Design of Polymeric Nanocapsules for Intranasal Vaccination against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: Influence of the Polymeric Shell and Antigen Positioning.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a single infectious microorganism and Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), the only authorized vaccine, does not confer protection against pulmonary TB. Based on the hypothesis that mucosal protection could help to prevent the infection at the site of entrance, the objective of this work was to develop an intranasal vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the microorganism that causes TB. Our approach consisted of the use of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) with an oily core and a polymer shell made of chitosan (CS) or inulin/polyarginine (INU/pArg). The immunostimulant Imiquimod, a Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7) agonist, was encapsulated in the oily core and a fusion protein, formed by two antigens of Mtb, was absorbed either onto the NC surface (CS:Ag and INU:pArg:Ag) or between two polymer layers (INU:Ag:pArg) in order to assess the influence of the antigen positioning on the immune response. Although CS NCs were more immunostimulant than the INU/pArg NCs in vitro, the in vivo experiments showed that INU:pArg:Ag NCs were the only prototype inducing an adequate immunoglobulin A (IgA) response. Moreover, a previous immunization with BCG increased the immune response for CS NCs but, conversely, decreased for INU/pArg NCs. Further optimization of the antigen and the vaccination regime could provide an efficacious vaccine, using the INU:pArg:Ag NC prototype as nanocarrier

Modelos de crecimiento y producción en España: historia, ejemplos contemporáneos y perspectivas

En el presente trabajo se presenta una revisión sobre los modelos forestales desarrollados en España durante los últimos años, tanto para la producción maderable como no maderable y, para la dinámica de los bosques (regeneración, mortalidad). Se presentan modelos tanto de rodal completo como de clases diamétricas y de árbol individual. Los modelos desarrollados hasta la fecha se han desarrollado a partir de datos procedentes de parcelas permanentes, ensayos y el Inventario Forestal Nacional. En el trabajo se muestran los diferentes submodelos desarrollados hasta la fecha, así como las plataformas informáticas que permiten utilizar dichos modelos. Se incluyen las principales perspectivas de desarrollo de la modelización forestal en España.In this paper we present a review of forest models developed in Spain in recent years for both timber and non timber production and forest dynamics (regeneration, mortality). Models developed are whole stand, size (diameter) class and individual-tree. The models developed to date have been developed using data from permanent plots, experimental sites and the National Forest Inventory. In this paper we show the different sub-models developed so far and the friendly use software. Main perspectives of forest modeling in Spain are presented.The models described in this paper were funded by different regional, national and European projects, and some of them were elaborated by the authors. This work was funded by the Spanish Government by the SELVIRED network (code AGL2008-03740) and the strategic project «Restauración y Gestión Forestal» (code PSE-310000-2009-4)

Growth and yield models in Spain Historical overview, contemporary examples and perspectives

In this paper we present a review of forest models developed in Spain in recent years for both timber and non timber production and forest dynamics (regeneration, mortality). Models developed are whole stand, size (diameter) class and individual-tree. The models developed to date have been developed using data from permanent plots, experimental sites and the National Forest Inventory. In this paper we show the different sub-models developed so far and the friendly use software. Main perspectives of forest modeling in Spain are presented

Assessing and modelling the status and dynamics of deadwood through national forest inventory data in Spain

The importance of deadwood in forest ecosystems is undeniable, not only in terms of the biodiversity values it provides but also in terms of carbon sequestration and emission. Its importance is evidenced in the international reporting requirements, which include the need for countries to detail their deadwood stock as an important indicator of sustainable development. In recent years, deadwood stocks have been included within the variables reported in the Spanish National Forest Inventories (SNFI), showing average values for total deadwood stocks of 8 and 10.5m3ha-1 for the SNFI3 and SNFI4, respectively. However, SNFI are undertaken approximately every ten years, making it difficult their use for accomplishing international reporting requirements annually or every five years. In this context, the objective of the present study was to attempt to model deadwood occurrence, stocks and dynamics using stand, topographic and climatic variables. The models developed considered different forest types, deadwood categories (standing dead trees; downed dead trees; standing saplings; downed saplings/small dead trees; downed coarse wood pieces/downed branches; stumps; coppice stumps) and decay classes. The data set comprises plots from the SNFI3 (3236 plots) and the SNFI4 (1066 plots) from the Basque Country region. Due to the differing characteristics of deadwood stocks in managed forests, where a large number of plots have no deadwood (from 34% to 98% depending on the deadwood category considered), zero-inflated models were chosen as the modelling technique. From the different zero-inflated models analysed, zero-inflated Poisson model was the one that showed better results. Despite the natural variability inherent in deadwood in the analysed forests, good results were achieved for total deadwood stock models as a function of forest types as well as for deadwood dynamics models. These models provide a promising approach for deadwood estimation in the period between the NFI's and they can also be employed by private forest owners in forest management practices, particularly in the case of forest certification. © 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V