Special Issue: Ecoimmunology in ectotherms
Dr. Stefanny C. M. Titon (Postdoctoral) and Dr. Vania R. Assis (egress) from the Graduate Program in General Physiology, were Guest Editors of the special issue "Ecoimmunology in Ectotherms" in the Journal of Experimental Zoology - Part A (JEZ-A). This SI brings ecoimmunology studies with a focus on ectotherms (fish, amphibians, and reptiles). The papers show the effects of the environment, hormones, sex, and age on the ectotherms immunology and updates on host-pathogen interactions that affect host immunity and survival. For an overview of all manuscripts, see the introductory paper they wrote by clicking on this link: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2437
Both are also authors of manuscripts within the SI. Dr. Vania presents immuno-endocrine differences in a gradient of South-North distribution of invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) populations in Florida. The toads of the southern populations had a better baseline immune surveillance system (higher natural antibody titers and higher bacterial killing ability) and were more responsive to a new acute stressor (higher plasma corticosterone levels). See more by clicking here: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2389
Dr. Stefanny shows differences in the thermal sensitivity of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) immune response. Plasma bacterial killing ability (protein measure) showed thermal sensitivity, with higher values found around 15°C. While the phagocytosis index (cell measure) did not show thermal sensitivity. Find out more by clicking here: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2436
To access all manuscripts, click here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/24715646/2020/333/10
IB group publishes research related to the role of pulmonary melatonin in the defense of SARS-CoV-2
The Graduate Program in Sciences (General Physiology) congratulates the team of the Chronopharmacology and Neuroimmunoendocrinology Laboratories, Prof. Dr. Pedro Fernandes, Profa. Dr. Regina Pekelmann Markus, Dr. Sandra Muxel and the students of the program, Dr. Gabriela Kinker (graduate of the program), Marlina Córdoba-Moreno (doctoral student), Débora Santos-Silva (doctoral student) and Edson Ribeiro- Paz (master's student) for the publication of the article "Melatonin-Index as a biomarker for predicting the distribution of presymptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers - Lung melatonin modulates SARS-CoV-2 infection" in the prestigious international journal Melatonin Research (https : //doi.org/10.32794/mr11250090). The work also had the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of São Paulo, including Prof. Dr. Marcos Buckeridge, director of the Biosciences Institute. The authors investigated the variation in gene expression in response to an infection with the new coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the lung's ability to synthesize melatonin, estimated by the MEL genetic index. The results demonstrate that high melatonin production is associated with low levels of virus infection. In addition, there was a negative correlation between the MEL index and the expression of genes that encode proteins from immune cells, such as macrophages, which are considered to be the virus's entry points. This discovery may help to understand the occurrence of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, possibly associated with high melatonin production, and opens new pharmacological perspectives in the treatment of the virus by the administration of melatonin through the nasal route, which can prevent the evolution of the disease in pre-symptomatic patients. For more information visit: https://www.melatonin-research.net/index.php/MR/article/view/109, https://jornal.usp.br/ciencias/melatonina-natural-produtora-no-pulmao -can-protect-against-the-coronavirus / and https://youtu.be/oqx_wQf14A0
Link for the video: https://youtu.be/oqx_wQf14A0
Prof. Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini among the 100,000 most influential authors in the world
Prof. Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini among the 100,000 most influential authors in the world
"The Graduate Program in Sciences (General Physiology) congratulates Prof. Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini for including his name in the list of the 100,000 most influential authors in the world, in the article: Ioannidis JPA, Boyack KW, Baas J (2020) Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators PLoS Biol 18 (10): e3000918 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918 This represents a great recognition of the excellent work dedicated to ecophysiology and integrative physiology throughout your career. "
Master student Mila Maria Pamplona Barbosa won the Juarez Aranha Ricardo award
Master student Mila Maria Pamplona Barbosa won the Juarez Aranha Ricardo award for presenting the work "Collective daily rhythmicity on leaf-cutter ants colonies: understanding temporal organization of leaf-cutting foraging using machine learning techniques" during the XLIII Annual Meeting of the Society Brazilian Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC).
SBNeC link:
http://www.sbnec.org.br/sem-categoria/encerramento-e-premiacao-da-xliii-reuniao-anual-da-sbnec/
Excess aluminum in water affects semen and causes malformations in fish embryos
Article published on the website of Revista SuperInteressante highlights the importance and highlights the main results obtained by the doctoral student João Paulo Silva Pinheiro, under the guidance of the professor. Renata Guimarães Moreira.
The study developed by them evaluated the effect of aluminum metal (environmental concentration), originating from natural and anthropic actions, associated with temperature changes in the water on the quality of semen and the embryonic development of the fish species Astyanax altiparanae.
The results showed that the metal in environmental concentration causes deleterious effects on the quality of sperm, reduces the rates of fertilization and hatching, in addition to causing embryonic morphological changes. Furthermore, changes in water temperature can increase the toxicity of this metal on these evaluated parameters.
The results were published in the form of three articles in the journals Chemosphere and Environmental Pollution.
For more information, follow the links to the articles:
2019: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.143