Bacterial Community Diversity and Bacterial Interaction Network in Eight Mosquito Species.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are found widely throughout the world. Several species can transmit pathogens to humans and other vertebrates. Mosquitoes harbor great amounts of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The bacterial composition of the microbiota of these invertebrates is associated with several factors, such as larval habitat, environment, and species. Yet little is known about bacterial interaction networks in mosquitoes. This study investigates the bacterial communities of eight species of Culicidae collected in Vale do Ribeira (Southeastern São Paulo State) and verifies the bacterial interaction network in these species. Sequences of the 16S rRNA region from 111 mosquito samples were analyzed. Bacterial interaction networks were generated from Spearman correlation values. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in all species. Wolbachia was the predominant genus in Haemagogus leucocelaenus. Aedes scapularis, Aedes serratus, Psorophora ferox, and Haemagogus capricornii were the species that showed a greater number of bacterial interactions. Bacterial positive interactions were found in all mosquito species, whereas negative correlations were observed in Hg. leucocelaenus, Ae. scapularis, Ae. serratus, Ps. ferox, and Hg. capricornii. All bacterial interactions with Asaia and Wolbachia were negative in Aedes mosquitoes.

Bacterial diversity in Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors that transmit numerous pathogens to humans and other vertebrates. Haemagogus leucocelaenus is a mosquito associated with transmission of yellow fever virus. The insect gut harbors a variety of microorganisms that can live and multiply within it, thus contributing to digestion, nutrition, and development of its host. The composition of bacterial communities in mosquitoes can be influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. The goal of this study was to investigate the bacterial diversity of Hg. leucocelaenus and verify the differences between the bacterial communities in Hg. leucocelaenus from three different locations in the Atlantic tropical rain forest and southeastern state of São Paulo State, Brazil. RESULTS: The phylum Proteobacteria was found in mosquitoes collected from the three selected study sites. More than 50% of the contigs belong to Wolbachia, followed by 5% Swaminathania, and 3% Acinetobacter. The genus Serratia was found in samples from two locations. CONCLUSIONS: Wolbachia was reported for the first time in this species and may indicates that the vector competence of the populations of the species can vary along its geographical distribution area. The presence of Serratia might facilitate viral invasion caused by the disruption of the midgut barrier via action of the SmEnhancin protein, which digests the mucins present in the intestinal epithelium.

Effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on bovine sperm function.

Fertilization rates and subsequent embryo development rely on sperm factors related to semen quality and viability. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is based on emission of electromagnetic waves of a laser optical system that interact with cells and tissues resulting in biological effects. This interaction is mediated by photoacceptors that absorb the electromagnetic energy. Effects are dependent of irradiation parameters, target cell type, and species. In sperm, PBMT improves several features like motility and viability, affecting sperm aerobic metabolism and energy production. The aim of this study was to investigate, under same conditions, how different output powers (5, 7.5, and 10 mW) and time of irradiation (5 and 10 min) of laser (He-Ne laser, 633 nm) may affect frozen/thawed bovine sperm functions. Results showed significant effects depending on power while using 10 min of irradiation on motility parameters and mitochondrial potential. However, no effect was observed using 5 min of irradiation, regardless of power applied. In conclusion, PBMT is effective to modulate bovine sperm function. The effectiveness is dependent on the interaction between power applied and duration of irradiation, showing that these two parameters simultaneously influence sperm function. In this context, when using the same fluency and energy with different combinations of power and time of exposure, we observed distinct effects, revealing that biological effects should be also based on simple parameters rather than only composite parameters such as fluency, irradiance and energy. Laser irradiation of frozen/thawed bovine semen led to an increase on mitochondrial function and motility parameters that could potentially improve fertility rates.

The detergent fraction is effective in the detection of IgG anti-Strongyloides stercoralis in serum samples from immunocompromised individuals.

Human strongyloidiasis is an intestinal helminthiasis that can be fatal particularly in cases of immunosuppression. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the detergent fraction (D), purified from total saline extract (SE) of Strongyloides venezuelensis, in the detection of anti-Strongyloides stercoralis IgG antibodies in serum samples from individuals coming from endemic areas for strongyloidiasis and presenting immunocompromised conditions: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV(+)), diabetes mellitus type 2, cancer, tuberculosis and alcoholism. Serum samples from 93 individuals were analyzed by ELISA, as follows: Group 1: 30 immunocompromised individuals with strongyloidiasis; Group 2: 33 immunocompromised individuals without strongyloidiasis and Group 3: 30 healthy individuals. The total saline extract (SE) and detergent fraction (D) showed a sensitivity of 73.33 and 83.33%, and specificity of 82.15 and 86.36%, respectively. The detergent fraction was effective to detect anti-S. stercoralis IgG antibodies in immunocompromised individuals with strongyloidiasis and may be applied as an important tool in the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis related to immunosuppression.

Bismuth sulphides prepared by thermal and hydrothermal decomposition of a single source precursor: the effect of reaction parameters on morphology, microstructure and catalytic activity.

Bismuth sulphides were prepared by thermal and hydrothermal decomposition of a precursor, bismuth tris-diethyldithiocarbamate, at different temperatures and times. The obtained results showed that the thermal decomposition of the precursor in a tube furnace was not very appropriate to control particle size and morphology. XRD results showed that at 310 °C the precursor was not fully decomposed but at 500 °C besides the orthorhombic bismuth sulphide, the metallic bismuth also started to be formed. At the highest temperature 1D crystals were formed with an apparent mean crystal size of 138 nm. However, hydrothermal decomposition was shown to be a very suitable method to control particle size and morphology just by varying some parameters such as temperature and time. For 6 hours reaction time, as temperature increased, the apparent mean crystal size decreased. The particle morphology was also very affected by this parameter, at 180 °C only 1D particles (nanorods) with lengths varying from 25 to 4700 nm were formed but at 200 °C not only 1D particles but also 2D particles were (nanosheets) obtained. Bismuth sulphide particles obtained at 180 °C and 24 hours reaction time were shown to be formed mostly by 2D particles compared to those obtained at 6 hours. It was clearly seen that the increase in reaction time and temperature led to the formation of bi-dimensional particles. The presence of 1D crystals in the samples obtained by hydrothermal decomposition at 180 °C/6 h and 180 °C/24 h is responsible for their high catalytic efficiency towards methylene blue dye degradation.

Temperature and time dependence on ZnS microstructure and phases obtained through hydrothermal decomposition of diethyldithiocarbamate complexes.

Zinc sulphide was obtained through hydrothermal decomposition of [Zn(S2CNEt2)] under different experimental conditions such as temperatures and reaction times. Hydrothermal reactions were carried out in a stainless steel autoclave at 160, 180 and 200 °C for 3, 6 and 24 hours. The obtained products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning and high resolution transmission electron microscopies. Particle size and microstrain were determined by Rietveld refinement of experimental X-ray diffraction patterns. The obtained crystal size values were in the range of 6.1 to 30 nm and as the temperature and reaction times increase the particle size also increases. Band gap values are in the range of 3.34 to 3.60 eV and are highly dependent on the crystal microstrain. The catalyst activities were studied through the degradation of methylene blue dye solutions under ultraviolet radiation.