Antiproliferative Activity of Fucan Nanogel

Sulfated fucans comprise families of polydisperse natural polysaccharides based on sulfated L-fucose. Our aim was to investigate whether fucan nanogel induces cell-specific responses. To that end, a non toxic fucan extracted from Spatoglossum schröederi was chemically modified by grafting hexadecylamine to the polymer hydrophilic backbone. The resulting modified material (SNFuc) formed nanosized particles. The degree of substitution with hydrophobic chains was close to 100%, as estimated by elemental analysis. SNFfuc in aqueous media had a mean diameter of 123 nm and zeta potential of −38.3 ± 0.74 mV, as measured by dynamic light scattering. Nanoparticles conserved their size for up to 70 days. SNFuc cytotoxicity was determined using the MTT assay after culturing different cell lines for 24 h. Tumor-cell (HepG2, 786, H-S5) proliferation was inhibited by 2.0%–43.7% at nanogel concentrations of 0.05–0.5 mg/mL and rabbit aorta endothelial cells (RAEC) non-tumor cell line proliferation displayed inhibition of 8.0%–22.0%. On the other hand, nanogel improved Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and monocyte macrophage cell (RAW) non-tumor cell line proliferation in the same concentration range. The antiproliferative effect against tumor cells was also confirmed using the BrdU test. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the fucan nanogel inhibited 786 cell proliferation through caspase and caspase-independent mechanisms. In addition, SNFuc blocks 786 cell passages in the S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle.     

Improvement of degraded physical attributes of a saline-sodic soil as influenced by phytoremediation and soil conditioners

This study aimed to evaluate the use of phytoremediation and soil conditioners in the recovery of physical attributes of a saline-sodic Fluvic Neossol in Brazil Northeast. The applied treatments were: Atriplex nummularia L., as phytoremediation plant, due to its ability to extract salts from the soil; organic conditioners, such as bovine and sheep manure; gypsum and polymer, as chemical conditioners. Samples with preserved structure were collected at the time of the experiment installation and 18 months after in the layers 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm. The analyzed attributes were: water dispersed clay, dispersion index, bulk density, penetration resistance, soil porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The use of sheep manure, gypsum and polymer promoted an increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 0–10 cm layer from 4.51 to 16.37 cm day^?1, 11.26 to 23.95 cm day^?1 and 7.24 to 22.77 cm day^?1, respectively. Gypsum increased the macroporosity in the superficial layer by 42.6%. Atriplex and polymer were more efficient at reducing soil penetration resistance. The polymer was more efficient at improving the physical properties. However, it is necessary to consider phytoremediation with Atriplex as a more sustainable alternative that can still be used as complementary fodder in animal feed.     

Effect of provision of apiaceous flowers associated to foods on the biology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coleomegilla maculata</Emphasis>

Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer is an omnivorous lady beetle that feeds on natural or alternative prey and artificial foods, which allows its laboratory rearing for use on augmentative biocontrol. In addition, C. maculata may supplement its diet with pollen and nectar, which helps in its conservation in agroecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate if Apiaceous flowers (Anethum graveolens L. and Coriadrum sativum L.), with and without alternative prey [eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) or larvae of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen] or an artificial food (aqueous solution of honey), may guarantee the survival and complete development of the immature and adult stages of C. maculata in the laboratory. The immature stages developed only when Apiaceous flowers were offered with E. kuehniella eggs. The food with only one of the alternative prey (moth eggs or fly larvae) or moth eggs + honey solution resulted in fertile adults; however, the number of eggs/cluster was greater for the foods with E. kuehniella eggs + honey solution, A. graveolens flowers, or only D. melanogaster. Foods comprising only the two Apiaceous species, only the honey solution, or only water resulted in larval development up to a specific instar. Adults of C. maculata also survived on these foods, but there was no oviposition. The foods of the two Apiaceous species produced heavier adults only when associated with E. kuehniella eggs. The results indicate that the zoophytophagous habit of C. maculata should be considered in conservation biocontrol programs aimed at using this lady beetle to control crop pests.     

Genome-wide association study for age at puberty in young Nelore bulls

Selection for bulls that would reach puberty early reduces the generation interval and increases fertility and herd productivity. Despite its economic importance, there are few QTL associated with age at puberty described in the literature. In this study, a weighted single-step genome-wide association study was performed to detect genomic regions and putative candidate genes related to age at puberty in young Nelore bulls. Several protein-coding genes related to spermatogenesis functions were identified within the genomic regions that explain more than 0.5% of the additive genetic variance for age at puberty in Nelore bulls, such as ADAM11, BRCA1, CSNK2A, CREBBP, MEIOC, NDRG2, NECTIN3, PARP2, PARP9, PRSS21, RAD51C, RNASE4, SLX4, SPA17, TEX14, TIMP2 and TRIP13 gene. Enrichment analysis by DAVID also revealed several GO terms related to spermatogenesis such as DNA replication (GO:0006260), male meiosis I (GO:0007141), double-strand break repair (GO:0006302), base excision repair (GO:0006284), apoptotic process (GO:0006915), cell–cell adhesion (GO: 0098609) and focal adhesion (GO:0005925). The heritability for age at puberty shows that this trait can be improved based on traditional EBV selection. Adding genomic information to the system helps to elucidate genes and molecular mechanisms controlling the sexual precocity and could help to predict sexual precocity in Nelore bulls with greater accuracy at younger age, which would speed up the breeding programme for this breed.     

Biochar as a strategy to manage plant diseases caused by pathogens inhabiting the soil: a critical review

Phytoparasitica - The current agricultural scenario faces a range of challenges, with phytosanitary ones being paramount. In most cases, plant diseases are treated with chemicals; however, they...     

Cardiovascular effects of Hyptis fruticosa essential oil in rats

In non-anesthetized normotensive rats, Hyptis fruticosa essential oil (HFEO, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg; i.v.) induced hypotension associated with tachycardia. In intact and isolated rings of rat superior mesenteric artery (control), HFEO (1-1000 microg/ml, n=6, cumulatively) induced concentration-dependent relaxations of tonus induced by 10 microM phenylephrine (Phe) (pD(2)=2.6+/-0.27; E(max)=64+/-8.3%). In denuded endothelium pre-contracted rings with Phe or K(+)-depolarizing solution (80 mM), the concentration-response curves to HFEO were not shifted (pD(2)=2.3+/-0.25 and 2.3+/-0.28, respectively), but their maximal responses were significantly (P<0.05 vs control) increased (E(max)=122.3+/-18.2% and 92+/-3.6%, respectively). HFEO was also capable of antagonizing the concentration-response curves to CaCl(2) (3 microM-30 mM) in a dose-dependent manner.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma vivax</Emphasis> DNA in semen from experimentally infected goats

The present work aimed to investigate the presence of T. vivax DNA in the semen of experimentally infected goats. Twelve male goats native to the Brazilian Northeast, adults, were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: the infected group consisting of six goats infected intravenously with 0.5 mL of blood containing approximately 1.25?×?10⁵ trypomastigotes of T. vivax, and a control group composed of six uninfected goats. After the infection, clinical examinations aiming to evaluate rectal temperature, parasitemia and hematocrit were performed. Semen samples were collected from goats by electroejaculation on the 7th, 14th and 21st days post-infection (dpi). The recombinant DNA-encoding gene encoding the L-like-specific gene for T. vivax. The infection was characterized by increased rectal temperature, high parasitemia and significant reduction of hematocrit values. Results for T. vivax DNA detection using TviCatL-PCR were positive in all semen samples from the infected group collected on 7th, 14th and 21st dpi. The presence of T. vivax DNA in 7th dpi suggests the early invasion of the parasite in the reproductive organs. Also, the finding of T. vivax DNA in all periods analyzed may suggest the continued elimination of the parasite in the semen, which may increase the chances of sexual transmission. Thus, T. vivax DNA is recorded for the first time in the semen of infected goats. Thus, these data are of great importance, since the detection of the T. vivax genetic material in the semen may point to the possibility that the parasite may be transmitted through the sexual pathway.