Applying elicitors in plants growing under natural conditions change the metabolic content of volatile compounds extracted from their tissues. Here, we have investigated how abiotic elicitors ...influence the volatile composition of the ethyl acetate extract of Anacardium othonianum seedlings propagated in vitro and ex-vitro cultures. Abiotic factors such as salicylic acid, silver nitrate, light quality, and cultivation mode affected the composition of volatile compounds in ethyl acetate extract of A. othonianum leaves seedlings. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that α-tocopherol was the main metabolite in cultures added with chemical elicitors, reaching 22.48 ± 4.06% in the case of 30 µM salicylic acid. Higher concentrations of salicylic acid decreased the amount of α-tocopherol. The addition of AgNO
3
had a linear effect on α-tocopherol. Thus, the production of this metabolite indicates that salicylic acid and AgNO
3
elicitors positively affect α-tocopherol production at specific concentrations helping to understand how plant culture can be better manipulated.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
To establish the risk of microcephaly in neonates born to women infected with ZIKV during pregnancy.
A cohort of laboratory-confirmed ZIKV cases of congenital infections (109 mothers infected during ...pregnancy and 101 newborns) among 308 suspect cases was followed in Belem, Pará, Brazil, from October 2015 to December 2017.
A microcephaly risk of 1.98% (95% CI 0.54-6.93%) was found, or 2 cases among the 101 neonates infected with ZIKV during pregnancy. 72% of the pregnant women had ZIKV infection confirmed by RT-qPCR during gestation.
Results showed a low incidence of ZIKV-associated birth defects, stillbirth, and miscarriage, which contrasts with previous studies in other Brazilian regions. Previous exposure to yellow fever vaccine and/or multiserotype DENV infection could be implicated in the protection from ZIKV congenital infection.
Abstract
The One Health concept is a global strategy to study the relationship between human and animal health and the transfer of pathogenic and non-pathogenic species between these systems. ...However, to the best of our knowledge, no data based on One Health genome-centric metagenomics are available in public repositories. Here, we present a dataset based on a pilot-study of 2,915 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of 107 samples from the human (N = 34), cattle (N = 28), swine (N = 15) and poultry (N = 30) gut microbiomes. Samples were collected from the five Brazilian geographical regions. Of the draft genomes, 1,273 were high-quality drafts (≥90% of completeness and ≤5% of contamination), and 1,642 were medium-quality drafts (≥50% of completeness and ≤10% of contamination). Taxonomic predictions were based on the alignment and concatenation of single-marker genes, and the most representative phyla were Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Many of these species represent potential pathogens that have already been described or potential new families, genera, and species with potential biotechnological applications. Analyses of this dataset will highlight discoveries about the ecology and functional role of pathogens and uncultivated Archaea and Bacteria from food-producing animals and humans. Furthermore, it also represents an opportunity to describe new species from underrepresented taxonomic groups.
Additional measures of in situ water quality monitoring in natural environments can be obtained through remote sensing because certain elements in water modify its spectral behavior. One of the ...indicators of water quality is the presence of algae, and the aim of this study was to propose an alternative method for the quantification of chlorophyll in water by correlating spectral data, infrared images, and limnology data. The object of study was an artificial lake located at Unisinos University, São Leopoldo/RS, Brazil. The area has been mapped with a modified NGB (near infrared (N), green (G) and blue (B)) camera coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). From the orthorectified and georeferenced images, a modified normalized difference vegetation index (NDVImod) image has been generated. Additionally, 20 sampling points have been established on the lake. At these points, in situ spectral analysis with a spectroradiometer has been performed, and water samples have been collected for laboratory determination of chlorophyll concentrations. The correlation resulted in two models. The first model, based on the multivariate analysis of spectral data, and the second model, based on polynomial equations from NDVI, had coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.86 and 0.51, respectively. This study confirmed the applicability of remote sensing for water resource management using UAVs, which can be characterized as a quick and easy methodology.
The present coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented era of quality control that has necessitated advanced safety precautions and the need to ensure the adequate ...protection of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Endoscopy units, endoscopists, and other HCP may be at a significant risk for transmission of the virus. Given the immense burden on the healthcare system and surge in the number of patients with COVID-19, well-designed protocols and recommendations are needed. We aimed to systematically characterize our approach to endoscopic procedures in a quaternary university hospital setting and provide summary protocol recommendations.
This descriptive study details a COVID-19-specific protocol designed to minimize infection risks to patients and healthcare workers in the endoscopy unit.
Our institution, located in São Paulo, Brazil, includes a 900-bed hospital, with a 200-bed-specific intensive care unit exclusively designed for patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. We highlighted recommendations for infection prevention and control during endoscopic procedures, including appropriate triage and screening, outpatient management and procedural recommendations, role and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and role and procedural logistics involving COVID-19-positive patients. We also detailed hospital protocols for reprocessing endoscopes and cleaning rooms and also provided recommendations to minimize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission.
This COVID-19-specific administrative and clinical protocol can be replicated or adapted in multiple institutions and endoscopy units worldwide. Furthermore, the recommendations and summary protocol may improve patient and HCP safety in these trying times.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Soybean is Brazil´s most important grain crop and accumulates over 250 kg N ha
−1
, principally from biological N
2
fixation. The residual N benefit depends heavily on the quantity of the belowground ...N at harvest, much of which cannot be directly recovered in roots. The purpose of this study was to investigate different aspects of the
15
N shoot-labelling technique to quantify non-recoverable N in rhizodeposits. Three pot experiments were performed and the aerial tissue was labelled with highly enriched
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N-labelled urea or glutamine at between 27 and 39 days after planting. In all experiments sequential harvests were taken until late grain-filling phase. After only 2 or 3 days between 5.8 and 21.3% of enriched N was found in the soil but the excess
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N deposited until the final harvest was in all cases less than twice this amount, respectively. Evidence obtained suggested that this early deposition of labelled N was an artefact of the labelling technique. Discounting this initial tracer N decreased estimates of rhizodeposited N by between 51 and 66%. Nodules were much lower in
15
N enrichment than roots. Nodule N constituted 39 to 76% of belowground N, such that the inclusion of none or all of this N to calculate the
15
N enrichment of the roots increased the estimates of rhizodeposited N by between 34 and 58%. We conclude that even if the immediate post-labelling deposition of enriched N is discounted, estimates of rhizodeposited N of nodulated legumes will not be reliable.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The World Health Organization estimates there are 300 and 500 million new cases of malaria worldwide, every year, mostly in Africa, Asia, South Pacific Islands and South America. New efforts to ...search for novel drugs for treating malaria remain important in countries like Brazil, where many endemic areas still exist. The Amazonia region is responsible for more than 97 % of the malaria cases in the country. Two Piper species were chemically investigated in order to identify new anti-plasmodial plant secondary metabolites. The crude extract and sub-fractions from leaves of Piper lucaeanum were previously assayed against a resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum . Hydrodistillation of the leaf essential oils (EO) from Piper lucaeanum and Piper claussenianum were analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents found from P. lucaeanum leaf oil were α-pinene (30.0 %), α-zingiberene (30.4 %), β-sesquiphelandrene (11.1 %), β-bisabolene (8.9 %), while from P. claussenianum inflorescences oil nerolidol (23.7 %) and linalool (56.5 %) were the major volatile components . The oils exhibited relevant biological activity against the resistant strain of P. falciparum . P. lucaeanum leaf EO was the most promising active sample (IC ₅₀ = 2.6 µg/mL), followed by P. claussenianum EO (IC ₅₀ = 7.9 µg/mL), the pure nerolidol (IC ₅₀= 11.1 µg/mL) and the linalool (IC ₅₀= 35.0 µg/mL). These results highlight the potential of Piper oils as a source of active metabolites in the research of new anti-maliarial compounds.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
A homeopathic complex medication (HCM), with immunomodulatory properties, is recommended for patients with depressed immune systems. Previous studies demonstrated that the medication induces an ...increase in leukocyte number. The bone marrow microenvironment is composed of growth factors, stromal cells, an extracellular matrix and progenitor cells that differentiate into mature blood cells. Mice were our biological model used in this research. We now report in vivo immunophenotyping of total bone marrow cells and ex vivo effects of the medication on mononuclear cell differentiation at different times. Cells were examined by light microscopy and cytokine levels were measured in vitro. After in vivo treatment with HCM, a pool of cells from the new marrow microenvironment was analyzed by flow cytometry to detect any trend in cell alteration. The results showed decreases, mainly, in CD11b and TER-119 markers compared with controls. Mononuclear cells were used to analyze the effects of ex vivo HCM treatment and the number of cells showing ring nuclei, niche cells and activated macrophages increased in culture, even in the absence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Cytokines favoring stromal cell survival and differentiation in culture were induced in vitro. Thus, we observe that HCM is immunomodulatory, either alone or in association with other products.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most efficient antigen-presenting cells and link the innate immune sensing of the environment to the initiation of adaptive immune responses, which may be directed to ...either acceptance or elimination of the recognized antigen. In cancer patients, though DCs would be expected to present tumor antigens to T lymphocytes and induce tumor-eliminating responses, this is frequently not the case. The complex tumor microenvironment subverts the immune response, blocks some effector mechanisms, and drives others to support tumor growth. Chronic inflammation in a tumor microenvironment is believed to contribute to the induction of such regulatory/tolerogenic response. Among the various mediators of the modulatory switch in chronic inflammation is the “antidanger signal” chaperone, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), that has been described, interestingly, to be associated with cell migration and drug resistance of breast cancer cells. Thus, here, we investigated the expression of Hsp27 during the differentiation of monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) from healthy donors and breast cancer patients and evaluated their surface phenotype, cytokine secretion pattern, and lymphostimulatory activity. Surface phenotype and lymphocyte proliferation were evaluated by flow cytometry, interferon- (IFN-) γ, and interleukin- (IL-) 10 secretion, by ELISA and Hsp27 expression, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Mo-DCs from cancer patients presented decreased expression of DC maturation markers, decreased ability to induce allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation, and increased IL-10 secretion. In coculture with breast cancer cell lines, healthy donors’ Mo-DCs showed phenotype changes similar to those found in patients’ cells. Interestingly, patients’ monocytes expressed less GM-CSF and IL-4 receptors than healthy donors’ monocytes and Hsp27 expression was significantly higher in patients’ Mo-DCs (and in tumor samples). Both phenomena could contribute to the phenotypic bias of breast cancer patients’ Mo-DCs and might prove potential targets for the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches for breast cancer.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Effect of ionizing radiation on traditional and bacon “farofa” Nunes de Sá, Ana Paula; Negrão, Bianca Guimarães; Nabeshima, Elizabeth Harumi ...
Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993),
February 2021, 2021-02-00, 20210201, Volume:
179
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Seasoned “farofa” is a typical Brazilian dish made with toasted cassava flour. It is known that ionizing radiation is widely employed to improve food products extending its shelf life. In this ...context, this work analyzes the effects of ionizing radiation on the rheological and physicochemical properties of bacon (BF) and traditional (TF) “farofa”. The samples were obtained from local markets (São Paulo/Brazil) and irradiated in the electron beam accelerator of Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN/CNEN-SP, São Paulo, Brazil) in doses of 1, 5 and 10 kGy, and analyzed on the first, fifteenth and thirtieth storage day. The results showed that the irradiated TF and BF samples displayed acidic pH throughout the storage period, regardless of dose increase. The different irradiation doses did not significantly affect (Tukey test p > 0.05) the water activity, keeping the products in the safe range. The colorimetric analysis, also showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) among the samples and ionizing radiation doses, indicating that the yellowish coloration remained stable throughout the experiment. After the thirtieth day, the moisture of the TF and BF samples ranged from 7.06% to 9.75%. Irradiation had a significant impact on the viscosity profile and texture characteristics of the “farofa”, such as hardness, cohesiveness, and the springiness at 5 and 10 kGy.
•Traditional irradiated “farofa” showed better texture results than bacon.•Bacon irradiated “farofa” presented greater starch setback than the traditional.•1 kGy irradiated “farofa” samples had best results during storage.•Low ionizing radiation dose had benefits shelf life in cassava “farofa”.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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