Economic evaluation of the primary recovery of tetracycline with traditional and novel aqueous two-phase systems

Antibiotics are a key pharmaceutical to inhibit growth or kill microorganisms. They represent a profitable market and, in particular, tetracycline has been listed as an essential medicine by the WHO. Therefore it is important to improve their production processes. Recently novel and traditional aqueous two-phase systems for the extraction have been developed with positive results. The present work performs an economic analysis of the production and recovery of tetracycline through the use of several ATPS through bioprocess modeling using specialized software (BioSolve, Biopharm Services Ltd, UK) to determine production costs per gram (CoG/g). First, a virtual model was constructed using published data on the recovery of tetracycline and extended to incorporate uncertainties. To determine how the model behaved, a sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulations were performed. Results showed that ATPS formed by cholinium chloride/K3PO4 was the best option to recover tetracycline, as it had the lowest CoG/g (US$ 672.83/g), offered the highest recovery yield (92.42%), second best sample input capacity (45% of the ATPS composition) and one of the lowest materials contribution to cost. The ionic liquid-based method of ATPS is a promising alternative for recovering tetracycline from fermentation broth.publishe

An Influenza A/H1N1/2009 Hemagglutinin Vaccine Produced in Escherichia coli

The A/H1N1/2009 influenza pandemic made evident the need for faster and higher-yield methods for the production of influenza vaccines. Platforms based on virus culture in mammalian or insect cells are currently under investigation. Alternatively, expression of fragments of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein in prokaryotic systems can potentially be the most efficacious strategy for the manufacture of large quantities of influenza vaccine in a short period of time. Despite experimental evidence on the immunogenic potential of HA protein constructs expressed in bacteria, it is still generally accepted that glycosylation should be a requirement for vaccine efficacy.We expressed the globular HA receptor binding domain, referred to here as HA(63-286)-RBD, of the influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus in Escherichia coli using a simple, robust and scalable process. The recombinant protein was refolded and purified from the insoluble fraction of the cellular lysate as a single species. Recombinant HA(63-286)-RBD appears to be properly folded, as shown by analytical ultracentrifugation and bio-recognition assays. It binds specifically to serum antibodies from influenza A/H1N1/2009 patients and was found to be immunogenic, to be capable of triggering the production of neutralizing antibodies, and to have protective activity in the ferret model.Projections based on our production/purification data indicate that this strategy could yield up to half a billion doses of vaccine per month in a medium-scale pharmaceutical production facility equipped for bacterial culture. Also, our findings demonstrate that glycosylation is not a mandatory requirement for influenza vaccine efficacy

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

El papel de la universidad en el desarrollo

Los artículos que integran este libro se proponen conocer la manera en que las instituciones universitarias se han planteado (o no) su incidencia en el desarrollo regional, profundizando, a partir de la presentación de casos, en los vínculos que se establecen con base en sus actividades docentes, de investigación y de extensión. El libro está integrado por artículos de estudiosos de diferentes países; en ellos, los autores analizan, reflexionan y nos ofrecen un panorama en el que se abordan temas centrales en el quehacer cotidiano de las universidades considerando el papel que éstas juegan en el desarrollo de los países de América Latina

Anales de Edafología y Agrobiología Tomo 32 Número 3-4

Estudio fitoedafológico de los pastizales cespitosos de Poa bulbosa L., por J. González, C. F. Bermejo, M. Ladero, S. Rivas Goday y A. Hoyos.-- Enfermedad de Panamá, por A. C. Blesa Rodríguez y E. Fernández Caldas.-- Las aguas subterráneas de la isla de la Gomera, por E. Fernández Caldas y V. Pérez García.-- Retention of molybdenum by soils in aqueous medía in presence of EDTA, por S. Lal, S. K. De and S. K. Srivastava.-- Posibilidades quelantes de diversos «composts» de turba, por F. Gallardo-Lara, J. Yáñez, A. Aguilar y J. Olivares.--Estudio edáfico de la zona de Cabo de Gata. l. Características generales y estudio de entisuelos, inceptisuelos y vertisuelos, por J. Aguilar, J. Fernández, A. García y lñíguez.-- Estudio edáfico de la zona de Cabo de Gata. II. Estudio de mollisuelos y aridísuelos, por J. Aguilar, J. Fernández, A. García y J. Iñíguez.-- Influencia de los extractantes hidróxido sódico 0,1N y resina Lewatít-S-100 sobre el complejo arcillo-húmíco, por V. Hernando, P. Buenadicha y C. Fortún.-- Estudio del perfil de materia orgánica en suelos de la región Oeste de España. l. Suelos del sistema Central (Sierras de Gredos y Gata), por J. F. Gallardo y A. García Rodríguez.-- Estudío del perfil de materia orgánica en suelos de la región Oeste de España. II. Suelos desarrollados sobre rocas ígneas básicas, margas y calizas, por J. F. Gallardo y A. García Rodríguez.-- Estudio del perfil de materia orgánica en suelos de la región Oeste de España. III. Suelos en depresiones y valles de zonas de clima semiárido, por J. F. Gallardo y A. García Rodríguez.-- Uso de los bloques de yeso en el estudio del crecimiento del tomate y del maíz sometidos a sequía, por Manuel F. Sánchez-Díaz.-- Sistemas microbioquímicos que suministran fósforo asimilable en suelos calizos, por A. Ortuño, M. Parra, A. Hernansáez y J. Noguera.-- Estudio del azufre en suelos de nariño y putumayo (Colombia), por Héctor Fabio Ayala, Ricardo Guerrero R. y Joaquín Gamboa J.—Notas.-- Prof. W. F. Bradley.-- Prof. J. Mering.-- Dr. Duque Macías.-- Reunión plenaria de la División de Ciencias y de su~ Patronatos.-- Variaciones en los Centros.-- Profesor agregados.-- Creación de Secciones.-- Jornadas Internacionales de Organización Científica.-- Congresos y reuniones.-- Invitaciones a profesores extranjeros.-- Creación de un Comité Nacional del INQUA.—BibliografíaPeer reviewe