First record of the coypu Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782)for the Arthur Thomas Municipal Park in themunicipality of Londrina, Paraná / Primeiro registro de ratão-do-banhado Myocastor coypus(Molina, 1782) para o Parque Municipal ArthurThomas no município de Londrina, Paraná

Myocastor coypus (coypu or nutria) is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world due to its risk to local wildlife, such as waterfowl, zoonotic risks, and environmental damage, such as riverbank erosion, arising from its habit of constructing burrows along the edge of water bodies. The presence of M. coypus is already known locally in the municipality of Londrina based on records at Igapó Lake. This paper presents the first record of M. coypus in Arthur Thomas Municipal Park, a Conservation Unit of Integral Protection located in the urban area of Londrina. The records were obtained through direct observation of one live individual and one carcass during campaigns to monitor medium and large mammals. Subsequently, ten records were obtained using camera traps, of unknown gender, located near waterbodies. We emphasize the need for continuous fauna monitoring in conservation units to detect and verify potential increases in invasive alien species populations that can result in environmental damage.

A espécie Myocastor coypus (ratão-do-banhado) é considerada uma das 100 piores espécies invasoras do mundo por representar risco para a fauna local, como aves aquáticas, e risco de zoonoses, além de causar danos ambientais, como desbarrancamento de encostas de rios, devido ao seu hábito de construção de tocas nas margens de corpos d'água. A presença de M. coypus já é conhecida localmente no município de Londrina a partir de registros no Lago Igapó. Assim, este estudo apresenta o primeiro registro de M. coypus no Parque Municipal Arthur Thomas, uma Unidade de Conservação de Proteção Integral localizada na zona urbana de Londrina. Os registros foram obtidos através da observação direta de um indivíduo vivo e uma carcaça durante campanhas de monitoramento de mamíferos de médio e grande porte. Posteriormente foram obtidos dez registros por armadilha fotográfica de indivíduos de sexo desconhecido, próximos a corpos d'água. Enfatiza-se a necessidade do monitoramento contínuo da fauna em áreas de conservação para a detecção do potencial aumento na população de espécies exóticas e invasoras que podem causar severos danos ambientais.

Diversity and seasonality of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Amazon Forest fragments of Monte Negro, Rondônia, Western Amazon.

Tabanidae are considered a nuisance to humans, wild animals, and livestock due to their painful, annoying, and insistent biting. Tabanids transmit some pathogens and parasites biologically and mechanically. In humans, there are relatively few pathogens transmitted regularly. Still, tabanids serve as vectors of a number of disease agents of animals, including viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and nematodes. They are more abundant in tropical and humid regions, and their seasonal patterns are affected by habitat changes such as deforestation and fragmentation. Here, we analyze the tabanid fauna in Monte Negro, a central municipality of Rondônia, Brazil, comparing abundance, richness, and diversity in forest and pasture habitats. Traps were set for 5 days a month for 12 consecutive months. We also examined how abiotic factors (humidity, temperature, and rainfall) affected the abundance, diversity, and richness and the effectiveness of Malaise and Nzi traps as sample methods. The influence of climatic variables on the richness and abundance of the species was tested using generalized linear models, and we used non-parametric dimensional scaling (nMDS) for analysis of species composition and diversity in different traps and environments. We collect 1032 specimens of 25 species. The most abundant species were Tabanus antarcticus, Dichelacera tetradelta, Tabanus mucronatus, and Leucotabanus albovarius. Forest habitats had the highest number of tabanids, followed by pasture and the anthropized area, and there was no significant difference regarding the effectiveness of the Malaise and Nzi traps. The study provides new information on the distribution and ecology of tabanids in Brazil.

Nut-cracking success and efficiency in two wild capuchin monkey populations.

Capuchins can employ several strategies to deal with environmental challenges, such as using stone tools to access encapsulated resources. Nut-cracking is customary in several capuchin populations and can be affected by ecological and cultural factors; however, data on success and efficiency are only known for two wild populations. In this work, using camera traps, we assessed palm nut-cracking success and efficiency in two newly studied wild bearded capuchin populations (Sapajus libidinosus) and compared them with other sites. We tested the hypothesis that the overall success and efficiency of nut-cracking would be similar between sites when processing similar resources, finding partial support for it. Although using hammerstones of different sizes, capuchins had a similar success frequency. However, efficiency (number of strikes to crack a nut) was different, with one population being more efficient. We also tested whether success and efficiency varied between sexes in adults. We predict adult males would be more successful and efficient when cracking hard nuts. We found no differences between the sexes in one site but found sex differences in the other, although also for the low-resistant nut, which was unexpected. Our data add to the knowledge of capuchin nut-cracking behaviour flexibility, variance and potential cultural traits.

Species Diversity of Anastrepha Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Environments with Different Levels of Anthropogenic Changes.

Studies on the diversity of Anastrepha species have been conducted mainly in agricultural orchards due to the economic importance of this insect group, consequently, research on fruit flies in undisturbed environments is scarce. Moreover, very few studies have investigated the diversity of fruit flies in urban areas, where fruit flies survive under native or exotic hosts. Thus, to understand the diversity of Anastrepha species in an environment with different anthropization degrees, surveys were carried out in four areas of the "Luiz de Queiroz" campus, in Piracicaba, São Paulo State (Brazil), using Multilure traps with putrescine and ammonium acetate for 12 months. The software R 3.6.3 was used to characterize the fruit fly community and the faunistic analysis was carried out using the ANAFAU program. The analysis of species richness and total abundance of fruit flies among the sites was carried out using the rarefaction method and adjustment to the generalized linear model (GLM) using the Poisson distribution, respectively. We collected 1,080 females and 14 species of Anastrepha in the four sampled sites. Anastrepha fraterculus and A. obliqua were the predominant species (behavioral patterns). Similar to agricultural sites, A. fraterculus and A. obliqua also show a predominant occurrence in urban environments.

Forest type modulates mammalian responses to megafires.

Although considered an evolutionary force responsible for shaping ecosystems and biodiversity, fires' natural cycle is being altered by human activities, increasing the odds of destructive megafire events. Here, we show that forest type modulates the responses of terrestrial mammals, from species to assemblage level, to a catastrophic megafire in the Brazilian Pantanal. We unraveled that mammalian richness was higher 1 year after fire passage compared to a pre-fire condition, which can be attributed to habitat modification caused by wildfires, attracting herbivores and open-area tolerant species. We observed changes in assemblage composition between burned/unburned sites, but no difference in mammalian richness or relative abundance. However, by partitioning the effects of burned area proportion per forest type (monospecific vs. polyspecific), we detected differential responses of mammals at several levels of organization, with pronounced declines in species richness and relative abundance in monospecific forests. Eighty-six percent of the species presented moderate to strong negative effects on their relative abundance, with an overall strong negative effect for the entire assemblage. Wildfires are predicted to be more frequent with climate and land use change, and if events analogous to Pantanal-2020 become recurrent, they might trigger regional beta diversity change, benefitting open-area tolerant species.

Comparative evaluation of two lures to attract female mosquitoes in an urban natural reserve during daytime.

The most widely used attractant to capture adult female mosquitoes is CO2. However, there are also baits available on the market that emit a scent resembling human skin. These baits were specifically designed to attract highly anthropophilic species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. In this study, we compare the effectiveness of CDC traps baited either with CO2 or with a commercial blend simulating skin odor, BG-Sweetscent, for trapping female mosquitoes during daylight hours in an urban reserve in the City of Buenos Aires. We employed a hurdle generalized linear mixed model to analyze trap capture probability and the number of mosquitoes captured per hour, considering the effects of attractant, mosquito species, and their interaction. Traps baited with CO2 captured ten mosquito species, while those baited with BG-Sweetscent captured six in overall significantly lower abundance. The odds of capturing mosquitoes were 292% higher for the CO2-baited traps than for those baited with BG-Sweetscent. No evidence of a combined effect of attractant type and species on female mosquito captures per hour was found. Results indicated that CDC traps baited with CO2 were more effective than those baited with BG-Sweetscent in capturing more mosquito species and a higher number of mosquitoes within each species, even if the species captured with CO2 exhibited a certain level of anthropophilia. This result has practical implications for mosquito surveillance and control in urban natural reserves.

Camera trap surveys of Atlantic Forest mammals: A data set for analyses considering imperfect detection (2004-2020).

Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land-cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large-sized species. Here we present a data set from camera trap surveys of medium to large-sized native mammals (>1 kg) across the Atlantic Forest. We compiled data from 5380 ground-level camera trap deployments in 3046 locations, from 2004 to 2020, resulting in 43,068 records of 58 species. These data add to existing data sets of mammals in the Atlantic Forest by including dates of camera operation needed for analyses dealing with imperfect detection. We also included, when available, information on important predictors of detection, namely the camera brand and model, use of bait, and obstruction of camera viewshed that can be measured from example pictures at each camera location. Besides its application in studies on the patterns and mechanisms behind occupancy, relative abundance, richness, and detection, the data set presented here can be used to study species' daily activity patterns, activity levels, and spatiotemporal interactions between species. Moreover, data can be used combined with other data sources in the multiple and expanding uses of integrated population modeling. An R script is available to view summaries of the data set. We expect that this data set will be used to advance the knowledge of mammal assemblages and to inform evidence-based solutions for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest. The data are not copyright restricted; please cite this paper when using the data.

As armadilhas fotográficas tornaram­se o principal método de observação de muitas espécies em grandes áreas. Os dados obtidos com armadilhas fotográficas podem ser usados para descrever os padrões e monitorar a ocupação, abundância e riqueza da vida selvagem, informação essencial para a conservação em tempos de rápidas mudanças climáticas e de cobertura do solo. A perda de habitat e a caça furtiva são responsáveis pelas perdas populacionais históricas de mamíferos no hotspot de biodiversidade da Mata Atlântica, especialmente para espécies de médio e grande porte. Aqui apresentamos um conjunto de dados de levantamentos com armadilhas fotográficas de mamíferos de médio e grande porte (>1 kg) em toda a Mata Atlântica. Compilamos dados de 5.380 armadilhas fotográficas instaladas no nível do chão em 3.046 locais, de 2004 a 2020, resultando em 43.068 registros de 58 espécies. Esses dados acrescentam aos conjuntos de dados existentes de mamíferos na Mata Atlântica por incluir as datas de operação das câmeras, que são necessárias para análises que lidam com detecção imperfeita. Também incluímos, quando disponíveis, informações sobre importantes preditores de detecção, como marca e modelo da câmera, uso de isca e obstrução do visor da câmera que pode ser medido a partir de imagens de exemplo em cada local da câmera. Além de estudos sobre os padrões e mecanismos por trás da ocupação, abundância relativa, riqueza e detecção, o conjunto de dados aqui apresentado pode ser usado para estudar os padrões de atividade diária das espécies, nível de atividade e interações espaço­temporais entre as espécies. Além disso, os dados podem ser usados em combinação com outras fontes de dados em diversas análises com modelagem populacional integrada. Um script R está disponível para visualizar um resumo do conjunto de dados. Esperamos que este conjunto de dados seja usado para aumentar o conhecimento sobre as assembleias de mamíferos e usado para informar soluções baseadas em evidências para a conservação da Mata Atlântica. Os dados não são restritos por direitos autorais e, por favor, cite este documento ao usar os dados.

Introduction and establishment of Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Brazil.

Euwallacea fornicatus is an invasive tree pest able to infest healthy plants and cause damage to many host plants. This beetle has become established in several countries where it was introduced. It has now become established in Brazil, and while the original introduction site remains uncertain, there is a possibility of multiple introductions. We report the first evidence for the establishment of E. fornicatus with molecular confirmation, as well as its distribution, and host plants in Brazil. Euwallacea fornicatus has spread to main commercial avocado groves, other monocultures, and native vegetation in the country, and its pest status puts it as a threat, mainly to Brazilian avocado producers.

Carnivore coexistence without competition: giant otters are more nocturnal around dens than sympatric neotropical otters.

Nocturnal activity of tropical otters is rarely reported. To date no studies have documented den use by sympatric giant (Pteronura brasiliensis) and neotropical otters (Lontra longicaudis). We used camera-traps to monitor den use by sympatric otters along an equatorial Amazonian river. Camera-traps provided evidence that giant otters were more nocturnal around dens than sympatric neotropical otters. Nocturnal activity was recorded in 11% of giant otter photos (n = 14 of 125 photos), but was recorded only once for neotropical otters. Den use by giant and neotropical otters overlapped spatially and temporally but not concurrently. We hypothesize that previously reported nocturnal activity in neotropical otters is facilitated by the absence or low density of giant otters. Our results also underscore the need to use complementary techniques together with den counts for monitoring otters as sympatric species can use the same dens.

Field comparison of broad-spectrum white LED-baited traps with narrow-spectrum green LED-baited traps in the capture of Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been effective light sources in attracting Anopheles mosquitoes, but the broad-spectrum white light, even with a wide-ranging application in lighting, have not been evaluated yet. In this study, the white light was field evaluated against the green one in the light trapping of anopheline mosquitoes by using two non-suction Silva traps and two CDC-type suction light traps. Anopheline mosquitoes were captured for two 21-night periods of collecting (2022 and 2023). In the first period, two LEDs were used per Silva trap, but three were used in the second one to increase the luminance/illuminance at traps. A CDC-type suction light trap equipped with an incandescent lamp was used in 2022 and a CDC-type suction light trap equipped with a 6 V-white light (higher luminance/illuminance) in 2023. A total of eight species and 3,289 specimens were captured in both periods. The most frequent species were Anopheles triannulatus s.l., An. goeldii, An. evansae and An. argyritarsis. In 2022, white LEDs were less attractive to anopheline mosquitoes than the other light sources, but without statistical difference among treatments (F = 2.703; P = 0.0752; df = 2). In 2023, even with an increased luminance/illuminance at traps, no statistical difference was found between the two LED-baited Silva traps (F = 6.690; P = 0.0024; df = 2), but rather between the 6 V-white-baited CDC-type suction light trap and green-baited Silva traps. Due to some drawbacks and the lower abundance of individuals caught by using white LEDs, the narrow-banded green LEDs is preferable to white ones for attracting anophelines.

Vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e microcefalia relacionada ao Zika vírus no Brasil / Socioeconomic vulnerability and microcephaly related to Zika virus in Brazil

Resumo Objetivo: Realizar uma análise descritiva dos gastos privados diretos domiciliares em saúde e da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica associados à condição de microcefalia, uma das manifestações mais evidentes da síndrome congênita do Zika vírus (SCZ). O surto de microcefalia e outros distúrbios neurológicos em crianças menores de um ano de idade foi associado à infecção pelo vírus Zika, durante a epidemia ocorrida no período de 2015-2016 no Brasil. Método: Noventa e seis entrevistas foram realizadas em dois centros especializados de atendimento às crianças acometidas por microcefalia nas cidades do Rio de Janeiro e Fortaleza. O questionário estruturado abrangeu características sociodemográficas, gastos com desembolso direto associados com a doença e estratégias adotadas pelas famílias para lidarem com os desafios financeiros impostos pela anomalia congênita. Resultados: Os domicílios eram majoritariamente chefiados por não-brancos e pertenciam às classes C e D-E. Os gastos com medicamentos contabilizaram 78% dos gastos médicos, enquanto as despesas com transporte representaram 46% do gasto privado não-médico. A maioria dos domicílios enfrentaram endividamento e redução do consumo doméstico, inclusive de alimentos, a fim de fazer face às despesas incorridas pela doença. Conclusão: A microcefalia parece reforçar a vulnerabilidade socioeconômica das famílias, reforçando o círculo vicioso característico da abordagem conceitual da armadilha saúde-pobreza.

Abstract Objective: To carry out a descriptive analysis of direct private household health expenditures and socioeconomic vulnerability associated with the condition of Microcephaly, one of the most evidence manifestations of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). The outbreak of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in children under one year of age was linked to Zika virus infection during the 2015-2016 epidemic in Brazil. Method: Ninety-six interviews were carried out in two specialized care centers for children with microcephaly in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil. The structured questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics, out-of-pocket expenditures associated with the disease, and strategies adopted by families to deal with the financial challenges imposed by the congenital anomaly. Results: The households were mostly headed by non-whites and belonged to classes C and D-E. Expenditures on medicines accounted for 78% of medical expenses, while transportation represented 46% of private non-medical expenses. Most households faced debt and reduced domestic consumption, including food, to meet the expenses incurred by the disease. Conclusion: Microcephaly appears to reinforce the socioeconomic vulnerability of families, reinforcing the vicious circle characteristic of the health-poverty trap conceptual approach.

Field evaluation of a new suction light trap for the capture of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), vectors of leishmaniasis.

Phlebotomine sand flies are crepuscular and nocturnal small dipteran insects in the family Psychodidae. Several disease agents, including Leishmania parasites, are transmitted to humans and other vertebrate hosts by the bite of an infected female sand fly. As part of leishmaniasis surveillance programs, light traps have been routinely used in sand fly collections. In this context, new trapping devices are always being required to improve vector monitoring. Here, the efficiency of a new suction light trap, named Silva suction trap or SS trap, was field evaluated in collecting sand flies. Two SS traps, one with green (520 nm, 15,000 mcd) and the other with white (wide spectrum, 18,000 mcd) LEDs, and one CDC-type trap were deployed in a rural forested environment. A total of 4686 phlebotomine sand flies were captured. The most frequent species were females of the Ps. Chagasi series (77.8%) followed by males of Ps. wellcomei (11.6%), Nyssomyia whitmani (3.3%), and Bichromomyia flaviscutellata (2.4%). The CDC-type light trap collected 101.9 ± 20.89 sand flies and 14 species, followed by the white-baited SS trap (87.78 ± 16.36, 14), and the green-baited SS trap (70.61 ± 14.75, 15), but there were no statistically significant differences among traps. A discussion on the considerable advantages of the use of SS traps over CDC traps is included. In this study, the Silva suction trap proved to be efficient and can be an alternative to CDC traps for monitoring adult phlebotomine sand fly populations.

Incidence of beak deformities in austral thrushes (Turdus falcklandii) increases with urbanization and flocking behavior.

Beak deformation, known as avian keratin disorder (AKD), can impair feeding and preening of birds, reducing their survival. This disorder is apparently caused by Poecivirus infection, although to date, the viral origin has been corroborated in only a few North American bird species. Considering that fruit-eating birds can track spatiotemporal variations in fruit abundance and that AKD may have a viral origin, the incidence of this disease can be expected to increase with flocking by birds. Therefore, we evaluated if austral thrushes (Turdus falcklandii) were attracted to urban areas when exotic plants offered fruits and if flocking of thrushes in urban areas increased the spread of AKD in this species in a Patagonian town. We fitted GPS loggers on some individuals with normal beaks in rural areas and found that they visit the town in fall. Through point count censuses, we recorded greater abundances of thrushes with normal and deformed beaks during fall-winter in urban sites than in rural sites. However, the abundance of birds with AKD declined more (78-87%) than that of individuals with normal beaks (44-52%) during the transition from fall-winter to spring-summer. In urban zones in our study area, fruits of exotic species ripen during fall, attracting austral thrushes from rural sites. Nevertheless, such an attraction for food resources may be an ecological trap for this species, as the increase in incidence of AKD in urban areas may drastically reduce the survival of birds during the most unfavorable period of the year.

Design and Evaluation of a Sticky Attractant Trap for Intra-Domiciliary Surveillance of Aedes aegypti Populations in Mexico.

Surveillance consists of systematic data collection, analysis, and interpretation and is essential for planning and implementing control activities. The lack of success in the control and surveillance of the Ae. aegypti mosquito elsewhere demands the development of new accessible and effective strategies. This work aimed to develop and evaluate an adhesive lure trap for household indoor surveillance of Ae. aegypti. Based on a bibliographic review, four compounds that have significant attraction percentages for Ae. aegypti were considered. Our more effective blend was determined through preliminary bioassays using the high-throughput screening system (HITSS) and 90 × 90 cm mosquito cages. We designed a low-cost, pyramid-shaped, sticky cardboard trap to incorporate the selected blend. Semi-field 2 × 2 m cages and field tests were utilized to evaluate its effectiveness through mosquito capture percentages. In laboratory tests, blend number 2 presented an attraction percentage of 47.5 ± 4.8%; meanwhile, in semi-field cages, a 4-inch, 110 v powered fan was used to disperse the attractants, and then a similar capture percentage of 43.2 ± 4.0% was recorded. Results were recorded during the field evaluation of the at-house indoor environment and were compared with those recorded with the golden-standard BG-Sentinel trap, i.e., our prototype trapped an average of 6.0 ± 1.5 mosquitoes versus 10.0 ± 2.6. In most Latin American countries, there is a lack of formal and accessible strategies for monitoring adult populations of Ae. Aegypti; therefore, we must develop tools that reinforce entomological surveillance methods.

Electron traps and energy storage: modeling a bright path to the future.

By employing time-dependent density functional theory for solid-state chemistry, the research presented by Andrii Shyichuk [Acta Cryst. (2023), B67, 437-449] significantly contributes to the understanding of electron/hole traps in doped materials.

High-intensity interval training reduces the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps in older men using live-neutrophil imaging as biosensor.

Neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) is a mechanism used by neutrophils to capture pathogens with their own DNA. However, the exacerbation of this immune response is related to serious inflammatory diseases. Aging is known to lead to an excessive increase in NETosis associated with various diseases. Under this scenario, the search for strategies that regulate the release of NETosis in older people becomes relevant. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves repeated bouts of relatively intense exercise with alternating short recovery periods. This training has shown beneficial effects on health parameters during aging and disease. However, little is known about the potential role of HIIT in the regulation of NETosis in healthy older people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the induction of NETosis by serum from healthy young and older men, before and after 12 weeks of HIIT using healthy neutrophils as a biosensor. HIIT was performed 3 times per week for 12 weeks in young (YOUNG; 21 ± 1 years, BMI 26.01 ± 2.64 kg⋅m-2, n = 10) and older men (OLDER; 66 ± 5 years, BMI 27.43 ± 3.11 kg⋅m-2, n = 10). Serum samples were taken before and after the HIIT program and NETosis was measured with live cell imaging in donated neutrophils cultured with serum from the participants for 30 h. Our results showed that serum from older men at baseline induced greater baseline NETosis than younger men (p < 0.05; effect size, ≥0.8), and 12 weeks of HIIT significantly reduced (Interaction Effect, p < 0.05; effect size, 0.134) the induction of NETosis in older men. In conclusion, HIIT is a feasible non-invasive training strategy modulating NETosis induction. Additionally, the use of neutrophils as a biosensor is an effective method for the quantification of NETosis induction in real time.

Kleptoparasitism attempt on a greater grison (Galictis vittata) by a white hawk (Pseudastur albicollis) in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT Facultative kleptoparasites face the risk of trying to steal food resources from competitors. This type of interaction is little known, but anecdotal observations indicate that birds of prey may take advantage of their accurate sight to detect the best opportunities for kleptoparasitism. We recorded a camera trap video of an attempt of kleptoparasitism by the white hawk, Pseudastur albicollis, that tried to steal food from a greater grison, Galictis vittata, in a recently selectively-logged forest site in central Brazilian Amazonia. The attempt was unsuccessful as the greater grison responded aggressively to the attack. The event occurred in a linear clearing, which may have increased the bird's ability to detect its potential host. Kleptoparasitic interactions are difficult to detect in forest environments. Recording opportunistic kleptoparasitic interactions in tropical forests may not only depend on the increasing use of camera traps, but also on habitat conditions that facilitate the detection of potential hosts.

RESUMO Cleptoparasitas facultativos enfrentam os custos envolvidos no roubo do alimento em troca da compensação pelo valor nutricional do item roubado. Essa interação é pouco conhecida, mas observações anedóticas indicam que aves de rapina podem se beneficiar de sua visão acurada para cleptoparasitar. Reportamos uma tentativa de cleptoparasitismo de um furão-grande, Galictis vittata, por um gavião-branco, Pseudastur albicollis, em uma floresta na Amazônia central brasileira recentemente manejada para corte seletivo de impacto reduzido. Como o furão-grande respondeu agressivamente ao ataque, a tentativa de roubo falhou. O evento foi registrado por uma armadilha fotográfica em uma clareira linear. O ambiente mais aberto pode ter aumentado a habilidade do gavião-branco em encontrar o seu hospedeiro. Eventos de cleptoparasitismo são dificilmente registrados em ambientes florestais. Registros de cleptoparasitismo em florestas tropicais podem não depender apenas do uso intensivo de armadilhas fotográficas, mas também de condições ambientais favoráveis à detecção de possíveis hospedeiros pelo cleptoparasita.

Identification of Eimeria tenella sporozoite immunodominant mimotopes by random phage-display peptide libraries-a proof of concept study.

Introduction: Coccidiosis, caused by parasites of numerous Eimeria species, has long been recognized as an economically significant disease in the chicken industry worldwide. The rise of anti-coccidian resistance has driven a search for other parasite management techniques. Recombinant antigen vaccination presents a highly feasible alternative. Properly identifying antigens that might trigger a potent immune response is one of the major obstacles to creating a viable genetically modified vaccine. Methods: This study evaluated a reverse immunology approach for the identification of B-cell epitopes. Antisera from rabbits and hens inoculated with whole-sporozoites of E. tenella were used to identify Western blot antigens. The rabbit IgG fraction from the anti-sporozoite serum exhibited the highest reactogenicity; consequently, it was purified and utilized to screen two random Phage-display peptide libraries (12 mer and c7c mer). After three panning rounds, 20 clones from each library were randomly selected, their nucleotide sequences acquired, and their reactivity to anti-sporozoite E. tenella serum assessed. The selected peptide clones inferred amino acid sequences matched numerous E. tenella proteins. Results and Conclusions: The extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) repeats, and the thrombospondin type-I (TSP-1) repeats of E. tenella micronemal protein 4 (EtMIC4) matched with the c7c mer selected clones CNTGSPYEC (2/20) and CMSTGLSSC (1/20) respectively. The clone CSISSLTHC that matched with a conserved hypothetical protein of E. tenella was widely selected (3/20). Selected clones from the 12-mer phage display library AGHTTQFNSKTT (7/20), GPNSAFWAGSER (2/20) and HFAYWWNGVRGP (8/20) showed similarities with a cullin homolog, elongation factor-2 and beta-dynein chain a putative E. tenella protein, respectively. Four immunodominant clones were previously selected and used to immunize rabbits. By ELISA and Western blot, all rabbit anti-clone serums detected E. tenella native antigens. Discussion: Thus, selected phagotopes contained recombinant E. tenella antigen peptides. Using antibodies against E. tenella sporozoites, this study demonstrated the feasibility of screening Phage-display random peptide libraries for true immunotopes. In addition, this study looked at an approach for finding novel candidates that could be used as an E. tenella recombinant epitope-based vaccine.

Flight Height and Diversity of Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) in an Anthropic Environment.

Several fruit fly species are pest of fruit production in subtropical and tropical countries such as Brazil. Data about the fruit fly communities are relevant for understanding ecological aspects such as population dynamics, abundance, richness, and diversity. In these surveys, Multilure traps were hung about 2 m height accessible to collectors. Practically there are no data on the dynamics of fruit fly species in higher positions. Thus, a comparative analysis was performed to assess the influence of the Multilure traps height, 2 m and 10 m, to collect Anastrepha species in the agricultural and forest environments. The abundance of Anastrepha species was compared using GLM multivariate analysis and species diversity using Hill numbers for each tested height. The heat map graph, based on the Euclidean distance, was used to assess the interaction of species at each height. A total of 1080 females of Anastrepha were captured, with 722 and 358 specimens collected in traps hung at 10 and 2 m height, respectively. Fourteen species were collected, with most identified as A. fraterculus (Wiedemann) (lato sensu) (n = 435) and A. obliqua (Macquart) (n = 388). Species diversity of Anastrepha was greater at 2 m than at 10 m, as were the values of diversity indices corresponding to richness (q = 0), Shannon (q = 1), and Simpson (q = 2). We conclude that evaluations of aspects related to the distribution of Anastrepha species at different heights should be adopted in fruit fly population monitoring programs as a management strategy for pest species.

Massively HIV-1-infected macrophages exhibit a severely hampered ability to differentiate into osteoclasts.

Introduction: Osteoclasts play a crucial role in bone resorption, and impairment of their differentiation can have significant implications for bone density, especially in individuals with HIV who may be at risk of altered bone health. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of HIV infection on osteoclast differentiation using primary human monocyte-derived macrophages as precursors. The study focused on assessing the impact of HIV infection on cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, resorptive activity, cytokine production, expression of co-receptors, and transcriptional regulation of key factors involved in osteoclastogenesis. Methods: Primary human monocyte-derived macrophages were utilized as precursors for osteoclast differentiation. These precursors were infected with HIV, and the effects of different inoculum sizes and kinetics of viral replication were analyzed. Subsequently, osteoclastogenesis was evaluated by measuring cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, and resorptive activity. Furthermore, cytokine production was assessed by monitoring the production of IL-1ß, RANK-L, and osteoclasts. The expression levels of co-receptors CCR5, CD9, and CD81 were measured before and after infection with HIV. The transcriptional levels of key factors for osteoclastogenesis (RANK, NFATc1, and DC-STAMP) were examined following HIV infection. Results: Rapid, massive, and productive HIV infection severely impaired osteoclast differentiation, leading to compromised cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, and resorptive activity. HIV infection resulted in an earlier production of IL-1ß concurrent with RANK-L, thereby suppressing osteoclast production. Infection with a high inoculum of HIV increased the expression of the co-receptor CCR5, as well as the tetraspanins CD9 and CD81, which correlated with deficient osteoclastogenesis. Massive HIV infection of osteoclast precursors affected the transcriptional levels of key factors involved in osteoclastogenesis, including RANK, NFATc1, and DC-STAMP. Conclusions: The effects of HIV infection on osteoclast precursors were found to be dependent on the size of the inoculum and the kinetics of viral replication. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms to develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of bone disorders in individuals with HIV.