Identification of DEMETER-like DNA demethylase gene family in citrus and their role in drought stress-adaptive responses.

DEMETER-Like DNA demethylases (DMLs) are epigenetic regulators of many developmental and biological processes in plants. No comprehensive information about the DML gene family in citrus is available to date. Here, a total of three DML genes in the genomes of Citrus sinensis (named CsDML1-3) and C. clementina (named CcDML1-3) were identified and analyzed. They encode hydrophilic and relatively large proteins, with prediction of nuclear localization, containing the conserved domains and motifs typical of plant DMLs. Protein interaction network analysis suggested that they interact primarily with proteins related to the maintenance of DNA methylation and remodeling of chromatin. Analysis of their promoter regions led to the identification of several cis-acting regulatory elements involved in stress response, including drought, heat and cold stresses. The presence of several miRNA targets and potential phosphorylation sites suggest that their expression is also regulated at post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. RNA-Seq data and quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed a low and drought-regulated gene expression of the citrus DMLs in different plant tissues. CsDML1 and CsDML3 were also differentially regulated by deficit irrigation in fruits at different developmental stages, with a positive and significant correlation found between CsDML1 and PHYTOENE SYNTHASE (PSY) and between CsDML3 and ATP CITRATE LYASEs (ACLs) and ZETA-CAROTENE DESATURASE (ZDS) gene expression. These results indicate that the citrus DMLs are potentially functional enzymes involved in developmental processes and drought stress-adaptive responses, providing a useful reference for further investigation of their functions and applications on the citrus improvement.

Efeito de bioterápico na eosinofilia durante a SLMV experimental / Biotherapic effect in eosinophilia during experimental VLMS

O Toxocara canis (Tc) é um parasito pertencente ao filo Nematódeo que possui como hospedeiro definitivo os cães, O homem é hospedeiro paratênico e contamina-se acidentalmente ao ingerir ovos contendo larvas infectantes (L3) do parasito, as quais são liberadas e atravessam a mucosa intestinal, atingem a circulação, Durante este processo migratório, antígenos de excreção e secreção (TES) são liberados provocando intensa reação inflamatória, do tipo Th2, caracterizando a síndrome, denominada Larva Migrans Visceral (SLMV), As principais características desta doença crônica são as eosinofilias sanguínea e tecidual persistentes, Desse modo, torna-se importante a busca por terapias que contribuam com a redução dos quadros inflamatórios com intensa eosinofilia, Assim, o uso deste bioterápico, produzido a partir do extrato antigênico de ovos e larvas de (Tc), e seu efeito no recrutamento de leucócitos totais, células mononucleares e eosinófilos no sangue, para o espaço broncoalveolar e para a cavidade peritoneal de camundongos infectados pelo (Tc) foi investigado, Foram utilizados camundongos fêmeas (Swiss), divididos nos grupos: Controle (C), Infectado (Tc), Imunizado (Im+Tc) e Tratado (Tc+Bio), Os animais Tc, Im+Tc e Tc+Bio receberam 500 ovos/animal por gavagem, Posteriormente, os animais foram eutanasiados no 18º dia da infecção e o número das células nos compartimentos foi determinado, Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que, Im+Tc, assim como nos Tc+Bio tiveram redução significativa dessas células nos compartimentos analisados quando comparados grupo Tc, Assim, sugeriu-se que a bioterapia modulou negativamente o recrutamento de células inflamatórias, principalmente eosinófilos no sangue, pulmão e intestino demonstrando um potencial anti-inflamatório desse bioterápico na SLMV experimental...

The Toxocara canis (Tc) is a parasite that belongs to the nematode phylum and has dogs as definitive host. The men can be accidentally contaminated by ingesting eggs containing infective larvae of the parasite. These larvae, when ingested, pass through the intestinal mucosa, reach the portal circulation and migrate through different tissues of the host. During this process, excretory-secretory antigens (TES) are released causing an intense inflammatory reaction, the Th2 type, characterizing the syndrome, called Visceral Larva migrans (VLMS). The main features of this chronic disease are blood and tissue eosinophilias. Thus, it is important to search for therapies that may contribute to the reduction of inflammatory conditions with intense eosinophilia. In this study, we investigated the use of a biotherapic produced from the antigenic extract from eggs and larvae (Tc) and its effect on the recruitment of total leukocyte, mononuclear cells and eosinophils in blood, bronchoalveolar space and peritoneal cavity of mice infected with (Tc). Female mice (Swiss) were used divided in three groups: control (C), Infected (Tc) Immunized (Im + Tc) and Treaty (Tc + Bio). The animals Tc, Im + Tc and Tc + Bio received 500 eggs / animal by gavage. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized on day 18 after infection and the number of cells in the compartments was determined. Our results showed that, Im + Tc, as in Tc + Bio had reduced these cells in compartments analyzed compared to Tc group. Thus, it was suggested that the biotherapy negatively modulated the recruitment of inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils in blood, lung and intestine demonstrating an anti-inflammatory potential of the biotherapic in the experimental VLMS...