Saturation of a durum wheat genetic map and detection of QTL associated to lipoxygenase activity

Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron la saturación de un mapa genético de trigo candeal y el posterior mapeo de QTL, a fin de identificar regiones genómicas relacionadas con la actividad de lipoxigenasas. También se estimó la utilidad de los marcadores ligados a estas regiones como herramientas de selección de genotipos para mejorar el color de la pasta. Para tal fin se utilizó una población de mapeo obtenida por el método de descendencia de una sola semilla constituida por 83 líneas recombinantes endocriadas (RILs) derivadas del cru­zamiento entre los trigos candeales Kofa y UC1113 (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). Se mapearon 44 AFLPs, 9 RAPDs, 2 isoenzimas y 1 proteína de reserva sobre un mapa base de 269 marcadores. La longitud total del mapa resultante fue de 1847,4 cM, con una distancia promedio entre pares de marcadores de 5,68 cM. El mapeo por el método de intervalos compuestos (CIM) indicó la presencia de un QTL mayor, en el cromosoma 4B, que explica un 58% de la variación fenotípica de la actividad de lipoxigenasas. La posición más probable del QTL (LOD=19,00) fue obtenida entre los marcadores "ksm62" y "wmc617b". Estos resultados fueron consistentes en dos años y a dos pH diferentes.The aims of this work were (1) the saturation of a linkage map of durum wheat using AFPLs and RAPDs, (2) mapping of QTL related to lipoxygenase activity and (3) estimation of its usefulness in marker-assisted selection to increase pasta colour. A mapping population of 83 recombinant lines (RILs) derived from the cross between durum wheat Kofa and UC1113 (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) was evaluated for lipoxygenase activity during two growing seasons. It was used to generate a genetic map. Forty four AFLPs, 9 RAPDs, 2 isoenzymes and 1 storage protein were mapped onto a previous genetic map consisting on 269 markers. The total length of the map obtained was 1847.4 cM, with an average genetic distance between pairs of markers of 5.68 cM. The com-posite interval mapping (CIM) showed the presence of a major QTL explaining 58% of phenotypic variation in lipoxygenase activity on chromosome 4B. The highest LOD value (LOD=19,00) was obtained between the "ksm62" and "wmc617b" markers. These results were consistent in the two sampling years and at the two pH in which lipoxygenase activity was analyzed.Fil: Picca, Aurora Maria Teresita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Roncallo, Pablo Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Carrera, A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Cervigni, Gerardo Domingo Lucio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, R.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Echenique, Carmen Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; Argentin

Engineering of gibberellin levels in citrus by sense and antisense

http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata) is a citrus hybrid 4 widely used as a rootstock, whose genetic manipulation to improve 5 different growth characteristics is of high agronomic interest. In this work 6 we have produced transgenic Carrizo citrange plants overexpressing 7 sense and antisense CcGA20ox1 (a key enzyme of GA biosynthesis) 8 under control of the 35S promoter to modify plant architecture. As 9 expected, taller (sense) and shorter (antisense) phenotype correlated with 10 higher and lower levels, respectively, of active GA1 in growing shoots. In 11 contrast, other phenotypic characteristics seemed to be specific of citrus, 12 or different to those described for similar transgenics in other species. For 13 instance thorns, typical organs of citrus at juvenile stages, were much 14 longer in sense and shorter in antisense plants, and xylem tissue was 15 reduced in leaf and internode of sense plants. Antisense plants presented 16 a bushy phenotype, suggesting a possible effect of GAs on auxin 17 biosynthesis and/or transport. The main foliole of sense plants was longer, 18 although total leaf area was reduced. Leaf thickness was smaller in sense 19 and bigger in antisense plants due to changes in the spongy parenchyma. 20 Internode cell length was not altered in transgenic plants, indicating that in 21 citrus GAs regulate cell division rather than cell elongation. Interestingly, 22 the described phenotypes were not apparent when transgenic plants were 23 grafted on non-transgenic rootstock. This suggests that roots contribute to 24 the GA economy of aerial parts in citrus and opens the possibility of using 25 the antisense plants as dwarfing rootstocks.We thank J.A. Pina for technical assistance, and Dr. E. Carbonell and J. 34 Pérez for statistical analyses. This research was supported in part by grants CICYT AGL2003-01644, 1 INIA RTA04-13 and BIO2003-00151. C. 2 Fagoaga was recipient of an INIA-CCAA postdoctoral contract. I. Lliso was 3 recipient of an IVIA predoctoral fellowship. D.J. Iglesias and F.R. Tadeo 4 were recipients of INIA-CCAA and “Ramón y Cajal” MEC postdoctoral 5 contracts, respectively. 6 7Peer reviewe

Ultra-low temperature structure determination of a Mn12 single-molecule magnet and the interplay between lattice solvent and structural disorder

We have determined the ultra-low temperature crystal structure of the archetypal single-molecule magnet (SMM) [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O·2MeCO2H (1) at 2 K, by using a combination of single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction. This is the first structural study of any SMM in the same temperature regime where slow magnetic relaxation occurs. We reveal an additional hydrogen bonding interaction between the {Mn12} cluster and its solvent of crystallisation, which shows how the lattice solvent transmits disorder to the acetate ligands in the {Mn12} complex. Unusual quantum properties observed in 1 have long been attributed to disorder. Hence, we studied the desolvation products of 1, in order to understand precisely the influence of lattice solvent on the structure of the cluster. We present two new axially symmetric structures corresponding to different levels of desolvation of 1, [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O (2) and [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4] (3). In 2, removal of acetic acid of crystallisation largely resolves positional disorder in the affected acetate ligands, whereas removal of lattice water molecules further resolves the acetate ligand disorder in 3. Due to the absence of acetic acid of crystallisation, both 2 and 3 have true, unbroken S4 symmetry, showing for the first time that it is possible to prepare fully axial Mn12–acetate analogues from 1, via single-crystal to single-crystal transformations

Recombinant human leptin treatment in genetic lipodystrophic syndromes: the long-term Spanish experience

Lipodystrophies are a group of diseases mainly characterized by a loss of adipose tissue and frequently associated with insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatic steatosis. In uncommon lipodystrophies, these complications frequently are difficult to control with conventional therapeutic approaches. This retrospective study addressed the effectiveness of recombinant methionyl leptin (metreleptin) for improving glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and hepatic steatosis in patients with genetic lipodystrophic syndromes. We studied nine patients (five females and four males) with genetic lipodystrophies [seven with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome, one with atypical progeroid syndrome, and one with type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD)]. Six patients were children under age 9 years, and all patients had baseline triglycerides levels >2.26 mmol/L and hepatic steatosis; six had poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Metreleptin was self-administered subcutaneously daily at a final dose that ranged between 0.05 and 0.24 mg/(kg day) [median: 0.08 mg/(kg day)] according to the body weight. The duration of treatment ranged from 9 months to 5 years, 9 months (median: 3 years). Plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c), lipid profile, plasma insulin and leptin, and hepatic enzymes were evaluated at baseline and at least every 6 months. Except for the patient with FPLD, metreleptin replacement significantly improved metabolic control (Hb A1c: from 10.4 to 7.1 %, p < 0.05). Plasma triglycerides were reduced 76 % on average, and hepatic enzymes decreased more than 65 %. This study extends knowledge about metreleptin replacement in genetic lipodystrophies, bearing out its effectiveness for long periods of time

Educación Ambiental basada en la transmisión de saberes. Prevención de problemas ambientales futuros y salud

  La actividad de extensión universitaria realizada articula la docencia de cursos de grado (Ecología y Educación Ambiental, Profesorado en Biología) y temáticas de investigación sobre ecología aplicada, transfiriendo e intercambiando con la sociedad saberes locales y regionales. La investigación en “Ecología de bosques nativos del Chaco Arido”, conduce a una mayor comprensión y conocimiento del sistema que nos permite aportar información y solución a diferentes problemáticas planteadas por la sociedad. El objetivo propuesto fue mejorar la calidad y equidad en la educación para hacer frente a la desigualdad desde sectores rurales y del interior de la provincia. Esta práctica se desarrolló en Pizarras de Bajo de Véliz (Centro Educativo Escuela Granadero M.Rodríguez, CE-Esc.Nro.409), mediante convocatoria SPU (Res.97/03), posteriormente con proyectos de extensión (UNSL) y proyecto financiado por el Fondo para las Américas. Experiencias educativas desarrolladas: a).-Capacitación. Se propuso utilizar el bosque nativo como laboratorio didáctico. Cursos: Ecosistemas y Paisajes. Uso turístico-científico. I.-Aspectos Ecológicos y Florísticos. II.-Aspectos Paisajísticos y Faunísticos. Se tuvo un fuerte impacto regional, aprobaron 110 participantes, (guardaparques -Parque Bajo de Véliz y Reserva El Rincón-, guías de turismo, técnicos municipales y docentes de diferentes CE). Esta actividad permitió aportar experiencia y conocimientos universitarios brindando herramientas para revalorizar el entorno y poder mejorar la calidad educativa. b).-Transmisión de saberes a alumnos y pobladores para mejorar su calidad de vida, particularmente de ambientes rurales. Huerta orgánica. Propagación de especies nativas. Realizamos 8 talleres con alumnos (CE-Esc.Nro.409), adecuando las actividades a los distintos niveles. Estas fueron utilizadas por los docentes como Trabajo Práctico de contenidos curriculares. La construcción del invernadero y las actividades asociadas permitió trascender el ámbito académico, propiciando el interés de los alumnos para obtención de recursos familiares. c).-Salud y rescate de oficio: Carpintería. Se realizaron 10 talleres, participando 30 alumnos (CE-Esc.Nro.409); un 50% de las reuniones fueron acompañados por padres y Guardaparques. d).-Jornadas de Concientización Ambiental Urbana (2005-2006-2007) y Rural (2008–2009). Se concientizó a diferentes actores sociales sobre problemáticas ambientales y de salud con un enfoque urbano, rural y áreas protegidas. Impacto: si cada asistente lleva la información abordada a su casa ó los docentes a otros CE, se logra una amplificación significativa. En el marco de los proyectos de extensión ejecutados se concretó una transferencia de conocimientos y una interacción enriquecedora con la sociedad, quienes revalorizaron su entorno, permitiéndonos restituir a la sociedad los beneficios de la formación recibida en la universidad pública

Pretransplant CMV-Specific T-Cell Immunity But Not Dose of Antithymocyte Globulin Is Associated With Recovery of Specific Immunity After Kidney Transplantation

Background: This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive kidney transplant recipients with pretransplant CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) receiving antithymocyte globulin (ATG). We aimed to investigate posttransplant CMV-CMI over time and the impact of the dose-dependent ATG. Methods: CMV-CMI was assessed at days +30, +45, +60, and +90 after transplantation with the QuantiFERON-CMV assay. A reactive result (interferon-? [IFN-?] ? 0.2 IU/mL) indicated a positive CMV-CMI. Results: A total of 78 positive CMV-CMI patients were enrolled in the study, of which 59.5% had a positive CMV-CMI at day +30 and 82.7% at day +90. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ATG dose was not associated with positive CMV-CMI at any point. However, pretransplant IFN-? level (>12 IU/mL vs ?12 IU/mL) was associated with positive CMV-CMI at day +30 (odds ratio, 12.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-53.3; P < .001). In addition, all the patients who did not recover CMV-CMI at day +90 had a pretransplant IFN-? level ?12 IU/mL. Conclusions: More than half of CMV-seropositive kidney transplant recipients receiving ATG recover (or maintain) CMV-CMI by the first month after transplantation. The pretransplant IFN-? level, but not the ATG dose, shows a strong association with the kinetics of this recovery.This work was supported by the Fundación Progreso y Salud, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía (grant number PI-0294-2014); Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant number CP 18/00073 to M. F. R.); Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013–2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (grant numbers REIPI RD16/0016/0002, RD16/0016/0003, RD16/0016/0007, RD16/0016/0008, RD16/0016/0009 and RD16/0016/0012); cofinanced by European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe,” Operative Program Intelligent Growth 2014- 2020; Spanish Network for Research in Renal Diseases (grant numbers RD16/0009/0006, RD16/0009/0008, RD16/0009/0013, RD16/0009/0014, RD16/0009/0019, RD16/0009/0034); Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Respiratorias (grant number CB06/06/0058); and Spanish Group for the Study of Infection in Transplantation and the Immunocompromised Host of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiolog

A Qualitative Study on Book Clubs and Dialogic Literary Gatherings in Spain and Brazil

ABSTRACT: Some organizations in Spain that seek to foster innovation in reading are keen to establish book clubs or dialogical literary gatherings. However, there are notable differences between these two practices that are not always clear. This paper presents the results of an observational study based on participant observation and interviews with key informants that tackle their similarities and differences in school and social settings. The results show that their differences lie in origin, purpose, methodology, and coordination, among others. The conclusions show different paradigms behind these practices, and organizations should opt for one or the other

Impact of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Spanish university students: role of gender

During the COVID-19 pandemic, entire populations were instructed to live in home-confinement to prevent the expansion of the disease. Spain was one of the countries with the strictest conditions, as outdoor physical activity was banned for nearly two months. This study aimed to analyse the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Spanish university students before and during the confinement by COVID-19 with special focus on gender. We also analysed enjoyment, the tools used and motivation and impediments for doing physical activity. An online questionnaire, which included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and certain 'ad hoc' questions, was designed. Students were recruited by distributing an invitation through the administrative channels of 16 universities and a total of 13,754 valid surveys were collected. Overall, university students reduced moderate (-29.5%) and vigorous (-18.3%) physical activity during the confinement and increased sedentary time (+52.7%). However, they spent more time on high intensity interval training (HIIT) (+18.2%) and mind-body activities (e.g., yoga) (+80.0%). Adaptation to the confinement, in terms of physical activity, was handled better by women than by men. These results will help design strategies for each gender to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour during confinement periods.This research was funded by the High Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD) of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Government of Spain, grant number 45/UPB/20. A.E. is a recipient of a grant of the Basque Government (Eusko Jaurlaritza), grant number PRE_2019_1_0373. D.J.-P. is supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation-MINECO, grant number RYC-2014-16938

Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender

[EN] During the COVID-19 pandemic, entire populations were instructed to live in home-confinement to prevent the expansion of the disease. Spain was one of the countries with the strictest conditions, as outdoor physical activity was banned for nearly two months. This study aimed to analyse the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Spanish university students before and during the confinement by COVID-19 with special focus on gender. We also analysed enjoyment, the tools used and motivation and impediments for doing physical activity. An online questionnaire, which included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and certain "ad hoc" questions, was designed. Students were recruited by distributing an invitation through the administrative channels of 16 universities and a total of 13,754 valid surveys were collected. Overall, university students reduced moderate (-29.5%) and vigorous (-18.3%) physical activity during the confinement and increased sedentary time (+52.7%). However, they spent more time on high intensity interval training (HIIT) (+18.2%) and mind-body activities (e.g., yoga) (+80.0%). Adaptation to the confinement, in terms of physical activity, was handled better by women than by men. These results will help design strategies for each gender to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour during confinement periods.S

Effect of TNF-α genetic variants and CCR5Δ32 on the vulnerability to HIV-1 infection and disease progression in Caucasian Spaniards

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is thought to be involved in the various immunogenetic events that influence HIV-1 infection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We aimed to determine whether carriage of the <it>TNF-α-238G>A, -308G>A </it>and <it>-863 C>A </it>gene promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and the <it>CCR5Δ32 </it>variant allele influence the risk of HIV-1 infection and disease progression in Caucasian Spaniards. The study group consisted of 423 individuals. Of these, 239 were uninfected (36 heavily exposed but uninfected [EU] and 203 healthy controls [HC]) and 184 were HIV-1-infected (109 typical progressors [TP] and 75 long-term nonprogressors [LTNP] of over 16 years' duration). <it>TNF-α </it>SNP and the <it>CCR5Δ32 </it>allele were assessed using PCR-RFLP and automatic sequencing analysis methods on white blood cell DNA. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared using the χ 2 test and the Fisher exact test. Haplotypes were compared by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The distribution of <it>TNF-α-238G>A, -308G>A </it>and <it>-863 C>A </it>genetic variants was non-significantly different in HIV-1-infected patients compared with uninfected individuals: <it>-238G>A</it>, p = 0.7 and p = 0.3; <it>-308G>A</it>, p = 0.05 and p = 0.07; <it>-863 C>A</it>, p = 0.7 and p = 0.4, for genotype and allele comparisons, respectively. Haplotype analyses, however, indicated that carriers of the haplotype H3 were significantly more common among uninfected subjects (p = 0.04). Among the infected patients, the distribution of the three <it>TNF-α </it>genetic variants assessed was non-significantly different between TP and LTNP: <it>-238G>A</it>, p = 0.35 and p = 0.7; <it>-308G>A</it>, p = 0.7 and p = 0.6: <it>-863 C>A</it>, p = 0.2 and p = 0.2, for genotype and allele comparisons, respectively. Haplotype analyses also indicated non-significant associations. Subanalyses in the LTNP subset indicated that the <it>TNF-α-238A </it>variant allele was significantly overrepresented in patients who spontaneously controlled plasma viremia compared with those who had a detectable plasma viral load (genotype comparisons, p = 0.02; allele comparisons, p = 0.03). The <it>CCR5Δ32 </it>distribution was non-significantly different in HIV-1-infected patients with respect to the uninfected population (p = 0.15 and p = 0.2 for genotype and allele comparisons, respectively) and in LTNP vs TP (p = 0.4 and p = 0.5 for genotype and allele comparisons, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In our cohort of Caucasian Spaniards, <it>TNF-α </it>genetic variants could be involved in the vulnerability to HIV-1 infection. <it>TNF-α </it>genetic variants were unrelated to disease progression in infected subjects. The <it>-238G>A </it>SNP may modulate the control of viremia in LTNP. Carriage of the <it>CCR5Δ32 </it>variant allele had no effect on the risk of infection and disease progression.</p