Meloidogyne aegracyperi n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), a root-knot nematode parasitizing yellow and purple nutsedge in New Mexico.

Meloidogyne aegracyperi n. sp. is described from roots of purple nutsedge in southern New Mexico, USA. Mature females are small (310-460 µm), pearly white, with their egg masses completely contained inside root galls. The neck is often at a 90 to 130° angle to the protruding posterior end with the perineal pattern. The distance of the dorsal esophageal gland orifice (DGO) to the base of the stylet is relatively long (4.0-6.1 µm), and the excretory pore is level with the base of the stylet. The anterior portion of the rounded lumen lining of the metacorpus contains 3 to 10 small vesicles. The perineal pattern has a rounded dorsal arch with a tail terminal area that is smooth or marked with rope-like striae. Only two males were found. The body twists 90° throughout its length. The DGO to the base of the stylet is long (3.0-3.3) µm. The cephalic framework of the second-stage juvenile is weak, and the stylet is short (10.1-11.8 µm). The DGO to the base of the stylet is long (3-5 µm). The tail is very long (64-89 µm) and the hyaline portion of the tail is very narrow, making the tail finely pointed. Eggs are typical for the genus and vary in length (85.2-99.8 µm) and width (37.1-48.1 µm), having a L/W ratio of (2.1-2.6). Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of the different molecular loci (partial 18S rRNA, D2-D3 of 28S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII)-16S rRNA of mitochondrial DNA gene fragments and partial Hsp90 gene) placed this nematode on an independent branch in between M. graminicola and M. naasi and a cluster of species containing M. chitwoodi. M. fallax, and M. minor. Greenhouse tests showed that yellow and purple nutsedge were the best hosts, but perennial ryegrass, wheat, bentgrass, and barley were also hosts.

Proposal of a classification system for opportunities to innovate in skin care products.

OBJECTIVES: What are the opportunities to innovate in a skin care product? There are certainly many opportunities and many technologies involved. In this work, we assumed the role of identifying and categorizing these opportunities to develop a comprehensive and intelligible classification system, which could be used as a tool to support decision-making in different professional contexts. METHODS: Initially, we employed the Delphi method to identify, discuss and standardize the opportunities to innovate in a skin care product. Finally, we used the classification system obtained in the previous phase to label patent applications, therefore, testing the suitability and utility of the system. RESULTS: At the end of the process, we achieved a 10-category classification system for opportunities to innovate in skin care products, and we also illustrated how this system could be used. CONCLUSION: The resultant classification system offers a normalized terminology for cosmetic scientists interested in dealing with the particularities of incremental and radical innovations in skin care products.

Dimerization-driven interaction of hepatitis C virus core protein with NS3 helicase.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects over 130 million people causing a worldwide epidemic of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular-carcinoma. Because current HCV treatments are only partially effective, molecular mechanisms involved in HCV propagation are actively being pursued as possible drug targets. Here, we report on a new macromolecular interaction between the HCV capsid core protein and the helicase portion of HCV non-structural protein 3 (NS3h), confirmed by four different biochemical methods. The protease portion of NS3 is not required. Interaction between the two proteins could be disrupted by two types of specific inhibitors of core dimerization, the small molecule SL201 and core106, a C-terminally truncated core protein. Cross-linking experiments suggest that the physical interaction with NS3h is probably driven by core oligomerization. Moreover, SL201 blocks the production of infectious virus, but not the production of a subgenomic HCV replicon by hepatoma cells. Time-of-addition experiments confirm that SL201 has no effect on entry of the virus. These data underline the essential role of core as a key organizer of HCV particle assembly, confirm the importance of oligomerization, reveal the interaction with viral helicase and support a new molecular understanding of the formation of the viral particle at the level of the lipid droplets, before its migration to the site of release and budding.

HTR1B and HTR2C in autism spectrum disorders in Brazilian families.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disabilities characterized by multiple genetic etiologies and a complex presentation. Several studies suggest the involvement of the serotonin system in the development of ASD, but only few have investigated serotonin receptors. We have performed a case-control and a family-based study with 9 polymorphisms mapped to two serotonin receptor genes (HTR1B and HTR2C) in 252 Brazilian male ASD patients of European ancestry. These analyses showed evidence of undertransmission of the HTR1B haplotypes containing alleles -161G and -261A at HTR1B gene to ASD (P=0.003), but no involvement of HTR2C to the predisposition to this disease. Considering the relatively low level of statistical significance and the power of our sample, further studies are required to confirm the association of these serotonin-related genes and ASD.