Reproductive and ecological similarity between Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766) in southern Bahia (Brazil).

This study evaluates the reproductive and ecological similarity between loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) two species of sea turtles on the southern coast of Bahia (Brazil) during two breeding seasons (October to April 2013 to 2015). The study covers a 10-km area composed of three beaches, Pompilho, Itacarezinho and Patizeiro beach, which are 5, 3, and 2 km long, respectively. Daily field surveys were performed for 102 days to assess patterns between the studied species, using the non-metric multidimensional scaling order and the Spearman correlation analysis to obtain the oviposition pattern of the two species. Moreover, Kruskall-Wallys tests were performed to review the differences in the number of hatchlings on the three beaches. The NMDS proved the species are very similar from an ecological perspective since as there were three clear groupings in terms of the number of hatchlings on the three beaches. With reference to the number of nests, a negative correlation was observed in the two species. Regarding the hatching activity of both species on the three beaches studied, a larger amount of C. caretta and E. imbricata hatchlings was found on Pompilho beach, followed by Patizeiro and Itacarézinho. These findings influence management strategies to reduce anthropogenic impact and contribute to the conservation of these two endangered sea turtle species.

Metabolite transporters in trypanosomatid parasites: promising therapeutic targets but... How to deal with them?

Infections caused by protozoan parasites are one of the most important public health problems in developing countries. One approach to design new drugs for these parasitic diseases relies on metabolic and molecular features which are ideally absent in mammalian hosts. Out of them, nutrient transporters play an important role since they were subjected to millions of years of adaptation to parasitism, in which this protozoan replaced many biosynthetic routes for transport systems. Here we address the current knowledge of trypanosomatids transport systems and the molecules related to such processes, including a description of permeases involved in drug uptake, and also those responsible of drug resistance. The latter process produces, in many cases, the treatment failure due to the loss of the transporter function, as is the case of eflornithine, as well as by increasing the extrusion of drugs, in which usually ABC-type transporters are involved. All these aspects and the perspectives on this topic are briefly updated in this review.

Trypanosoma cruzi nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1 ( TcNDPK1) has a broad nuclease activity.

Here, we present the characterization of a trypanosomatid nucleoside diphosphate kinase (TcNDPK1) exhibiting nuclease activity. This is the first identification of a NDPK with this property in trypanosomatid organisms. The recombinant TcNDPK1 protein cleaves not only linear DNA, but also supercoiled plasmid DNA. Additionally, TcNDPK1 is capable of degrading Trypanosoma cruzi genomic DNA. ATP or ADP did not affect the nuclease activity, while the absence of Mg2+ completely inhibits this activity. NDPK and nuclease activities were inhibited at the same temperature, suggesting the presence of related catalytic sites. Furthermore, phenogram analysis showed that TcNDPK1 is close to Drosophila melanogaster and human NDPKs. The unspecific nuclease activity could suggest a participation in cellular processes such as programmed cell death.

[3H]Leucine incorporation method as a tool to measure secondary production by periphytic bacteria associated to the roots of floating aquatic macrophyte.

The present study assessed the application of [(3)H]Leucine incorporation into protein by periphytic bacteria associated with the roots of the floating aquatic macrophyte Eichornia crassipes. Basic assumptions underlying the method, such as linearity of leucine incorporation, saturation level of incorporation rates, incorporation into other macromolecules, specificity of incorporation for bacterial assemblages and [(3)H]Leucine degradation during samples storage were tested, and two procedures for extracting the incorporated leucine were compared. Both methods gave the same results, however, the hot TCA extraction method was less time consuming than the alkaline extraction method. Incorporation of [(3)H]Leucine was linear for up to 40 min. Saturation concentration of [(3)H]Leucine incorporation into protein was 1500 nM. An experiment with prokaryotic and eukaryotic inhibitors showed no significant [(3)H]Leucine incorporation into eukaryotes even in high leucine concentrations. No significant amounts of radiolabel were incorporated into other macromolecules. The maximum time of sample storage after the incubation is 15 days. The leucine incorporation method can be a reliable tool to measure bacterial production in the periphyton root-associated bacteria.

Performance of bean bruchids Callosobruchus maculatus and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) reared on resistant (IT81D-1045) and susceptible (Epace 10) Vigna unguiculata seeds: relationship with trypsin inhibitor and vicilin excretion.

Callosobruchus maculatus (Cm) and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Zs) were reared on resistant (IT81D-1045) and on susceptible (Epace 10) cowpea seeds. The emergence of adult insects, total developmental period (TDP) and excretion of trypsin inhibitor and vicilin were determined for both bruchid populations. Parameter evaluation showed that the Zs populations emerged from both seeds had no significant differences in emergence and TDP. The Cm population raised from resistant seeds had lower emergence (5.6+/-1.3%) and delayed TDP (46+/-1.25 days) than those emerged from susceptible seeds. The excretion of defense proteins showed that Zs reared in resistant seeds excreted 1.7 times more trypsin inhibitor, but this did not affect emergence or TDP. Furthermore, Cm population emerged from resistant seeds excreted 7 times higher vicilin and 0.4 times less trypsin inhibitor than that emerged from susceptible seeds. These results indicate that vicilins from resistant seeds are involved to significantly longer TDP (46 days) and also drastic reduction of insect emergence ( approximately 5%) of C. maculatus.

Anterior clinoid mucocele masquerading as retrobulbar neuritis.

Mucoceles arising from the anterior clinoid is rare. Although intrinsically benign, mucoceles in the sphenoid sinus (anterior clinoid variant) can lead to complications due to their proximity to other structures. We present a case of a young man whose visual complaints were typical for retrobulbar optic neuritis. Results of radiologic tests for diagnosis led us to the early detection of a surgically treatable condition, a sphenoid sinus mucocele (anterior clinoid variant). Early surgery was helpful in ameliorating the symptoms, leading to full recovery of visual function. The clinician should be aware of this rare entity with its presentation in a wide variety of signs and symptoms.

[Preliminary study of AP-64 cell line (Aedes pseudoscutellaris) for dengue-1 and -2 virus multiplication]. / Estudio preliminar de la línea celular AP-64 (Aedes pseudoscutellaris) para la multiplicación de los virus dengue-1 y 2.

We study a new arthropod cell line, AP-64, which was obtained from Aedes pseudoscutellaris larvae. The best growth and maintenance media are defined, testing the adequacy of dengue 1 and 2 viruses which become manifest by the appearance of the cytopathogenic effect as syncytiums. The immunofluorescence technique is applied to detect early multiplication of those viruses.

Jejunostomias - vantagens da dieta a base do leitelho. / Jejunostomies - advantage of diet based on milk

O nosso trabalho estudou 39 pacientes portadores de afeccoes cirurgicas do aparelho digestivo alto. Em 37 desses pacientes foi realizada jejunostomia durante o ato cirurgico e, nos outros dois ela foi realizada no pos-operatorio, para o tratamento de fistulas digestivas altas. Este procedimento foi realizado quando nao foi possivel o uso de outras vias de administracao de nutrientes, tais como a via oral ou a gastrostomia. A dieta empregada a base de leitelho Eledon recebe, ainda, a adicao dos seguintes nutrientes: Caseinato, Dextrose, ovo, sal e agua fervida. O uso do metodo nao provocou nenhum obito, tendo sido registradas as seguintes intercorrencias: 4 casos de diarreia e 5 casos de distensao no inicio da nossa experiencia, quando era administrada a dieta atraves de seringas. Estas intercorrencias foram abolidas prontamente, quando entao se passou a aquecer levemente a dieta e a admisnistra-la por gotejamento gravitacional continuo. Nao se observou saida espontanea da sonda nem formacao de fistula jejunal, apos a sua retirada. A metodologia empregada trouxe as seguintes vantagens: a) Realimentacao precoce dos pacientes submetidos a intervencao cirurgica do aparelho digestivo alto, b) Emprego de dieta de alto valor calorico