Scientometric analysis of Colombian research on bio-inoculants for agricultural production

Artículo científicoThe excessive use of synthetic chemical inputs in agricultural production has led to the disruption of biogeochemical cycles. One of the alternatives that arose within the systems of sustainable agriculture was the partial or total replacement of chemicals by biological substances. The analysis of relevant scientific literature has become a tool for assessing the quality of knowledge generation and its impact on the environment. A scientometric analysis was conducted of Colombian research on bio-inoculants from 2009 through 2014 in journals added to the Web of SciencesTM in order to identify the characteristics of the main target crops, the microorganisms used, and the beneficial effects on agriculture. In this work, 34 articles were identified: 24 (71 %) were research on bio-fertilizer development and 10 (29 %) on bio-pesticides. Articles mainly focused on the study of Gram-negative bacilli affecting the area (77 %), while others focused on issues and topics surrounding vegetables (30 %).The analysis of co-occurrence of keywords identified: i. several genera of microorganisms (e.g. Azotobacter sp., Bradyrhizobium sp.) and sustainable agriculture as issues that have a leading role in this scientific field, ii. plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an emerging issue, iii. biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as a subject which has risen in a complementary manner and iv. endophytic bacteria and biodiversity as issues in growth. This study showed that research in Colombia could be targeted on issues such as endophytic bacteria, diversity and productivity

The gut virome and the relevance of temperate phages in human health

Alterations in the gut virome impact human health. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, dominate the gut virome and are mainly composed by virulent and temperate phages. While virulent phages exclusively replicate within and lyse their bacterial host’s cell, temperate phages switch from an integrated state residing within their bacterial host’s chromosome to an induced free virion state via an induction event. How often do these induction events occur and what are their implications on gut homeostasis? Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the gut virome based on metagenomics and present how the proportion of induced temperate phages varies amongst individuals, age, and disease states. Finally, we highlight the importance of building upon classical culture-dependent techniques and sequencing approaches to improve our understanding of temperate phages to enable their potential therapeutic use

Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad

Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad, surge después de la pandemia y su imposibilidad de socializar “en persona” con los compañeros de eventuales encuentros, porque la Comprensión Lectora tenía que reinventarse para su nueva reflexión cognitiva, adaptación contextual y reconstrucción del conocimiento. Este renovado enfoque de la realidad postpandemia, concebido en el marco de la educación intercultural comunitaria, busca potencializar los entornos naturales, sociales y culturales como recursos de aprendizaje multidisciplinario a través del lenguaje animado de los cuentos. En este marco, había que dinamizar la asignatura de Comunicación Oral y Escrita, que se dicta en los Primeros Niveles de los Centros de Apoyo de Otavalo, Cayambe, Latacunga y Riobamba, mediante un eje transversal donde los estudiantes escriban fundamentados en valores de la cosmovisión andina, considerando que provienen de varios lugares de la sierra y amazonía ecuatoriana. Todo surgió del encuentro presencial de un sábado cualquiera donde los estudiantes realizaban ejercicios narrativos, logrando una apreciable respuesta de imaginación, más emotiva que la clásica tarea de las Unidades, tanto así que, pasados unos días, seguían llegando sus escritos a mi correo. Entonces nos pusimos manos a la obra, cada estudiante tendría dos opciones como Actividad Integradora, la primera consistía en escribir un cuento de su propia inspiración, y la segunda analizar un clásico para comentar sus valores y antivalores. La mayor parte de estudiantes decidió escribir su propio cuento, de donde se escogieron algunas participaciones que podrían considerarse originales, para una edición que, respetando la transcripción de la tradición oral que prima en los sectores comunitarios, nos concretamos en revisar la puntuación y ortografía para publicarlos. Con esto buscamos innovar la Actividad Integradora, por algo más práctico y operativo para configurar los Objetos de Aprendizaje que buscamos. Así nació, en medio del camino, este libro de Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad, que ponemos en sus manos. Hernán Hermosa Mantilla Quito, junio de 202

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

Phenol degradation kinetics by two immobilized bacterial consortia in batch and continuous experiments

ilustracionesIncluye referencias bibliográficasMagíster en BiologíaMaestrí

Metagenomic analysis of the human gut virome in obese and lean twins and their mothers

Trillones de microorganismos habitan el intestino humano contribuyendo al bienestar del hospedero. Alteraciones de estas poblaciones microbianas están relacionadas con enfermedades. Por ejemplo, un aumento de Firmicutes acompañado de una disminución de Bacteroidetes ha sido correlacionada con la obesidad. Sin embargo, poco sabemos sobre la composición viral (viroma) en el intestino y su relación con obesidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar el viroma intestinal y evaluar su posible asociación con la obesidad. Muestras fecales de 22 familias compuestas de dos gemelas y su madre fueron obtenidas a los 0, 1 y 12 meses después del inicio del estudio. Partículas virales fueron extraídas a partir de estas muestras; el material genético de estas fue secuenciado usando la tecnología de secuenciación 454 FLX. Las lecturas de baja calidad al igual que las que estaban asociadas con ADN bacteriano fueron eliminadas. Posteriormente, se ensamblaron las lecturas y se predijeron ORFs a partir de los contigs ensamblados. Se realizó una anotación taxonómica y funcional y se construyeron tablas de abundancia de los contigs y los ORFs por muestra. Con estas tablas fue posible calcular los índices de diversidad, buscar marcas que diferencien subgrupos de la población (por ejemplo, entre familias) y encontrar virus que estén presentes en al menos el 50% de los individuos. Entre los resultados más significativos encontramos que: i) el viroma intestinal se encuentra predominado por fagos, ii) el 80% del los virus intestinales son desconocidos, (iii) existe una marca individual y familiar en el viroma intestinal, iv)...Human gut harbors trillions of microorganisms through a mutualistic relationship, which helps to maintain the homeostasis of the gut for contributing to the health of the host. Perturbations on these microbial populations have been associated with several diseases. For instance, increase of Firmicutes and decrease of Bacteroidetes have been associated with obesity. However, less is know about the virome and its association with diseases such as the obesity. The aim of this study was to characterize the gut human virome and to evaluate its likely association with obesity. For that, fecal samples of 22 families composed of 2 twins and their mother were obtained at 0, 1, and 12 months after of the begging of the study. Viral particles were extracted from these samples, then their nucleic acids were sequenced using 454 FLX. The quality of the obtained reads was checked and all reads that were bacterial contamination were removed. Furthermore, the reads were assembled and ORFs were predicted from the assembled contigs. A functional and taxonomic annotation was performed using reads, contigs, and ORFs. Finally, matrices of the relative abundance of each contig and ORF per sample were constructed to calculate alpha and diversity indexes, to look for biomarkers of subgroups of the tested individuals (like family), and to define a core virome. Among the most significant results, we found (i) the human gut virome is predominated by phages, (ii) the 80% of the intestinal viruses are unknown, (iii) the human gut virome shows...Magíster en Biología ComputacionalMaestrí

How to survive in an aggressive environment? Team up with a phage

This thesis explores the genetic potential of gut phages to influence their bacterial hosts. I investigated key molecular processes shaping gut phage-bacteria interactions. I showed the transcriptional landscape of six co-existing prophages, highlighting the distinct expression of prophage-genes across phage’s lifecycles. These expression patterns coupled with metagenomic analyses underscore the importance of phages undergoing lysogenic cycle within the gut. By examining the impact of hypertension and diet on mice, I identified that high-fibre diet alters both viral and bacterial populations and prevent hypertension. My research reveals directions for future studies, emphasizing shaman-phages’ functional characterization, improved experimental models, and the therapeutic potential of phages in shaping a healthy microbiome

Scientometric analysis of Colombian research on bio-inoculants for agricultural production

The excessive use of synthetic chemical inputs in agricultural production has led to the disruption of biogeochemical cycles. One of the alternatives that arose within the systems of sustainable agriculture was the partial or total replacement of chemicals by biological substances. The analysis of relevant scientific literature has become a tool for assessing the quality of knowledge generation and its impact on the environment. A scientometric analysis was conducted of Colombian research on bio-inoculants from 2009 through 2014 in journals added to the Web of SciencesTM in order to identify the characteristics of the main target crops, the microorganisms used, and the beneficial effects on agriculture. In this work, 34 articles were identified: 24 (71 %) were research on bio-fertilizer development and 10 (29 %) on bio-pesticides. Articles mainly focused on the study of Gram-negative bacilli affecting the area (77 %), while others focused on issues and topics surrounding vegetables (30 %).The analysis of co-occurrence of keywords identified: i) several genera of microorganisms (e.g. Azotobacter sp., Bradyrhizobium sp.) and sustainable agriculture as issues that have a leading role in this scientific field, ii) plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an emerging issue, iii) biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as a subject which has risen in a complementary manner and iv) endophytic bacteria and biodiversity as issues in growth. This study showed that research in Colombia could be targeted on issues such as endophytic bacteria, diversity and productivity

Scientometric analysis of Colombian research on bio-inoculants for agricultural production

The excessive use of synthetic chemical inputs in agricultural production has led to the disruption of biogeochemical cycles. One of the alternatives that arose within the systems of sustainable agriculture was the partial or total replacement of chemicals by biological substances. The analysis of relevant scientific literature has become a tool for assessing the quality of knowledge generation and its impact on the environment. A scientometric analysis was conducted of Colombian research on bio-inoculants from 2009 through 2014 in journals added to the Web of SciencesTM in order to identify the characteristics of the main target crops, the microorganisms used, and the beneficial effects on agriculture. In this work, 34 articles were identified: 24 (71 %) were research on bio-fertilizer development and 10 (29 %) on bio-pesticides. Articles mainly focused on the study of Gram-negative bacilli affecting the area (77 %), while others focused on issues and topics surrounding vegetables (30 %).The analysis of co-occurrence of keywords identified: i) several genera of microorganisms (e.g. Azotobacter sp., Bradyrhizobium sp.) and sustainable agriculture as issues that have a leading role in this scientific field, ii) plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an emerging issue, iii) biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as a subject which has risen in a complementary manner and iv) endophytic bacteria and biodiversity as issues in growth. This study showed that research in Colombia could be targeted on issues such as endophytic bacteria, diversity and productivity