Marcus Vinicius de Aragão Batista

Phenotypic and genotypic variations among three allopatric populations of Lutzomyia umbratilis, main vector of Leishmania guyanensis

BackgroundIn South America, Lutzomyia umbratilis is the main vector of Leishmania guyanensis, one of the species involved in the transmission of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. In Brazil, L. umbratilis has been recorded in the Amazon region, and in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern region, where an isolated population has been identified. This study assessed the phylogeographic structure and size and shape differences of the wing of three Brazilian populations.MethodsSamples of L. umbratilis were collected from Rio Preto da Eva (north of the Amazon River, Amazonas), from Manacapuru (south of the Amazon River), and from the isolated population in Recife, Pernambuco state. These samples were processed to obtain sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase I mitochondrial gene. Geometrics morphometry analysis of the right wing shape of the three populations was made using discriminate canonical analysis.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of two distinct monophyletic clades: one clade comprised of the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva samples, and the other clade comprised of the Manacapuru samples. Comparing the Manacapuru population with the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations generated high indices of interpopulational divergence. Geometric morphometry analysis indicated two distinct groups between the studied populations. Canonical variate analysis of wing shape indicated that Rio Preto da Eva population is significantly closer to Recife population, and both populations were genetically distant from Manacapuru.ConclusionThe polymorphic sites and geometric morphometry analysis indicate that the distance, lack of continuity and environmental differences have not modified the ancestral relationship between Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations. The genetic and morphological similarities shared by the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations suggest that these populations are more closely related evolutionarily. These results confirm the existence of an L. umbratilis species complex in the North and Northeast regions.

Botanical Origin of the Brazilian Red Propolis: a New Approach Using DNA analysis

Abstract Propolis is produced by the honeybees by using resin and other plant secretions. Propolis from different geographical regions have different chemical compositions. This is because the chemical constituents of propolis depend on the vegetation surrounding the apiary. In this report we present a new approach using DNA barcoding for the identification of the botanical origin of propolis. Red propolis samples were collected at different times of the year from the state of Sergipe situated in Northeast Brazil. Extraction of the DNA from propolis was made using a CTA B method. Amplification was done using ITS 2 universal primers, followed by DNA sequencing. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum in the Brazilian red propolis. Formononetin is a chemical marker for the Brazillian red propolis and D. ecastaphyllum. Propolis samples analysed by DNA sequencing, were also checked by Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography for the presence of formononetin. Peaks corresponding to formononetin were observed in all the analysed propolis samples. This is the first report of the botanical origin of propolis using DNA technology.

Significant association between IL10-1082/-819 and TNF-308 haplotypes and the susceptibility to cervical carcinogenesis in women infected by Human papillomavirus

&NA; Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for high‐grade cervical lesions and cervical cancer. The inflammation plays a key role in cervical cancer progression. In this context, studies propose an association between TNF&agr; and IL10 SNPs and susceptibility to HPV infection. The present work aimed to investigate the possible association between IL10 and TNF&agr; promoter polymorphisms and HPV infection in the cervical carcinogenesis risk in women from Brazil. A total of 654 samples was evaluated in this study. HPV detection was performed by PCR and HPV genotyping was performed by PCR and sequencing of positive MY09/11 PCR product. Genotyping of IL10 SNPs (rs1800871 and rs1800896) was performed by High Resolution Melt analysis. Genotyping of TNF&agr; SNP (rs1800629) was performed by fluorogenic allele‐specific probes. The distribution of TNF‐308 (rs1800629) allelic (p = 0.03) and genotype (p = 0.03) frequencies and HPV‐58 infection has showed a statistically significant difference between case and control groups for the assessed TNF&agr; polymorphism. When it comes to TNF&agr; (rs1800629) allelic and genotypic distribution and HPVs 18 and 31 infections, no statistically significant differences between case and control groups were observed for the studied TNF&agr; polymorphism. The allelic and genotypic distribution of IL10‐819 (rs1800871) and IL10‐1082 (rs1800896) and HPV infection (HPVs 58, 18 and 31) has showed no statistically significant differences between case and control groups for the assessed IL10 polymorphisms. Furthermore, it was observed that haplotypes were associated with an increased cervical cancer risk in HPVs 16, 18 and 58‐positive women. It was observed that women carrying the GTA and ATG haplotypes had 3.85 and 17.99‐fold, respectively, increased cervical cancer susceptibility when infected by HPV‐58. In women infected with HPV‐16 and HPV‐18, statistically significant results in women carrying the GTA and ATA haplotypes was observed. They had a 2.32 and 3.67‐fold, respectively, increased cervical cancer susceptibility when infected by these two HPV types. The analysis of the haplotypes distribution in women infected with HPV‐31 has showed no statistically significant results. Our study indicates that the association of genetic polymorphism in inflammation‐related genes represents a risk to the susceptibility in the development of cervical cancer in women infected by HPVs 16, 18 and 58.

Chemical and genetic similarity between Dalbergia ecastaphyllum and red propolis from the Northeastern Brazil

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum was found to be the botanical origin of Brazilian red propolis by chemical and molecular studies increasing the interest in research with this plant species. The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazil granted the designation of origin to red propolis and red propolis extract from Alagoas state whose composition includes, among other chemical compounds, formononetin and daidzein. However, several studies have identified the chemical markers of this product in samples of D. ecastaphyllum and propolis of Sergipe state. The objective of this study was to compare the chemical and genetic identity between D. ecastaphyllum populations and propolis samples collected from the north (Alagoas) and south (Sergipe) banks of the São Francisco river also known as the lower São Francisco region. D. ecastaphyllum samples and propolis from this region showed similar chromatographic profiles and ESI (−) – MS fingerprints. The markers formononetin, biochanin A and daidzein were found in D. ecastaphyllum and propolis collected from Sergipe and Alagoas. DNA sequencing demonstrated that Dalbergia population from Alagoas and Sergipe are highly homogeneous, having exactly the same haplotype. Thus D. ecastaphyllum from the lower São Francisco have the same genetic characteristics and chemical profiles including the chemical markers considered for propolis from Alagoas, asking for more comparative studies between propolis produced in the northeastern region of Brazil with the possible extension of geographical indication to other states as well.

Polymorphic Genetic Markers in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

1Department of Pathology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 2Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil 3Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil 4Department of Odontology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil *Corresponding author Sydney Correia Leão, MD Medical Pathology Assistant Department of Pathology Federal University of São Paulo São Paulo, SP, Brazil E-mail: sydneyleao@hotmail.com