D-mannose transport and metabolism in isolated enterocytes

D-mannose transport and metabolism has been studied in enterocytes isolated from chicken small intestine. In the presence of Na+, the mannose taken up by the cells either remains free, is phosphorylated, is catabolized to H2O, or becomes part of membrane components. The mannose remaining free in the cytosol is released when the cells are transferred to an ice bath. The Na+-dependent D-mannose transport is electrogenic and inhibited by ouabain and dinitrophenol; its substrate specificity differs from SGLT-1 transporter. The Glut2 transporter inhibitors phloretin and cytochalasin B added following 30-min mannose uptake reduced the previously accumulated D-mannose, whereas these two agents increased the cell to external medium 3-O-methyl-glucose (3-OMG) concentration ratio. D-mannose efflux rate from preloaded D-[2-3H]-mannose enterocytes is Na+-independent. Phloretin did not affect D-mannose efflux rate, whereas it inhibited that of 3-OMG. Neither mannose uptake nor efflux rate were affected by fructose. It is concluded that part of the mannose taken up by the enterocytes is rapidly metabolized and that enterocytes have two D-mannose transport systems: one is concentrative and Na+-dependent and the other is Na+-independent and passive.Dirección General de Investiagación Científica y Técnica PM99-012

Imagen percibida de Venezuela por los turistas que visitan la ciudad de Barcelona-España

[Resumen] El objetivo de la investigación se centra en conocer cómo es percibida la imagen turística de Venezuela en el extranjero y cuáles factores intervienen en su creación. Se toma como factores principales los aspectos cognitivos y afectivos para la creación de la imagen referencial del destino. En general, el país es un destino turístico bien valorado, llegándose a destacar como un lugar agradable, diverso e interesante, con importantes referencias culturales, sociales, gastronómicas y turísticas y una forma de ser del venezolano muy alegre, hospitalario y amable, sin embargo; existen factores externos al sector del turismo, como la inseguridad y la situación social y política, que afectan de manera directa la percepción de la imagen del país.[Resumo] O obxectivo da investigación céntrase en coñecer como é percibida a imaxe turística de Venezuela no estranxeiro e cales factores interveñen na súa creación. Toma como factores principais os aspectos cognitivos e afectivos para a creación da imaxe referencial do destino. En xeral, o país é un destino turístico ben valorado, chegando a destacarse como un lugar agradable, diverso e interesante, con importantes referencias culturais, sociais, gastronómicas e turísticas e unha forma de ser do venezolano moi alegre, hospitalario e amable, no obstante; existen factores externos ao sector do turismo, como a inseguridade e a situación social e política, que afectan de xeito directo a percepción da imaxe do país.[Abstract] The objective of the research focuses on knowing how it is perceived Venezuela's tourism image abroad and what factors are involved in its creation. It takes as main factors cognitive and affective aspects for creating referential destination image. Overall, the country is a well worth destination, reaching stand out as a nice, diverse and interesting place, with important cultural, social, culinary and touristic references and a way of being very cheerful, hospitable and friendly Venezuelan people, besides; there are external factors to tourism, such as insecurity and social and political situation, which directly affect the perception of the country's image.Traballo fin de mestrado (UDC.SOC). Planificación e xestión de destinos e novos produtos turísticos

Actividades antimicrobianas derivadas de fagos y su aplicación como bioconservantes alimentarios

Comunicación presentada en el XXII Congreso Nacional SEM 2009, celebrado en Almeria del 21 al 24 de septiembre de 2009.Staphylococcus aureus es un importante patógeno asociados a intoxicaciones de tipo alimentario, y a su vez, uno de los principales agentes causantes de la mastitis en el ganado vacuno.Peer reviewe

Synergy between the phage endolysin LysH5 and nisin to kill Staphylococcus aureus in pasteurized milk

Phage-encoded endolysins are recently considered as new biocontrol tools to inhibit pathogens in food. In this work, we have studied the ionic requirements for optimal lytic activity of LysH5, the endolysin encoded by the staphylococcal bacteriophage phi-SauS-IPLA88. LysH5 activity was inhibited by the presence of Mn++ and Zn++ and enhanced by Ca++, Mg++ and NaCl. When LysH5 was combined with nisin, a bacteriocin currently used as a biopreservative in food, a strong synergistic effect was observed. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of nisin and LysH5 were reduced 64- and 16-fold, respectively, as determined in checkerboard microtitre tests. In addition, nisin enhanced 8-fold the lytic activity of LysH5 on cell suspensions. The synergy observed in vitro was confirmed in challenge assays in pasteurized milk contaminated with S. aureus Sa9. Clearance of the pathogen was only achieved by the combined activity of both antimicrobials. As far as we know, this is the first study that exploits the possibilities of hurdle technology combining a phage-encoded endolysin and the bacteriocin nisin for efficient S. aureus inhibition in milk.This research study was supported by grant AGL2009-13144-C02-01 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and IB08-052 from FICYT (Regional Government of Asturias).Peer reviewe

Prevención del abuso sexual infantil. Niños y niñas con discapacidad : una iniciativa piloto

págs.: 197-200Capítulo incluido en el libro: 1ª Jornada sobre Maltrato a las Personas con Discapacidad: Sevilla, 16-17 de Octubre 2014 Sevilla: Universidad Internacional de Andalucía, 2014. ISBN: 978-84-7993-256-5. Enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10334/337

A new small supernumerary marker chromosome, generating mosaic pure trisomy 16q11.1–q12.1 in a healthy man

Here we report on a healthy and fertile 30 years old man, who was carrier of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC). The application of molecular techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), microdissection and reverse painting, helped to characterize the sSMC which resulted to be derived from chromosome 16. In fact, the presence of euchromatin material from the long arm (16q) in the sSMC was demonstrated, and the karyotype can be written as mos 47, XY,+min(16)(:p11.1->q12.1:)[20]/46, XY [10]

P3 mAb: An Immunogenic Anti-NeuGcGM3 Antibody with Unusual Immunoregulatory Properties

P3 is a murine IgM mAb that recognize N-glycosylated gangliosides, sulfatides, and antigens expressed in melanoma, breast, and lung human tumors. This antibody has the ability to trigger an IgG antibody response in the syngeneic BALB/c model, even when it is administered in the absence of adjuvant or carrier protein. The mechanism by which the P3 mAb, a self-immunoglobulin, induce this immune response in the absence of co-stimulatory or classical danger signals is still unknown. In the present paper we show that the high immunogenicity of P3 mAb depends not only on CD4 but also on CD8+ T cells, since the depletion of CD8+ or CD4+ T cells led to the loss of P3 mAb immunogenicity in the syngeneic model. Furthermore, the immunization with P3 mAb enhanced the recovery of the CD8+ T cell population in mice treated with an anti-CD8a antibody. Additionally, the immunization with P3 mAb restored the capacity of immunosuppressed mice to reject allogeneic tumors, a mechanism mediated by the action of CD8+ T cells. Finally, in mice with cyclophosphamide induced lymphopenia, the administration of P3 mAb accelerated the recovery of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These results show new possibilities for B and CD8+ T cells interactions during the immune response elicited by a self-protein. Furthermore they point to P3 mAb as a potential interesting candidate for the treatment of immunosuppressed patients

'Artilysation' of endolysin λSa2lys strongly improves its enzymatic and antibacterial activity against streptococci

Endolysins constitute a promising class of antibacterials against Gram-positive bacteria. Recently, endolysins have been engineered with selected peptides to obtain a new generation of lytic proteins, Artilysins, with specific activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that artilysation can also be used to enhance the antibacterial activity of endolysins against Gram-positive bacteria and to reduce the dependence on external conditions. Art-240, a chimeric protein of the anti-streptococcal endolysin λSa2lys and the polycationic peptide PCNP, shows a similar species specificity as the parental endolysin, but the bactericidal activity against streptococci increases and is less affected by elevated NaCl concentrations and pH variations. Time-kill experiments and time-lapse microscopy demonstrate that the killing rate of Art-240 is approximately two-fold higher compared to wildtype endolysin λSa2lys, with a reduction in viable bacteria of 3 log units after 10 min. In addition, lower doses of Art-240 are required to achieve the same bactericidal effect.This research study was supported by grants AGL2012-40194-C02-01 (Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain), FEDER founds and GRUPIN14-139 (Program of Science, Technology and Innovation 2013–2017, Principado de Asturias, Spain), bacteriophage network FAGOMA and research grant 1.5.171.15N of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). DG was a fellow of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain. LR-R was a FWO Pegasus Marie Curie Fellow. PG, BM, RL and AR are members of the FWO Vlaanderen funded “Phagebiotics” research community (WO.016.14).Peer Reviewe

LOS CUERPOS ACADÉMICOS COMO GENERADORES DE CONOCIMIENTO EN LAS UNIVERSIDADES PÚBLICAS

En su evolución y transición las Universidades Públicas han asumido la función investigativa para la generación de conocimiento, en su contribución en el desarrollo social y económico. En esta evolución emergen los Cuerpos Académicos como una nueva forma de organización de los sujetos que hacen posible la producción, transferencia y aplicación de los resultados de investigación. En este nuevo escenario quienes forman parte de los Cuerpos Académicos transitan del trabajo aislado al trabajo colegiado atendiendo Líneas de Generación y Aplicación del Conocimiento sobre objetos comunes entre sus integrantes por una parte, y de objetos de conocimientos transversales a través de redes de intercambio y colaboración. La presente comunicación tiene por objeto demostrar y contextualizar cuál es el papel de los Cuerpos Académicos dentro de las Universidades Públicas, cómo estos han cambiado las formas de investigar, transferir y aplicar el conocimiento, así como cuáles son sus responsabilidades y retos ante el desarrollo social y económico