Background The Passiflora genus presents a representative variability of passion fruit species with food, pharmacological and ornamental potential. To understand this genetic variability, it is essential that genetic resources are well characterized for future use in breeding and conservation programs. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the diversity genetic and structure population of 88 Passiflora ge...

Background Although pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is usually mild; children with chronic conditions are at increased risk of severe disease. Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (MCL-1), a key regulator of mitochondrial apoptosis, is expressed as one anti-apoptotic isoform (MCL-1 L) and two pro-apoptotic isoforms (MCL-1 S and MCL-1ES), but their regulation in pediatric viral infections remains unclear. Methods and results We assessed MCL-...

Previous study demonstrated that Hypnea cervicornis lectin (HCA) reduces inflammation and nociception via interaction with the lectin carbohydrate-binding site, modulating gene expression of the interleukins IL-1β, TNF-α and of iNOS. This study evaluated the effect of HCA in the rat model of arthritis induced by zymosan in the tibiotarsal joint and the involvement of macrophage-derived mediators. In vitro, macrophages were sti...

Maize is a crop that plays a fundamental role in global food security, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. However, drought stress remains one of the major constraints that limit maize production worldwide. Maize sensitivity to water deficit is especially critical during the flowering stage, often resulting in substantial yield losses. This study aimed to investigate a sustainable strategy to mitigate drought str...

Yeasts of the genus Candida are microorganisms of significant relevance in clinical practice, particularly within intensive care units, where they are classified as high-risk pathogens due to their impact on immunocompromised patients. Despite this, fungi frequently remain neglected in comparison to other infectious agents, and their ecological role, specifically concerning wildlife, remains underexplored. Historically, wild a...

Cetaceans are sentinels of marine ecosystem health and are increasingly exposed to protozoal pathogens. This study investigated the occurrence and molecular identity of Sarcocystidae protozoa in 159 stranded cetaceans representing 21 species along the Brazilian coast. Molecular analysis based on PCR amplification and sequencing of the sarcocystid internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region revealed infections in 14 individuals...

Corn is a globally important crop; however, pest infestations during storage represent a major challenge. The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a primary pest of stored maize, commonly controlled through phosphine fumigation. Nevertheless, extensive reliance on this insecticide has led to the emergence of resistant populations. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the contact and fum...

The expansion of invasive European wild boar ( Sus scrofa scrofa ) populations in Brazil and the increasing commercialization of this species raise concerns about their role as reservoirs of zoonotic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and detection of virulence and resistance genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolated from captive w...