Deep-water sponge fauna from the mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz (North Atlantic, Spain)

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Characterization of potential therapeutic targets in Leishmania infantum

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by various species of Leishmania, which affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments for leishmaniasis often present adverse effects and may not be effective against every Leishmania strain or form of the disease. Therefore, it is essential to explore new therapeutic approaches to combat the parasite. In this study, we focused on the PeBoW complex proteins homologous in Leishmania, which is involved in ribosomal biogenesis and plays a critical role in cancer development in mammalian cells. Recently, a homologue of the oncogene PES1 was found in Leishmania major, which plays a crucial role in parasite infectivity. Given this, we analyzed the possibility of using other PeBoW complex partner genes in Leishmania as therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis treatment. Specifically, our investigation aimed to characterize the partner WDR12 homologous in Leishmania infantum (LmjWDR12) as new therapeutic approach

blaTEM and vanA as indicator genes of antibiotic resistance contamination in a hospital–urban wastewater treatment plant system

Four indicator genes were monitored by quantitative PCR in hospital effluent (HE) and in the raw and treated wastewater of the municipal wastewater treatment plant receiving the hospital discharge. The indicator genes were the class 1 integrase gene intI1, to assess the capacity of bacteria to be involved in horizontal gene transfer processes; blaTEM, one of the most widespread antibiotic resistance genes in the environment, associated with Enterobacteriaceae; vanA, an antibiotic resistance gene uncommon in the environment and frequent in clinical isolates; and marA, part of a locus related to the stress response in Enterobacteriaceae. Variation in the abundance of these genes was analysed as a function of the type of water, and possible correlations with cultivable bacteria, antimicrobial residue concentrations, and bacterial community composition and structure were analysed. HE was confirmed as an important source of blaTEM and vanA genes, and wastewater treatment showed a limited capacity to remove these resistance genes. The genes blaTEM and vanA presented the strongest correlations with culturable bacteria, antimicrobial residues and some bacterial populations, representing interesting candidates as indicator genes to monitor resistance in environmental samples. The intI1 gene was the most abundant in all samples, demonstrating that wastewater bacterial populations hold a high potential for gene acquisitioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

DIAGNÓSTICO DE LA TASA DE EXTRACCIÓN DE BOVINOS Y DE LA INFRAESTRUCTURA DE SACRIFICIO PARA LA INCLUSIÓN ECONÓMICA SECTORIAL EN BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMÁ

A diagnosis of the cattle extraction rate and the animal slaughter infrastructure was carried out in the province of Bocas del Toro, using data analysis, focus groups, interviews, and direct observation. It was found that the cattle extraction rate decreased from 18.84 % to 6.42 % from 2000 to 2019, despite an increase in livestock stocks from 35 400 to 48 100 during the same period. The need to establish a slaughter plant to process the supply of bovine animals in the province, in conditions of hygiene, safety, and value-added, was evidenced. It is estimated that 7 200 bovines per year produced in Bocas del Toro are slaughtered outside the province due to the lack of adequate infrastructure. Producers assume transport costs and weight losses, due to the transportation of animals for slaughter in other distant regions, which cause adverse effects for the sectoral economic inclusion of the province.Un diagnóstico de la Tasa de Extracción Coyuntural (TEC) de ganado bovino y de la infraestructura de sacrificio animal fue realizado en la provincia de Bocas del Toro, empleando análisis de datos, grupos de discusión, entrevistas y observación directa. Se encontró que la TEC de ganado bovino disminuyó de 18.84 % a 6.42 % desde el 2000 hasta el 2019, a pesar del aumento de las existencias de ganado de 35 400 a 48 100 durante el mismo período. Se evidenció la necesidad de establecer una planta de sacrificio para procesar la oferta de animales bovinos de la provincia, en condiciones de higiene, inocuidad y valor agregado. Se estima que unos 7 200 bovinos por año, producidos en Bocas del Toro, son sacrificados fuera de la provincia debido a la falta de infraestructura adecuada. Los productores de ganado bovino asumen costos de transporte y mermas, debido al traslado de los animales para su sacrificio hacia otras regiones distantes, lo que causa efectos adversos para la inclusión económica sectorial de la provincia

Towards sustainable training in essential computing research skills in the Netherlands

Life science research increasingly depends on computational skills that enable efficient work with large complex datasets. Unfortunately, formal curricula often lack training in this area. There is a need for specialised training that includes topics like shell scripting, basic programming skills in R or Python, data handling, reproducible computational research and open science

HostLab: gastronomy innovation, experiences and sustainability

Innovating through traditional products and resources is the main aim of HoST Lab Project located at the School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism of the University of the Algarve. A new lab and new multidisciplinary way of working, that which to be a reference for research and development applied to Culinary Tourism and Eno-gastronomic experiences associated with the Mediterranean Diet (MD). A very enriching proposal was built to study the determinants of experience and the atmosphere of places, promoting sensory evaluation with tourists and stakeholders, of new products and services (based on local resources and products, such as cereals, olive trees, vines, and other foods), enhancing the qualification and diversification of the Algarve as a sustainable tourist destination. We hope that this new partnerships and stakeholders involved will help sharing this common vision, the knowledge delivered and continue promoting innovation around the Mediterranean Diet.iHeritage Project - ICT Mediterranean platform for UNESCO cultural heritage, iHERITAGE, B_A.2.1_0056info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Randomized double-blind clinical trial of a new human epoetin versus a commercially available formula for anemia control in patients on hemodialysis

OBJECTIVES: Anemia is a common complication among chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis, occurring mostly due to erythropoietin deficiency. This randomized noninferiority trial sought to compare the efficacy and safety of a new epoetin formulation developed by Bio-Manguinhos, a biologics manufacturer affiliated with the Brazilian government, with those of a commercially available product currently used in Brazil (a biosimilar epoetin formulation). METHODS: The sample size needed to enable demonstration of noninferiority with a statistical power of 85% for a between-group difference in hemoglobin levels of no more than 1.5 g/dL was calculated. In total, 74 patients were randomly assigned to receive the epoetin formulation from Bio-Manguinhos (n = 36) or the biosimilar epoetin formulation (n = 38) in a double-blind fashion. The inclusion criteria were current epoetin therapy and stable hemoglobin levels for at least 3 months prior to the study. The primary and secondary outcomes were mean monthly hemoglobin levels and safety, respectively. The dose was calculated according to international criteria and adjusted monthly in both groups according to hemoglobin levels and at the assistant physicians' discretion. Iron storage was estimated at baseline and once monthly. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01184495. RESULTS: The study was conducted for 6 months after randomization. The mean baseline hemoglobin levels were 10.9±1.2 and 10.96±1.2 g/dL (p = 0.89) in the Bio-Manguinhos epoetin and biosimilar epoetin groups, respectively. During the study period, there was no significant change in hemoglobin levels in either group (p = 0.055, ANOVA). The epoetin from Bio-Manguinhos was slightly superior in the last 3 months of follow-up. The adverse event profiles of the two formulations were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: The epoetin formulations tested in this study are equivalent in efficacy and safety

Detection of Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Post-Vaccination in Health Care Workers of a Large Tertiary Hospital in Spain by Using a Rapid Test LFIC and sVNT-ELISA

The presence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 represent a surrogate marker of immunologic protection in populations at high risk of infection such as healthcare workers caring for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. As recommended by CDC and the European CDC, the use of rapid diagnostic tests during population-based evaluations offers an opportunity to identify individuals with serologic evidence of natural infection or who have undergone vaccination. We carried out a cross-sectional study to assess the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among medical providers at an intensive care unit of a large referral hospital in Alicante, Spain. In addition, we tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies compared to serum of uninfected individuals from a Biobank. We were also interested in evaluating the use of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatography (LFIC) test against a surrogate ELISA viral neutralization test (sVNT). This rapid test demonstrated a specificity of 1.000 95% CI (0.91–1.00) and the sensitivity of 0.987 95% CI (0.93–1.00). The negative predictive value was 95%. After six months, this rapid test demonstrated that those immunized with two doses of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, maintained optimal levels of neutralizing antibodies. We concluded that all Health Care Workers develop NAbs and the use of this rapid immunochromatographic test represents a potential tool to be used in population-based studies to detect serological antibody responses to vaccination. Vaccination policies could benefit from this tool to assess additional doses of vaccine or boosters among high-risk populations.This work was supported by an advisory contract from the University of Alicante with reference WENZHOU-OJABIO1-21T and no one reports personal fees received from the biotech company