Opiliofauna (ARACHNIDA: OPILIONES) of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

Opiliones are arachnids that provide different services in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in tropical forests, which justifies inventory studies to better understand the occurrence and distribution of these arthropods in Brazil, since little is known about the harvestmen fauna in Conservation Units such as in the state of Paraná. In this context, the objective of the present study was to survey the harvestmen fauna at the Iguaçu National Park (PARNA) and in the Bela Vista Biological Refuge (BVBR), from September 2021 to May 2022, using a sampling effort of 40 hours in the BVBR, and 66 hours at the PARNA Iguaçu. Ten species/morphospecies were recorded, highlighting a new occurrence for Brazil, the species Opisthoplatus vegetus. The present study reduces the information gap about Opiliones in the state, which reaffirms the importance of Conservation Units for the protection of the biota in the state of Paraná.

Early-Life Exposure of Pigs to Topsoil Alters miRNA and mRNA Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Exposure to less-hygienic conditions during early childhood has been associated with stimulation and development of the immune system. A recent study indicated that exposure of piglets to soil-borne microbes during lactation was related with modulation of gut microbiota and immune function. To identify the potential molecular mechanisms and pathways impacted by early-life topsoil exposure, we analyzed the messenger RNA (mRNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these piglets. Total RNA was extracted from the PBMCs of piglets exposed to topsoil only from d 4-d 21 of life (mRNA n = 6; miRNA n = 5) or unexposed control pigs (mRNA n = 6; miRNA n = 8) at 11, 20, and 56 days of age. Small RNA and mRNA were sequenced with 50-bp single-end reads using Illumina chemistry. Sequence data were quality checked with FASTQC software and aligned to the Sscrofa 11.1 genome with the STAR aligner for mRNA and mirDeep2 for miRNA. Differential expression (DE) analysis was performed using PROC Glimmix of SAS to evaluate changes in expression due to topsoil exposure over time with genes declared DE at a false discovery rate (FDR) of q < 0.10. A total of 138 mRNA and 21 miRNAs were identified as DE for the treatment by age interaction. Ontology enrichment analysis of DE mRNA revealed Gene ontology (GO) terms directly involved in the connection between T-cell and antigen-presenting cells that are associated with T-cell activation. Key regulatory genes identified include PTPRJ, ITGB3, TRBV30, CD3D, mir-143, mir-29, and mir-148a. While these results require validation, this study provides data supporting the hypothesis that less-hygienic environments during early life may contribute to the development of the immune system.

Perception of fungi by farmers in the Cerrado / Percepção de agricultores do Cerrado sobre os fungos

Fungi are important in several aspects of human life. In particular, to agriculture, pathogenic fungi are of great importance, as they are responsible for production losses of the most diverse types. Because of this, knowledge about pathogenic fungus is of extreme importance for farmers and professionals working in agricultural areas. Among farmers who use specific agroecological practices, this knowledge is even more valuable, since by not adopting conventional methods of production, they resort to non-invasive alternatives that are less or not harmful at all to the environment in consideration of production management methods. This study aimed to assess farmer perception in the Cerrado biome in the city of Goiás (GO), Brazil, in order to understand their ethnomycological perceptions to verify historical management practices, their knowledge about phytopathogenic fungi, and how these producers perceive fungi. We used the theoretical reference method "From peasant to peasant" formulated by ANPA - National Association of Small Farmers. Some aspects of farmers' ethnomycological knowledge are discussed. These ease identification the representatives of the Fungi Kingdom is associated with organisms that present easily recognizable characteristics, such as wood-ears or disease-causing fungi. In general, farmers are able to identify representatives of the Fungi Kingdom that are found in their daily lives. The perception of farmers about fungi, a group still much unknown by society, is very relevant for future actions of ethnomycology.

Percepção dos fungos por agricultores do Cerrado – Fungos são organismos importantes em vários aspectos da vida humana. Em particular, para a agricultura, fungos patogênicos são de grande importância, pois são responsáveis por perdas de produção dos mais diversos tipos. Por isso, o conhecimento sobre fungos patogênicos é de extrema importância para agricultores e profissionais que trabalham em áreas agrícolas. Entre os agricultores que utilizam práticas agroecológicas, esse conhecimento é ainda mais valioso, pois, ao não adotar métodos convencionais de produção, recorrem a alternativas não invasivas que são menos ou não prejudiciais ao meio ambiente, considerando os métodos de gerenciamento da produção. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção de um grupo de agricultores do bioma Cerrado, na cidade de Goiás (GO), Brasil, a fim de compreender suas percepções etnomicológicas, de modo a verificar práticas históricas de manejo, seu conhecimento sobre fungos fitopatogênicos e como esses produtores percebem os fungos, de modo geral. Utilizamos o método "de camponês para camponês", formulado pela ANPA – Associação Nacional de Pequenos Agricultores. Discutimos alguns aspectos do conhecimento etnomicológico destes agricultores. A facilidade de identificação de representantes fúngicos está associada a organismos que apresentam características facilmente reconhecíveis, como estereótipo orelha-de-pau ou fungos causadores de doenças em cultivares. Em geral, os agricultores do estudo são capazes de identificar representantes do Reino Fungi que são encontrados em suas vidas cotidianas. A percepção dos agricultores sobre os fungos, um grupo ainda muito desconhecido pela sociedade, é muito relevante para ações futuras dentro da etnomicologia.

Perception of fungi by farmers in the Cerrado

Abstract Fungi are important in several aspects of human life. In particular, to agriculture, pathogenic fungi are of great importance, as they are responsible for production losses of the most diverse types. Because of this, knowledge about pathogenic fungus is of extreme importance for farmers and professionals working in agricultural areas. Among farmers who use specific agroecological practices, this knowledge is even more valuable, since by not adopting conventional methods of production, they resort to non-invasive alternatives that are less or not harmful at all to the environment in consideration of production management methods. This study aimed to assess farmer perception in the Cerrado biome in the city of Goiás (GO), Brazil, in order to understand their ethnomycological perceptions to verify historical management practices, their knowledge about phytopathogenic fungi, and how these producers perceive fungi. We used the theoretical reference method From peasant to peasant formulated by ANPA - National Association of Small Farmers. Some aspects of farmers ethnomycological knowledge are discussed. These ease identification the representatives of the Fungi Kingdom is associated with organisms that present easily recognizable characteristics, such as wood-ears or disease-causing fungi. In general, farmers are able to identify representatives of the Fungi Kingdom that are found in their daily lives. The perception of farmers about fungi, a group still much unknown by society, is very relevant for future actions of ethnomycology.

Resumo Percepção dos fungos por agricultores do Cerrado Fungos são organismos importantes em vários aspectos da vida humana. Em particular, para a agricultura, fungos patogênicos são de grande importância, pois são responsáveis por perdas de produção dos mais diversos tipos. Por isso, o conhecimento sobre fungos patogênicos é de extrema importância para agricultores e profissionais que trabalham em áreas agrícolas. Entre os agricultores que utilizam práticas agroecológicas, esse conhecimento é ainda mais valioso, pois, ao não adotar métodos convencionais de produção, recorrem a alternativas não invasivas que são menos ou não prejudiciais ao meio ambiente, considerando os métodos de gerenciamento da produção. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção de um grupo de agricultores do bioma Cerrado, na cidade de Goiás (GO), Brasil, a fim de compreender suas percepções etnomicológicas, de modo a verificar práticas históricas de manejo, seu conhecimento sobre fungos fitopatogênicos e como esses produtores percebem os fungos, de modo geral. Utilizamos o método de camponês para camponês, formulado pela ANPA Associação Nacional de Pequenos Agricultores. Discutimos alguns aspectos do conhecimento etnomicológico destes agricultores. A facilidade de identificação de representantes fúngicos está associada a organismos que apresentam características facilmente reconhecíveis, como estereótipo orelha-de-pau ou fungos causadores de doenças em cultivares. Em geral, os agricultores do estudo são capazes de identificar representantes do Reino Fungi que são encontrados em suas vidas cotidianas. A percepção dos agricultores sobre os fungos, um grupo ainda muito desconhecido pela sociedade, é muito relevante para ações futuras dentro da etnomicologia.

Perception of fungi by farmers in the Cerrado / Percepção de agricultores do Cerrado sobre os fungos

Fungi are important in several aspects of human life. In particular, to agriculture, pathogenic fungi are of great importance, as they are responsible for production losses of the most diverse types. Because of this, knowledge about pathogenic fungus is of extreme importance for farmers and professionals working in agricultural areas. Among farmers who use specific agroecological practices, this knowledge is even more valuable, since by not adopting conventional methods of production, they resort to non-invasive alternatives that are less or not harmful at all to the environment in consideration of production management methods. This study aimed to assess farmer perception in the Cerrado biome in the city of Goiás (GO), Brazil, in order to understand their ethnomycological perceptions to verify historical management practices, their knowledge about phytopathogenic fungi, and how these producers perceive fungi. We used the theoretical reference method "From peasant to peasant" formulated by ANPA - National Association of Small Farmers. Some aspects of farmers' ethnomycological knowledge are discussed. These ease identification the representatives of the Fungi Kingdom is associated with organisms that present easily recognizable characteristics, such as wood-ears or disease-causing fungi. In general, farmers are able to identify representatives of the Fungi Kingdom that are found in their daily lives. The perception of farmers about fungi, a group still much unknown by society, is very relevant for future actions of ethnomycology.

Percepção dos fungos por agricultores do Cerrado ­ Fungos são organismos importantes em vários aspectos da vida humana. Em particular, para a agricultura, fungos patogênicos são de grande importância, pois são responsáveis por perdas de produção dos mais diversos tipos. Por isso, o conhecimento sobre fungos patogênicos é de extrema importância para agricultores e profissionais que trabalham em áreas agrícolas. Entre os agricultores que utilizam práticas agroecológicas, esse conhecimento é ainda mais valioso, pois, ao não adotar métodos convencionais de produção, recorrem a alternativas não invasivas que são menos ou não prejudiciais ao meio ambiente, considerando os métodos de gerenciamento da produção. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção de um grupo de agricultores do bioma Cerrado, na cidade de Goiás (GO), Brasil, a fim de compreender suas percepções etnomicológicas, de modo a verificar práticas históricas de manejo, seu conhecimento sobre fungos fitopatogênicos e como esses produtores percebem os fungos, de modo geral. Utilizamos o método "de camponês para camponês", formulado pela ANPA ­ Associação Nacional de Pequenos Agricultores. Discutimos alguns aspectos do conhecimento etnomicológico destes agricultores. A facilidade de identificação de representantes fúngicos está associada a organismos que apresentam características facilmente reconhecíveis, como estereótipo orelha-de-pau ou fungos causadores de doenças em cultivares. Em geral, os agricultores do estudo são capazes de identificar representantes do Reino Fungi que são encontrados em suas vidas cotidianas. A percepção dos agricultores sobre os fungos, um grupo ainda muito desconhecido pela sociedade, é muito relevante para ações futuras dentro da etnomicologia.

Perception of fungi by farmers in the Cerrado.

Fungi are important in several aspects of human life. In particular, to agriculture, pathogenic fungi are of great importance, as they are responsible for production losses of the most diverse types. Because of this, knowledge about pathogenic fungus is of extreme importance for farmers and professionals working in agricultural areas. Among farmers who use specific agroecological practices, this knowledge is even more valuable, since by not adopting conventional methods of production, they resort to non-invasive alternatives that are less or not harmful at all to the environment in consideration of production management methods. This study aimed to assess farmer perception in the Cerrado biome in the city of Goiás (GO), Brazil, in order to understand their ethnomycological perceptions to verify historical management practices, their knowledge about phytopathogenic fungi, and how these producers perceive fungi. We used the theoretical reference method "From peasant to peasant" formulated by ANPA - National Association of Small Farmers. Some aspects of farmers' ethnomycological knowledge are discussed. These ease identification the representatives of the Fungi Kingdom is associated with organisms that present easily recognizable characteristics, such as wood-ears or disease-causing fungi. In general, farmers are able to identify representatives of the Fungi Kingdom that are found in their daily lives. The perception of farmers about fungi, a group still much unknown by society, is very relevant for future actions of ethnomycology.

Effects of dietary fibre intake in chemotherapy-induced mucositis in murine model.

Mucositis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa resulting from high doses of radio/chemotherapy treatment and may lead to interruption of antineoplasic therapy. Soluble fibres, like pectin, increase SCFA production, which play a role in gut homoeostasis and inflammation suppression. Due to the properties of pectin, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a high-fibre (HF) diet on chemotherapy-induced mucositis in a murine model. C57/BL6 mice received control (AIN93M), HF, low/zero fibre (LF) diets for 10 d prior to mucositis challenging with irinotecan (75 mg/kg), or they were treated with acetate added to drinking water 5 d prior to and during the mucositis induction. Mice that received the HF diet showed decreased immune cells influx and improved histopathological parameters in the intestine, compared with mice that received the normal diet. Furthermore, the HF diet decreased intestinal permeability induced in the mucositis model when compared with the control group. This effect was not observed for acetate alone, which did not improve gut permeability. For instance, mice that received the LF diet had worsened gut permeability, compared with mice that received the normal diet and mucositis. The effects of the HF and LF diets were shown to modulate the intestinal microbiota, in which the LF diet increased the levels of Enterobacteriaceae, a group associated with gut inflammation, whereas the HF diet decreased this group and increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (SCFA producers) levels. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the importance of dietary fibre intake in the modulation of gut microbiota composition and homoeostasis maintenance during mucositis in this model.

Effect of ultrasound-assisted cold plasma pretreatment to obtain sea asparagus extract and its application in Italian salami.

The effect of the glow discharge cold plasma pretreatment (CPT) was investigated on the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of phenolic compounds from sea asparagus Salicornia neei. The extract was applied in dry fermented sausage (Italian salami). Thermal extraction methods demand a long processing time, are highly energy-consuming and cause irreversible nutrient losses. It was found that CPT (discharge power of 14 W for 5 min) prior to UAE increased the antioxidant activity by 22% and 19% measured by the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The S. neei extract showed high antioxidant activity, low antimicrobial activity, and was added to salami formulations with reduced-sodium nitrite content and no addition of sodium erythorbate. Despite a slight color change, lipid oxidation and texture parameters were similar to the control at the end of ripening. Furthermore, higher antioxidant activity was observed in S. neei extract supplemented salami with no impact on its sensory overall acceptability, indicating its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic additives.

Effects of Hyperosmolality on Hypothalamic Astrocytic Area, mRNA Expression and Glutamate Balance In Vitro.

During prolonged dehydration, body fluid homeostasis is challenged by extracellular fluid (ECF) hyperosmolality, which induce important functional changes in the hypothalamus, in parallel with other effector responses, such as the activation of the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, in the present study we investigated the role of sodium-driven ECF hyperosmolality on glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity and protein expression, membrane capacitance, mRNA expression of RAS components and glutamate balance in cultured hypothalamic astrocytes. Our data show that hypothalamic astrocytes respond to increased hyperosmolality with a similar decrease in GFAP expression and membrane capacitance, indicative of reduced cellular area. Hyperosmolality also downregulates the transcript levels of angiotensinogen and both angiotensin-converting enzymes, whereas upregulates type 1a angiotensin II receptor mRNA. Incubation with hypertonic solution also decreases the immunoreactivity to the membrane glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) as well as tritiated-aspartate uptake by astrocytes. This latter effect is completely restored to basal levels when astrocytes previously exposed to hypertonicity are incubated under isotonic conditions. Together with a direct effect on two important local signaling systems (glutamate and RAS), these synaptic rearrangements driven by astrocytes may accomplish for a coordinated increase in the excitatory drive onto the hypothalamic neurosecretory system, ultimately culminating with increased AVP release in response to hyperosmolality.

Origin of the cultivated passion fruit Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa and genomic relationships among species of the subgenera Decaloba and Passiflora.

Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa is the most economically important species in the genus Passiflora. However, the origin of this yellow form of passion fruit remains unclear, being suggested as a hybrid (P. edulis f. edulis × P. ligularis) or wild mutant. Here, the origin and genomic relationships of P. edulis f. flavicarpa with some related species in the genus Passiflora (subgenera Decaloba and Passiflora) were investigated using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Genomic DNA of 18 species was used as probe, which was hybridized onto chromosomes of P. edulis f. flavicarpa. Of all genomic DNA probes tested, none allowed us to identify a specific chromosome set in P. edulis f. flavicarpa. Conversely, probes from the subgenus Passiflora, P. edulis f. edulis, P. alata, P. cincinnata, P. coccinea, P. nitida and P. vitifolia, produced intense and uniform hybridizations on all chromosomes of P. edulis f. flavicarpa. Moreover, probes from P. ligularis, P. foetida and P. sublanceolata produced more intense hybridizations in the terminal region of four chromosomes, corresponding to the DNAr 45S locus, and also dispersed, less intense, hybridization across all chromosomes. Probes from the subgenus Decaloba, P. biflora, P. capsularis, P. cervii, P. coriacea, P. micropetala, P. morifolia, P. rubra and P. suberosa, produced hybridizations restricted to the DNAr 45S sites. The hybrid origin of P. edulis f. flavicarpa could not be supported based on the GISH results, and it is suggested that this species is conspecific with P. edulis f. edulis, because the probe with DNA of this form hybridized strongly throughout the target genome. The other putative parent species, P. ligularis, showed only a distant relationship with the target genome. The results also suggest that species of the subgenus Passiflora share many repetitive sequences and that the relationship between subgenera Decaloba and Passiflora is very distant.

Cytogenetics and morphological delimitation between three species of Passiflora L. (subgenus Distephana Cervi).

Several studies on cytogenetic characterisation of passion flowers are helpful to elucidate doubts about taxa relationships, delimitation and classification into more coherent groups based on karyomorphological data. Molecular and conventional cytogenetic techniques were applied to three Passiflora species with red flowers, P. coccinea, P. vitifolia and P. tholozanii, for species karyotype relationships. Additionally, for descriptive morphology, were used flowers, leaves and seeds. Results describe for the first time the karyomorphological and chromosome number (2n = 18) for P. tholozanii. anova was performed (P < 0.05) and statistical significance for average chromosome size (CV: 16.53%) between species. Genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH) proved relationships between P. coccinea and P. tholozanii, which suggests a common origin, however, we could not identify hybridisation between genomic probes from P. vitifolia in P. tholozanii chromosomes. Among the species analysed, P. tholozanii has great similarity in karyotypic and morphology to P. coccinea but not to P. vitifolia. We suggest the inclusion of P. tholozanii in the same subgenus and section as P. coccinea based on the similarity in karyomorphological and morphological traits between the species. Additionally, GISH might indicate a common or hybrid origin of P. tholozanii.

Short communication: Extended-spectrum AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from milk and feces in dairy farms in Brazil.

The AmpC enzyme is normally expressed constitutively in Escherichia coli, and its overproduction confers resistance to cefoxitin. A newly reported AmpC, the extended-spectrum AmpC (ESAC), is related to resistance to cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin. This enzyme presents more flexibility in the active site due to insertions, replacements, and deletions on AA sequences. Many isolates producing ESAC were reported in human clinical isolates, but E. coli ESAC producers were reported in animals only in France. The animal E. coli strains can produce this enzyme and possibly disseminate it to human and production environments. In our study, 3 strains of E. coli from milk and feces bovine samples, collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were suspected to produce ESAC. After excluding other mechanisms of resistance, the gene was sequenced to verify ESAC characteristics. These strains presented replacement of AA in omega and R2 loops, suggesting ESAC production. This is the first report to study ESAC E. coli in dairy farms in Brazil.

Salivary proteomics in lichen planus: A relationship with pathogenesis?

OBJECTIVES: Oral lichen planus is a chronic, T-cell-mediated, inflammatory disease that affects the oral cavity. The oral lichen planus pathogenesis is still unclear, however, the main evidence is that the mechanisms of activation of different T lymphocyte pathway induce apoptosis with an increase in Th1 and Th17 subtypes cells, triggered by the release of cytokines. This study analysed saliva proteomics to identify protein markers that might be involved in the pathogenesis and development of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Proteins differentially expressed by oral lichen planus and healthy controls were screened using mass spectrometry; the proteins found in oral lichen planus were subjected to bioinformatics analysis, including gene ontology and string networks analysis. The multiplex analysis validation allowed the correlation between the proteins identified and the involved cytokines in Th17 response. RESULTS: One hundred and eight proteins were identified in oral lichen planus, of which 17 proteins showed a high interaction between them and indicated an association with the disease. Expression of these proteins was correlated with the triggering of cytokines, more specifically the Th17 cells. CONCLUSION: Proteins, such as S100A8, S100A9, haptoglobin, can trigger cytokines and might be associated with a pathological function and antioxidant activities in oral lichen planus.