Four novel peptides were isolated from the venoms of the solitary eumenine wasps Eumenes rubrofemoratus and Eumenes fraterculus. Their sequences were determined by MALDI-TOF/TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) analysis, Edman degradation and solid-phase synthesis. Two of them, eumenitin-R (LNLKGLIKKVASLLN) and eumenitin-F (LNLKGLFKKVASLLT), are highly homologous to eumenitin, an antimicrobial peptide from a solitary eumenine wasp, whereas the other two, EMP-ER (FDIMGLIKKVAGAL-NH(2)) and EMP-EF (FDVMGIIKKIAGAL-NH(2)), are similar to eumenine mastoparan-AF (EMP-AF), a mast cell degranulating peptide from a solitary eumenine wasp. These sequences have the characteristic features of linear cationic cytolytic peptides; rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids with no disulfide bond, and accordingly, they can be predicted to adopt an amphipathic α-helix secondary structure. In fact, the CD (circular dichroism) spectra of these peptides showed significant α-helical conformation content in the presence of TFE (trifluoroethanol), SDS (sodium dodecylsulfate) and asolectin vesicles. In the biological evaluation, all the peptides exhibited a significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and moderate mast cell degranulation and leishmanicidal activities, but showed virtually no hemolytic activity.

Cyanobacteria are common members of the freshwater microbiota in lakes and drinking water reservoirs, and are responsible for several cases of human intoxications in Brazil. Pseudanabaena galeata and Geitlerinema splendidum are examples of the toxic species that are very frequently found in reservoirs in Sao Paulo, which is the most densely populated area in Brazil. In the search for toxic strains collected from water reservoirs and maintained in the Cyanobacterial Culture Collection (CCIBt) of the Institute of Botany of Brazil, the acetic acid extracts (AE) of P. galeata CCIBt 3082 and G. splendidum CCIBt 3223 were analyzed by planar chromatography, which indicated the absence of cyanotoxins. Animal tests were then carried out, and both extracts were found to induce toxic effects in mice when administered intraperitoneally. The present study aimed to investigate whether the oral ingestion of the above mentioned cyanobacteria extracts would also induce toxic effects in mice. Necropsy and histopathological studies were conducted using tissue samples from the animals, which were euthanized one week after the administration of the extracts. The AE of P. galeata did not cause death but did induce transient symptoms, including eyebrow ptosis, straub tail, and pain. The euthanized animals presented hemorrhage in the liver, whereas the histological analysis showed disorganization of the hepatic parenchyma, necrosis, hyperemia, and proximity of the centrilobular vein in the liver. In addition, alterations in the convoluted tubules of the kidneys were observed, and the lungs were unaffected. The AE of G. splendidum caused only one death, and induced transient symptoms, such as dyspnea, paralysis, and pain, in the other mice. The necropsy of the euthanized mice showed hemorrhage in the lungs and liver. The lungs presented hemorrhagic focuses, alveolar collapse, and granulomatous foci. The liver presented hemorrhagic and enlarged sinusoids, hyperemia, proximity of the centrilobular vein, and disorganization of the hepatic parenchyma. Some areas also exhibited an inflammatory infiltrate and calcified tissue inside blood vessels. Necrosis and rupture of the convoluted tubule cells were observed in the kidneys. Further analysis of the both extracts indicated the lack of hemolytic activity, and the presence of two unknown anti-AChE substances in the AE of G. splendidum. Thus, P. galeata and G. splendidum are producers of novel toxins that affect mammals when administered orally.

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Macroalgae are considered bioindicators for marine pollution, because they have the ability to quickly react to changes in their environment. In consequence, macroalgae populations fluctuate, according to species characteristics and adaptive strategies. Their cell wall polysaccharides contain sulfate groups that are capable of retaining and accumulating heavy metals. In addition to traditional contaminants, emerging pollutants are being recognized in aquatic environments. Herein, emerging pollutants have been identified after being desorbed from the macroalga Dichotomaria marginata, collected from Fortaleza Beach, Ubatuba, Brazil. Based on that algal polysaccharide networks have the potential of forming hydrogen bonds with polar compounds, it was hypothesized that these pollutants would be bound to sugar polymers. Compounds present in the D. marginata samples were identified using both gas and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS and HPLC/MS), assisted by computational methods. It was possible to unequivocally identify 22 emerging contaminants with GC/MS, and 16 substances with HPLC/MS.

-(Loss of toxicity by Pseudanabaena galeata in culture). Pseudanabaena galeata, a well-known toxin-producer, is commonly found in water supplies. In order to assess potential risks associated with oral exposure to this cyanobacterium, mouse toxicological studies were carried out with the monoespecific strain P. galeata CCIBt 3082, which has been kept in culture since 1996. In our studies, the acute oral lethal dose has been estimated to be 5,000 mg kg -1 bw and, in the oral sub-chronic assays, the animals showed a decrease in weight and presented microscopic intestinal lesions, results that did not correspond to statements by other authors. In their studies, oral administration of the extract, whose acute lethal dose has been established to be 1,000 mg kg -1 bw, led to severe intoxication and promoted hepatic and renal lesions. Toxicity loss of this strain may be the result of reductive evolution that can occur in organisms that remain in static environments for long periods. Keywords: adaptive process, changes in culture, cyanobacteria, toxicity loss RESUMO -(Perda de toxicidade de Pseudanabaena galeata em cultura). Pseudanabaena galeata, produtora de toxina letal, é encontrada frequentemente em reservatórios de água para abastecimento. Para avaliar o potencial risco associado à exposição, por via oral, a esta cianobactéria, foram realizados estudos toxicológicos em camundongos com a cepa uniespecífica P. galeata CCIBt 3082, mantida em cultura desde 1996. Em nossos estudos, a dose oral letal aguda foi de 5.000 mg kg -1 pc e o teste oral subcrônico mostrou diminuição do peso e lesões microscópicas nos intestinos, resultados que contrastaram com os experimentos levados a efeito com esta cepa, em períodos anteriores. Nesses estudos, a administração oral do extrato causou severa intoxicação e lesões hepáticas e renais e a dose letal oral média foi de 1.000 mg kg -1 pc. A perda de toxicidade dessa cepa pode ser resultado de evolução redutiva, fenômeno que ocorre em organismos que permanecem em ambientes estáticos por longos períodos. Palavras-chave: cianobactéria, mudanças em cultura, perda de toxicidade, processos adaptativos