Diversity and toxicity of the planktonic diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia from coastal and offshore waters of the Southeast Pacific, including Pseudo-nitzschia dampieri sp. nov.

To expand knowledge of Pseudo-nitzschia species in the Southeast Pacific, we isolated specimens from coastal waters of central Chile (36°S-30°S), the Gulf of Corcovado, and the oceanic Robinson Crusoe Island (700 km offshore) and grew them into monoclonal strains. A total of 123 Pseudo-nitzschia strains were identified to 11 species based on sequencing of the ITS region of the nuclear rDNA and on ultrastructural and morphometric analyses of the frustule in selected representatives of each clade: P. australis, P. bucculenta, P. cf. chiniana, P. cf. decipiens, P. fraudulenta, P. hasleana, P. multistriata, P. plurisecta, P. cf. sabit, the new species P. dampieri sp. nov., and one undescribed species. Partial 18S and 28S rDNA sequences, including the hypervariable V4 and D1-D3 regions used for barcoding, were gathered from representative strains of each species to facilitate future metabarcoding studies. Results showed different levels of genetic, and at times ultrastructural, diversity among the above-mentioned entities, suggesting morphological variants (P. bucculenta), rapidly radiating complexes with ill-defined species boundaries (P. cf. decipiens and P. cf. sabit), and the presence of new species (P. dampieri sp. nov., Pseudo-nitzschia sp. 1, and probably P. cf. chiniana). Domoic acid (DA) was detected in 18 out of 82 strains tested, including those of P. australis, P. plurisecta, and P. multistriata. Toxicity varied among species mostly corresponding to expectations from previous reports, with the prominent exception of P. fraudulenta; DA was not detected in any of its 10 strains tested. In conclusion, a high diversity of Pseudo-nitzschia exists in Chilean waters, particularly offshore.

The Genetic Population Structure of Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile.

Studies examining genetic conditions common in Latin America are highly underrepresented in the scientific literature. Understanding of the population structure is limited, particularly Chile, in part due to the lack of available population specific data. An important first-step in elucidating disease mechanisms in Latin America countries is to understand the genetic structure of isolated populations. Robinson Crusoe Island (RCI) is a small land mass off the coast of Chile. The current population of over 900 inhabitants are primarily descended from a small number of founders who colonized the island in the late 1800s. Extensive genealogical records can trace the ancestry of almost the entire population. We perform a comprehensive genetic analysis to investigate the ancestry of the island population, examining ancestral mitochondrial and Y chromosome haplogroups, as well as autosomal admixture. Mitochondrial and Y chromosome haplogroups indicated a substantial European genetic contribution to the current RCI population. Analysis of the mitochondrial haplogroups found in the present-day population revealed that 79.1% of islanders carried European haplogroups, compared to 60.0% of the mainland Chilean controls from Santiago. Both groups showed a substantially lower contribution of indigenous haplogroups than expected. Analysis of the Y chromosome haplogroups also showed predominantly European haplogroups detected in 92.3% of male islanders and 86.7% of mainland Chilean controls. Using the near-complete genealogical data collected from the RCI population, we successfully inferred the ancestral haplogroups of 16/23 founder individuals, revealing genetic ancestry from Northern and Southern Europe. As mitochondrial and Y investigations only provide information for direct maternal and paternal lineages, we expanded this to investigate genetic admixture using the autosomes. Admixture analysis identified substantial indigenous genetic admixture in the RCI population (46.9%), higher than that found in the Santiago mainland Chilean controls (43.4%), but lower than a more representative Chilean population (Chile_GRU) (49.1%). Our study revealed the Robinson Crusoe Island population show a substantial genetic contribution for indigenous Chileans, similar to the level reported in mainland Chileans. However, direct maternal and paternal haplogroup analysis revealed strong European genetic contributions consistent with the history of the Island.

Snyder-Robinson syndrome.

Snyder-Robinson syndrome, also known as spermine synthase deficiency, is an X-linked intellectual disability syndrome (OMIM #390583). First described by Drs. Snyder and Robinson in 1969, this syndrome is characterized by an asthenic body habitus, facial dysmorphism, broad-based gait, and osteoporosis with frequent fractures. We report here a pediatric autopsy of a 4 year old male with a history of intellectual disability, gait abnormalities, multiple fractures, and seizures previously diagnosed with Snyder-Robinson syndrome with an SMS gene mutation (c.831G>T:p.L277F). The cause of death was hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy secondary to prolonged seizure activity. Although Snyder-Robinson syndrome is rare, the need to recognize clinical findings in order to trigger genetic testing has likely resulted in under diagnosis.

Snyder-Robinson syndrome

Snyder-Robinson syndrome, also known as spermine synthase deficiency, is an X-linked intellectual disability syndrome (OMIM #390583). First described by Drs. Snyder and Robinson in 1969, this syndrome is characterized by an asthenic body habitus, facial dysmorphism, broad-based gait, and osteoporosis with frequent fractures. We report here a pediatric autopsy of a 4 year old male with a history of intellectual disability, gait abnormalities, multiple fractures, and seizures previously diagnosed with Snyder-Robinson syndrome with an SMS gene mutation (c.831G>T:p.L277F). The cause of death was hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy secondary to prolonged seizure activity. Although Snyder-Robinson syndrome is rare, the need to recognize clinical findings in order to trigger genetic testing has likely resulted in under diagnosis.

Factors driving adaptive radiation in plants of oceanic islands: a case study from the Juan Fernández Archipelago.

Adaptive radiation is a common evolutionary phenomenon in oceanic islands. From one successful immigrant population, dispersal into different island environments and directional selection can rapidly yield a series of morphologically distinct species, each adapted to its own particular environment. Not all island immigrants, however, follow this evolutionary pathway. Others successfully arrive and establish viable populations, but they remain in the same ecological zone and only slowly diverge over millions of years. This transformational speciation, or anagenesis, is also common in oceanic archipelagos. The critical question is why do some groups radiate adaptively and others not? The Juan Fernández Islands contain 105 endemic taxa of angiosperms, 49% of which have originated by adaptive radiation (cladogenesis) and 51% by anagenesis, hence providing an opportunity to examine characteristics of taxa that have undergone both types of speciation in the same general island environment. Life form, dispersal mode, and total number of species in progenitors (genera) of endemic angiosperms in the archipelago were investigated from literature sources and compared with modes of speciation (cladogenesis vs. anagenesis). It is suggested that immigrants tending to undergo adaptive radiation are herbaceous perennial herbs, with leaky self-incompatible breeding systems, good intra-island dispersal capabilities, and flexible structural and physiological systems. Perhaps more importantly, the progenitors of adaptively radiated groups in islands are those that have already been successful in adaptations to different environments in source areas, and which have also undergone eco-geographic speciation. Evolutionary success via adaptive radiation in oceanic islands, therefore, is less a novel feature of island lineages but rather a continuation of tendency for successful adaptive speciation in lineages of continental source regions.

Generation of domestic waste electrical and electronic equipment on Fernando de Noronha Island: qualitative and quantitative aspects.

The accelerated growth trajectory of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a matter of concern for governments worldwide. In developing countries, the problem is more complex because municipal waste management is still a challenge for municipalities. Fernando de Noronha Island, an environmentally protected area, has a transfer station for solid waste before it is sent to the final destination abroad, which is different waste management model to most urban areas. In order to check the specifics of management of WEEE, this study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the generation of this type of waste on the main island of Fernando de Noronha, taking into consideration aspects related to consumption habits and handling of waste. During the in situ research, a questionnaire was applied to a sample of 83 households. The results provide a picture of the generation of WEEE for a period of 1 year, when a production of 1.3 tons of WEEE was estimated. Relationships between education level and monthly income and between education level and number of plasma/LCD TVs and washing machines were confirmed. Another important result is that only two socioeconomic variables (monthly income and education level) are related to two recycling behavior variables. In addition, the population and government treat WEEE as ordinary waste, ignoring its contaminant potential. Despite the existence of relevant legislation concerning the treatment and disposal of WEEE, additional efforts will be required by the government in order to properly manage this type of waste on the island.

Dental morphological markers as a proxy for ethnicity in Robinson Crusoe Islanders / Marcadores morfológicos dentarios en la estimación de la etnicidad poblacional de la Isla Robinson Crusoe

Chilean Robinson Crusoe Island is a semi-isolated location with unusually high rates of both consanguinity and language disorder. The current population of 633 inhabitants is descended almost exclusively from the colonization at the end of the 19th century, as there were few preceding immigrations to the island. This study investigates the genetic composition and degree of miscegenation within the island population, using dental morphological markers. The universe of island children was studied (n= 128, 3 to 15 years of age) using clinical exams, dental cast, and identification of each individual within a previously-constructed extensive genealogy for the island. The frequencies for Carabelli's cusp (61.7%), shovel-shaped incisor (9.4%), and sixth cusp (2.3%), along with the absence of seventh cusp, are consistent with a primarily Caucasian population. The estimated degree of miscegenation suggests an Amerindian component of 4.3%, which is consistent with the extensive known genealogies of the founders. Characterizing the genetic profile of Robinson Crusoe Island, a location with a remarkably high prevalence of language disorder, facilitates the comparison of the genetic variants underlying this pathology with those identified in European populations.

La isla chilena Robinson Crusoe es un semiaislado geográfico de alta consanguinidad. Su población actual de 633 habitantes proviene de la última colonización ocurrida a finales del siglo XIX y pocas migraciones posteriores, en quienes recientemente se ha descrito una alta incidencia de trastorno de lenguaje. Este estudio estimó el componente genético y grado de miscegenación de la población isleña usando marcadores morfológicos dentarios. Se estudió al universo de niños isleños (n= 128, 3 a 15 años de edad) con exámenes clínicos, modelos dentales y ubicación de cada individuo en genealogías extensas confeccionadas previamente. La frecuencia de Tubérculo de Carabelli fue 61,7%, Diente en Pala 9,4%, tubérculo sexto 2,3% y ausencia del rasgo tubérculo séptimo, lo que concuerda con una población eminentemente caucásica. El grado de miscegenación estima que el componente amerindio de esta población es de 4,3%, que también se evidencia al analizar las genealogías extensas originadas por los colonizadores. La descripción del perfil genético de esta población, donde se han reportado altas prevalencias de trastorno de lenguaje, permitirá comparar con las variantes genéticas subyacentes a esta patología descritas para poblaciones europeas.

The function of spermine.

Polyamines play important roles in cell physiology including effects on the structure of cellular macromolecules, gene expression, protein function, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, regulation of ion channels, and providing protection from oxidative damage. Vertebrates contain two polyamines, spermidine and spermine, as well as their precursor, the diamine putrescine. Although spermidine has an essential and unique role as the precursor of hypusine a post-translational modification of the elongation factor eIF5A, which is necessary for this protein to function in protein synthesis, no unique role for spermine has been identified unequivocally. The existence of a discrete spermine synthase enzyme that converts spermidine to spermine suggest that spermine must be needed and this is confirmed by studies with Gy mice and human patients with Snyder-Robinson syndrome in which spermine synthase is absent or greatly reduced. In both cases, this leads to a severe phenotype with multiple effects among which are intellectual disability, other neurological changes, hypotonia, and reduced growth of muscle and bone. This review describes these alterations and focuses on the roles of spermine which may contribute to these phenotypes including reducing damage due to reactive oxygen species, protection from stress, permitting correct current flow through inwardly rectifying K(+) channels, controlling activity of brain glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory, and affecting growth responses. Additional possibilities include acting as storage reservoir for maintaining appropriate levels of free spermidine and a possible non-catalytic role for spermine synthase protein.

História das doenças e estórias de doentes: história, ciência e ficção / History of diseases and stories from patients: history, science and fiction

Em um artigo anterior (Avila-Pires, 2008), discuti a possível natureza da doença descrita por Daniel Defoe na novela em que relata as aventuras de Robinson Crusoe. Uma vez publicado, o trabalho suscitou comentários de leitores frustados por eu não ter diagnosticado a doença em questão dentre as possíveis que sugeri. Ora, o meu objetivo, no artigo, era a análise de uma estória romanceada e não de um fato histórico. A doença, no caso, era tão imaginária quanto a estória, por mais sugestivos que fossem seus sintomas. No presente artigo, decidi explorar a natureza da história em oposição à ficção literária. Com o objetivo de discutir a natureza da investigação histórica das doenças do passado, enfatizo a diferença conceitual entre a objetividade/realidade das lesões patológicas e as doenças como constructos.