No abstract

The constant presence of genetically modified (GM) soybean in conventional seed lots has become a growing problem for international seed trade. In this context, seed companies have prompted the development of routine tests for accurate genetically modified soybean seeds detection. In this study, a quantitative PCR-based method was standardized in order to detect and quantify mixtures of seeds (i.e. certified seed) or GM grains (i.e. seeds came from field) into samples of non-GM soybean, in a way that soybean lots can be assessed within the standards established by legislation. The method involved the use of p35S-f2/petu-r1 primers targeting CP-4 enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (cp4-epsps) gene (i.e. that confers herbicide tolerance in Roundup Ready TM (RR)) for real-time PCR detection and quantification through mericon Quant GMO Detection Assay. The results revealed the method efficiency to detect and quantify the presence of even one soybean seed in batch used for routine evaluation of GM seeds. In addition, it was possible to detect of up to 0.1% of transgenic DNA relative to the soybean grains content. Thus, the sensitive GMO quantitative approach described in this study will provide support in supervising activities, and facilitate the process and control of GM soybean.

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Humans are widely exposed to environmental chemical toxicants potentially related to disease susceptibility. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) present a proven risk associated with cancer, but no studies are related with the tumor progression. The decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a flame-retardant detected in human plasma, breast milk and umbilical cord. Melanoma is a skin cancer with high metastatic potential and poor response to therapies. The use of alkylating agents such as dacarbazine is still a common protocol for the treatment of melanoma, mainly in Brazilian Public Health Care System. Recently, we reported the role of BDE-209 on the incidence of melanoma metastasis in different organs of mice after inoculation of B16-F10 cells. In the current study, we describe the effects of BDE-209 on dacarbazine treatment for melanoma. Adult male and female C57BL6 mice were exposed to BDE-209 for 45 days, inoculated with B16-F10 cells and treated with dacarbazine for 21 days (five doses of 40 mg.kg− 1). At 66th day, the animals were euthanized, and the blood, lung, liver, kidney and brain were sampled for hematological, biochemical and metastasis counting analyses. The results showed a decrease of lung metastases in animals treated with dacarbazine and a significant increase in mice previously exposed to BDE-209. Foremost, BDE-209 impaired dacarbazine treatment. These findings demonstrate the effect of BDE-209 and the decreased efficacy of dacarbazine treatment, favoring cancer progression and affecting the disease prognosis.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is still one of the most dangerous viral pathogens in crustacean aquaculture since its first identification in 1992, especially for tropical and subtropical countries. In Mozambique, WSSV was first detected in 2011 in cultured shrimp after mass mortality of shrimp in ponds. To control the virus, disease surveillance is the most recommended approach. The aim of this study was to report WSSV infection in crustaceans from wild stock and farms in Mozambique. Frozen and fresh samples of pleopods, larvae, and muscle from shrimp and crabs collected in seven provinces of Mozambique between 2011 and 2013, and in 2018, were tested for WSSV using the commercial IQ2000™ kit. A total of 946 out of 3480 tested samples were WSSV positive and it corresponds to a total prevalence of 27.2% in crustaceans. The infection rate was 31.6% (723samples) in wild shrimps, 21.8% (152) in wild crabs, and 14.4% (71) in aquaculture shrimps. The positivity infection rate varied within the sampling provinces. The highest infection rate was reported in Gaza (61.43%) followed by Inhambane and Zambezia (45.79 and 40%, respectively). The lowest prevalence of WSSV was reported in Cabo Delgado (2.99%). This study demonstrated the presence of WSSV in Mozambique in high prevalence in both wildlife and aquaculture crustaceans, demonstrating the need for constant monitoring and implementation of preventive measures to decrease the rates of positive infectivity both in the wild and aquaculture crustaceans.