ABSTRACT A large number of widely distributed plant pathogens such as the phytopathogenic fungi of the genus Rhizoctonia are subject to extreme temperature fluctuations in their habitats. To survive such thermal fluctuations, these organisms have developed the capability of regulating their phenotypic values for specific thermal adaptations and to other specific environmental variations. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of thermal stress on the evolvability for mycelial growth in two host-distinct populations of Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA infecting either rice (OS6) or Urochloa (BBT1), and to compare them with a population of R. oryzae-sativae from rice (OS5), a species adapted to higher temperatures. The populations were subjected to two growth temperatures: 25°C and 35°C (optimal and stress temperatures for R. solani AG-1 IA). Based on mycelial growth, estimates of genotypic variance (IG), environmental variance (IE) and broad sense heritability (h2) were determined as measures of evolvability. The population OS5 of R. oryzae-sativae was almost not influenced by temperature stress, while at 35oC there was a reduction in h2 for the populations BBT1 and OS6 of R. solani AG-1 IA. However, the relatively high h2 values for mycelial growth at 35oC (0.63 ± 0.07) indicate that both populations BBT1 and OS6 of R. solani AG-1 IA have potential for adaptation to temperature stress.

RESUMO Muitos fitopatógenos de ampla distribuição geográfica como os fungos fitopatogênicos do gênero Rhizoctonia, estão sujeitos a extremas flutuações de temperatura em seus habitats. Para sobreviver a tais flutuações térmicas, esses organismos desenvolveram a habilidade de regular seus valores fenotípicos para adaptações térmicas bem como a outras variações ambientais específicas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar o efeito do estresse térmico na evolucionabilidade para crescimento micelial de duas populações hospedeiro-distintas de Rhizocctonia solani AG-1 IA infectando arroz (OS6) ou Urochloa (BBT1) e compará-las a uma população de R. oryzae-sativae de arroz (OS5), espécie adaptada a temperaturas mais elevadas. As populações foram submetidas a duas temperaturas de crescimento: 25°C e 35°C (temperatura ótima e de estresse para R. solani AG-1 IA). Baseando-se em medidas do crescimento micelial, estimaram-se os coeficientes de variância genotípica (IG), variância ambiental (IE) e herdabilidade no sentido amplo (h2) como medidas de evolucionabilidade. Enquanto a população OS5 de R. oryzae-sativae foi pouco influenciada pelo estresse térmico, a 35oC detectou-se redução de h2 nas populações BBT1 e OS6 de R. solani AG-1 IA. Entretanto, os valores relativamente altos de h2 a 35oC (0,63 ± 0,07) indicaram que tanto a população BBT1 quanto a OS6 de R. solani AG-1 IA têm potencial de adaptação ao estresse térmico.

The geographic distribution of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in the Brazilian state of São Paulo was evaluated in a retrospective study using secondary data from serological analyses, carried out by double immunodiffusion assay of patients with PCM suspicion, from January 1999 to May 2010. Sixty percent of 10,176 patients, from 239 cities, were serologically reactive to P. brasiliensis. The cities that showed the most serological reactivity among patients were São João da Boa Vista (85%), Piracicaba (75%), Sorocaba (73%), Campinas (72%) and São Paulo (62%). São Paulo state has an area of 248,209.4 km²; the climate is tropical and sub-tropical with annual temperatures between 18 and 24ºC, high rainfall (900 to 1800 mm/year), rainy summers and mild winters. It also features large areas composed of acidic soils, and is one of the greatest contributors to Brazilian agricultural production and, separately, the largest producer of orange juice and, the ninth greatest producer of soy and sugar cane and the fourth largest coffee producer. We suggest that the climatic characteristics associated with soil type and development of primary activities can contribute to the endemic potential of PCM in São Paulo state.

Histoplasmosis is a systemic mycosis caused by inhalation of Histoplasma capsulatum microconidia. The disease does not normally affect immunocompetent individuals after a single, transient inhalation exposure. However, longer exposure may cause chronic or disseminated acute pulmonary infection. Herein, we report the case of a 24-year-old immunocompetent patient, who presented fever, cough and dyspnea for one month. The chest radiography revealed interstitial infiltrate and diffuse micronodules. The patient reported having had close and prolonged contact with bats. Diagnosis was confirmed by positive double immunodifusion and immunoblotting assays. She was treated with ketoconazole (400 mg) and there was complete resolution of the disease.