Identification of genes associated with resistance to Listonella anguillarum in the zebrafish Danio rerio Hamilton, 1822 animal model

The zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) - Listonella anguillarum infection model was used to identify genes associated with resistance to the infection. In the present study we analysed differential expression profiles in L. anguillarum infected zebrafish compared to control zebrafish, using DNA chip array (Affymetrix technology) and quantitative real-time PCR. The knowledge acquired in this study could be valuable in designing new strategies and tools for the selection of resistant individuals for the fish industry.Se empleó el modelo de infección pez cebra Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) - Listonella anguillarum para identificar genes asociados con la resistencia a la infección. Se analizaron los perfiles de expresión diferencial en peces cebra infectados con la bacteria L. anguillarum y peces de control mediante chips de DNA y PCR cuantitativa a tiempo real. El conocimiento adquirido en este estudio será de gran valor a la hora de diseñar nuevas estrategias de selección de individuos resistentes en la industria piscícola.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Expression of interferon-alpha subtypes in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C: a role for interferon-alpha5

Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a family of antiviral proteins encoded by different genes. The biological significance of the existence of various IFN-alpha subtypes is not clear. We have investigated the interferon system in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a disease that responds to interferon-alpha2 therapy in only a limited proportion of cases. We analysed the expression of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, IRF-2, and IFN-alpha subtypes in nonstimulated and Sendai virus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HCV infected patients and healthy controls. We observed that the IRF-1 mRNA and IRF-1/IRF-2 ratios were increased in PBMC from hepatitis C patients with respect to normal subjects. Sendai virus stimulation of PBMC led to a significant increase in the levels of IRF-1, IRF-2 and IFN-alpha mRNAs and in the production of IFN-alpha protein with respect to basal values in healthy controls as well as in patients with HCV infection. In addition, we found that while natural HCV infection induced increased IFN-alpha5 expression in PBMC, in vitro infection of these cells with Sendai virus caused a raise in the expression of IFN-alpha8 in both patients and normal controls. In summary, our results indicate that virus-induced activation of the IFN system in human PBMC is associated with selective expression of individual IFN-alpha subtypes, IFN-alpha5 being the specific subtype induced in PBMC from patients with chronic HCV infection

Antioxidant status and glutathione metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative stress could play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection. We investigated the oxidant/antioxidant status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C and controls. METHODS/RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation products and superoxide dismutase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were higher in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy subjects while glutathione S-transferase activity was reduced in patients as compared to controls. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were similar in chronic hepatitis C and normal individuals. No statistically significant differences were found between patients and controls with regard to glutathione levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but 35% of patients with chronic hepatitis C showed values of glutathione and oxidized glutathione which were below and above, respectively, the limits of normal controls. Finally, the glutathione synthetic capacity of the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly higher in patients than in controls, indicating increased glutathione turnover in lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress is observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients. This process might alter lymphocyte function and facilitate the chronicity of the infection

Identificación de genes asociados con la resistencia a Listonella anguillarum en el modelo animal pez cebra Danio rerio Hamilton, 1822 mediante el análisis de perfiles de expresión diferencial

Se empleó el modelo de infección pez cebra Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) ¿ Listonella anguillarum para identificar genes asociados con la resistencia a la infección. Se analizaron los perfiles de expresión diferencial en peces cebra infectados con la bacteria L. anguillarum y peces de control mediante chips de DNA y PCR cuantitativa a tiempo real. El conocimiento adquirido en este estudio será de gran valor a la hora de diseñar nuevas estrategias de selección de individuos resistentes en la industria piscícola.The zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) ¿ Listonella anguillarum infection model was used to identify genes associated with resistance to the infection. In the present study we analysed differential expression profiles in L. anguillarum infected zebrafish compared to control zebrafish, using DNA chip array (Affymetrix technology) and quantitative real-time PCR. The knowledge acquired in this study could be valuable in designing new strategies and tools for the selection of resistant individuals for the fish industry

A review of advanced ground source heat pump control: Artificial intelligence for autonomous and adaptive control

Geothermal energy has the potential to contribute significantly to the CO2 reduction targets as a renewable source for building heating and cooling but is yet under exploited, mostly due to its high initial investment cost. A lot of research is being carried out to optimise Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems’ design, but a good control strategy is also fundamental to achieve long-term performance and reduced payback time. GSHP control optimisation is a non-linear dynamic optimisation problem that is influenced by multiple parameters. It can thus not be fully optimised with traditional methods. Artificial Intelligence, and in particular Machine Learning, is suited for this type of optimisation as it can learn implicit relations between parameters and can address non-linearity. This paper reviews the challenges of GSHP control and the strategies for control optimisation found in the literature, from basic rule-based system to artificial neural network-based strategies. Two principal uses of Artificial Intelligence for ground source heat pump control are identified: building a predictive model of the system that reflects its real performances and optimising the control decision in real time. However, the examples found in the literature are limited and the need to further explore the benefits of Machine Learning is identified. The latest developments in the field are reviewed to explore their potential to further improve GSHP control. The challenges of the full implementation of such algorithms are also discussed

New tools to support the designing of efficient and reliable ground source heat exchangers: The Cheap-GSHPs databases and maps

The final aim of the EU funded Cheap-GSHPs project is to reduce the total installation cost of closed-loop shallow geothermal systems. As part of the project a Decision Support System (DSS) has been developed and released on the web, in order to support the design of new closed-loop geo-exchange systems. The Cheap-GSHP project addresses all the aspects involved in planning and dimensioning a new borefield and therefore, the DSS is composed of several databases and tools that collect and elaborate the preliminary data and information that are necessary during the sizing phase, such as the geological and drilling aspects as well as the heating and cooling building demand. This paper briefly introduces the content of the databases and the mapping methodology developed for the Cheap-GSHPs DSS. All these researches are further deepen in the EU project GEO4CIVHIC, with a special attention to the application of shallow geothermal systems for building conditioning to historical buildings

Antioxidant status and glutathione metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative stress could play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection. We investigated the oxidant/antioxidant status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C and controls. METHODS/RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation products and superoxide dismutase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were higher in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy subjects while glutathione S-transferase activity was reduced in patients as compared to controls. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were similar in chronic hepatitis C and normal individuals. No statistically significant differences were found between patients and controls with regard to glutathione levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but 35% of patients with chronic hepatitis C showed values of glutathione and oxidized glutathione which were below and above, respectively, the limits of normal controls. Finally, the glutathione synthetic capacity of the cytosol of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly higher in patients than in controls, indicating increased glutathione turnover in lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress is observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients. This process might alter lymphocyte function and facilitate the chronicity of the infection

Shallow Geothermal Energy for existing buildings – overview and status of project GEO4CIVHIC

A major obstacle to decarbonisation in the building sector is the comparably low share of new construction, and the specific problems encountered when supplying heat and/or cold from renewable energies (RES) to existing and in particular older/historical, buildings. Without a solution to the problem of RES in refurbishment, however, the decarbonisation of the building stock will simply take too long. Shallow geothermal technologies have contributed substantially to decarbonisation in new construction. However, for a wider deployment in existing buildings, particularly in historical ones, the technologies need further development and innovative ideas must be tested and brought to the market. Within the EU-funded project GEO4CIVHIC a survey was done to identify and understand all other possible barriers to install Borehole Heat Exchangers (BHE) in existing building environment, be they technical or socio-economic, and the project partners work on suggestions for suitable solutions. Based upon this survey, the further work addressed two principal barriers, which are construction of ground heat exchangers under constrained site conditions, and adaption of heat pumps and other components to older heating/cooling systems. A specific emphasis is given to historic buildings, i.e. those dating from before the mid of the 20th century, including listed buildings, where the constraints are even more severe. Development work is done to provide technical solutions for overcoming these barriers, e.g. with novel drilling tools and enhanced heat pumps. Several demonstration cases are undertaken to test the solutions found (4 real sites in Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Malta, and 12 “virtual” sites, where theoretical case studies for renovation with borehole heat exchangers are performed on real, existing buildings). The COVID 19 pandemic hampered drastically the project timeline, resulting in delays of more than one and a half years. At the time of writing this abstract, two real demonstration cases are finished and started operation (Belgium and Italy), while the other two are scheduled to be operational by July 2022. This paper gives an overview of the project, the rationale behind it, and the findings of the initial survey of barriers. It presents the experiences with less invasive, less costly and quicker drilling and installation methods for borehole heat exchangers (BHE), as developed within the project and tested both in the real demonstration sites and in dedicated test fields at some of the project partners. First results of monitoring and results from the "virtual" sites are presented. Other papers within the project also submitted to EGC 2022 address specific aspect in more detail, and are referenced in this overview paper