A narrow germplasm base and a complex allotetraploid genome have historically made the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers difficult in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). We conducted a genome reduction experiment to identify SNPs from two accessions of G. hirsutum and two accessions of G. barbadense. Approximately 2 million sequence reads were assembled into contigs with an N50 of 508 bp and analyzed for SNPs. A total of 11,834 and 1,679 SNPs between the accessions G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively, were identified with highly conservative parameters (a minimum read depth of 8x at each SNP and a 100% identity of all reads within an accession at the SNP). Additionally, 4,327 SNPs were identified between accessions of G. hirsutum in and assembly of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs). 320 and 252 KASPAR assays were designed for SNP mapping in non-genic and genic regions respectively. 187 markers in total (136 non-genic, 51 genic) were mapped using KBioscience KASPar genotyping assays in a segregating F2 population using the Fluidigm EP1 system. EST The target genome of EST markers was successfully predicted bioinformaticly diploid reference sequences. Examination of nucleotide substitutions and SNP frequencies further confirms validity of new markers. A genetic map was constructed using a large G. hirsutum segregating F2 population. Genetic maps generated by these newly identified markers will be used to locate quantitative, economically important regions within the cotton genome.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies and has a relatively poor outcome worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms and processes of BCa development and progression remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify candidate genes in the carcinogenesis and progression of BCa. Five GEO datasets and TCGA-BLCA datasets were analyzed by statistical software R, FUNRICH, Cytoscape, and online instruments to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), to construct protein‒protein interaction networks (PPIs) and perform functional enrichment analysis and survival analyses. In total, we found 418 DEGs. We found 14 hub genes, and gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed DEG enrichment in networks and pathways related to cell cycle and proliferation, but also in cell movement, receptor signaling, and viral carcinogenesis. Compared with noncancerous tissues, TPM1, CRYAB, and CASQ2 were significantly downregulated in BCa, and the other hub genes were significant upregulated. Furthermore, MAD2L1 and CASQ2 potentially play a pivotal role in lymph nodal metastasis. CRYAB and CASQ2 were both significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The present study highlights an up to now unrecognized possible role of CASQ2 in cancer (BCa). Furthermore, CRYAB has never been described in BCa, but our study suggests that it may also be a candidate biomarker in BCa.

No description available.

Many vital components of clinical practice including placement of candidate with clinical faculty remain unaddressed in current research. Missing from formal mentoring research is recognition of the best-quality way to pair mentors and protégés in order for both parties to receive the most benefits from the relationship. Mentoring has been shown to be foundational to the retention of career and technical education teachers making mentoring especially critical. The candidate population for the study included students enrolled in clinical practice during the spring of 2009 in agricultural education certification programs at 14 different universities. Findings using a matched pairs t-tests were conducted to reach the heart of the study, the dyadic mentoring relationships between candidate and clinical faculty. Cognitive effect, an indicator of problem solving style was not found to be a significant factor in the study. However, cognitive affect, an indicator of interpersonal orientation found many significant differences. Significance was found at the 0.05 level in the areas of candidate expressed inclusion and clinical faculty wanted inclusion (t=5.27), candidate expressed total and clinical faculty wanted total (t=3.88), candidate wanted control and clinical faculty expressed control (t=-2.97). Significance was also found at the 0.01 level of significance for candidate wanted total and clinical faculty expressed total (t=-2.37). In the area of behavior a matched pairs t-test determined perceived psychosocial support (t=-2.86) and perceived total support (t=-2.32) to be significant. Mentoring and clinical practice are extremely dynamic constructs as many different influences are present from personal preferences to the way people naturally and holistically function. When universities identify clinical faculty, attention should be paid to the matching of dyads in order to emulate an informal mentoring experience to the greatest extent possible. Although mentoring is extremely complex, the research indicates promise for agreement and promise for continued research to benefit not only individuals, but our entire profession. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Domaine en plein développement, le transfert des connaissances (TC) se définit, comme l’ensemble des activités, des mécanismes et des processus favorisant l’utilisation de connaissances pertinentes (tacites et empiriques) par un public cible tel que les intervenants psychosociaux. Cette recherche vise à améliorer l’efficacité des méthodes linéaires écrites de TC en identifiant mieux les besoins d’information des intervenants en protection de la jeunesse. Notons que les méthodes linéaires écrites de TC désignent des outils d’information écrits unidirectionnels tels que les revues, les publications, les sites Internet, etc. Le premier objectif est de déterminer les catégories de besoins exprimés par les intervenants, c’est-à-dire déterminer si les besoins rapportés par des intervenants se regroupent en types ou sortes de besoins. Le deuxième objectif est d’établir l’importance relative de chacune de ces catégories. Enfin, cette étude vise à déterminer si ces besoins diffèrent selon les caractéristiques des intervenants ou de l’environnement. Deux facteurs sont étudiés, l’expérience de l’intervenant et la direction pour laquelle celui-ci travaille (Direction des services milieu à l’enfance ou Direction des services milieu à l’adolescence et ressources). Un devis mixte séquentiel exploratoire a été développé. Lors de la première étape, une analyse thématique a été effectuée à partir des réponses à une question ouverte posée aux membres de trois équipes et à partir d’un document résumant les requêtes effectuées auprès de l’équipe de la bibliothèque du Centre jeunesse de Montréal. Les résultats permettent de répondre au premier objectif de ce mémoire. En effet, les analyses ont permis de créer un arbre thématique comprenant 42 éléments classés hiérarchiquement. Les besoins se regroupent en deux thèmes généraux, soit les besoins qui concernent les « opérations » (c’est-à-dire l’action de l’intervenant) et les besoins concernant les « systèmes » (c’est-à-dire les éléments sur lesquels peuvent porter l’intervention). Cette dernière catégorie se subdivise entre l’usager, ses environnements et le contexte culturel et sociétal. Lors de la deuxième étape, une analyse de la variance (ANOVA) et une analyse de variance multivariée (MANOVA) ont été effectuées à partir des réponses de 82 intervenants à un questionnaire en ligne structuré selon les catégories de besoins d’informations déterminées à l’étape qualitative précédente. Les résultats permettent de répondre au deuxième objectif de ce mémoire et de mesurer le degré de force ou d’importance de chacune des catégories de besoins, identifiées lors de la première étape, selon les intervenants eux-mêmes. Les besoins ont ainsi pu être classés par ordre décroissant d’importance. Il a été possible de définir un groupe de neuf besoins prioritaires (portant sur l’animation, les caractéristiques personnelles des usagers, les caractéristiques des parents et leurs relations avec l’enfant, ainsi que l’intervention interculturelle et les problématiques sociales) et un autre groupe de sept besoins moins élevés (portant sur les autres « opérations » et les services professionnels dont a bénéficié l’usager). L’interprétation de ces résultats indique que les besoins en TC des intervenants se limitent aux informations qui concernent directement leur mandat, leur pratique ou les problématiques rencontrées. Les résultats de cette étape ont également permis de répondre au troisième objectif de ce mémoire. En effet, les résultats indiquent que l’importance ressentie des besoins (sur une échelle de 1 à 7) ne diffère pas significativement selon la direction pour laquelle travaille l’intervenant, mais elle diffère significativement selon l’expérience de ce dernier (moins de 10 ans ou plus de 10 ans). Cette différence est discutée et plusieurs hypothèses explicatives sont envisagées telles que l’accumulation de connaissances liée à l’expérience ou les changements cognitifs liés à l’expertise. Enfin, dans la discussion, les résultats sont mis en contexte parmi les autres types de besoins existants et les autres caractéristiques des connaissances qui doivent être prises en considération. Cela permet de formuler des recommandations pour améliorer la production de documents écrits ainsi que pour poursuivre la recherche dans le domaine de l’évaluation des besoins de TC. Bien que présentant certaines limites méthodologiques, cette recherche ouvre la voie au développement de meilleurs outils d’évaluation des besoins et à l’amélioration des techniques de transfert linéaires écrites. / Knowledge transfer (KT) is an expanding academic field that includes the study of activities, mechanisms, and processes leading workers, such as staff member performing psychosocial interventions at the department of youth protection (DYP), to adequately use knowledge whether it is empirical or tacit. The purpose of this study is to foster more efficiency in linear written tools of KT (e.g.: academic journals, publications, and websites) by identifying more adequately the needs of DYP workers. Our first goal is to qualitatively determine categories of needs that can be investigated quantitatively. Second, using statistical methods, we seek to validate the categories resulting from qualitative investigation. A third goal is to determine if other factors might influence these needs. In this study, two other factors have been investigated: work experience and department affiliation (i.e.: childhood services or adolescence services). To investigate these three objectives, we developed a 2-Step sequential exploratory mixed model. In the qualitative phase, we conducted a content analysis on a single open-question administrated to three different work teams as well as a document summarizing the request formulated to the DYP’s library. The results shed light on the first objective of this memoir: identifying if the needs of field workers in psychosocial intervention could be classified by type. Our analysis produced a thematic tree comprising 2 greater categories: needs related to the steps in intervention and needs related intervention itself. The category of needs related to intervention itself can be divided in 3 sub-categories: Needs related to intervention on the child/adolescent; Needs related to intervening on his environment; and Need related to intervention on the greater sociocultural context. Moreover, a more in-depth analysis produced up to 42 factors distributed in these 2 broader categories. Secondly, 82 participants filled out an electronic administrated questionnaire based on the previous categories identified. To analyze these data, we performed an ANOVA and a MANOVA to reach our second objective: determine the intensity of each categories identified in the qualitative phase. The needs identified were summed up in 16 groups and were classified in decreasing order: 9 groups of high-level needs (animation, individual characteristics of children/adolescents, characteristics of their parents, parent-child relationships, intercultural intervention, and social problems) and 7 low-level needs (other steps of intervention and professional services). The results indicate that the needs of DWP staff working in psychosocial intervention are mainly centered on their mandate, their clinical practice, and the clinical problems they face. Finally, we met our third objective: determine if the identified need vary according to work experience or department affiliation. Our results suggest that department affiliation is not significantly associated with needs in KT. However, in our analyses, experience (10 years or less and more than 10) was significantly associated with differences in KT needs. These differences are discussed in the result section and explanatory hypothesis such as the accumulation of knowledge due to work experience or cognitive changes related to expertise are formulated. The discussion contextualizes our result by comparing them to other needs identified and other characteristics of knowledge that should be took into consideration. Recommendations based on our results are formulated to foster better efficiency in written documents designed for professional in psychosocial intervention and to explore further more KT. Notwithstanding certain limitations, these results pave the way to developing better KT assessment tool as well as better implementation of KT techniques in written tools to enhance their use and efficiency.

A diferenciação morfo-fisiológica entre rainhas e operárias de Apis mellifera decorre da alimentação recebida durante o desenvolvimento larval. Dentre as diferenças morfológicas entre as duas castas encontram-se estruturas especializadas para a coleta de pólen e própolis, localizadas nas pernas metatorácicas das operárias, ausentes nas pernas de rainhas. Os padrões de expressão de Ultrabithorax (Ubx) durante o desenvolvimento de operárias e rainhas estão associados aos padrões de cerdas das pernas de fêmeas adultas. Pernas mesotorácicas de operárias apresentam estruturas descritas como importantes na coleta de pólen, ausentes em rainhas. Por outro lado, as asas não possuem estruturas casta-específicas. No presente trabalho, análises globais de transcrição gênica por hibridação de lâminas de microarrays a partir de RNA total de pernas metatorácicas de operárias e rainhas em três estágios do desenvolvimento mostram 1952 genes diferencialmente expressos. Discos de pernas metatorácicas de larvas no início do quinto estágio larval, quando comparados aos de estágios mais tardios no desenvolvimento, têm alto níveis de transcritos de ativadores de Ubx, o qual está 25 vezes mais expresso em estágios subseqüentes do desenvolvimento. Buscas por motivos de ligação de fatores de transcrição nos promotores dos grupos de genes diferencialmente expressos revelam que os motivos para ligação de Ubx, Zeste e Twist estão super-representados em um dos conjuntos analisados. Dentro deste grupo, estão presentes genes cujos ortólogos em Drosophila são controlados por Ubx, como o caso do gene lola. Análises do processamento do mRNA de Ubx em pernas e asas de ambas as castas mostram que são produzidas três isoformas diferentes quanto à presença de dois microéxons (m1 and m2), que contêm 42 nt and 53 nt, respectivamente. A isoforma IIa-like, que contém o m2, entretanto, parece não ser capaz de produzir uma proteína Hox, já que possui um códon de terminação antes do homeodomínio. O perfil de transcrição diferencial de Ubx entre as castas está associado a apêndices que apresentam diferenças morfológicas, sendo Ubx mais transcrito em pernas meso e metatorácicas de operárias que rainhas. Quando analisadas as porcentagens de expressão de cada isoforma nos apêndices, claramente a isoforma IVa-like, sem microéxons, é a mais transcrita em todos os tecidos. Entretanto, nota-se que nas asas anteriores, onde há menos Ubx, a isoforma IIa-like é proporcionalmente mais transcrita que II nos outros apêndices. Destaca-se uma tendência à inclusão do microéxon m1 (isoforma IIIa-like) ao mRNA de Ubx transcrito em asas posteriores e pernas de rainhas em comparação a operárias, em detrimento da isoforma IVa-like. Análises do uso da região 3UTR em pupas de operárias mostram que há um microssatélite transcrito na porção distal da região 3UTR deUbx. A estrutura secundária predita agrupa separadamente as regiões codificadora e as regiões 3UTR proximal e distal. Análises de seqüenciamento de última geração revelaram que oito dos 51 microRNAs com sítios-alvo preditos na região 3UTR de Ubx estão mais expressos em asas anteriores, e outros dois em asas posteriores. Assim, nossos resultados mostram que o controle da expressão diferencial de Ubx é dada pela ativação desse gene por fatores de transcrição que se ligam ao promotor, controle do splicing alternativo, e expressão de microRNAs diferencial em cada casta e apêndice, controlando, assim, a morfogênese diferencial dos apêndices de fêmeas observada em A. mellifera. / Along with differences in physiological and behavioral characteristics, workers and queens of Apis mellifera also differ in appendage morphology. Some appendage specializations in the hind legs of honeybee workers, which are highly specialized pollinators, deserve special attention. The hind tibia of the worker has an expanded bristle-free region used for carrying pollen and propolis, the corbicula. In queens, this structure is absent. Although these morphological differences have been well characterized, the genetic inputs triggering the development of this alternative morphology have remained unknown. Through microarray analysis, we detected 1,952 genes that are differentially expressed during worker versus queen hind leg development. The gene expression signatures of the two castes have similar patterns of genes controlling development. At the beginning of the last larval instar, Ultrabithorax (Ubx) activators are more strongly expressed than in prepupae and early pupae; at this time Ubx expression is approximately 25 times higher. Within the gene expression signature, we identified a cluster formed by genes in which Ubx, Twist and Zeste binding sites are over-represented. This cluster includes genes for which Drosophila orthologs are known to be bound by Ubx, as in the case of lola. We also tested the extent of Ubx mRNA processing during wing and leg development. Unexpectedly, we found Ubx alternative splicing in both workers and queens; there were two microexons (m1 and m2) encoding 42 nt and 53 nt, respectively, arguing against the hypothesis that alternative splicing occurs exclusively within the Diptera. Inclusion of the m2 exon inserts a stop codon upstream from the exon containing the homeodomain, producing a truncated protein. Moreover, these bee microexons conserve the nucleotides known to be important for alternative splicing in Drosophila. During bee wing development, Ubx mRNA isoforms are transcribed in similar amounts in both castes; however, during leg development, queens produce 60% of the Ubx levels transcribed by workers. Analysis of 3UTR usage during bee development revealed a microsatellite region transcribed within the Ubx 3UTR. The predicted secondary structure locations separated the coding region into three branches and the proximal and the distal 3UTR regions. Deep-sequencing analysis revealed that eight out of 51 miRNAs predicted to target the Ubx mRNA are more highly expressed in worker forewings and two are more expressed in the hindwings. Therefore, we conclude that Ubx differential expression is activated by transcription factors that bind to its promoter, by control of alternative splicing, and moreover by microRNAs differentially expressed according to tissue and caste, resulting in differential morphogenesis of the hind leg in honeybee females.

A coccidiose aviária é uma doença entérica causada por protozoários parasitas do gênero Eimeria. Visando uma maior compreensão dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na regulação do ciclo de vida dos parasitas, foram geradas 15.000 seqüências expressas (ORESTES) para cada uma das três espécies mais importantes: E. tenella, E. maxima e E. acervulina. O presente trabalho consistiu no desenvolvimento de componentes de anotação automática de seqüências para o sistema EGene, plataforma previamente desenvolvida pelo nosso grupo (Durham et al. Bioinformatics 21: 2812-2813, 2005) para a construção de processamentos encadeados (pipelines). Estes componentes foram utilizados para a construção de pipelines de anotação automática de seqüências-consenso obtidas a partir da montagem dos ORESTES de Eimeria spp. A anotação consistiu na identificação dos genes e atribuição da função dos respectivos produtos protéicos, baseando-se em um conjunto de evidências. As seqüências também foram classificadas e quantificadas utilizando-se um vocabulário controlado de termos de ontologia gênica (GO). / Avian coccidiosis is an enteric disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Aiming at obtaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the life cycle of the parasites, our group generated 15,000 expressed sequences (ORESTES) for each one of the three most important species: E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina. In the present work, we report the development of a set of components for the automated sequence annotation through EGene, a platform for pipeline construction previously described by our group (Durham et al. Bioinformatics 21: 2812-2813, 2005). These components were used to construct pipelines for the automated annotation of assembled sequences of ORESTES of Eimeria spp. The annotation process consisted in the identification of genes and the corresponding protein function based on a set of evidences. The sequences were also mapped and quantified using a controlled vocabulary of gene ontology (GO) terms.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, um fungo termodimórfico, é o agente causador da paracoccidioidomicose (PCM), a micose sistêmica prevalente da América Latina. A patogenicidade aparenta estar intimamente relacionada com a transição dimórfica da forma de micélio para a de levedura, que é induzida pela mudança da temperatura do ambiente pela temperatura do hospedeiro mamífero. Há poucas informações disponíveis sobre genes de P. brasiliensis que são necessários durante a fase patogênica. Nós, então, realizamos as técnicas de SSH (“Suppression Subtraction Hybridization") e de “Macroarray" com o objetivo de identificar genes que sejam preferencialmente expressos na fase leveduriforme do isolado Pb18. Genes identificados em ambos os procedimentos estão mais expressos na fase leveduriforme e estão envolvidos em metabolismo básico, transdução de sinal, crescimento e morfogênese e metabolismo do enxofre. Para testar se as mudanças observadas na expressão gênica refletem as diferenças entre as condições de crescimento usadas para obter as duas formas morfológicas preferivelmente às diferenças intrínsecas dos tipos celulares, nós realizamos experimentos com RT-PCR em tempo real utilizando preparações de RNA derivadas de ambas as fases, micélio e levedura, crescidas a 26°C e 37°C nos meios de cultura completos (YPD e Sabouraud) e meio mínimo. Vinte genes, incluindo AGS1 ( -1,3-glucan synthase) e TSA1 (thiol-specific antioxidant), foram mostrados como mais expressos na levedura patogênica em relação ao micélio. Embora a expressão de RNA mensageiro foi bastante diferente em relação aos meios completos e meio mínimo, mostramos uma tendência geral para que esses genes serem mais expressos nas células leveduriformes patogênicas de P.x brasiliensis. Além disso, mostramos a complementação dos genes METR e SCONC de P. brasiliensis e uma cepa com estes genes deletados de Aspergillus nidulans, sugerindo uma possível homologia entre eles. Mostramos também a análise de genes da via do metabolismo do enxofre foram mais expressos na levedura patogênica de P. brasiliensis em relação ao micélio saprofítico. / Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermodimorphic fungus, is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. Pathogenicity appears to be intimately related to the dimorphic transition from the hyphal to the yeast form, which is induced by a shift from environmental temperature to the temperature of the mammalian host. Little information is available on the P. brasiliensis genes necessary during the pathogenic phase. We have therefore undertaken Suppression Subtraction Hybridization (SSH) and macroarray analyses with the aim of identifying genes that are preferentially expressed in the yeast phase. Genes identified by both procedures as being more highly expressed in the yeast phase are involved in basic metabolism, signal transduction, growth and morphogenesis, and sulfur metabolism. In order to test whether the observed changes in gene expression reflect the differences between the growth conditions used to obtain the two morphological forms rather than differences intrinsic to the cell types, we performed real-time RT-PCR experiments using RNA derived from both yeast cells and mycelia that had been cultured at 37 and 26°C in either complete medium (YPD or Sabouraud) or minimal medium. Twenty genes, including AGS1 ( 1,3-glucan synthase) and TSA1 (thiol-specific antioxidant), were shown to be more highly expressed in the yeast cells than in the hyphae. Although their levels of expression could be different in rich and minimal media, there was a general tendency for these genes to be more highly expressed in the yeast cells. Moreover, complementation of P. brasiliensis METR and SCONC genes in strains of Aspergillus nidulans with these genes deleted suggested a possible homology between them. We show the analyses of genes involved in the xii sulphur metabolism pathway and these genes were more expressed in the pathogenic yeast than saprophytic mycelia of P. brasiliensis.

Um dos desafios atuais da pesquisa em frutíferas tropicais é incorporar abordagens baseadas em marcadores moleculares nos programas convencionais de melhoramento. O maracujá-doce (Passiflora alata) é uma espécie diploide, de fecundação cruzada e pouco explorada. Recentemente, nosso grupo construiu um mapa de ligação de P. alata composto de diferentes tipos de marcadores moleculares. Além disso, dispõe-se de um conjunto de transcritos de Passiflora edulis, obtidos a partir de duas bibliotecas de expressão: forward e reverse onde foram isolados transcritos diferencialmente expressos na planta inoculada com Xanthomonas axonopodis (Xap) (672) e na planta controle, não inoculada (310), respectivamente. Assim, neste estudo, este conjunto de transcritos foi explorado visando ao desenvolvimento de marcadores SSR e SNP com o intuito de enriquecer, posteriormente, o mapa de ligação de P. alata com marcadores funcionais putativos. Para o desenvolvimento dos marcadores SSRs, as 672 sequências da biblioteca forward foram investigadas e em 91 delas foram encontrados 115 SSRs. Como esperado, a classe de repetições trinucleotídicas foi a mais abundante, sendo o motivo (AG)n o mais comum entre as repetições dinucleotídicas. Desenhou-se primers para amplificar 42 desses SSRs. Dois acessos de P. edulis e seis indivíduos da população de mapeamento de P. alata foram usados nos testes de transferibilidade e avaliação do polimorfismo. Trinta e quatro pares de primers apresentaram bom padrão de amplificação, porém apenas 10 deles revelaram polimorfismo em P. alata. Para o desenvolvimento dos marcadores SNPs, 118 sequências selecionadas das bibliotecas de expressão forward e reverse foram usadas para o desenho de primers; 37 delas foram usadas para avaliar o polimorfismo no mesmo set de indivíduos de P. alata. Foram encontrados 34 locos contendo SNPs bialélicos em 16 fragmentos gênicos, cujas sequencias variaram em tamanho de 332 a 872 pb. Considerando todos os fragmentos gênicos (16), foi analisado um total de 10.003 pb; a frequência de SNPs foi estimada como sendo 1 a cada 294 pb. Observou-se a mesma ocorrência de SNPs (50%, 17/34) em regiões codantes e não-codantes. Uma função putativa pôde ser atribuída a todos os fragmentos gênicos de P. alata, sendo que 82% mostraram homologia com as mesmas proteínas das sequências de origem, isoladas de P. edulis. No geral, os locos marcadores apresentaram baixo nível de polimorfismo molecular. Este é o primeiro trabalho sobre o desenvolvimento de locos marcadores funcionais putativos em Passiflora usando transcritos expressos em resposta à Xap. / One of the current challenges of tropical fruit research is to incorporate molecular marker-based approaches into conventional breeding programs. The sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata) is a diploid, outcrossing and underexploited species. Recently, our group has constructed a P. alata linkage map consisted of different types of molecular markers. Moreover, we have a set of transcripts of Passiflora edulis obtained from two expression libraries: the forward and the reverse where differentially expressed transcripts were isolated from a plant inoculated with Xanthomonas axonopodis (Xap) (672), and from the control plant, uninoculated (310), respectively. Thus, in this study, this set of transcripts were exploited aiming at the development of SNP and SSR markers for future enrichment of the P. alata linkage map with putative functional markers. For the development of SSR markers, the 672 sequences from the forward library were investigated and 91 of them were found to have 115 SSRs. As expected, the trinucleotide class of repeats was the most abundant, and the (AG)n motif was the most common among the dinucleotide repeats. Primers were designed to amplify 42 of these SSRs. Transferability tests and polymorphism investigation were carried out using two accessions of P. edulis and six individuals of the mapping population of P. alata. Thirty-four primer pairs showed a good amplification pattern but only 10 loci revealed polymorphism in P. alata. For the development of SNP markers, 118 sequences selected from forward and reverse expression libraries were used for designing primers; 37 were used to assess the polymorphism in the same set of individuals of P. alata. Thirty-four biallelic SNPs were found in 16 gene fragment sequences that ranged in size from 332 to 872 bp. Considering all gene fragments, a total of 10,003 bp was obtained; the frequency of SNPs was estimated to be 1 every 294 bp. The same prevalence of SNPs (50%, 17/34) was observed within coding and non-coding regions. A putative function was assigned to all gene fragments of P. alata; 82% of them have shown homology to the original protein sequences isolated from P. edulis. Overall, the marker loci showed a low level of molecular polymorphism. This is the first report on the development of putative functional marker loci in Pasiflora using transcripts induced in response to Xap.

INTRODUÇÃO: O sucesso do tratamento de dependentes de álcool e outras drogas numa comunidade terapêutica (CT) depende fundamentalmente da adesão ao tratamento, ou seja, o tempo de permanência na comunidade. Sabe-se que pacientes que permanecem em tratamento por um período de pelo menos três meses têm uma evolução melhor do que aqueles que abandonam o tratamento precocemente. O ambiente emocional familiar tem grande influência na adesão ao tratamento, e pode ser medido por meio da emoção expressa EE). MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados familiares de 31 dependentes de substâncias psicoativas e/ou de álcool, internados involuntariamente, por meio da versão abreviada e traduzida para o português da Entrevista Familiar de Camberwell (EFC). A partir de então, mediu-se a taxa de permanência na CT após seis, 12 e 18 meses. Foram avaliados os aspectos hostilidade, superenvolvimento e calor afetivo. A hostilidade foi abordada como ausente (pontuação igual a zero) ou presente (pontuação igual a 1, 2 ou 3). O superenvolvimento e o calor afetivo foram considerados de forma contínua (pontuação de zero a 5) e categorizada. Todos os possíveis pontos de corte foram estudados na procura de novas relações e significados dos componentes da EE para esta população específica e os achados da amostra. RESULTADOS: Foram considerados com alta EE para hostilidade 41,9% dos familiares entrevistados e 71% para superenvolvimento emocional; 25,8% destes familiares pontua ram para ambos os componentes da EE (hostilidade e superenvolvimento). Dos 31 pacientes, cinco (16,1%) desistiram do tratamento até os seis meses; dois pacientes desistiram entre o 6 o e o 12 o mês (25% de desistência em 12 meses) e quatro abandonaram o tratamento entre o 12 o e o 18 o mês (47,8% de abandono em 18 meses). Houve uma associação significativa entre a presença de hostilidade e o abandono do tratamento antes dos seis meses (p = 0,008, teste exato de Fischer). Houve diferença significativa na frequência de superenvolvimento familiar entre o grupo que permaneceu 18 meses e o grupo que abandonou o tratamento (p = 0,037, teste de Mann-Whitney). Os pacientes que permanceram em tratamento até os 18 meses tiveram uma freqüência maior de familiares com alto nível de superenvolvimento familiar (> 4) (p = 0,012; teste exato de Fisher). Não houve nenhuma associação entre o tempo de permanência e o calor afetivo. CONCLUSÕES: Alta EE tem influência significativa sobre o tempo de permanência do dependente químico ou de álcool na CT. A presença de hostilidade foi mais freqüente no grupo com o abandono prematuro do tratamento, enquanto o alto superenvolvimento do familiar foi mais freqüente no grupo de pacientes que permaneceu em tratamento até os 18 meses. Estudos com uma população maior são necessários para apoiar esses achados. / BACKGROUND: The success of treatment for alcohol and other substance dependence in a therapeutic community (TC) depends greatly on the treatment adherence, i.e., the length of stay at the TC. It is well known that subjects who stay on treatment for ate least three months have a better outcome, compared with those who early withdraw. The family emotional environment can be measured through expressed emotion (EE) and has great influence on treatment adherence. METHODS: 31 key-relatives of alcoholics and other substance dependents, who involuntarily began a treatment in a TC, were assessed through the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI) (shorter translated to Portuguese version). The proportion of subjects who remained on treatment in the TC was then measured after six, 12 and 18 months. Evaluated aspects included hostility, overinvolvement and warmth. Hostility was assessed as absent (score = 0) or present (score = 1, 2 or 3). Overinvolvement and warmth were considered as continuous and categorized values (scores 0 to 5). Every possible cutoff points were studied, in order to find new associations and meanings of EE components of this specific population and the length pf stay in a TC. RESULTS: 41.9% of the relatives were considered as having high EE for hostility and 71% for overinvolvement; among those relatives with high EE, 25.8% had presence for both hostility and overinvolvement. Among the 31 patients, five (16.1%) abandoned treatment up to 6 months; 2 patients abandoned treatment between 6th and 12th month (25% treatment abandon in 12 months) and four abandoned the treatment between 12th and 18th month (47.8% treatment abandon at 18 months). There was a significant higher frequency of presence of hostility in the group that abandoned before six months (p = 0.008, Fischer exact test). A significant difference of familiar overinvolvement was found between the group who remained in the treatment up to 18 months and the group that abandoned treatment earlier (p = 0.037, Mann-Whitney test). Families with score = 4 for overinvolvement were more frequent in the group that remained on treatment up to 18 months (p = 0.0012; Fischer exact test). No correlation was found between warmth and length of stay at TC. CONCLUSIONS: High EE has a significant influence over the length of stay of the alcoholic or other substance dependent in a TC. The presence of hostility is more frequent among families of patients who prematurely abandon treatment, while higher score of overinvolvement was more frequent in the families of the group that completed 18 months of treatment in the TC. Further studies with larger population are needed to support those findings.