Gustavo Luis Agostini

Genetic relationships among South American species of Cunila D. Royen ex L. based on ISSR

Cunila species are among the commonly used South Brazilian plants in popular medicine. This genus presents two centers of distribution in North and South America; the latter being classified into three sections: Incanae, Incisae and Spicatae. Based on the prospective utility as aromatic and medicinal plants, the aim of this work was to examine the genetic diversity among the South American species to contribute to the knowledge of their botanical sections. In this context, 11 Cunila species were analyzed by ISSR using seven primers that generated a total of 107 bands. The relationship was evaluated by constructing dendrograms using the UPGMA algorithm and analysis of principal components. The cluster analysis places the species C. origanoides with the South American species, but forming an independent cluster. Remarkably, among South American species two clusters emerge, one consisting of shrubs and the second by subshrubs species, which refines the botanical taxonomy for several species of the genus.

Genetic diversity among endangered Uruguayan populations of Butia Becc. species based on ISSR

The genus Butia Becc. (Arecaceae) comprises 18 species distributed exclusively in South America, four of them in Uruguay: Butia lallemantii, B. paraguayensis, B. yatay and B. capitata. All species show serious regeneration problems which jeopardise their continuity in the near future. Butia lallemantii and B. paraguayensis are in the most critical situation, with restricted distributions (fragmented and reduced by cattle grazing and forestation) and populations with few individuals. Taxonomy in the genus is complex, and species delimitation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the genetic variability of natural populations of B. paraguayensis, B. lallemantii and B. yatay, based on inter–simple sequence repeat markers, in view of long term conservation plans and to assist the taxonomic resolution of these closely related species. Twenty individuals from each population were sampled including four populations of B. lallemantii, three of B. yatay and the only B. paraguayensis population reported for Uruguay. Syagrus romanzoffiana was used as outgroup. Five primers were selected based on amplification profiles. Relationships among species were evaluated by constructing dendrograms and principal coordinates analysis. Genetic distance analyses indicate the existence of low variability among Butia species. Variability within populations was high, possibly due to gene flow, past hybridisation or life history traits. This variability provides great potential for recovery. Results do not allow us to suggest changes to the present taxonomic status of these species. We propose management recommendations involving restoration of recruitment and augmentation via stocks from within populations.

Characterizing Polygala L. (Polygalaceae) Species in Southern Brazil Using ISSR

The genus Polygala is one of the seven Polygalaceae genera that occur in the Brazilian flora, covering approximately 110 species. During the taxonomic review of Polygalaceae in Southern Brazil, difficulties were found when classifying species with very similar morphology, and morphological data alone could not clarify these interspecific relationships. In this context, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers were used in an attempt to characterize the genetic diversity and relationships among Polygala species. Nine Polygala species were analyzed using six selected ISSR primers that generated a total of 75 bands (100% polymorphic). The relationships were evaluated by dendrograms using the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages algorithm. The use of ISSR to solve the taxonomic problems was very useful for the Brazilian Polygala species. This is the first report of a molecular characterization of the Brazilian Polygala species to successfully group the different species. The ISSR results are in agreement with the morphological evidence of a new Polygala species from Southern Brazil.

A preliminary phylogeny of the genus Cunila D. Royen ex L. (Lamiaceae) based on ITS rDNA and trnL-F regions

Cunila species are aromatic and medicinal plants commonly employed in folk medicine. This genus is distributed in North America and in southern South America. The species that occur in southern South America are classified into three botanical sections: Incanae, Incisae and Spicatae. The present study uses a phylogenetic approach to study the genetic relationship among the South and North American Cunila species, aiming to test the monophyly of the genus in its traditional circumscription. The results based on sequencing from nuclear (ITS rDNA) and chloroplast (trnL-F) sets did not agree with the traditional circumscription of the genus. These data, based on maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses, point to the non-monophyletic status of Cunila, since the genus was separated into three segregated clades: (1) A South American subshrub clade formed by the species of the botanical section Spicatae, (2) a South American shrub clade that includes the species of the botanical sections Incanae and Incisae, and (3) a North American Cunila clade.

Erratum to: Genomic DNA extraction from herbarium samples of Cunila D. Royen ex L. (Lamiaceae) and Polygala L. (Polygalaceae)

Herbarium collections represent an important source of rare and foreigner species being an alternative for molecular studies. The present study tested a simple DNA extraction method from herbarium tissues of several ages, as well different PCR methods. The DNA degradation appears to be more related to the condition of exicates than the year in which it was dried.

Essential Oil Composition of Cunila incana Benth. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract The essential oil obtained from Cunila incana, a wild plant from South Brazil, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main volatile compounds were the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (11.12% ± 0,15), palustrol (10.99% ± 0,81), germacrene D (10.99% ± 0,81), and the monoterpene (E)- β-ocimene (10.36% ± 0,48). Differing from the essential oil obtained from the others Cunila species, C. incana essential oil showed low concentration of monoterpenes (20.66%) and high sesquiterpenes (59.94%) content.

Coqueluche em crianças menores de 3 anos de idade hospitalizadas em 2011 e 2012

Objetivo : Descrever as caracteristicas demograficas e clinicas de pacientes pediatricos internados com PCR positivo para Bordetella pertussis . Metodos: Estudo retrospectivo, observacional incluindo todos os pacientes pediatricos entre zero e dois anos 11 meses e 29 dias de idade internados em um hospital universitario, com diagnostico de coqueluche confirmado por PCR, no periodo de julho de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Resultados: Foram incluidos no estudo 155 pacientes com idade media de 7,8 meses. Apenas 22 casos tinham historia de contato com tosse paroxistica ou prolongada (>14 dias). O tempo medio de duracao de sintomas antes da admissao hospitalar foi de 9,87±10,08 dias e o tempo de internacao medio foi de 5,52±9,60 dias. Tosse foi o sintoma mais prevalente (99%), sendo paroxistica em apenas 16,8%. Cianose esteve presente em 29,7% e apneia em 5,8%. Necessitaram oxigenio suplementar 52,2%, ventilacao mecânica 4,9% e foram a obito 2,5% dos pacientes. Conclusao: O estudo corrobora o impacto da coqueluche epidemica sobre as criancas, principalmente lactentes, evidenciando a necessidade da implementacao de novas estrategias de prevencao e controle desta infeccao.