{"title":"Community Structure of Macroparasites of Oligoplites palometa (Cuvier, 1832) (Osteichthyes: Carangidae) from northeastern Brazil.","authors":"Anderson S Coutinho, Ana Carolina F Lacerda","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620240664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620240664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasites are intrinsic components of biological communities; however, much remains to be discovered, since they are often less studied than their hosts. One of the main objectives of parasite ecology is to investigate what parameters are responsible for the distribution of parasites in nature. This study aimed to describe and analyze the composition and structure of the metazoan macroparasite community of the fish Oligoplites palometa (Cuvier, 1832) from the coast of the city of Cabedelo, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, considering the species composition, dominance, dispersion pattern, correlation with the host's length and interspecific associations. In total, 42 hosts were analyzed and 4915 macroparasites were collected, belonging to 15 species, from five groups: Monopisthocotyla (3), Digenea (5), Nematoda (3), Isopoda (1), and Copepoda (3). Most parasites showed the aggregate dispersion pattern. Monopisthocotylans and two nematode species presented positive correlation between abundance and the host's length, indicating a possible cumulative process of parasite acquisition over time. Pairs of species did not show negative correlations, however, two pairs of ectoparasites and two pairs of endoparasites showed significant positive associations and correlations between their abundances, indicating possible processes of facilitation or similarity in the host acquisition pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 4","pages":"e20240664"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149190379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Railla S Maia, Moisés Henrique Mastella, Vitória F Azzolin, Iana F DA Silva, Bárbara O Turra, Elize Musachio, Fernanda Trombini, Débora Luisa F Pulcinelli, Graziela M Meira, José Guilherme Maia, Fernanda Barbisan, Euler E Ribeiro, Ivana Beatrice M DA Cruz, Verônica F Azzolin
{"title":"Clinical-functional vulnerability, but not oxidative stress markers, is associated with self-perceived post-COVID sequelae in community-dwelling older adults: a six-month longitudinal study.","authors":"Railla S Maia, Moisés Henrique Mastella, Vitória F Azzolin, Iana F DA Silva, Bárbara O Turra, Elize Musachio, Fernanda Trombini, Débora Luisa F Pulcinelli, Graziela M Meira, José Guilherme Maia, Fernanda Barbisan, Euler E Ribeiro, Ivana Beatrice M DA Cruz, Verônica F Azzolin","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620250608","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620250608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxidative stress has been proposed as a central mechanism in post-COVID condition pathophysiology; however, its relationship with subjective symptom burden in older adults remains uncertain. This longitudinal study investigated whether oxidative stress markers are associated with self-perceived postCOVID sequelae in community-dwelling older adults over six months. Fifty-five individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, and 49 had complete laboratory data. Hematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress markersincluding thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonylation, and DCFH-DA derived reactive oxygen species (ROS)were assessed at baseline and six months. Self-perceived sequelae were measured using a Likert scale, and clinical-functional vulnerability was evaluated with the IVCF-20. Over time, TBARS levels increased and protein carbonylation decreased, while ROS levels remained stable. Some biochemical markers showed significant variation, although mean values remained within reference ranges. No significant associations were observed between oxidative stress markers and self-perceived post-COVID impact. In contrast, greater clinical-functional vulnerability, particularly memory-related domains, was significantly associated with increased perceived burden. Most oxidative changes occurred independently of classical risk factors such as age, sex, diabetes, and obesity. These findings suggest that subjective post-COVID impact in older adults is more strongly related to cognitive and functional vulnerability than to persistent systemic oxidative imbalance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 4","pages":"e20250608"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149190315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"When Form Intersects with Automation: Ethics, Authorship, and the Future of IMRAD.","authors":"Vasco Azevedo","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620260465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620260465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Academic dishonesty predates artificial intelligence; fabrication, plagiarism, and ghost authorship largely reflect distorted \"publish or perish\" incentives rather than technological novelty. We argue that using AI to assist with drafting, linguistic editing, and organizing text, tables, and figures in biology is ethically comparable to established editorial support services, provided its use is transparently disclosed and full accountability remains with human authors. At the same time, exponential growth in publication output is intensifying the peer-review bottleneck and challenging the sustainability of an unpaid reviewer workforce. We further contend that IMRAD, while valuable for standardization, should be modernized through layered, machine-actionable extensions (e.g., structured metadata and machine-readable appendices) that serve both human and computational readers. We recommend that journals implement explicit AI governance (mandatory disclosure, prohibition of AI authorship, and documented human verification), adopt extended formats alongside IMRAD, and develop meaningful recognition or incentive mechanisms for peer reviewers to strengthen research integrity and publishing sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 suppl 2","pages":"e20260465"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149134463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paula Natalia S Sant'ana, Julio Cezar Mendes, Clarisse M Fernandes
{"title":"Late and post-collisional granite generation following peak magmatism at the Serra dos Órgãos Batholith, Ribeira Belt, Brazil.","authors":"Paula Natalia S Sant'ana, Julio Cezar Mendes, Clarisse M Fernandes","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620251307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620251307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Serra dos Órgãos Batholith (SOB) is a large syn- to late-collisional body related to the Central Ribeira Orogen, southeast Brazil. Although the batholith has been subjected to several studies over the past few decades, petrological investigation is still needed in unexplored regions of the intrusion. Using geochemical, Sr-Nd isotopes (ID-TIMS), mineral chemistry (EMPA), and in situ zircon U-Pb geochronology (LA-ICP-MS) data, this work aims to evaluate petrogenetic processes, and crystallization and emplacement conditions of rocks belonging to the batholith as well as of a post-collisional pluton (Conselheiro Paulino Granite, CPG) intrusive to batholith rocks. U-Pb geochronological data yielded Ediacaran ages for the SOB and Cambrian ages for the CPG, which also records inherited Ediacaran ages. Sr initial ratios for granodiorite and leucogranite from the batholith is equal to 0.709, whereas ƐNd(t) for granodiorite is -4 and for leucogranite is -13.82. The post-collisional granite Sr initial ratios show values of 0.712 and 0.710, and.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 suppl 2","pages":"e20251307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149134910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PET microplastics: interactions with soil and chives.","authors":"Jéssica R Costa, Marcos Roberto Pinheiro","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620260070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620260070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the impact of microplastics (PET) on soil properties and the development of chives under controlled laboratory conditions. Microplastics were added to the soil at concentrations below 0.05% w/w to examine their effects on soil chemistry, including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and essential nutrients. The chives plants were measured (length), including both the aerial parts and the root system. The root region of the plants was examined with the aid of a binocular microscope. The results show that microplastics influenced some soil characteristics, such as a reduction in pH, CEC, and essential nutrients, like phosphorus and calcium. On the other hand, the effect of microplastics on the growth of chives was minimal, with no significant differences observed between the plants grown in soils with and without microplastics (control sample). These results suggest that low concentrations of PET microplastics do not have adverse effects on soil, as well as the development of chives, even when present near the plant root system. Thus, we conclude that chives remain visibly attractive for human consumption, even in the presence of the plastic particles, despite their effects on human health are still not fully understood.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 suppl 2","pages":"e20260070"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149134521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enzymatic Characterization and Application Study of Fructosyl Peptide Oxidase with Improved Thermal Stability and Activity.","authors":"Kehong Lou, Feibo Dong, Guosheng Gao, Sangyu Ying, Kai Xun, Xin Hua","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620250635","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620250635","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fructosyl peptide oxidase (FPOX) is clinically valuable for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) quantification, but current variants suffer from low activity and thermal stability, limiting their applications. A novel consensus sequence (FPOX-Con) was designed by analyzing the structural and sequence data of existing FPOXs. The FPOX-Con mutant was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and purified via Ni2+-NTA chromatography, yielding high-purity protein. Enzymatic assays revealed an activity of 31.2 U/mg, significantly surpassing the wild-type (15.3 U/mg). FPOX-Con exhibited an optimal pH of 7.5 with stability across pH 5-9, and optimal activity at 45 °C, maintaining over 90% activity after heating at 50 °C for 10 minutes. Spectral analysis confirmed distinct flavin cofactor characteristics. Clinical testing with FPOX-Con showed excellent agreement with conventional HPLC methods (R2 = 0.9879), with relative deviations mostly under 5%. This high-activity FPOX mutant offers promising potential for rapid and precise HbA1c clinical detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 suppl 2","pages":"e20250635"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149134915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mürüvvet Kurt, Gülderen U Akkuş, Atilla Evcin, Safiye E Korcan
{"title":"Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Pinus nigra Cones: Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Synergistic Effects.","authors":"Mürüvvet Kurt, Gülderen U Akkuş, Atilla Evcin, Safiye E Korcan","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620250859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620250859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized through a green and sustainable approach using aqueous extracts of immature Pinus nigra cones. Characterization by UV-Vis, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, TEM, and XRD confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles (22-40 nm) with a face-centered cubic crystalline structure and a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 443 nm. GC-MS analysis of pine cone essential oil identified β-caryophyllene (42.1%) as the major constituent, a compound known for its efflux pump inhibitory properties that may contribute to enhanced antibacterial synergy. Antioxidant assays revealed that the pine cone extract exhibited higher reducing and metal-chelating activities than KAgNPs, whereas the nanoparticles showed moderate radical scavenging activity. Antibacterial evaluations demonstrated that KAgNPs were more effective than the extract, exhibiting lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against the tested bacteria, with MICs as low as 0.105 mg/200 µL. Furthermore, synergistic effects were observed when KAgNPs were combined with ofloxacin against Escherichia coli and with daptomycin against Streptococcus mutans. This study represents the first report of AgNP synthesis from immature Pinus nigra cones and highlights their potential as sustainable antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 3","pages":"e20250859"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brenna P Bastos, Maria Eduarda S Dos Santos, Maise Silva, Patrícia A Ferreira, Mauro Ramalho, Marcos C Dórea
{"title":"Pollen niche of Melipona (Michmelia) scutellaris Latreille, 1811 in the tropical forest: a palynological perspective.","authors":"Brenna P Bastos, Maria Eduarda S Dos Santos, Maise Silva, Patrícia A Ferreira, Mauro Ramalho, Marcos C Dórea","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202420250124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202420250124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mutualistic interactions between plants and bees are essential for tropical forests. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation in the pollen niche of Melipona scutellaris, a generalist stingless bee native to the Atlantic Forest. Pollen was collected over 17 months at four replicates in the Michelin Ecological Reserve, Northeastern Brazil. Samples were processed using standard acetolysis, and ecological indices were analyzed. Sixty-one pollen types were found in this bee diet, with foraging concentrated on a few of them. Despite its generalist behavior, the concentration of pollen collection on a limited subset of the flora (with emphasis on Melastomataceae) indicates that certain floral sources play a prominent role in the maintenance of perennial colonies. Spatial modules in the interaction network were observed and corresponded to the replicates, indicating some effect of the spatial heterogeneity of the forest on the realized trophic niche. There was temporal variation in the richness of pollen sources used by this bee, practically unrelated to climate variables. Niche breadth and evenness values were low and presented asynchronous variation between replicates. These findings highlight the need to prioritize key floral resources in tropical forest conservation to sustain stingless bee populations and their essential pollination services.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 3","pages":"e20250124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lucas Benício DE Castro, Renon S Andrade, Pietro Kiyoshi Maruyama, Isabela G Varassin, Sara Stefani Domingos, Marcia M Maués, Antonio Mauro Saraiva, José Salim, Kayna Agostini, Marina Wolowski, Onildo J Marini-Filho, Leandro Freitas, André Rodrigo Rech
{"title":"Threatened pollinator and plant species in megadiverse countries: what we have learned from a synthesis of interactions for Brazil.","authors":"Lucas Benício DE Castro, Renon S Andrade, Pietro Kiyoshi Maruyama, Isabela G Varassin, Sara Stefani Domingos, Marcia M Maués, Antonio Mauro Saraiva, José Salim, Kayna Agostini, Marina Wolowski, Onildo J Marini-Filho, Leandro Freitas, André Rodrigo Rech","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620250746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620250746","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant-pollinator interactions are essential for the reproduction of most flowering plants and the maintenance of biodiversity. With each new assessment of threat status, new plants and pollinators are included in the list of threatened species. However, the ecological interactions established by threatened plants and pollinators are largely unknown. To support conservation planning for threatened plants and pollinators, we surveyed interactions for the plant and pollinator species listed in the official threatened species lists for Brazil. We found data on plant-pollinator interactions for less than 30% of the species listed as threatened. From what is known, abundant species with generalist characteristics play a central role in the interaction meta-network of threatened species. This information can be used to promote better actions for their conservation. Nevertheless, more efforts are required to focus on pollination interactions of threatened animals and plants. We highlight and discuss the relevance of exotic species such as Apis mellifera and Lantana camara in our set of mapped interactions. We conclude that the data synthesized here can support actions for the long-term maintenance of threatened species and the functioning of ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 3","pages":"e20250746"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aline Sitowski, Danielle Remor, Benoît Loeuille, Aristônio Magalhães Teles, José Floriano B Pastore
{"title":"New Generic Placements and Typifications for names in Chrysocoma (Asteraceae) Described in Vellozo's Florae Fluminensis.","authors":"Aline Sitowski, Danielle Remor, Benoît Loeuille, Aristônio Magalhães Teles, José Floriano B Pastore","doi":"10.1590/0001-3765202620260017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202620260017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The taxonomic identity of Chrysocoma linearis, C. monantha, and C. opposita (Asteraceae), described in Vellozo's Florae Fluminensis, is reassessed. Based on the analysis of the protologues, original illustrations, and additional taxonomic evidence, we propose two new combinations in Chrysolaena and one in Piptocarpha. Field expeditions conducted between 2021 and 2022 in the municipality of Cunha, state of São Paulo, the locality most likely associated with these names, provided additional material. We designate three lectotypes and three epitypes, propose new synonymies, and provide distribution maps, illustrations, and taxonomic comments for the species involved.</p>","PeriodicalId":7776,"journal":{"name":"Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias","volume":"98 3","pages":"e20260017"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}