Comparative metabolomic analysis of the phloem sap of nine citrus relatives with different degrees of susceptibility to Huanglongbing disease

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as “citrus greening”, is currently considered the most devastating citrus disease due to its rapid spread, and high severity. Presently, research efforts are focused on searching for either curative treatments or resistant cultivars to combat the HLB-associated bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). Metabolomics can help to unravel the mechanisms supporting the potential tolerance/resistance of citrus relatives. Herein, we carried out a metabolomic analysis to determine whether the level of resistance of nine citrus-related genotypes is influenced by their pre-existing metabolic background before infection. For this purpose, the healthy phloem of nine Citrinae genotypes previously categorized according to their different responses to HLB was analyzed. A total of 53 different metabolites were targeted, including amino acids, organic and inorganic acids, and sugars. Interestingly, we observed that resistant and partially resistant genotypes exhibited higher accumulations of organic acids such as quinic acid and citric acid. In contrast, the amount of total sugars showed a clear upward trend in the susceptible genotypes. Notably, within this last group of metabolites, sugar acids increase in both partially resistant and resistant accessions, being more evident in the resistant group. Alterations potentially linked to resistance levels were detected in specific amino acids belonging to the aspartate and glutamate families. Notably, only lysine levels exhibited a significant increase in the susceptible cultivars. The evaluation of five genes associated with lysine catabolism by RT-qPCR revealed differences in transcript abundance between resistant and susceptible samples suggesting a potential key role in plant defence. These findings open a new avenue to identify metabolites and/or substances that could aid in developing resistance strategies to this devastating disease.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was funded by grant no. 817526 (PRE-HLB) from the European Union H2020 Innovation Action Program.Peer reviewe

Contributions of a feminist perspective to the analysis of farm viability: the livelihoods reproduction framework

The agrarian question dealing with peasants’ reproduction in adverse global conditions is a topic of deep debate closely linked to farm viability. Approaches that define viability in monetary terms cannot explain peasants’ way of farming. Holistic approaches can better analyse this question but existing frameworks leave aside aspects of reproduction. Here, we revise sustainable livelihoods and resilience frameworks through a feminist lens and propose livelihoods reproduction to address some blind spots. We do so through a literature review and a case study of olive oil farms in Spain. Our analysis highlights the importance of household labour distribution for farm viability.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación: [Grant Number CSO2016-78827-R]; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades): [Grant Number PCI2018-093179]; and ARIMNet2 (ERA-NET no. 618127).Peer reviewe

Impact of maternal Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and scGOS/lcFOS supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the maternal immune system and milk composition

Introduction: Maternal synbiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can significantly influence the immune system. Prebiotics and probiotics have a positive impact on the immune system by preventing or ameliorating among others intestinal disorders. This study focused on the immunomodulatory effects of B. breve M-16V and short chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long chain fructo-oligosachairdes (lcFOS), including systemic and mucosal compartments and milk composition. Methods: Lewis rats were orally administered with the synbiotic or vehicle during pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days). At the weaning day, small intestine (SI), mammary gland (MG), adipose tissue, milk, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), feces and cecal content were collected from the mothers. Results: The immunoglobulinome profile showed increased IgG2c in plasma and milk, as well as elevated sIgA in feces at weaning. The supplementation improved lipid metabolism through enhanced brown adipose tissue activity and reinforced the intestinal barrier by increasing the expression of Muc3, Cldn4, and Ocln. The higher production of short chain fatty acids in the cecum and increased Bifidobacterium counts suggest a potential positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Discussion: These findings indicate that maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation improves their immunological status and improved milk composition.The research described in this paper was supported by La Marató-TV3 (DIM-2-ELI, ref. 2018–27/30–31). LS-F holds a fellowship from the Generalitat de Catalunya, FI-SDUR (2023 FISDU 00035). The INSA-UB acknowledge the Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence (Grant CEX2021–001234-M) funded by MICIN/AEI/FEDER, UE. The IATA-CSIC authors also acknowledge the Spanish government MCIN/AEI to the Center of Excellence Accreditation Severo Ochoa (CEX2021–001189-S/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2021-001189-S and CEX2021-001234-M)Peer reviewe

DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN. Project Number: 101098597. Piezo4Spine. Piezo-driven theramesh: A revolutionary multifaceted actuator to repair the injured spinal cord

[EN] Initial version specifically related to data generated by the CSIC team in the Piezo4Spine project, elaborated from deliverable 7.3 (DMP) of the project already submitted to the EC. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition that results from damage to the spinal cord caused by trauma, disease, or degeneration. SCI is associated with a wide range of physical impairments, such as paralysis and loss of sensation. Currently, there is no cure for SCI, with available treatments focusing on managing symptoms and preventing further injury. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the Piezo4Spine project aims to develop a 3D bioprinted mesh that contains nanocarriers with therapeutic agents. The idea is to facilitate neural repair and promote functional recovery by targeting multiple cells in the spinal cord. The generated technology will be wirelessly powered and offer the option to control the time and dosage of therapeutics. The Data Management Plan (DMP) is a living document that describes the data management starting from its collection, including its processing and handling during Piezo4Spine and, finally, its later archiving and dissemination.Peer reviewe

Functional Hybrid Nanopaper by Assembling Nanofibers of Cellulose and Sepiolite

[EN] Functional heterofibrous hybrid materials are prepared in an integrative approach from aqueous dispersions of nanofibrillated cellulose and sepiolite by applying high shear homogenization and ultrasound irradiation. Both types of nanofibers remain physically cross-linked forming homogeneous and very stable high-viscosity gels that can be shaped as films and considered as “hybrid nanopapers” as well. The presence of sepiolite modifies the surface roughness of the films resulting from the casting process, which can be rendered hydrophobic, as the hydrophilic characteristics of both components resulted modulated. In addition, these fibrous hybrid systems can benefit from the properties provided by the two components, such as mechanical behavior, surface properties, and chemical reactivity. Moreover, further assembly of these hybrid nanopapers to other particulate solids, such as carbon nanotubes, magnetite, or ZnO nanoparticles, results in multifunctional hybrid nanopapers, opening a versatile way for developing other numerous organic–inorganic materials of interest in diverse applications.This work was supported by the MINECO (Spain) projects MAT2012-31759 and MAT2015-71117-R. M.M.G.C. acknowledges the PhD fellowship BES-2013-064677 (MINECO, Spain)

Unravelling the temporal and spatial variation of fungal phylotypes from embryo to adult stages in Atlantic salmon

15 pages, 7 figures, supplementary information https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50883-x.-- Data availability: All sequence data are available at the NCBI sequence read archive under accession number PRJNA919076. https://dataview.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/object/PRJNA919076?reviewer=ra7v0vg28nen0l9fg3ncg1lf6aEarly microbial colonization has a profound impact on host physiology during different stages of ontogeny. Although several studies have focused on early bacterial colonization and succession, the composition and role of fungal communities are poorly known in fish. Here, we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of fungi to profile the mycobiome associated with the eggs, hatchlings and intestine of Atlantic salmon at various freshwater and marine stages. In most of the stages studied, fungal diversity was lower than bacterial diversity. There were several stage-specific fungal phylotypes belonging to different stages of ontogeny but some groups, such as Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Alternaria metachromatica, Davidiella tassiana and Humicola nigrescens, persisted during successive stages of ontogeny. We observed significant changes in the intestinal fungal communities during the first feeding. Prior to first feeding, Humicola nigrescens dominated, but Saccharomyces cerevisiae (10 weeks post hatch) and Candida tropicalis (12 weeks post hatch) became dominant subsequently. Seawater transfer resulted in a decrease in alpha diversity and an increase in Candida tropicalis abundance. We also observed notable variations in beta diversity and composition between the different farms. Overall, the present study sheds light on the fungal communities of Atlantic salmon from early ontogeny to adulthood. These novel findings will also be useful in future studies investigating host-microbiota interactions in the context of developing better nutritional and health management strategies for Atlantic salmon farmingPeer reviewe

Mineral precipitation and hydrochemical evolution through evaporitic processes in soda brines (East African Rift Valley)

Soda lakes of the East African Rift Valley are hyperalkaline, hypersaline lakes extremely enriched in Na, K, Cl, CO, HCO, and SiO. In this paper, we investigate the chemical evolution in these lakes and the production of chemical sediments by salt precipitation via evaporation. Water samples from tributary springs and three lakes (Magadi, Nasikie Engida and Natron) have been experimentally studied by in-situ X-ray diffraction during evaporation experiments to characterize the sequence of mineral precipitation. These data are complemented by ex-situ diffraction studies, chemical analyses and thermodynamic hydrochemical calculations producing detailed information on the activity of all solution species and the saturation state of all minerals potentially generated by the given composition. Major minerals precipitating from these samples are sodium carbonates/bicarbonates as well as halite. The CO/HCO ratio, controlled by pH, is the main factor defining the Na‑carbonates precipitation sequence: in lake brines where CO/HCO > 1, trona precipitates first whereas in hot springs, where CO/HCO ≪ 1, nahcolite precipitates instead of trona, which forms later via partial dissolution of nahcolite. Precipitation of nahcolite is possible only at lower pH values (pCO higher than −2.7) explaining the distribution of trona and nahcolite in current lakes and the stratigraphic sequences. Later, during evaporation, thermonatrite precipitates, normally at the same time as halite, at a very high pH (>11.2) after significant depletion of HCO due to trona precipitation. The precipitation of these soluble minerals increases the pH of the brine and is the main factor contributing to the hyperalkaline and hypersaline character of the lakes. Villiaumite, sylvite, alkaline earth carbonates, fluorapatite and silica are also predicted to precipitate, but most of them have not been observed in evaporation experiments, either because of the small amount of precipitates produced, kinetic effects delaying the nucleation of some phases, or by biologically induced effects in the lake chemistry that are not considered in our calculations. Even in these cases, the chemical composition in the corresponding ions allows for discussion on their accumulation and the eventual precipitation of these phases. The coupling of in-situ and ex-situ experiments and geochemical modelling is key to understanding the hydrogeochemical and hydroclimatic conditions of soda lakes, evaporite settings, and potentially soda oceans of early Earth and other extraterrestrial bodies.This work was supported by the European Research Council (grant number 340863); the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad via the project CGL2016–78971-P; Junta de Andalucía via the project P18-FR-5008 and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (grant number BES-2017-081105) (to M.G.)

Orbital Forcing and Evolution of the Southern African Monsoon From Late Miocene to Early Pliocene

The late Miocene-early Pliocene (7.4-4.5 Ma) is a key interval in Earth's history where intense reorganization of atmospheric and ocean circulation occurred within a global cooling scenario. The Southern African monsoon (SAFM) potentially played an important role in climate systems variability during this interval. However, the dynamics of this important atmospheric system is poorly understood due to the scarcity of continuous records. Here, we present an exceptional continuous late Miocene to early Pliocene reconstruction of SAFM based on elemental geochemistry (Ca/Ti and Si/K ratios), stable isotope geochemistry (δO and δC recorded in the planktonic foraminifera Orbulina universa), and marine sediment grain size data from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1476 located at the entrance of the Mozambique Channel. Spectral characteristics of the Si/K ratio (fluvial input) was used to identify the main orbital forcing controlling SAFM. Precession cycles governed precipitation from 7.4 to ∼6.9 Ma and during the early Pliocene. From ∼6.9 to ∼5.9 Ma, the precession and long eccentricity cycles drove the SAFM. The major Antarctic ice sheet expansion across this interval appear to influence the isotopic records of O. universa imprinting its long-term variability signal as a response to the ocean and atmospheric reorganization. Precession cycles markedly weakened from 5.9 to 5.3 Ma, almost the same period when the Mediterranean Outflow Water ceased. These findings highlight important teleconnections among the SAFM, Mediterranean Sea, and other tropical regions.This research used samples provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The authors thank to Editor Dr. Ursula Röhl, Dr. Christian Zeeden, and the anonymous reviewer for improving the quality of our study providing critical review of it. The authors thank to the Operational Oceanography and Paleoceanography Laboratory (LOOP—Brazil), the Andalusian Earth Sciences Institute (IACT—Spain), the University of Granada (UGR—Spain), and the University of Salamanca (USAL—Spain) for all infrastructure and support. The first author thanks to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES for Ph.D. fellowship (process 88887.372122/2019‐00). FJJE and CE has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant CTM2017‐89711‐C2‐1‐P), cofunded by the European Union through FEDER funds

Unprecedented lability of the 5′-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl group from 3′-spiro-5″-(4″-acylamino-1″,2″-oxathiole- 2″,2″-dioxide) nucleoside derivatives via neighboring group participation of the 4″-acylamino residue

Scarce examples of exceptionally mild desilylation of tert- butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ether groups by neighboring group participation have been previously described. Here, we investigate, in detail, the discovery of the unusual lability of the 5′-TBDMS group on 4″-acylamino TSAO derivatives in DMSO solution. The synthesis and comparative chemical stability studies in different solvents of a variety of 4″-substituted TSAO derivatives bearing different carbonyl functionalities are reported. Modifications have also been performed at the 5′-position of the TSAO molecule to gain insight into the structural requirements for the desilylation to occur. The role of the solvent has also been studied. Additionally, NMR and theoretical investigations have been carried out to get further insight into the conformational, geometric, and/or electronic parameters that may play a role in the "spontaneous" release of the 5′-TBDMS group. A silyl hydrolysis mechanism involving neighboring group participation of the 4″-acylamino group is proposed. © 2006 American Chemical Society.We thank the Spanish MEC (projectSAF2003-07219-C02-01) and the European Commission (ProjectHPAW-CT-2002-90001) for financial support.Peer reviewe

Prebióticos. Importancia de la fibra dietética

Comunicación oral presentada en: XIV Workshop de la Sociedad Española de Microbiota Probióticos y Prebióticos (SEMiPyP). Pamplona, España. 8-10 marzo (2023