Microscopy as a tool for cellular alterations evaluation of leaf-cutting ants exposed to non-specific agrochemicals: analysis at ultrastructural level and confocal microscope

• Grant number: 16/18916-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Odair Correa Bueno
• Grantee: Silvana Beani Poiani
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/25299-6 - Integrated studies for leaf cutting control, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/19718-0 - The influence of xenobiotics on antioxidant enzymes of fat body of Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers (Myrmicinae, Attini), BE.EP.PD

Abstract

This project aims to evaluate the effects of pesticides, as well as other environmental contaminants used in the cultivation of sugarcane in the cell death of leaf cutter ant, Atta sexdens rubropilos, by analyzing the viability of brain cells, digestive tract and Malpighian tubules, as well as the evaluation of the possible changes that may occur in the structure of the cytoskeleton and the nucleus of these cells. For this, it will be applied the technique of confocal microscopy, in which markers of subcellular structures will be used. (AU)