SdhC-I86F Mutation in Phakopsora pachyrhizi Is Stable and Can Be Related to Fitness Penalties.

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) fungicides are used to control Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi), and the SdhC-I86F mutation is related to pathogen resistance. The objective of this study was to determine whether fitness penalties are associated with SDHI resistance (SdhC-I86F mutation) in P. pachyrhizi populations. Moreover, the study investigated whether the SdhC-I86F mutation remained stable after the fungus propagation both in the absence and presence of fungicide. The populations used in this study presented mutations for all genes analyzed (Cyp51, Cytb, and SdhC), except for a wild-type population (WTSdhC) found with no SdhC-I86F mutation. The frequencies of the SdhC-I86F mutant populations were stable after 36 generations in the absence of fungicide. However, in the case of the WTSdhC population, the SdhC-I86F mutation was further detected after one generation of the fungus in the presence of the SDHI fungicide, according to the results of a detached leaf assay. Three tests were performed to evaluate fitness components and sensitivity to fungicides (half maximal effective concentration). SdhC-I86F mutant populations were more sensitive to osmotic and oxidative stress than the WTSdhC population; however, the sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation was similar for both populations. All mutated populations were less sensitive than the WTSdhC when using SDHI (azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr), but more sensitive to mancozeb. The presence of fitness penalties, the mutation stability, and the sensitivity to mancozeb presented by the SdhC-I86F mutant populations can be relevant to the management of the disease in the field.

Production of inulin- and neolevan-type fructooligosaccharides by Penicillium janczewskii Zaleski CCIBt 3352.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are fructose-based oligosaccharides employed as additives to improve the nutritional and technological properties of foods. The rhizosphere of inulin-accumulating plants from the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) harbor fungi capable of synthesizing FOS from sucrose through the transfructosylating activity of ß-fructosyltransferases and/or ß-fructofuranosidases. Here, we investigated the ability of Penicillium janczewskii Zaleski CCIBt 3352, a fungus isolated from the rhizosphere of Chrysolaena obovata (Asteraceae), to produce FOS in a medium supplemented with sucrose concentrations of 30, 100, or 150 g L-1 . Hydrolytic activity on sucrose was observed in culture filtrates; however, at 150 g L-1 sucrose, the accumulation of 8 g L-1 1-kestose (inulin-type FOS) and 7.3 g L-1 neokestose (neolevan-type FOS) was observed, the latter being a type of FOS not commonly produced by filamentous fungi. In addition, minor amounts of four unidentified oligosaccharides, with a high degree of polymerization, were detected. The production of FOS was also observed in enzymatic assays, indicating the presence of extracellular enzymes with transfructosylating activity in the culture filtrates. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of isolating promising microorganisms, for the production of FOS-synthesizing enzymes, from the rhizosphere of fructan-producing plants of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Metabolic Changes on the Acquisition of Desiccation Tolerance in Seeds of the Brazilian Native Tree Erythrina speciosa.

Erythrina speciosa Andrews (Fabaceae) is a native tree of Atlantic forest from Southern and Southeastern Brazil. Although this species is found in flooded areas, it produces highly desiccation tolerant seeds. Here, we investigated the physiological and metabolic events occurring during seed maturation of E. speciosa aiming to better understand of its desiccation tolerance acquisition. Seeds were separated into six stages of maturation by the pigmentation of the seed coat. Water potential (WP) and water content (WC) decreased gradually from the first stage to the last stage of maturation (VI), in which seeds reached the highest accumulation of dry mass and seed coat acquired water impermeability. At stage III (71% WC), although seeds were intolerant to desiccation, they were able to germinate (about 15%). Desiccation tolerance was first observed at stage IV (67% WC), in which 40% of seeds were tolerant. At stage V (24% WC), all seeds were tolerant to desiccation and at stage VI all seeds germinated. Increased deposition of the arabinose-containing polysaccharides, which are known as cell wall plasticizers polymers, was observed up to stage IV of seed maturation. Raffinose and stachyose gradually increased in axes and cotyledons with greater increment in the fourth stage. Metabolic profile analysis showed that levels of sugars, organic, and amino acids decrease drastically in embryonic axes, in agreement with lower respiratory rates during maturation. Moreover, a non-aqueous fractionation revealed a change on the proportions of sugar accumulation among cytosol, plastid, and vacuoles between the active metabolism (stage I) and the dormant seeds (stage VI). The results indicate that the physiological maturity of the seeds of E. speciosa is reached at stage V and that the accumulation of raffinose can be a result of the change in the use of carbon, reducing metabolic activity during maturation. This work confirms that raffinose is involved in desiccation tolerance in seeds of E. speciosa, especially considering the different subcellular compartments and suggests even that the acquisition of desiccation tolerance in this species occurs in stages prior to the major changes in WC.

Fructose affecting morphology and inducing ß-fructofuranosidases in Penicillium janczewskii.

Fructose, glucose, and an equimolar mixture of both sugars affected differently hyphae thickness, biomass production and secretion of ß-fructofuranosidase in Penicillium janczewskii. Reduced growth, thinner hyphae and visible injuries were early observed during fungal cultivation in fructose-containing medium, reaching the maximum between 12 and 15 days of culture. Total sugar content from the cell wall was lower when fructose was supplied and polysaccharides lower than 10 kDa predominated, regardless the culture age. Maximal inulinase and invertase activities were detected in culture filtrates after 12 days, excepting in the glucose-containing medium. Structural changes in cell walls coincided with the increase of extracellular enzyme activity in the fructose-containing medium. The fragility of the hyphae might be related with both low carbohydrate content and predominance of low molecular weight glucans in the walls. Data presented here suggest changes in carbohydrate component of the cell walls are induced by the carbon source.

Viviendo con una enfermedad crónica fatal: significados en una muestra brasileña / Living with a Fatal Chronic Disease: Meanings in a Brazilian Sample

La enfermedad crónica fatal impacta la vida con transformaciones en términos conductuales y afectivos. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: identificar el significado de la vivencia de la enfermedad crónica fatal y percibir el significado del concepto de salud y enfermedad, en una muestra brasileña de portadores de enfermedad crónica fatal. Para esto, se adoptó una posición teórica psicosocial de análisis subjetivo, según el abordaje de las representaciones sociales. En cuanto al método, la investigación fue cualitativa y utilizó estudios de caso en pacientes internados portadores de enfermedades crónicas fatales. Se concluyó que es la enfermedad en sí misma lo que parece ocupar un lugar central y dar sentido a los comportamientos y movilizaciones, y que el concepto de salud queda supeditado al estado de enfermedad.

The fatal chronic disease brings impacts to life with transformations in behavioural and affectionate terms. The objectives of this work were to identify the meaning of living the fatal chronic disease and to realise its meaning about of health and disease in Brazilian simple from the bearess of the disease. Thus, we adopted a psychosocial theoretical position for the subjectivity analysis, according to a social representations approach. In relation to the method, the research was qualitative, exploratory and it used studies of the cases among patients disease in the hospital. We concluded that it is the disease in itself which seems to occupy a central place and give sense to behaviours and mobilizations, the concept of health is attached to the state of the disease.

[The current situation of the private health plans and insurance market in Brazil and trends for the future]. / A situação atual do mercado da saúde suplementar no Brasil e apontamentos para o futuro.

This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian private health plan market over the period 2000-2006. The current situation is analyzed with respect to the profile of private insurance companies, health plans and beneficiaries and some possible trends that were identified in the study are emphasized. The increase of employer group-plans as a work-related benefit and the reduction of individual plans are discussed. Although the market is restricted to only a few companies, there are more people covered by local plans than by plans offering coverage on a national basis. Finally, the paper approaches aspects related to the financial resources, among them the governmental incentive for the health area, and points to the need of further studies for a better understanding of the supplementary healthcare market.

Phytotoxic catechin leached by seeds of the tropical weed Sesbania virgata.

Sesbania virgata (Cav.) Pers (wand riverhemp) is a fast-growing tropical legume species that has been used for revegetation of riparian forests and rehabilitation of degraded areas and that exhibits an invasive behavior in certain regions of Brazil. Preliminary studies have shown that seed leachates inhibit the germination and development of seedlings of some crop species. In this study, we report that the seed leachates of S. virgata inhibit the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. The flavonoid (+)-catechin is found in high amounts in these leachates. It was active at concentrations of 50 microg ml(-1), and its effect was not distinguishable from the (+)-catechin obtained from a commercial source. We found that (+)-catechin is located in the seed coat and is rapidly released in high concentrations (235 microg per seed) at the beginning of imbibition. Quercetin was also detected in the seed coat of S. virgata, but it was not released from the seeds. Other phytotoxic compounds in the seed leachates were also detected. The fact that S. virgata releases high amounts of (+)-catechin, which also has antimicrobial activity, and other phytotoxins from its seeds at the earliest stages of its development might represent some adaptative advantage to the seedling that contributes to its invasive behavior and successful establishment in different soils.

A situação atual do mercado da saúde suplementar no Brasil e apontamentos para o futuro / The current situation of the private health plans and insurance market in Brazil and trends for the future

O artigo tem por objetivo descrever a situação do mercado de planos privados de assistência médica no Brasil, no período de 2000 a 2006. Analisa a situação atual no que tange aos beneficiários, às operadoras e aos planos de saúde e destaca algumas possíveis tendências sinalizadas pelo estudo. Apresenta o perfil dos beneficiários e a cobertura por planos na população.Discute a expansão dos planos coletivos, a redução dos planos individuais, bem como a acentuada concentração de beneficiários em poucas operadoras, identificando que, apesar de tratar-se de um mercado concentrado, há mais beneficiários em planos com abrangência municipal ou regional do que em planos nacionais. Por fim, aborda aspectos relacionados aos recursos financeiros, entre eles o incentivo governamental para o setor e conclui sinalizando a necessidade de estudos para melhor conhecer a dinâmica do mercado de planos privados de saúde.

This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian private health plan market over the period 2000-2006. The current situation is analyzed with respect to the profile of private insurance companies, health plans and beneficiaries and some possible trends that were identified in the study are emphasized. The increase of employer group-plans as a work-related benefit and the reduction of individual plans are discussed. Although the market is restricted to only a few companies, there are more people covered by local plans than by plans offering coverage on a national basis. Finally, the paper approaches aspects related to the financial resources, among them the governmental incentive for the health area, and points to the need of further studies for a better understanding of the supplementary healthcare market.