Evolutionary Dynamics of Multigene Families in Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae): A Transposon Mediated Mechanism?

Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae) is a freshwater fish genus with 18 valid species. These fishes are widely distributed in the major river drainages of South America, having commercial importance in the fishing market, mainly in the Amazon basin. This genus has diverged recently in a complex process of speciation carried out in different river basins. The use of repetitive sequences is suitable to trace the genomic reorganizations occured along the speciation process. In this work, the 5S rDNA multigene family has been characterized at molecular and phylogenetic level. The results showed that other multigene family has been found within the non-transcribed spacer (NTS): the U1 snRNA gene. Double-FISH with 5S and U1 probes were also performed, confirming the close linkage between these two multigene families. Moreover, evidences of different transposable elements (TE) were detected within the spacer, thus suggesting a transposon-mediated mechanism of 5S-U1 evolutionary pathway in this genus. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a species-specific grouping, except for Triportheus pantanensis, Triportheus aff. rotundatus and Triportheus trifurcatus. The evolutionary model of the 5S rDNA in Triportheus species has been discussed. In addition, the results suggest new clues for the speciation and evolutionary trend in these species, which could be suitable to use in other Characiformes species

Enhanced optical magnetism for reversed optical binding forces between silicon nanoparticles in the visible region.

We perform a comprehensive numerical analysis on the optical binding forces of a multiple-resonant silicon nanodimer induced by the normal illumination of a plane wave in the visible region. The silicon nanodimer provides either repulsive or attractive forces in water while providing only attractive forces in air. The enhancement of the magnetic dipole mode is attributed to the generation of repulsive forces. The sign (attractive/repulsive) and the amplitude of the optical forces are controlled by incident polarization and separation distance between the silicon nanoparticles. These optomechanical effects demonstrate a key step toward the optical sorting and assembly of silicon nanoparticles

Optical nanogap antennas as plasmonic biosensors for the detection of miRNA biomarkers

Nanoplasmonic biosensors based on nanogap antenna structures usually demand complex and expensive fabrication processes in order to achieve a good performance and sensitive detection. We here report the fabrication of large-area nanoplasmonic sensor chips based on nanogap antennas by employing a customized, simple and low-cost colloidal lithography process. By precisely controlling the angle for tilted e-beam metal evaporation, an elliptical mask is produced, which defines the total length of the dipole antenna nanostructures while assuring that the plasmonic response is oriented in the same direction along the sensor chip. Large-area sensor chips of nanogap antennas formed by pairs of gold nanodisks separated by gaps with an average size of 11.6 ± 4.7 nm are obtained. The optical characterization of the nanogap antenna structures in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration shows a bulk refractive index sensitivity of 422 nm per RIU, which is in agreement with FDTD numerical simulations. The biosensing potential of the cm-sized nanostructured plasmonic sensor chips has been evaluated for the detection of miRNA-210, a relevant biomarker for lung cancer diagnosis, through a DNA/miRNA hybridization assay. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.78 nM (5.1 ng mL) was achieved with no need of further amplification steps, demonstrating the high sensitivity of these plasmonic nanogap antennas for the direct and label-free detection of low molecular weight biomolecules such as miRNAs

Gene mapping in the karyotype of Solea senegalensis using BAC clones

The Senegalese sole is one of the most highly valued commercial species in Southern Europe; it has attracted increasing interest particularly since the 1990's. Nevertheless, there are still unresolved problems that adversely affect its cultivation and prevent the maximum benefit being obtained from its production. The principal problems are associated with reproduction, low rates of growth in juveniles and high susceptibility to diseases, as well as high rates of mortality related to metamorphosis. Knowing the position of genes of interest in the chromosomes facilitates the construction of linkage maps and allows the chromosomes to be assigned to physical maps obtained by sequencing. This study is an initial approach to the production of a chromosome map of Solea senegalensis. The starting point for this objective is a gene library of cloned inserts in vectors capable of hosting fragments of large size: in our case, artificial chromosomes of bacteria (BAC). We have developed a protocol of single and double FISH techniques for localizing individual BAC, and have also performed double FISH for localizing two markers at the same time. Our results show the localization of BAC clones that contain genes related to the innate immune system that are important for the cultivation of this species, and genes and receptors of thyroid hormones involved in the metamorphosis of the sole. All the combinations of these genes have been analyzed by double FISH techniques to determine whether they co-localize, and also with those of gene families. Thus the first chromosome map of S. senegalensis has been obtained.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; El lenguado senegal&eacute;s es una de las especies m&aacute;s valoradas comerciales en el sur de Europa, despertando un inter&eacute;s creciente sobre todo desde la d&eacute;cada de 1990. Sin embargo, todav&iacute;a hay problemas sin resolver que afectan negativamente a su cultivo y a prevenir al m&aacute;ximo el beneficio que se obtiene a partir de su producci&oacute;n. Los principales problemas est&aacute;n relacionados con la reproducci&oacute;n, las bajas tasas de crecimiento en juveniles y alta susceptibilidad a las enfermedades, as&iacute; como las altas tasas de mortalidad relacionadas con la metamorfosis. El Conocimiento de la posici&oacute;n de los genes de inter&eacute;s en los cromosomas facilita la construcci&oacute;n de mapas de ligamiento y permite ser asignados los cromosomas a los mapas f&iacute;sicos obtenidos por secuenciaci&oacute;n. Este estudio es una primera aproximaci&oacute;n a la producci&oacute;n de un mapa cromos&oacute;mico de Solea senegalensis. </p

Airborne nano-TiO 2 particles: an innate or environmentally-induced toxicity ?

Titanium oxide (TiO2) is a known photocatalyst, able to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to UV light. TiO2 phototoxicity has been abundantly demonstrated in aqueous solutions. Little is known; however, about its phototoxicity as an aerosol, particularly in the nano-size particle range. An experimental setting was developed to measure the oxidation capacity of TiO2 NP with or without exposure to UV light. TiO2 NP were generated using a Collison nebulizer, carried through a diffusion dryer and exposed to UV using the collimated beam of a solar light simulator. Their oxidation capacity was measured on-line via a photonic sensor based on multiscattering absorbance enhancement (MAE) strategy. The oxidative potential of aerosolized TiO2 nanoparticles is exacerbated by exposure to UV light. The oxidative response is affected by humidity and reaches its maximum in the 70%-90% relative humidity range. Gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was found to be the predominant oxidative specie. Our results suggest that the use of TiO2 nanoparticles in outdoor environments or close to artificial UV sources lead to an involuntary exposure to ROS, to an extent greater than previously known. It raises also concerns about other environmental pollutants known to be UV photosensitive

Specific methionine oxidation of cytochrome c in complexes with zwitterionic lipids by hydrogen peroxide: potential implications for apoptosis

Cytochrome c (Cyt-c) has been previously shown to participate in cardiolipin (CL) oxidation and, therefore,in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization during the early events of apoptosis. The gain in this function has been ascribed to specific CL/Cyt-c interactions. Here we report that the cationic protein Cyt-c is also able to interact electrostatically with the main lipid components of the mitochondrial membranes, the zwitterionic lipids phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), through the mediation of phosphate anions that bind specifically to amino groups in the surfaces of protein and model membranes. In these complexes, Cyt-c reacts efficiently with H2O2 at submillimolar levels, which oxidizes the sulfur atom of the axial ligand Met80. The modified protein is stable and presents significantly enhanced peroxidatic activity. Based on these results, we postulate that the rise of H2O2 concentrations to the submillimolar levels registered during initiation of the apoptotic program may represent one signaling event that triggers the gain in peroxidatic function of the Cyt-c molecules bound to the abundant PE and PC membrane components. As the activated protein is a chemically stable species, it can potentially bind and oxidize important targets, such as CL.Fil: Capdevila, Daiana Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de Los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Ciencias Exactas; ArgentinaFil: Marmisollé, Waldemar Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de Los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Ciencias Exactas; ArgentinaFil: Tomasina, Florencia. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Medicina; UruguayFil: Demicheli, Verónica. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Química y Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Portela, Magdalena . Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Radi, Rafael . Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Química y Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Murgida, Daniel Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de Los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin

A computer vision-based application for the assessment of head posture: A validation and reliability study

As its name implies, the forward head position (FHP) is when the head is further forward of the trunk than normal. This can cause neck and shoulder tension, as well as headaches. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) measured with 2D systems such as Kinovea software is often used to assess the FHP. Computer vision applications have proven to be reliable in different areas of daily life. The aim of this study is to analyze the test-retest and inter-rater reliability and the concurrent validity of a smartphone application based on computer vision for the measurement of the CVA. Methods: The CVAs of fourteen healthy volunteers, fourteen neck pain patients, and fourteen tension-type headache patients were assessed. The assessment was carried out twice, with a week of rest between sessions. Each examiner took a lateral photo in a standing position with the smartphone app based on computer vision. The test-retest reliability was calculated with the assessment of the CVA measured by the smartphone application, and the inter-rater reliability was also calculated. A third examiner assessed the CVA using 2D Kinovea software to calculate its concurrent validity. Results: The CVA in healthy volunteers was 54.65 (7.00); in patients with neck pain, 57.67 (5.72); and in patients with tension-type headaches, 54.63 (6.48). The test-retest reliability was excellent, showing an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.92 (0.86–0.95) for the whole sample. The inter-rater reliability was excellent, with an ICC of 0.91 (0.84–0.95) for the whole sample. The standard error of the measurement with the app was stated as 1.83°, and the minimum detectable change was stated as 5.07°. The concurrent validity was high: r = 0.94, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The computer-based smartphone app showed excellent test-retest and inter-rater reliability and strong concurrent validity compared to Kinovea software for the measurement of CVA.Postprint (published version

Quantitative proteomic dataset from oro- and naso-pharyngeal swabs used for COVID-19 diagnosis: detection of viral proteins and host's biological processes altered by the infection

Since January 2020, the world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. In a big effort to cope with this outbreak, two Uruguayan institutions, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and Universidad de la República, have developed and implemented a diagnosis pipeline based on qRT-PCR using entirely local resources. In this context, we performed comparative quantitative proteomic analysis from oro- and naso-pharyngeal swabs used for diagnosis. Tryptic peptides obtained from five positive and five negative samples were analysed by nano-LC-MS/MS using a Q-Exactive Plus mass spectrometer. Data analysis was performed using PatternLab for Proteomics software. From all SARS-CoV-2 positive swabs we were able to detect peptides of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein that encapsulates and protect the RNA genome. Additionally, we detected an average of 1100 human proteins from each sample. The most abundant proteins exclusively detected in positive swabs were “Guanylate-binding protein 1”, “Tapasin” and “HLA class II histocompatibility antigen DR beta chain”. The biological processes overrepresented in infected host cells were “SRP-dependent cotranslational protein targeting to membrane”, “nuclear-transcribed mRNA catabolic process, nonsense-mediated decay”, “viral transcription” and “translational initiation”. Data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD020394. We expect that this data can contribute to the future development of mass spectrometry based approaches for COVID-19 diagnosis. Also, we share this preliminary proteomic characterization concerning the host response to infection for its reuse in basic investigation

Cytogenomics Unveil Possible Transposable Elements Driving Rearrangements in Chromosomes 2 and 4 of Solea senegalensis

Cytogenomics, the integration of cytogenetic and genomic data, has been used here to reconstruct the evolution of chromosomes 2 and 4 of Solea senegalensis. S. senegalensis is a flat fish with a karyotype comprising 2n = 42 chromosomes: 6 metacentric + 4 submetacentric + 8 subtelocentric + 24 telocentric. The Fluorescence in situ Hybridization with Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (FISH-BAC) technique was applied to locate BACs in these chromosomes (11 and 10 BACs in chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively) and to generate integrated maps. Synteny analysis, taking eight reference fish species (Cynoglossus semilaevis, Scophthalmus maximus, Sparus aurata, Gasterosteus aculeatus, Xiphophorus maculatus, Oryzias latipes, Danio rerio, and Lepisosteus oculatus) for comparison, showed that the BACs of these two chromosomes of S. senegalensis were mainly distributed in two principal chromosomes in the reference species. Transposable Elements (TE) analysis showed significant differences between the two chromosomes, in terms of number of loci per Mb and coverage, and the class of TE (I or II) present. Analysis of TE divergence in chromosomes 2 and 4 compared to their syntenic regions in four reference fish species (C. semilaevis, S. maximus, O. latipes, and D. rerio) revealed differences in their age of activity compared with those species but less notable differences between the two chromosomes. Differences were also observed in peaks of divergence and coverage of TE families for all reference species even in those close to S. senegalensis, like S. maximus and C. semilaevis. Considered together, chromosomes 2 and 4 have evolved by Robertsonian fusions, pericentric inversions, and other chromosomal rearrangements mediated by TEs

Nivel de conocimiento sobre responsabilidad sexual y anticoncepción en las adolescentes de una secundaria básica

Introduction: worldwide there is an increase in adolescent pregnancy and the transmission of diseases through sexual contact due to misuse and ignorance of contraceptive methods.Objective: describe the level of knowledge about sexual responsibility and contraception in adolescents from a basic secondary school.Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out from November to December 2022. The universe consisted of 213 students who constitute the total enrollment of the ?Joe Westbrook Rosales? Basic High School and to sample for the 85 female students of that enrollment. A survey was made that was applied voluntarily, which collected aspects related to sexuality, knowledge and use of contraceptive methods.Results: 100 % of the adolescent reported having knowledge about contraceptive methods. Only six of them received information form the basic health team for 7.05 %. A predominance of 52 adolescents with an active sexual life is observed, being the group with the highest incidence of 14 to 15 years, this group are currently the ones that use a contraceptive method the most with 16 patients for 51.61 %.Conclusions: adolescents who had started sexual relations predominated, of which those who did not use contraceptive methods during the first sexual relation stand out. The weakness detected was the insufficient care and communication of family doctors.Introducción: a nivel mundial  existe un aumento del embarazo en la adolescencia y la trasmisión de enfermedades por contacto sexual debido al mal uso y desconocimiento de los métodos anticonceptivos.   Objetivo: describir el nivel de conocimiento sobre responsabilidad sexual y anticoncepción en las adolescentes de una secundaria básica. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal, de noviembre a diciembre de 2022. El universo  estuvo conformada por 213 estudiantes que constituyen la matricula total de la Secundaria básica “Joe Westbrook Rosales”  y la muestra por las 85 estudiantes femeninas de esa matrícula.  Se confeccionó una encuesta que fue aplicada en forma voluntaria, que recogía aspectos relativos a la sexualidad, conocimientos y uso de métodos anticonceptivos. Resultados:  el 100 % de las adolescentes refirieron tener conocimientos sobre los métodos anticonceptivos. Sólo seis de ellas  recibieron información por el equipo básico de salud para un 7,05 %. Se observa un predominio de 52 adolescentes con una vida sexual activa, siendo el grupo con mayor incidencia de 14 a 15 años, este grupo actualmente son las que más usan algún método anticonceptivo con 16 pacientes para un 51.61 %. Conclusiones: predominaron las adolescentes que habían iniciado relaciones sexuales, de las mismas se destacan las que no usaron métodos anticonceptivos durante la primera relación sexual. La debilidad detectada fue la insuficiente atención y comunicación de los médicos de familia.