Edilson Divino Araujo

This study investigated the morphometric variation in Melipona scutellaris stingless bees rational hive boxes from five states, inserted into the natural range of the species occurrence in northeastern Brazil. The cluster analysis (UPGMA) showed three distinct groups by determining the cutoff point. The multivariate analysis were performed using MANOVA and Canonical Variables for the shape analysis. The One-Way ANOVA was used to assess differences in centroid size. The results showed population divergence between localities limited by geographical barriers or great distances, corroborating previous observations by the UPGMA. Variation between colonies inter-state was higher that intra-state and, in most cases, Geometric Morphometrics was effective in identifying the origin of colonies transported to other states, observed in the cross-validation analysis that showed more than 70% of classification accuracy. Geometric Morphometrics could be used to evaluate the introduction of colonies within the kindred meliponary. Natural populations of Melipona scutellaris show a significant variation, which brings important implications to meliponiculture and to conservation strategies for this endangered species.

The objective of this scientometric review is to search the literature in order to examine the uses and effects of propolis and highlight emerging trends and research gaps in relation to this natural product. The review also systematizes the study models used, methodological trends, and the main obstacles faced in the collection, extraction, and concentration of the raw material, as well as the emerging challenges in the standardization of extracts and their bioactive compounds for use in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. The search revealed that propolis has a wide range of effects, including anti-inflammatory, healing, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, and anticarcinogenic activities, arising mainly from its polyphenolic compounds. A multivariate analysis of canonical correspondence was used to correlate these compounds with these effects. In order to identify and retrieve the most important published literature in this field in the last decade, a database search (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) was performed. The search terms were: propolis, biological properties, therapeutics, adjuvant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, healing, anticarcinogenic, antinociceptive, neuroregenerative, and toxicity, as well as their respective combinations. The multivariate analysis clarified the effects played by the propolis metabolites. The review also revealed that few articles have explored the antinociceptive and neurological effects of propolis, highlighting a gap in this research field, and the possible neglect of important targets for the development of drugs for neurological diseases and the treatment of pain. The results also reinforced the need for more studies on living systems and showed a trend for methods using superfluid extraction, with ethanol being the most suitable solvent. The review also indicated the potential use of propolis extract in nutraceutical and as an adjuvant, enhancing the effects of other drugs.

The prevalence global of noncommunicable chronic diseases as diabetes and hypertension worldwide has been disregarded until recently by policy makers. In addition, these diseases have growing with the aging of the population. This study sought to identify changes in face shape from the frontal and side views in elderly people diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. 205 individuals were studied, with 60 years or more, from both sexes, with different ethnicities, and cognition intact. With a digital camera, photos were taken of the front and side and based on these images landmarks for measurement were determined. For statistical analysis, ANOVA, Canonical Variates Analysis, Mahalanobis distance and Thin-Plate Spline were realized. Given sexual dimorphism, the sexes were analyzed separately. From the ANOVA, significant differences (p<0.01) for individuals with diabetes, hypertension, and patients with both or neither of the diseases were observed. The groups were separated by the Canonical Variates and Mahalanobis distance and independent of edentulism, sex or ethnicity. A morphofacial characteristics for the front and side views (especially in the ear region) that identified individuals with these chronic diseases was observed. This methodology can contribute in a specific manner to the identification of at risk populations and help to promote preventative measures for these conditions.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus. It may manifest in visceral and tegumentary forms, and pentavalent antimonials are the first choice drugs used for the treatment. Frequently these drugs show low efficiency and high toxicity to mammalian host. The present study describes the chemical profile and the in vitro leishmanicidal effects of red propolis and Dalbergia ecastaphyllum extracts from Sergipe, Brazil, in Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. The phenolic composition of the extracts was evaluated by direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) fingerprinting. The leishmanicidal effect was evaluated by the Resazurin colorimetric method. Similar composition profiles have been found for D. ecastaphyllum and propolis samples. The isoflavones formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein and pinocembrin were identified in both extracts. Propolis extract showed leishmanicidal activity in both L. chagasi and L. amazonensis, with IC₅₀ values of 21.54 and 9.73 µg/mL, respectively. The D. ecastaphyllum extract presented activity only in L. amazonensis, with IC₅₀ of 53.42 µg/mL. These results suggest that red propolis extract from Sergipe has the leguminosae D. ecastaphyllum as botanical origin, and that it presents potential leishmanicidal activity, which may be associated with the presence of the phenolic compounds found in its composition.

Xylocopa, an important genus in Hymenoptera: Apidae, is of great significance in research on the early stages of insect social evolution. Most species in this genus burrow into wooden structures. Only the Proxylocopa subgenus nests in the soil. Here, we report the nesting behavior of Xylocopa xinjiangensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopinae), which is distributed only in Western China. During July 2013 and August 2016, we observed the nest architecture and nest building process of X. xinjiangensis. X. xinjiangensis is solitary and nests in the soil walls of gullies, mounds, and cliffs in the Manas area, Xinjiang, multiplying at the rate of one generation a year. Newly emerged females eclose in the fall and build wintering nests first. The next spring, outbound wintering females build breeding nests, although a few wintering females may use the breeding nests built by their mothers. The location and structure of X. xinjiangensis wintering nests are different from those of the breeding nests. The wintering nest is simple in structure, consisting of a tunnel leading perpendicularly from the surface to the interior. The structure of the breeding nest may be either a branching tunnel or a straight-chain tunnel. The first cell that X. xinjiangensis builds in the breeding nest is closest to the entrance, which is a significant difference from the behavior of carpenter bees that construct nests in wood structures. The results of this study lay the foundation for the utilization and protection of X. xinjiangensis resources and facilitate a better understanding of the evolution of the Xylocopa population.

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and the prevalence of HPV types varies depending on the geographic region. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of HPV types in women with cervical lesions from Sergipe state, Northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in women with cervical lesions from March to December 2014. These lesions were investigated by PCR and HPV types were identified by DNA sequencing. 432 patients were included, of which 337 patients tested positive for HPV. Eighteen different HPV types were detected, and high-risk HPV types were detected in 69.2%. HPV 16 (63.4%) was the most prevalent HPV type found, followed by HPV 66 (4.6%), HPV 18 (1.6%) and HPV 45 (1.4%). These results highlight the importance of the high prevalence of HPV 66, which is a possibly carcinogenic virus type not covered by the available vaccines. The prevalence of HPV 16 was high in the studied population, reaffirming the importance of young vaccination. However, the high prevalence of HPV 66 found in this study shows the importance of monitoring the diversity of HPV types in different populations and geographic regions to better understand the impacts of current HPV vaccines.

Honey from stingless bees of the genus Melipona is a well sought product. Nevertheless lack of legal frameworks for quality assessment complicates the evaluation of food safety and marketing of these products. Seeking to assess the quality of honey from the bees of this genus, physical and chemical analyses, identification of phenolic compounds, and microbiological evaluation from six species of stingless bees was performed. The honey samples showed high reducing sugars, low protein levels and a balanced microbiota. High total phenols and flavonoids and higher antioxidant activity were also recorded. Different phenolic compounds of great biotechnological potential were identified and of these apigenin, kaempferol and luteolin were identified for the first time in honey. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few works describing a detail characterization of melipona honey together with identification of the phenolic compounds of significant therapeutic value.

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum was found to be the botanical origin of Brazilian red propolis by chemical and molecular studies increasing the interest in research with this plant species. The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazil granted the designation of origin to red propolis and red propolis extract from Alagoas state whose composition includes, among other chemical compounds, formononetin and daidzein. However, several studies have identified the chemical markers of this product in samples of D. ecastaphyllum and propolis of Sergipe state. The objective of this study was to compare the chemical and genetic identity between D. ecastaphyllum populations and propolis samples collected from the north (Alagoas) and south (Sergipe) banks of the São Francisco river also known as the lower São Francisco region. D. ecastaphyllum samples and propolis from this region showed similar chromatographic profiles and ESI (−) – MS fingerprints. The markers formononetin, biochanin A and daidzein were found in D. ecastaphyllum and propolis collected from Sergipe and Alagoas. DNA sequencing demonstrated that Dalbergia population from Alagoas and Sergipe are highly homogeneous, having exactly the same haplotype. Thus D. ecastaphyllum from the lower São Francisco have the same genetic characteristics and chemical profiles including the chemical markers considered for propolis from Alagoas, asking for more comparative studies between propolis produced in the northeastern region of Brazil with the possible extension of geographical indication to other states as well.

The study of the genetic structure of Aedes aegypti is essential to understanding their population dynamics as well as for the analysis of factors responsible for their resistance and ecological adaptation. The use of molecular markers in identifying differences amongst populations of Ae. aegypti in different geographical areas as well as the temporal variation of the vector populations has contributed to the improvement of vector control strategies. The present study aims to determine the genetic variability of Ae. aegypti populations in a small geographical area (state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil) by means of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. ISSR markers revealed a more heterogeneous pattern of genetic diversity among the populations with an expected heterozygosity (H E) ranging from 0.261 ± 0.03 to 0.120 ± 0.032, while a similar trend was detected through SNPs across populations with an H E between 0.375 ± 0.054 and 0.269 ± 0.042. The population’s genetic differentiation assessed with ISSR and SNP markers indicated a very low structuring among the populations with the highest diversity observed within the populations 72 % (ISSR) and 92 % (SNP). Clustering analysis also suggested little variation among populations: the seven populations were grouped into only three ISSR clusters and a single panmictic group based on SNP markers. The present study identified a close relationship between the populations, which probably results mainly from passive gene flow between mosquitoes from distinct geographic regions, influenced by humans commuting along roads. There was an intense migration of mosquitos across municipalities, leading to a potential increase in risk of arbovirus and insecticide resistance associated-alleles spreading between mosquito populations.

Rapid loss of genetic diversity among eusocial bees, and extinction of their local population has become a major world concern. Populations of M. quadrifasciata have increasingly declined due to predatory extractivism and destruction of their habitat. Knowledge of their local population could give insights on the strategies for monitoring and conservation of this species. In this study, initially, 14 colonies (140 workers) from the Northern limit of the Northeastern sandbank of the Atlantic Forest were analyzed employing geometric morphometrics techniques. Then the cytochrome b gene sequences and ISSR primers were utilized for molecular analysis. The results were compared with the results of 30 M. quadrifasciata colonies (300 workers) found in the semiarid Caatinga region. The morphometrics and the molecular analysis suggested the formation of disjunct populations between the studied geographical zones. All the 14 colonies analyzed from the river São Francisco region were found on the Southern margin of the river São Francisco and they all belonged to one single haplotype. No colonies were found on the Northern bank of the river. We suggest that the river São Francisco is an effective georgraphical barrier for the distribution of this species and propose an urgent need for the development of a conservation program for the population of M. quadrifasciata as it represents a unique haplotype in the region. Also their nesting habit exclusively in the diseased coconut trees which probably will be replaced by new trees, create the risk of population extinction due to the lack of nesting site.