ABSTRACT Studies in the Amazon indicate a wide diversity of rhizobia with the ability for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), which could expand the number of strains approved for cowpea. Thus, the aim of this field study was to evaluate the agronomic performance in cowpea of the several strains isolated from the soils of the Brazilian states Acre and Rondônia, and to compare them withstrains approved by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) and withnon-inoculated controls (without and with mineral nitrogen fertilizer). The inoculants performed well. Though less effective than the other strains, the UFLA 03-36 strain also was prominent with respect to grain yield. Because of the positive response of the UFLA 03-129 strain, which led to yield increases greater than the obtained from the control without inoculation plus mineral-N, it can be recommended as an inoculum for cowpea. Further investigations should be carried out to obtain MAPA’s approval for their use. Other experiments involving this strain and several cultivars are being carried out on other types of soil and environmental conditions of the state of Minas Gerais.

ABSTRACT Rupestrian complexes of the Serra do Espinhaço are recognized for their high degree of biodiversity and endemism. However, environmental impacts, particularly from mining, have degraded these environments. The purpose of this study was to describe the herbaceous-subshrub communities that occur in quartzitic (QRC) and ferruginous (FRC) rupestrian complexes in different seasons of the year, with regard to floristic similarity and phytosociological structure. Additionally, the study aimed to identify native species with potential use for the restoration of similar degraded areas. Vegetation was sampled from plots located in the municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro, state of Minas Gerais. Five contiguous strata of 10 × 50 m were demarcated in each environment, in which 12 plots of 2 × 1 m (2 m²) were randomly distributed, for a total of 60 plots (sample units) in each physiognomy. The studied communities exhibited few similarities and lower floristic diversity than other rupestrian complexes. Detrended correspondence analysis distinguished the communities of FRC from those of QRC. The species with the highest value of importance in FRC were Bulbostylis fimbriata and Centrosema brasilianum, while in QRC Echinolaena inflexa had the highest values, thus, making them eligible for restoration programs in similar environments.

Abstract: Background: The leaves of many species of Maytenus are used to prepare herbal drugs to treat stomach ulcers. Questions: In order to define key anatomical characters for the unambiguous species identification, the present study aimed to describe the leaf morphoanatomy of M. imbricata. Species study: Maytenus imbricata Mart. ex Reissek (Celastraceae) Study site and dates: Collected in an area of ‘campo rupestre’ - one of the Brazilian Savannah vegetation (20º 22’ 11.02” S, 43º 30’ 22.81” W) in August 2015. Methods: The plant material was processed according to commonly used techniques in plant anatomy studies. Results: The major anatomical characters for several species of Maytenus identification also present in M. imbricata are marginal teeth, conspicuous epicuticular wax, ciclocytic stomata, thick external periclinal wall with large pits on epidermal cells and vascular system with a closed loop shape in cross-section. Strips on the anticlinal walls on epidermal cells and conspicuous gelatinous fibers sheath are diagnostic for M. imbricata. Conclusions: Strips on the anticlinal wall of the epidermal cell are reported for the first time for the genus. The xeromorphic traits help the species to survive in arid environments and may contribute to quality control of the raw material used in the production of herbal medicines.

Resumen: Antecedentes: Las hojas de muchas especies de Maytenus se utilizan para la preparación de medicamentos para el tratamiento de las úlceras de estómago. Preguntas: Con la finalidad de contribuir a la identificación de la especie, este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir la morfología y anatomia de la hoja de M. imbricata. Especie de estudio: Maytenus imbricata Mart. ex Reissek (Celastraceae) Sitio y años de estudio: Recolecta de material en una zona de ‘campo rupestre’ - vegetación del cerrado brasileño (20º 22’ 11.02” S, 43º 30’ 22.81” W) en agosto del 2015. Métodos: El material vegetal se procesó mediante las técnicas que se utilizan en los estudios de anatomía vegetal. Resultados: Los principales caracteres anatómicos para la identificación de varias especies de Maytenus, que están presentes en M. imbricata, son los dientes marginales, la cera epicuticular gruesa, los estomas ciclocíticos, las células epidérmicas con la pared periclinal externa gruesa, con grandes punteaduras y la sección transversal del sistema vascular en un círculo cerrado. Las estrías en las paredes anticlinales y las fibras gelatinosas son caracteres diagnósticos para M. imbricata. Conclusiones: Las estrías que se forman en la pared de las células epidérmicas se reportan por primera vez en el género. Estos caracteres xeromórficos ayudan a la especie a sobrevivir en ambientes áridos y pueden contribuir al control de la calidad de la materia prima utilizada en la producción de medicamentos.

Ascorbate peroxidases (APX) are class I heme-containing enzymes that convert hydrogen peroxide into water molecules. The gene encoding APX has been characterized in 11 strains of Trypanosoma cruzi that are sensitive or resistant to benznidazole (BZ). Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of two complete copies of the T. cruzi APX (TcAPX) gene in the genome of the parasite, while karyotype analysis showed that the gene was present in the 2.000-kb chromosome of all of the strains analyzed. The sequence of TcAPX exhibited greater levels of similarity to those of orthologous enzymes from Leishmania spp than to APXs from the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Northern blot and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses revealed no significant differences in TcAPX mRNA levels between the T. cruzi strains analyzed. On the other hand, Western blots showed that the expression levels of TcAPX protein were, respectively, two and three-fold higher in T. cruzi populations with in vitro induced (17 LER) and in vivo selected (BZR) resistance to BZ, in comparison with their corresponding susceptible counterparts. Moreover, the two BZ-resistant populations exhibited higher tolerances to exogenous hydrogen peroxide than their susceptible counterparts and showed TcAPX levels that increased in a dose-dependent manner following exposure to 100 and 200 µM hydrogen peroxide.

Trabalhos de geografia médica sobre hanseníase discutem o papel da ocupação dos territórios como fundamento da permanência de focos leprógenos. No Brasil, os Estados que apresentam as mais altas taxas de detecção, historicamente, se localizam na região amazônica, o que evidencia uma desigual evolução regional da doença. Este trabalho analisa a evolução da hanseníase contextualizando os processos migratórios que ocorreram no Estado de Mato Grosso a partir da segunda metade do século XX. O crescimento econômico ocorrido no Estado nas décadas de 1970, 1980 e 1990 provocou taxas de crescimento populacional maiores que a média nacional. Os dados analisados permitem uma associação entre o crescimento e dispersão dos coeficientes de detecção da hanseníase com o processo de ocupação do território mato-grossense. Entretanto, a permanência da hanseníase em municípios da Baixada Cuiabana, assim como em outros municípios que sofreram perda de população, parece apontar a existência de contextos geográficos de diferentes vulnerabilidades à produção social da doença. A migração explicaria a instalação e evolução da hanseníase, entretanto consideramos que a manutenção da endemia pode estar associada a fatores contextuais relacionados com o ambiente.

Studies on medical geography about leprosy discuss the role of the detailed report of the occupation of the territories as a basis of the permanence of leprosy focus. In Brazil, the states that present the highest rates of detection historically are in the Amazon region, which shows an uneven regional evolution of the disease. This paper analyzes the evolution of leprosy contextualizing the migratory processes that occurred in the State of Mato Grosso since the second half of the 20th century. The economic dynamism that occurred in the State in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s caused population growth rates higher than the national average. The data analyzed permitted an association between the evolution of leprosy and the process of occupation of the mato-grossense territory. However, the permanence of leprosy in the municipalities of the Baixada Cuiabana, as well as in other municipalities that lost population, seem to point to the existence of geographic contexts of different vulnerability to the social production of the disease in the tate. The migration would explain the appearance and evolution of leprosy. However, we consider that the maintenance of the endemic can be associated to contextual factors related to environment.

Trabalhos de geografia médica sobre hanseníase discutem o papel da ocupação dos territórios como fundamento da permanência de focos leprógenos. No Brasil, os Estados que apresentam as mais altas taxas de detecção, historicamente, se localizam na região amazônica, o que evidencia uma desigual evolução regional da doença. Este trabalho analisa a evolução da hanseníase contextualizando os processos migratórios que ocorreram no Estado de Mato Grosso a partir da segunda metade do século XX. O crescimento econômico ocorrido no Estado nas décadas de 1970, 1980 e 1990 provocou taxas de crescimento populacional maiores que a média nacional. Os dados analisados permitem uma associação entre o crescimento e dispersão dos coeficientes de detecção da hanseníase com o processo de ocupação do território mato-grossense. Entretanto, a permanência da hanseníase em municípios da Baixada Cuiabana, assim como em outros municípios que sofreram perda de população, parece apontar a existência de contextos geográficos de diferentes vulnerabilidades à produção social da doença. A migração explicaria a instalação e evolução da hanseníase, entretanto consideramos que a manutenção da endemia pode estar associada a fatores contextuais relacionados com o ambiente.

Studies on medical geography about leprosy discuss the role of the detailed report of the occupation of the territories as a basis of the permanence of leprosy focus. In Brazil, the states that present the highest rates of detection historically are in the Amazon region, which shows an uneven regional evolution of the disease. This paper analyzes the evolution of leprosy contextualizing the migratory processes that occurred in the State of Mato Grosso since the second half of the 20th century. The economic dynamism that occurred in the State in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s caused population growth rates higher than the national average. The data analyzed permitted an association between the evolution of leprosy and the process of occupation of the mato-grossense territory. However, the permanence of leprosy in the municipalities of the Baixada Cuiabana, as well as in other municipalities that lost population, seem to point to the existence of geographic contexts of different vulnerability to the social production of the disease in the tate. The migration would explain the appearance and evolution of leprosy. However, we consider that the maintenance of the endemic can be associated to contextual factors related to environment.

Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Insecta, Diptera, Culicidae) em bromélias, no município do Rio de Janeiro. Registra-se a ocorrência de Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) em espécies de bromélias no Campus da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), no município do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil) e destaca-se a importância de novos estudos para se avaliar o significado epidemiológico das bromélias como criadouros urbanos potenciais.

Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Insecta, Diptera, Culicidae) in bromeliads in municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Insecta: Diptera, Culicidae) was found in bromeliad species at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Campus, in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Given the possibility of epidemiological impact, we emphasize the importance of studies that evaluate the Bromeliaceae as potential breeding sites in urban areas.

São descritas as formas imaturas e adultas de uma nova espécie do gênero Oukuriella Epler, 1986 da região sudeste do Brasil. As larvas, criadas em laboratório para obtenção dos adultos, foram encontradas em madeira submersa coletada num reservatório localizado na Estação Ecológica de Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP). Segundo Messias et al. (2000), o gênero é composto por três grupos de espécies. O adulto desta nova espécie reúne características morfológicas do segundo grupo do gênero Oukuriella, que apresenta asas sem manchas, tufos de cerdas sobre os tergitos abdominais e gonostilo largo, 1.5x maior que o gonocoxito, diferindo, porém das demais espécies do grupo pelo padrão de pigmentação torácica e abdominal. Esta é a primeira descrição da fêmea pertencente ao segundo grupo do gênero Oukuriella. As formas imaturas apresentam as mesmas características de O. intermedia, única espécie cuja pupa e larva são conhecidas. A estrutura altamente esclerosada dos dentes mentais e mandibulares parece indicar a capacidade das larvas de raspar e triturar superfícies duras, como troncos de madeira submersos, substrato onde foram coletadas.

The immature and adult stages of a new species of the genus Oukuriella Epler, 1986 from the Southeast of Brazil are described. The larvae, reared in laboratory to obtain adults, were obtained from submerged wood collected in a reservoir situated in the Jataí Ecological Station (Luiz Antônio, SP). According to Messias et al. (2000) the genus is composed of three species group. The adults of this new species congregate morphological characteristics of the Oukuriella - second group, which is characterised by wings without markings, abdominal tergites with setal tufts and gonostylus broad, 1,5x longer than gonocoxite, but is distinguished by different thoracic and abdominal pigmentation. This is the first description of female for the Oukuriella second group. The immature forms aggregate the same characteristics of O. intermedia, the one species whose pupae and larvae are known. The strongly hardly mental and mandibular teeth sees to indicate the ability to scrape and to shred firm surface as submerged wood, substrate where were collected.

Espécies de Oukuriella Epler (Diptera, Chironomidae) no interior de esponjas de água doce no Brasil. Larvas de Oukuriella Epler, 1986 no interior de esponjas de água doce são registradas pela primeira vez no Brasil.

Larvae of Oukuriella Epler, 1986 (Diptera, Chironomidae) inside freshwater sponges are reported for the first time in Brazil.

A new neotropical genus and a new species of a non-biting midge for the subfamily Tanypodinae from Brazil are described. The new genus is near Tanypus Meigen, 1803 and Procladius Skuse, 1889, but differs of both by wings and male terminalia.

In this paper we describe a new species of a non-biting midge of the genus Aedokritus Roback, 1958 (Chironominae, Chironomidae) from Brazil and Bolívia. That is the fifth species of this genus. The other species of the genus are: A. penicilligerus (Edwards, 1931), from Argentina and Peru; A. pruinescens (Edwards, 1931), from Argentina; A. platycnemis (Edwards, 1931), from Argentina; and A. sartis Roback, 1960, from Brazil.