Immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor capacity of acidic polysaccharides from Euglena gracilis.

Euglena sp. is a microalga producer of important molecules for the Biotechnology industry, since it is a producer of substances such as vitamins A, C and E, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, β-carotenes and paramilon (β-1,3-glucan). It has a modulating effect on the immune system, moderates blood glucose and the response to insulin, has anti-tumor activity and a cholesterol-lowering effect. In addition, its sulphated derivatives have anti-HIV activity. The present study was carried out with the objective of determining the immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancer activity of the acid polysaccharides extracted from Euglena gracilis. MTT colorimeter tests were carried out for the analysis of cytotoxicity on healthy cell lines murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) and for the anticancer activity cell lines were used colon cancer (HCT-116), breast cancer (MCF-7) and human leukemia (U-937) .The polysaccharide concentration at which cell survival was reduced by half (IC50) was estimated with these assays, showing that these polysaccharides have antitumor activity mainly on U-937 cells. (IC50 = 0.027 mg ml-1) against HCT-116 cells (IC50 = 0.036 mg ml-1) and MCF-7 (IC50 = 0.11 mg ml-1) An immunological test was performed to see the immunomodulatory capacity of the polysaccharides with which the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α was determined by macrophages RAW 264.7 It was observed that these polysaccharides have a great stimulating capacity in the synthesis of these interleukins. Antioxidant capacity was (7.19 μmol TE g-1). In agreement with these results, it is suggested that E. gracilis polysaccharides could be considered for future studies as potential nutraceuticals that require their application when the activation of macrophages is needed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

First Evaluation of Associated Gut Microbiota in Wild Thick-Lipped Grey Mullets (Chelon labrosus, Risso 1827)

This study aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota of wild thick-lipped grey mullets (Chelon labrosus) and explore its potential functionality on the host. Intestinal contents of anterior and posterior sections from wild fish were collected and DNA was extracted. Subsequently, the V3–V4 regions of 16S rRNA were sequenced using the Illumina technology and results were analyzed by bioinformatics pipeline. The functional profile of the microbial community was analyzed using PICRUSt software. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were significantly higher in the posterior section of wild specimens. The overall taxonomic composition suggests a certain homogeneity in the anterior section of the intestine and heterogeneity in the posterior section. Due to this, no statistical differences were detected at any level among both intestinal sections. Predicted functions of intestinal microbiota showed the most abundant were those related to amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, membrane transport, and cell replication and repair. Furthermore, the analysis revealed microbial functional genes related to the elimination of environmental toxins.This work was financed by the Project ‘Design and evaluation of probiotics and feed in uncoupled aquaponic system of fishes, plants and microalgae’ (grant #Agl-2017-83260R) granted by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MINECO, Spanish Government), and by the Project Bluemaro (PID2020 116136 RB100) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity of acidic polysaccharides from laminaria ochroleuca, porphyra umbilicalis and gelidium corneum

Las algas marinas del género Laminaria, Gelidium y Porphyra se han utilizado en industrias alimentarias y no alimentarias debido a sus propiedades y su actividad biológica. Los polisacáridos sulfatados de algas ofrecen diversas aplicaciones como anticoagulantes, antihiperlipidémicos, antivirales y antitumorales. Se recolectaron en 2017 en Isla Paloma (Cádiz, España) Laminaria ochroleuca, Porphyra umbilicalis y Gelidium corneum de las que se extrajeron lo polisacáridos sulfatados. La finalidad para la realización de este trabajo fue caracterizar los polisacáridos sulfatados de estas algas, evaluar la actividad antioxidante, las propiedades inmunomoduladoras de los polisacáridos sulfatados de estas algas y ver la actividad antitumoral de los polisacáridos de Laminaria ochroleuca. Para la caracterización de los polisacáridos se realizó un FT-IR de cada uno de ellos. Se cuantificó la actividad inmunomoduladora mediante las citoquinas TNF-α y IL-6, usando un ELISA TNF-α de ratón Ready-SET-Go y un ELISA IL-6 de ratón Ready-SET-Go (Affymetrix, EBioscience), siguiendo las instrucciones del proveedor usando la línea celular RAW 264.7. La actividad antioxidante fue determinada en los polisacáridos sulfatados por el método ABTS. La actividad antitumoral de los polisacáridos sulfatados de Laminaria ochroleuca fue evaluada con ensayos de MTT, en diferentes líneas celulares cancerígenas, cáncer de colon humano (HTC-116), melanoma maligno humano (G-361) y leucemia humana (U-937). La mayor actividad antioxidante (25.69 μmol TE g-1) e inmunomoduladora se observaron en los polisacáridos sulfatados de L. ochroleuca. Es por esta razón que los ensayos de actividad anticancerígena se llevaron a cabo con estos polisacáridos sulfatados en las líneas celulares HTC-116 (IC50 = 0,44 mg mL-1), G-361 (IC50 = 5,42 mg mL-1) y U-937 (IC50 = 3.72 mg mL-1). Se concluye por tanto que, L. ochroleuca ofrece ventajas significativas para la industria farmacéutica.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effect of fucoidan extract from Lessonia trabeculata in alloxan-induced diabetes rats

The objective of this research was to evaluate a nutritional strategy based on the consumption of a fucoidan extract from brown algae Lessonia trabeculata to control oxidative stress in experimental alloxan-induced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Over 30 days, 75, 100, and 125 mg kg−1 of body weight of fucoidan doses were administered and both positive and negative control (n = 5 per group). Serum, liver, pancreas, and kidney biochemical indicators of oxidative stress improvement were evaluated. Measures included lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and antioxidant activity by assessment of free radical scavenging power and histopathological changes. The results showed an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes while reducing oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation index) in serum (p ≤ 0.05) and tissues (p ≤ 0.05). Further, no liver necrosis was observed in treated groups, unlike the Type 1 diabetes positive control group that presented mild necrosis and moderate congestion. In the pancreas, treated rats presented mild oedema, while the positive control group showed moderate oedema. A significant protective effect against oxidative stress caused by alloxan-induced diabetes was found in this model, therefore it can be concluded that fucoidan extracted from the Lessonia trabeculata algae could be considered a good functional compound for the control of oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Because diabetes is such a widespread public health issue, developing fucoidan-based products could be a natural way to improve patients' quality of life.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA This work was supported by grants from the following institutions: L.T.L-G., E.V.A.S., L.A.A-M. and J.A.C-P. are supported by Project “Desarrollo e Implementación de Procesos Tecnológicos de Validación Analítica y Bioactiva para fucoidano de algas pardas como suplementos nutricionales para humanos”, Convenio N°143-PNICP-PIAP-2015, INNOVATE-PERU. J.D. hold a “Miguel Servet” (CP21/00021) research contract from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) co-funded by European Social Fund (ESF), “Investing in your future”, Gobierno de España

Polisacáridos de Porphyridium cruentum presentan actividad antiviral diferencial frente a infecciones causadas de VHSV y VNN

Los microorganismos del medio marino constituyen una importante fuente de compuestos cuya utilización en la prevención y/o tratamiento de enfermedades de etiología viral está siendo sugerida en los últimos años. En concreto, diversos estudios demuestran que los polisacáridos de Porphyridium cruentum presentan funciones biológicas en mamíferos, entre ellas acción antiviral, siendo un buen candidato para analizar su posible papel frente a patologías víricas de peces cultivados. En este trabajo se ha evaluado la actividad de los polisacáridos de P. cruentum frente a la infección por el virus de la septicemia hemorrágica viral (VHSV, genotipo I), y el virus de la necrosis nerviosa (VNN, genotipo RGNNV). El análisis se ha realizado in vitro mediante dos aproximaciones: (a) evaluando la capacidad de los polisacáridos de bloquear la unión virus-célula, y (b) su papel durante el proceso de replicación vírica. En cada ensayo se analizó la replicación viral mediante cuantificación de genoma vírico a diferentes tiempos post-inoculación (p.i.). Los resultados muestran actividad de los polisacáridos de P. cruentum frente a la infección por VHSV en ambas aproximaciones, observándose disminución significativa de genoma viral a las 24 y 36 h p.i. en las células tratadas con el polisacárido respecto a las no tratadas. Por el contrario, no se ha observado actividad frente a VNN, indicando que los polisacáridos de P. cruentum presentan actividad antiviral diferencial, dependiente del patógeno.Financiación: AGL2017-84644-R, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE) y P18-RT-1067, Junta de Andalucía. G.P. beca ANID-PFCHA (2018- No. 21180059). I Plan Propio Integral de Docencia. Universidad de Málaga Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

APICAMPUS, a project on Urban beekeeping developed at the University of Malaga

Urban beekeeping has ourished in the last years, with many institutions interested in creating colonies on their roofs. Bees and other animal pollinators contribute to increase food production, making bees essential for agriculture and plant life, in general. And, as bee populations decline, the need for secondary sources of pollinators for agricultural production grows. The Vice-rectorate of Smart-Campus of the University of Malaga focuses on two fundamen tal aspects: understanding the UMA campus as a Smart City in itself and marking new lines of action at the academic level that will make the UMA an international benchmark in Sustainability. Framed in the program above mentioned, APICAMPUS is a pilot and interdisciplinary project that involves researchers and students belonging to 4 departments of 2 university faculties together with Bee Garden Malaga, a multi-disciplinary environmental company with thematic areas on beekeeping. The project aims to promote the development of beekeeping in urban environments, raising awareness about the importance of the bees as pollinating insects, as well as the use of the beehive products. For the above mentioned, two beehives Langstroth type, were installed at the roof of the Faculty of Science, a traditional wooden one, and another made of polystyrene. The main interest of this project lies in the monitoring of the hives by means of temperature and humidity sensors, electronic scales for weight control, video cameras located inside and outside of them, together with the use of bee-marking systems. Additionally, analysis for characterizing and study the origin and the properties of the beehive products will be carried out, as well as field monitoring to highlight the situation of pollinators at the University Campus of Teatinos. Although the samplings have barely begun, this communication intends to be the offcial presentation of the project APICAMPUS to the scientific community.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Differential antiviral activity of Porphyridium cruentum polysaccharides against VHSV and NNV infections

The use of functional food can be an interesting approach to prevent viral diseases in aquaculture facilities. An increasing number of studies have suggested that marine microorganisms can be a relevant source of substances with a putative use in preventing viral diseases. In particular, the antiviral activity of polysaccharides has been widely described against infections affecting higher vertebrates. In this study, we evaluate the antiviral activity of Porphyridium cruentum polysaccharides against two fish viruses: VHSV and NNV. Two different approaches have been used: (i) treatment of cells with polysaccharides before virus inoculation and (ii) addition of polysaccharides on cells after viral inoculation. Viral multiplication in treated and non-treated cells has been measured by viral genome quantification at different times post infection (p.i.). The anti-VHSV activity of P. cruentum polysaccharides has been demonstrated, blocking viral adsorption to cellular receptor, and preventing intracellular viral replication. On the contrary, no anti-NNV activity has been detected.Projects AGL2017-84644-R, from MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE, and P18-RT-1067, from Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government). G.P. has been supported by ANID-PFCHA, National Doctoral Scholarship, 2018-No. 21180059. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Efecto de la inclusión de Chlorella fusca en la dieta de lisas cultivadas (Chelon labrosus) sobre la expresión génica y a la microbiota de los peces

Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de la inclusión de la microalga Chlorella fusca sobre la microbiota intestinal y la expresión génica en juveniles de Chelon labrosus. Los peces fueron alimentados con una dieta de control (CT) o una dieta que contenía 15 % de biomasa de C. fusca (C-15) durante 90 días. A nivel de género, mientras que Brevinema, Cetobacterium y Pseudomonas fueron los predominantes en ambas secciones intestinales del grupo CT, Pseudomonas y Mycoplasma fueron el género más abundante en el grupo C-15. Además, la inclusión de C. fusca no afecta negativamente a las funciones bacterianas, estudiadas por forma predictiva. En general, el estudio de la expresión de genes indica que los peces alimentados con C. fusca muestran una respuesta de prevención ante ciertas situaciones de estrés y de protección frente a potenciales patógenos tanto de origen bacteriano como vírico.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por los proyectos AGL-2017-83260R y H2020–SABANA (#727874), así como por ayudas al Personal Técnico de Apoyo (PTA2020-018984-I). Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec