Evaluation of alternative IAA biosynthetic pathways in the bacteria from the pseudomonas syringae complex

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a phytohormone belonging to the auxin group which production is widely distributed among plant-associated bacteria. In phytopathogenic bacteria, several IAA biosynthetic pathways have been described. The best characterized is the indole-3-acetamide (IAM) pathway, where tryptophan is initially converted into IAM by a monooxygenase (iaaM gene), and later transformed to IAA in a reaction catalysed by a hydrolase (iaaH gene). Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 (Psv), which synthesizes IAA through IAM, encodes two paralogs of these two genes organized in two operons (iaaMH-1 and iaaMH-2). Previously, we have demonstrated that a Psv mutant in the iaaMH-1 operon produces an amount of IAA significantly lower than that synthesized by the wild type strain. This strain, shows a reduced virulence in olive plants. In contrast, a mutant in the iaaMH-2 operon (which encodes a iaaM-2 pseudogene), produces IAA levels similar to those of the wild type strain and is not affected in virulence. Unexpectedly, the iaaMH-1 mutant and the double mutant iaaMH- 1/iaaMH-2 synthesize a residual amount of IAA, suggesting the existence of an alternative route for the production of this compound in Psv.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Evaluación de rutas alternativas de síntesis de IAA en el complejo Pseudomonas syringae.

El ácido indol-3-acético (IAA) es una fitohormona perteneciente al grupo de las auxinas cuya producción está ampliamente distribuida entre bacterias asociadas a plantas. El IAA está implicado, entre otros procesos, en proliferación celular y maduración de las plantas. Además, se ha descrito el papel de esta hormona en la regulación de la expresión génica en bacterias. En bacterias fitopatógenas, se han descrito varias rutas de síntesis de IAA, siendo la mejor caracterizada la ruta de la indol-3-acetamida (IAM), proveniente del triptófano por la acción de una monooxigenasa (gen iaaM), y transformándose en IAA mediante la acción de una hidrolasa (gen iaaH). Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 (Psv) utiliza esta ruta para la síntesis de IAA, codificando dos parálogos de los genes iaaM e iaaH (operones iaaMH-1 e iaaMH-2). Anteriormente, demostramos que un mutante de Psv en el operón iaaMH-1 produce una cantidad de IAA significativamente inferior que la sintetizada por la cepa silvestre, así como induce una sintomatología reducida en olivo. Por el contrario, un mutante en el operón iaaMH-2 (que codifica un pseudogen iaaM-2), produce una cantidad de IAA similar a la cepa silvestre y no induce una virulencia atenuada. Sin embargo, e inesperadamente, tanto el mutante iaaMH-1 como en el doble mutante iaaMH- 1/iaaMH-2 sintetizan una cantidad residual de IAA, lo que sugiere la existencia de una ruta alternativa para la producción de este compuesto en Psv. Recientemente, hemos identificado otras cepas del complejo Pseudomonas syringae capaces de producir IAA que no codifican genes homólogos a los implicados en las rutas conocidas hasta la fecha. Tras la obtención de los borradores de los genomas de varios aislados pertenecientes a los diferentes patovares de P. savastanoi, y utilizando también otros genomas de cepas modelo incluidas en el complejo P. syringae, hemos llevado a cabo un análisis bioinformático de genes potencialmente implicados en la biosíntesis de IAA. Actualmente, estamos llevando a cabo la construcción de mutantes en algunos de estos genes, para posteriormente determinar su implicación en la biosíntesis de esta fitohormona.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Continental Automotive Guadalajara

ITESO, A.C

Genetic and functional characterization of the probiotic bacterium "Pediococcus parvulus" 2.6

Tesis de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, leída el 22-03-2019Los β-glucanos lineales y ramificados, especialmente aquellos unidos mediante enlaces β-(1,3) y sintetizados por plantas y hongos, pueden actuar como inmunomoduladores ejerciendo efectos beneficiosos sobre la salud humana. Estos homopolisacáridos (HoPS) se han utilizado extensamente en la medicina tradicional de ciertas culturas, y en nuestros días son considerados como compuestos bioactivos para el desarrollo de nuevos alimentos funcionales. Así también, los β-glucanos se utilizan como sustitutivos a los tratamientos antibióticos en industrias como la acuicultura y la ganadería.Se ha descrito un (1,3)-β-glucano ramificado en posición O-2 producido principalmente por las bacterias del ácido láctico (BAL), entre las cuales Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 es el prototipo de bacteria productora de este β-glucano. En este HoPS, se han investigado sus características físico-químicas, su producción y su influencia en el metabolismo bacteriano. Además, alguna de las propiedades probióticas de la bacteria como su resistencia al estrés gastrointestinal o su adhesión a células epiteliales han sido caracterizadas in vitro, así como la capacidad de su β-glucano de modular macrófagos humanos...Linear and branched β-glucans, particularly those linked by β-(1, 3) bounds synthesised by plants and fungi, can act as immunomodulators and therefore can be beneficial to human health. These homopolysaccharides (HoPS) have been extensively used in traditional medicine, and now are considered to be potentially useful for the development of functional foods. Also, β-glucans have started to be used in the livestock and aquaculture industries as substitutes for antibiotics to prevent infection.A 2-substituted (1,3)-β-glucan produced primarily by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been described, in particular by Pediococcus parvulus 2.6, which is the architype of bacteria producing this β-glucan. For this reason, the physico-chemical characteristics of this HoPS from the 2.6 strain, its production and influence on metabolism have been previously investigated. Moreover, certain probiotic properties of the 2.6 strain such as resistance to gastrointestinal stress or adhesion to epithelial cells, as well as the modulating effect of its β-glucan on human macrophages, have been characterized in vitro...Sección Deptal. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (Biológicas)Fac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEunpu

Features associated to woody hosts in the bacterial pathogen of olive plants Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi

The causal agent of olive knot disease, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, belongs to the Pseudomonas syringae complex, a bacterial group causing diseases in a broad variety of both woody and herbaceous plant species. Here we summarize our results regarding a set of P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi features exclusively found in the genomes of bacteria from the P. syringae complex isolated from woody hosts. Comparative genomics and evolutionary studies allowed us to identify a 15 kb genomic island (WHOP, from woody host and Pseudomonas), carrying a set of genes involved in degradation of phenolic compounds and exclusively found in bacterial pathogens of woody hosts. Deletion of several WHOP-encoded genes in Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 revealed that they play a role in the virulence of the strain in woody olive plants but not in in vitro-grown (nonwoody) plants. In addition, several type III secretion system effectors belonging to the HopAF, HopAO and HopBL families were shown to be clustered across the P. syringae complex according to the woody/herbaceous nature of their host of isolation. Further functional analyses of these virulence factors are needed to facilitate the design of novel strategies directed to control bacterial pathogens of woody hosts.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Gain-of-function TLR7 and loss-of-function A20 gene variants identify a novel pathway for Mendelian lupus and lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown origin that may cause kidney disease, i.e. lupus nephritis (LN). Within a wider trend towards an expanding field of genetic causes of kidney disease, two recent reports have emphasized the role of Mendelian autoimmune disorders in causing LN both in children and in young adults. Loss-of-function (LOF) variants of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) and gain of function (GOF) variants of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) cause SLE and LN, respectively. Interestingly, both genes regulate the same signaling route, as A20, the protein encoded by TNFAIP3, inhibits nuclear factor KB (NF-KB) activation while TLR7 promoted NF-KB activation. Moreover, TNFAIP3 and TLR7 variants are relatively frequent, potentially contributing to polygenic risk for LN. Finally, they both may be expressed by kidney cells, potentially contributing to the severity of kidney injury in persons who have already developed autoimmunity. The fact that both genes regulate the same pathway may lead to novel therapeutic approaches targeting the shared molecular pathwayFIS/Fondos FEDER (PI18/01366, PI18/01133, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, DTS18/00032), ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064 and PERSTIGAN AC18/00071, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001) and SPACKDc PMP21/00109, FEDER fund

Analysis of the Learning Process through Eye Tracking Technology and Feature Selection Techniques

In recent decades, the use of technological resources such as the eye tracking methodology is providing cognitive researchers with important tools to better understand the learning process. However, the interpretation of the metrics requires the use of supervised and unsupervised learning techniques. The main goal of this study was to analyse the results obtained with the eye tracking methodology by applying statistical tests and supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques, and to contrast the effectiveness of each one. The parameters of fixations, saccades, blinks and scan path, and the results in a puzzle task were found. The statistical study concluded that no significant differences were found between participants in solving the crossword puzzle task; significant differences were only detected in the parameters saccade amplitude minimum and saccade velocity minimum. On the other hand, this study, with supervised machine learning techniques, provided possible features for analysis, some of them different from those used in the statistical study. Regarding the clustering techniques, a good fit was found between the algorithms used (k-means ++, fuzzy k-means and DBSCAN). These algorithms provided the learning profile of the participants in three types (students over 50 years old; and students and teachers under 50 years of age). Therefore, the use of both types of data analysis is considered complementary.European Project “Self-Regulated Learning in SmartArt” 2019-1-ES01-KA204-065615

Quantum unary approach to option pricing

We present a quantum algorithm for European option pricing in finance, where the key idea is to work in the unary representation of the asset value. The algorithm needs novel circuitry and is divided in three parts: first, the amplitude distribution corresponding to the asset value at maturity is generated using a low depth circuit; second, the computation of the expected return is computed with simple controlled gates; and third, standard Amplitude Estimation is used to gain quantum advantage. On the positive side, unary representation remarkably simplifies the structure and depth of the quantum circuit. Amplitude distributions uses quantum superposition to bypass the role of classical Monte Carlo simulation. The unary representation also provides a post-selection consistency check that allows for a substantial mitigation in the error of the computation. On the negative side, unary representation requires linearly many qubits to represent a target probability distribution, as compared to the logarithmic scaling of binary algorithms. We compare the performance of both unary vs. binary option pricing algorithms using error maps, and find that unary representation may bring a relevant advantage in practice for near-term devices.Comment: 14 (main) + 10 (appendix) pages, 22 figures. Final peer-reviewed version, published in PRA. All suggestions from the referees have been considered. We thank the referees and the journal for all the wor