Um método melhor para a determinação do chiquimato em tecidos de plantas é necessário para monitorar a exposição destas ao herbicida glyphosate N-(fosfonometil)glicina] e selecionar o gênero da planta para altos níveis desse valioso precursor fitoquímico ao fármaco oseltamivir. Um método simples, rápido e eficiente, que usa a extração assistida por micro-ondas (MWAE) com água como solvente de extração, foi desenvolvido para a determinação do ácido chiquímico em tecidos de plantas. Foi empregada cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho para a separação do ácido chiquímico, e os dados cromatográficos foram obtidos utilizando arranjo de fotodiodo. Essa técnica de MWAE obteve sucesso na recuperação do ácido chiquímico de uma série de tecidos de planta fortificados, com mais de 90% de eficiência e um cromatograma livre de interferências. Isso permitiu a utilização de menores quantidades de reagentes e de solventes orgânicos, reduzindo o uso de produtos químicos tóxicos e/ou perigosos, em comparação às metodologias atualmente empregadas. O método foi usado para determinar o nível de ácido chiquímico endógeno em diversas espécies de Brachiaria e de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum), em B. decumbens e na soja (Glycine max) após o tratamento com glyphosate. O método foi sensível, rápido e confiável em todos os casos.

A better method for determination of shikimate in plant tissues is needed to monitor exposure of plants to the herbicide glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and to screen the plant kingdom for high levels of this valuable phytochemical precursor to the pharmaceutical oseltamivir. A simple, rapid, and efficient method using microwave-assisted extraction (MWAE) with water as the extraction solvent was developed for the determination of shikimic acid in plant tissues. High performance liquid chromatography was used for the separation of shikimic acid, and chromatographic data were acquired using photodiode array detection. This MWAE technique was successful in recovering shikimic acid from a series of fortified plant tissues at more than 90% efficiency with an interference-free chromatogram. This allowed the use of lower amounts of reagents and organic solvents, reducing the use of toxic and/or hazardous chemicals, as compared to currently used methodologies. The method was used to determine the level of endogenous shikimic acid in several species of Brachiaria and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and on B. decumbens and soybean (Glycine max) after treatment with glyphosate. The method was sensitive, rapid and reliable in all cases.

Genotype E of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has not been described in Brazil and is found mainly in Africa. Genotype A is the most prevalent in Brazil, and genotypes B, C, D, and F have already been reported. We report here an HBV genotype E-infected patient and some characterization of surface (S) protein, DNA polymerase (P) and precore/core (preC/C) coding regions based on the viral genome. The patient is a 31-year-old black man with chronic hepatitis B who was born and raised in Angola. He has been followed by a hepatologist in São Paulo, Brazil, since November 2003, and he is a frequent traveler to Latin America, Africa, and Europe. In 2003, he was diagnosed with HBV infection and started treatment with lamivudine with the later addition of adefovir dipivoxil. No known risk factor was identified. Serologically, he is HBsAg and anti-HBe positive, but HBeAg and anti-HBs negative. DNA sequence analysis of the S/P region confirmed that this patient is infected with genotype E, subtype ayw4. The preC/C region showed G1896A and G1899A mutations but no mutations in the basal core promoter. Nucleotide substitutions common in genotype E were also observed (C1772, T1858 and A1757). Although this is not an autochthonous case and there is no evidence of further spread, the description of this case in Brazil highlights the current risk of viral genotypes spreading with unprecedented speed due to constant travel around the world.