Publications by authors named "Luiz B"

Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) is one of the most frequent pathogens isolated from diarrheal patients as well as from healthy individuals in Brazil and has recently also been implicated as an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) associated with bloodstream and urinary tract infections.

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Hemileia vastatrix, causal agent of coffee leaf rust (CLR), is an aggressive pathogen of coffee plants worldwide. Conventional fungicides play a major role in the suppression of this disease, but a recent shift toward eco-friendly farming practices has occurred and additional novel, effective, and sustainable strategies for CLR control are needed. Naturally occurring fungal antagonists could be well-positioned to meet this demand, but these fungi need to be isolated and tested for efficacy to identify organisms with potential.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The text discusses an ornamental house plant known for its unique leaves, which faced a severe bacterial infection at a nursery in Hilo, Hawaii, causing noticeable damage characterized by discoloration and necrotic lesions.
  • - A specific bacterial isolate (BCB001) was identified from the infected plants, confirmed through a series of tests including genetic sequencing that matched previous records in a database.
  • - To test this bacterial strain's pathogenicity, healthy plants were inoculated, and increased surveillance on plant health was emphasized for understanding and managing infections in ornamental horticulture.
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Plant pathogens are increasingly compromising forest health, with impacts to the ecological, economic, and cultural goods and services these global forests provide. One response to these threats is the identification of disease resistance in host trees, which with conventional methods can take years or even decades to achieve. Remote sensing methods have accelerated host resistance identification in agricultural crops and for a select few forest tree species, but applications are rare.

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Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with muscle weakness, but it is unclear which structures are involved in the muscle changes. This study assessed morphological alterations and the expression of genes and proteins linked to muscular atrophy and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in KOA, induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in rats. Two groups of rats were assessed: control (without intervention) and KOA (ACLT surgery in the right knee).

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The native 'ōhi'a lehua () has cultural, biological and ecological significance to Hawai'i, but it is seriously threatened by a disease commonly referred to as rapid 'ōhi'a death (ROD). Preliminary investigations showed that a species similar to s.lat.

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Article Synopsis
  • Individual susceptibility to lead toxicity varies due to environmental factors and genetic differences, particularly in enzymes that metabolize lead, with a focus on glutathione (GSH) genes (GCLC and GCLM).
  • A study with 236 adults from automotive battery factories in Brazil assessed blood and plasma lead levels, glutathione concentrations, and glutathione-peroxidase activity in relation to these genetic polymorphisms.
  • Results showed that certain genetic variants led to lower blood and plasma lead levels and higher glutathione concentrations, suggesting that these polymorphisms positively affect antioxidant status and reduce lead toxicity.
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The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a rat lungworm, a zoonotic pathogen that causes human eosinophilic meningitis and ocular angiostrongyliasis characteristic of rat lungworm (RLW) disease. Definitive diagnosis is made by finding and identifying A. cantonensis larvae in the cerebral spinal fluid or by using a custom immunological or molecular test.

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