The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/μL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.

RESUMO A ocorrência da mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) foi registrada pela primeira vez em mudas de Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. em Lavras, Estado de Minas Gerais. O ataque foi observado no dia 16/1/2007 em 30 mudas de E. camaldulensis mantidas em casa-de-vegetação. As plantas infestadas apresentavam-se amarelecidas e em estágio inicial de definhamento como resposta ao ataque do inseto.

ABSTRACT The occurrence of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is record for the first time in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. seedlings in Lavras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The attack was seen on 16/1/2007 at 30 seedlings of E. camaldulensis kept in greenhouse. The infested plants were yellowish and in initial stage of weakening as response to the attack of the insect.

This study verified the host species of the parasitoid Hemencyrtus herbertii Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The pupae were obtained by the flotation method. They were individually placed in gelatin capsules until the emergence of adult flies or their parasitoids. The overall occurence of parasitism was 6.5%. The occurrence of parasitism presented in the hosts Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Sarcodexia lambens (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was 1.3% and 29.4%, respectively.

RESUMO Este estudo relata novo habitat e hospedeiro para o parasitóide Trichopria sp. (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) coletados de pupas de Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) utilizando armadilhas contendo como isca rins bovinos no município de Lavras, MG, Brasil. No mês de dezembro de 2003 foram coletados 41 espécimes Trichopria sp. em 155 pupas de P. chrysostoma. A prevalência de parasitismo foi de 0,65%. Este estudo relata a primeira ocorrência de poliembrionia em Trichopria sp. em Minas Gerais. sp Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera Diapriidae Wiedemann (Wiedemann Diptera (Diptera Sarcophagidae Lavras MG Brasil 200 4 15 P 065 0 65 0,65% Gerais 20 1 06 6 0,65 2 0,6 0,

ABSTRACT This study reports new habitat and host for the parasitoid Trichopria sp. (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) which were collected from pupae of Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) by means of traps containing some bovine kidney baits in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in December of 2003. A total of 41 specimens of the parasitoid Trichopria sp. were collected from 155 pupae of P. chrysostoma. The prevalence of parasitism was 0.65%. This study reports the first occurrence of poliembriony in Trichopria sp. in Minas Gerais, Brazil. sp Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera Diapriidae Wiedemann (Wiedemann Diptera (Diptera Sarcophagidae Lavras Gerais Brazil 2003 4 15 P 065 0 65 0.65% 200 1 06 6 0.65 20 0.6 2 0.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi inventariar as espécies de parasitóides associadas à mosca-do-figo Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970 (Dip.: Drosophilidae) em cultivos de goiabeira. Frutos atacados foram depositados em recipientes plásticos, sobre uma camada de areia fina com 5 cm de espessura, a qual serviu como substrato para a fase pupal. Os pupários foram separados do substrato pelo método de flutuação, sendo individualizados em cápsulas de gelatina onde permaneceram até a emergência das moscas adultas ou de seus parasitóides Nesse estudo foi registrada a ocorrência do parasitóide Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani, 1875) (Hym.: Pteromalidae), em pupários de Z. indianus. A prevalência de parasitismo observada foi de 3,5%. moscadofigo mosca figo Gupta 197 Dip. Dip (Dip. Drosophilidae goiabeira plásticos espessura pupal flutuação Rondani, Rondani (Rondani 1875 Hym. Hym (Hym. Pteromalidae, Pteromalidae , Pteromalidae) Z 35 3 3,5% 19 (Dip 187 (Hym 3,5 1 18 3,

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to register the parasitoid species associated to Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970 (Dip.: Drosophilidae) pupae on guajava crops. Fruits with signs of infestation, e.g., oviposition punctures, were picked and placed in plastic containers, over a 5-cm layer of thin sand, which was utilized as substrate for the pupal phase. The pupae were individualized in gelatin capsules where they remained until the fruit flies or the emergence of their parasitoids. This study registered the occurrence of Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani, 1875) (Hym.: Pteromalidae) on Z. indianus pupae. The prevalence of parasitism observed was 3.5%. Gupta 197 Dip. Dip (Dip. Drosophilidae crops infestation eg e g e.g. punctures containers 5cm cm 5 sand phase parasitoids Rondani, Rondani (Rondani 1875 Hym. Hym (Hym. Pteromalidae Z 35 3 3.5% 19 (Dip e.g 187 (Hym 3.5 1 18 3.

RESUMO Com esse trabalho, pretendeu-se conhecer as espécies de Eucoilinae capturados, utilizando-se a armadilha "Malaise", em Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A armadilha Malaise captura os insetos por interceptação, os quais foram coletados quinzenalmente com o uso de peneira fina e fixados em álcool a 70% para posterior identificação. No período de outubro de 2001 a junho de 2002 foram coletados: 8 espécimes de Aganaspis pelleranoi, 4 espécimes de Dettmeria, 2 espécimes de Kleidotoma nigra, 1 espécime de Odonteucoila, 3 espécimes de Paraganaspis egeria, 14 espécimes de Steleucoela e 2 espécimes de Zaeucoila. trabalho pretendeuse pretendeu se capturados utilizandose utilizando Malaise, , "Malaise" Lavras Gerais Brasil interceptação 70 identificação 200 pelleranoi Dettmeria nigra Odonteucoila egeria Zaeucoila "Malaise 7 20

ABSTRACT The aim of this work is to get acquainted with Eucoilinae collected by the "Malaise" trap in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Flasks were retrieved every 15 days and the trapped specimens were separated by using a fine mesh sieve, and stored in 70% ethanol. From October/2001 to June/2002 the Eucoilinae collected were: 8 specimens of Aganaspis pelleranoi, 4 specimens of Dettmeria, 2 specimens of Kleidotoma nigra, 1 specimen of Odonteucoila sp., 3 specimens of Paraganaspis egeria, 14 specimens of Steleucoela and 2 specimens of Zaeucoila. Malaise "Malaise Lavras Gerais Brazil sieve 70 ethanol October2001 October 2001 October/200 June2002 June 2002 June/200 pelleranoi Dettmeria nigra sp sp. egeria Zaeucoila 7 October200 200 October/20 June200 June/20 October20 20 October/2 June20 June/2 October2 October/ June2 June/