Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T22:33:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_9000_Maria Cecília Fonseca Scarpi.pdf: 1761967 bytes, checksum: 18a323f754d5b5befbf537ee2d4f28af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-21 / A disponibilidade de água é um dos principais fatores que reduzem a produtividade do feijoeiro- comum, cultura de grande importância socioeconômica nacional, o que ressalta a importância do manejo da irrigação a fim de garantir o suprimento e manutenção das atividades fisiológicas da planta. Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar a influência de níveis de tensão de água no solo sobre o desenvolvimento e produção de duas cultivares de feijão em ambiente protegido. O estudo foi conduzido no município de Muniz Freire ES. O experimento foi analisado em duas etapas, na primeira etapa o experimento foi analisado no esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas 2x5x2, sendo nas parcelas as cultivares em dois níveis (Xamego e Capixaba Precoce), nas subparcelas as tensões em cinco níveis (25; 35; 45; 60; e 75 kPa) e nas subsubparcelas os estádios fenológicos em dois níveis (R5 e R8), em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com três repetições. Na segunda etapa onde a produção da cultura foi avaliada no estádio fenológico R9, o experimento foi analisado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas 2x5, tendo nas parcelas as cultivares em dois níveis (Xamego e Capixaba Precoce) e nas subparcelas as tensões em cinco níveis (25; 35; 45; 60; e 75 kPa), em um DIC, com quatro repetições. A unidade experimental foi constituída de duas plantas por vaso. Na primeira etapa objetivou-se analisar o desenvolvimento da cultura através da determinação da massa seca total, massa da parte aérea (caule e folhas) e massa do sistema radicular e na segunda etapa objetivou-se avaliar a produção por meio do número de vagens por parcela, número de grãos por vagem, número de grãos por parcela, comprimento das vagens e massa de 100 grãos. Em ambas cultivares as tensões maiores que 25 kPa proporcionaram decréscimos de até 56% no acúmulo de massa seca total. Houve decréscimo nos componentes de rendimento com o aumento das tensões. Para os principais, massa de 100 grãos e número de grãos por parcela, o aumento das tensões de 25 a 75 kPa proporcionou decréscimos de aproximadamente 11% e 16% da massa de 100 grãos para a cultivar Xamego e Capixaba Precoce respectivamente. E decréscimos de aproximadamente 36% e 37% para as cultivares Xamego e Capixaba Precoce respectivamente.

Rizóbios são bactérias fixadoras de nitrogênio utilizadas com sucesso como inoculante microbiano para diminuir a utilização de fertilizantes nitrogenados no cultivo do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) e outras leguminosas. Sclerotium rolfsii (sin. Athelia rolfsii) é um fungo onipresente que causa perdas severas em culturas importantes, inclusive em espécies de Phaseolus. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a coleção de Rhizobium SEMIA para identificar o primeiro agente rizobial para o biocontrole da doença promovida por S. rolfsii no feijoeiro. Duplas culturas foram primeiramente realizadas para identificar propriedades de biocontrole entre as estirpes. Entre as 151 estirpes SEMIA testadas, 33 (~22%) mostraram atividade antagonista, sendo 16 delas capazes de % do crescimento micelial. As estirpes antagonistas produziram de 1,2 a 36,5 -1 de ácido indol-acético (IAA), um fitohormônio mais conhecido por promover o crescimento de plantas do que por inibir diretamente patógenos. Contudo, obteve-se um r=0,447 (p=0,011) entre a produção de IAA das estirpes antagonistas e a capacidade de inibição do micélio. As estirpes SEMIA 436, 4077, 4088 e 460 foram produtoras de sideróforos, e a atividade antagonista de SEMIA 4088 pode ser, em parte, relacionada a isso. Além de compostos antimicrobianos difusíveis no meio de cultura, SEMIA 460 também inibiu 45% do crescimento micelial através da produção de compostos voláteis. A análise do 16S rRNA possibilitou a identificação das estirpes SEMIA 456, 4026, 436, 439, 4032, 460, 4085, 4080, 4077 e 4088 como Rhizobium spp. Considerando o alto grau de conservação do 16S rRNA dentro do gênero Rhizobium, as linhagens SEMIA 436 e 439 apresentaram similaridades menores que 98,65% com o banco de dados, possivelmente representando um novo táxon. Apesar de terem sido isoladas de nódulos de feijão, as estirpes SEMIA 436, 439, 456, 4026 e 4032 foram alocadas em um ramo filogenético com estirpes de Rhizobium tumorigênicas (agrobacteria). Finalmente, para testar a eficiência de biocontrole das estirpes antagonistas selecionadas, plantas de feijão foram individualmente inoculadas e cultivadas em vasos com solo infectado com S. rolfsii. Para os parâmetros i) porcentagem de doença e ii) massas secas da parte área os tratamentos com SEMIA 4032, 4077, 4088, 4080, 4085 ou 439 não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas quando comparadas com o controle (plantas de feijão cultivadas em solo não infectado), demonstrando a grande potencialidade destas estirpes no controle biológico de S. rolfsii mediante inoculação de sementes de feijão. / Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing bacteria successfully used as microbial inoculant attempting to diminish synthetic nitrogen fertilizers inputs on the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and others legume crops. Sclerotium rolfsii (syn. Athelia rolfsii) is a ubiquitous fungus that causes several losses on important crops, including Phaseolus species. In this way, the aim of this study was to evaluate SEMIA Rhizobium Culture Collection to identify the first rhizobial biocontrol agent for the S. rolfsii-promoted disease on the common bean. Dual cultures were first performed to screening strains for biocontrol proprieties. Among of the 151 SEMIA strains, 33 (~22%) of them showed antagonistic activity on dual cultures % of mycelial growth. Antagonistic -1 of indole-acetic acid (IAA), a phytohormone best known to promote plant growth than to direct inhibit plant pathogens. However, a r=0.447 (p=0.011) was obtained between antagonistic strains IAA production and mycelium inhibition ability. Strains SEMIA 436, 4077, 4088 and 460 were siderophore producers, and SEMIA 4088 antagonistic activity can be related to this. Besides antimicrobial diffusible compounds, SEMIA 460 inhibited 45% of mycelial growth through volatiles compounds production. Analysis of 16S rRNA identified strains SEMIA 456, 4026, 436, 439, 4032, 460, 4085, 4080, 4077 and 4088 as Rhizobium spp. Considering the high degree of 16S rRNA conservation in Rhizobium genus. SEMIA 436 and 439 were found to represent new taxa for presenting gene similarities less than 98.65% with the database. Despite being isolated from nodules, SEMIA 436, 439, 456, 4026 and 4032 were placed in a phylogenetic branch with tumorigenic Rhizobium (agrobacteria). Finally, to evaluate biocontrol efficiency of the selected antagonists strains, common bean plants were individually inoculated and grown in pots with S. rolfsii infected soil. For the parameters i) disease percentage and ii) shoot dry masses, treatments with SEMIA 4032, 4077, 4088, 4080, 4085 and 439 were not found with statistically significant differences from the control (plants grown on uninfected soil), demonstrating the great potentiality of these strains for biological control of S. rolfsii through inoculation of common bean seeds.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which affects the pilosebaceous units of the skin. Although this disease is normally self-limiting, it affects over 50 million Americans and results in lost productivity and treatment costs exceeding 1.2 billion dollars annually.1 While the exact cause of acne is unknown, its pathogenesis is classified into four factors: increased sebum production, abnormal keratinization, hypercolonization by Propionibacterium acnes, and inflammation.2 Despite numerous treatment options, increasing resistance to antibiotics3 and significant side effect profiles of many other therapeutics has created a need for safer, gentler treatment options. There has been renewed interest in the gut-skin-brain axis theory and the therapeutic role of oral probiotics, as new evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis plays an important role in mediating cutaneous skin inflammation and acne lesions.2 Specifically, strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, two strains commonly found in probiotics, have been found to decrease gut permeability and reduce systemic inflammation associated with acne.4 Additionally, in small clinical trials, these strains decreased acne severity and had an supplemental effect on clinical efficacy when used with oral antibiotics.5 Despite these promising results, the lack of large randomized controlled trials with standardized outcome measurements has prevented the adoption of oral probiotics as a viable treatment option by domestic and international dermatological societies. Therefore, this study proposes a randomized control trial to determine whether the adjunctive use of oral probiotics with antibiotics significantly reduces acne severity compared to oral antibiotics alone. We hypothesize that there will be a statistically significant decrease in acne severity scores among those receiving oral probiotics and antibiotics compared to those receiving only antibiotics among adolescents between the ages of 12-24 with moderate to severe acne. We hope that these study results will help provide evidence to incorporate oral probiotics into practice as a safe and efficacious treatment option to those suffering from moderate to severe acne, while advancing our understanding of how mediating gut microbiota can improve acne outcomes.

Inflammatory myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) are critical in the pathogenesis and maintenance of psoriasis vulgaris, a chronic inflammatory skin disease of unknown etiology. New ways to define these cells, and their precursors, may allow us to better understand their role in inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was performed on frozen tissue sections of normal and psoriasis biopsies to examine the dermal expression of potential markers of inflammatory DCs, namely CLEC9A, CD103, SlanDC, and TREM-1. The allostimulatory capacity of DC subsets (of SlanDC+ and CD1c+) was compared in a mixed leukocyte assay (MLR). Potential precursors of inflammatory DCs were FACS-sorted for transcriptomic profiling and functional assays. CLEC9A, CD103, and SlanDC did not prove useful in uniquely identifying myeloid dendritic cells in normal skin, and inflammatory dendritic cells in inflammation. TREM-1 was highly upregulated in psoriasis lesional skin as compared to non-lesional, and its activation may be critical in the maintenance of inflammation. Contrary to published findings, CD1c+ DCs possessed a higher allo-stimulatory capacity than SlanDCs, and induced greater IL-17 in T cells. TREM-1 may provide a novel therapeutic target for psoriasis treatment. The six circulating monocyte and dendritic cell populations in human peripheral blood were obtained via FACS sorting, and their genomic profiles will be examined. By comparing the genomic profiles of the six circulating monocyte and dendritic cell populations in human blood, and examining their allo- and autostimulatory capacities in a peptidoglycan (PGN) stimulated in vitro model of inflammation, the source of these inflammatory dendritic cells can be identified, and provide future targets of therapy for this psoriasis.

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Variation in morphology and genotype among individuals of the same species occurs almost everywhere in the natural world. Such variation underlies natural selection and any resulting evolution, and therefore needs to be quantified in order to predict and understand phenotypic and evolutionary dynamics. Where morphology or genotype vary non-randomly in space, structured spatial variation can arise. Such spatial variation can arise from, and cause, further evolutionary processes including local adaptation and speciation. Here, I quantify spatial variation in neutral genetics and morphology, and in selection on morphology, occurring at a very small spatial scale within a single population of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) resident to the Island of Fair Isle. I demonstrate weak but statistically significant genetic structure in microsatellite loci by FST comparison but that similar structure is not supported by Bayesian cluster analysis. I also show significant genetic structure between populations of starlings within the UK from England, Scotland, Colonsay, Orkney and Shetland, and show that there are two main genetic clusters supported by Bayesian cluster analysis. I show there are significant differences in weight, tarsus lengths, bill lengths, bill size and, body condition among three, spatially proximate, spatial areas within Fair Isle thereby demonstrating significant small-scale spatial variation in morphology within this island population Using capture mark recapture analysis to estimate survival probabilities I evidence the occurrence of stabilizing selection on weight and disruptive selection on tarsus length in starlings but find no evidence that selection on morphology differed between sexes or among areas within Fair Isle. I conclude that small scale spatial variation in morphology and neutral genetics can occur on small spatial scales even in species with high potential mobility and where there are no distinct differences in environment and movement is not physically inhibited.

No description available.

In this research, important stress and redox regulatory genes present in Hydra vulgaris were isolated and characterized to facilitate our understanding of the evolution and mechanisms of stress response. H. vulgaris heat shock protein 70 (HvHSP70), extracellular copper zinc superoxide dismutase (HvECCuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (HvMnSOD), phospholipid peroxidase glutathione peroxidase (HvPHGPx) and monofunctional catalase (HvCatalase) were cloned and characterized with regard to stress response, phylogeny and molecular structure. The HSP70 gene isolated from H. vulgaris encodes a polypeptide of 650 amino acids (Mw=710,037) and is interrupted by three intron sequences. The 5' non-coding region of the HvHSP70 possessed the canonical heat shock elements. Phylogenetically HvHSP70 formed a distinct lineage. A molecular model generated for the N-terminal fragment of the HvHSP70 displayed the heat shock protein fold and domains of phosphotransferases. The EC-CuZnSOD cDNA isolated from H. vulgaris encodes a protein of 189 amino acids (Mw=20959.73); the first 19 amino acids constitute the presumed signal peptide. Phylogenetically HvEC-CuZnSOD is grouped with ECCuZnSODs from several organisms. A molecular model generated for the HvEC-CuZnSOD displayed the CuZnSOD (beta)-barrel fold. The MnSOD cDNA isolated from H. vulgaris encodes a protein of 219 amino acids (Mw=24348.75); the first 21 amino acids constitute the presumed mitochondria-targeting signal peptide. Phylogenetically HvMnSOD is clustered with mollusk and crustacean MnSODs. A molecular model generated for the HvMnSOD displayed the N-terminal long alpha antiparallel hairpin and the Cterminal mixed alpha/beta fold characteristic of MnSODs. The PHGPx gene isolated from H. vulgaris encodes a polypeptide of 168 amino acids (Mw=18746.51) including a TGA-encoded selenocysteine at residue 44 and lacks any intron. Phylogenetically HvPHGPx is grouped with PHGPxs from several organisms. A molecular model generated for the HvPHGPx displayed the thioredoxin fold. The 3'-end of a cDNA sequence encoding for 168 amino acids of the Cterminal end of a catalase was isolated from H. vulgaris. Phylogenetically HvCatalase is grouped with heme-containing monofunctional catalases. Hydrae exposed to thermal, starvation, oxidative and metal stress responded by regulating respective mRNA transcriptions suggesting that these genes are involved in stress and (anti)oxidative processes and may have potential as molecular biomarkers for assessing aquatic environment quality.

This randomized clinical study aimed to compare the efficacy of written handouts with that of audio-visual computerized presentations in educating adolescents about acne vulgaris. The study included 101 adolescent patients, aged 13 to 17 years, presenting to a private dermatology practice or one of three pediatric clinics in New Haven, CT. All participants completed a brief enrollment questionnaire to gauge baseline knowledge about acne vulgaris. Subjects were then randomized to receive either a written handout or an audio-visual computerized presentation. Immediately following the intervention, and again at one month, patients were asked to complete identical questionnaires to assess change in knowledge about acne. The main outcome measure was change in knowledge about acne vulgaris, as indicated by performance on pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up questionnaires. Baseline questionnaires were completed by 21 patients in the pilot study and 80 subjects in the revised study; 17 (80.95%) and 77 (96.25%) completed the respective studies. In both the pilot and revised studies, there was no significant difference between intervention groups in terms of baseline knowledge or gain-in-knowledge. Immediately post- intervention, both groups showed significant improvement from baseline (P<.0001 revised study, P<.01 pilot study). At the one-month follow-up, patients in the pilot study randomized to receive the computerized presentation still showed significant gain in knowledge from baseline (p<.05), while those in the handout group did not. Meanwhile, both intervention groups in the revised study continued to show significant gain in knowledge from baseline at one month (p<.0001). From the above results it appears that both written handouts and audio-visual computerized presentations about acne vulgaris confer significant and equivalent benefits in terms of short- and long-term knowledge gains among adolescent patients with acne.