Biomedical subjects

M H Fungaro

Publications and source records attributed to M H Fungaro.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Double-stranded RNA in the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium flavoviride.

Bands of dsRNA were detected in five out of seven isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride. The identity of these bands was proven by RNase and S1-nuclease treatments. The transference of dsRNA between isolates (from CG291 to CG442) was successfully carried out through forced heterokaryons. Isogenic strains, with or without dsRNA, were submitted to virulence tests against the grasshopper Rhammatocerus schistocercoides. In contrast to what has been found in some phytopathogenic fungi, these dsRNA fragments did not cause hypovirulence to M. flavoviride.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Genetic analysis of Aspergillus nidulans unstable transformants obtained by the biolistic process.

Mitotically unstable Aspergillus nidulans argB+ transformants obtained by the biolistic process were studied in the present work. Hybridization signals from undigested DNA and pulsed-field chromosomal bands of the transformants suggested the introduced plasmid occurred as free concatenated molecules. Fifteen vigorous growth sectors released from the transformants were analysed in order to understand the mechanisms involved in their formation. All sectors showed the integration of exogenous genes into the fungal genome by homologous or heterologous recombinant events.

Arginine↗

PubMed1995

Transformation of Aspergillus nidulans by microprojectile bombardment on intact conidia.

This paper describes transformation of intact conidia of Aspergillus nidulans, auxotrophic for arginine, by using the biolistic process. The plasmid employed was pFB39, carrying the argB gene. The transformation frequency obtained was 81 transformants/microgram of DNA. Classical genetics and molecular analysis were conducted to analyse transformants and to determine in which chromosome integration took place.

Arginine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Transgenics and controlled evolution].

Mutation events are responsible for the generation of genetic variability in the populations enabling the occurrence of natural selection which favors the better-adapted types. The exploitation of this variability, though carried out empirically, dates from ten thousand years ago with the domestication of the first cultivated crops. With the advent of genetics, rational selection procedures were adopted with a view of the genetic breeding of plants, animals and microorganisms which might be of interest to men. Recently, new DNA manipulation techniques came up enabling the transference of genes between organisms, cutting across barriers which hindered crossing between the vegetable, animal, protist and fungus kingdoms. The generation of genetically modified organisms, or transgenics, has aroused a heated and controversial debate in various sectors of our society. Yet we must be cautious before generalizing the use of transgenics since each one should be analyzed at a time for its particular advantages and drawbacks, and for its contribution to the improvement of life quality. This paper also considers recent methods of mutation and in vitro genic recombination.

Biological Evolution↗