Potential application of carduma (Cetengraulis mysticetus) and plumuda (Opisthonema spp.) fish paste for the development of a leberkäse (liver loaf) fish product: Physicochemical and functional properties.

This study investigated the potential use of fish paste from two pelagic species (Cetengraulis mysticetus or carduma in Colombia and Opisthonema sp. or plumuda in Colombia), either separately or combined, as a substitute for external fat sources in a Leberkäse product. Three stages were analyzed, evaluating biometric proportions, body performance, and meat batters containing different concentrations of fish pastes. Physicochemical and instrumental characterization analyses were performed to determine the effect of the type of fish paste and the level of its inclusion in the final product. Results showed that plumuda fish paste had higher protein and ash content than carduma fish paste, and the inclusion of carduma fish paste in meat batters led to a greater loss of liquid and lower emulsion and gel stability values. The study also established selection criteria for the two pelagic fish species that could be useful for the fishing industry. Overall, the study demonstrated that Leberkäse can be produced using these pelagic species with a relatively simple processing technology.

The specific inhibition of glycerol synthesis and the phosphorylation of a putative Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase give insight into the mechanism of osmotic sensing in a dinoflagellate symbiont.

Signaling pathways are fundamental for the establishment and maintenance of diverse symbioses. The symbiosis of cnidarians and dinoflagellate algae is the foundation for the ecological success of coral reefs, involving the transfer of photosynthetic products from the symbiont to host. However, signal transduction pathways for this symbiosis remain uncharacterized. Cultured and natural cnidarian symbionts can produce glycerol, one of the main translocated photosynthates. Here, we investigate whether a signal transduction pathway may be involved in inducing glycerol synthesis in cultured symbionts under an osmotic stress model. We evaluated the effect of specific inhibitors of the main transduction pathways, p38, JNK, and ERK 1/2 in Brevolium minutum, the symbiont of the Aiptasia model system. We found that glycerol production and the specific activity of the enzyme Gpdh were selectively inhibited by a p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) inhibitor. Additionally, the phosphorylation of a putative p38-like protein was rapidly detected. Finally, we studied the presence of each of the components of the p38 MAPK pathway in silico in genomes and transcriptomes reported up to date for different symbiont types. We propose a model for the arrangement of this pathway in the family of dinoflagellate symbionts known as Symbiodiniaceae.

Micronucleus test and nuclear abnormality assay in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Past, present, and future trends.

Nuclear abnormality (NA) assay in fish has been widely applied for toxicity risk assessment under field and laboratory conditions. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a suitable model system for assessing the NA induced by pollutants. Thus, the current study aimed to summarize and discuss the literature concerning micronucleus (MN) and other NA in zebrafish and its applications in toxicity screening and environmental risk assessment. The data concerning the publication year, pollutant type, experimental design, and type of NA induced by pollutants were summarized. Also, molecular mechanisms that cause NA in zebrafish were discussed. Revised data showed that the MN test in zebrafish has been applied since 1996. The MN was the most frequently NA, but 15 other nuclear alterations were reported in zebrafish, such as notched nuclei, blebbed nuclei, binucleated cell, buds, lobed nuclei, bridges, and kidney-shaped. Several pollutants can induce NA in zebrafish, mainly effluents (mixture of pollutants), agrochemicals, and microplastics. The pollutant-induced NA in zebrafish depends on experimental design (i.e., exposure time, concentration, and exposure condition), developmental stages, cell/tissue type, and the type of pollutant. Besides, research gaps and recommendations for future studies are indicated. Overall, the current study showed that zebrafish is a suitable model to assess pollutant-induced mutagenicity.

Sexual Dimorphism in Aggression: Sex-Specific Fighting Strategies Across Species.

Aggressive behavior is thought to have evolved as a strategy for gaining access to resources such as territory, food, and potential mates. Across species, secondary sexual characteristics such as competitive aggression and territoriality are considered male-specific behaviors. However, although female-female aggression is often a behavior that is displayed almost exclusively to protect the offspring, multiple examples of female-female competitive aggression have been reported in both invertebrate and vertebrate species. Moreover, cases of intersexual aggression have been observed in a variety of species. Genetically tractable model systems such as mice, zebrafish, and fruit flies have proven extremely valuable for studying the underlying neuronal circuitry and the genetic architecture of aggressive behavior under laboratory conditions. However, most studies lack ethological or ecological perspectives and the behavioral patterns available are limited. The goal of this review is to discuss each of these forms of aggression, male intrasexual aggression, intersexual aggression and female intrasexual aggression in the context of the most common genetic animal models and discuss examples of these behaviors in other species.

Toxicity of ß-(1→3, 1→6)-á´ -glucans produced by Diaporthe sp. endophytes on Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin assessed by conidia germination speed parameter / Toxicidade de ß- (1 → 3, 1 → 6) -á´ -glucanas produzidas por endófitos Diaporthe sp. sobre Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin avaliada pelo parâmetro de velocidade de germinação dos conídios

We have previously reported that ß-(1→3,1→6)-ᴅ-glucans produced by endophytes Diaporthe sp. G27-60 and G65-65 (GenBank accession codes JF766998 and JF767007, respectively) are promising anti-proliferation agents against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2-C3A) cells. However, the literature fails to describe the effects of Diaporthe exopolysaccharides (EPS) on eukaryotic healthy cells. The fungus Metarhiziumanisopliae has been employed as model-system to evaluate the toxicity of pharmaceutical and agricultural-interest substances, taking into account, among other parameters, the speed of conidia germination. Current study verified the effect of different concentrations of Diaporthe ß-glucans on the germination speed of M. anisopliae. Conidia were incubated with ß-glucans treatments (50, 200 and 400 µg/mL) at 28ºC, sampled during 24 h and analyzed by light microscopy. At the end of a 24-h incubation, the amount of germinated conidia reached ≈99% for controls and ranged between 97.7 and 98.6% for treatments. Bayesian analysis indicated that Diaporthe glucans had no toxicity on M. anisopliaeand the curve of germination occurred as expected for this fungal strain. Considering the validity of filamentous fungi as model-systems, results are important data on the toxicity of endophytic EPS on healthy cells and may be associated with our previous results obtained for these polymers against tumor cells.

Anteriormente, um estudo mostrou que ß-(1→3,1→6)-ᴅ-glucanas produzidas pelos endófitos Diaporthe sp. G27-60 e G65-65 (códigos de acesso no GenBank JF766998 e JF767007, respectivamente) são agentes promissores com ação antiproliferativa contra células HepG2-C3A (hepatoma humano) e MCF-7 (adenocarcinoma mamário humano). No entanto, os efeitos de exopolissacarídeos (EPS) produzidos por fungos do gênero Diaporthe em células eucarióticas sadias não estão descritos na literatura atual. O fungo Metarhiziumanisopliae tem sido utilizado como sistema-modelo para avaliar a toxicidade de substâncias de interesse farmacêutico e agronômico, considerando, entre outros parâmetros, a velocidade de germinação de conídios. O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar os efeitos de diferentes concentrações de ß-glucanas produzidas por Diaporthe sp. sobre a velocidade de germinação de M. anisopliae. Os conídios foram incubados com os tratamentos de ß-glucanas (50, 200 e 400 µg/mL) a 28 ºC, com amostras coletadas ao longo de 24 h, e analisados por microscopia de luz. Ao final das 24 h de incubação, o total de conídios germinados nos controles foi de ≈99%, e variou entre 97,7 e 98,6% para os tratamentos. A análise bayesiana indicou que as glucanas de Diaporthe sp. não apresentaram toxicidade sobre M. anisopliae, e a curva de germinação atendeu ao esperado para essa linhagem fúngica. Considerando a validade dos fungos filamentosos como sistemas-modelo, esses resultados representam dados importantes sobre a toxicidade dos EPS de endófitos sobre células sadias e podem ser associados aos resultados anteriormente obtidos para esses polímeros em testes contra células tumorais.

Hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of phenolic rich Butia odorata fruit extract: potential involvement of paraoxonase activity.

Aim: This study investigated the effects of polar Butia odorata fruit extract on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters in rats submitted to a hyperlipidaemia condition induced by tyloxapol.Methods: Animals were divided into 3 groups: saline, saline plus tyloxapol, and B. odorata extract plus tyloxapol. Animals were treated for 15 days with a saline solution or B. odorata fruit extract and after hyperlipidaemia was induced by tyloxapol.Results: Treatment with B. odorata extract reduced serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and adenosine deaminase and butyrylcholinesterase activities when compared to the tyloxapol group. HDL-cholesterol and paraoxonase 1 activity were higher in B. odorata extract treated animals when compared to tyloxapol-treated animals. No differences were observed in hepatic oxidative stress parameters. Phenolic compounds present in B. odorata fruit extract were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS.Conclusion: These findings indicated that phenolic rich B. odorata extract has hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in hyperlipidemic rats.

Antidepressive effects of a chemically characterized maqui berry extract (Aristotelia chilensis (molina) stuntz) in a mouse model of Post-stroke depression.

Mood disorders occur in 30% of stroke patients, and of these post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most significant. This study aimed to evaluate the antidepressive-like effects and in vivo antioxidant activity of a chemically characterized maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz) extract obtained from an optimized extraction method, on a murine PSD model. The extraction process was optimized to maximize anthocyanin content, and the phytochemical profile of the extract was evaluated using a multi-methodological approach including a liquid chromatographic method coupled with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The antidepressive-like activity was investigated through despair swimming and tail suspension tests. The in vivo antioxidant activity was evaluated in mouse brain tissue by measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation products. A number of compounds have been first identified in maqui berry here, including malvidin-glucoside, GABA, choline and trigonelline. Moreover, the results showed that the antidepressive-like activity exerted by the extract, which was found to restore normal mouse behavior in both despair swimming and tail suspension tests, could be linked to its antioxidant activity, leading to the conclusion that maqui berries might be useful for supporting pharmacological therapy of PSD by modulating oxidative stress.

American trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease: Sexual transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To contribute to the discussion on the research findings indicating the sexual transmission of American trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease in humans. METHODS: A review of the literature was performed to investigate the routes of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites and to evaluate the distribution of Chagas disease, which is now found across five continents. RESULTS: The epidemiological profile of American trypanosomiasis, which is still considered a neglected disease of the poor people of Latin America, has changed over time. A family-based study demonstrated that the blood protozoan T. cruzi can be transmitted sexually from infected males and females to naïve mates. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence that Chagas disease can be transmitted sexually, coupled with the migration of individuals with Chagas disease to previously non-endemic countries and increased travel to endemic countries, has implications for public health. Improved screening of blood supplies and prenatal care are required to prevent congenital spread.

Potential probiotic yeasts isolated from the fish gut protect zebrafish (Danio rerio) from a Vibrio anguillarum challenge.

Due to the negative consequences associated with the use of antibiotics, researchers, and food producers have studied alternatives, such as probiotics, for the control of fish diseases. The probiotic properties of yeasts in aquaculture have been scarcely considered. The present study investigated the probiotic properties of local yeast strains for aquaculture application in the protection of bacterial diseases. Yeast strains (n = 15), previously isolated from the intestinal gut of healthy salmonids, yellowtail, and croaker, were evaluated for their protection of zebrafish larvae following a Vibrio anguillarum challenge. We developed an infection model on zebrafish larvae with V. anguillarum, observing rapid mortality (≥50%) 5 days post-immersion challenge. Infection of Tg(Lyz:DsRed)(nz50) larvae with fluorescent-marked V. anguillarum showed the oro-intestinal as the natural route of infection concomitant with an inflammatory response of the larvae reflected by neutrophil migration outside the hematopoietic tissue. Thirteen of 15 strains increased the percentage of larvae survival after the V. anguillarum challenge, although no yeast showed in vitro anti-V. anguillarum activity. In a subset of yeasts, we explored yeast-larvae interactions using fluorescent yeast and evaluated larvae colonization by culture analysis. All fluorescent yeasts were located in the gastrointestinal tract until 5 days post-inoculation (dpi). Yeasts reached 10(3) CFU/larvae at 0 dpi, although the persistence until 5 dpi of the viable yeast in the gut was different among the strains. These results reveal that some yeasts isolated from the gut of fish could be potential probiotics, reducing the mortality associated to V. anguillarum challenge, and suggest that gut colonization could be involved in the protective effect. Future studies should elucidate other mechanisms involved in yeast protection and verify the beneficial effects of probiotic use in commercial fish species.

A simple and highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for Setaria viridis.

The production and use of sugarcane in Brazil is very important for bioenergy production and is recognized as one of the most efficient in the world. In our laboratory, Setaria viridis is being tested as a model plant for sugarcane. S. viridis has biological attributes (rapid life cycle, small genome, diploid, short stature and simple growth requirements) that make it suitable for use as a model system. We report a highly efficient protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of S. viridis. The optimization of several steps in tissue culture allowed the rapid regeneration of plants and increased the rate of transformation up to 29%. This protocol could become a powerful tool for functional genomics in sugarcane.