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Maternal nutrition is critical in mammalian development, influencing the epigenetic reprogramming of gametes, embryos, and fetal programming. We evaluated the effects of different levels of sulfur (S) and cobalt (Co) in the maternal diet throughout the pre- and periconceptional periods on the biochemical and reproductive parameters of the donors and the DNA methylome of the progeny in Bos indicus cattle. The low-S/Co group differed from the control with respect to homocysteine, folic acid, B12, insulin growth factor 1, and glucose. The oocyte yield was lower in heifers from the low S/Co group than that in the control heifers. Embryos from the low-S/Co group exhibited 2320 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) across the genome compared with the control embryos. We also characterized candidate DMRs linked to the DNMT1 and DNMT3B genes in the blood and sperm cells of the adult progeny. A DMR located in DNMT1 that was identified in embryos remained differentially methylated in the sperm of the progeny from the low-S/Co group. Therefore, we associated changes in specific compounds in the maternal diet with DNA methylation modifications in the progeny. Our results help to elucidate the impact of maternal nutrition on epigenetic reprogramming in livestock, opening new avenues of research to study the effect of disturbed epigenetic patterns in early life on health and fertility in adulthood. Considering that cattle are physiologically similar to humans with respect to gestational length, our study may serve as a model for studies related to the developmental origin of health and disease in humans.

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BACKGROUND: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root provides a staple food source for millions of people worldwide. Increasing the carotenoid content in storage root of cassava could provide improved nutritional and health benefits. Because carotenoid accumulation has been associated with storage root color, this study characterized carotenoid profiles, and abundance of key transcripts associated with carotenoid biosynthesis, from 23 landraces of cassava storage root ranging in color from white-to-yellow-to-pink. This study provides important information to plant breeding programs aimed at improving cassava storage root nutritional quality. RESULTS: Among the 23 landraces, five carotenoid types were detected in storage root with white color, while carotenoid types ranged from 1 to 21 in storage root with pink and yellow color. The majority of storage root in these landraces ranged in color from pale-to-intense yellow. In this color group, total ß-carotene, containing all-E-, 9-Z-, and 13-Z-ß-carotene isomers, was the major carotenoid type detected, varying from 26.13 to 76.72 %. Although no α-carotene was observed, variable amounts of a α-ring derived xanthophyll, lutein, was detected; with greater accumulation of α-ring xanthophylls than of ß-ring xanthophyll. Lycopene was detected in a landrace (Cas51) with pink color storage root, but it was not detected in storage root with yellow color. Based on microarray and qRT-PCR analyses, abundance of transcripts coding for enzymes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were consistent with carotenoid composition determined by contrasting HPLC-Diode Array profiles from storage root of landraces IAC12, Cas64, and Cas51. Abundance of transcripts encoding for proteins regulating plastid division were also consistent with the observed differences in total ß-carotene accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 23 cassava landraces with varying storage root color and diverse carotenoid types and profiles, landrace Cas51 (pink color storage root) had low LYCb transcript abundance, whereas landrace Cas64 (intense yellow storage root) had decreased HYb transcript abundance. These results may explain the increased amounts of lycopene and total ß-carotene observed in landraces Cas51 and Cas64, respectively. Overall, total carotenoid content in cassava storage root of color class representatives were associated with spatial patterns of secondary growth, color, and abundance of transcripts linked to plastid division. Finally, a partial carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is proposed.

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The neotropical stink bugs, Euschistus heros, Piezodorus guildinii and Edessa meditabunda, are important pests of soybean and other crops throughout Central America and in South America from Northern Argentina to Brazil. Mate finding and host plant location in these species depend largely on their chemical communication, and semiochemicals are important mediators of these behaviors. In this study scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the external morphology, distribution and abundance of antennal sensilla on males, females and 5th instar nymphs of these species. Nine morphologically different sensilla types were found: trichod sensilla, type 1 and 2 (ST1 and ST2), long and short basiconic sensilla (SB1, SB2, and SB3), slit-tipped and knob-shaped basiconic sensilla, long chaetic sensilla (Sch) and coeloconic sensilla (Sco). Differences were detected in the abundance and arrangement of the sensilla over the antennal segments in individuals of the same species and among the species studied. The Sch, Sco and the slit-tipped and knob-shaped basiconic sensilla accounted for the major difference in sensilla types among the species. The ST1 was the most abundant type and was restricted to the flagellum. The pedicel of E. heros differs from the pedicels of P. guildinii and E. meditabunda mainly by the absence of Sch. There was a sexual dimorphism in ST1, SB1 and SB2, and this may be an indicative of their roles in detection of male-produced sex pheromone and odors derived from the host plants. The SB2 was lacking in the antennal tip of both sexes and 5th instar nymphs, but was abundant on the second flagellar segment of females of the three species. The same types of sensilla were found on 5th instar nymphs, but always in significantly lower numbers. The morphology and putative functions of each sensilla were compared and discussed.

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Atualmente a indústria de alimentos se encontra em transição. Os produtos artesanais devem obedecer a um padrão de qualidade mantendo, dessa forma, um mercado competitivo e promissor. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o fluxograma de produção artesanal do queijo tipo Boursin, desde a ordenha até o envase do produto. As análises utilizadas para a massa do queijo e da água da ordenha foram a de Número Mais Provável (NMP) para coliformes a 45°C. Os resultados mostraram que o ponto crítico se encontrava na higiene de ordenha e no tempo e temperatura de dessora, apresentando NMP maior que 240 coliformes fecais por grama.(...) Conclui-se que o binômio tempo e temperatura são pontos importantes não só para a indústria de laticínios como também para a produção artesanal de queijos, pois estes estão diretamente relacionados com a multiplicação e fermentação microbiana.

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Atualmente a indústria de alimentos se encontra em transição. Os produtos artesanais devem obedecer a um padrão de qualidade mantendo, dessa forma, um mercado competitivo e promissor. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o fluxograma de produção artesanal do queijo tipo Boursin, desde a ordenha até o envase do produto. As análises utilizadas para a massa do queijo e da água da ordenha foram a de Número Mais Provável (NMP) para coliformes a 45°C. Os resultados mostraram que o ponto crítico se encontrava na higiene de ordenha e no tempo e temperatura de dessora, apresentando NMP maior que 240 coliformes fecais por grama. Após as implantações dasmedidas básicas de boas práticas de fabricação os resultados foram satisfatórios apresentando NMP menor que 2 coliformes fecais por grama. Conclui-se que o binômio tempo e temperatura são pontos importantes não só para a indústria de laticínios como também para a produção artesanal de queijos, pois estes estão diretamente relacionados com a multiplicação e fermentação microbiana.(AU)

Nowadays the food industry is in transition. The handmade should obey a model of quality too in order to maintain a competitive market. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the handmade production flux of Boursin cheese, since milking until the bottling of product. The analysis made for mass of cheese and milk's water was Number More Probably (NMP) to coliforms 45ºC. The results showed that the critical point was in the milking hygiene and rime and temperature the cheese took losing water, showing NMP higher than 240 fecal coliforms per gram. After implantation of good practice of production the result was satisfactory showing NMP lower than 2 fecal coliforms per gram. In conclusion, time and temperature are important points not just to the dairy production but also for the handmade production of cheese, because they are in direct relation with multiplication and fermentation of microbes. (AU)

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