ResumenLos especímenes silvestres de Vanilla planifolia G. Jack forman parte del acervo genético primario, los cuales solo se han reportado en Oaxaca, México. Por ello se evaluó la distribución de esta especie con el objetivo de ubicar y describir características ecológicas en zonas potenciales de distribución. La metodología empleada consistió de cuatro etapas: 1) Elaboración de una base de datos con registros de herbario;2) Construcción de la distribución potencial basado en los registros históricos de herbario para la especie, mediante el modelo de máxima entropía (Maxent), con el uso de 22 variables bioclimáticas como predictoras; 3) Realización de búsquedas sistemáticas de individuos in situ con base en los registros de herbario y las áreas de distribución potencial en 24 municipios, para conocer la situación y la distribución del hábitat actual, y 4) Descripción mediante factores ambientales de los nichos ecológicos potenciales generados por MaxEnt. La revisión de las colecciones de herbarios reportó un total de 18 registros de V. planifolia, comprendidos entre 1939 y 1998.La búsqueda sistemática de individuos en campo ubicó 28 plantas distribuidas en 12 sitios sobre 95 364 Km2. Las variables que contribuyeron con mayor valor porcentual para determinar la estimación del modelo de distribución potencial en vainilla son precipitación del periodo más lluvioso (61.9 %), régimen de humedad del suelo (23.4 %) y precipitación del cuatrimestre más lluvioso (8.1 %). El hábitat potencial de la especie se distribuyó en cuatro zonas; trópico húmedo del golfo de México, templado húmedo, trópico húmedo y templado húmedo del pacifico. La precipitación anual osciló de 2 500 a 4 000 mm, con lluvias en verano y porcentaje de precipitación invernal de 5 a 10 %. El régimen de humedad y clima predominantes fueron údico tipo I (330 a 365 días de humedad) y cálido húmedo (Am/A(C) m). Las plantas se ubicaron en altitudes de 200 a 1 190 msnm, en laderas accidentadas, que por lo general están al pie de sistemas montañosos de 1 300 a 2 500 metros de altitud. En condiciones naturales la distribución de la especie no se limita a selva alta perennifolia, dado que se ubicó en bosque mesófilo de montaña y bosque tropical perennifolio. La ubicación de nuevos especímenes de V. planifolia en condiciones silvestres reduce un 66 % del área potencial de distribución, y la fragmenta, al pasar de ser una zona continua a convertirse en tres zonas geográficamente separadas. La reducción del hábitat se debió a un aumento en el número de plantas ubicadas, lo que define las condiciones ambientales a un nivel más exacto. Por lo anterior, se pueden emprender o diseñar acciones de conservación enfocadas a áreas más específicas dentro del estado de Oaxaca, México.

AbstractWild specimens of Vanilla planifolia represent a vital part of this resource primary gene pool, and some plants have only been reported in Oaxaca, Mexico. For this reason, we studied its geographical distribution within the state, to locate and describe the ecological characteristics of the areas where they have been found, in order to identify potential areas of establishment. The method comprised four stages: 1) the creation of a database with herbarium records, 2) the construction of the potential distribution based on historical herbarium records for the species, using the model of maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and 22 bioclimatic variables as predictors; 3) an in situ systematic search of individuals, based on herbarium records and areas of potential distribution in 24 municipalities, to determine the habitat current situation and distribution; 4) the description of the environmental factors of potential ecological niches generated by MaxEnt. A review of herbarium collections revealed a total of 18 records of V. planifolia between 1939 and 1998. The systematic search located 28 plants distributed in 12 sites in 95 364 Km2. The most important variables that determined the model of vanilla potential distribution were: precipitation in the rainy season (61.9 %), soil moisture regime (23.4 %) and precipitation during the four months of highest rainfall (8.1 %). The species potential habitat was found to be distributed in four zones: wet tropics of the Gulf of Mexico, humid temperate, humid tropical, and humid temperate in the Pacific. Precipitation oscillated within the annual ranges of 2 500 to 4 000 mm, with summer rains, and winter precipitation as 5 to 10 % of the total. The moisture regime and predominating climate were udic type I (330 to 365 days of moisture) and hot humid (Am/A(C) m). The plants were located at altitudes of 200 to 1 190 masl, on rough hillsides that generally make up the foothills of mountain systems, with altitudes of 1 300 to 2 500 masl. In natural conditions, distribution of the species is not limited to high evergreen forests, since it was also found in mountain mesophyll and tropical evergreen forests. The location of new specimens of V. planifolia in its wild condition reduces the potential distribution area by 66 %. This area is fragmented into three geographically separated areas. Habitat reduction was due to the increased number of located plants that define the environmental conditions into a more accurate level. Conservation actions can thus be designed and implemented, focusing on more specific areas within the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

RESUMOA investigação sobre Paracoccidioides brasiliensis tem-se centrado na célula de levedura, provavelmente devido à falta de características distintas no micélio. Em 1942 e, pela primeira vez, conídios laterais foram notados nos hifas dos fungos. Mais tarde, pesquisadores brasileiros, venezuelanos e argentinos descreveram "aleurias" quando o fungo foi cultivado em substratos naturais. Em 1970, os autores se interessaram pelos conídios e foram capazes de obtê-los em grande número e tratá-los como unidades individuais. A sua forma e tamanho foram definidos, e a presença de todos os elementos de uma célula eucariótica competente foram demonstrados. Conídios apresentam dimorfismo térmico e, além disso, quando administrados por via intranasal a camundongos BALB/c machos, são convertidos em leveduras nos pulmões e produzem lesões pulmonares progressivas com posterior disseminação para outros órgãos. Estudos sobre a interação de fagócitos-conídios foram reveladores e mostraram que estas estruturas versáteis permitem melhor compreensão das interacções entre hospedeiro e P. brasiliensis.

SUMMARYResearch on Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has centered in the yeast cell probably because of the lack of distinctive features in the mycelium. In 1942 and for the first time, lateral conidia were noticed in the fungus' hyphae. Later on, Brazilian, Venezuelan and Argentinean researchers described "aleurias" when the fungus was grown in natural substrates. In 1970 authors became interested in the conidia and were able to obtain them in large numbers and treat them as individual units. Their shape and size were defined and the presence of all the elements of a competent eukaryotic cell were demonstrated. Conidia exhibited thermal dimorphism and, additionally, when given intranasally to BALB/c male mice, they converted into yeasts in the lungs and produce progressive pulmonary lesions with further dissemination to other organs. Studies on the phagocyte-conidia interaction were revealing and showed that these versatile structures allow a better understanding of the host- P. brasiliensisinteractions.