Abstract INTRODUCTION: Candida parapsilosis complex species differ from each other with regard to their prevalence and virulence. METHODS: The hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells were analyzed in 87 C. parapsilosis complex strains. RESULTS: Among the studied isolates, 97.7%, 63.2%, and 82.8% exhibited very strong proteinase, esterase, and hemolysin activity, respectively. All the C. parapsilosis complex isolates produced biofilms and presented an average adherence of 96.0 yeasts/100 epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Candida parapsilosis complex isolates showed different levels of enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells.

Epoxy/CNT and epoxy/CNT/calcium carbonate nanocomposites were produced via in situ polymerization assisted by ultrasonication without solvent and electrical, mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties of nanocomposites were evaluated. Epoxy/CNT presented very low percolation threshold, near 0.05 wt % and nanocomposites with higher contents of CNT presented further increase in electrical conductivity. The addition of calcium carbonate in epoxy/CNT nanocomposites increased the electrical conductivity, due to volume exclusion phenomena. Regarding thermal properties, due to the low content of the CNT and calcium carbonate no changes in glass transition (Tg) were observed. DMA results showed no significant changes in thermomechanical properties, once the contents of CNT and calcium carbonate are below stiffness threshold, however an increase of flexural modulus by adding CNT and calcium carbonate was observed.

O objetivo deste estudo foi isolar microrganismos produtores de lipase e avaliar a eficiência de remoção de DQO no tratamento de soro de leite sob diferentes condições operacionais. Os microrganismos foram isolados a partir do soro de queijo e de um produto comercial,e foram selecionados os três microrganismos que obtiveram a melhor resposta no teste da atividade lipolítica, através do índice enzimático. Em seguida, inocularam-se os micro-organismos em amostras de soro de queijo esterilizado, para dois valores de pH (6,2 e 7,0), incubaram-se a 35 ºC e 150 rpm em shaker e mensuram-se em dois períodos de tempo (24 e 48 h) a atividade lipásica e a eficiência de remoção de DQO.Após a incubação, observou-se que os tratamentos apresentaram boa eficiência de remoção de DQO para o pré-tratamento,e o microrganismo (S1) isolado a partir do soro de queijo apresentou a maior produção de lipase. Com relação às variáveis pH e tempo, não houve efeito significativo entre os dois fatores avaliados. Entre todos os tratamentos aplicados, T2 (S1, pH 7,0 e 24 h) foi o que obteve maior produção enzimática (4,87 U mL-1).

The aim of this study was to isolate microorganisms that produce lipase and to assess the efficiency of COD removal intreatment of cheese whey under different operating conditions. The microorganisms were isolated from cheese whey and a commercial product; it was selectedthreemicroorganisms that obtained the best response to the lipolytic activity test through the enzyme index. Then, the microorganisms were inoculated in sterilized cheese whey samples, for two pH values (6.2 and 7.0), incubated at 35 °C and 150 rpm in shaker and the lipolityc activity and the efficiency of COD removal were measured in two time periods (24 and 48h). After incubation, it was observed that the treatments showed a good removal efficiency of COD for the pre-treatment and the isolated microorganism (S1) from the cheese whey showed the highest lipase production. Regarding the pH and time variables, there was not significant effect between the two evaluated factors. Among all treatments, T2 (S1, pH 7.0 and 24h) obtained more enzyme production (4.87 U mL-1).

Drosophila serido Vilela & Sene é uma espécie cactofílica e politípica, com ampla distribuição geográfica no Brasil. A morfologia do edeago de indivíduos provenientes de oito populações naturais de D. serido foi avaliada. De acordo com as características dos seus edeagos, as populações de D. serido foram discriminadas com eficiência de aproximadamente 75%. O resultado do teste de Mantel sugere que a divergência morfológica de D. serido é correlacionada com a distância geográfica das populações. A explicação para o padrão observado não é única. Por esta razão, os resultados foram discutidos considerando-se as três principais hipóteses para explicar a evolução do edeago: chave-fechadura, pleiotropia e seleção sexual. Alternativamente, a variabilidade encontrada nos edeagos de D. serido poderia estar relacionada a fatores ambientais, tais como temperatura e/ou cacto hospedeiro.

Drosophila serido Vilela & Sene is a polytypic and cactophilic species with broad geographic distribution in Brazil. The morphology of the aedeagi of eight natural populations of D. serido was analyzed. Based on features of their aedeagi, populations of D. serido were discriminated with an efficiency of nearly 75%. The analysis using the Mantel test suggests that the morphological divergence of D. serido is correlated with the geographic distance among populations. There is no single cause to explain the observed pattern; therefore, the results were discussed considering the three main hypotheses to explain the aedeagus evolution: lock and key, pleiotropy and sexual selection. Alternatively, the aedeagus variability of D. serido might be related to environmental causes, such as temperature and/or host cacti.

We characterized sequences of a novel SSS139 RsaI satellite DNA family in Drosophila gouveai and Drosophila seriema, two members of the Drosophila buzzatii cluster (D. repleta group). The sequences were AT-rich (69%) with a monomer unit length of about 139 bp and contained two direct subrepeats of 14 bp and 16 bp, suggesting that it might have originated by the duplication of smaller sequences. Southern and dot-blot hybridization analyses also detected SSS139 in other Drosophila buzzatii cluster species (D. koepferae, D. antonietae, D. borborema and D. serido) but not in D. buzzatii. These results agree with the marginal phylogenetic position of D. buzzatii within the D. buzzatii cluster.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, in vitro, a perda de estrutura dentária após o preparo cavitário para restaurações diretas e indiretas e sua relação com a resistência à fratura do dente. 60 pré-molares superiores humanos foram divididos em 6 grupos (n=10). Cavidades MOD para resina composta direta (Grupos I, II e III) e cavidades "inlay" (Grupos IV, V e VI) foram preparadas mantendo dimensões padronizadas. A extensão vestíbulo-lingual da caixa oclusal foi estabelecida em 1/4 (Grupos I e IV), 1/3 (Grupos II e V) ou 1/2 (Grupos III e VI) da distância intercuspídea. Os dentes foram pesados, em uma balança de precisão, antes e após o preparo cavitário para aferir a perda de massa dentária. Os dentes preparados foram submetidos à força de compressão para determinar a resistência à fratura em uma máquina universal de ensaios sob uma velocidade de 0.5 mm/min. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância a dois critérios e ao teste de Tukey (alfa = 0.05). As cavidades do tipo "1/4-inlay" apresentaram maior percentual de perda de massa (9.71%) em relação às cavidades para resina composta com mesma extensão (7.07%). As cavidades do tipo "1/3-inlay" também apresentaram maior percentual de perda de massa (13.91%) quando comparada às cavidades para resina composta com a mesma extensão (10.02%). As cavidades do tipo "1/2-inlay" apresentaram 21.34% de perda de massa, enquanto as cavidades com extensão de 1/2 para resina composta apresentaram uma perda de 16.19%. As médias de resistência à fratura (em kgf) foram: GI = 187.65; GII = 143.62; GIII = 74.10; GIV = 164.22; GV = 101.92; GVI = 50.35. Diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0.5) foram observadas entre os Grupos I e IV, II e V, III e VI. Maior perda de estrutura dentária e menor resistência à fratura foram verificadas após os preparos do tipo "inlay" quando comparados aos preparos para resina composta direta.

This study evaluated, in vitro, the loss of tooth substance after cavity preparation for direct and indirect restorations and its relationship with fracture strength of the prepared teeth. Sixty sound human maxillary first premolars were assigned to 6 groups (n=10). MOD direct composite cavities (Groups I, II and III) and indirect inlay cavities (Groups IV, V and VI) were prepared maintaining standardized dimensions: 2-mm deep pulpal floors, 1.5-mm wide gingival walls and 2-mm high axial walls. Buccolingual width of the occlusal box was established at 1/4 (Groups I and IV), 1/3 (Groups II and V) or 1/2 (Groups III and VI) of the intercuspal distance. Teeth were weighed (digital balance accurate to 0.001 g) before and after preparation to record tooth substance mass lost during cavity preparation. The prepared teeth were submitted to occlusal loading to determine their fracture strength using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (alpha= 0.05). 1/4-inlay cavities had higher percent mean mass loss (9.71%) than composite resin cavities with the same width (7.07%). 1/3-inlay preparations also produced higher percent mean mass loss (13.91%) than composite resin preparations with the same width (10.02%). 1/2-inlay cavities had 21.34% of mass loss versus 16.19% for the 1/2-composite resin cavities. Fracture strength means (in kgf) were: GI = 187.65; GII = 143.62; GIII = 74.10; GIV = 164.22; GV = 101.92; GVI = 50.35. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) were observed between Groups I and IV, II and V, III and VI. Higher tooth structure loss and lower fracture strength were recorded after preparation of inlay cavities, regardless of the width of the occlusal box, compared to the direct composite resin cavities.

Drosophila serido e D. antonietae são espécies crípticas pertencentes ao ''cluster'' Drosophila buzzatii. Morfologicamente, elas podem ser discriminadas apenas por diferenças quantitativas. Neste trabalho, nós analisamos o comprimento e a média da curvatura equalizada de quatro regiões do edeago de indivíduos de D. antonietae e D. serido. Os espécimes de D. serido e D. antonietae foram discriminados com 96,74% de eficiência. Apenas com base na variável que mais contribuiu para discriminação dos grupos (média da curvatura equalizada do arco IV do edeago), nós observamos significativa divergência morfológica intraespecífica em D. serido em relação a D. antonietae, o que está em concordância com outros marcadores. A alta divergência morfológica apenas na média da curvatura equalizada do arco IV do edeago mostra que essa região do edeago evoluiu mais rápido que as demais desde a divergência entre as duas espécies. A importância do presente estudo para o entendimento das bases genética que controlam a formação do edeago, nas espécies do ''cluster'' Drosophila buzzatii, é discutida.

Drosophila serido and D. antonietae are sibling species belonging to the Drosophila buzzatii cluster. Morphologically, they can only be discriminated by quantitative traits. In this paper we analyze the length and equalized average curvature of four regions of the aedeagus of D. antonietae and D. serido. Specimens of D. serido and D. antonietae were classified correctly 96.74% of the time. Based only on the variable that most contributed to the discrimination of the groups (equalized average curvature of the arch IV of the aedeagus), we observed significant intraspecific morphological divergence in D. serido in relation to the D. antonietae, in agreement with other markers. The high morphological divergence in equalized average curvature of the arch IV of the aedeagus shows that this region evolved faster than others, since the divergence of the two species. The importance of the present study to the understanding of the genetic basis that controls the formation of the aedeagus, in the species of the Drosophila buzzatii cluster, is discussed.

The repleta group is one of the largest and most complex species groups in the genus Drosophila, representing an important biological model for the elaboration of evolutionary and biogeographical hypotheses on the American Continent. It is divided into six subgroups, of which the fasciola subgroup is the only one with most of its species found in the humid forests of Central and South America. With the aim of understanding the origin and evolution of the fasciola subgroup, and consequently adding information about the repleta group, we analyzed partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of nine Drosophila species (D. carolinae, D. coroica, D. ellisoni, D. fascioloides, D. ivai, D. moju, D. onca, D. rosinae and D. senei). The phylogenetic hypotheses obtained neither defined the relationships between the subgroups of the repleta group nor defined all the interspecific relationships in the fasciola subgroup. We found that the species D. carolinae, D. coroica, D. onca, D. rosinae and D. senei comprised a clade in which D. carolinae, D. onca and D. senei appeared together at a polytomy while D. fascioloides and D. ellisoni comprised another clade with a high bootstrap value.

The analysis of polytene chromosomes in 26 strains of seven species in the Drosophila fasciola subgroup, from several locations in Brazil, in addition to strains of two species belonging to the Drosophila mulleri subgroup (D. aldrichi and D. mulleri), enabled us to determine that the 3c inversion found in the latter species differ in one of its break points from that present in the species of the fasciola subgroup. Therefore, a change in the mulleri complex denomination from inversion 3c to inversion 3u is proposed. Accordingly, the fasciola subgroup is no longer a lesser phylogenetic part within the mulleri subgroup. Rather, it is directly related to the likely ancestor of the repleta group, called Primitive I. This information removes the main obstacle to considering the Drosophila fasciola subgroup as an ancestral group within the Drosophila repleta species group, according to the hypothesis of Throckmorton. Our data also support the conclusion that D. onca and D. carolinae are closely related species based on one new inversion in chromosome 4 (4f²), in both species. D. fascioloides and D. ellisoni also form a pair of sister species based on the presence of fusions of chromosomes 2-4 and 3-5. D. rosinae is related only to the likely ancestor of the fasciola subgroup, where the 3c inversion was fixed.

A reanalysis, based on museum specimens, of our previously published data on the geographical distribution of the species of Drosophila belonging to the cardini group in Brazil is presented and discussed. As previously recorded in several papers, including ours, the following four species were recognized: D. cardini, D. cardinoides, D. neocardini, and D. polymorpha. However, it was realized that most of the flies we have previously identified as Drosophila cardinoides belong in fact to Drosophila cardini. To facilitate the proper identification of these four near-sibling species, their holotypes were analyzed and their terminalia were described and illustrated. A key to the four species is also provided.

The Argentinean Chaco region has been considered the center of origin of Drosophila buzzatii in South America because it contains most of the chromosomal polymorphism detected in natural populations. Two hypotheses have been put forward to explain the distribution of D. buzzatii in Brazil, one proposing that it has only recently passively colonized Brazil via human dispersal and the other suggesting that D. buzzatii has actively migrated to Brazil some time ago. Data from chromosomal inversions support recent colonization, whereas data from allozymes and mtDNA variation indicate that D. buzzatii has been in Brazil longer, favoring an active dispersal hypothesis. In our present work we analyzed data on 56 South American flies, mostly from Brazil, sequenced for the 5’ end of the mtDNA COI gene. The combined use of many neutrality tests and phylogeographic methods (e.g. nested clade analysis) indicated high gene flow throughout most of the range of D. buzzatii, although significant population structure was still detected. The high nucleotide diversity in the Northeast region of Brazil and the results from the nested clade analysis suggest that D. buzzatii has been in Brazil longer than proposed by the passive dispersal hypothesis. Our data indicate that D. buzzatii has been distributed throughout Brazil and Argentina since the Quaternary, though more data from different localities and markers need to be gathered to determine how the occupation of South America by D. buzzatii has occurred.

Drosophila antonietae sp. nov. and D. gouveai sp. nov. are members of the D. buzzatii cluster of the D. repleta species group of the genus Drosophila. They can be distinguished from their cryptic species, D. borborema Vilela & Sene, 1977, D. koepferae Fontdevila & Wasserman, 1988, D. serido Vilela & Sene, 1977, and D. seriema Tidon-Sklorz & Sene, 1995 by morphological, genetic and ecological criteria.