Organic and Conventional <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coffea arabica</Emphasis> L.: A Comparative Study of the Chemical Composition and Physiological,Biochemical and Toxicological Effects in Wistar Rats

Differentiation between organic and conventional coffee has increased due to the growing demand and high consumption of healthy foods that contain compounds with antioxidant potential, which have been associated with the reduction of chronic diseases. We used organic and conventional coffee in powder 4% (w/w) and infusions 5%, 10% and 20% (w/v) incorporated in a commercial diet to test in vivo. The levels of chlorogenic acid, caffeine and trigonelline were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The body weight, weight gain, food consumption, aberrant foci crypt, mucin depleted foci, stress biomarkers protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, biochemical parameters and behavior of the rats were compared between the experimental and control groups within a framework of colon carcinogenesis. The organic coffee showed higher levels of chlorogenic acid, caffeine and trigonelline than conventional, however, this difference did not significantly affect behavior. The infusions had an antioxidant effect, reducing the levels of malondialdehyde; however, the biochemical parameters of the serum were not altered, and there was neither induction nor prevention of preneoplasic lesions.     

Brominated compounds from marine sponges of the genus Aplysina and a compilation of their 13C NMR spectral data

Aplysina is the best representative genus of the family Aplysinidae. Halogenated substances are its main class of metabolites. These substances contribute greatly to the chemotaxonomy and characterization of the sponges belonging to this genus. Due to their pharmacological activities, these alkaloids are of special interest. The chemistry of halogenated substances and of the alkaloids has long been extensively studied in terrestrial organisms, while the number of marine organisms studied has just started to increase in the last decades. This review describes 101 halogenated substances from 14 species of Aplysina from different parts of the world. These substances can be divided into the following classes: bromotyramines (A), cavernicolins (B), hydroverongiaquinols (C), bromotyrosineketals (D), bromotyrosine lactone derivatives (E), oxazolidones (F), spiroisoxazolines (G), verongiabenzenoids (H), verongiaquinols (I), and dibromocyclohexadienes (J). A compilation of their (13)C NMR data is also part of the review. For this purpose 138 references were consulted.     

Detection of a novel hemoplasma based on 16S rRNA gene DNA in captive and free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)

Two different species of hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris, are known to infect small rodents such as mice and rats. However, there are no previous reports of hemoplasma infection in capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris). The aim of our study was to determine whether these hemoplasmas might infect capybaras from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 31 animals: 10 captive and 21 free-ranging capybaras were collected and packed cell volume and total plasma protein were measured. DNA was extracted and PCR assays for M. coccoides and M. haemomuris were performed. Using the M. coccoides-PCR assay 64% of the capybaras were positive, 80% free-ranging and 30% from captive animals. The prevalence of infection between the groups was significantly different (p = 0.001). Sequencing of the nearly entire 16S rRNA gene from the positive samples suggested a novel hemoplasma isolate with identity of 92% with M. coccoides and 86% with M. haemomuris. All capybara samples were negative for M. haemomuris infection. DNA of a housekeeping gene was successfully amplified from all samples. This is the first evidence of a hemoplasma infection in capybaras.     

Characterisation of biofilm formation by a Streptococcus suis meningitis isolate

Biofilm formation by a strain of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 isolated from a case of meningitis in pigs was characterised. Using a polystyrene microtitre plate assay, S. suis 95-8242 produced a dense biofilm when glucose, fructose or sucrose was used as the carbohydrate source, whereas no biofilm formed in the presence of lactose. Polysaccharide production by the biofilm-forming strain was demonstrated by the Congo red agar assay. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that bacterial cells were surrounded by a thick layer of polycationic ferritin-labelled material. S. suis 95-8242 was more resistant to both penicillin G and ampicillin in biofilms than in planktonic cultures on the basis of minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations.     

Serological and molecular evidence of hepatitis E virus in swine in Brazil

Active hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in two Brazilian swine herds were investigated. In study 1, 26 piglets born to five anti-HEV positive sows were monitored from birth to post-partum week 22. Serum samples were screened for the detection of anti-HEV antibodies and a nested RT-PCR used to examine the HEV genome. Passive transfer of immunity was confirmed. At week 22, 23/26 (88.4%) of the piglets had seroconverted. Genome amplification was achieved in a feces pool from one holding pen and in one serum sample, both from 13-week-old animals. Histology was suggestive of a potential HEV infection. In the second study, 47 piglets born to six anti-HEV-positive sows were monitored after weaning. Seroconversion was determined in eight animals at 6-8 weeks of age. HEV RNA was detected in two pools from a holding pen for 12-16-week-old animals. Brazilian isolates were classified as genotype 3. This is the first molecular evidence of HEV infection in Brazilian pig herds.     

Prospects for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic Forest: Lessons from aging human-modified landscapes

Recent global assessments have shown the limited coverage of protected areas across tropical biotas, fuelling a growing interest in the potential conservation services provided by anthropogenic landscapes. Here we examine the geographic distribution of biological diversity in the Atlantic Forest of South America, synthesize the most conspicuous forest biodiversity responses to human disturbances, propose further conservation initiatives for this biota, and offer a range of general insights into the prospects of forest species persistence in human-modified tropical forest landscapes worldwide. At the biome scale, the most extensive pre-Columbian habitats across the Atlantic Forest ranged across elevations below 800 masl, which still concentrate most areas within the major centers of species endemism. Unfortunately, up to 88% of the original forest habitat has been lost, mainly across these low to intermediate elevations, whereas protected areas are clearly skewed towards high elevations above 1200 masl. At the landscape scale, most remaining Atlantic Forest cover is embedded within dynamic agro-mosaics including elements such as small forest fragments, early-to-late secondary forest patches and exotic tree monocultures. In this sort of aging or long-term modified landscapes, habitat fragmentation appears to effectively drive edge-dominated portions of forest fragments towards an early-successional system, greatly limiting the long-term persistence of forest-obligate and forest-dependent species. However, the extent to which forest habitats approach early-successional systems, thereby threatening the bulk of the Atlantic Forest biodiversity, depends on both past and present landscape configuration. Many elements of human-modified landscapes (e.g. patches of early-secondary forests and tree monocultures) may offer excellent conservation opportunities, but they cannot replace the conservation value of protected areas and hitherto unprotected large patches of old-growth forests. Finally, the biodiversity conservation services provided by anthropogenic landscapes across Atlantic Forest and other tropical forest regions can be significantly augmented by coupling biodiversity corridor initiatives with biota-scale attempts to plug existing gaps in the representativeness of protected areas.     

Influence of size, age and maternal condition on the oocyte dry weight of Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi)

Effects of maternal age–size and condition on oocyte dry weight were analysed for Merluccius hubbsi. Samples of mature females were collected in the Patagonian spawning area during 10 research surveys carried out between 2000 and 2005. Dry weight of 50 hydrated oocytes ranged from 0.80 to 1.90 mg. Relationships of this variable with total length and age were best described by a logarithmic model during the spawning peak. At the beginning and at the end of the reproductive season no significant relationship between these variables was observed, but a decrease in egg dry weight was detected during the spawning period. In general, young spawners (≤5-year-old) showed more variability in egg dry weight, which was associated with a reproductive season shorter than that of old females. Relative condition factor did not shows a significant relationship with oocyte dry weight, and mean values of this index were similar for different months of the spawning seasons analysed.