Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

About: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso is a education organization based out in Cuiabá, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Species richness. The organization has 7748 authors who have published 10181 publications receiving 89994 citations.

Variation in Human Cytochrome P-450 Drug-Metabolism Genes: A Gateway to the Understanding of Plasmodium vivax Relapses.

Abstract: Although Plasmodium vivax relapses are classically associated with hypnozoite activation, it has been proposed that a proportion of these cases are due to primaquine (PQ) treatment failure caused by polymorphisms in cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Here, we present evidence that CYP2D6 polymorphisms are implicated in PQ failure, which was reinforced by findings in genetically similar parasites, and may explain a number of vivax relapses. Using a computational approach, these polymorphisms were predicted to affect the activity of CYP2D6 through changes in the structural stability that could lead to disruption of the PQ-enzyme interactions. Furthermore, because PQ is co-administered with chloroquine (CQ), we investigated whether CQ-impaired metabolism by cytochrome P-450 2C8 (CYP2C8) could also contribute to vivax recurrences. Our results show that CYP2C8-mutated patients frequently relapsed early (<42 days) and had a higher proportion of genetically similar parasites, suggesting the possibility of recrudescence due to CQ therapeutic failure. These results highlight the importance of pharmacogenetic studies as a tool to monitor the efficacy of antimalarial therapy.

Towards a sustainable management concept for ecosystem services of the Pantanal wetland

Abstract: Among globally important wetlands, the Pantanal stands out because of it's a history of harmonious coexistence of man and biodiversity. In the recent years, however, severe human impacts have emerged, which are capable of disintegrating Pantanal's natural characteristics. This paper contributes to the development of a sustainable management concept considering ecological and socioeconomical demands. Use of natural resources in the highly productive catchment of the tributaries have direct effects on the floodplains of the Pantanal. A careful planning of hydropower plants is needed to maintain (a) some of the tributaries remaining open for fish spawning migration, and (b) the natural flood pulse as the overriding ecological factor. The traditional human population of the Pantanal is threatened by the developments of global change. Their knowledge to use floodplain-specific species is very important for developing sustainable use strategies. Several positive initiatives are highlighted, including the development of a green seal for Pantanal beef and the re-establishment of gallery forests along tributaries. The sustainable use of the fish ressources requires a precise analyis of the stock dynamics. For the further development of the sustainable use, a classification system is needed, which specifies the use potential and conservation demands of the individual habitats.

Optimization of soymilk fermentation with kefir and the addition of inulin: Physicochemical, sensory and technological characteristics

Abstract: The demand for the development of beverages based on fermented soybeans for the market has increased in recent years. The objective of this work was to develop a soybean beverage fermented with kefir grains and supplemented with inulin. The fermentation conditions were optimized as follows: a ratio of 4 g:100 mL of kefir grains:soymilk, a soymilk concentration of 9°Brix and a fermentation time of 12 h. This formulation was supplemented with 3.5% (m/v) inulin and evaluated at 7 °C for 28 days. The beverage had a slightly yellow color, with positive values in the b* parameter. The firmness and syneresis of the beverages were higher when inulin was used. The use of inulin also decreased sedimentation in the beverages. At 28 days of storage, the cell count (Lactococcus, Lactobacillus and yeasts) was higher than 107 CFU/mL for both treatments. Soymilk was shown to be a good substrate for fermentation using kefir grains. The addition of inulin to the fermented soymilk efficiently maintained the microorganisms and increased sensory acceptability after 14 days of storage.

Multiresidue determination of herbicides in environmental waters from Primavera do Leste Region (Middle West of Brazil) by SPE-GC-NPD

Abstract: A study on the presence of herbicides, namely simazine, metribuzin, metolachlor, trifluralin, atrazine and two metabolites, deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and deethylatrazine (DEA), was performed in ground and surface waters from Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso state (Middle West of Brazil). The analytical procedure was based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Sep-Pak C18 disposable cartridges and ethyl acetate for elution solvent. Residue levels were determined by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. For most of the pesticides average recoveries at different fortification levels were >70% with relative standard deviation <19%. The recoveries of DIA and trifluralin in water were 25% and 56%, respectively, which were attributed to the incomplete retention of DIA and strong retention on the sorbing material and high volatility of trifluralin. Detection limits ranged from 0.023 to 0.088 µg L-1. This method was applied for the analysis of 5 superficial water samples and 28 groundwater samples, in places used for human consumption without previous treatment, collected in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Results indicated that the highest level of contamination in a water sample was 1.732 µg L-1 for metolachlor, while metribuzin was the most frequently detected herbicide with maximum concentration of 0.351 µg L-1.