Global Biodiversity Conservation Priorities Brooks, T.M; Mittermeier, R.A; Fonseca, G.A.B. da ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
07/2006, Letnik:
313, Številka:
5783
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The location of and threats to biodiversity are distributed unevenly, so prioritization is essential to minimize biodiversity loss. To address this need, biodiversity conservation organizations have ...proposed nine templates of global priorities over the past decade. Here, we review the concepts, methods, results, impacts, and challenges of these prioritizations of conservation practice within the theoretical irreplaceability/vulnerability framework of systematic conservation planning. Most of the templates prioritize highly irreplaceable regions; some are reactive (prioritizing high vulnerability), and others are proactive (prioritizing low vulnerability). We hope this synthesis improves understanding of these prioritization approaches and that it results in more efficient allocation of geographically flexible conservation funding.
The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging arbovirus, in which its infection causes a febrile illness also commonly associated with severe joint pain and myalgia. Although the immune response to ...CHIKV has been studied, a better understanding of the virus-host interaction mechanisms may lead to more effective therapeutic interventions. In this context, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been described as a key mediator involved in the control of many pathogens, including several bacteria and viruses, but no reports of this important protective mechanism were documented during CHIKV infection. Here we demonstrate that the experimental infection of mouse-isolated neutrophils with CHIKV resulted in NETosis (NETs release) through a mechanism dependent on TLR7 activation and reactive oxygen species generation.
, mouse-isolated neutrophils stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate release NETs that once incubated with CHIKV, resulting in further virus capture and neutralization.
, NETs inhibition by the treatment of the mice with DNase resulted in the enhanced susceptibility of IFNAR
mice to CHIKV experimental acute infection. Lastly, by accessing the levels of MPO-DNA complex on the acutely CHIKV-infected patients, we found a correlation between the levels of NETs and the viral load in the blood, suggesting that NETs are also released in natural human infection cases. Altogether our findings characterize NETosis as a contributing natural process to control CHIKV acute infection, presenting an antiviral effect that helps to control systemic virus levels.
Single and multiple-trait GWAS were conducted to detect genomic regions and candidate genes associated with meat color traits (L*, lightness; a*, redness; b*, yellowness) in Nellore cattle. ...Phenotypic records of 5000 animals, and 3794 genotypes for 614,274 SNPs were used. The BLUPF90 family programs were used through single step GWAS approach. The top 10 genomic regions from single-trait GWAS explained 13.64%, 15.12% and 13% of genetic variance of L*, a* and b*, which harbored 129, 70, and 84 candidate genes, respectively. Regarding multiple-trait GWAS, the top 10 SNP windows explained 17.46%, 18.98% and 13.74% of genetic variance of L*, a* and b*, and harbored 124, 86, and 82 candidate genes, respectively. Pleiotropic effects were evidenced by the overlapping regions detected on BTA 15 and 26 associated with L* and a* (genetic correlation of −0.53), and on BTA 18 associated with a* and b* (genetic correlation of 0.60). Similar genomic regions located on BTA 2, 5, 6, and 18 were detected through single and multi-trait GWAS. Overlapped regions harbored a total of 30 functional candidate genes involved in mitochondrial activity, structural integrity of muscles, lipid oxidation, anaerobic metabolism, and muscular pH.
We performed genome-wide association analyses for milk, fat, and protein yields and somatic cell score based on lactation stages in the first 3 parities of Canadian Ayrshire, Holstein, and Jersey ...cattle. The genome-wide association analyses were performed considering 3 different lactation stages for each trait and parity: from 5 to 95, from 96 to 215, and from 216 to 305 d in milk. Effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for each lactation stage, trait, parity, and breed were estimated by back-solving the direct breeding values estimated using the genomic best linear unbiased predictor and single-trait random regression test-day models containing only the fixed population average curve and the random genomic curves. To identify important genomic regions related to the analyzed lactation stages, traits, parities and breeds, moving windows (SNP-by-SNP) of 20 adjacent SNP explaining more than 0.30% of total genetic variance were selected for further analyses of candidate genes. A lower number of genomic windows with a relatively higher proportion of the explained genetic variance was found in the Holstein breed compared with the Ayrshire and Jersey breeds. Genomic regions associated with the analyzed traits were located on 12, 8, and 15 chromosomes for the Ayrshire, Holstein, and Jersey breeds, respectively. Especially for the Holstein breed, many of the identified candidate genes supported previous reports in the literature. However, well-known genes with major effects on milk production traits (e.g., diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1) showed contrasting results among lactation stages, traits, and parities of different breeds. Therefore, our results suggest evidence of differential sets of candidate genes underlying the phenotypic expression of the analyzed traits across breeds, parities, and lactation stages. Further functional studies are needed to validate our findings in independent populations.
Vancomycin (VCM) is a tricyclic glycopeptide antibiotic produced by Streptococcus orientalis. Widely used in hospitals, it is indicated to fight severe infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, ...especially with the advent of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), penicillin-resistant pneumococci among others. Furthermore, it is indicated for the treatment of patients allergic to penicillins and cephalosporins. Dose recommendations, dilution rates and types of infusion are controversial and also result in toxic effects. Aim of this paper was to perform a literature review showing the therapeutic and adverse effects of vancomycin.
This is a literature review of recent articles published on MEDLINE and SciELO databases in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
The main adverse effects of vancomycin are: hypotension, phlebitis, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, hypersensitivity reactions, red man syndrome, neutropenia, chills, fever, interstitial nephritis.
The use of vancomycin is still very common; however, inadequate doses and prolonged therapy pose a risk of increasing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), resulting in subtherapeutic levels, treatment failures and toxicity. Therefore, further studies should be conducted to optimize the administration of vancomycin, monitoring treatments from the beginning in order to ensure a safe and effective use of the drug.
A nodal-line semimetal (NLSM) is suppressed in the presence of spin–orbit coupling unless it is protected by a nonsymmorphic symmetry. We show that two-dimensional (2D) materials can realize robust ...NLSMs when vacancies are introduced on the lattice. As a case study we investigate borophene, a boron honeycomb-like sheet. While the Dirac cones of pristine borophene are shown to be gapped out by spin–orbit coupling and by magnetic exchange, robust nodal lines (NLs) emerge in the spectrum when selected atoms are removed. We propose an effective 2D model and a symmetry analysis to demonstrate that these NLs are topological and protected by a nonsymmorphic glide plane. Our findings offer a paradigm shift to the design of NLSMs: instead of searching for nonsymmorphic materials, robust NLSMs may be realized simply by removing atoms from ordinary symmorphic crystals.
Transcript data obtained by RNA-Seq were used to identify differentially expressed alternatively spliced genes in ribeye muscle tissue between Nelore cattle that differed in their ribeye area (REA) ...or intramuscular fat content (IF). A total of 166 alternatively spliced transcripts from 125 genes were significantly differentially expressed in ribeye muscle between the highest and lowest REA groups (p ≤ 0.05). For animals selected on their IF content, 269 alternatively spliced transcripts from 219 genes were differentially expressed in ribeye muscle between the highest and lowest IF animals. Cassette exons and alternative 3' splice sites were the most frequently found alternatively spliced transcripts for REA and IF content. For both traits, some differentially expressed alternatively spliced transcripts belonged to myosin and myotilin gene families. The hub transcripts were identified for REA (LRRFIP1, RCAN1 and RHOBTB1) and IF (TRIP12, HSPE1 and MAP2K6) have an important role to play in muscle cell degradation, development and motility. In general, transcripts were found for both traits with biological process GO terms that were involved in pathways related to protein ubiquitination, muscle differentiation, lipids and hormonal systems. Our results reinforce the biological importance of these known processes but also reveal new insights into the complexity of the whole cell muscle mRNA of Nelore cattle.
The pelvic floor (PF) provides support to all pelvic organs, as well as appropriately closure/opening mechanism of the urethra, vagina, and anus. Therefore, it is likely that female athletes involved ...in high‐impact and in strong‐effort activities are at risk for the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of UI and other PF dysfunctions (PFD) anal incontinence (AI), symptoms of constipation, dyspareunia, vaginal laxity, and pelvic organ prolapse in 67 amateur athletes (AT) compared with a group 96 of nonathletes (NAT). An ad hoc survey based on questions from reliable and valid instruments was developed to investigate the occurrence of PFD symptoms. The risk of UI was higher in AT group (odds ratio: 2.90; 95% CI: 1.50–5.61), mostly among artistic gymnastics and trampoline, followed by swimming and judo athletes. Whereas, AT group reported less straining to evacuate (OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.22–0.96), manual assistance to defecate (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.05–1.12), and a higher stool frequency (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13–0.64) than NAT group. The occurrence of loss of gas and sexual symptoms was high for both groups when compared with literature, although with no statistical difference between them. Pelvic organ prolapse was only reported by nonathletes. Athletes are at higher risk to develop UI, loss of gas, and sexual dysfunctions, either practicing high‐impact or strong‐effort activities. Thus, pelvic floor must be considered as an entity and addressed as well. Also, women involved in long‐term high‐impact and strengthening sports should be advised of the impact of such activities on pelvic floor function and offered preventive PFD strategies as well.
In tumor cells, higher expression of glucose transporter proteins (GLUT) and carbonic anhydrases (CAIX) genes is influenced by hypoxia-induced factors (HIF).Thus, we aimed to study the expression ...profile of these markers in sequential peripheral blood collections performed in breast cancer patients in order to verify their predictive potential in liquid biopsies. Gene expressions were analyzed by qPCR in tumor and blood samples from 125 patients and 25 healthy women. Differential expression was determined by the 2(-ΔCq) method. Expression of HIF-1α and GLUT1 in the blood of breast cancer patients is significantly higher (90-91 and 160-161 fold increased expression, respectively; p < 0.0001) than that found in healthy women. Their diagnostic power was confirmed by ROC curve. CAIX is also more expressed in breast cancer women blood, but its expression was detected only in a few samples. But none of these genes could be considered predictive markers. Therefore, evaluation of the expression of HIF-1α and GLUT1 in blood may be a useful laboratory tool to complement the diagnosis of breast cancer, in addition to being useful for follow-up of patients and of women with a family history of breast cancer.
Aims/hypothesis We examined the presence of functional cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1, CB2) in isolated human islets, phenotyped the cells producing cannabinoid receptors and analysed the actions ...of selective cannabinoid receptor agonists on insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion in vitro. We also described the localisation on islet cells of: (1) the endocannabinoid-producing enzymes N-acyl-phosphatidyl ethanolamine-hydrolysing phospholipase D and diacylglycerol lipase; and (2) the endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes fatty acid amidohydrolase and monoacyl glycerol lipase. Methods Real-time PCR, western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to analyse the presence of endocannabinoid-related proteins and genes. Static secretion experiments were used to examine the effects of activating CB1 or CB2 on insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion and to measure changes in 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels within islets. Analyses were performed in isolated human islets and in paraffin-embedded sections of human pancreas. Results Human islets of Langerhans expressed CB1 and CB2 (also known as CNR1 and CNR2) mRNA and CB1 and CB2 proteins, and also the machinery involved in synthesis and degradation of 2-AG (the most abundant endocannabinoid, levels of which were modulated by glucose). Immunofluorescence revealed that CB1 was densely located in glucagon-secreting alpha cells and less so in insulin-secreting beta cells. CB2 was densely present in somatostatin-secreting delta cells, but absent in alpha and beta cells. In vitro experiments revealed that CB1 stimulation enhanced insulin and glucagon secretion, while CB2 agonism lowered glucose-dependent insulin secretion, showing these cannabinoid receptors to be functional. Conclusions/interpretation Together, these results suggest a role for endogenous endocannabinoid signalling in regulation of endocrine secretion in the human pancreas.
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