RESUMO
This study aimed to monitor the population fluctuation of Cophes notaticeps (Marshall) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) plantation in the Federal District, Brazil, through the use of a new trap, combined with different attractive lures and trap colors. The study was conducted at Embrapa Cerrados (Planaltina/DF) in a field trial with 720 plants. The new trap, named CPAC16, was made with PVC pipes (100 mm in diameter) of about 40 cm in length, with a window (8 × 10 cm2) in its center to enable insect access. A lure compartment was fixed on the inside of the trap`s top, and a pot, containing water and detergent, was placed at its bottom to collect the insects. The traps were painted in red, yellow, blue and green. Molasses, ethanol and pineapple were used as attractive lures. The traps were in the field trial area between May 2013 and April 2014 and the insects were collected weekly. The incidence of plants presenting damage caused by C. notaticeps was evaluated in the beginning and at the end of the study. The CPAC16 trap proved efficient in monitoring C. notaticeps. About 3494 of C. notaticeps adults were collected during the study. There were no significant differences among traps painted with different colors. The most attractive lure was molasses collecting 75.2% (n = 2627) of the specimens. Although the population peak occurred in December (n = 1162), C. notaticeps were collected throughout the year. The incidence of plants attacked by C. notaticeps ranged from 66.4% (start) to 100% (end).
Assuntos
Controle de Insetos/instrumentação , Gorgulhos , Animais , Brasil , Jatropha , Dinâmica PopulacionalRESUMO
Greater plantain or common plantain (Plantago major L.) is an herbaceous plant native to most of Europe, northern and central Asia, and it has adapted well to tropical regions where it is used as a medicinal plant. Between November 2011 and April 2012, greater plantains cultivated in the Medicinal Plant Garden at the Umuarama Advanced Campus of the State University of Maringa (UEM-CAU) suddenly died off. A visual examination revealed the presence of white mycelium and sclerotia on the lower third of the plant. These sclerotia were collected and deinfested by immersion in 70% alcohol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 45 s, and in sterilized water for 1 min. Next, the sclerotia were placed on 10 petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium and incubated at 29°C. After 7 days, the culture medium was entirely coated with a cottony white mycelial growth and, 15 days after isolation, sclerotia began to form. Healthy seedlings were transplanted individually into pots containing autoclaved soil (120°C/2 h). After 10 days, eight seedlings were inoculated with 8-mm mycelia disks deposited on the base of the plant, and eight seedlings inoculated with fungus-free PDA disks (control). The plants were irrigated and the pots placed in with plastic bags and kept at an average temperature of 28°C. Three days after inoculation, we observed a cottony white mycelial growth and symptoms of rot on the plants. The plastic bags were then removed and the plants kept under the same temperature, relative humidity of 80% and 12 h of light. Seven days after inoculation, the plants treated with the fungus died, whereas the plants treated with PDA developed normally. The fungus was re-isolated from the symptomatic plants and slides evaluated under a light microscope, revealing that the mycelium was thick, septate, and hyaline. The sclerotia formed were spherical, initially white or light brown, becoming dark brown or black, with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The fungus was subjected to DNA analysis using ribosomal region oligonucleotides ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATAT-3') and ITS5 (5'-GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3') (1) to amplify the target region. The segment including the 5.8S gene and rDNa regions ITS1 and ITS2 was 630 bp long. DNA analysis revealed that it was 99% identical to Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu and Kimbr (anamorph: S. rolfsii) (GenBank Accession No. HM222638.1). The isolate was deposited in the fungus collection at the UEM-CAU Phytopathology Laboratory under code F-Sr-01-UMU. Reference: (1) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.
RESUMO
Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.
RESUMO
Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.(AU)
Assuntos
Micoses/patologia , Fumonisinas/toxicidade , Regulamentação Governamental , Fusarium/ultraestrutura , Zea maysRESUMO
Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.
Assuntos
Humanos , Contaminação de Alimentos , Fumonisinas/análise , Fumonisinas/isolamento & purificação , Fusarium/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fusarium/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas In Vitro , Micoses , Estruturas Vegetais , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Amostras de Alimentos , Métodos , Zea maysRESUMO
A total of 230 samples of processed rice and its sub-products or derived products were analysed to establish the co-occurrence of several mycotoxins. Samples were analysed in the period 2007-2009 due to the outbreak of beriberi associated with the consumption of rice stored in inappropriate conditions in Brazil. According to data from the Ministry of Health, 323 cases of disease were registered in 2006, of which at least 47 cases resulted in death. The occurrence of total aflatoxin (AFT) (aflatoxin B(1) + B(2) + G(1) + G(2)), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZON), deoxynivalenol (DON), and citreoviridin (CTV) was 58.7%, 40.0%, 45.2%, 8.3% and 22.5%, respectively. From 166 rice samples analysed, 55% had levels <0.11 µg kg(-1) for AFT. For OTA and ZON, of 165 rice samples analysed, 28% and 29% were contaminated with levels from 0.20 to 0.24 µg kg(-1) and from 3.6 to 290.0 µg kg(-1), respectively. One sample (0.6%) was contaminated with 4872.0 µg kg(-1) of ZON. A total of 91% of rice samples (n = 165) did not contain detectable DON (<30.00 µg kg(-1)), although the highest level of contamination was found to be 244 µg kg(-1). From the total of 65 samples analysed, 94% had no detectable CTV (<0.9 µg kg(-1)), with a range from 0.9 to 31.1 µg kg(-1) in 6% of the samples. The highest levels of contamination were found in rice sub-products or derived products from the husk and rice bran. Co-occurrence was observed for AFT and ZON in 17.0%, AFT and OTA in 24.2%, AFT and CTV in 6.2%, OTA and CTV in 4.6%, and ZON and CTV in 3.1%. These fractions were also the major contributors for the co-occurrence. The results found show the necessity of monitoring rice production.
Assuntos
Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Micotoxinas/análise , Oryza/química , Aflatoxina B1/análise , Aflatoxinas/análise , Aurovertinas/análise , Brasil , Análise de Alimentos/métodos , Análise de Alimentos/normas , Micotoxinas/normas , Ocratoxinas/análise , Padrões de Referência , Tricotecenos/análise , Zearalenona/análiseRESUMO
Fusarium head blight is a disease of primary concern to small-grain cereals of Brazil, including barley. Its main causal agent, Fusarium graminearum species complex (Fg complex)¸ is able to produce mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), that usually contaminate grain. Strains that produce DON may also produce its acetylated derivatives: 3-acetyl-DON (3-ADON) and 15-acetyl-DON (15-ADON). Ninety two isolates were obtained from samplings of barley grain during three years (2007, 2008 and 2009) from several fields in both southern and northern production regions of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. These isolates were examined for polymerase chain-reaction-based (PCR) trichothecene genotype based on the amplification of portions of Tri3 and Tri12. There was no effect of year or region on the proportion of trichothecene genotypes. Overall, 66% of the strains (61/92) were 15-ADON, 4.4% (4/92) were 3-ADON and 29.3% (27/92) were NIV. The overall NIV/DON ratio estimated (0.41) was five times higher than that found in previous studies with strains from wheat grown in the same region. Species identification of nine strains representing the trichothecene genotypes, based on comparisons of DNA sequences of portions of the PHO, RED and URA genes with sequences from curated reference isolates of Fusarium from GenBank, revealed that they belong to F. graminearum sensu stricto (four 15-ADON and one 3-ADON strain), F. meridionale (three NIV strains) and F. austroamericanum (one 3-ADON strain). These results add to the current regional knowledge of trichothecene genotypes and species within the Fg complex affecting barley in the region.
Assuntos
Fusarium/genética , Genótipo , Hordeum/microbiologia , Tricotecenos/análise , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , Brasil , DNA Fúngico/genética , Fusarium/classificação , Fusarium/isolamento & purificação , Micotoxinas/análise , Micotoxinas/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Tricotecenos/genéticaRESUMO
A 75-year-old woman presented to the Tropical Diseases Hospital, Goiania, Brazil, with a two-day history of fever and chills followed by headache and vomiting over the last 24 hours. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed 270 leukocytes/mmc (30 percent neutrophils); 20 red cells/mmc; undetectable levels of glucose and 232 mg/dL of protein. The Gram stain revealed several Gram-positive cocci, and CSF culture yielded Streptococcus bovis. A colonoscopy showed diverticula in descendent and transverse colon. After a 14-day course of penicillin G, the patient was discharged in a good state of health, with only mild hearing impairment.
Assuntos
Diverticulose Cólica/complicações , Perda Auditiva/microbiologia , Meningites Bacterianas/microbiologia , Infecções Estreptocócicas/complicações , Streptococcus bovis , Idoso , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Perda Auditiva/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Meningites Bacterianas/complicações , Meningites Bacterianas/tratamento farmacológico , Penicilina G/uso terapêutico , Infecções Estreptocócicas/tratamento farmacológico , Streptococcus bovis/efeitos dos fármacos , Streptococcus bovis/patogenicidade , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
In the current study, the putative cDNA for PnTx2-6 toxin of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom was cloned and expressed as tioredoxin fusion protein in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. The fusion protein was purified from the bacterial extracts by combination of immobilized Ni-ion affinity and gel filtration chromatographies. Then, it was cleaved by enterokinase and the generated recombinant PnTx2-6 (rPnTx2-6) was further purified by reverse-phase HPLC. Likewise the native toxin purified from the spider venom, rPnTx2-6 potentiates the erectile function when injected in rats. This result indicates that the production of functional recombinant PnTx2-6 might be an alternative to provide this basic and valuable tool for study, as well as for further understanding such complex physiological system, including its correlation with the central nervous system and local tissue factors.
Assuntos
Ereção Peniana/efeitos dos fármacos , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Venenos de Aranha/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Escherichia coli/genética , Injeções Subcutâneas , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Peptídeos/administração & dosagem , Peptídeos/isolamento & purificação , Priapismo/induzido quimicamente , Ratos , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/administração & dosagem , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/farmacologia , Venenos de Aranha/administração & dosagem , Venenos de Aranha/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
The synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SRTXRF) technique was used for the analysis of heavy metals in produced water samples from oil field in Rio Grande do Norte, in order to determine potential sources of pollution. Since the inorganic components in produced water generally resembling sea water, pre-concentration procedures have been applied to increase the concentration of the analyte of interest and to minimize the salt matrix effects. This technique allows us to determine the contents of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg and Pb in 20 produced water samples. The great majority of the sampling points presented low elemental concentration value. However, in some sample, the Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Hg concentration were higher than the established limits by the Brazilian legislation.
Assuntos
Metais Pesados/análise , Espectrometria por Raios X/métodos , Água/química , Fluorescência , Síncrotrons , Poluição da Água/análiseRESUMO
We investigated the effects of pinealectomy on adipose tissue metabolism at different times of day. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: pinealectomized and control (sham-operated). Eight weeks after surgery, the animals were killed at three different times (at 8.00 a.m., at 4.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m.). We collected blood samples for glucose, insulin, corticosterone, and leptin determinations, and periepididymal adipocytes for in vitro insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, oxidation, and incorporation into lipids. Pinealectomy caused insulin resistance as measured by 2-deoxyglucose uptake (a fall of approximately 40 % in the maximally insulin-stimulated rates) accompanied by hypercorticosteronemia at the three time points investigated without changes in plasma insulin an or leptin levels. Furthermore, pinealectomy increased the insulin-induced glucose incorporation into lipids (77 %) at 4.00 p.m. and insulin-induced glucose oxidation in the morning and in the afternoon, while higher rates were observed in the evening and in the morning in control rats. In conclusion, cell responsiveness to insulin was differentially affected by pineal ablation and time of day, and persistent insulin resistance was obtained in pinealectomized rats. We hypothesize that pinealectomy exposes the animal to an inadequate match between energy requirements and fuel mobilization.