Novel yeast taxa from the cold: description of Cryolevonia giraudoae sp. nov. and Camptobasidium gelus sp. nov.

Twenty-one psychrophilic yeast isolates related to the Camptobasidiaceae family in the Microbotryomycetes class were obtained from ice collected from cold environments worldwide. A new psychrophilic species from the recently described genus Cryole-vonia, Cryolevania giraudoae is proposed to accommodate 18 isolates from Patagonia (Argentina) and Antarctica (holotype CRUB 2086T). In addition, a new psychrophilic species in the genus Camptobasidium is described as Camptobasidium gelus sp. nov. (holotype CBS 8941T), based on three isolates from glacial ice in the Russel glacier (Greenland ice sheet) and Antarctica. The strict psychrophilic profile is the salient feature of both novel species.Fil: de Garcia, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Trochine, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; ArgentinaFil: Uetake, Jun. National Institute of Polar Research; JapónFil: Bellora, Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; ArgentinaFil: Libkind, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; Argentin

The adaptation of rainbow trout to warmer water: oxidative damage in the germinal line

Contemporary evolution was observed in a feral rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population of a thermal stream (Valcheta) in Northern Patagonia, in terms of juvenile thermal tolerance and preferred temperature. Other authors showed that high-temperature treatment applied to male rainbow trout juveniles increased the thermal tolerance in the next generation. This implies a high mutation rate and/or a modified epigenetic inheritance. Comparisons were made among a) a rainbow trout strain adapted in terms of upper thermal tolerance and higher preferred temperature (Valcheta stream), b) a wild temperate stream population (Guillelmo stream), and c) two temperate farmed strains. We examined: Oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) and activities of antioxidant enzymes; Catalase (CAT), Glutathione S-Transferases (GST), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), in liver, testicle, and spermatozoa. Semen fatty acid composition, sperm morphology, sperm motility, and fertilization performance in samples before and after the application of cryopreservation procedures were also evaluated. The observed responses, mainly related to the sperm membrane, reinforces the idea that ROS can affect the germinal line of male rainbow trout juveniles subjected to high water temperature. Our results suggest that the acquired thermal tolerance traits may be part of a wide spectrum of novel characteristics produced as a consequence of an enhanced mutation rate and/or a different DNA methylation pattern, induced by higher temperatures and mediated by ROS.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

Benznidazole biotransformation and multiple targets in <i>Trypanosoma</i> cruzi revealed by metabolomics

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; The first line treatment for Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, involves administration of benznidazole (Bzn). Bzn is a 2-nitroimidazole pro-drug which requires nitroreduction to become active, although its mode of action is not fully understood. In the present work we used a non-targeted MS-based metabolomics approach to study the metabolic response of T. cruzi to Bzn.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methodology/Principal findings&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Parasites treated with Bzn were minimally altered compared to untreated trypanosomes, although the redox active thiols trypanothione, homotrypanothione and cysteine were significantly diminished in abundance post-treatment. In addition, multiple Bzn-derived metabolites were detected after treatment. These metabolites included reduction products, fragments and covalent adducts of reduced Bzn linked to each of the major low molecular weight thiols: trypanothione, glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, glutathionylspermidine, cysteine and ovothiol A. Bzn products known to be generated in vitro by the unusual trypanosomal nitroreductase, TcNTRI, were found within the parasites, but low molecular weight adducts of glyoxal, a proposed toxic end-product of NTRI Bzn metabolism, were not detected.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions/significance&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Our data is indicative of a major role of the thiol binding capacity of Bzn reduction products in the mechanism of Bzn toxicity against T. cruzi

Variedades de lúpulo regionales de la Patagonia

En la década de 1980, la Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes comenzó su propio programa de cría de lúpulo en Argentina con el objetivo de desarrollar nuevas variedades adaptadas al entorno agroclimático local y obtener mejores rendimientos. Como resultado, en la década de 1990, se registraron las variedades Mapuche y Traful, y en el 2018 apareció otra variedad bajo el nombre de Nahuel. Debido al aumento de la demanda de las cervecerías artesanales interesadas en lúpulo con diferentes perfiles aromáticos, la zona de cultivo y los rendimientos de estas variedades han aumentado en los últimos diez.Fil: Testa H.. Lupulos Andinos; ArgentinaFil: Trochine, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; ArgentinaFil: Bergamini, H.. Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes; Argentin

Ionization of atoms and molecules by short strong laser pulses

We consider a molecule (including a many electron atom or an ion as particular cases) under the influence of a short, strong laser pulse within the theoretical context of a Stark Hamiltonian. We prove an upper bound on the ionization probability involving the electric field only through the pulse duration #tau# and its total energy. In particular for fixed energy this bound tends to zero with #tau# #-&gt;# 0. This result extends a previous result for Rydberg atoms obtained by the authors. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RR 1596(185) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Description of Dioszegia patagonica sp. nov., a novel carotenogenic yeast isolated from cold environments

During a survey of carotenogenic yeasts from cold and oligotrophic environments in Patagonia, several yeasts of the genus Dioszegia (Tremellales, Agaricomycotina) were detected, including three strains that could not be assigned to any known taxa. Analyses of internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 regions of the large subunit rRNA gene showed these strains are conspecific with several other strains found in the Italian Alps and in Antarctica soil. Phylogenetic analyses showed that 19 of these strains represent a novel yeast species of the genus Dioszegia. The name Dioszegia patagonica sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains and CRUB 1147T (UFMG 195T=CBMAI 1564T=DBVPG 10618T=CBS 14901T; MycoBank MB 819782) was designated as the type strain. This Dioszegia species accumulates biotechnologically valuable compounds such as carotenoid pigments and mycosporines.Fil: Trochine, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales.; ArgentinaFil: Turchetti, Benedetta. Università Degli Studi Di Perugia;Fil: Vaz, Aline B. M.. Universidade Federal Do Minas Gerais. Instituto de Cs.biologicas; BrasilFil: Brandao, Luciana. Universidade Federal Do Minas Gerais. Instituto de Cs.biologicas; BrasilFil: Rosa, Luiz H.. Universidade Federal Do Minas Gerais. Instituto de Cs.biologicas; BrasilFil: Buzzini, Pietro. Università Degli Studi Di Perugia;Fil: Rosa, Carlos. Universidade Federal do Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Libkind, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales.; Argentin

Identification of Bzn-glutathione adducts.

<p>A. Upper plot is a chromatogram obtained from a sample of Bzn treated parasites corresponding to m/z 536.1922 within a 3 ppm mass range (single-charged ion). Middle and bottom plots are magnified mass spectra in the regions of interest within RT 18.5–19. B. Chromatograms and m/z plots corresponding to m/z 268.5997 (di-charged ion) in a sample of Bzn treated parasites. In both A and B each ion is detected in two different but closely eluting chromatographic peaks with retention times centred at 17.8 and 18.6 minutes. Ionization charge states of the molecules are confirmed by the m/z difference for the isotopic ¹³C peaks, which are expected to be 1.0034 for mono charged ions and 0.5017 for di-charged ions (bottom plots). ³⁴S isotopic peaks are also observed for both ions which are expected at 1.9959 m/z difference for mono-charged ions and 0.9979 for di-charged ions. C. MSMS fragmentation spectrum for precursor ion <i>m/z</i> 536.19. The m/z_c = <i>m/z</i>−1.007276 (proton mass). The proposed structures for the precursor ion (Bzn-glutathione adduct) and for some of the most intense fragments are shown. Exact theoretical mass and formula are included together with each fragment structure. A 4-C adduct is depicted though a 5-C adduct could be represented.</p

Bzn-derived metabolites.

<p>A number of Bzn derived molecules detected after treatment of <i>T. cruzi</i> epimastigotes with 20 µM and/or 50 µM Bzn are represented. A putative pathway for their <i>in vivo</i> formation is shown; double arrows indicate the existence of possible intermediates such as nitroso or nitrenium derivatives. The observed <i>m/z</i> values corrected for proton gain or loss (observed <i>m/z</i> ± 1.007276) are included. Cys, G, Ov, γGC, T and Gsp refer to cysteine, glutathione, ovothiol A, gamma-glutamylcysteine, trypanothione and glutathionylspermidine respectively. All thiols are represented with their functional -S- groups separately. Bold numbers in parenthesis are the metabolite reference numbers (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844#pntd-0002844-t001" target="_blank">Tables 1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844#pntd-0002844-t002" target="_blank">2</a>).</p

Bzn <i>in vivo</i> derived metabolites arising after 20 µM Bzn treatment of <i>T. cruzi</i> epimastigotes.

<p>Ions detected from 20 µM Bzn treated parasites (cBt samples) and with low or no abundance in control samples (cBc, cTc, medium and solvent samples) are listed, retrieved from filtered or raw data. <b>RT</b>: retention time. <b>m/z_c:</b> m/z values corrected for proton gain or loss (m/z_c = observed <i>m/z</i> ± 1.007276). <b>IS</b>: Ionization state. 1, 2 and 3 refer to mono, di and tri charged ions respectively, from positive or negative ESI modes. Ionization was manually confirmed for all the listed metabolites, examining the m/z values of the ¹³C related isotopic peaks. <b>Relative isotope abundance</b>: values from isotopic peaks were retrieved from filtered data or raw data. <b>Proposed formula</b>: most formulae were retrieved from BznMet database proposed metabolites. Some formulae were predicted using m/z data with IDEOM and rCDK <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844#pntd.0002844-Guha1" target="_blank">[67]</a>. <b>Mass error (ppm):</b> [(m/z(observed)-m/z(exact))/m/z(exact)]*1E+6. <b>Mean cBt</b>: the mean peak intensity value for each ion in the corresponding study group (cBt). <b>Proposed metabolites</b>: proposed metabolites for each ion are listed with complete names or with short assigned names which include some selected features of the metabolites. der.: derivative. Complete IUPAC names and SMILES codes are included on <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844#pntd.0002844.s002" target="_blank">File S1</a> “Targeted sheet”. All intensity values from raw data were retrieved manually (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844#pntd.0002844.s004" target="_blank">File S3</a>). <b>Metabolite number:</b> numbers were assigned for cross referencing.</p><p>*³⁴S isotopic peaks were not resolved from the ¹³CII peaks in these metabolites.</p