Health State, morphological characterization and biometric parameters in the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus Linnaeus, 1763 (Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

The crab Ucides cordatus is an important feature of mangroves in the North and Northeast of Brazil. In 2002 a large mortality was reported on this species in the Jaguaribe River Estuary. In order to investigate the possible causes specimens were collected monthly between May 2002 and December 2003 at five sites: Fortim (E1), Fortim (E2), Cumbe (E3) Aracati (E4) and Guajiru (E5). The mangrove structure and environmental parameters (salinity, pH, temperature and DO) were also evaluated. Water was collected for suspended solids analysis, BOD and nutrient levels. Salinity decreased in the rainy season, with no significant variation of pH and temperature. Dissolved oxygen levels had a mean of 5.7 mg L-1. Suspended solids increased at site E4, with BOD varying at E1 and E2 during the dry season. The same was observed at sites E1, E2 and E3 during the rainy season. Ammonia levels at E1 and E2 and phosphorus in all seasons, increased with rain events. Four lines of investigation were adopted: biometry, histology, hematology, and bioassay. There was no significant difference between animals in biometrics and histology showed no cellular alterations. However, hematology showed a significant difference between the E1 and E3 sites due to depletion in the number of hemocytes in E1, probably in response to environmental impacts. This can lead to poor immunity, leading to opportunistic pathogen infections such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. The bioassay showing no abnormal behavior or mortality. The structure the of mangrove was developed in all areas, except in E5 which served as a control site, with significant environmental stress with high levels of herbivorous growth (> 50%) and a salinity of around 50 ‰. It is believed that the mortality of the crabs was an occasional occurrence, probably due to toxin production by some fungal organism.

Extraction of antifreeze proteins from cold acclimated leaves of Drimys angustifolia and their application to star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) freezing.

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have the ability to modify ice crystal growth and thus there is great interest in identifying new sources of these compounds. All extracts of cold acclimated leaves of Drimys angustifolia, obtained using different buffers, inhibited recrystallization and they presented similar SDS-PAGE profiles, with bands close to 20 and 37 kDa. The extract obtained using Tris-HCl/DDT buffer (pH 8) was used in the pre-treatment of frozen star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) by immersion or vacuum infiltration. The treatments did not affect the titratable acidity, pH, soluble solids, ascorbic acid content and colour. However, only star fruits that were vacuum infiltrated with AFPs retained their drip loss constant after 15 days. Moreover, with this treatment the star fruit firmness was maintained on thawing after 60 days of storage. The vacuum infiltration of Drimys angustifolia AFPs into the star fruit allowed an initial cryoprotection, indicating that the application of AFPs can increase the quality of frozen star fruit.

Comparison of Grain Proteome Profiles of Four Brazilian Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivars.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a source of proteins for about one billion people worldwide. In Brazil, 'BRS Sublime', 'BRS Vereda', 'BRS Esteio', and 'BRS Estilo' cultivars were developed by Embrapa to offer high yield to farmers and excellent quality to final consumers. In this work, grain proteomes of these common bean cultivars were compared based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to compare 349 matched spots in these cultivars proteomes, and all cultivars were clearly separated in PCA plot. Thirty-two differentially accumulated proteins were identified by MS. Storage proteins such as phaseolins, legumins, and lectins were the most abundant, and novel proteins were also identified. We have built a useful platform that could be used to analyze other Brazilian cultivars and genotypes of common beans.

Proteome comparison for discrimination between honeydew and floral honeys from botanical species Mimosa scabrella Bentham by principal component analysis.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing valuation and appreciation of honeydew honey in many European countries and also to existing contamination among different types of honeys, authentication is an important aspect of quality control with regard to guaranteeing the origin in terms of source (honeydew or floral) and needs to be determined. Furthermore, proteins are minor components of the honey, despite the importance of their physiological effects, and can differ according to the source of the honey. In this context, the aims of this study were to carry out protein extraction from honeydew and floral honeys and to discriminate these honeys from the same botanical species, Mimosa scabrella Bentham, through proteome comparison using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and principal component analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the proteome profile and principal component analysis can be a useful tool for discrimination between these types of honey using matched proteins (45 matched spots). Also, the proteome profile showed 160 protein spots in honeydew honey and 84 spots in the floral honey. CONCLUSION: The protein profile can be a differential characteristic of this type of honey, in view of the importance of proteins as bioactive compounds in honey. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Expressed proteins of Herbaspirillum seropedicae in maize (DKB240) roots-bacteria interaction revealed using proteomics.

Several molecular tools have been used to clarify the basis of plant-bacteria interaction; however, the mechanism behind the association is still unclear. In this study, we used a proteomic approach to investigate the root proteome of Zea mays (cv. DKB240) inoculated with Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain SmR1 grown in vitro and harvested 7 days after inoculation. Eighteen differentially accumulated proteins were observed in root samples, ten of which were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry peptide mass fingerprint. Among the identified proteins, we observed three proteins present exclusively in inoculated root samples and six upregulated proteins and one downregulated protein relative to control. Differentially expressed maize proteins were identified as hypothetical protein ZEAMMB73_483204, hypothetical protein ZEAMMB73_269466, and tubulin beta-7 chain. The following were identified as H. seropedicae proteins: peroxiredoxin protein, EF-Tu elongation factor protein, cation transport ATPase, NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase, dinitrogenase reductase, and type III secretion ATP synthase. Our results presented the first evidence of type III secretion ATP synthase expression during H. seropedicae-maize root interaction.