In Silico Identification of the Laccase-Encoding Gene in the Transcriptome of the Amazon River Prawn (Heller, 1862).

Background: is an opportunistic and omnivorous species that primarily feeds on plant material. Recent studies have shown that Endo-β-1,4-glucanase and Endo-β-1,4-mannanase are expressed in the transcriptome of adult specimens, while juveniles are capable of digesting nutrients from purified cellulose in their diet. In organisms that degrade raw plant material, laccase plays a key role in oxidizing phenolic compounds found in lignin, leading to its depolymerization and increasing access to cellulose and hemicellulose microfibrils.

In silico prospecting of the mtDNA of Macrobrachium amazonicum from transcriptome data.

Background: Macrobrachium amazonicum is a freshwater prawn widely distributed in South America that is undergoing speciation, so the denomination "M. amazonicum complex" is used for it. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene has been used to elucidate this speciation, but heteroplasmies and pseudogenes have been recorded, making separation difficult.

First known occurrence of the alpheid shrimps Leptalpheus forceps Williams, 1965 and L. marginalis Anker, 2011 (Decapoda: Caridea) in the state of Pará, Amazon region, Brazil.

In the present study, we report for the first time the occurrence of the alpheid shrimps Leptalpheus forceps Williams, 1965 and Leptalpheus marginalis Anker, 2011 in the state of Pará, in northern Brazil. Both Leptalpheus species (males, non-ovigerous females, and females carrying eggs) were collected from the burrows of the callichirid  "ghost" shrimp, Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder Rodrigues, 1993, in a muddy-sandy intertidal zone of the Ajuruteua Peninsula, in the Bragança region. These records update the known geographical distribution of the two species, with L.

Kudoa yasai n. sp. (Multivalvulida: Kudoidae) from the skeletal muscle of Macrodon ancylodon (Sciaenidae) on the northern Atlantic coast, Brazil.

A new parasite species, Kudoa yasai n. sp. (Multivalvulida), is described from the king weakfish (Macrodon ancylodon), which is an important commercial fishery resource on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

Kudoa ajurutellus n. sp. (Multivalvulida: Kudoidae), a parasite of the skeletal musculature of the Bressou sea catfish, Aspistor quadriscutis, in northeastern of the State of Pará.

Kudoa ajurutellus n. sp. (Multivalvulida: Kudoidae) is described as a parasite of the Bressou catfish, Aspistor quadriscutis (Siluriformes) collected at Ajuruteua beach, northeastern Pará, Brazil.

Food Restrictions Affect the Larval Metamorphosis and Early Juvenile Performance in a Neotropical Mangrove Fiddler Crab ().

Sporadic fluctuations in food availability may affect larval biology and post-metamorphic development in many marine invertebrates. In an experimental study in the laboratory, we investigated whether different regimes (1, 3, and 5 days) of initial starvation or feeding affect the survival and duration of the last planktotrophic larval stage (, megalopa) of the neotropical mangrove fiddler crab . Newly metamorphosed crabs originating from megalopae starved for 1 and 3 days were cultured through the first 5 juvenile stages to further evaluate whether prior nutritional experience affects the post-larval performance of this species.

Myxobolus bragantinus n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) from the gill filaments of the redeye mullet, Mugil rubrioculus (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae), on the eastern Amazon coast.

Mullets (Mugilidae) are economically-important fish exploited extensively by artisanal fisheries on the Amazon coast of Brazil. In the present study, 150 specimens of redeye mullet (Mugil rubrioculus) acquired from the public fish market were examined, and the gill filaments of 90 (60%) were found to be infected with spores of Myxobolus. The mature spores were spherical, with a mean diameter of 6.

Selectivity curves of the capture of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) on the northern coast of Brazil using bayesian inference.

Fishing selectivity of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus in the north coast of Brazil can be defined as the fisherman's ability to capture and select individuals from a certain size or sex (or a combination of these factors) which suggests an empirical selectivity. Considering this hypothesis, we calculated the selectivity curves for males and females crabs using the logit function of the logistic model in the formulation. The Bayesian inference consisted of obtaining the posterior distribution by applying the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to software R using the OpenBUGS, BRugs, and R2WinBUGS libraries.

Development and functional morphology of the mouthparts and foregut in larvae and post-larvae of Macrobrachium jelskii (Decapoda: Palaemonidae).

The morphology of the mouthparts and foregut of the larvae and post-larvae of Macrobrachium jelskii was investigated to determine their functional roles in feeding, in order to understand the larval feeding behaviour and the changes that occur during its development. The mouthparts and foregut of the zoea I and II are morphologically similar, rudimentary and non-functional in feeding. Only in the final larval stage, zoea III, do the external mouthparts and foregut become structurally more complex and thus likely to play a potential role in feeding.

Feeding and larval growth of an exotic freshwater prawn Macrobrachium equidens (Decapoda: Palaemonidae), from Northeastern Pará, Amazon Region.

In the present study, we carried out experiments on the diet of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium equidens. We tested which type of food and which density of food is suitable for larval development. For the experiment on the type of food, eight treatments were carried out: (I) starvation, (AL) microalgae, (RO) rotifers, (AN) Artemia, (RO + AN) rotifers + Artemia, (AL + RO) microalgae + rotifers, (AL + AN) microalgae + Artemia, (AL + RO + AN) microalgae + rotifers + Artemia.

The complete larval development of the mud shrimp Upogebia vasquezi (Gebiidea: Upogebiidae) reared in the laboratory.

The larval development of Upogebia vasquezi consists of four zoeal stages and a megalopa. In the present study, each larval stage was described and illustrated in detail. The first two stages are re-described in order to provide a detailed comparison with the data available for this species recorded in a previous study.

Acute toxicity of sodium metabisulphite on mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda, Ucididae).

The sodium metabisulphite salt is usually used in shrimp culture to prevent black spot. Unfortunately the toxicological effect of this xenobiotic in decapod crabs is unknown. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the sodium metabisulphite LC(50) - 96 h in the mangrove species Ucides cordatus.

Acute toxicity of sodium metabisulphite in larvae and post-larvae of the land crab, Cardisoma guanhumi.

Sodium metabisulphite (SMB) is used in marine shrimp aquaculture to prevent the occurrence of black spot. The release SMB into the estuarine environment from shrimp farm pond effluents has been reported. This study evaluated the susceptibility of larvae and post-larvae of land crab, Cardisoma guanhumi to this salt.

Development and functional morphology of the larval foregut of two brachyuran species from Northern Brazil.

Feeding is an important factor for the successful rearing of larvae of the crab species. Further information on the morphological features of the foregut may to reveal larval feeding behaviour and or/whether there is a lecithotrophy in some or even in all stages of the larval cycle. In the present study, the structural development of the foregut and their digestive functions were examined in larvae of two brachyurans, Uca vocator and Panopeus occidentalis, reared in the laboratory.

Occurrence of the Indo-Pacific freshwater prawn Macrobrachium equidens Dana 1852 on the coast of Brazilian Amazonia, with notes on its reproductive biology.

The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium equidens, which is native species of the Indo-Pacific Region, was recorded for the first time on the Amazon coast of Brazil. This species was found to inhabit the same environment as two native Macrobrachium species, M. amazonicum and M.

Occurrence of Cymbasoma longispinosum Bourne, 1890 in the Curuçá River estuary.

The present work was carried out to verify the occurrence and distribution of Cymbasoma longispinosum Bourne, 1890 in a tropical Amazon estuary from North Brazil. Samplings were performed bimonthly from July/2003 to July/2004 at two different transects (Muriá and Curuçá rivers) situated along the Curuçá estuary (Pará, North Brazil). Samples were collected during neap tides via gentle (1 to 1.

Influence of natural settlement cues on the metamorphosis of fiddler crab megalopae, Uca vocator (Decapoda: Ocypodidae).

Megalopae of many decapod crab species accelerate their development time to metamorphosis (TTM) when exposed to natural physical and/or chemical cues characteristic of the parental habitat. In the present study, the influence of natural settlement cues on the moulting rates and development TTM in megalopae of the fiddler crab Uca vocator was investigated. The effects of mud from different habitats (including well-preserved and degraded-polluted mangrove habitats) and conspecific adult 'odours' (seawater conditioned with crabs) on the induction of metamorphosis were compared with filtered pure seawater (control).

Lecithotrophic behaviour in zoea and megalopa larvae of the ghost shrimp Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder and Rodrigues, 1993 (Decapoda: Callianassidae).

Food supply is considered critical for a successful culturing of decapod larvae. However, some species may present yolk reserve sufficient to complete their larval development without external food supply (known as lecithotrophic larval development). In the present study, two experiments were carried out in order to verify whether the callianassid Lepidophthalmus siriboia have lecithotrophic behaviour or, if they need external food for their larval development: Experiment 1, larvae submitted to an initial feeding period and Experiment 2, larvae submitted to an initial starvation period.

The importance of feeding in the larval development of the ghost shrimp Callichirus major (Decapoda: Callianassidae).

The present study investigated whether the callianassid Callichirus major shows a lecithotrophic behaviour during larval development. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, larvae were subjected to an initial period of feeding, while in the second they were subjected to an initial period of starvation.

Development and functional morphology of the foreguts of larvae and postlarvae of three crustacean decapods.

The development of the foregut structure and the digestive function of the decapods Litopenaeus vannamei, Sesarma rectum and Callichirus major larvae and post larvae were examined. The protozoeal foregut of L. vannamei is simple, lacking a cardiopyloric valve and bearing a rudimentary filter press.

The early phyllosoma stages of spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 (Decapoda: Palinuridae) reared in the laboratory.

The early stages of the Panulirus echinatus were hatched and reared in the laboratory. Ovigerous females were captured in their habitat and carefully transported to the laboratory. Larvae were transferred in a recirculation water tank at a density of 10 larvae.

Interaction and lipid-induced conformation of two cecropin-melittin hybrid peptides depend on peptide and membrane composition.

The interaction of two hybrid peptides of cecropin A and melittin [CA(1-8)M(1-18) and CA(1-7)M(2-9)] with liposomes was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), circular dichroism (CD), and quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS). The study was carried out with large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of three different lipid compositions: 1,2-dimyristoil-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DMPG) and a binary mixture of DMPC/DMPG, in a wide range of peptide-to-lipid (P:L) molar ratios (0 to 1:7). DSC results indicate that, for both peptides, the interaction depends on membrane composition, with very different behavior for zwitterionic and anionic membranes.

Porphyrin-substrate binding to murine ferrochelatase: effect on the thermal stability of the enzyme.

Ferrochelatase (EC 4.99.1.