Core principles of Malakit intervention for transferability in other contexts.

To eliminate malaria, all populations must be included. For those who are not reached by the health care system, specific interventions must be tailor-made. An innovative Malakit strategy, based on the distribution of self-diagnosis and self-treatment kits, has been evaluated in the Suriname-French Guiana- Amapá (Brazil) region. The results showed effectiveness and good acceptability. The Malakit intervention is complex and has many components. Its transferability requires adaptation to other populations and regions, while retaining the main features of the intervention. This article provides the keys to adapting, implementing and evaluating it in other contexts facing residual malaria in hard-to-reach and/or mobile populations. The process of transferring this intervention includes: diagnosis of the situation (malaria epidemiology, characteristics of the population affected) to define the relevance of the strategy; determination of the stakeholders and the framework of the intervention (research project or public health intervention); adaptation modalities (adaptation of the kit, training, distribution strategy); the role of community health workers and their need for training and supervision. Finally, evaluation needs are specified in relation to prospects for geographical or temporal extension. Malaria elimination is likely to increasingly involve marginalized people due to climate change and displacement of populations. Evaluation of the transferability and effectiveness of the Malakit strategy in new contexts will be essential to increase and refine the evidence of its value, and to decide whether it could be an additional tool in the arsenal recommended in future WHO guidelines.

Spatial transferability of an agent-based model to simulate Taenia solium control interventions.

BACKGROUND: Models can be used to study and predict the impact of interventions aimed at controlling the spread of infectious agents, such as Taenia solium, a zoonotic parasite whose larval stage causes epilepsy and economic loss in many rural areas of the developing nations. To enhance the credibility of model estimates, calibration against observed data is necessary. However, this process may lead to a paradoxical dependence of model parameters on location-specific data, thus limiting the model's geographic transferability. METHODS: In this study, we adopted a non-local model calibration approach to assess whether it can improve the spatial transferability of CystiAgent, our agent-based model of local-scale T. solium transmission. The calibration dataset for CystiAgent consisted of cross-sectional data on human taeniasis, pig cysticercosis and pig serology collected in eight villages in Northwest Peru. After calibration, the model was transferred to a second group of 21 destination villages in the same area without recalibrating its parameters. Model outputs were compared to pig serology data collected over a period of 2 years in the destination villages during a trial of T. solium control interventions, based on mass and spatially targeted human and pig treatments. RESULTS: Considering the uncertainties associated with empirical data, the model produced simulated pre-intervention pig seroprevalences that were successfully validated against data collected in 81% of destination villages. Furthermore, the model outputs were able to reproduce validated pig seroincidence values in 76% of destination villages when compared to the data obtained after the interventions. The results demonstrate that the CystiAgent model, when calibrated using a non-local approach, can be successfully transferred without requiring additional calibration. CONCLUSIONS: This feature allows the model to simulate both baseline pre-intervention transmission conditions and the outcomes of control interventions across villages that form geographically homogeneous regions, providing a basis for developing large-scale models representing T. solium transmission at a regional level.

Innovación emergente para la COVID-19: taller virtual sobre el uso educativo de la plataforma Moodle / COVID-19 Emergent Innovation: Virtual Workshop about Moodle Platform Educative Use

Introducción: se requiere el desarrollo de competencias docentes para programar soluciones significativas a los problemas educativos identificados. Objetivo: analizar una innovación para la capacitación profesoral en el uso educativo de la plataforma Moodle, como estrategia emergente durante el aislamiento social por la COVID-19. Metodología: se desarrolló una investigación descriptiva, con enfoque cualitativo, aplicando la metodología de la sistematización de experiencias. Resultados: en la determinación de la situación a mejorarse se reconoció la escasa experiencia de los docentes del departamento con el uso de la plataforma Moodle; la elección de los contenidos, tecnología y actividades estuvo en función de organizar un aprendizaje gradual que contemplara el tratamiento de las esencialidades de las innovaciones educativas con las TICs, haciendo uso de recursos educativos disponibles en la plataforma Moodle. Conclusiones: la innovación desarrollada durante el aislamiento social por la COVID-19, puso de manifiesto su eficacia y transferibilidad(AU)

Introduction: it is required to develop professor's competences to program significant responses to identified educational problems. Objective: to analyze an innovation for instructing professors in the educative use of platform Moodle developed as an emergent strategy during social isolation due to the COVID-19. Methodology: it was developed a descriptive and qualitative investigation, applying the experience systematizing methodology. Results: the learning situation to activate was the departmental professor's experience with the Moodle platform use; the contents, technology and activities selection procured the use of Moodle recourses to organize a planned learning of educative innovation inner essentialities; to evaluate the innovation results there were considered its efficacy and transferability. Conclusions: the virtual methodological workshop developed during social isolation due to the COVID-19 evidenced its efficacy and transferability(AU)

Coping strategies: Seeking personalized care in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. A patient reported measure-coping responses inventory.

Coping is defined as a set of cognitive and behavioral efforts made to master stressful specific demands. Adaptation to chronic diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), depends on the effectiveness of coping. Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Coping Responses Inventory (CRI-A) in persons with MS (PwMS), verifying the transferability of the measure, already validated in the Argentine general population, and to describe the types of coping strategies available for PwMS. Methods: 90 PwMS were included. Outcome measures: CRI-A Inventory, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Beck Depression Inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale and MS International Quality of Life questionnaire. Results: Descriptive data is as follows: mean age (years): 40.97 ± 12.85; years of education: 13.46 ± 3.93; EDSS: 2.48 ± 1.79; disease evolution (years): 10.76 ± 9.72; depression: 13.92 ± 10.45; fatigue 3.77 ± 1.72. The psychometric properties of the CRI-A Inventory observed in the Argentine general population are present in the MS sample as well, with adequate validity and reliability. The respondents most frequently utilized a problem-focused coping style. Conclusions: Results showed the CRI-A has good transferability properties from the Argentine general population to the MS population.

Transferibilidad de marcadores microsatélites de Anas platyrhynchos al pato criollo peruano Cairina moschata domestica / Cross species transferability of microsatellite markers from Anas platyrhynchos to Peruvian Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata domestica

Resumen El pato criollo peruano (Cairina moschata domestica) es una de las especies de mayor importancia económica en la alimentación humana. Las especies de patos forman grupos genéticos complejos y difíciles de reconocer, por lo que el uso marcadores microsatélites (SSR) identificados en una especie relacionada como Anas platyrhynchos, representa una opción atractiva, de menor costo y útil para resolver temas relacionados con la conservación de la diversidad genómica, flujo génico e hibridación entre poblaciones. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar la transferibilidad de 24 SSR identificados para A. platyrhynchos a las poblaciones peruanas de C. moschata doméstica y determinar el grado de polimorfismo (PIC) de los marcadores transferibles. Para ello, se obtuvo ADN a partir de plumas alares usando el método cloroformo-alcohol isoamílico. Los SSR se construyeron con una secuencia adicional de 19 pb (cola M13) y se utilizaron fluoróforos 6-FAM, VIC, NED y PET para su etiquetado. Los fragmentos amplificados fueron visualizados en geles de agarosa 2% y separados por electroforesis capilar en un secuenciador automático ABI 3130XL. Los resultados mostraron 7 SSRs con un valor PIC alto (PIC>0.5) y que el marcador CMO211 se expresaba con un tamaño molecular menor del de la referencia. En conclusión, el presente trabajo demostró que el 75% de los SSR diseñados para A. platyrhynchos son transferibles a C. moschata domestica; y que sólo 7 fueron altamente informativos. Demostrando así que los SSRs son útiles en la detección de polimorfismos en especies relacionadas y pueden ser usados para mejorar las poblaciones peruanas de patos criollos.

Abstract Peruvian Muskovy duck (Cairina moschata domestica) is one of the most economically important species in human nutrition. Duck species form complex genetic groups which are difficult to recognize, thus the use microsatellite markers (SSRs) identified already in Anas platyrhynchos (related species), represents a very attractive option for its cheapness and usefulness for solving issues related to conservation of genomic diversity, gene flow and hybridization between population. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the degree of polymorphism (PIC) and the transferability of 24 SSRs identified for A. platyrhynchos to C. moschata domestica. In this study, DNA collected from wing feathers was extracted using the chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. SSRs were constructed with an additional 19 bp sequence (M13 tail) and 6-FAM, VIC, NED and PET fluorophores were used for their labeling. The amplified fragments were visualized on 2% agarose gels and separated by capillary electrophoresis in an automatic ABI 3130XL sequencer. Results showed 7 SSR with high PIC value (PIC> 0.5) and the CMO211 marker expressed in a smaller molecular size that the one used as reference. In conclusion, we showed that 75% of the SSR designed for A. platyrhynchos were transferable to C. moschata domestica as well as we found only 7 SSR highly informative, thus we proved that SSR are highly useful for detecting polymorphisms in related species and improved the Peruvian populations of Muskovy ducks.

A best-worst scaling in Colombian patients to rank the characteristics of HIV/AIDS treatment.

AIM: To elicit patients' preferences for HIV/AIDS treatment characteristics in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A best-worst scaling case was used to provide a ranking of 26 HIV/AIDS treatment characteristics that were similar to a previous study conducted in Germany. In each choice task, participants were asked to choose the most important and the least important treatment characteristics from a set of five from the master list. Using the Hierarchical Bayes method, relative importance scores were calculated. Sub-group analyses were conducted according to sex, education, source of infection, symptoms, and age. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients fully completed the questionnaire. The three most important characteristics were "drug has very high efficacy" (relative importance score [RIS] = 10.1), "maximum prolongation of life expectancy" (RIS = 9.7), and "long duration of efficacy" (RIS = 7.4). Sub-group analysis showed only three significant (but minor) differences between older and younger people. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that treatment characteristics regarding efficacy and prolongation of life are particularly important for patients in Colombia. Further investigation on how patients make trade-offs between these important characteristics and incorporating this information in clinical and policy decision-making would be needed to improve adherence with HIV/AIDS medication.

Trait-based indicators of bird species sensitivity to habitat loss are effective within but not across data sets.

Species' traits have been widely championed as the key to predicting which species are most threatened by habitat loss, yet previous work has failed to detect trends that are consistent enough to guide large-scale conservation and management. Here we explore whether traits and environmental variables predict species sensitivity to habitat loss across two data sets generated by independent avifaunal studies in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, both of which detected a similar assemblage of species, and similar species-specific responses to habitat change, across an overlapping sample of sites. Specifically, we tested whether 25 distributional, climatic, ecological, behavioral, and morphological variables predict sensitivity to habitat loss among 196 bird species, both within and across studies, and when data were analysed as occurrence or abundance. We found that four to nine variables showed high explanatory power within a single study or data set, but none performed as strong predictors across all data sets. Our results demonstrate that the use of species traits to predict sensitivity to anthropogenic habitat loss can produce predictions that are species- and site-specific and not scalable to whole regions or biomes, and thus should be used with caution.

Microsatellite marker development by partial sequencing of the sour passion fruit genome (Passiflora edulis Sims).

BACKGROUND: The Passiflora genus comprises hundreds of wild and cultivated species of passion fruit used for food, industrial, ornamental and medicinal purposes. Efforts to develop genomic tools for genetic analysis of P. edulis, the most important commercial Passiflora species, are still incipient. In spite of many recognized applications of microsatellite markers in genetics and breeding, their availability for passion fruit research remains restricted. Microsatellite markers in P. edulis are usually limited in number, show reduced polymorphism, and are mostly based on compound or imperfect repeats. Furthermore, they are confined to only a few Passiflora species. We describe the use of NGS technology to partially assemble the P. edulis genome in order to develop hundreds of new microsatellite markers. RESULTS: A total of 14.11 Gbp of Illumina paired-end sequence reads were analyzed to detect simple sequence repeat sites in the sour passion fruit genome. A sample of 1300 contigs containing perfect repeat microsatellite sequences was selected for PCR primer development. Panels of di- and tri-nucleotide repeat markers were then tested in P. edulis germplasm accessions for validation. DNA polymorphism was detected in 74% of the markers (PIC = 0.16 to 0.77; number of alleles/locus = 2 to 7). A core panel of highly polymorphic markers (PIC = 0.46 to 0.77) was used to cross-amplify PCR products in 79 species of Passiflora (including P. edulis), belonging to four subgenera (Astrophea, Decaloba, Distephana and Passiflora). Approximately 71% of the marker/species combinations resulted in positive amplicons in all species tested. DNA polymorphism was detected in germplasm accessions of six closely related Passiflora species (P. edulis, P. alata, P. maliformis, P. nitida, P. quadrangularis and P. setacea) and the data used for accession discrimination and species assignment. CONCLUSION: A database of P. edulis DNA sequences obtained by NGS technology was examined to identify microsatellite repeats in the sour passion fruit genome. Markers were submitted to evaluation using accessions of cultivated and wild Passiflora species. The new microsatellite markers detected high levels of DNA polymorphism in sour passion fruit and can potentially be used in genetic analysis of P. edulis and other Passiflora species.

Development of an AMBER-compatible transferable force field for poly(ethylene glycol) ethers (glymes).

An all-atom force field consistent with the general AMBER force field (GAFF) format for poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (diglyme or G2) was developed by fitting to experimental liquid densities and dielectric constants. Not surprisingly, the new force field gives excellent agreement with experimental liquid phase densities and dielectric constants over a wide temperature range. Other dynamic and thermodynamic properties of liquid G2 such as its self-diffusion coefficient, shear viscosity, and vaporization enthalpy were also calculated and compared to experimental data. For all of the properties studied, the performance of the proposed new force field is better than that of the standard GAFF force field. The force field parameters were transferred to model two other poly(ethylene glycol) ethers: monoglyme (G1) and tetraglyme (G4). The predictive ability of the modified force field for G1 and G4 was significantly better than that of the original GAFF force field. The proposed force field provides an alternative option for the simulation of mixtures containing glymes using GAFF-compatible force fields, particularly for electrochemical applications. The accuracy of a previously published force field based on the OPLS-AA format and the accuracies of two modified versions of that force field were also examined for G1, G2, and G4. It was found that the original OPLS-AA force field is superior to the modified versions of it, and that it has a similar accuracy to the proposed new GAFF-compatible force field. Graphical abstract Transferability of an AMBER-compatible force field parameterized for G2 to other glymes.

Dispersal and extrapolation on the accuracy of temporal predictions from distribution models for the Darwin's frog.

Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity; the development of models that reliably predict its effects on species distributions is a priority for conservation biogeography. Two of the main issues for accurate temporal predictions from Species Distribution Models (SDM) are model extrapolation and unrealistic dispersal scenarios. We assessed the consequences of these issues on the accuracy of climate-driven SDM predictions for the dispersal-limited Darwin's frog Rhinoderma darwinii in South America. We calibrated models using historical data (1950-1975) and projected them across 40 yr to predict distribution under current climatic conditions, assessing predictive accuracy through the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistics (TSS), contrasting binary model predictions against temporal-independent validation data set (i.e., current presences/absences). To assess the effects of incorporating dispersal processes we compared the predictive accuracy of dispersal constrained models with no dispersal limited SDMs; and to assess the effects of model extrapolation on the predictive accuracy of SDMs, we compared this between extrapolated and no extrapolated areas. The incorporation of dispersal processes enhanced predictive accuracy, mainly due to a decrease in the false presence rate of model predictions, which is consistent with discrimination of suitable but inaccessible habitat. This also had consequences on range size changes over time, which is the most used proxy for extinction risk from climate change. The area of current climatic conditions that was absent in the baseline conditions (i.e., extrapolated areas) represents 39% of the study area, leading to a significant decrease in predictive accuracy of model predictions for those areas. Our results highlight (1) incorporating dispersal processes can improve predictive accuracy of temporal transference of SDMs and reduce uncertainties of extinction risk assessments from global change; (2) as geographical areas subjected to novel climates are expected to arise, they must be reported as they show less accurate predictions under future climate scenarios. Consequently, environmental extrapolation and dispersal processes should be explicitly incorporated to report and reduce uncertainties in temporal predictions of SDMs, respectively. Doing so, we expect to improve the reliability of the information we provide for conservation decision makers under future climate change scenarios.

First microsatellite markers for Paspalum plicatulum (Poaceae) characterization and cross-amplification in different Paspalum species of the Plicatula group.

BACKGROUND: Paspalum plicatulum is a perennial rhizomatous grass with natural diploid and polyploid cytotypes. It is a member of Plicatula, which has historically been recognized as a highly complex group containing species of ecological, ornamental and forage importance. The complex nature of the P. plicatulum genome makes it a challenging species for genetic research. This study aimed to develop and characterize microsatellite molecular markers in P. plicatulum and to evaluate their transferability to other Plicatula group species. FINDINGS: Microsatellite sequences were identified from three enriched libraries from P. plicatulum. Specific primers were designed, and 25 displayed polymorphism when screened across 48 polyploid Paspalum spp. genotypes. The number of bands per locus ranged from 2 to 17, with a mean of 8.65. Private bands for each species were identified; the highest number of private bands was observed for P. plicatulum in 52% of the loci analyzed. The mean polymorphism information content of all loci was 0.69, and the mean discriminatory power was 0.82. Microsatellite markers were satisfactorily cross-amplified for the eight tested Plicatula-group Paspalum species, with P. atratum exhibiting the highest transferability rate (89.86%). STRUCTURE and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components separated accessions into three groups but did not reveal separation of the accessions according to species. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the first microsatellite markers in P. plicatulum, which are polymorphic, efficient for the detection and quantification of genetic variation, and show high transferability into other species of the Plicatula group. This set of markers can be used in future genetic and molecular studies necessary for the proper development of conservation and breeding programs. Private bands within the markers can be used to assist in species identification.

A genomic approach for isolating chloroplast microsatellite markers for Pachyptera kerere (Bignoniaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: In this study, we developed chloroplast microsatellite markers (cpSSRs) for Pachyptera kerere (Bignoniaceae) to investigate the population structure and genetic diversity of this species. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used Illumina HiSeq data to reconstruct the chloroplast genome of P. kerere by a combination of de novo and reference-guided assembly. We then used the chloroplast genome to develop a set of cpSSRs from intergenic regions. Overall, 24 primer pairs were designed, 21 of which amplified successfully and were polymorphic, presenting three to nine alleles per locus. The unbiased haploid diversity per locus varied from 0.207 (Pac28) to 0.817 (Pac04). All but one locus amplified for all other taxa of Pachyptera. CONCLUSIONS: The markers reported here will serve as a basis for studies to assess the genetic structure and phylogeographic history of Pachyptera.

Microsatellite loci for Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R.D. Webster and cross-amplification in other Urochloa species.

BACKGROUND: Forage grasses of the African genus Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) are the basis of Brazilian beef production, and there is a strong demand for high quality, productive and adapted forage plants. Among the approximately 100 species of the genus Urochloa, Urochloa decumbens is one of the most important tropical forage grasses used for pastures due to several of its agronomic attributes. However, the level of understanding of these attributes and the tools with which to control them at the genetic level are limited, mainly due to the apomixis and ploidy level of this species. In this context, the present study aimed to identify and characterize molecular microsatellite markers of U. decumbens and to evaluate their cross-amplification in other Urochloa species. FINDINGS: Microsatellite loci were isolated from a previously constructed enriched library from one U. decumbens genotype. Specific primers were designed for one hundred thirteen loci, and ninety-three primer pairs successfully amplified microsatellite regions, yielding an average of 4.93 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values of these loci ranged from 0.26 to 0.85 (average 0.68), and the associated discriminating power (DP) values ranged from 0.22 to 0.97 (average 0.77). Cross-amplification studies demonstrated the potential transferability of these microsatellites to four other Urochloa species. Structure analysis revealed the existence of three distinct groups, providing evidence in the allelic pool that U. decumbens is closely related to Urochloa ruziziensis and Urochloa brizantha. The genetic distance values determined using Jaccard's coefficient ranged from 0.06 to 0.76. CONCLUSIONS: The microsatellite markers identified in this study are the first set of molecular markers for U. decumbens species. Their availability will facilitate understanding the genetics of this and other Urochloa species and breeding them, and will be useful for germplasm characterization, linkage mapping and marker-assisted selection.

Aspectos bioecológicos e genético-comportamentais envolvidos na conservação da abelha Jandaíra, Melipona subnitida Ducke (Apidae, Meliponini), e o uso de ferramentas moleculares nos estudos de diversidade / Bioecological and behavioral genetic aspects involved in the conservation of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke (Apidae, Meliponini) and the use of molecular tools in studies of diversity

A abelha sem ferrão Melipona subnitida atualmente está presente em quase toda a região nordeste, em função da boa adaptabilidade ao semiárido nordestino e do potencial econômico-ecológico proporcionado pela produção de mel e pela polinização de cultivos em condições de confinamento. Apesar disso, é uma espécie ameaçada devido a processos de degradação ambiental, dentre os quais estão o desmatamento, o uso indiscriminado de agrotóxicos e o extrativismo. Tais interferências tendem a isolar as populações de Jandaíra, provocando uma queda na variabilidade genética e, consequentemente, uma redução na capacidade adaptativa da espécie. Porém, técnicas de biologia molecular estão sendo implementadas, possibilitando que populações desse tipo sejam avaliadas quanto ao seu grau de variabilidade genética. Marcadores moleculares do tipo microssatélites de DNA vêm sendo bastante usados, porém, em função do alto custo exigido para seu desenvolvimento, diversos estudos vêm empregando microssatélites transferidos de táxons próximos com amplo sucesso em estudos voltados à caracterização e à diversidade genética. Dessa forma, a presente revisão objetivou avaliar os mais relevantes aspectos bioecológicos e genético-comportamentais envolvidos na conservação da abelha Jandaíra, a fim de auxiliar na avaliação do grau de diversidade genética da espécie, bem como da sua distribuição entre indivíduos e populações da abelha sem ferrão M. subnitida.(AU)

The stingless bee Melipona subnitida is now present almost everywhere in the Brazilian Northeastern, as a consequence of its good adaptability to the semiarid and economic and ecological potential offered by the honey production and pollination of commercial crops under confined conditions. Nevertheless, it is an endangered species due to environmental degradation processes, among which are: deforestation, indiscriminate use of pesticides and honey extraction. Such interference tends to isolate populations of Jandaíra causing a decrease in genetic variability, and therefore a reduction in the adaptive capacity of the species. However, advanced Molecular Biology techniques have been used allowing such populations to be assessed for their degree of genetic variability. Molecular markers such as microsatellite DNA are widely applied to genetic diversity studies. However, due to the high costs required for their development, several studies have been focused on the use of microsatellites transferred from closely related taxa with much success in studies on the genetic characterization of species and their populations. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the most relevant ecological and behavioral aspects in order to assist the population genetic studies of the stingless bee M. subnitida.(AU)

Aspectos bioecológicos e genético-comportamentais envolvidos na conservação da abelha Jandaíra, Melipona subnitida Ducke (Apidae, Meliponini), e o uso de ferramentas moleculares nos estudos de diversidade / Bioecological and behavioral genetic aspects involved in the conservation of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke (Apidae, Meliponini) and the use of molecular tools in studies of diversity

A abelha sem ferrão Melipona subnitida atualmente está presente em quase toda a região nordeste, em função da boa adaptabilidade ao semiárido nordestino e do potencial econômico-ecológico proporcionado pela produção de mel e pela polinização de cultivos em condições de confinamento. Apesar disso, é uma espécie ameaçada devido a processos de degradação ambiental, dentre os quais estão o desmatamento, o uso indiscriminado de agrotóxicos e o extrativismo. Tais interferências tendem a isolar as populações de Jandaíra, provocando uma queda na variabilidade genética e, consequentemente, uma redução na capacidade adaptativa da espécie. Porém, técnicas de biologia molecular estão sendo implementadas, possibilitando que populações desse tipo sejam avaliadas quanto ao seu grau de variabilidade genética. Marcadores moleculares do tipo microssatélites de DNA vêm sendo bastante usados, porém, em função do alto custo exigido para seu desenvolvimento, diversos estudos vêm empregando microssatélites transferidos de táxons próximos com amplo sucesso em estudos voltados à caracterização e à diversidade genética. Dessa forma, a presente revisão objetivou avaliar os mais relevantes aspectos bioecológicos e genético-comportamentais envolvidos na conservação da abelha Jandaíra, a fim de auxiliar na avaliação do grau de diversidade genética da espécie, bem como da sua distribuição entre indivíduos e populações da abelha sem ferrão M. subnitida.(AU)

The stingless bee Melipona subnitida is now present almost everywhere in the Brazilian Northeastern, as a consequence of its good adaptability to the semiarid and economic and ecological potential offered by the honey production and pollination of commercial crops under confined conditions. Nevertheless, it is an endangered species due to environmental degradation processes, among which are: deforestation, indiscriminate use of pesticides and honey extraction. Such interference tends to isolate populations of Jandaíra causing a decrease in genetic variability, and therefore a reduction in the adaptive capacity of the species. However, advanced Molecular Biology techniques have been used allowing such populations to be assessed for their degree of genetic variability. Molecular markers such as microsatellite DNA are widely applied to genetic diversity studies. However, due to the high costs required for their development, several studies have been focused on the use of microsatellites transferred from closely related taxa with much success in studies on the genetic characterization of species and their populations. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the most relevant ecological and behavioral aspects in order to assist the population genetic studies of the stingless bee M. subnitida.(AU)

Cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci developed for Passiflora edulis Sims. in related Passiflora Species

The aim of this study was to evaluate the selected 41 SSR markers developed for yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Sims.) for their transferability to 11 different Passiflora species. Twenty-one SSR were successfully amplified in 10 wild species of passion fruit producing 101 bands. All the markers were amplifiable for at least one species. The mean transferability was 68,8%, ranging from 15,4% (primer PE11) to 100 % (PE13, PE18, PE37, PE41 and PE88). Transferability was higher for the species from the Passiflora subgenus than for those from the Decaloba and Dysosmia subgenus. The results indicated a high level of nucleotide sequence conservation of the primer regions in the species evaluated, and consequently, they could potentially be used for the establishment of molecular strategies for use in passion fruit breeding and genetics.

Development of microsatellite markers in Cratylia mollis and their transferability to C. argentea (Fabaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: This work aimed to develop microsatellite markers for Cratylia mollis as tools to assess its genetic diversity and structure and to evaluate their potential cross-amplification in related species. • METHODS AND RESULTS: Microsatellite markers were developed using a microsatellite-enriched library and an intersimple sequence repeat library. From a set of 19 markers, 12 microsatellite loci were polymorphic and presented considerable variation in allele number (2-11), expected heterozygosity (0.226-0.883), and polymorphism information content per locus (0.212-0.870). Cross-amplification in C. argentea was successful in 16 loci, 12 of which were polymorphic (2-10 alleles). • CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphism of this set of microsatellite markers for C. mollis, as well as their successful cross-amplification in C. intermedia and C. bahiensis and their transferability to C. argentea, supports their use in future comparative studies to understand the mechanism involved in population divergence and speciation in the genus.

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the medicinal plant Smilax brasiliensis (Smilacaceae) and related species.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: A new set of microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed for Smilax brasiliensis, which is popularly known as sarsaparilla and used in folk medicine as a tonic, antirheumatic, and antisyphilitic. Smilax brasiliensis is sold in Brazilian pharmacies, and its origin and effectiveness are not subject to quality control. • METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a protocol for genomic library enrichment, primer pairs were developed for 26 microsatellite loci and validated in 17 accessions of S. brasiliensis. Thirteen loci were polymorphic and four were monomorphic. The primers successfully amplified alleles in the congeners S. campestris, S. cissoides, S. fluminensis, S. goyazana, S. polyantha, S. quinquenervia, S. rufescens, S. subsessiliflora, and S. syphilitica. • CONCLUSIONS: The new SSR markers described herein are informative tools for genetic diversity and gene flow studies in S. brasiliensis and several congeners.

Adaptación a Colombia y Venezuela del modelo económico dasatinib primera línea del York Health Economics Consortium para el tratamiento de la leucemia mieloide crónica / Adaptation to Colombia and Venezuela of the economic model Dasatinib first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, developed by the York Health Economics Consortium

Objetivo: Basados en una evaluación económica de costo-efectividad del dasatinib primera línea en el tratamiento de la leucemia mieloide crónica (LMC) realizada por el Consorcio de York, y previo análisis de transferibilidad de datos, se realizó una adaptación de ésta a Colombia y Venezuela. Se compararon los costos y la relación de costo-efectividad del uso de la dosis de 100 mg/día de dasatinib versus 400 mg/día de imatinib y 600 mg/día de nilotinib para cada fase de la enfermedad, como tratamientos de primera línea, con incrementos a 140 mg/día de dasatinib, 800 mg/día de imatinib y 800 mg/día de nilotinib en una segunda línea de tratamiento. Métodos: El modelo original consideró aquellos pacientes con diagnóstico de LMC que no hubieran recibido tratamiento previo. Para realizar la adaptación de la evaluación económica se asumieron las probabilidades de cambio, para lo cual se consideraron tres fases, crónica, acelerada y muerte, a lo largo de toda la vida y con una tasa de descuento del 3,5 por ciento para los costos y beneficios. Los resultados del modelo incluyeron los costos de cada alternativa de tratamiento con dasatinib, nilotinib o imatinib y los años de vida ajustados a calidad ganada. Los costos se expresan en pesos colombianos y bolívares fuertes del año 2011. Resultados: El dasatinib produjo la mayor cantidad de años de vida ajustados a calidad, tanto para Colombia como para Venezuela con 10,67 y 10,53 QALYs respectivamente, en comparación con 10,10 y 9,97 QALYs en cada caso para el imatinib y 10,50 y 10,36 QALYs para el nilotinib. Los costos esperados por QALY en Colombia fueron de $ 108.174.020 para el dasatinib, $ 80.826.556 para el imatinib y $ 134.747.281 para el nilotinib. En Venezuela fueron de BsF 222.970 para el dasatinib, BsF 213.142 para el imatinib y BsF 269.193 para el nilotinib. El dasatinib fue dominante sobre el nilotinib en ambos países. Conclusiones: El dasatinib fue más efectivo...

Objective: To adapt an economic model of frontline dasatinib treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia developed by the York Consortium to the health care settings in Colombia and Venezuela. Methods: The original model considered treatment of naïve patients with CML and a Markov's model with probabilities of change between chronic, accelerated phases and death, over a patient’s lifetime. The applied discount rate is 3.5 percent for both costs and benefits. Direct medical and treatment costs, and mortality rates were taken from the local published data and WHO life tables. Costs are expressed in 2011 Colombian pesos and Venezuelan strong bolivars. Results: Dasatinib 100 mg/day as frontline treatment for CML produced the greatest number of QALYs, both in Colombia and Venezuela with 10.67 and 10.53 QALYs respectively, compared with 10.10 and 9.97 QALYs for imatinib and 10.50 and 10.36 QALYs for nilotinib. The expected cost per QALY in Colombia was $ 108.174.020 for dasatinib, $ 80.826.556 for imatinib and $ 134.747.281 for nilotinib. The expected cost per QALY in Venezuela was BsF 222.970 for dasatinib, BsF 213.142 for imatinib and BsF 269.193 for nilotinib. Dasatinib was dominant to nilotinib in both countries. Conclusions: In the frontline treatment for CML in Colombia and Venezuela, dasatinib had greater QALYs than both imatinib and nilotinib, and demonstrated cost-effectiveness relative to nilotinib. There was an increase in overall costs, due to the increase in life years gained and thus a greater use of overall health care resources.

Informative microsatellites for genetic population studies of black-faced lion tamarins (Leontopithecus caissara).

Leontopithecus caissara is a critically endangered primate species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Nineteen microsatellite loci, previously developed for congeneric species, were tested with 34 L. caissara individuals from Superagüi Island. Of the 19 loci, 17 (89.4%) produced robust alleles, nine (47.4%) of these proved to be polymorphic, with a total of 23 alleles and an average of 2.56 alleles per locus. Expected and observed heterozygosity averaged 0.483 and 0.561, respectively. The exclusion power for identifying the first parent of an arbitrary offspring was 0.315 over all loci. The results thus indicate both the usefulness and limitations of these nine microsatellite loci in the genetic analysis of L. caissara, as well as their potentiality for genetic investigation in other congeneric species.