Commercial characteristics of coffee seedlings produced with different sources of phosphorus and plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Considered the economic engine of many countries, the coffee culture represents an important component of the agricultural chain in Brazil. The growing values of commercialization, planting areas, and crop productivity require the acquisition of quality seedlings, which must receive adequate nutritional support through efficient fertilizers. Slow and controlled-release fertilizers, such as organominerals, gain prominence when it comes to increasing efficiency in the use of phosphorus, as well as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) with phosphate solubilizing characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different sources of mineral and organomineral fertilizers, inoculated and non-inoculated with PGPB on the quality parameters of coffee seedlings. In general, the P sources used in the experiment positively interfered with the development of coffee seedlings. This proves that there is a need for nutritional supplementation for the good development of the seedlings. Among the sources used, the organomineral in granulated form showed better performance in coffee seedlings' growth and physiological parameters, proving to be a viable alternative to commonly used fertilizers. The addition of PGPB showed a significant advantage for seedling quality variables.

Oral paracoccidioidomycosis: a retrospective study of 95 cases from a single center and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The ecoepidemiological panorama of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is dynamic and still ongoing in Brazil. In particular, data about the oral lesions of PCM are barely explored. The aim of this study was to report the clinicopathological features of individuals diagnosed with oral PCM lesions at an oral and maxillofacial pathology service in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the light of a literature review. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on oral biopsies obtained from 1958 to 2021. Additionally, electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, and Brazilian Library of Dentistry to gather information from large case series of oral PCM. RESULTS: Ninety-five cases of oral PCM were surveyed. The manifestations were more frequent among males (n=86/90.5%), middle-aged/older adults (n=54/58.7%), and white individuals (n=40/51.9%). The most commonly affected sites were the gingiva/alveolar ridge (n=40/23.4%) and lip/labial commissure (n=33/19.3%); however, one (n=40/42.1%) or multiple sites (n=55/57.9%) could also be affected. In 90 (94.7%) patients, "mulberry-like" ulcerations/moriform appearance were observed. Data from 21 studies (1,333 cases), mostly Brazilian (90.5%), revealed that men (92.4%; male/female: 11.8:1) and individuals in the fifth and sixth decades of life were the most affected (range: 7-89 years), with the gingiva/alveolar ridge, palate, and lips/labial commissure being the sites most frequently affected. CONCLUSIONS: The features of oral PCM lesions are similar to those reported in previous studies from Latin America. Clinicians should be aware of the oral manifestations of PCM, with emphasis on the clinicodemographic aspects and differential diagnoses, especially considering the phenomenon of the emergence of reported cases in rural and/or urban areas of Brazil.

Constructing evidence-based clinical intrapartum care algorithms for decision-support tools.

AIM: To describe standardised iterative methods used by a multidisciplinary group to develop evidence-based clinical intrapartum care algorithms for the management of uneventful and complicated labours. POPULATION: Singleton, term pregnancies considered to be at low risk of developing complications at admission to the birthing facility. SETTING: Health facilities in low- and middle-income countries. SEARCH STRATEGY: Literature reviews were conducted to identify standardised methods for algorithm development and examples from other fields, and evidence and guidelines for intrapartum care. Searches for different algorithm topics were last updated between January and October 2020 and included a combination of terms such as 'labour', 'intrapartum', 'algorithms' and specific topic terms, using Cochrane Library and MEDLINE/PubMED, CINAHL, National Guidelines Clearinghouse and Google. CASE SCENARIOS: Nine algorithm topics were identified for monitoring and management of uncomplicated labour and childbirth, identification and management of abnormalities of fetal heart rate, liquor, uterine contractions, labour progress, maternal pulse and blood pressure, temperature, urine and complicated third stage of labour. Each topic included between two and four case scenarios covering most common deviations, severity of related complications or critical clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapartum care algorithms provide a framework for monitoring women, and identifying and managing complications during labour and childbirth. These algorithms will support implementation of WHO recommendations and facilitate the development by stakeholders of evidence-based, up to date, paper-based or digital reminders and decision-support tools. The algorithms need to be field tested and may need to be adapted to specific contexts. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Evidence-based intrapartum care clinical algorithms for a safe and positive childbirth experience.

How do pesticides affect bats? - A brief review of recent publications.

Increased agricultural production has been increased use of pesticides worldwide, which poses a threat to both human and environmental health. Recent studies suggest that several non-target organisms, from bees to mammals, show a wide variety of toxic effects of pesticides exposure, including impaired behavior, development and reproduction. Among mammals, bats are usually a neglected taxon among ecotoxicological studies, although they play important ecological and economical roles in forest ecosystems and agriculture through to seed dispersal and insect population control. Considering their wide variety of food habits, bats are exposed to environmental pollutants through food or water contamination, or through direct skin contact in their roosting areas. In order to better understand the risk posed by pesticides to bats populations, we compiled studies that investigated the main toxicological effects of pesticides in bats, aiming at contributing to discussion about the environmental risks associated with the use of pesticides.

How do pesticides affect bats? - A brief review of recent publications / Como os pesticidas afetam os morcegos? - Uma breve revisão de publicações recentes

Increased agricultural production has been increased use of pesticides worldwide, which poses a threat to both human and environmental health. Recent studies suggest that several non-target organisms, from bees to mammals, show a wide variety of toxic effects of pesticides exposure, including impaired behavior, development and reproduction. Among mammals, bats are usually a neglected taxon among ecotoxicological studies, although they play important ecological and economical roles in forest ecosystems and agriculture through to seed dispersal and insect population control. Considering their wide variety of food habits, bats are exposed to environmental pollutants through food or water contamination, or through direct skin contact in their roosting areas. In order to better understand the risk posed by pesticides to bats populations, we compiled studies that investigated the main toxicological effects of pesticides in bats, aiming at contributing to discussion about the environmental risks associated with the use of pesticides.

O aumento da produção agrícola tem levado ao aumento do uso de pesticidas em todo o mundo, o que representa uma ameaça para a saúde humana e ambiental. Estudos recentes sugerem que vários organismos não-alvo, de abelhas a mamíferos, apresentam uma grande variedade de efeitos tóxicos após a exposição aos pesticidas a pesticidas, incluindo alterações de comportamento, no desenvolvimento e na reprodução. Entre os mamíferos, os morcegos geralmente são negligenciados entre os estudos ecotoxicológicos, embora desempenhem importantes papéis ecológicos e econômicos nos ecossistemas florestais e na agricultura por meio do controle de dispersão de sementes e de populações de insetos. Considerando sua ampla variedade de hábitos alimentares, eles estão expostos a poluentes ambientais através da contaminação de alimentos ou água, ou através do contato direto com a pele em suas áreas de descanso. Para entender melhor o risco que os agrotóxicos representam para as populações de morcegos, compilamos estudos que investigaram os principais efeitos toxicológicos de agrotóxicos em morcegos, visando à discussão sobre os riscos ambientais associados ao uso de agrotóxicos.

Estradiol and the feeding state modulate the interaction between leptin and the nitrergic system in female rats.

Leptin mediates the interaction between reproductive function and energy balance. However, leptin receptors are not expressed in neurons that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), likely indicating an indirect action through interneurons. Among likely neurons that modulate the secretion of GnRH are NO (nitric oxide) neurons. We assessed whether estradiol and feeding conditions modulate a possible interaction between leptin and NO in brain areas related to the control of reproductive function. Estradiol-treated and untreated ovariectomized rats were normally fed or fasted for 48 h. Then, saline (control) or leptin (3 µg/1 µl) intracerebroventricular microinjections were administered, and after thirty minutes, the brains collected subsequent to the decapitation or transcardially perfusion. Leptin and estradiol increased NO synthase (nNOS) gene expression (RT-PCR) and content (Western blotting) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) only in fasted rats. Leptin increased: 1-phosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(pSTAT3) (immunohistochemistry) in the MPOA and various hypothalamic nuclei [arcuate (ARC); ventromedial (VMH); dorsal/ventral dorsomedial (dDMH/vDMH); premammilar ventral (PMV)], effects potentiated by estradiol/fasting interaction; 2- nNOS/pSTAT3 coexpression in the MPOA only in estradiol-treated, fasted rats; 3- nNOS-immunoreactive cell expression in the VMH, DMH and PMV (areas related to reproductive function control) of estradiol -treated rats. Thus, when leptin is reduced during fasting, leptin replacement effectively increased the expression of nitric oxide, which activated the HPG axis only in the presence of estradiol. Estradiol modulates the nitrergic system, leptin sensitivity and consequently leptin's effects on the nitrergic system in hypothalamus and in particular vDMH and PMV.

Prognostic factors associated with overall survival in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Low socioeconomic status, increasing age, and poor lifestyle behaviors are associated with poor survival in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). To determine the overall survival (OS) and the risk of OCSCC death by tumor subsite. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of OCSCC patients diagnosed from 2007 to 2009 and treated at a single cancer center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patient information was obtained from the Hospital Cancer Registry (HCR) database and complemented by individual search of physical and electronic medical records. Descriptive statistics of population characteristics were computed. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of death by tumor subsite. RESULTS: Seven hundred and three patients with OCSCC were identified. Most patients were men (77.4%) with low levels of education (67.5%), who drank (73.9%) and smoked (79.7%). The most prevalent tumor site was the tongue (45.4%), 73.4% of patients had advanced (clinical stage III or IV) OCSCC at diagnosis and 74.1% died during follow-up. For the entire cohort, the OS was 39.1% at two years and 27.9% at five years. The median survival time was 1.4 years (95%CI: 1.2‒1.5). Non-operative treatment (HR: 3.11; 95%CI: 2.26‒4.29; p<0.001), advanced stage (HR 2.14; 95%CI 1.68-2.74; p<0.001), and age >60 years at diagnosis (HR: 1.37; 95%CI: 1.15‒1.64; p<0.001) were independently associated with the risk of death. However, these factors varied by tumour subsite. CONCLUSION: Analysis of specific subsites of the oral cavity revealed substantial differences in prognostic factors associated with poor survival in OCSCC.

Disruption of bovine sperm functions in the presence of aplastic midpiece defect.

BACKGROUND: Bulls are of great importance in the productive chain and for this reason they should have a good semen quality. There is no doubt that sperm morphology is very important to bull fertility, although little is known about how exactly the abnormal morphologies may affect sperm functions. OBJECTIVES: To detail the morphological description of the aplastic midpiece defect (AMD), as well as to understand its consequences for male fertility based on membrane and acrosome status, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA integrity parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bulls were divided into two groups: control, consisting of satisfactory potential breeders (n = 3); and AMD, consisting of unsatisfactory potential breeders with a high percentage of AMD (n = 3). Bulls were evaluated by the breeding soundness evaluation; five ejaculates were collected from each animal and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Spermatozoa from AMD group exhibited lower sperm motility and vigor (p < 0.05). In addition, it also exhibited lower mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05), a higher percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation (p < 0.05), lower acrosome and plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), and higher lipid bilayer sperm membrane disorganization (p < 0.05) in comparison with control bulls. DISCUSSION: These findings may be due to oxidative stress and a reduction of the energy production capacity in addition to an alteration in the structural composition of the sperm cell. Moreover, semen with a high percentage of AMD may also be undergoing apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Bulls with a high percentage of AMD in their semen are not suitable for reproduction. Furthermore, it suggests there is a putative genetic basis for this sperm defect.

Combined effects of arsenic exposure and diabetes on male reproductive functions.

BACKGROUND: It is known that exposure to either arsenic or hyperglycemia can induce male reproductive damages. However, their combined effects on male reproductive organs are still unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated morphological and functional parameters of the testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa in diabetic rats exposed to arsenate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male rats by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. While a set of healthy and diabetic animals received saline solution (negative control and diabetes control, respectively), the other set received 10 mg/L sodium arsenate (arsenic control and diabetes + arsenic groups, respectively) for 40 days in drinking water. Testosterone concentration, daily sperm production, sperm counts in the testis and epididymis, and sperm parameters were evaluated in the groups. Moreover, testis and epididymis were subjected to antioxidant enzymes analysis, micromineral determination, and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Arsenate exposure reduced serum testosterone concentration in healthy animals and worsened this reduction in diabetic rats. In addition, the number of spermatozoa in testis and epididymis tissues, as well as the daily sperm production, was decreased in these groups. Sperm parameters such as motility, morphology, and integrity of acrosomal and plasma membranes were impaired in health animals exposed to arsenate. The combination of diabetes and arsenate, in turn, increased only the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology. Moreover, the proportion of arsenic increased in the testis and epididymis of both groups receiving arsenate. Its bioaccumulation in these organs caused an imbalance in antioxidant enzymes activities and mineral content in healthy animals, enhancing these changes in diabetic rats. Testicular pathologies occurred mainly in animals co-exposed to diabetes and arsenate. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that arsenate exposure enhances several damages to male reproductive functions in diabetic rats, mainly by impairing testosterone levels and inducing nitrosative stress in testis and epididymis.

Rapid baso-apical translocation of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in mammary epithelial cells in the presence of Escherichia coli.

Infection of mammary gland cells with bacterial pathogens begins with adhesion, invasion, and persistence within the cells or systemic distribution. Some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are known to causes bovine mastitis, resulting in acute proinflammatory responses in the mammary tissue. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the etiological agent of paratuberculosis, is able to spread to distant organs after crossing intestinal cells, reaching the mammary gland and potentially being released in milk, infecting calves during suckling. Its exit from systemic sites may be influenced by preexisting inflammation such as that caused by E. coli mastitis. Interactions between E. coli and MAP in mammary epithelial cells have not yet been described. In this study, we posited that E. coli-infected bovine mammary epithelial cells would facilitate baso-apical translocation of MAP in an ex vivo model. We showed that the presence of E. coli in a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) increased baso-apical translocation of MAP to the apical side of the cells. Levels were significantly higher 30 min post-infection and decreased at 120 min post-infection. Cells previously infected with E. coli and MAP or with E. coli alone showed a significant increase in IL1B mRNA expression at 120 min. We detected no significant expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapkp38) or IL10, regardless of treatment. Thereby, the presence of E. coli in MAC-T cells alters the translocation of MAP through epithelial cells, enabling its rapid translocation to the cellular surface. Expression of IL1B was shown to influence the apical-basal translocation of MAP at 120 min. Findings from the current study suggest that MAP translocation into milk is likely enhanced by inflammatory states such as those induced during E. coli mastitis. This is the first report demonstrating the effect of E. coli under MAP coinfection in bovine mammary epithelial cells under experimental conditions.

Short communication: Passive shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in commercial dairy goats in Brazil.

Goat farming is a low-cost alternative to dairy production in developing countries. In Brazil, goat production has increased in recent years due in part to the implementation of programs encouraging this activity. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, a disease that causes chronic granulomatous enteritis in ruminants, but MAP transmission dynamics are still poorly understood in goats. In a previously published study of our research group, 10 dairy goat farms (467 animals) from Minas Gerais state were analyzed for MAP detection; 2 fecal cultures and 11 milk samples tested positive for MAP by conventional PCR and were confirmed by sequencing. Because no clinical signs were observed over 1 yr of monitoring, we hypothesized that these MAP-positive goats could be passive shedders. Thus, in the present study, 4 positive goats (4/13) from the previous study were purchased and feces and milk samples were collected for evaluation (twice, with an interval of 3 mo between tests) by culture of MAP, IS900 PCR, or both. All analyses were negative for MAP. At the last time point, blood samples were collected for ELISA, the animals were killed, and tissues collected for tissue culture and histopathology. At necropsy, no macroscopic lesions related to paratuberculosis were observed. Similarly, no histological changes were observed and MAP in samples stained by Ziehl-Neelsen was not detected. These animals were characterized as potential passive shedders with upward contamination of the teat canal by MAP. This is the first report of the passive shedding phenomenon in goats in Brazil and it highlights the importance of identifying these animals for control programs and to ensure the quality of dairy products.

How do pesticides affect bats? A brief review of recent publications

Abstract Increased agricultural production has been increased use of pesticides worldwide, which poses a threat to both human and environmental health. Recent studies suggest that several non-target organisms, from bees to mammals, show a wide variety of toxic effects of pesticides exposure, including impaired behavior, development and reproduction. Among mammals, bats are usually a neglected taxon among ecotoxicological studies, although they play important ecological and economical roles in forest ecosystems and agriculture through to seed dispersal and insect population control. Considering their wide variety of food habits, bats are exposed to environmental pollutants through food or water contamination, or through direct skin contact in their roosting areas. In order to better understand the risk posed by pesticides to bats populations, we compiled studies that investigated the main toxicological effects of pesticides in bats, aiming at contributing to discussion about the environmental risks associated with the use of pesticides.

Resumo O aumento da produção agrícola tem levado ao aumento do uso de pesticidas em todo o mundo, o que representa uma ameaça para a saúde humana e ambiental. Estudos recentes sugerem que vários organismos não-alvo, de abelhas a mamíferos, apresentam uma grande variedade de efeitos tóxicos após a exposição aos pesticidas a pesticidas, incluindo alterações de comportamento, no desenvolvimento e na reprodução. Entre os mamíferos, os morcegos geralmente são negligenciados entre os estudos ecotoxicológicos, embora desempenhem importantes papéis ecológicos e econômicos nos ecossistemas florestais e na agricultura por meio do controle de dispersão de sementes e de populações de insetos. Considerando sua ampla variedade de hábitos alimentares, eles estão expostos a poluentes ambientais através da contaminação de alimentos ou água, ou através do contato direto com a pele em suas áreas de descanso. Para entender melhor o risco que os agrotóxicos representam para as populações de morcegos, compilamos estudos que investigaram os principais efeitos toxicológicos de agrotóxicos em morcegos, visando à discussão sobre os riscos ambientais associados ao uso de agrotóxicos.

Adição da proteína específica do oviduto de porcas (pOSP) e da melatonina em meios de maturação e o efeito na clivagem in vitro de embriões suínos / Addition of the oviduct specific protein of porcine (pOSP) and melatonin in maturation media and their effect on the in vitro production of pig embryos

No presente estudo, utilizou-se a melatonina e a proteína específica do oviduto (pOSP) nos meios de maturação in vitro. Foram avaliadas a expansão do complexo cumulus-ovócito (CCOs), as concentrações intracelulares de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e o desenvolvimento embrionário nos diferentes grupos (C = controle; T1 = somente com melatonina; T2 = com melatonina e pOSP e T3 somente com pOSP). No tocante à expansão do CCOs, houve diferença (P<0,05) dos valores obtidos no grupo C em relação aos valores médios dos grupos T1, T2 e T3, porém não houve diferença entre os valores obtidos nos tratamentos (P>0,05). Na dosagem de ROS, não houve diferença entre os valores médios obtidos no grupo C (26,4±10,9) e o valor verificado no grupo T1 (23,4±7,8), porém no grupo T2 (21,3±9,7) o valor médio mostrou-se satisfatório em relação ao valor do grupo C. No entanto, o valor médio do grupo T3 (16,6±10,5) foi o que demonstrou resultado mais satisfatório quando comparado aos demais grupos (P<0,05). A produção de embriões foi avaliada por meio da taxa de clivagem. Não houve diferença (P >0,05) entre os valores obtidos entre o grupo C (48,9 %) e os valores verificados nos grupos T1 (51,5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57,7 %), nem destes entre si. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a proteína específica do oviduto recombinante e a melatonina foram eficientes em melhorar a expansão dos CCOs. Além disso, as células tratadas com pOSP mostraram-se com menor quantidade de ROS, podendo a pOSP ser considerada um antioxidante proteico.(AU)

The present study used melatonin and recombinant oviduct specific protein (pOSP) in in vitro maturation medium (IVM). The expansion of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), the intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and embryo development of the different groups were evaluated (C = control; T1 = melatonin; T2 = melatonin and pOSP and T3 = pOSP). Regarding the COCs expansion, the groups T1, T2 and T3 showed satisfactory results compared with group C (P<0.05), but there was no difference between treatments (P>0.05). In the ROS dosage, there was no difference between the mean values obtained in group C (26.4 ± 10.9) and group 1 (23.4 ± 7.8). However, in group 2 (21.3 ± 9.7), the average value was found to be satisfactory in relation group C. Despite that, the average value of treatment 3 (16.6 ± 10.5) was the most satisfactory result found compared to the other groups (P<0.05). The production of embryos was evaluated by cleavage rate, there was no difference between the values obtained in group C and the values recorded in groups T1 (51.5 %), T2 (50 %), T3 (57.7 %), and among them. This study showed that the pOSP and the melatonin were effective in the improvement of the expansion of COCs cells. In addition, the cells that were treated with pOSP presented a lower amount of ROS, allowing the pOSP to be considered a proteic antioxidant.(AU)

Genetic diversity among coffee tree progenies Big Coffee VL based on growth traits and production.

In a coffee plantation of a coffee 'Acaiá' cultivar (Coffea arabica), on the Midwest of Minas Gerais in Capitólio city, a different kind of coffee tree was found (1989), possibly due to a mutation. It presented larger leaves and grains than those of conventional coffee trees and was named as "Big Coffee VL." The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic diversity of Big Coffee VL progenies cultivated at Universidade Federal de Lavras, by evaluating growth and production traits, based on genetic distances and clusters. The experiment was established in a lattice design with 100 progenies of this coffee tree and 23 repetitions. Traits evaluated were vigor, plant height, stem diameter, node number of plagiotropic branches, pair numbers of plagiotropic branches, and productivity. Genetic divergence was evaluated by multivariate procedures: Mahalanobis generalized distance, clustering methods, and principal component analysis. Genetic distances were estimated using Mahalanobis distance and presented variations from 0.04 to 18.70. The most similar progenies were P23 and P29 and the most dissimilar progenies were G8 and P14. The progenies were divided into three groups, with P14 present as an isolated group. Thus, it was possible to observe the existence of genetic variability among the progenies of Big Coffee VL, which can be used in breeding programs to increase grain size. Progenies G8 and P14 presented the highest genetic distance, and were the most suitable for future integration of crossings in plant breeding programs.

Saturated fatty acids trigger TLR4-mediated inflammatory response.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) mediate infection-induced inflammation and sterile inflammation by endogenous molecules. Among the TLR family, TLR4 is the best understood. However, while its downstream signaling pathways have been well defined, not all ligands of TLR4 are currently known. Current evidence suggests that saturated fatty acids (SFA) act as non-microbial TLR4 agonists, and trigger its inflammatory response. Thus, our present review provides a new perspective on the potential mechanism by which SFAs could modulate TLR4-induced inflammatory responses: (1) SFAs can be recognized by CD14-TLR4-MD2 complex and trigger inflammatory pathways, similar to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). (2) SFAs lead to modification of gut microbiota with an overproduction of LPS after a high-fat intake, enhancing this natural TLR4 ligand. (3) In addition, this metabolic endotoxemia leads to an oxidative stress thereby producing atherogenic lipids - oxLDL and oxidized phospholipids - which trigger CD36-TLR4-TLR6 inflammatory response. (4) Also, the high SFA consumption increases the lipemia and the mmLDL and oxLDL formation through oxidative modifications of LDL. The mmLDL, unlike oxLDL, is involved in activation of the CD14-TLR4-MD2 inflammatory pathway. Those molecules can induce TLR4 inflammatory response by MyD88-dependent and/or MyD88-independent pathways that, in turn, promotes the expression of proinflammatory transcript factors such as factor nuclear kappa B (NF-κB), which plays a crucial role in the induction of inflammatory mediators (cytokines, chemokines, or costimulatory molecules) implicated in the development and progression of many chronic diseases.

First record of Dero (Aulophorus) bimagnasetus Harman (Oligochaeta) from Brazil and habitat characteristics.

Annelid worms represent a significant part of freshwater benthic communities worldwide and Oligochaeta is a particularly species-rich group. Dero (A) bimagnasetus (Naididae) previously found and described from a small marsh in Surinam in 1974, has now been found for the first time in Barra Lake, MG, Brazil. Due to the scarce biological data and absence of ecological information in the literature regarding this species we are presenting morphological information on the specimens obtained and the physical and chemical characteristics of the habitat they were found. This species occurred only in the littoral zone of Barra Lake, in muddy, low oxygen, low conductivity and low organic matter sediment. The four individuals collected ranged 3.17-4.15 mm total length; 0.25 - 0.26 mm body width and 0.16-0.21 mm3 total volume. Considering the present anthropic pressures on freshwater biota and fast biodiversity losses worldwide it is now recognized that attention must be paid to low abundance species and the urgency for preservation of their habitats.

Use of phages against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis.

Bovine mastitis is the primary disease of dairy cattle worldwide and it causes large economic losses. Among several microorganisms that are the causative agents of this disease, Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent. Although antibiotic therapy is still the most widely used procedure for the treatment of bovine mastitis, alternative means of treatment are necessary due to the presence of antibiotic residues in milk, which is a growing concern because of its interference with the production of milk derivatives and the selection of resistant bacterial strains. The use of bacteriophages as a tool for the control of pathogens is an alternative treatment to antibiotic therapy. In this work, to obtain phages with the potential for use in phage therapy as a treatment for mastitis, we isolated and identified the bacteria from the milk of mastitis-positive cows. A total of 19% of the animals from small and medium farms of the Zona da Mata Mineira, Brazil, was positive for bovine mastitis, and bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus were the most prevalent pathogens. The majority of the S. aureus isolates tested was resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. In parallel, we isolated 10 bacteriophages able to infect some of these S. aureus isolates. We determined that these phages contained DNA genomes of approximately 175 kb in length, and the protein profiles indicated the presence of 4 major proteins. Electron microscopy revealed that the phages are caudate and belong to the Myoviridae family. The isolates exhibited interesting features for their use in phage therapy such as a high lytic potential, a wide range of hosts, and thermostability, all of which favor their use in the field.

Molecular characterization of a new lytic bacteriophage isolated from cheese whey.

In this study, we isolated and characterized a lytic Lactococcus lactis bacteriophage from the sera of a failed fermentation. The phage was isolated and cultured in L. lactis subsp. cremoris in M17 medium. The isolated bacteriophage was characterized by multiplex PCR, pulsed-field electrophoresis, DNA restriction digestion, analysis of the N-terminal sequence of the phage major structural protein, transmission electron microscopy and sequencing and analysis of a conserved fragment of its genome. Analysis of the viral genome indicates that its genome is composed of a DNA strand of approximately 48 kb in length, and PCR and microscopy confirmed that IL-P1 belongs to the group of 936-type phages in the family Siphoviridae, which is the most abundant type of lactococcal virus in dairy products worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a virus within this family that has a presumptive genome larger than 40 kb.

Oleic acid modulation of the immune response in wound healing: a new approach for skin repair.

Injury triggers inflammatory responses and tissue repair. Several treatments are currently in use to accelerate healing; however, more efficient formulations are still needed for specific injuries. Since unsaturated fatty acids modulate immune responses, we aimed to evaluate their therapeutic effects on wound healing. Skin wounds were induced in BALB/c mice and treated for 5 days with n-3, n-9 fatty acids or vehicle (control). n-9 treated mice presented smaller wounds than control and n-3 at 120 h post-surgery (p.s.). Collagen III mRNA, TIMP1 and MMP9 were significantly elevated in n-9 group compared to n-3 or vehicle at 120 h p.s. Among the inflammatory mediators studied we found that IL-10, TNF-α and IL-17 were also higher in n-9 treated group compared to n-3 or vehicle at 120 h p.s. Interestingly, COX2 had decreased expression on wound tissue treated with n-9. Inflammatory infiltrate analysis revealed diminished frequency of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD11b(+) cells in n-9 wounds at 24 and 120 h p.s., which was not related to cell death, since in vitro apoptosis experiments did not show any cell damage after fatty acids administration. These results suggested that unsaturated fatty acids, specifically n-9, modulate the inflammation in the wound and enhance reparative response in vivo. n-9 may be a useful tool in the treatment of cutaneous wounds.

Treatment of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in a horizontal anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor.

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant widely used to manufacture detergents and found in domestic and industrial wastewater. LAS removal was evaluated in a horizontal anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor. The system was filled with polyurethane foam and inoculated with sludge that was withdrawn from an up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor that is used to treat swine wastewater. The reactor was fed with easily degradable substrates and a solution of commercial LAS for 313 days. The hydraulic retention time applied was 12h. The system was initially operated without detergent and resulted to 94% reduction of demand. The mass balance in the system indicated that the LAS removal efficiency was 45% after 18 0days. From the 109 th day to the 254 th day, a removal efficiency of 32% was observed. The removal of LAS was approximately 40% when 1500 mg of LAS were applied in the absence of co-substrates suggesting that the LAS molecules were used selectively. Microscopic analyses of the biofilm revealed diverse microbial morphologies and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiling showed variations in the total bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria populations. 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that members of the order Clostridiales were the major components of the bacterial community in the last step of the reactor operation.