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Liutkus M, Sasselli IR, Rojas AL, Cortajarena AL. Diverse crystalline protein scaffolds through metal-dependent polymorphism. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4971. [PMID: 38591647 PMCID: PMC11002994 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
As protein crystals are increasingly finding diverse applications as scaffolds, controlled crystal polymorphism presents a facile strategy to form crystalline assemblies with controllable porosity with minimal to no protein engineering. Polymorphs of consensus tetratricopeptide repeat proteins with varying porosity were obtained through co-crystallization with metal salts, exploiting the innate metal ion geometric requirements. A single structurally exposed negative amino acid cluster was responsible for metal coordination, despite the abundance of negatively charged residues. Density functional theory calculations showed that while most of the crystals were the most thermodynamically stable assemblies, some were kinetically trapped states. Thus, crystalline porosity diversity is achieved and controlled with metal coordination, opening a new scope in the application of proteins as biocompatible protein-metal-organic frameworks (POFs). In addition, metal-dependent polymorphic crystals allow direct comparison of metal coordination preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Liutkus
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE)Basque Research and Technology AllianceSan SebastianSpain
| | - Ivan R. Sasselli
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE)Basque Research and Technology AllianceSan SebastianSpain
- Present address:
Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM)CSIC‐UPV/EHUSan SebastiánSpain
| | - Adriana L. Rojas
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE)Basque Research and Technology AllianceBilbaoSpain
| | - Aitziber L. Cortajarena
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE)Basque Research and Technology AllianceSan SebastianSpain
- IkerbasqueBasque Foundation for ScienceBilbaoSpain
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2
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Corrêa A, Ferrol N, Cruz C. Testing the trade-balance model: resource stoichiometry does not sufficiently explain AM effects. New Phytol 2024; 242:1561-1575. [PMID: 38009528 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Variations in arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) effects on plant growth (MGR) are commonly assumed to result from cost : benefit balances, with C as the cost and, most frequently, P as the benefit. The trade-balance model (TBM) adopts these assumptions and hypothesizes that mycorrhizal benefit depends on C : N : P stoichiometry. Although widely accepted, the TBM has not been experimentally tested. We isolated the parameters included in the TBM and tested these assumptions using it as framework. Oryza sativa plants were supplied with different N : P ratios at low light level, establishing different C : P and C : N exchange rates, and C, N or P limitation. MGR and effects on nutrient uptake, %M, ERM, photosynthesis and shoot starch were measured. C distribution to AM fungi played no role in MGR, and N was essential for all AM effects, including on P nutrition. C distribution to AM and MGR varied with the limiting nutrient (N or P), and evidence of extensive interplay between N and P was observed. The TBM was not confirmed. The results agreed with the exchange of surplus resources and source-sink regulation of resource distribution among plants and AMF. Rather than depending on exchange rates, resource exchange may simply obey both symbiont needs, not requiring further regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Corrêa
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuria Ferrol
- Department of Soil and Plant Microbiology, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Cruz
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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3
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Stambuk-Castellano M, Carrera A, Tubbs RS, Alario-Hoyos C, Verdú E, Iwanaga J, Reina F. Personalized strategies for academic success in learning anatomy: Exploring metacognitive and technological adaptation in medical students. Clin Anat 2024; 37:472-483. [PMID: 38461473 DOI: 10.1002/ca.24155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Personalization of learning is an educational strategy rooted in metacognition and is significant in academic training. This is especially true in medical contexts. This study explored the relationship between the metacognitive profile of students of human anatomy, the classification of questions according to their difficulty, and the anatomical domain. It also covered the integration of educational technologies to create personalized learning environments. The identification of metacognitive profiles ("Active", "Pragmatic", "Theoretical", and "Reflective") has been highlighted as a critical influence on students' responses to different pedagogical approaches. Personalized adaptation based on these profiles has shown potential for improving grades and increasing student satisfaction and engagement with learning. The results revealed variations in student performance in relation to different pedagogical approaches, learning units, and evaluation modalities. The "Experience" evaluation modality, personalized according to metacognitive profiles, level of competence, and learning objectives, resulted in higher average scores. However, there was significant variability in the results. Those findings confirm the effectiveness of metacognitive adaptation in improving academic performance. Furthermore, they provide a solid basis for formulating personalized and effective pedagogical strategies in medical education. They recognize the influence of metacognitive profiles on student performance and contribute to advancing medical pedagogy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Stambuk-Castellano
- Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Anna Carrera
- Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience Research Group (NEOMA), Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - R Shane Tubbs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St George's University, True Blue, Grenada
| | - Carlos Alario-Hoyos
- Telematics Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain
| | - Enric Verdú
- Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience Research Group (NEOMA), Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Joe Iwanaga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Francisco Reina
- Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience Research Group (NEOMA), Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
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4
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Blanco S. What do diatom indices indicate? Modeling the specific pollution sensitivity index. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33115-1. [PMID: 38580872 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33115-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Diatoms are commonly used in environmental assessments to detect pollution and eutrophication. The specific pollution sensitivity index (SPI) is one of the most frequently used indices, which assigns scores to diatom taxa based on their sensitivity to pollution. The study analyzed diatom communities in the Duero River basin in Spain to examine the relationship between SPI scores and various limnological variables. A GLM model showed that phosphates, nitrites, and water temperature were the main factors explaining SPI variability. The study also reviews previous results using SPI for water quality monitoring in different world regions, highlighting the role of nutrients in general as major drivers of SPI values worldwide. Overall, the findings reinforce the reliability of SPI as a metric for biological monitoring in various watercourses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Blanco
- Diatom Laboratory, University of Leon, La Serna 58, 24007, Leon, Spain.
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5
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Olazagoitia‐Garmendia A, Rojas‐Márquez H, Sebastian‐delaCruz M, Agirre‐Lizaso A, Ochoa A, Mendoza‐Gomez LM, Perugorria MJ, Bujanda L, Madrigal AH, Santin I, Castellanos‐Rubio A. m 6A Methylated Long Noncoding RNA LOC339803 Regulates Intestinal Inflammatory Response. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2307928. [PMID: 38273714 PMCID: PMC10987157 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Cytokine mediated sustained inflammation increases the risk to develop different complex chronic inflammatory diseases, but the implicated mechanisms remain unclear. Increasing evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders, while inflammation associated variants are described to affect their function or essential RNA modifications as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, increasing predisposition to inflammatory diseases. Here, the functional implication of the intestinal inflammation associated lncRNA LOC339803 in the production of cytokines by intestinal epithelial cells is described. Allele-specific m6A methylation is found to affect YTHDC1 mediated protein binding affinity. LOC339803-YTHDC1 interaction dictates chromatin localization of LOC339803 ultimately inducing the expression of NFκB mediated proinflammatory cytokines and contributing to the development of intestinal inflammation. These findings are confirmed using human intestinal biopsy samples from different intestinal inflammatory conditions and controls. Additionally, it is demonstrated that LOC339803 targeting can be a useful strategy for the amelioration of intestinal inflammation in vitro and ex vivo. Overall, the results support the importance of the methylated LOC339803 lncRNA as a mediator of intestinal inflammation, explaining genetic susceptibility and presenting this lncRNA as a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory intestinal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Olazagoitia‐Garmendia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Department of GeneticsPhysical Anthropology and Animal PhysiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
| | - Henar Rojas‐Márquez
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Department of GeneticsPhysical Anthropology and Animal PhysiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
| | - Maialen Sebastian‐delaCruz
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Department of GeneticsPhysical Anthropology and Animal PhysiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
| | - Aloña Agirre‐Lizaso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal DiseasesBiogipuzkoa Health Research InstituteDonostia University HospitalDonostia‐San Sebastian20014Spain
| | - Anne Ochoa
- Department of GeneticsPhysical Anthropology and Animal PhysiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
| | - Luis Manuel Mendoza‐Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
| | - Maria J Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal DiseasesBiogipuzkoa Health Research InstituteDonostia University HospitalDonostia‐San Sebastian20014Spain
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and NursingUniversity of the Basque CountryUPV/EHUDonostia‐San Sebastián20014Spain
- CIBERehdInstituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)Madrid28029Spain
| | - Luis Bujanda
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal DiseasesBiogipuzkoa Health Research InstituteDonostia University HospitalDonostia‐San Sebastian20014Spain
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and NursingUniversity of the Basque CountryUPV/EHUDonostia‐San Sebastián20014Spain
- CIBERehdInstituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)Madrid28029Spain
| | - Alain Huerta Madrigal
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Department of MedicineMedicine FacultyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
- Gastroenterology DepartmentHospital Universitario de GaldakaoGaldakao48960Spain
| | - Izortze Santin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas CIBERDEMInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadrid28029Spain
| | - Ainara Castellanos‐Rubio
- Biobizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldo48903Spain
- Department of GeneticsPhysical Anthropology and Animal PhysiologyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHULeioa48940Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas CIBERDEMInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadrid28029Spain
- IkerbasqueBasque Foundation for ScienceBilbao48011Spain
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6
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Shang B, Agathokleous E, Calatayud V, Peng J, Xu Y, Li S, Liu S, Feng Z. Drought mitigates the adverse effects of O 3 on plant photosynthesis rather than growth: A global meta-analysis considering plant functional types. Plant Cell Environ 2024; 47:1269-1284. [PMID: 38185874 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone (O3 ) is a phytotoxic air pollutant adversely affecting plant growth. High O3 exposures are often concurrent with summer drought. The effects of both stresses on plants are complex, and their interactions are not yet well understood. Here, we investigate whether drought can mitigate the negative effects of O3 on plant physiology and growth based on a meta-analysis. We found that drought mitigated the negative effects of O3 on plant photosynthesis, but the modification of the O3 effect on the whole-plant biomass by drought was not significant. This is explained by a compensatory response of water-deficient plants that leads to increased metabolic costs. Relative to water control condition, reduced water treatment decreased the effects of O3 on photosynthetic traits, and leaf and root biomass in deciduous broadleaf species, while all traits in evergreen coniferous species showed no significant response. This suggested that the mitigating effects of drought on the negative impacts of O3 on the deciduous broadleaf species were more extensive than on the evergreen coniferous ones. Therefore, to avoid over- or underestimations when assessing the impact of O3 on vegetation growth, soil moisture should be considered. These results contribute to a better understanding of terrestrial ecosystem responses under global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shang
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Vicent Calatayud
- Fundación CEAM, c/Charles R. Darwin 14, Parque Tecnológico, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jinlong Peng
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yansen Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuangjiang Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuo Liu
- Zhejiang Carbon Neutral Innovation Institute, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhaozhong Feng
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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7
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Campos-Sánchez JC, Serna-Duque JA, Alburquerque C, Guardiola FA, Esteban MÁ. Participation of Hepcidins in the Inflammatory Response Triggered by λ-Carrageenin in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata). Mar Biotechnol (NY) 2024; 26:261-275. [PMID: 38353762 PMCID: PMC11043163 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10293-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The role of hepcidins, antimicrobial peptides involved in iron metabolism, immunity, and inflammation, is studied. First, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) head-kidney leucocytes (HKLs) were incubated with λ-carrageenin to study the expression of hepcidin and iron metabolism-related genes. While the expression of most of the genes studied was upregulated, the expression of ferroportin gene (slc40a) was downregulated. In the second part of the study, seabream specimens were injected intramuscularly with λ-carrageenin or buffer (control). The expression of the same genes was evaluated in the head kidney, liver, and skin at different time points after injection. The expression of Hamp1m, ferritin b, and ferroportin genes (hamp1, fthb, and slc40a) was upregulated in the head kidney of fish from the λ-carrageenin-injected group, while the expression of Hamp2C and Hamp2E genes (hamp2.3 and hamp2.7) was downregulated. In the liver, the expression of hamp1, ferritin a (ftha), slc40a, Hamp2J, and Hamp2D (hamp2.5/6) genes was downregulated in the λ-carrageenin-injected group. In the skin, the expression of hamp1 and (Hamp2A Hamp2C) hamp2.1/3/4 genes was upregulated in the λ-carrageenin-injected group. A bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict the presence of transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of hepcidins. The primary sequence of hepcidin was conserved among the different mature peptides, although changes in specific amino acid residues were identified. These changes affected the charge, hydrophobicity, and probability of hepcidins being antimicrobial peptides. This study sheds light on the poorly understood roles of hepcidins in fish. The results provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms of inflammation in fish and could contribute to the development of new strategies for treat inflammation in farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Campos-Sánchez
- Immunobiology for Aquaculture Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jhon A Serna-Duque
- Immunobiology for Aquaculture Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carmen Alburquerque
- Immunobiology for Aquaculture Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco A Guardiola
- Immunobiology for Aquaculture Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Esteban
- Immunobiology for Aquaculture Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
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8
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Osorio-Concepción M, Lax C, Lorenzo-Gutiérrez D, Cánovas-Márquez JT, Tahiri G, Navarro E, Binder U, Nicolás FE, Garre V. H3K4 methylation regulates development, DNA repair, and virulence in Mucorales. IMA Fungus 2024; 15:6. [PMID: 38481304 PMCID: PMC10938801 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00136-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are basal fungi that opportunistically cause a potentially fatal infection known as mucormycosis (black fungus disease), which poses a significant threat to human health due to its high mortality rate and its recent association with SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the other hand, histone methylation is a regulatory mechanism with pleiotropic effects, including the virulence of several pathogenic fungi. However, the role of epigenetic changes at the histone level never has been studied in Mucorales. Here, we dissected the functional role of Set1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of H3K4, which is associated with the activation of gene transcription and virulence. A comparative analysis of the Mucor lusitanicus genome (previously known as Mucor circinelloides f. lusitanicus) identified only one homolog of Set1 from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that contains the typical SET domain. Knockout strains in the gene set1 lacked H3K4 monomethylation, dimethylation, and trimethylation enzymatic activities. These strains also showed a significant reduction in vegetative growth and sporulation. Additionally, set1 null strains were more sensitive to SDS, EMS, and UV light, indicating severe impairment in the repair process of the cell wall and DNA lesions and a correlation between Set1 and these processes. During pathogen-host interactions, strains lacking the set1 gene exhibited shortened polar growth within the phagosome and attenuated virulence both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that the histone methyltransferase Set1 coordinates several cell processes related to the pathogenesis of M. lusitanicus and may be an important target for future therapeutic strategies against mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macario Osorio-Concepción
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Damaris Lorenzo-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Ghizlane Tahiri
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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9
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León MJ, Sánchez-Porro C, de la Haba RR, Pfeiffer F, Dyall-Smith M, Oksanen HM, Ventosa A. Halobacterium hubeiense sp. nov., a haloarchaeal species isolated from a bore core drilled in Hubei Province, PR China. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:006296. [PMID: 38512754 PMCID: PMC11004503 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Eight colonies of live microbes were isolated from an extensively surface-sterilized halite sample which had been retrieved from a depth of 2000 m from a salt mine in the Qianjiang Depression, Hubei Province, PR China. The eight colonies, obtained after 4 weeks of incubation, were named JI20-1T-JI20-8 and JI20-1T was selected as the type strain. The strains have been previously described, including a genomic analysis based on the complete genome for strain JI20-1T and draft genomes for the other strains. In that study, the name Halobacterium hubeiense was suggested, based on the location of the drilling site. Previous phylogenomic analysis showed that strain JI20-1T is most closely related to the Permian isolate Halobacterium noricense from Alpine rock salt. The orthologous average nucleotide identity (orthoANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) percentages between the eight strains are 100-99.6 % and 99.8-96.4 %, respectively. The orthoANI and dDDH values of these strains with respect to the type strains of species of the genus Halobacterium are 89.9-78.2 % and 37.3-21.6 %, respectively, supporting their placement in a novel extremely halophilic archaeal species. The phylogenomic tree based on the comparison of sequences of 632 core-orthologous proteins confirmed the novel species status for these haloarchaea. The polar lipid profile includes phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, and sulfated galactosyl mannosyl galactosyl glucosyl diether, a profile compatible with that of Halobacterium noricense. Based on genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characterization, we propose strain JI20-1T (=DSM 114402T = HAMBI 3616T) as the type strain of a novel species in the genus Halobacterium, with the name Halobacterium hubeiense sp. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José León
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Cristina Sánchez-Porro
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rafael R. de la Haba
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Friedhelm Pfeiffer
- Computational Biology Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Biology II, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Mike Dyall-Smith
- Computational Biology Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Hanna M. Oksanen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antonio Ventosa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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10
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Steinberg-Shemer O, Yacobovich J, Noy-Lotan S, Dgany O, Krasnov T, Barg A, Landau YE, Kneller K, Somech R, Gilad O, Brik Simon D, Orenstein N, Izraeli S, Del Caño-Ochoa F, Tamary H, Ramón-Maiques S. Biallelic hypomorphic variants in CAD cause uridine-responsive macrocytic anaemia with elevated haemoglobin-A2. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:1067-1071. [PMID: 37984840 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Biallelic pathogenic variants in CAD, that encode the multienzymatic protein required for de-novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-50. This rare disease, characterized by developmental delay, intractable seizures and anaemia, is amenable to treatment with uridine. We present a patient with macrocytic anaemia, elevated haemoglobin-A2 levels, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis and target cells in the blood smear, and mild developmental delay. A next-generation sequencing panel revealed biallelic variants in CAD. Functional studies did not support complete abrogation of protein function; however, the patient responded to uridine supplement. We conclude that biallelic hypomorphic CAD variants may cause a primarily haematological phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orna Steinberg-Shemer
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Joanne Yacobovich
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sharon Noy-Lotan
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Orly Dgany
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Tanya Krasnov
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Assaf Barg
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yuval E Landau
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Metabolic Disease Service, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Katya Kneller
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Raz Somech
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Oded Gilad
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dafna Brik Simon
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Naama Orenstein
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Shai Izraeli
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Structure of Macromolecular Targets Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Hannah Tamary
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Pediatric Hematology Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Structure of Macromolecular Targets Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC, Valencia, Spain
- Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
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Pérez-Aliaga AI, Ayerra I, Sánchez-Guillén J, López FJ, Puente F, Aranda A, Domingo JM, Garcés C. Routine results of an algorithm for managing the production of blood components. Vox Sang 2024. [PMID: 38410835 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The variability in the number of donations together with a growing demand for platelet concentrates and plasma-derived medicines make us seek solutions aimed at optimizing the processing of blood. Some mathematical models to improve efficiencies in blood banking have been published. The goal of this work is to validate and evaluate an algorithm's impact in the production of blood components in the Blood and Tissues Bank of Aragon (BTBA). MATERIALS AND METHODS A mathematical algorithm was designed, implemented and validated through simulations with real data. It was incorporated into the fractionation area, which uses the Reveos® fractionation system (Terumo BCT) to split blood into its components. After 9 months of daily routine validation, retrospective activity data from the Blood Bank and Transfusion Services before and during the use of the algorithm were compared. RESULTS Using the algorithm, the outdating rate of platelet concentrates (PC) decreased by 87.8% in the blood bank. The average shelf life remaining of PC supplied to Transfusion Services increased by almost 1 day. As a consequence, the outdating rate in the Aragon Transfusion Network decreased by 33%. In addition, extra 100 litres of plasma were obtained in 9 months. CONCLUSIONS The algorithm improves the blood establishment's workflow and facilitates the decision-making process in whole blood processing. It resulted in a decrease in PC outdating rate, increase in PC shelf life and finally an increase in the volume of recovered plasma, leading to significant cost savings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - F Javier López
- Department of Statistical Methods and Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Fernando Puente
- Blood and Tissues Bank of Aragón (BTBA), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Alfonso Aranda
- Blood and Tissues Bank of Aragón (BTBA), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Garcés
- Blood and Tissues Bank of Aragón (BTBA), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
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12
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Toledano-Osorio M, Osorio R, Bueno J, Vallecillo C, Vallecillo-Rivas M, Sanz M. Next-generation antibacterial nanopolymers for treating oral chronic inflammatory diseases of bacterial origin. Int Endod J 2024. [PMID: 38340038 DOI: 10.1111/iej.14040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 'Periodontitis' refers to periodontal destruction of connective tissue attachment and bone, in response to microorganisms forming subgingival biofilms on the root surface, while 'apical periodontitis' refers to periapical inflammatory processes occurring in response to microorganisms within the root canal system. The treatment of both diseases is based on the elimination of the bacterial challenge, though its predictability depends on the ability of disrupting these biofilms, what may need adjunctive antibacterial strategies, such as the next-generation antibacterial strategies (NGAS). From all the newly developed NGAS, the use of polymeric nanotechnology may pose a potential effective approach. Although some of these strategies have only been tested in vitro and in preclinical in vivo models, their use holds a great potential, and therefore, it is relevant to understand their mechanism of action and evaluate their scientific evidence of efficacy. OBJECTIVES To explore NGAS based on polymeric nanotechnology used for the potential treatment of periodontitis and apical periodontitis. METHOD A systemic search of scientific publications of adjunctive antimicrobial strategies using nanopolymers to treat periodontal and periapical diseases was conducted using The National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE by PubMed), The Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, EMBASE and Web of Science. RESULTS Different polymeric nanoparticles, nanofibres and nanostructured hydrogels combined with antimicrobial substances have been identified in the periodontal literature, being the most commonly used nanopolymers of polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and chitosan. As antimicrobials, the most frequently used have been antibiotics, though other antimicrobial substances, such as metallic ions, peptides and naturally derived products, have also been added to the nanopolymers. CONCLUSION Polymeric nanomaterials containing antimicrobial compounds may be considered as a potential NGAS. Its relative efficacy, however, is not well understood since most of the existing evidence is derived from in vitro or preclinical in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Toledano-Osorio
- Postgraduate Program of Specialization in Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Osorio
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jaime Bueno
- Postgraduate Program of Specialization in Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Mariano Sanz
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Irastorza-Valera L, Benítez JM, Montáns FJ, Saucedo-Mora L. An Agent-Based Model to Reproduce the Boolean Logic Behaviour of Neuronal Self-Organised Communities through Pulse Delay Modulation and Generation of Logic Gates. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:101. [PMID: 38392147 PMCID: PMC10886514 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain is arguably the most complex "machine" to ever exist. Its detailed functioning is yet to be fully understood, let alone modelled. Neurological processes have logical signal-processing and biophysical aspects, and both affect the brain's structure, functioning and adaptation. Mathematical approaches based on both information and graph theory have been extensively used in an attempt to approximate its biological functioning, along with Artificial Intelligence frameworks inspired by its logical functioning. In this article, an approach to model some aspects of the brain learning and signal processing is presented, mimicking the metastability and backpropagation found in the real brain while also accounting for neuroplasticity. Several simulations are carried out with this model to demonstrate how dynamic neuroplasticity, neural inhibition and neuron migration can reshape the brain's logical connectivity to synchronise signal processing and obtain certain target latencies. This work showcases the importance of dynamic logical and biophysical remodelling in brain plasticity. Combining mathematical (agents, graph theory, topology and backpropagation) and biomedical ingredients (metastability, neuroplasticity and migration), these preliminary results prove complex brain phenomena can be reproduced-under pertinent simplifications-via affordable computations, which can be construed as a starting point for more ambitiously accurate simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Irastorza-Valera
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- PIMM Laboratory, Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, 151 Bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - José María Benítez
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J Montáns
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Luis Saucedo-Mora
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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14
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Medina-García M, Jiménez-Carvelo AM, Bagur-González MG, González-Casado A. Innovative non-targeted liquid chromatography fingerprinting approach for authenticating tigernuts under Protected Designation of Origin quality seal. J Sci Food Agric 2024; 104:1638-1644. [PMID: 37850307 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tigernut is a typical foodstuff from a specific region of Valencia (Spain) called 'L'Horta Nord', where it is commercialized under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as Chufa de Valencia ('Valencia's tigernut'). PDO-recognized tigernuts present unique characteristics associated with their particular production region. Increasing demand and the associated expansion of its cultivation area has made necessary an exhaustive quality control to check the geographical origin and quality seal. RESULTS In this work, a new multivariate analytical method capable of authenticating the PDO quality seal of tigernut samples was developed. Tigernut fat fraction was extracted under optimal conditions, applying the methodology of design of experiments. The analytical method combined fingerprinting methodology and chemometric tools to observe the natural grouping of samples using the exploratory analysis method and to develop classification models (partial least squares-discriminatory analysis; PLS-DA) to discriminate between two sample categories: (i) PDO tigernuts; and (ii) NON-PDO tigernuts. CONCLUSION The built PLS-DA model demonstrated 100% accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity, revealing that the tigernut fat fraction can be applied to authenticate the PDO quality seal. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Medina-García
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana M Jiménez-Carvelo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María G Bagur-González
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio González-Casado
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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15
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Yáñez-Gómez F, Gálvez-Melero L, Ledesma-Corvi S, Bis-Humbert C, Hernández-Hernández E, Salort G, García-Cabrerizo R, García-Fuster MJ. Evaluating the daily modulation of FADD and related molecular markers in different brain regions in male rats. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25296. [PMID: 38361411 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Fas-Associated protein with Death Domain (FADD), a key molecule controlling cell fate by balancing apoptotic versus non-apoptotic functions, is dysregulated in post-mortem brains of subjects with psychopathologies, in animal models capturing certain aspects of these disorders, and by several pharmacological agents. Since persistent disruptions in normal functioning of daily rhythms are linked with these conditions, oscillations over time of key biomarkers, such as FADD, could play a crucial role in balancing the clinical outcome. Therefore, we characterized the 24-h regulation of FADD (and linked molecular partners: p-ERK/t-ERK ratio, Cdk-5, p35/p25, cell proliferation) in key brain regions for FADD regulation (prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus). Samples were collected during Zeitgeber time (ZT) 2, ZT5, ZT8, ZT11, ZT14, ZT17, ZT20, and ZT23 (ZT0, lights-on or inactive period; ZT12, lights-off or active period). FADD showed similar daily fluctuations in all regions analyzed, with higher values during lights off, and opposite to p-ERK/t-ERK ratios regulation. Both Cdk-5 and p35 remained stable and did not change across ZT. However, p25 increased during lights off, but exclusively in striatum. Finally, no 24-h modulation was observed for hippocampal cell proliferation, although higher values were present during lights off. These results demonstrated a clear daily modulation of FADD in several key brain regions, with a more prominent regulation during the active time of rats, and suggested a key role for FADD, and molecular partners, in the normal physiological functioning of the brain's daily rhythmicity, which if disrupted might participate in the development of certain pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Yáñez-Gómez
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Laura Gálvez-Melero
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Cristian Bis-Humbert
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Elena Hernández-Hernández
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Glòria Salort
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Rubén García-Cabrerizo
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
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Tamés H, Sabater C, Royo F, Margolles A, Falcón JM, Ruas-Madiedo P, Ruiz L. Mouse intestinal microbiome modulation by oral administration of a GABA-producing Bifidobacterium adolescentis strain. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0258023. [PMID: 37991375 PMCID: PMC10783132 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02580-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The gut microbiome-brain communication signaling has emerged in recent years as a novel target for intervention with the potential to ameliorate some conditions associated with the central nervous system. Hence, probiotics with capacity to produce neurotransmitters, for instance, have come up as appealing alternatives to treat disorders associated with disbalanced neurotransmitters. Herein, we further deep into the effects of administering a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing Bifidobacterium strain, previously demonstrated to contribute to reduce serum glutamate levels, in the gut microbiome composition and metabolic activity in a mouse model. Our results demonstrate that the GABA-producing strain administration results in a specific pattern of gut microbiota modulation, different from the one observed in animals receiving non-GABA-producing strains. This opens new avenues to delineate the specific mechanisms by which IPLA60004 administration contributes to reducing serum glutamate levels and to ascertain whether this effect could exert health benefits in patients of diseases associated with high-glutamate serum concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Tamés
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Carlos Sabater
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Félix Royo
- Exosomes Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas Y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Abelardo Margolles
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Falcón
- Exosomes Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas Y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Patricia Ruas-Madiedo
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Lorena Ruiz
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
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17
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Mángano MG, Buatois LA, Piñuela L, Volkenborn N, Rodríguez-Tovar FJ, García-Ramos JC. Jurassic paleosurfaces with fecal mounds reveal the last supper of arenicolid worms. Sci Rep 2024; 14:709. [PMID: 38184722 PMCID: PMC10771522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51103-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Exceptional paleosurfaces preserving fecal casting mounds occur in the Upper Jurassic Lastres Formation of Spain. As in modern shorelines, these biogenic structures are associated with straight to sinuous-crested ripples showing the interplay of biological and physical processes in a low-energy marine environment. These trace fossils display characteristics, distribution, and densities like those of modern arenicolid populations (approximately 35 specimens per m2). Under close examination, these fecal casting mounds are morphologically undistinguishable from those produced by recent arenicolids (e.g. Arenicola marina, Abarenicola pacifica), providing evidence of the presence of these polychaetes in the Late Jurassic. As their modern counterparts, fossil arenicolids very likely modified their environment generating a seabed topography and impacting ancient benthic communities, sediment characteristics, and sediment biogeochemistry. Although the presence of oxic microhabitats and biogeochemical processes cannot be accurately measured in the fossil record, comparison with the work of modern populations allows to make inferences on sediment reworking and bioirrigation potential. In addition, association with grazing trails supports the idea of fertilization and modulation of food resources to other species. These paleosurfaces underscore the significance of high-fidelity snapshots in the fossil record (true substrates) to reconstruct past ecologies and sediment biogeochemistry. A new ichnotaxon, Cumulusichnus asturiensis n. igen. and n. isp., is defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gabriela Mángano
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Luis A Buatois
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Laura Piñuela
- Museo del Jurásico de Asturias (MUJA), 33328, Colunga, Asturias, Spain
| | - Nils Volkenborn
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
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Zhao M, Loreau M, Ochoa-Hueso R, Zhang H, Yang J, Zhang Y, Liu H, Jiang Y, Han X. Decoupled responses of above- and below-ground beta-diversity to nitrogen enrichment in a typical steppe. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14339. [PMID: 38037734 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition affects biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. However, we do not know whether the effects of N on above-ground plant β-diversity are coupled with changes occurring in the soil seed bank. We conducted a long-term N-addition experiment in a typical steppe and found that above-ground β-diversity increased and then decreased with increasing N addition, whereas below-ground β-diversity decreased linearly. This suggests decoupled dynamics of plant communities and their soil seed bank under N enrichment. Species substitution determined above- and below-ground β-diversity change via an increasing role of deterministic processes with N addition. These effects were mostly driven by differential responses of the above-ground vegetation and the soil seed bank β-diversities to N-induced changes in environmental heterogeneity, increased soil inorganic N concentrations and soil acidification. Our findings highlight the importance of considering above- and below-ground processes simultaneously for effectively conserving grassland ecosystems under N enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Michel Loreau
- Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Moulis, France
| | - Raúl Ochoa-Hueso
- Department of Biology, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario (ceiA3), Campus del Rio San Pedro, IVAGRO, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Hongxiang Zhang
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Junjie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunhai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Heyong Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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19
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Duque-Soto C, Leyva-Jiménez FJ, Quirantes-Piné R, López-Bascón MA, Lozano-Sánchez J, Borrás-Linares I. Evaluation of Olive Leaf Phenolic Compounds' Gastrointestinal Stability Based on Co-Administration and Microencapsulation with Non-Digestible Carbohydrates. Nutrients 2023; 16:93. [PMID: 38201923 PMCID: PMC10780473 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The large generation of olive by-products has motivated their revalorization into high-added-value products. In this regard, olive leaves pose as an interesting source of bioactive compounds, due to their phenolic content with commonly known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, with potential application in non-communicable diseases. However, their effectiveness and applicability into functional foods is limited by their instability under gastrointestinal conditions. Thus, the development of protective formulations is essential. In this study, the spray-drying encapsulation of a phenolic-rich olive leaf extract with inulin as the encapsulating agent was optimized. Then, the behavior of the free extract under gastrointestinal conditions, its co-administration with the encapsulating agent, and the optimized microencapsulated formulation were studied through an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process following the INFOGEST protocol. Digestion of the free extract resulted in the degradation of most compounds, whereas this was minimized in the co-administration of the non-encapsulated extract with the encapsulating agent. This protective effect, related to its interaction with inulin, was similar to the microencapsulated formulation. Thus, both approaches, co-administration and microencapsulation with inulin, could be promising strategies for the improvement of the stability of these anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory compounds under gastrointestinal conditions, enhancing their beneficial effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Duque-Soto
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Farmacy, University of Granada, Campus Universitario Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Francisco Javier Leyva-Jiménez
- Area of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Regional Institute for Applied Scientific Research (IRICA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rosa Quirantes-Piné
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Avda Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - María Asunción López-Bascón
- Research and Development Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), Health Science Technological Park, Avenida del Conocimiento 37, Edificio BioRegión, 18016 Granada, Spain;
| | - Jesús Lozano-Sánchez
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Farmacy, University of Granada, Campus Universitario Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Isabel Borrás-Linares
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Avda Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain;
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20
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Aureli L, Coleine C, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Ahren D, Cemmi A, Di Sarcina I, Onofri S, Selbmann L. Geography and environmental pressure are predictive of class-specific radioresistance in black fungi. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2931-2942. [PMID: 37775957 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Black fungi are among the most resistant organisms to ionizing radiation on Earth. However, our current knowledge is based on studies on a few isolates, while the overall radioresistance limits across this microbial group and the relationship with local environmental conditions remain largely undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed the survival of 101 strains of black fungi isolated across a worldwide spatial distribution to gamma radiation doses up to 100 kGy. We found that intra and inter-specific taxonomy, UV radiation, and precipitation levels primarily influence the radioresistance in black fungi. Altogether, this study provides insights into the adaptive mechanisms of black fungi to extreme environments and highlights the role of local adaptation in shaping the survival capabilities of these extreme-tolerant organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Aureli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Dag Ahren
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Alessia Cemmi
- Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA FSN-FISS-SNI), Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Sarcina
- Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA FSN-FISS-SNI), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genoa, Italy
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21
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Silvestri A, Vázquez-Díaz S, Misia G, Poletti F, López-Domene R, Pavlov V, Zanardi C, Cortajarena AL, Prato M. An Electroactive and Self-Assembling Bio-Ink, based on Protein-Stabilized Nanoclusters and Graphene, for the Manufacture of Fully Inkjet-Printed Paper-Based Analytical Devices. Small 2023; 19:e2300163. [PMID: 37144410 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Hundreds of new electrochemical sensors are reported in literature every year. However, only a few of them makes it to the market. Manufacturability, or rather the lack of it, is the parameter that dictates if new sensing technologies will remain forever in the laboratory in which they are conceived. Inkjet printing is a low-cost and versatile technique that can facilitate the transfer of nanomaterial-based sensors to the market. Herein, an electroactive and self-assembling inkjet-printable ink based on protein-nanomaterial composites and exfoliated graphene is reported. The consensus tetratricopeptide proteins (CTPRs), used to formulate this ink, are engineered to template and coordinate electroactive metallic nanoclusters (NCs), and to self-assemble upon drying, forming stable films. The authors demonstrate that, by incorporating graphene in the ink formulation, it is possible to dramatically improve the electrocatalytic properties of the ink, obtaining an efficient hybrid material for hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) detection. Using this bio-ink, the authors manufactured disposable and environmentally sustainable electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs) to detect H2 O2 , outperforming commercial screen-printed platforms. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that oxidoreductase enzymes can be included in the formulation, to fully inkjet-print enzymatic amperometric biosensors ready to use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Silvestri
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Silvia Vázquez-Díaz
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Misia
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universitá Degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Poletti
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
| | - Rocío López-Domene
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- POLYMAT and Applied Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Valeri Pavlov
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Chiara Zanardi
- Department of molecular sciences and nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venezia, 30170, Italy
- Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, National Research Council of Italy, Bologna, 40129, Italy
| | - Aitziber L Cortajarena
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universitá Degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
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22
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Treviño MÁ, Pantoja-Uceda D, Laurents DV, Mompeán M. SARS-CoV-2 Nsp8 N-terminal domain folds autonomously and binds dsRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10041-10048. [PMID: 37665006 PMCID: PMC10570013 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Nsp8 protein is a critical component of the RNA replicase, as its N-terminal domain (NTD) anchors Nsp12, the RNA, and Nsp13. Whereas its C-terminal domain (CTD) structure is well resolved, there is an open debate regarding the conformation adopted by the NTD as it is predicted as disordered but found in a variety of complex-dependent conformations or missing from many other structures. Using NMR spectroscopy, we show that the SARS CoV-2 Nsp8 NTD features both well folded secondary structure and disordered segments. Our results suggest that while part of this domain corresponding to two long α-helices forms autonomously, the folding of other segments would require interaction with other replicase components. When isolated, the α-helix population progressively declines towards the C-termini but surprisingly binds dsRNA while preserving structural disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Á Treviño
- “Blas Cabrera” Institute for Physical Chemistry, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - David Pantoja-Uceda
- “Blas Cabrera” Institute for Physical Chemistry, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Douglas V Laurents
- “Blas Cabrera” Institute for Physical Chemistry, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Miguel Mompeán
- “Blas Cabrera” Institute for Physical Chemistry, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
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23
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Tandava VSRK, Spadaro MC, Arbiol J, Murcia-López S, Morante JR. Hydrothermal Fabrication of Carbon-Supported Oxide-Derived Copper Heterostructures: A Robust Catalyst System for Enhanced Electro-Reduction of CO 2 to C 2 H 4. ChemSusChem 2023; 16:e202300344. [PMID: 37306621 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic CO2 can be converted to alternative fuels and value-added products by electrocatalytic routes. Copper-based catalysts are found to be the star materials for obtaining longer-chain carbon compounds beyond 2e- products. Herein, we report a facile hydrothermal fabrication of a highly robust electrocatalyst: in-situ grown heterostructures of plate-like CuO-Cu2 O on carbon black. Simultaneous synthesis of copper-carbon catalysts with varied amounts of copper was conducted to determine the optimum blend. It is observed that the optimum ratio and structure have aided in achieving the state of art faradaic efficiency for ethylene >45 % at -1.6 V vs. RHE at industrially relevant high current densities over 160 to 200 mA ⋅ cm-2 . It is understood that the in-situ modification of CuO to Cu2 O during the electrolysis is the driving force for the highly selective conversion of CO2 to ethylene through the *CO intermediates at the onset potentials followed by C-C coupling. The excellent distribution of Cu-based platelets on the carbon structure enables rapid electron transfer and enhanced catalytic efficiency. It is inferred that choosing the right composition of the catalyst by tuning the catalyst layer over the gas diffusion electrode can substantially affect the product selectivity and promote reaching the potential industrial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata S R K Tandava
- Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain
- Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Maria Chiara Spadaro
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08193, Spain
| | - Jordi Arbiol
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08193, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sebastián Murcia-López
- Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain
| | - Joan Ramón Morante
- Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 08930, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain
- Faculty of Physics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Catalonia, Spain
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24
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Bittencourt VZ, Freire R, Alcantara JMA, Loureiro LL, de Oliveira TM, Cahuê FLC, Itaborahy A, Pierucci APTR. Effect of gas exchange data selection methods on resting metabolic rate estimation in young athletes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291511. [PMID: 37729178 PMCID: PMC10511082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study analysed the effect of the gas exchange data selection methods on the resting metabolic rate (RMR) estimation and proposed a protocol shortening providing a suitable RMR estimation for young athletes. Sixty-six healthy young Brazilian athletes performed a 30-minute RMR assessment. Different methods of gas exchange data selection were applied: short and long-time intervals, steady-state (SSt), and filtering. A mixed one-way ANOVA was used to analyse the mean differences in gas exchange, RMR, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and coefficients of variation across all methods. Additionally, paired Student's t-test were used to compare the first and best SSt RMR values for each SSt method (3, 4, and 5-min). The 5-min SSt method provided the lowest RMR estimate (1454 kcal.day-1). There was a statistical difference between methods (F = 2.607, p = 0.04), but they presented a clinically irrelevant absolute difference (~36 kcal.day-1). There were no differences in RER among methods. In addition, using the SSt method, 12 minutes of assessment were enough to obtain a valid estimation of RMR. The 5-min SSt method should be employed for assessing the RMR among young athletes, considering the possibility of obtaining a shortened assessment (~12 min) with an acceptable and low coefficient of variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Zaban Bittencourt
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raul Freire
- Olympic Laboratory, Brazil Olympic Committee, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juan M. A. Alcantara
- Institute for Innovation & Sustainable Food Chain Development, Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, Campus Arrosadía, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luiz Lannes Loureiro
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taillan Martins de Oliveira
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fábio Luiz Candido Cahuê
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alex Itaborahy
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna Paola Trindade Rocha Pierucci
- DAFEE Laboratory, Graduate Program in Nutrition, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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25
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Pestana M, García-Caparrós P, Saavedra T, Gama F, Abadía J, de Varennes A, Correia PJ. Nutritional Performance of Five Citrus Rootstocks under Different Fe Levels. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:3252. [PMID: 37765416 PMCID: PMC10535202 DOI: 10.3390/plants12183252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential micronutrient for citrus, playing an important role in photosynthesis and yield. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the tolerance to Fe deficiency of five citrus rootstocks: sour orange (S), Carrizo citrange (C), Citrus macrophylla (M), Troyer citrange (T), and Volkamer lemon (V). Plants were grown for 5 weeks in nutrient solution that contained the following Fe concentrations (in µM): 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. At the end of the experiment, biomass (dry weight-DW), leaf area, total leaf chlorophyll (CHL), and the activity of root chelate reductase (FCR) were recorded. Additionally, the mineral composition of roots (R) and shoots (S) was evaluated. Principal component analysis was used to study the relationships between all parameters and, subsequently, the relations between rootstocks. In the first component, N-S, P-S, Ca-S, Cu-S, Zn-S, Mn-S, Zn-R, and Mn-R concentrations were related to leaf CHL and FCR. Increases in leaf CHL, Mg-R, and DW (shoots and roots) were inversely related to Cu-R, which was shown in the second component. The values obtained were consistent for V10, C15, and C20, but in contrast for S0 and S5. In conclusion, micronutrient homeostasis in roots and shoots of all rootstocks were affected by Fe stress conditions. The Fe/Cu ratio was significantly related to CHL, which may be used to assist rootstock performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maribela Pestana
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Building 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (T.S.); (P.J.C.)
| | - Pedro García-Caparrós
- Department of Agronomy, Higher Engineering School, University of Almeria, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence CeiA3, Ctra. Sacramentos/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Teresa Saavedra
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Building 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (T.S.); (P.J.C.)
| | - Florinda Gama
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Building 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (T.S.); (P.J.C.)
- GreenCoLab—Associação Oceano Verde, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Javier Abadía
- Plant Biology Department, Estación Experimental de Aula Dei, CSIC, Av. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Amarilis de Varennes
- Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro José Correia
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Building 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (T.S.); (P.J.C.)
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26
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Hortelano JL, Villagrá J, Godoy J, Jiménez V. Recent Developments on Drivable Area Estimation: A Survey and a Functional Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:7633. [PMID: 37688088 PMCID: PMC10490760 DOI: 10.3390/s23177633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Most advanced autonomous driving systems (ADS) today rely on the prior creation of high-definition maps (HD maps). This process is expensive and needs to be performed frequently to keep up with the changing conditions of the road environment. Creating accurate navigation maps online is an alternative to reduce the cost and broaden the current operational design domains (ODD) of modern ADS. This paper offers a snapshot of the state of the art in drivable area estimation, which is an essential technology to deploy ADS in ODDs where HD maps are limited or unavailable. The proposed review introduces a novel architecture breakdown that fits learning-based and non-learning-based techniques and allows the analysis of a set of impactful and recent drivable area algorithms. In addition to that, complimentary information for practitioners is provided: (i) an assessment of the influence of modern sensing technologies on the task under study and (ii) a selection of relevant datasets for evaluation and benchmarking purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Luis Hortelano
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, CSIC—Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ctra. Campo Real, Km 0.200, Arganda del Rey, 28500 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.); (V.J.)
| | - Jorge Villagrá
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, CSIC—Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ctra. Campo Real, Km 0.200, Arganda del Rey, 28500 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.); (V.J.)
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27
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Garín M, Pasanen TP, López G, Vähänissi V, Chen K, Martín I, Savin H. Black Ultra-Thin Crystalline Silicon Wafers Reach the 4n 2 Absorption Limit-Application to IBC Solar Cells. Small 2023; 19:e2302250. [PMID: 37259265 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202302250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cutting costs by progressively decreasing substrate thickness is a common theme in the crystalline silicon photovoltaic industry for the last decades, since drastically thinner wafers would significantly reduce the substrate-related costs. In addition to the technological challenges concerning wafering and handling of razor-thin flexible wafers, a major bottleneck is to maintain high absorption in those thin wafers. For the latter, advanced light-trapping techniques become of paramount importance. Here we demonstrate that by applying state-of-the-art black-Si nanotexture produced by DRIE on thin uncommitted wafers, the maximum theoretical absorption (Yablonovitch's 4n2 absorption limit), that is, ideal light trapping, is reached with wafer thicknesses as low as 40, 20, and 10 µm when paired with a back reflector. Due to the achieved promising optical properties the results are implemented into an actual thin interdigitated back contacted solar cell. The proof-of-concept cell, encapsulated in glass, achieved a 16.4% efficiency with an JSC = 35 mA cm- 2 , representing a 43% improvement in output power with respect to the reference polished cell. These results demonstrate the vast potential of black silicon nanotexture in future extremely-thin silicon photovoltaics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Garín
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Carrer del Gran Capità, Barcelona, 08034, Spain
- Department of Engineering, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya, Carrer de la Laura 13, Vic, 08500, Spain
| | - T P Pasanen
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Tietotie 3, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - G López
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Carrer del Gran Capità, Barcelona, 08034, Spain
| | - V Vähänissi
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Tietotie 3, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - K Chen
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Tietotie 3, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - I Martín
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Carrer del Gran Capità, Barcelona, 08034, Spain
| | - H Savin
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Tietotie 3, Espoo, 02150, Finland
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28
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Frutos-Rincón L, Luna C, Aleixandre-Carrera F, Velasco E, Diaz-Tahoces A, Meseguer V, Gallar J, Acosta MC. The Contribution of TRPA1 to Corneal Thermosensitivity and Blink Regulation in Young and Aged Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12620. [PMID: 37628800 PMCID: PMC10454529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of TRPA1 in the thermosensitivity of the corneal cold thermoreceptor nerve endings was studied in young and aged mice. The contribution of the TRPA1-dependent activity to basal tearing and thermally-evoked blink was also explored. The corneal cold thermoreceptors' activity was recorded extracellularly in young (5-month-old) and aged (18-month-old) C57BL/6WT (WT) and TRPA1-/- knockout (TRPA1-KO) mice at basal temperature (34 °C) and during cooling (15 °C) and heating (45 °C) ramps. The blink response to cold and heat stimulation of the ocular surface and the basal tearing rate were also measured in young animals using orbicularis oculi muscle electromyography (OOemg) and phenol red threads, respectively. The background activity at 34 °C and the cooling- and heating-evoked responses of the cold thermoreceptors were similar in WT and TRPA1-KO animals, no matter the age. Similar to the aged WT mice, in the young and aged TRPA1-KO mice, most of the cold thermoreceptors presented low frequency background activity, a low cooling threshold, and a sluggish response to heating. The amplitude and duration of the OOemg signals correlated with the magnitude of the induced thermal change in the WT but not in the TRPA1-KO mice. The basal tearing was similar in the TRPA1-KO and WT mice. The electrophysiological data suggest that the TRPA1-dependent nerve activity, which declines with age, contributes to detecting the warming of the ocular surface and also to integrating the thermally-evoked reflex blink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Frutos-Rincón
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Carolina Luna
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Fernando Aleixandre-Carrera
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Enrique Velasco
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Ariadna Diaz-Tahoces
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Víctor Meseguer
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Juana Gallar
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica y Sanitaria de Alicante, 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Acosta
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain; (L.F.-R.); (C.L.); (F.A.-C.); (E.V.); (A.D.-T.); (V.M.); (J.G.)
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Bullones A, Castro AJ, Lima-Cabello E, Fernandez-Pozo N, Bautista R, Alché JDD, Claros MG. Transcriptomic Insight into the Pollen Tube Growth of Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea Reveals Reprogramming and Pollen-Specific Genes Including New Transcription Factors. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:2894. [PMID: 37631106 PMCID: PMC10459472 DOI: 10.3390/plants12162894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The pollen tube is a key innovation of land plants that is essential for successful fertilisation. Its development and growth have been profusely studied in model organisms, but in spite of the economic impact of olive trees, little is known regarding the genome-wide events underlying pollen hydration and growth in this species. To fill this gap, triplicate mRNA samples at 0, 1, 3, and 6 h of in vitro germination of olive cultivar Picual pollen were analysed by RNA-seq. A bioinformatics R workflow called RSeqFlow was developed contemplating the best practices described in the literature, covering from expression data filtering to differential expression and clustering, to finally propose hub genes. The resulting olive pollen transcriptome consisted of 22,418 reliable transcripts, where 5364 were differentially expressed, out of which 173 have no orthologue in plants and up to 3 of them might be pollen-specific transcription factors. Functional enrichment revealed a deep transcriptional reprogramming in mature olive pollen that is also dependent on protein stability and turnover to allow pollen tube emergence, with many hub genes related to heat shock proteins and F-box-containing proteins. Reprogramming extends to the first 3 h of growth, including processes consistent with studies performed in other plant species, such as global down-regulation of biosynthetic processes, vesicle/organelle trafficking and cytoskeleton remodelling. In the last stages, growth should be maintained from persistent transcripts. Mature pollen is equipped with transcripts to successfully cope with adverse environments, even though the in vitro growth seems to induce several stress responses. Finally, pollen-specific transcription factors were proposed as probable drivers of pollen germination in olive trees, which also shows an overall increased number of pollen-specific gene isoforms relative to other plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bullones
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture “La Mayora” (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Antonio Jesús Castro
- Plant Reproductive Biology and Advanced Imaging Laboratory (BReMAP), Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ-CSIC), 18008 Granada, Spain; (A.J.C.); (E.L.-C.); (J.d.D.A.)
| | - Elena Lima-Cabello
- Plant Reproductive Biology and Advanced Imaging Laboratory (BReMAP), Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ-CSIC), 18008 Granada, Spain; (A.J.C.); (E.L.-C.); (J.d.D.A.)
| | - Noe Fernandez-Pozo
- Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture “La Mayora” (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Rocío Bautista
- Plataforma Andaluza de Bioinformática, Supercomputing and Bioinnovation Center (SCBI), Universidad de Málaga, 29590 Malaga, Spain;
| | - Juan de Dios Alché
- Plant Reproductive Biology and Advanced Imaging Laboratory (BReMAP), Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ-CSIC), 18008 Granada, Spain; (A.J.C.); (E.L.-C.); (J.d.D.A.)
- University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO), Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaen, Spain
| | - Manuel Gonzalo Claros
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture “La Mayora” (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), 29010 Malaga, Spain;
- CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) U741, 29071 Malaga, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research in Málaga (IBIMA), IBIMA-RARE, 29010 Malaga, Spain
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García A, Cámara JA, Boullosa AM, Gustà MF, Mondragón L, Schwartz S, Casals E, Abasolo I, Bastús NG, Puntes V. Nanoceria as Safe Contrast Agents for X-ray CT Imaging. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2023; 13:2208. [PMID: 37570527 PMCID: PMC10421217 DOI: 10.3390/nano13152208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) have exceptional catalytic properties, rendering them highly effective in removing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) from biological environments, which is crucial in safeguarding these environments against radiation-induced damage. Additionally, the Ce atom's high Z number makes it an ideal candidate for utilisation as an X-ray imaging contrast agent. We herein show how the injection of albumin-stabilised 5 nm CeO2NPs into mice revealed substantial enhancement in X-ray contrast, reaching up to a tenfold increase at significantly lower concentrations than commercial or other proposed contrast agents. Remarkably, these NPs exhibited prolonged residence time within the target organs. Thus, upon injection into the tail vein, they exhibited efficient uptake by the liver and spleen, with 85% of the injected dose (%ID) recovered after 7 days. In the case of intratumoral administration, 99% ID of CeO2NPs remained within the tumour throughout the 7-day observation period, allowing for observation of disease dynamics. Mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) elemental analysis confirmed X-ray CT imaging observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana García
- Design and Pharmacokinetics of Nanoparticles, CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Juan Antonio Cámara
- Preclinical Imaging Platform, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Ana María Boullosa
- Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery & Targeting (CB-DDT), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.B.); (I.A.)
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
| | - Muriel F. Gustà
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Mondragón
- Design and Pharmacokinetics of Nanoparticles, CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.G.); (L.M.)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simó Schwartz
- Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery & Targeting (CB-DDT), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.B.); (I.A.)
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
- Servei de Bioquímica, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eudald Casals
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China;
| | - Ibane Abasolo
- Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery & Targeting (CB-DDT), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.B.); (I.A.)
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
- Servei de Bioquímica, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus G. Bastús
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor Puntes
- Design and Pharmacokinetics of Nanoparticles, CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.G.); (L.M.)
- Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (M.F.G.); (N.G.B.)
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, (ICREA), P. Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Saturio S, Rey A, Samarra A, Collado MC, Suárez M, Mantecón L, Solís G, Gueimonde M, Arboleya S. Old Folks, Bad Boon: Antimicrobial Resistance in the Infant Gut Microbiome. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1907. [PMID: 37630467 PMCID: PMC10458625 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the intestinal microbiome in the neonate starts, mainly, at birth, when the infant receives its founding microbial inoculum from the mother. This microbiome contains genes conferring resistance to antibiotics since these are found in some of the microorganisms present in the intestine. Similarly to microbiota composition, the possession of antibiotic resistance genes is affected by different perinatal factors. Moreover, antibiotics are the most used drugs in early life, and the use of antibiotics in pediatrics covers a wide variety of possibilities and treatment options. The disruption in the early microbiota caused by antibiotics may be of great relevance, not just because it may limit colonization by beneficial microorganisms and increase that of potential pathogens, but also because it may increase the levels of antibiotic resistance genes. The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is one of the major public health threats that humanity has to face and, therefore, understanding the factors that determine the development of the resistome in early life is of relevance. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies have enabled the study of the microbiota and the resistome at unprecedent levels. These aspects are discussed in this review as well as some potential interventions aimed at reducing the possession of resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Saturio
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Alejandra Rey
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Anna Samarra
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain; (A.S.); (M.C.C.)
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain; (A.S.); (M.C.C.)
| | - Marta Suárez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Laura Mantecón
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Solís
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Miguel Gueimonde
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Silvia Arboleya
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
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Zhang Y, Wang J, Gorriz JM, Wang S. Deep Learning and Vision Transformer for Medical Image Analysis. J Imaging 2023; 9:147. [PMID: 37504824 PMCID: PMC10381785 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging9070147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science theory and technology [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudong Zhang
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Jiaji Wang
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Juan Manuel Gorriz
- Department of Signal Theory, Networking, and Communications, University of Granada, 52005 Granada, Spain
| | - Shuihua Wang
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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García-Campa J, Müller W, Rodríguez-Juncá A, Morales J. When parents play favorites: brood demand shapes parental preference for offspring UV color. Behav Ecol 2023; 34:700-707. [PMID: 38192276 PMCID: PMC10773300 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arad040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Parents might initially produce more offspring than they might be able to raise. However, when offspring demand exceeds their parents´ rearing capacity, parents might shift care towards the offspring which yield greater fitness returns to achieve their optimal brood size via brood reduction. Such favoritism could rely on offspring signaling traits if these inform parents about offspring quality and hence about the pay-offs of their investment. Here we investigated whether favoritism of blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) parents for an offspring signal (i.e., ultraviolet (UV) plumage coloration) varies with brood demand. To test this, we experimentally blocked the UV reflectance of yellow breast feathers in half of the nestlings of each brood, and then we sequentially performed two opposing brood size manipulations to vary nestling demand below or above parental rearing capacity. In reduced broods, nestlings begged overall less intensely and gained more body mass, supporting that parental rearing capacities sufficed to satisfy brood demand. Moreover, in reduced broods, UV-blocked nestlings (i.e., low-quality offspring) were fed and prey-tested more often. Yet, they begged more than control nestlings, suggesting that they were perhaps treated differently by other family members or which they may exploit parental preferences beyond actual need (at least in reduced nests). Parents flexibly shifted their feeding rate and favoritism in response to short-term changes in family size, as there was no parental preference for enlarged broods. Such flexible parental feeding rules may allow parents to gain the upper hand in parent-offspring conflict. However, we did not find evidence that parental favoritism facilitated brood reduction, at least in conditions where demand was temporally enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García-Campa
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Research Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Alicia Rodríguez-Juncá
- BIOECOMAC, Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Judith Morales
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Conejero Á, Rueda MR. The Interplay between Socioeconomic Status, Parenting and Temperament Predicts Inhibitory Control at Two Years of Age. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:1085. [PMID: 37371316 PMCID: PMC10297106 DOI: 10.3390/children10061085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates the interplay between environmental factors (socioeconomic status (SES) and parenting) and temperament in the development of inhibitory control (IC) at 2 years of age. We administered to toddlers (n = 59) a delay of gratification task which measures IC in the context of self-regulation. Parents reported their toddlers' temperament, parenting strategies, and SES. We hypothesized that poorer IC would be associated with more reactive temperament, less effortful control, lower SES and inconsistent/coercive parenting practices. Finally, we explored the interaction between temperament, parenting and SES. We found that both coercive parenting and low-SES were negatively correlated to IC at the age of 2 years. Temperamental reactivity was unrelated to IC, whereas temperamental effortful control (EC) was positively associated with IC. Results revealed a moderation effect of EC on the influence of coercive parenting and SES in toddlers' IC. Toddlers from lower SES backgrounds and with lower EC were more affected by inconsistent/coercive parenting practices and showed the poorest IC. In contrast, toddlers exhibiting high and average levels of EC seemed to be protected from the detrimental effect of low-SES and inconsistent/coercive parenting on IC. These results suggest that strengthening toddlers' EC and improving parents' parenting skills might be especially relevant for the development of IC in the context of self-regulation, particularly by preventing self-regulatory problems in children from socioeconomically deprived environments. Future studies with larger samples, focusing on populations from severe socioeconomically deprived environments, or intervention studies will be needed in order to confirm and expand our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela Conejero
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - M. Rosario Rueda
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Turco M, Abatzoglou JT, Herrera S, Zhuang Y, Jerez S, Lucas DD, AghaKouchak A, Cvijanovic I. Anthropogenic climate change impacts exacerbate summer forest fires in California. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213815120. [PMID: 37307438 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213815120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Record-breaking summer forest fires have become a regular occurrence in California. Observations indicate a fivefold increase in summer burned area (BA) in forests in northern and central California during 1996 to 2021 relative to 1971 to 1995. While the higher temperature and increased dryness have been suggested to be the leading causes of increased BA, the extent to which BA changes are due to natural variability or anthropogenic climate change remains unresolved. Here, we develop a climate-driven model of summer BA evolution in California and combine it with natural-only and historical climate simulations to assess the importance of anthropogenic climate change on increased BA. Our results indicate that nearly all the observed increase in BA is due to anthropogenic climate change as historical model simulations accounting for anthropogenic forcing yield 172% (range 84 to 310%) more area burned than simulations with natural forcing only. We detect the signal of combined historical forcing on the observed BA emerging in 2001 with no detectable influence of the natural forcing alone. In addition, even when considering fuel limitations from fire-fuel feedbacks, a 3 to 52% increase in BA relative to the last decades is expected in the next decades (2031 to 2050), highlighting the need for proactive adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Turco
- Department of Physics, Regional Atmospheric Modelling Group, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - John T Abatzoglou
- Management of Complex Systems Department, University of California, Merced, CA 95343
| | - Sixto Herrera
- Applied Mathematics and Computer Science Department, University of Cantabria, Santander 39005, Spain
| | - Yizhou Zhuang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Sonia Jerez
- Department of Physics, Regional Atmospheric Modelling Group, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Donald D Lucas
- National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550-9698
| | - Amir AghaKouchak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ivana Cvijanovic
- ISGlobal-Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona 08003, Spain
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González-Portilla M, Montagud-Romero S, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, Rodríguez-Arias M. Oleoylethanolamide restores stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits and modulates inflammatory signaling in a sex-dependent manner. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06403-w. [PMID: 37314479 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06403-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Social stress contributes to the development of depressive and anxiety symptomatology and promotes pro-inflammatory signaling in the central nervous system. In this study, we explored the effects of a lipid messenger with anti-inflammatory properties - oleoylethanolamide (OEA) - on the behavioral deficits caused by social stress in both male and female mice. METHODS Adult mice were assigned to an experimental group according to the stress condition (control or stress) and treatment (vehicle or OEA, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). Male mice in the stress condition underwent a protocol consisting of four social defeat (SD) encounters. In the case of female mice, we employed a procedure of vicarious SD. After the stress protocol resumed, anxiety, depressive-like behavior, social interaction, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) were assessed. In addition, we characterized the stress-induced inflammatory profile by measuring IL-6 and CX3CL1 levels in the striatum and hippocampus. RESULTS Our results showed that both SD and VSD induced behavioral alterations. We found that OEA treatment restored PPI deficits in socially defeated mice. Also, OEA affected differently stress-induced anxiety and depressive-like behavior in male and female mice. Biochemical analyses showed that both male and female stressed mice showed increased levels of IL-6 in the striatum compared to control mice. Similarly, VSD female mice exhibited increased striatal CX3CL1 levels. These neuroinflammation-associated signals were not affected by OEA treatment. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our results confirm that SD and VSD induced behavioral deficits together with inflammatory signaling in the striatum and hippocampus. We observed that OEA treatment reverses stress-induced PPI alterations in male and female mice. These data suggest that OEA can exert a buffering effect on stress-related sensorimotor gating behavioral processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena González-Portilla
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sandra Montagud-Romero
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Unidad Clínica de Neurología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010, Málaga, Spain
- Atención Primaria, Cronicidad Y Promoción de La Salud. Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAD) Rd21/0009/0005, Málaga, Spain
| | - Marta Rodríguez-Arias
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
- Atención Primaria, Cronicidad Y Promoción de La Salud. Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAD) Rd21/0009/0005, Málaga, Spain.
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Min B, San Miguel M. Threshold Cascade Dynamics in Coevolving Networks. Entropy (Basel) 2023; 25:929. [PMID: 37372273 DOI: 10.3390/e25060929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
We study the coevolutionary dynamics of network topology and social complex contagion using a threshold cascade model. Our coevolving threshold model incorporates two mechanisms: the threshold mechanism for the spreading of a minority state such as a new opinion, idea, or innovation and the network plasticity, implemented as the rewiring of links to cut the connections between nodes in different states. Using numerical simulations and a mean-field theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that the coevolutionary dynamics can significantly affect the cascade dynamics. The domain of parameters, i.e., the threshold and mean degree, for which global cascades occur shrinks with an increasing network plasticity, indicating that the rewiring process suppresses the onset of global cascades. We also found that during evolution, non-adopting nodes form denser connections, resulting in a wider degree distribution and a non-monotonous dependence of cascades sizes on plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byungjoon Min
- Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Maxi San Miguel
- IFISC (CSIC-UIB), Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems, Campus Universitat Illes Balears, E-07122 Palma, Spain
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38
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Martinez-Garcia JF, Rodriguez-Concepcion M. Molecular mechanisms of shade tolerance in plants. New Phytol 2023. [PMID: 37282777 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Shade tolerance is an ecological concept used in a wide range of disciplines, from plant physiology to landscaping or gardening. It refers to the strategy of some plants to persist and even thrive in environments with low light levels because of the shade produced by the vegetation proximity (e.g. in the understory). Shade tolerance influences the organization, structure, functioning, and dynamics of plant communities. However, little is known about its molecular and genetic basis. By contrast, there is a good understanding on how plants deal with the proximity of other plants, a divergent strategy used by most crops to respond to vegetation proximity. While generally shade-avoiding species strongly elongate in response to the proximity of other plants, shade-tolerant species do not. Here we review the molecular mechanisms that control the regulation of hypocotyl elongation in shade-avoiding species as a reference framework to understand shade tolerance. Comparative studies indicate that shade tolerance is implemented by components also known to regulate hypocotyl elongation in shade-avoiding species. These components, however, show differential molecular properties that explain how, in response to the same stimulus, shade-avoiding species elongate while shade-tolerant ones do not.
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Marín A, Feijoo P, de Llanos R, Carbonetto B, González-Torres P, Tena-Medialdea J, García-March JR, Gámez-Pérez J, Cabedo L. Microbiological Characterization of the Biofilms Colonizing Bioplastics in Natural Marine Conditions: A Comparison between PHBV and PLA. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1461. [PMID: 37374962 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Biodegradable polymers offer a potential solution to marine pollution caused by plastic waste. The marine biofilms that formed on the surfaces of poly(lactide acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were studied. Bioplastics were exposed for 6 months to marine conditions in the Mediterranean Sea, and the biofilms that formed on their surfaces were assessed. The presence of specific PLA and PHBV degraders was also studied. PHBV showed extensive areas with microbial accumulations and this led to higher microbial surface densities than PLA (4.75 vs. 5.16 log CFU/cm2). Both polymers' surfaces showed a wide variety of microbial structures, including bacteria, fungi, unicellular algae and choanoflagellates. A high bacterial diversity was observed, with differences between the two polymers, particularly at the phylum level, with over 70% of bacteria affiliated to three phyla. Differences in metagenome functions were also detected, revealing a higher presence of proteins involved in PHBV biodegradation in PHBV biofilms. Four bacterial isolates belonging to the Proteobacteria class were identified as PHBV degraders, demonstrating the presence of species involved in the biodegradation of this polymer in seawater. No PLA degraders were detected, confirming its low biodegradability in marine environments. This was a pilot study to establish a baseline for further studies aimed at comprehending the marine biodegradation of biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marín
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Patricia Feijoo
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Rosa de Llanos
- MicroBIO, Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Belén Carbonetto
- Microomics Systems S.L., IIB Sant Pau, C/Sant Quintí, 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - José Tena-Medialdea
- IMEDMAR-UCV Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia, Av. del Port, 15, 03710 Calpe, Spain
| | - José R García-March
- IMEDMAR-UCV Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia, Av. del Port, 15, 03710 Calpe, Spain
| | - José Gámez-Pérez
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Luis Cabedo
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Av. de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 12071 Castelló, Spain
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Martinez-Arroyo O, Flores-Chova A, Sanchez-Garcia B, Redon J, Cortes R, Ortega A. Rab3A/Rab27A System Silencing Ameliorates High Glucose-Induced Injury in Podocytes. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:biology12050690. [PMID: 37237503 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication in diabetic patients. Podocytes undergo loss and detachment from the basal membrane. Intra- and intercellular communication through exosomes are key processes for maintaining function, and the Rab3A/Rab27A system is an important counterpart. Previously, we observed significant changes in the Rab3A/Rab27A system in podocytes under glucose overload, demonstrating its important role in podocyte injury. We investigated the implication of silencing the Rab3A/Rab27A system in high glucose-treated podocytes and analysed the effect on differentiation, apoptosis, cytoskeletal organisation, vesicle distribution, and microRNA expression in cells and exosomes. For this, we subjected podocytes to high glucose and transfection through siRNAs, and we isolated extracellular vesicles and performed western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays. We found that silencing RAB3A and RAB27A generally leads to a decrease in podocyte differentiation and cytoskeleton organization and an increase in apoptosis. Moreover, CD63-positive vesicles experienced a pattern distribution change. Under high glucose, Rab3A/Rab27A silencing ameliorates some of these detrimental processes, suggesting a differential influence depending on the presence or absence of cellular stress. We also observed substantial expression changes in miRNAs that were relevant in diabetic nephropathy upon silencing and glucose treatment. Our findings highlight the Rab3A/Rab27A system as a key participant in podocyte injury and vesicular traffic regulation in diabetic nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Martinez-Arroyo
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Flores-Chova
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Belen Sanchez-Garcia
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Josep Redon
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- CIBEROBN (CIBER of Obesity and Nutrition Physiopathology), Institute of Health Carlos III, Minister of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Cortes
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Ortega
- Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Hospital Clinico de Valencia INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- CIBERCV (CIBER of Cardiovascular Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Minister of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Kashyap A, Jiménez-Jiménez Á, Figueras M, Serra O, Valls M, Coll NS. The Tomato Feruloyl Transferase FHT Promoter Is an Accurate Identifier of Early Development and Stress-Induced Suberization. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:plants12091890. [PMID: 37176949 PMCID: PMC10181283 DOI: 10.3390/plants12091890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
As a wall polymer, suberin has a multifaceted role in plant development and stress responses. It is deposited between the plasma membrane and the primary cell wall in specialized tissues such as root exodermis, endodermis, phellem, and seed coats. It is formed de novo in response to stresses such as wounding, salt injury, drought, and pathogen attack and is a complex polyester mainly consisting of fatty acids, glycerol, and minor amounts of ferulic acid that are associated to a lignin-like polymer predominantly composed of ferulates. Metabolomic and transcriptomic studies have revealed that cell wall lignification precedes suberin deposition. The ferulic acid esterified to ω-hydroxy fatty acids, synthetized by the feruloyl transferase FHT (or ASFT), presumably plays a role in coupling both polymers, although the precise mechanism is not understood. Here, we use the promoter of tomato suberin feruloyl transferase (FHT/ASFT) fused to GUS (β-glucuronidase) to demonstrate that ferulate deposition agrees with the site of promoter FHT activation by using a combination of histochemical staining and UV microscopy. Hence, FHT promoter activation and alkali UV microscopy can be used to identify the precise localization of early suberizing cells rich in ferulic acid and can additionally be used as an efficient marker of early suberization events during plant development and stress responses. This line can be used in the future as a tool to identify emerging suberization sites via ferulate deposition in tomato plants, which may contribute to germplasm screening in varietal improvement programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Kashyap
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Álvaro Jiménez-Jiménez
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Mercè Figueras
- Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Olga Serra
- Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Valls
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria S Coll
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08001 Barcelona, Spain
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Mena-García A, Herrero-Gutiérrez D, Sanz ML, Díez-Municio M, Ruiz-Matute AI. Fingerprint of Characteristic Saffron Compounds as Novel Standardization of Commercial Crocus sativus Extracts. Foods 2023; 12:foods12081634. [PMID: 37107430 PMCID: PMC10137349 DOI: 10.3390/foods12081634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Food supplements based on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) dried stigma extracts are widely consumed due to their multiple bioactive properties. Saffron extract (SE) standardization is of crucial importance, as it determines the reproducibility of the product quality and is essential for the evaluation of its bioactive effect and safety. Although SEs are commonly standardized considering their safranal content, the lack of specificity of the official methods may give inaccurate measurements. In addition to the development of more precise methodologies, the evaluation of alternative saffron components, such as crocins and picrocrocin, for standardization purposes would also be of interest. Thus, in this study, qualitative and quantitative information regarding picrocrocin and crocin isomers of different commercial saffron extracts was first obtained by a validated methodology using liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to diode array (DAD) and mass spectrometer (MS) detectors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to gain insight into the compositional variability and natural grouping of SE. These studies suggested the potential use of the relative content of crocin isomers and trans-/cis-crocins and trans-4 GG/picrocrocin ratios as novel criteria for SE standardization. Their reproducibility and stability under controlled storage conditions for 36 months was demonstrated in a commercial standardized SE (affron®).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adal Mena-García
- Instituto de Química Orgánica General (CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L.U. Faraday 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María L Sanz
- Instituto de Química Orgánica General (CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana I Ruiz-Matute
- Instituto de Química Orgánica General (CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Hernando-Amado S, López-Causapé C, Laborda P, Sanz-García F, Oliver A, Martínez JL. Rapid Phenotypic Convergence towards Collateral Sensitivity in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Presenting Different Genomic Backgrounds. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0227622. [PMID: 36533961 PMCID: PMC9927454 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02276-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Collateral sensitivity (CS) is an evolutionary trade-off by which acquisition of resistance to an antibiotic leads to increased susceptibility to another. This Achilles' heel of antibiotic resistance could be exploited to design evolution-based strategies for treating bacterial infections. To date, most studies in the field have focused on the identification of CS patterns in model strains. However, one of the main requirements for the clinical application of this trade-off is that it must be robust and has to emerge in different genomic backgrounds, including preexisting drug-resistant isolates, since infections are frequently caused by pathogens already resistant to antibiotics. Here, we report the first analysis of CS robustness in clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa presenting different ab initio mutational resistomes. We identified a robust CS pattern associated with short-term evolution in the presence of ciprofloxacin of clinical P. aeruginosa isolates, including representatives of high-risk epidemic clones belonging to sequence type (ST) 111, ST175, and ST244. We observed the acquisition of different ciprofloxacin resistance mutations in strains presenting varied STs and different preexisting mutational resistomes. Importantly, despite these genetic differences, the use of ciprofloxacin led to a robust CS to aztreonam and tobramycin. In addition, we describe the possible application of this evolutionary trade-off to drive P. aeruginosa infections to extinction by using the combination of ciprofloxacin-tobramycin or ciprofloxacin-aztreonam. Our results support the notion that the identification of robust patterns of CS may establish the basis for developing evolution-informed treatment strategies to tackle bacterial infections, including those due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. IMPORTANCE Collateral sensitivity (CS) is a trade-off of antibiotic resistance evolution that could be exploited to design strategies for treating bacterial infections. Clinical application of CS requires it to robustly emerge in different genomic backgrounds. In this study, we performed an analysis to identify robust patterns of CS associated with the use of ciprofloxacin in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa presenting different mutational resistomes and including high-risk epidemic clones (ST111, ST175, and ST244). We demonstrate the robustness of CS to tobramycin and aztreonam and the potential application of this evolutionary observation to drive P. aeruginosa infections to extinction. Our results support the notion that the identification of robust CS patterns may establish the basis for developing evolutionary strategies to tackle bacterial infections, including those due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carla López-Causapé
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears, CIBERINFEC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Pablo Laborda
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Sanz-García
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Microbiología, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Oliver
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears, CIBERINFEC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Marzo-Navarro M, Berné-Manero C. Analysing cross-cutting competencies learning in an online entrepreneurship context. Educ Inf Technol (Dordr) 2022; 28:5551-5565. [PMID: 36373039 PMCID: PMC9638349 DOI: 10.1007/s10639-022-11359-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Research in teaching innovation encourages leveraging the evolution of digital technologies from using the device to learning with the device, which means a change from using information and communicational technologies to learning and knowledge technologies. Nevertheless, although the feasibility of implementing active and interactive methodologies to improve education is widely recognised, more research is needed to obtain evidence on the subjects and contents with the most significant potential for success. In addition, the most recent literature claims greater attention to the improvement of transversal skills, as they are critical in the student's professional future. Thus, the main objective of this study is to contribute to the development of immersive learning aimed at improving the cross-cutting skills of university students. Developing a teaching activity where the student acts as an entrepreneur in electronic distribution channels faces the research question. The student-company-university collaboration is the basis for enhancing the transversal skills of the Degree in Marketing and Market Research at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). The student participates in each step of the program as an active agent. The teacher tutors the work teams in each process step, and the Palbin Company provides the necessary technical support. The students give the information to analyse the success of the experience through two surveys -pre and post-workshop, following the methodology used in previous literature. While the activity planning is complex, the students show an excellent mood during the experience. The comparison between expectations and performance offers significant success from the student's point of view. As a result, the student improves cross-cutting competencies and gains confidence, satisfaction with their learning at university, and professional experience.
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