Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias最新文献

I. paraguariensis St. Hil. is a south American species of agronomic interest with studies supporting its medicinal properties. As the investigation of active ingredients with antimicrobial effect from medicinal plants is a suitable approach to the current antibacterial resistance problem, the aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity of yerba mate ethanolic extracts against carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria (reference strains and clinical isolates). Extracts showed antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC® BAA-2342™ (KPC producing), Providencia rettgeri (NDM producing), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MBL producing) and P. aeruginosa (VIM producing) at the concentrations tested. The Minimal-Inhibitory-Concentration and Minimal-Bactericidal-Concentration values ranged between 1 and 32 mg.ml-1 for the reference strains, and between 0.125 and 1 mg.ml-1 for the clinical isolates. The MBC/MIC index characterized the extracts as bactericidal. The combinations of commercial antibiotics and extracts showed a synergistic action on the reference strains studied. The lethal concentration 50 obtained using the Artemia salina toxicity assay were higher than 1 mg.ml-1 for all the extracts, indicating a low toxicity. The in vitro activity and low toxicity suggest that ethanolic I. paraguariensis leaf extracts constitute an outstanding source for new antibacterial compounds, and further studies should be carried out to understand their mechanism of action.

Restinga formations are defined as the vegetation covering sandy coastal sediments deposited during the Quaternary period, regardless their physiognomy. They are usually characterized as areas of confluence between plant species associated with diverse phytogeographical domains. However, detailed floristic and biogeographic studies are still required to better define their distribution patterns, the origins of their plant species, and their biogeographical affinities. In this study, we investigate the floristic similarities among restingas in Northern and Northeastern Brazil and diverse ecosystems from different Brazilian phytogeographical domains (Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazonia). We employed multivariate analyses to investigate differences in species composition and identify floristically similar groups. While sharing species with other ecosystems, restingas exhibit unique floristic composition, representing a coastal flora. Furthermore, the restingas of Northern and Northeastern Brazil are biogeographically subdivided according to previously recognized sectors of the coast of the country. These findings underscore the complex nature of restinga ecosystems, influenced by environmental factors such as geographic distance, geology and climate. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between restingas and their surrounding ecosystems, facilitating informed conservation efforts in the face of escalating urban and industrial expansion along the Brazilian coast.

Conservation Units (CUs) tend to have a high richness of herbivorous insects, including gall-inducing insects. Despite this, gall surveys carried out in these environments are punctual and some units have never had their galls investigated, such as the Chapada Diamantina National Park, Bahia (Chapada Diamantina Parna). Aiming to reduce this gap and contribute to future studies in CUs, this study aimed to survey the galls of the Chapada Diamantina Parna, Lençóis, as well as to investigate trends in research on galls in CUs in Brazil. For that, collections were carried out on monthly trips for one year. Published gall surveys were compiled. A total of 107 morphotypes induced in 88 host species were recorded. Most galls are formed in leaves, globoid in shape, green in color, and induced by Cecidomyiidae. This park has a relatively high richness of galls compared to other CUs, demonstrating its importance in the conservation of gall-inducing insects. The results also revealed that the number of surveys has been increasing over the years and that the Southeast concentrates the largest number of studies, a region that also gathers the largest number of specialists, demonstrating a geographic bias in the data.

Over two decades, the area with sugarcane has more than doubled, from 4.8 million hectares in 2000 to 10 million in 2018, in Brazil. São Paulo State is mostly responsible for the sugarcane production in the country, accounting for 51% of the national production. In 2008, a study was conducted analysing the relationship between sugarcane cultivation and the aquatic macroinvertebrate community, showing the impacts of sugarcane on the macroinvertebrate aquatic fauna. The present study aims to gather actual information on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in the same streams studied in 2008, to make a historical comparison with studies previously carried out. Eight streams were selected; four located in areas of sugarcane cultivation and four located in preserved areas. Three samples were carried out between 2018 and 2020. The aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected using a D-frame aquatic net (250 μm) including riffle and pools areas and identified using specific identification keys. The results of the historical assessment showed better ecological conditions of the streams in 2008 when compared to 2018 in areas of sugarcane cultivation, suggesting that the environmental impact was maintained and increased after ten years.

FioAntar, FIOCRUZ's research project in Antarctica, is based on the One Health approach. FioAntar aims to generate relevant information that will help reduce the risk of future pandemics and improve the search for chemical compounds and new biological molecules. After four expeditions to Antarctica under the scope of PROANTAR, Fiocruz has identified Influenza H11N2 virus in environmental fecal samples, as well as Histoplasma capsulatum and Bacillus cereus in soil samples. In addition, in a prospective virome analysis from different lakes in the South Shetland Islands, six viral orders were described, supporting future research related to the biodiversity and viral ecology in this extreme ecosystem. Our findings of environmental pathogens of public health importance are a warning about the urgency of establishing a surveillance agenda on zoonoses in Antarctica due to the imminent risks that ongoing environmental and climate changes impose on human health across the planet. FioAntar strives to establish a comprehensive surveillance program across Antarctica, monitoring circulation of pathogens with the potential to transcend continent boundaries, thereby mitigating potential spread. For Fiocruz, Antarctica signifies a new frontier, teeming with opportunities to explore novel techniques, refine established methodologies, and cultivate invaluable knowledge.

Arapaima gigas, an emblematic species of the Amazon region and a longstanding primary fishing resource, currently holds a "Data Deficient" status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and is listed as an endangered species in Brazil. The Tocantins River is the most extensively modified large tributary of the Amazon Basin, and thus can affect the dynamics of ichthyofaunal populations. Over a period of 1 year, representatives of the fishing communities and fishermen from 25 fishing communities from four municipalities in the lower Tocantins River region were interviewed, and the obtained information was evaluated based on the literature to survey the population abundance status of A. gigas in the region and its impact on local communities. Among the fishermen interviewed, only one reported still encountering and fishing A. gigas on Jaracuera Island. The disappearance of A. gigas in the region are viewed as having economically disastrous consequences for the residents. Additionally, other endemic fish species are no longer observed in this locality either. If fishery management officials do not work together with local communities, A. gigas could disappear from the northern region of Brazil, where information on the dynamics of A. gigas fishing is lacking.

Between 2017 and 2021, the Brazilian Unified Health System (BUHS) administered a total of 527,903,302 doses of immunizations. Each immunization results in the presence of a residual volume (RV) due to syringe dead space (DS). The International Organization for Standardization 7886-1 allows a DS of up to 0.07mL in sterile single-use hypodermic syringes with volumes less than 5mL. This study aims to quantify the DS of immunization devices used in Brazil, study the best combinations of needles and syringes to minimize RV, estimate the number of wasted doses from 2017 to 2021, and evaluate the impact on the BUHS. Pneumococcal 10 vaccine with a 25x6mm needle and a regular 1mL syringe exhibited a significantly higher average RV (0.0826mL) and waste rate (14.42%). It was observed that for some intramuscular vaccines, there is less waste when using a 20x5.5mm needle compared to a 25x6mm needle. The use of syringes with plunger stoppers that penetrate the syringe barrel, denoted as low dead space syringes, results in less RV and an estimated difference in the waste rate of approximately 10% compared to the regular syringe. The estimated number of wasted doses from 2017 to 2021 by BUHS is approximately 32 million doses.

Invasive non-native freshwater mollusks are a growing concern in South America, with 16 species already recorded in the region. Among them, Sinotaia quadrata has only been documented in Argentina, for the first time in the Punilla Valley, Córdoba (2009) and La Plata, Buenos Aires (since 2015). In this study, we report the presence of S. quadrata in two additional areas, the Río de la Plata River and a stream (unnamed) in the Paraná River basin, two of the most significant rivers in South America, located in the provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos, respectively. These new records confirm the invasive nature of this species, which has also been identified in Europe, the United States, and Africa in recent years. The findings of this study highlight the need for continued monitoring and management of invasive species in South America's freshwater ecosystems.

Lichens are symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. They are edible as food and have been used in traditional medicine for years. It is aimed to screen Peltigera praetextata (Flörke ex Sommerf.) Zopfand and Peltigera elisabethae Gyeln. phytochemically by LC/QTOF/MS and according to the constituents to evaluate the antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. In total 54 of metabolites detected by LC/QTOF/MS were common in both species. According to LC/QTOF/MS scanning results, alkaloids, iridoid glycosides, phenolics, cyanogenetic glycosides, and terpenic structures were detected. DPPH, ABTS, superoxide radical scavenging activities, and metal chelating capacity IC50 values were 84.55, 9.349; 51.27, 9.127; 95.01, 58.65 and 20.57, 70.08 µg/mL., respectively. The CUPRAC reducing power was determined as 4.69 and 9.57 TEACCUPRAC, respectively. Tyrosinase inhibitor activity were found to be 86.95 and 196.7 µg/mL. Both lichens did not show antimicrobial effects. As a result of the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor activities it was seen that their activities were significant and further in vivo studies could be carried out on this lichens.

Cucullanus lithodorasi n. sp. (Nematoda: Cucullanidae), collected from the intestine of Lithodoras dorsalis (Siluriformes) and waters of the north coast of Brazil is described based on light and scanning electron microscopic observations. The new species differs from its congeners in the number and arrangement of cloacal papillae: five precloacal pairs and five postcloacal pairs and presence of unpaired ventral papillae located slightly anterior to the cloaca. This is the third nominal species of the genus infecting fishes from brackish water from Brazil.