The Roses Ocean and Human Health Chair: A New Way to Engage the Public in Oceans and Human Health Challenges

Involving and engaging stakeholders is crucial for studying and managing the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. The Oceans and Human Health Chair was founded in the town of Roses (Catalonia, Spain, NW Mediterranean) in 2018, the fruit of a regional partnership between various stakeholders, and for the purpose of leading the way to better health and wellbeing through ocean research and conservation. The Chair is located in an area of the Mediterranean with a notable fishing, tourist, and seafaring tradition and is close to a marine reserve, providing the opportunity to observe diverse environmental conditions and coastal and maritime activities. The Chair is a case study demonstrating that local, collaborative, transdisciplinary, trans-sector, and bottom-up approaches offer tremendous opportunities for engaging coastal communities to help support long-lasting solutions that benefit everyone, and especially those living by the sea or making their living from the goods and services provided by the sea. Furthermore, the Chair has successfully integrated most of its experts in oceans and human health from the most prestigious institutions in Catalonia. The Chair focuses on three main topics identified by local stakeholders: Fish and Health; Leisure, Health, and Wellbeing; and Medicines from the Sea. Led by stakeholder engagement, the Chair can serve as a novel approach within the oceans and human health field of study to tackle a variety of environmental and public health challenges related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, within the context of sociocultural issues. Drawing on the example provided by the Chair, four principles are established to encourage improved participatory processes in the oceans and human health field: bottom-up, "think local", transdisciplinary and trans-sectorial, and "balance the many voices"

Functional oligonucleotide recognition nanomodules for electrochemical DNA biosensors

The goal of this thesis has been to design, characterise and optimise an electrochemical DNA sensor array. In order to investigate the oligonucleotide probe immobilisation and the hybridisation detection, preliminary experiments with an easy system were performed. This system demonstrated the suitability of oligonucleotide self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces as immobilisation method. Due to the rapid DNA sensor development towards DNA arrays, a modified strategy was proposed. This strategy was based on the site-directed electrodeposition of biorecognition nanomodules on electrodes of photolithographic resolution. These biorecognition nanomodules, oligonucleotide-modified colloidal gold nanoparticles, were rationally synthesised previously studying the conditions under which colloidal gold suspensions were stable. Fluorescence and colourimetric techniques proved the effectiveness of the conjugation, the functionality of the conjugated probes, and the thermal stability of the modification, which made the biorecognition nanomodules suitable for hybridisation detection. After their characterisation, the biorecognition nanomodules were electrodeposited on different electrode surfaces and the site-directed immobilisation was clearly demonstrated by several techniques, such as light and electron microscopy, and colourimetric, piezoelectric and electrochemical techniques. Additionally, the site-directed deposited biorecognition nanomodules were functional and able to differentiate 4-point mutations in 19-mer oligonucleotides. Despite the promising results, which demonstrated the viability of the directed electrodeposition as arraying technique, the necessity for the electrochemical signal amplification was observed, as system values were very close to blank values. Following two parallel objectives for the electrochemical signal amplification (to intrinsically increase kinetic rates between enzymes and electrodes, and to optimise electrochemical recycling systems), osmium complexes were rationally designed and the kinetics of electron transfer with redox enzymes was evaluated. These kinetic studies showed that more positively charged mediators and with higher redox potentials yielded higher rates, also favoured at high pH and low ionic strength, demonstrating the possibility to amplify electrochemical signals.The thesis is structured in seven chapters. Chapter I is an introduction that establishes the basis of DNA sensors and arrays, explains the behaviour and stability of the colloidal gold suspensions, conjugations and deposition, and presents the theoretical basis for the evaluation of electron transfer rate constants between redox enzymes and mediators. The objective of the thesis, the state-of-the-art, the hypothesis, the methodology, the most important conclusions and the limitations and future work are also presented in this chapter. Chapter II describes the preliminary system for the immobilisation characterisation and hybridisation detection. Chapter III elaborates on the study of colloidal gold suspension stability and the subsequent synthesis of the functional biorecognition nanomodules. Moreover, in this chapter the thermal stability and the functionality of the nanomodules are characterised by various techniques. In Chapter IV, the site-directed electrodeposition of these nanomodules is presented, as well as the characterisation techniques applied for its evaluation. Chapter V covers the rational study of the experimental parameters that affect the electron transfer kinetics between Glucose Oxidase (GOx) and osmium complexes, developed for application in electrochemical signal amplification. Finally, Chapters VI and VII summarise the conclusions,the limitations of the thesis work and proposals for future study.El objetivo de esta tesis ha sido diseñar, caracterizar y optimizar un array de sensores de ADN electroquímico. Para el estudio de la inmovilización de las sondas de oligonucleótidos y la detección de la hibridación se realizaron experimentos preliminares con un sistema simplificado. Dicho sistema demostró que las monocapas auto-ensambladas (SAMs) en superficies de oro eran apropiadas como método de inmovilización. Debido al rápido desarrollo de los sensores de ADN hacia los arrays de ADN, se modificó la estrategia. La nueva estrategia se basó en la electrodeposición dirigida de nanomódulos de bioreconocimiento en electrodos de resolución fotolitográfica. Dichos nanomódulos, nanopartículas de oro coloidal modificadas con oligonucleótidos, se sintetizaron racionalmente después de haber estudiado las condiciones bajo las cuales las suspensiones de oro coloidal eran estables. Mediante técnicas de fluorescencia y colorimetría se caracterizó la eficacia de las conjugaciones, la funcionalidad de los oligonucleótidos conjugados y la estabilidad térmica de la modificación, experimentos que demostraron que los conjugados eran aptos para la detección de la hibridación. Después de su caracterización, los nanomódulos de bioreconocimiento fueron electrodepositados en distintas superficies electródicas y se demostró la inmovilización dirigida mediante varias técnicas, como la microscopía óptica y electrónica, y técnicas colorimétricas, piezoeléctricas y electroquímicas. Además, los nanomódulos de bioreconocimiento depositados eran funcionales y capaces de diferenciar 4 mutaciones en oligonucleótidos de 19 bases. A pesar de los prometedores resultados, los cuales demostraron la viabilidad de utilizar la electrodeposición dirigida como técnica de arraying, se observó la necesidad de amplificar la señal electroquímica, puesto que los valores obtenidos del sistema eran muy parecidos a los valores obtenidos de los blancos. Siguiendo dos objetivos paralelos para la amplificación de la señal electroquímica (aumentar intrínsecamente las constantes de transferencia de electrones entre encimas y electrodos, y optimizar los sistemas de reciclaje electroquímicos), se diseñaron racionalmente complejos de osmio y se evaluó la cinética de transferencia de electrones entre dichos complejos y encimas redox. En estos estudios cinéticos se observó que los mediadores con carga global más positiva y con potenciales redox más altos proporcionaban constantes de transferencia de electrones más altas, también favorecidas a alto pH y baja fuerza iónica, demostrando la posibilidad de amplificar las señales electroquímicas. Esta tesis está dividida en siete capítulos. El primer capítulo es una introducción que explica los principios fundamentales y el estado de la ciencia en el área de los sensores y arrays de ADN, que sienta las bases del comportamiento de las suspensiones de oro coloidal y que presenta la cinética de transferencia de electrones entre mediadores y enzimas. El segundo capítulo describe el desarrollo de un método preliminar para caracterizar la inmovilización y detectar la hibridación en sensores de ADN. En el tercer capítulo se presentan estudios de estabilidad de las suspensiones de oro coloidal, conjugaciones de oligonucleótidos a dichos coloides y la caracterización de la eficacia de dichas conjugaciones, de la estabilidad de las suspensiones de las conjugaciones, y de la funcionalidad de los conjugados. En el cuarto capítulo se demuestra la electrodeposición dirigida y selectiva en varias superficies electródicas mediante varias técnicas de caracterización. En el quinto capítulo se obtienen las constantes de transferencia de electrones entre la Glucosa Oxidasa (GOx) y distintos complejos de osmio, y se analiza el efecto de varios parámetros experimentales en dichas constantes. Finalmente, un sexto capítulo establece las conclusiones de la tesis y un séptimo capítulo propone varias líneas de investigación a desarrollar en un futuro

Conjugation of genetically-engineered protein phosphatases to magnetic particles for okadaic acid detection

This work presents the functional characterisation of a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunit obtained by genetic engineering and its conjugation to magnetic particles (MPs) via metal coordination chemistry for the subsequent development of assays for diarrheic lipophilic marine toxins. Colorimetric assays with free enzyme have allowed the determination of the best enzyme activity stabiliser, which is glycerol at 10%. They have also demonstrated that the recombinant enzyme can be as sensitive towards okadaic acid (OA) (LOD=2.3μg/L) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) (LOD=15.2μg/L) as a commercial PP2A and, moreover, it has a higher operational stability, which makes possible to perform the protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PPIA) with a lower enzyme amount. Once conjugated to MPs, the PP2A catalytic subunit still retains its enzyme activity and it can also be inhibited by OA (LOD=30.1μg/L)

Inhibition equivalency factors for microcystin variants in recombinant and wild-type protein phosphatase 1 and 2A assays

Altres ajuts: ICREA AcademiaIn this work, protein phosphatase inhibition assays (PPIAs) have been used to evaluate the performance of recombinant PP1 and recombinant and wild-type PP2As. The enzymes have been compared using microcystins-LR (MC-LR) as a model cyanotoxin. Whereas PP2A Rec provides a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.1 μg/L, PP1 Rec and PP2A Wild provide LODs of 0.6 and 0.5 μg/L, respectively, lower than the guideline value proposed by the World Health Organization (1 μg/L). The inhibitory potencies of seven MC variants (-LR, -RR, -dmLR, -YR, -LY, -LW and -LF) have been evaluated, resulting on 50 % inhibition coefficient (IC 50 ) values ranging from 1.4 to 359.3 μg/L depending on the MC variant and the PP. The PPIAs have been applied to the determination of MC equivalent contents in a natural cyanobacterial bloom and an artificially contaminated sample, with multi-MC profiles. The inhibition equivalency factors (IEFs) have been applied to the individual MC quantifications determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, and the estimated MC-LR equivalent content has been compared to PPIA results. PPIAs have demonstrated to be applicable as MC screening tools for environmental applications and to protect human and animal health

Protein phosphatase inhibition assays for okadaic acid detection in shellfish: matrix effects, applicability and comparison with LC-MS/MS analysis

The applicability of the protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PPIA) to the determination of okadaic acid (OA) and its acyl derivatives in shellfish samples has been investigated, using a recombinant PP2A and a commercial one. Mediterranean mussel, wedge clam, Pacific oyster and flat oyster have been chosen as model species. Shellfish matrix loading limits for the PPIA have been established, according to the shellfish species and the enzyme source. A synergistic inhibitory effect has been observed in the presence of OA and shellfish matrix, which has been overcome by the application of a correction factor (0.48). Finally, Mediterranean mussel samples obtained from Rı´a de Arousa during a DSP closure associated to Dinophysis acuminata, determined as positive by the mouse bioassay, have been analysed with the PPIAs. The OA equivalent contents provided by the PPIAs correlate satisfactorily with those obtained by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)