Composition of milk and mammary gland health in Criollo breed mares during lactation / Composição de leite e saúde de glândulas mamárias em éguas da raça Crioula durante lactação

The aim of this study was to evaluate the components of milk and mammary gland health of Criollo mares. A total of 12 mares coming from a farm in southern Brazil were used. Samples of milk were taken from each mare every two weeks up to 180 days of lactation. The characteristics analyzed were fat, protein, lactose, total solids, somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC). In relation to the health of the udder and the milk of the mares, the SCC was 24.1 x 103cells / ml and TBC was 44 x 103CFU / ml, while the average of milk components was 0.57% fat, 1.95% protein, 6.71% lactose and 9.24% total solids. Stage of lactation and individual characteristics may influence the level of milk components. The low SCC and TBC found in the Criollo breed mares' milk ensure the quality of their milk compared to other species.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os componentes do leite e a saúde das glândulas mamárias de éguas da raça Crioula. Foi utilizado um total de 12 éguas, localizadas em uma fazenda no sul do Brasil. Foram retiradas amostras de leite de cada égua quinzenalmente até 180 dias de lactação. As características analisadas foram gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais, contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e contagem bacteriana total (CBT). Em relação à saúde do úbere e ao leite das éguas, a CCS foi 24,1 x 10 3 células/mL e a CBT foi 44 x 10 3 UFC/mL, enquanto a média dos componentes do leite foi 0,57% de gordura, 1,95% de proteína, 6,71% de lactose e 9,24% de sólidos totais. O estágio da lactação e as características individuais podem influenciar o nível de componentes do leite. As baixas taxas de CCS e CBT encontradas no leite de éguas da raça Crioula asseguram a qualidade desse leite comparado ao de outras espécies.(AU)

Gene expression and molecular modeling of the HSP104 chaperone of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Heat shock protein (HSP) 104 is a highly conserved molecular chaperone that catalyzes protein unfolding, disaggregation and degradation under stress conditions. We characterized HSP104 gene structure and expression in Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas' disease. The T. cruzi HSP104 is an 869 amino-acid protein encoded by a single-copy gene that has the highest sequence similarity (76%) with that of T. brucei and the lowest (23%) with that of the human protein. HSP104 transcripts were detected at room temperature, and levels increased after incubation at 37° or 40°C. The HSP104 protein was found at low levels in non-heat-shocked cells, and accumulated continuously up to 24 h at elevated temperatures. We developed a predicted structural model of hexameric T. cruzi HSP104, which showed some conserved features.