EGFR signaling and pharmacology in oncology revealed with innovative BRET-based biosensors.

Mutations of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are associated with the development of many cancers by modifying receptor signaling and contributing to drug resistance in clinical settings. We present enhanced bystander bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based biosensors providing new insights into RTK biology and pharmacology critical for the development of more effective RTK-targeting drugs. Distinct SH2-specific effector biosensors allow for real-time and spatiotemporal monitoring of signal transduction pathways engaged upon RTK activation. Using EGFR as a model, we demonstrate the capacity of these biosensors to differentiate unique signaling signatures, with EGF and Epiregulin ligands displaying differences in efficacy, potency, and responses within different cellular compartments. We further demonstrate that EGFR single point mutations found in Glioblastoma or non-small cell lung cancer, impact the constitutive activity of EGFR and response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The BRET-based biosensors are compatible with microscopy, and more importantly characterize the next generation of therapeutics directed against RTKs.

Beach sand plastispheres are hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes and potentially pathogenic bacteria even in beaches with good water quality.

Massive amounts of microplastics are transported daily from the oceans and rivers onto beaches. The ocean plastisphere is a hotspot and a vector for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and potentially pathogenic bacteria. However, very little is known about the plastisphere in beach sand. Thus, to describe whether the microplastics from beach sand represent a risk to human health, we evaluated the bacteriome and abundance of ARGs on microplastic and sand sampled at the drift line and supralittoral zones of four beaches of poor and good water quality. The bacteriome was evaluated by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, and the ARGs and bacterial abundances were evaluated by high-throughput real-time PCR. The results revealed that the microplastic harbored a bacterial community that is more abundant and distinct from that of beach sand, as well as a greater abundance of potential human and marine pathogens, especially the microplastics deposited closer to seawater. Microplastics also harbored a greater number and abundance of ARGs. All antibiotic classes evaluated were found in the microplastic samples, but not in the beach sand ones. Additionally, 16 ARGs were found on the microplastic alone, including genes related to multidrug resistance (blaKPC, blaCTX-M, tetM, mdtE and acrB_1), genes that have the potential to rapidly and horizontally spread (blaKPC, blaCTX-M, and tetM), and the gene that confers resistance to antibiotics that are typically regarded as the ultimate line of defense against severe multi-resistant bacterial infections (blaKPC). Lastly, microplastic harbored a similar bacterial community and ARGs regardless of beach water quality. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of microplastics in beach sand worldwide may constitute a potential threat to human health, even in beaches where the water quality is deemed satisfactory. This phenomenon may facilitate the emergence and dissemination of bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs.

Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. and Haemoproteus pulcher coinfection in Cariama cristata (Aves: Cariamiformes): first mitochondrial genome analysis and morphological description of a leucocytozoid in Brazil.

The distribution of avian haemosporidians of the genus Leucocytozoon in the Neotropics remains poorly understood. Recent studies confirmed their presence in the region using molecular techniques alone, but evidence for gametocytes and data on putative competent hosts for Leucocytozoon are still lacking outside highland areas. We combined morphological and molecular data to characterize a new Leucocytozoon species infecting a non-migratory red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata), the first report of a competent host for Leucocytozoon in Brazil. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. is distinguished from the Leucocytozoon fringillinarum group by its microgametocytes that are not strongly appressed to the host cell nucleus. The bird studied was coinfected with Haemoproteus pulcher, and we present a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of these 2 parasites. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. morphology is consistent with our phylogenetic analysis indicating that it does not share a recent common ancestor with the L. fringillinarum group. Haemoproteus pulcher and Haemoproteus catharti form a monophyletic group with Haemocystidium parasites of Reptilia, supporting the polyphyly of the genus Haemoproteus. We also discussed the hypothesis that H. pulcher and H. catharti may be avian Haemocystidium, highlighting the need to study non-passerine parasites to untangle the systematics of Haemosporida.

The Impact of Highly Weathered Oil from the Most Extensive Oil Spill in Tropical Oceans (Brazil) on the Microbiome of the Coral Mussismilia harttii.

In 2019, the largest oil spill ever recorded in tropical oceans in terms of extent occurred in Brazil. The oil from the spill was collected directly from the environment and used in an exposure experiment with the endangered reef-building coral Mussismilia harttii. The treatments of the experiment were control (without oil), 1% oil, 2.5% oil, and direct contact of coral with oil. The most abundant hydrocarbon in the seawater of the experiment was phenatrene, which is toxic to corals. However, overall, the concentration of PAHs was not very high. The analysis of the maximum photosynthetic capacity of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates showed a small impact of oil on corals, mainly on the contact treatment. However, coral microbiomes were affected in all oil treatments, with the contact treatment showing the most pronounced impact. A greater number and abundance of stress-indicating and potentially pathogenic bacteria were found in all oil treatments. Finally, this highly weathered oil that had lain in the ocean for a long time was carrying potentially coral-pathogenic bacteria within the Vibrionaceae family and was able to transmit some of these bacteria to corals. Bacteria within Vibrionaceae are the main causes of disease in different species of corals and other marine organisms.

Unveiling the hidden threat of microplastics to coral reefs in remote South Atlantic islands.

The widespread presence of marine microplastics (< 5 mm) is a significant concern, as it may harm marine biodiversity and ocean ecosystems. Corals' capacity to ingest microplastics has emerged as a significant threat to reef ecosystems, owing to the detrimental physiological and ecological effects it can trigger. The extent of the impact of microplastics on Brazilian corals remains unclear and this study aimed to investigate its distribution and characteristics in four coral species: Favia gravida, Mussismilia hispida, Montastrea cavernosa, and Siderastrea stellata, found in the Trindade and Martim Vaz Islands - the most isolated archipelago of Brazil, located about 1200 km (680 miles) east of the coast. This study aims to reveal the extent of microplastic distribution in the coral reef environment, assess the amount of microplastics in different coral species, and compare each species' capacity to adhere and accumulate microplastics. A high concentration of ingested and adhered microplastics was detected in all coral species evaluated in the present study. No significant differences were observed in the sampling points which indicates that although the sampling points are located at different distances from the coast, the microplastic pollution is equally distributed in the region. Polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Rayon, and Nylon particles were detected, with a predominance of PE (45.5 %). No significant differences in microplastic concentration were detected among the various species and locations studied. Our research presents findings that demonstrate the extensive occurrence of microplastic contamination in coral colonies located on remote islands.

Mature tertiary lymphoid structures are key niches of tumour-specific immune responses in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the immune microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs), here we explored the relevance of T and B cell compartmentalisation into tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) for the generation of local antitumour immunity. DESIGN: We characterised the functional states and spatial organisation of PDAC-infiltrating T and B cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), flow cytometry, multicolour immunofluorescence, gene expression profiling of microdissected TLSs, as well as in vitro assays. In addition, we performed a pan-cancer analysis of tumour-infiltrating T cells using scRNA-seq and sc T cell receptor sequencing datasets from eight cancer types. To evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings, we used PDAC bulk RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the PRINCE chemoimmunotherapy trial. RESULTS: We found that a subset of PDACs harbours fully developed TLSs where B cells proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells. These mature TLSs also support T cell activity and are enriched with tumour-reactive T cells. Importantly, we showed that chronically activated, tumour-reactive T cells exposed to fibroblast-derived TGF-ß may act as TLS organisers by producing the B cell chemoattractant CXCL13. Identification of highly similar subsets of clonally expanded CXCL13 + tumour-infiltrating T cells across multiple cancer types further indicated a conserved link between tumour-antigen recognition and the allocation of B cells within sheltered hubs in the tumour microenvironment. Finally, we showed that the expression of a gene signature reflecting mature TLSs was enriched in pretreatment biopsies from PDAC patients with longer survival after receiving different chemoimmunotherapy regimens. CONCLUSION: We provided a framework for understanding the biological role of PDAC-associated TLSs and revealed their potential to guide the selection of patients for future immunotherapy trials.

The microbial profile of rivers and lagoons three years after the impact of the world's largest mining disaster (Fundão dam, Brazil).

The collapse of the Fundão tailings dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) was the largest environmental disaster in Brazil's history and in the world mining industry. This disaster carried approximately 55 million m3 of iron ore tailings along the rivers and the lagoons of the Doce river basin. Although multiple studies assessed the impact on microbial communities in those rivers and lagoons right after the dam rupture, it is not known whether the microbiome in those environments remains impacted years after the disaster. Assessing the microbiome is very important to evaluate impacts and evaluate the health of the environment, due to the several ecological roles played by microorganisms. Here, we evaluated the impact of the dam failure on water and sediment bacteriome and archaeome by high-throughput next-generation sequencing. Samples were taken from two rivers and six lagoons during the dry and rainy seasons approximately three years post disturbance. The results showed a large number and abundance of microbial groups associated with the presence of heavy metals and mine tailings sediments. Some of these microorganisms were also reported in large abundance in the impacted rivers shortly after the Fundão dam rupture. Among the most abundant microorganisms in the Doce River, we can highlight the bacteria hgcI clade and the archaea Nitrososphera sp. in the water, and the bacteria Anaerolineaceae sp. in the sediment. These results suggest that the microbiome of the rivers and the lagoons in the Doce river basin remains severely impacted by the Fundão tailings dam failure even three years after the disaster. The presence of those microorganisms can also help to assess the occurrence of the Fundão dam sediment in other environments.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade via PD-L1 Potentiates More CD28-Based than 4-1BB-Based Anti-Carbonic Anhydrase IX Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells.

The complete regression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) obtained pre-clinically with anti-carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) G36 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in doses equivalent to ≅108 CAR T cells/kg renewed the potential of this target to treat ccRCC and other tumors in hypoxia. The immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) brought durable clinical responses in advanced ccRCC and other tumors. Here, we tested CD8α/4-1BB compared to CD28-based anti-CAIX CAR peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) releasing anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) IgG4 for human ccRCC treatment in vitro and in an orthotopic NSG mice model in vivo. Using a ≅107 CAR PBMCs cells/kg dose, anti-CAIX CD28 CAR T cells releasing anti-PD-L1 IgG highly decrease both tumor volume and weight in vivo, avoiding the occurrence of metastasis. This antitumoral superiority of CD28-based CAR PBMCs cells compared to 4-1BB occurred under ICB via PD-L1. Furthermore, the T cell exhaustion status in peripheral CD4 T cells, additionally to CD8, was critical for CAR T cells efficiency. The lack of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity upon the administration of a 107 CAR PMBCs cells/kg dose is the basis for carrying out clinical trials using anti-CAIX CD28 CAR PBMCs cells releasing anti-PD-L1 antibodies or anti-CAIX 4-1BB CAR T cells, offering exciting new prospects for the treatment of refractory ccRCC and hypoxic tumors.

Pancreas Transplantation in a Single Center: Risk Factors Associated With Pancreatic Allograft Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreas transplantation remains a challenging procedure for small and medium-sized transplants teams, despite improvements in graft survival. Data regarding the impact of the procurement team's experience on the outcomes of pancreas transplant are lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate risk factors that lead to pancreatic allograft thrombosis, especially the experience of the pancreas procurement team. METHODS: A retrospective study of 137 patients who underwent pancreas transplantation between March 2005 and May 2017 was conducted. Donor's and recipient characteristics were evaluated as well as their relationship to pancreatic allograft thrombosis. Cases were divided according to the number of pancreas procurements previously done by the procurement surgeon: group 1 (30 to 40 retrievals) and group 2 (≥40 retrievals). RESULTS: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants accounted for 89.8% of cases (n = 123). Surgeons from group 2 performed 62.8% (n = 86) of the procurements. The graft was removed in 19 cases (13.8%) due to thrombosis. In univariate analysis, lower experience of the retrieval team was associated with allograft loss (P = .04). In multivariate analysis, donor intensive care unit time ≥5 days (P = .03) and lower experience of the procurement team were associated with increased risk of pancreatic allograft thrombosis (P = .02), whereas recipient's age from 30 to 40 years (P = .018) or ≥40 years (P = .02) was found as a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic allograft thrombosis remains an important cause of graft loss in pancreas transplantation. Recipient's age, prolonged donor intensive care unit time, and lower experience of the procurement team directly influence pancreatic allograft thrombosis.

Retirement risks: Invasive coral on old oil platform on the Brazilian equatorial continental shelf.

The objective of this study was to report, for the first time, the presence of an invasive coral (Tubastraea tagusensis) in an oil platform on the Brazilian equatorial continental shelf. This structure is located more than 1200 km north from other oil and gas structures colonized by this coral. We also discussed the retirement and decommissioning of old biofouling-encrusted oil and gas platforms (~62 platforms) from decreased production and the current oil crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This presents an ecological concern due invasive coral range expansion and potential impacts to poorly studied ecosystems such as marginal shallow-water coral reefs and mesophotic ecosystems. It is imperative that mindful risk analysis and rigorous environmental studies must precede the installation of new oil and gas platforms. In addition, decommissioning of retired structures should take into consideration marine restoration and non-indigenous species dispersal, and more specifically, Tubastraea bioinvasion.

Ophthalmological profile of patients with thyroid diseases in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil: glaucoma investigation / Perfil oftalmológico de pacientes com tireoidopatias em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil: investigação de glaucoma

Objetivo: avaliar a prevalência de glaucoma entre os portadores de patologias tireoidianas, acompanhados na Clínica Escola de Saúde (CES) do núcleo de Medicina do Centro Universitário Christus (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza ­ Ceará ­ Brazil. Métodos: estudo transversal e descritivo de prontuários de pacientes diagnosticados com hipotireoidismo ou hipertiroidismo pelo Código Internacional de Doenças (CID-10) no sistema eletrônico da CES, entre 2013 e 2018. Pacientes triados foram convidados a realizar um exame oftalmológico na Fundação Leiria de Andrade (FLA). Resultados: dos 499 prontuários triados, 22,8% (114) possuíam diagnóstico confirmado para tireoidopatias, sendo 85,9% (98) com hipotireoidismo, e 14,0% (16) com hipertireoidismo. Desses, 72,0% (101) eram mulheres e 28,0% (13) homens. A faixa etária mais prevalente foi entre 41 a 60 anos de idade, correspondendo a 46,4% (53), sendo 65,7% (75) de Fortaleza ­ Ceará ­ Brasil. As principais comorbidades associadas às tireoidopatias foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, representando 43,8% (50), seguida de dislipidemia, 26,3% (30) e diabetes mellitus tipo 2 em 13,1% dos pacientes (15). Do total, 25 pacientes foram encaminhados à FLA, 84,0% (21) relataram doenças oculares prévias, 4,0% (1) diagnosticado com escavação aumentada constitucional e 12,0% (3) com diagnóstico de glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto. Conclusão: apesar da hipótese de associação entre o glaucoma e as tireoidopatias, o tamanho amostral não possibilitou inferências sobre o risco aumentado de sua correlação, assim como em outros estudos preexistentes na literatura, sendo necessários mais estudos para elucidar com maior precisão essa associação relevante. Palavras-chave: Glaucoma; Tireoide; Hipotireoidismo; Hipertireoidismo; Pressão Intraocular. Resumo Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of ophthalmological pathologies, between thyroidopathies, for early diagnosis of glaucoma in patients seen at the Clínica Escola de Saúde (CES) of the Medicine Center of the Centro Universitário Christus (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza ­ Ceará ­ Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study and descriptive analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) on the CES electronic system, between 2013 and 2018. Screened patients were invited to perform an eye examination at Fundação Leiria de Andrade (FLA). Results: Of the 499 medical records screened, 22.8% (114) had a confirmed diagnosis for thyroid disorders, 85.9% (98) with hypothyroidism, and 14.0% (16) with hyperthyroidism. Of these, 72.0% (101) were women and 28.0% (13) men. The most prevalent age group was between 41 and 60 years old, corresponding to 46.4% (53), being 65.7% (75) from Fortaleza - Ceará. The main comorbidities associated with thyroid diseases were systemic arterial hypertension, 43.8% (50), followed by dyslipidemia, 26.3% (30), and type 2 diabetes mellitus in 13.1% of patients (15). Of the total, 25 patients were referred to the FLA, 84.0% (21) reported previous eye diseases, 4.0% (1) diagnosticated with increased constitutional excavation, and 12.0% (3) with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma. Conclusion: Despite the hypothesis of an association between glaucoma and thyroidopathy, the sample size didn't allow inferences about the increased risk of its correlation, as well as in other pre-existing studies in the literature, requiring further studies to elucidate this relevant association.

Objetivo: avaliar a prevalência de glaucoma entre os portadores de patologias tireoidianas, acompanhados na Clínica Escola de Saúde (CES) do núcleo de Medicina do Centro Universitário Christus (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza ­ Ceará ­ Brazil. Métodos: estudo transversal e descritivo de prontuários de pacientes diagnosticados com hipotireoidismo ou hipertiroidismo pelo Código Internacional de Doenças (CID-10) no sistema eletrônico da CES, entre 2013 e 2018. Pacientes triados foram convidados a realizar um exame oftalmológico na Fundação Leiria de Andrade (FLA). Resultados: dos 499 prontuários triados, 22,8% (114) possuíam diagnóstico confirmado para tireoidopatias, sendo 85,9% (98) com hipotireoidismo, e 14,0% (16) com hipertireoidismo. Desses, 72,0% (101) eram mulheres e 28,0% (13) homens. A faixa etária mais prevalente foi entre 41 a 60 anos de idade, correspondendo a 46,4% (53), sendo 65,7% (75) de Fortaleza ­ Ceará ­ Brasil. As principais comorbidades associadas às tireoidopatias foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, representando 43,8% (50), seguida de dislipidemia, 26,3% (30) e diabetes mellitus tipo 2 em 13,1% dos pacientes (15). Do total, 25 pacientes foram encaminhados à FLA, 84,0% (21) relataram doenças oculares prévias, 4,0% (1) diagnosticado com escavação aumentada constitucional e 12,0% (3) com diagnóstico de glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto. Conclusão: apesar da hipótese de associação entre o glaucoma e as tireoidopatias, o tamanho amostral não possibilitou inferências sobre o risco aumentado de sua correlação, assim como em outros estudos preexistentes na literatura, sendo necessários mais estudos para elucidar com maior precisão essa associação relevante

A regulação do acesso à atenção especializada e a Atenção Primária à Saúde nas políticas nacionais do SUS / Access Regulation to Specialized Outpatient Care and the Primary Health Care in National Policies of SUS

Resumo Diferentes formulações têm dado destaque à Atenção Primária à Saúde como porta de entrada preferencial do sistema de saúde, base das redes de atenção e função de coordenação do cuidado. A regulação assistencial (ou do acesso), por sua vez, vem sendo considerada, no Brasil, uma estratégia e tecnologia central de gestão das redes. Este artigo objetivou caracterizar a interface entre atenção primária e regulação assistencial nas formulações e diretrizes nacionais sobre regulação assistencial do SUS, considerando o período de 2002 a 2017. Adotou-se a metodologia da análise documental, utilizando fontes de domínio público, notadamente portarias e manuais técnicos do Ministério da Saúde, organizando os conteúdos extraídos nas dimensões "conceitos de regulação", "organização e gestão da regulação" e "estratégias e ferramentas de regulação", dentro das quais se buscou caracterizar o lugar da atenção primária. Observou-se maior destaque para a interface entre regulação assistencial ambulatorial e atenção primária a partir de 2011 com a noção de microrregulação, de modo mais marcante nos documentos e iniciativas relacionados à gestão da atenção primária do que nos específicos da regulação, enfocando a elaboração de dispositivos de regulação a partir da atenção primária, destacando-se o Telessaúde.

Abstract Different formulations have emphasized Primary Health Care as the preferred gateway to the health system, the basis of care networks and the care coordination function. Access regulation, in turn, has been considered, in Brazil, as a strategy and central technology for network management. This article aimed to characterize how primary care is placed in the national formulations and guidelines on health care regulation of the SUS from 2002 to 2017. The methodology was the documentary analysis, using public domain sources, notably ordinances and technical manuals of the Ministry of Health, organizing the extracted contents in the dimensions "concepts of regulation", "organization and management of regulation" and "strategies and tools of regulation", which sought to characterize the place of primary care. Greater emphasis was given to the interface between health care regulation and primary care from 2011, more prominently in the documents and initiatives related to primary care management than in the specifics of regulation, focusing on the ambulatory dimension of access regulation and in the elaboration of regulation devices based on primary care, highlighting Telehealth.

Estrutura dos serviços de saúde bucal ofertados na Atenção Básica no Brasil: diferenças regionais / Structure of oral health services offered in Primary Care in Brazil: regional differences

RESUMO Teve-se por objetivo analisar as condições de acessibilidade, estrutura e oferta de serviços odontológicos de Unidades Básicas de Saúde com Equipe de Saúde Bucal e compará-los entre as regiões geográficas brasileiras. O estudo quantitativo, analítico e transversal utilizou dados secundários referentes aos Módulo I, V e VI da Avaliação Externa do 2º Ciclo do Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB) (2013-2014). A análise descritiva foi realizada por frequências absolutas (n) e relativas (%), e houve comparação entre regiões brasileiras pelo teste qui-quadrado com uso do Teste Z ajustado pelo método Bonferroni (p<0,05). A amostra foi constituída por 24.056 Unidades Básicas de Saúde, nas quais atuavam 29.778 Equipes de Atenção Básica; destas, 16.203 (67,3%) possuíam serviços odontológicos e abrigavam 18.119 Equipes de Saúde Bucal. De maneira geral, as Unidades Básicas de Saúde apresentavam boa estrutura física, porém, baixa acessibilidade para pessoas com deficiência. Os consultórios odontológicos apresentavam estrutura física adequada e equipamentos, instrumentos e insumos odontológicos suficientes. No entanto, exibiam alta proporção na oferta de serviço mutiladores em comparação a procedimentos que evitariam as extrações dentárias, e baixa oferta de referência especializada. Além disso, houve evidenciadas desigualdades regionais, favoráveis às regiões Sul e Sudeste.

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to analyze the conditions of accessibility, structure and offer of dental services in Basic Health Units with the Oral Health Team and to compare them between the Brazilian geographic regions. The quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional study used secondary data referring to Module I, V and VI of the External Evaluation of the 2nd Cycle of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ-AB) (2013-2014). The descriptive analysis was performed by absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies, and there was a comparison between Brazilian regions using the chi-square test using the Z Test adjusted by the Bonferroni method (p <0.05). The sample consisted of 24,056 Basic Health Units, in which 29,778 Primary Care Teams worked; of these, 16,203 (67.3%) had dental services and housed 18,119 Oral Health Teams. In general, the Basic Health Units had a good physical structure, but low accessibility for disabled persons. The dental offices had adequate physical structure and sufficient dental equipment, instruments and supplies. However, they exhibited a high proportion of mutilating service offerings compared to procedures that would avoid tooth extractions, and a low specialized reference supply. In addition, regional inequalities were observed, favorable to the South and Southeast regions.

Diversity patterns of reef fish along the Brazilian tropical coast.

Causal mechanisms for broad-scale reef fish diversity patterns are poorly understood and current knowledge is limited to trends of species richness. This work compared the effects of ecological drivers on components of fish diversity across reefs spanning over 2.000 km of the tropical Brazilian coastline. A quarter of communities' diversity is accountable to common and dominant species, while remaining species are rare. Low-latitude sites were more diverse in rare species. Communities along the coast share common and dominant species, which display high densities across all reefs, but differ in rare species that show abundance peaks in particular reef morphotypes. The disproportionate distribution of rare species reveals a higher vulnerability of these communities to impacts and stochastic density fluctuations. Uneven conservation efforts directed to these morphotypes pose a threat to the maintenance of a paramount component of the reef fish diversity represented by rare species.

Magnesium-Based Bioactive Composites Processed at Room Temperature.

Hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass particles were added to pure magnesium and an AZ91 magnesium alloy and then consolidated into disc-shaped samples at room temperature using high-pressure torsion (HPT). The bioactive particles appeared well-dispersed in the metal matrix after multiple turns of HPT. Full consolidation was attained using pure magnesium, but the center of the AZ91 disc failed to fully consolidate even after 50 turns. The magnesium-hydroxyapatite composite displayed an ultimate tensile strength above 150 MPa, high cell viability, and a decreasing rate of corrosion during immersion in Hank's solution. The composites produced with bioactive glass particles exhibited the formation of calcium phosphate after 2 h of immersion in Hank's solution and there was rapid corrosion in these materials.

Effects of depth on reef fish communities: Insights of a "deep refuge hypothesis" from Southwestern Atlantic reefs.

Deeper reefs are often considered to be less susceptible to local and global disturbances, such as overfishing, pollution and climate change, compared to shallow reefs and therefore could act as refugia for shallow water species. Hence, the interest on deeper reefs has happened at a time when shallow reefs are undergoing unprecedented changes. Here we investigated the hypothesis that fish community differed from shallow to deeper reefs due to factors apart from habitat structure and quality and therefore discuss for the first-time insights of a "deep refuge hypothesis" from Brazilian reefs. We collected data on fish community, benthic community and physiological conditions of two coral species on shallow (< 6 m) and deep reefs (> 25 m). No significant difference on substratum composition was observed comparing sites and depths. Additionally, physiological data on corals also showed similar oxidative status and growth conditions when comparing the two-coral species in shallow and deep reefs. Conversely, our study demonstrated strong differences on reef fish communities in terms of abundance, species richness, trophic groups, size classes and groups of interest when comparing shallow and deeper reefs. Fish abundance was 2-fold higher and species richness was up to 70% higher on deeper reefs. Also, a significant difference was observed comparing trophic groups of reef fish. Macrocarnivore, Mobile invertebrate feeders, Planktivores, Sessile Invertebrates Feeders and Roving Herbivores were more abundant on deeper reefs. On the other hand, Territorialist Herbivores almost exclusively dominated shallow reefs. Strong differences were also observed comparing the abundance of reef fish groups of interest and their respective size classes between shallow and deeper reefs. Ornamental, Great Herbivores and Groupers showed clear differences, with higher abundances being observed in deeper reefs. Considering size classes, larger individuals (> 15 cm) of Great Herbivores, Groupers and Snapper were uniquely recorded at deeper reefs. Additionally, individuals with > 30 cm were recorded almost exclusively on deeper reefs for all the analyzed groups of interest. Our findings suggest that fishing pressure on the target species may be attenuated on deeper reefs, and these regions may therefore be considered as areas of refuge from shallow water impacts. Therefore, the likely potential for deeper reefs protect species from natural or anthropogenic disturbances increases the attention of marine conservation planning and resource management on including deeper reefs in protected areas.

Characterization of a new GmFAD3A allele in Brazilian CS303TNKCA soybean cultivar.

KEY MESSAGE: We molecularly characterized a new mutation in the GmFAD3A gene associated with low linolenic content in the Brazilian soybean cultivar CS303TNKCA and developed a molecular marker to select this mutation. Soybean is one of the most important crops cultivated worldwide. Soybean oil has 13% palmitic acid, 4% stearic acid, 20% oleic acid, 55% linoleic acid and 8% linolenic acid. Breeding programs are developing varieties with high oleic and low polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic) to improve the oil oxidative stability and make the varieties more attractive for the soy industry. The main goal of this study was to characterize the low linoleic acid trait in CS303TNKCA cultivar. We sequenced CS303TNKCA GmFAD3A, GmFAD3B and GmFAD3C genes and identified an adenine point deletion in the GmFAD3A exon 5 (delA). This alteration creates a premature stop codon, leading to a truncated protein with just 207 residues that result in a non-functional enzyme. Analysis of enzymatic activity by heterologous expression in yeast support delA as the cause of low linolenic acid content in CS303TNKCA. Thus, we developed a TaqMan genotyping assay to associate delA with low linolenic acid content in segregating populations. Lines homozygous for delA had a linolenic acid content of 3.3 to 4.4%, and the variation at this locus accounted for 50.83 to 73.70% of the phenotypic variation. This molecular marker is a new tool to introgress the low linolenic acid trait into elite soybean cultivars and can be used to combine with high oleic trait markers to produce soybean with enhanced economic value. The advantage of using CS303TNKCA compared to other lines available in the literature is that this cultivar has good agronomic characteristics and is adapted to Brazilian conditions.

Streptomyces odonnellii sp. nov., a proteolytic streptomycete isolated from soil under cerrado (savanna) vegetation cover.

A novel streptomycete, strain 594T, isolated from Brazilian soil collected under cerrado (savanna) vegetation cover is described. Strain 594T produced thermophilic chitinolytic proteases in assays containing feather meal and corn steep liquor as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. The strain produced white to grey aerial mycelium and spiral chains of spiny-surfaced spores on the aerial mycelium and did not produce diffusible pigments. The ll-isomer of diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell wall and menaquinones were predominantly MK-9(H6) (52 %) and MK-9(H8) (30 %) with 6 % MK-9(H4) and slightly less than 1 % MK-9(H2). Polar lipids present were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unknown phospholipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C14 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that it differed from described Streptomyces species. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using five housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, rpoB, recA and trpB) comparing Streptomyces type strains showed that the MLSA distance of strain 594T to the most closely related species was greater than the 0.007 threshold. The in silico DNA-DNA relatedness between the genome sequence of strain 594T and that of the phylogenetically nearest species was well below the species level recommendation. There was thus multiple evidence justifying the description of this strain as representing a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces odonnellii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 594T (=IMPPG 594T=DSM 41949T=NRRL B-24891T).

The influence of fire-coral colony size and agonistic behaviour of territorial damselfish on associated coral reef fish communities.

Branching hydrocorals from the genus Millepora play an important ecological role in South Atlantic reefs, where branching scleractinian corals are absent. Previous studies have shown a high proportion of reef fish species using branching fire-coral colonies as shelter, breeding, and feeding sites. However, the effects of Millepora spp. colony size and how the agonistic behaviour of a competitive damselfish affect the associated reef fish community are still unknown. The present study examined how fire-coral colony volume and the presence of a highly territorial and aggressive damselfish (Brazilian endemic Stegastes fuscus) affects the reef fish community associated with the fire-coral Millepora alcicornis. M. alcicornis colonies were surveyed from September 2012 to April 2013 at Tamandaré Reefs off Northeast Brazil. Our results show that the abundance and richness of coral associated fish was positively correlated with M. alcicornis coral colony volume. Additionally, behaviour of S. fuscus, the most abundant reef fish species found associated with fire-coral colonies (almost 57% of the fish community), was also influenced by fire-coral colony volume. There was a clear trend of increased agonistic behaviour and feeding on coral polyps as colony volume increased. This trend was reversed for the non-occupational swimming category, which decreased as M. alcicornis colony volume increased. Behavioural ontogenetic changes were also detected for S. fuscus individuals. Juveniles mainly showed two distinct behaviours: sheltered on coral branches and feeding on coral polyps. In contrast, adults presented greater equitability among the behavioural categories, mostly non-occupational swimming around coral colonies and agonistic behaviour. Lastly, S. fuscus individuals actively defended fire-coral colonies from intruders. A large number of agonistic interactions occurred against potential food competitors, which were mainly roving herbivores, omnivores, and sessile invertebrate feeders. To our knowledge, the present study provides the first evidence that through habitat competition, the presence of S. fuscus may affect reef fish communities associated with M. alcicornis coral colonies. Our findings also indicate that S. fuscus uses M. alcicornis coral colonies as part of their territory for shelter and foraging. In conclusion, M. alcicornis fire-coral colonies are extremely important habitats for reef fishes and the size and presence of a territorial damselfish are relevant variables for associated reef fish community.

"Swallowing it all" - Extreme ingestion capability of juvenile reef fish / "Engolindo inteiro" - Extrema capacidade de ingestão de peixes recifais juvenis

During a predation event a juvenile grouper, rock hind Epinephelus adscensionis, fed upon the redlip blenny Ophioblennius trinitatis. It is important to highlight that both individuals had pretty much the same size during the predation event (around 5 cm); however, the grouper ingested the whole prey.

Durante um evento de predação um indivíduo juvenil de Epinephelus adscensionis (peixe-gato) alimentou-se de Ophioblennius trinitatis (macaquinho). É importante destacar que ambos os peixes apresentavam praticamente o mesmo tamanho (aproximadamente 5 cm); no entanto, a garoupa engoliu a presa inteira.