de fenômenos interconectados: o processo de domesticação iniciado há milhares de anos, os efeitos evolutivos da relação entre as duas espécies e os aspectos culturais que influenciam a convivência entre nós. Considerando essa visão holística, enxergamos de maneira ampla o cenário interacionista, estabelecendo paralelos muitas vezes ignorados por estudos pontuais e/ou enviesados por paradigmas experimentais de baixa relevância ecológica para os animais.

Abstract This article discusses the beginning of the relationship between dogs and humans and the cultural differences that affect the relationships between the two species. The study of interactions between humans and dogs needs to bring to light its plurality of interconnected phenomena: the domestication process that began thousands of years ago, the evolutionary effects of their relationship and the cultural aspects that influence such coexistence. Given this holistic view, we perceive this interaction scenario broadly, establishing parallels often ignored by one-off studies and/or biased by experimental paradigms of low ecological relevance to animals.

Résumé Dans cet article sont discutés des aspects liés au début de la cohabitation entre les chiens et les humains et les différences culturelles qui affectent ces relations interspécifiques. L'étude des interactions entre humains et chiens doit faire apparaître la pluralité des phénomènes reliés entre eux : le processus de domestication qui a commencé il y a milliers d'années, les effets évolutifs de cette relation et les aspects culturels qui influencent la coexistence entre nous. Compte tenu de cette vision holistique, c'est possible de voir largement le scénario interactionniste, et d'établir des parallèles souvent ignorés par les études individuelles ou biaisé par des paradigmes expérimentaux d'importance écologique négligeable pour les animaux.

Resumen Este artículo analiza los aspectos relacionados con el comienzo de la relación entre perros y humanos, y las diferencias culturales que afectan las relaciones entre las dos especies. El estudio de las interacciones entre humanos y perros necesita sacar a la luz la pluralidad de fenómenos interconectados: el proceso de domesticación que comenzó hace miles de años, los efectos evolutivos de la relación entre las dos especies y los aspectos culturales que influyen en la convivencia entre nosotros. Teniendo en cuenta esta visión holística, vemos el panorama interaccionista de manera general, estableciendo paralelos a menudo ignorados por estudios específicos y/o sesgados por paradigmas experimentales de baja relevancia ecológica para los animales.

Biogeografía del tomate Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Solanaceae) en su centro de origen (sur de América) y de domesticación (México)

El tomate (Solanum lycopersicum) es una de las principales hortalizas en el mundo debido a las importantes ganancias económicas que genera su comercialización; sin embargo, a pesar de que la especie es ampliamente cultivada en el mundo, su diversidad genética se considera restringida. Esto hace que su resistencia a plagas y enfermedades en las variedades actualmente cultivadas sea baja. Existe la forma silvestre S. l. var ceraciforme que se distribuye desde Suramérica (centro de origen) hasta México (área de domesticación), específicamente en la vertiente del Golfo de México en Veracruz. Como objetivo, se quiso identificar patrones de diversificación ambiental con los que se pudiesen inferir procesos de adaptación de las poblaciones en el área de domesticación con respecto a su centro de origen. Asimismo, se planteó proponer medidas de conservación y rescate del tomate S. l. var. cerasiforme. Se realizaron modelos de nicho ecológico (MNE) con Maxent versión 3.4.1 (evaluados con AUC y ROC-parcial) para determinar la idoneidad de las condiciones ambientales, incluyendo proyecciones del centro de domesticación al área de origen y viceversa. Esto se realizó con base en ocho variables de temperatura y precipitación. Los registros de tomate fueron tomados de fuentes bibliográficas y trabajo de campo. Seguidamente, se realizó la prueba de comparación de nichos (equivalencia y similitud), propuesta por Broennimann et al. (2012), para evaluar la similitud de condiciones ambientales en ambas regiones. Posteriormente, se realizó un análisis de varianza seguido de una prueba de comparación de medias (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) con las ocho variables ambientales utilizadas. Los valores de AUC (0.93 y 0.80) y ROC-parcial obtenidos (1.86 y 1.71; P = 0.0001) de los MNE muestran que fueron buenos modelos predictores. Se observó que en el centro de México existen condiciones ambientales similares a las del centro de origen, a diferencia de la vertiente del Golfo de México donde son diferentes. La prueba de equivalencia mostró que la comparación ambiental entre ambas regiones es menos equivalente que lo esperado por azar (P = 0.003). Mientras tanto, la otra prueba indica que la similitud que existe entre ambas regiones también se puede obtener por azar (P = 0.683). También, se encontraron diferencias significativas en tres variables de temperatura y precipitación. En conclusión, el centro de origen y de domesticación de S. l. var. cerasiforme tienen características ambientales en común a pesar de la distancia geográfica, pero existen zonas geográficas (vertiente del Golfo de México en Veracruz) en el área de domesticación con condiciones ambientales diferentes a las de su centro de origen y con un potencial importante como bancos de germoplasma.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the main horticultural crops in the world because of the important economic benefits that its commercialization generates. Even though the species is widely cultivated in the world, it is susceptible to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses due to the loss of its genetic diversity. There is a wild form called S. l. var ceraciforme that is distributed from South America (its center of origin) to Mexico (its area of domestication), specifically on the slope of the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz. Due to the large genetic diversity of these wild tomatoes, it is important to improve its crop. The objective of this investigation was to identify patterns of environmental diversification of the tomato, infer the processes of adaptation of the populations in the area of domestication with respect to their center of origin and propose measures of conservation and variation of S. l. var. cerasiforme. We generated two ecological niche models (MNE) with Maxent version 3.4.1 (evaluated with AUC and partial-ROC) to determine the suitability of environmental conditions including their respective projections from the domestication center to the area of origin and vice versa. We used eight variables of temperature and precipitation. Additionally, we included tomato records from bibliographical sources and fieldwork. We also used the niche comparison test (equivalency and similarity) proposed by Broennimann et al. (2012) to evaluate the similarity of environmental conditions in both regions. Subsequently, we carried out an analysis of variance followed by a mean comparison test (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) with all environmental variables measured. The values of AUC (0.93 and 0.80) and partial-ROC (1.86 and 1.71, P = 0.0001) of the MNE showed that they were good predictive models. We observed that, in the center of Mexico, there are environmental conditions similar to those of the center of origin, unlike the slope of the Gulf of Mexico where they are different. The equivalency test showed that the environmental comparison between both regions is less similar than expected by chance (P = 0.003). The similarity test indicated that the existing similarity between both regions can also be obtained by chance (P = 0.683). We also found significant differences in three temperature and precipitation variables. In conclusion, we determined that the center of origin and domestication of S. l. var. cerasiforme has similar environmental characteristics despite the geographic distance; nevertheless, there are geographical zones (the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz) in the area of domestication with different environmental conditions. Those places have the potential to contain valuable germplasms.

New clues into the mechanisms of rice domestication

Domestication of rice involved incorporation of specific yield-related changes in wild species of rice. This agriculturalprocess has been of significant interest for plant biologists. The recent advance in genomics has provided new tools toinvestigate the genetic basis and consequences of domestication. Several genes involved in domestication and diversification process have been characterized, and as expected, this list is over-represented by transcription factors and their cofactors. Most often the modification orchestrated expression levels of genes such as those coding for transcription factors. Ithas been proposed that transcriptional regulators and their regulation is likely a major theme controlling morphologicaldifferences between crops and their progenitors. However, recent data indicate that single amino acid changes in genescoding for key proteins as well as epigenetic and small RNA-mediated pathways also contributed towards domesticationassociated phenotypes.

Morphometric traits of the heart in standard and mutational colour variants of American mink ( Neovison vison ) / Características morfométricas del corazón en las variantes de color estándar y mutacional del visón americano ( Neovison vison )

The aim of this study was to estimate the values of morphological traits of myocardium in American minks. The study was conducted on 342 male mink hearts and 416 female mink hearts. Mink coat coloration resulting from mutation or crossbreeding of mutational variants with each other and sex were assumed as a source of variation. Carcass, lung and heart weights, heart height, width, depth and circumference, as well as left and right ventricular wall weights and thickness at two locations were determined. The values of 10 indices characterising the relative size of the heart were estimated. The results showed no normal distribution of the heart traits examined. The greatest average heart weight was characteristic of male mutational colour variant minks (17.40 ± 2.34 g). These hearts were heavier by more than 8 % than those of male standard colour variant minks. The hearts of male mutational colour variant minks were characterised by the greatest left and right ventricle weights (P≤0.01) compared to those of male standard colour variant minks, in which in turn the greatest left and right ventricle wall thickness was larger than that in standard colour variant minks. It was found that a greater difference calculated between mean left ventricle wall thickness and mean right ventricle wall thickness in standard colour variant minks may provide more evidence of its adaptation to a greater effort, referring thus to their evolutionary history than to the occurrence of signs of multistage myocardial hypertrophy.

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar los valores de los rasgos morfológicos del miocardio en el visón americano. El estudio se realizó en 342 corazones de visón macho y 416 corazones de visón hembra. La coloración de la capa de visón resultante de la mutación o el cruce de variantes mutacionales entre sí, y el sexo se asumieron como una fuente de variación. Se determinaron los pesos de la canal, los pulmones y el corazón, la altura del corazón, el ancho, la profundidad y la circunferencia, así como los pesos y el grosor de las paredes de los ventrículos izquierdo y derecho en dos ubicaciones. Se estimaron los valores de 10 índices que caracterizan el tamaño relativo del corazón. Los resultados no mostraron una distribución normal de los rasgos de los corazones examinados. El mayor peso promedio del corazón fue característico de los visones de variante de color mutacional macho (17,40 ± 2,34 g). Estos corazones eran más pesados en más de un 8 % que los de los visones con variante de color estándar machos. Los corazones de los visones de variante de color mutacional macho se caracterizaron por los mayores pesos de los ventrículos izquierdo y derecho (P≤0,01) en comparación con los de los visones de color estándar machos, en los que a su vez el mayor grosor de las paredes de los ventrículos izquierdo y derecho fue mayor que el de las variantes de colores estándar. Se observó que una mayor diferencia entre los grosores medio de las paredes de los ventrículos izquierdo y derecho en las variantes de color estándar, puede proporcionar más pruebas de su adaptación a un mayor esfuerzo, refiriéndose así a su historial evolutivo, pese a la aparición de signos de hipertrofia miocárdica multietapa.

Development and characterization of InDel markers for Lupinus luteus L. (Fabaceae) and cross-species amplification in other Lupin species

Background: Strong artificial selection and/or natural bottle necks may limit genetic variation in domesticated species. Lupinus luteus, an orphan temperate crop, has suffered diversity reductions during its bitter/sweet alkaloid domestication history, limiting breeding efforts and making molecular marker development a difficult task. The main goal of this research was to generate new polymorphic insertion­deletion (InDel) markers to aid yellow lupin genetics and breeding. By combining genomic reduction libraries and next generation sequencing, several polymorphic InDel markers were developed for L. luteus L. Results: A total of 118 InDel in silico polymorphic markers were identified. Eighteen InDel primer sets were evaluated in a diverse L. luteus core collection, where amplified between 2­3 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity (HO; 0.0648 to 0.5564) and polymorphic information content (PIC; 0.06 to 0.48) estimations revealed a moderate level of genetic variation across L. luteus accessions. In addition, ten and nine InDel loci amplified successfully Lupinus hispanicus Boiss & Reut, and Lupinus mutabilis Sweet, respectively, two L. luteus close relatives. PCA analysis identified two L. luteus clusters, most likely explained by the domestication species history. Conclusion: The development of InDel markers will facilitate the study of genetic diversity across L. luteus populations, as well as among closely related species.

Research progress on Atractylodes japonica / 中草药

Objective Atractylodes japonica, a member of the Compositae family, is a per nnial Chinese medicinal plant, whose rhizomes are used as medicinal materials with functions of antibiosis, anti-inflammatory, and dispelling wind-cold. A. japonica is mainly distributed in northeast China, which is the genuine medicine in northeast China, and it is also a traditional medicine of Korean nationality. In this paper, the plant morphology, classification, identification of medicinal properties, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and the cultivation techniques of A. japonica were briefly reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical reference for rational exploitation of Chinese material medica and sustainable utilization of resources of A. japonica.

Rice Genomics: over the Past Two Decades and into the Future / 基因组蛋白质组与生物信息学报·英文版

Domestic rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important cereal crops, feeding a large number of worldwide populations. Along with various high-throughput genome sequencing projects, rice genomics has been making great headway toward direct field applications of basic research advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of agronomical traits and utilizing diverse germplasm resources. Here, we briefly review its achievements over the past two decades and present the potential for its bright future.

Sloterdijk e a domesticação pós-humanista em Heidegger / Sloterdijk and posthumanist domestication in Heidegger

Sloterdijk, em Regras para o parque humano, realiza uma resposta à carta de Heidegger sobre o Humanismo, demonstrando como este somente viu uma face do processo, a questão do esquecimento do ser, deixando impensado o seu caráter propriamente domesticador. Este caráter já havia sido pensado por Nietzsche. Porém, Heidegger, ao compreender o Humanismo como metafísica do esquecimento do ser e colocar Nietzsche como o último dos metafísicos, deu pouca atenção para o problema. Contudo, a partir de Sloterdijk e de sua leitura nietzscheana, o presente artigo tem por objetivo compreender como Heidegger supera o Humanismo, mas não sua domesticação, inaugurando a possibilidade da domesticação pós-humanista, onde não é mais o homem que domestica o homem, mas a própria casa do ser.(AU)

Sloterdijk, in Rules for the human park, makes an answer to Heidegger's letter on Humanism, demonstrating how he only saw a face of the process, the question of the forgetfulness of the being, leaving unthinking its properly domesticating character. This character had already been thought by Nietzsche. However, Heidegger, by understanding Humanism as a metaphysics of the forgetting of being and putting Nietzsche as the last of the metaphysicians, paid little attention to the problem. However, from Sloterdijk and his Nietzschean reading, this article aims to understand how Heidegger overcomes Humanism, but not its domestication, inaugurating the possibility of posthumanist domestication, where it is no longer the man who domesticates man, But the very house of being.(AU)

Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin systems in the domestication process

Abstract Domestication is of unquestionable importance to the technological revolution that has given rise to modern human societies. In this study, we analyzed the DNA and protein sequences of six genes of the oxytocin and arginine vasopressin systems (OXT-OXTR; AVP-AVPR1a, AVPR1b and AVPR2) in 40 placental mammals. These systems play an important role in the control of physiology and behavior. According to our analyses, neutrality does not explain the pattern of molecular evolution found in some of these genes. We observed specific sites under positive selection in AVPR1b (ω = 1.429, p = 0.001) and AVPR2 (ω= 1.49, p = 0.001), suggesting that they could be involved in behavior and physiological changes, including those related to the domestication process. Furthermore, AVPR1a, which plays a role in social behavior, is under relaxed selective constraint in domesticated species. These results provide new insights into the nature of the domestication process and its impact on the OXT-AVP system.

A walk on the wild side: Oryza species as source for rice abiotic stress tolerance

Abstract Oryza sativa, the common cultivated rice, is one of the most important crops for human consumption, but production is increasingly threatened by abiotic stresses. Although many efforts have resulted in breeding rice cultivars that are relatively tolerant to their local environments, climate changes and population increase are expected to soon call for new, fast generation of stress tolerant rice germplasm, and current within-species rice diversity might not be enough to overcome such needs. The Oryza genus contains other 23 wild species, with only Oryza glaberrima being also domesticated. Rice domestication was performed with a narrow genetic diversity, and the other Oryza species are a virtually untapped genetic resource for rice stress tolerance improvement. Here we review the origin of domesticated Oryza sativa from wild progenitors, the ecological and genomic diversity of the Oryza genus, and the stress tolerance variation observed for wild Oryza species, including the genetic basis underlying the tolerance mechanisms found. The summary provided here is important to indicate how we should move forward to unlock the full potential of these germplasms for rice improvement.

Plantas medicinales de Panamá 1: etnobotánica de la reserva forestal el montuoso / Medicinal plants of Panamá: ethnobotanics of the montuoso forestal reserve

Se investigó el uso de las plantas medicinales de las comunidades de la Reserva Forestal El Montuoso (RFM), en el Distrito de Las Minas Panamá, se incluyeron los asentamientos humanos de mayor densidad: Chepo, Caras Pintadas, Tres Puntas, La Loma del Montuoso y La Peña. Se identificaron 142 especies. De estas especies el 52 por ciento provienen de los bosques de esta reserva y 47 por ciento de los huertos familiares, no se ha observado por parte de la población, intenciones de domesticación de las plantas, provenientes del bosque para posteriormente sembrarlas en sus huertos familiares. La parte más usada de las plantas medicinales es la hoja que se consumen generalmente en infusiones; en tanto que las raíces y la corteza se cocinan por 5 a 20 minutos (decocción y reducción). El principal uso de las plantas medicinales en la RFM es para combatir problemas gastrointestinales, enfermedades asociados al resfriado común, dolores en el cuerpo, presión arterial alta y enfermedades dermatológicas. Entre las especies silvestres más usadas tenemos: hierba de pasmo (Siparuna guianensis Aubl, Siparuna pauciflora Perkins, Siparuna tonduziana Perkins) y la hierba de montaña (Piper darienense C.DC.). The cultivated species most used are: mastranto (Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br.), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf) y aloe (Aloe vera L.). Estas plantas medicinales representan un gran recurso para esta región de difícil acceso a los servicios de salud.

The use of medicinal plants in the communities of The Montuoso Forest Reserve (MFR), in the district of Las Minas Panama is investigated. Human settlements of higher density were also included: Chepo, Caras PIntadas, Tres Puntas, the Loma del Montuoso and La Peña. 142 species were identified. Of these species, 52 percent are coming from the forests of the reserve and 47 percent of home gardens. It has not been observed by the population, intentions of domestication of plants from the forest, then sow in their home gardens. The most widely used medicinal plants of the MFR are usually consumed in teas; while the roots and bark are cooked for 5-20 minutes (decoction and reduction). The main use of medicinal plants in the MFR is to treat gastrointestinal disorders, diseases associated with the common cold, body aches, high blood pressure and skin diseases. Among the wild species used are: Hierba de Pasmo (Siparuna guianensis Aubl, Siparuna pauciflora Perkins, Siparuna tonduziana Perkins) and mountain herb (Piper darienense C.DC.). The Most used cultivated species are: Mastranto (Lippia alba (Mill) N.E.Br.), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.) and Aloe (Aloe vera L). These medicinal plants are a great resource for this region of difficult access to health services.

Uniparental genetic systems: a male and a female perspective in the domestic cattle origin and evolution

Over the last 20 years, the two uniparentally inherited marker systems, namely mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome have been widely employed to solve questions about origin and prehistorical range expansions, demographic processes, both in humans and domestic animals. The mtDNA and the Y chromosome, with their unique patterns of inheritance, continue to be extremely important source of information. These markers played significant roles in farm animals in the evaluation of the genetic variation within- and among-breed strains and lines and have widely applied in the fields of linkage mapping, paternity tests, prediction of breeding values in genome-assisted selection, analysis of genetic diversity within breeds detection of population admixture, assessment of inbreeding and relationships between breeds, and assignment of individuals to their breed of origin. This approach offers a unique opportunity to save genetic resources and achieving improved productivity. In the past years, significant progress was achieved in reconstructing detailed cattle phylogenies; many studies indicated multiple parental sources and several levels of phylogeographic structuring. More detailed researches are still in progress in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of such extant variability. This paper is focused on reviewing the use of the two uniparental markers as valuable tool for the characterization of cattle genetic diversity. Furthermore, their implications in animal breeding, management and genetic resources conservation are also reported.