The current antiviral drug armamentarium comprises nearly 40 compounds that have been officially approved for clinical use. Most of these drugs date back the last five years, and at least half of them are used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.1) Taking this situation into account, the importance of developing new antiviral agents becomes clear in order to increase the number of these available drugs.The Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV) are responsible for a broad range of human infectious diseases. Moreover, HSV infections were reported to be recognized as a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.2) However, the prolonged therapies with the available antiherpes drugs have resulted in some undesirable effects 3) and also induced the emergence of drug-resistant strains. 4)The adenovirus serotype 5 (AdV-5) is very stable in the environment during long periods of time, and it is associated with respiratory infections with no specific treatment. 5)The rotaviruses are responsible for severe gastroenteritis in both humans and animals. The infection of children and/or immunocompromised patients can lead to death by diarrhea, and the treatment is only symptomatic. 6) Therefore, it is necessary to develop new antiviral agents against these viruses.Natural products derived from terrestrial and marine kingdoms represent an inexhaustible source of compounds with promising antiviral action, not only for the great number of species found in these kingdom with unexplored pharmacological activities, but mainly for the variety of synthesized metabolites.7-10) The marine environment possesses an important biodiversity represented by 34 of the 36 phyla of all globe, with ca. of 300000 known species of plants and animals, such as sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, shellfish, bacteria, fishes, seaweeds, just to name a few. Ecological pressures, such as competition for space, predation, symbiosis and tide variations, throughout thousand of years originated the biosynthesis of complex and different secondary metabolites by these organisms, which in turn allowed their adaptation to a competitive and hostile environment. [11][12][13] In relation to the infectious diseases, the exploration of the marine environment represents a promising strategy in the search for active compounds, whereas there is a need for new medicines, due to the appearance of resistance to the available treatments in many microorganisms, specifically concerning antifungal, antiprotozoal, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Viruses have remained resistant to treatment or prophylaxis longer than any other infectious organisms.14)The search for new antiviral agents from marine sources has yielded several promising therapeutic leads. The literature shows a great number of reports about different pharmacological activities of marine sponges. Many papers showed the results of the screening of marine organisms for antiviral activity, and a wide range of active compounds have been This paper describes the in vitro antiviral...

A survey of Mytellaguyanensis occurrence and population dynamics were performed in the Paraíba do Norte river estuary. The characterization and the influence of temperature, salinity and substrate, as well as the associated fauna and flora on the population were also examined. Mytella guyanensis lives buried in the substrate of the mangrove intertidal zone of the Paraíba do Norte river estuary, from the mouth to 24 km upriver. Average annual density of this bivalve species was 5.2 individuals per m², with a predominantly aggregated distribution. The most frequent size was between 4.5 and 5.5 cm in length. Analysis of the substrate demonstrated the presence of two types of substrates in relation to the percentage of silt and clay and the water content. Besides interfering in the population density, the substrate heterogeneity may be a decisive factor in aggregation. Eight species of crustacean decapods and one bivalve species were identified as associated fauna.

Wood-boring bivalves of the families Teredinidae and Pholadidae are reported for the first time in Paraíba State, north-east Brazil. During one year, molluscs were collected from mangrove tree logs and from wood panels, along a salinity gradient. Four teredinid (Neoteredo reynei, Teredo bartschi, Nausitora fusticula, Bankia fimbriatula) and one pholad species (Martesia striata) were found.

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ABSTRACT. Population characteristics of Microphrys bicornutus (Brachyura, Mithracidae) on the phytal Halimeda opuntia (Chlorophyta, Halimedaceae), on reef area submitted to human visitation, in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the population structure and dynamic of Microphrys bicornutus Latreille, 1825 on the phytal Halimeda opuntia (Halimedaceae) collected on the reef areas of Picãozinho (visited by tourists) and São Gonçalo (control area), in João Pessoa coast (Northeastern of Brazil), under the influence of environmental conditions and visitant numbers. In both study areas the populations analyzed were composed similarly of mature and immature males and females, with predominance of males and immature animals, and similar size frequency and reproductive period. Sex-ratio, size frequency distribution, and size of the biggest specimens differed from those estimated in others latitudes and habitats for this species. Sex ratio estimation has made evident that independently of maturation stage, males tended to predominate significantly and the proportion of females to decrease with sexual maturation. Without exhibiting influence of the alga biomass, and of the salinity and temperature of the water, significant population variations were associated to the increase of juvenile during rainy periods. The low population density and the largest disproportion of the relationship male: female in Picãozinho subarea with larger flow of people, are suggestive that the trampling of the alga might have induced this population variation. KEYWORDS.Population composition, population density, sex ratio, algae trampling, seasonal effect. RESUMO. Este trabalho teve como objetivos caracterizar e comparar a estrutura e a dinâmica populacional de Microphrys bicornutusLatreille, 1825 no fital Halimeda opuntia (Halimedaceae) coletado nas formações recifais de Picãozinho (submetida à visitação turística) e São Gonçalo (área controle), na costa de João Pessoa (Nordeste do Brasil), sob influência de fatores ambientais e do número de visitantes. Nas duas áreas de estudo as populações analisadas estiveram compostas por fêmeas e machos maduros e imaturos com significativa predominância de machos e de animais imaturos, freqüência de tamanho e períodos reprodutivos similares. O tamanho máximo dos exemplares, a freqüência de distribuição de tamanho e a razão sexual diferiram dos resultados obtidos para a espécie em outras latitudes e habitats. Dados de razão sexual evidenciam que independentemente do estágio de maturação, os machos apresentam predominância significativa (RS>1,0), e que a proporção de fêmeas diminui com o amadurecimento sexual. Sem sofrer influência da biomassa da alga, e da salinidade e temperatura da água, variações populacionais significativas foram associadas ao aumento de juvenis durante períodos chuvosos. A baixa densidade populacional e a maior desproporção da relação macho: fêmea em subárea de Picãozinho com maior fluxo de pessoas sugerem que estas variações podem ter sid...

ABSTRACT. In the estuary of the Mamanguape River (Paraíba, Brazil), a new collection technique was developed and applied with virgin poles of mangrove trees Avicennia schaueriana (Verbenaceae), Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae), and Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae), taking into account wood preference, water salinity and depth influence during teredinid larval settlement. Sets of poles were vertically fixed in the riverbed at three sites along a decreasing salinity gradient, where they stayed for four months. The poles were collected and divided into upper, median, and lower segments, in agreement with different immersion regimes. An increase of 239% was obtained in the number of individuals when compared to a previous study in the same area using a different methodology. The species Teredo bartschi (Clapp, 1923), Nausitora fusticula (Jeffreys, 1860) and Bankia fimbriatula Moll & Roch, 1931 were registered in both studies, and the species Psiloteredo healdi (Bartsch, 1931) is here registered for the first time as occurring in that estuary. The species Neoteredo reynei (Bartsch, 1920), previously registered on tree branches of the mangrove habitat, was not found in the present work. Bankia fimbriatula, the most abundant species, did not show preference for any substratum but occurred significantly on the lower segment of the poles. N. fusticula, second in abundance, preferred to settle on poles of A. schaueriana and on any of the three segments. Aiming to assess the habitat variations, a more accurate study on teredinids diversity in mangrove ecosystems should be performed through a concomitant analysis from tree branches of the mangrove habitat, as well as from poles of mangrove trees or panels made of pine wood or mangrove trees wood. These collection devices should be maintained along a decreasing salinity gradient exposed to different tide levels. KEYWORDS. RESUMO. Interferência de métodos na coleta de teredinídios (Mollusca, Bivalvia) em habitats de manguezais.Contemplando a preferência pelo tipo de madeira, a influência da profundidade e da salinidade durante assentamento larval de teredinídeos, uma nova técnica de coleta foi aplicada e desenvolvida no estuário do rio Mamanguape (Paraíba, Brasil), utilizando varas virgens de três espécies de árvores do manguezal: Avicennia schaueriana (Verbenaceae), Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) e Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae). Em três estações demarcadas ao longo do gradiente decrescente de salinidade, conjuntos de varas foram verticalmente fixados nas margens do rio. Após quatro meses, as varas eram coletadas e divididas em três segmentos (superior, médio e inferior), de acordo com os regimes de imersão a que foram submetidas. Comparativamente aos dados obtidos por um estudo anterior na mesma área, com outras metodologias de coleta, foi obtido um aumento de 239% no número de indivíduos coletados com a nova técnica. Embora as espécies Teredo bartschi (Clapp, 1923), Nausitora fusticula (Jeffreys, 1860) e Bankia fimbriatula Moll & Roch, 1931 tenham ocorr...

ABSTRACT. Recruitment and colonization of colonial ascidians, starting on natural scraped substratum, was observed throughout one year, in quadrats marked on sea-and continental-rock faces in the sublittoral fringe of an exposed beach in the Northeast of Brazil. The species of the Didemnidae, Didemnum duplicatum Monniot, 1983, D. psammathodes Sluiter, 1895, and Polysyncraton amethysteum Van Name, 1902, and an unidentified species of Polycitoridae, Eudistoma sp. 1, were recruited. Presenting continuous recruitment of all species, the density of living and dead recruits and colonies was similar on both faces of the rocks. The highest rainfall during winter, affected significantly the recruits density of D. duplicatum and D. psammathodes. Different permanence periods were observed for colonies of each species. The longest permanence periods were assigned to the colonies of P. amethysteum and D. psammathodes, extending up to four and five months, respectively.

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