27 research outputs found

    Less can be more: loss of MHC functional diversity can reflect adaptation to novel conditions during fish invasions

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    The ability of invasive species to adapt to novel conditions depends on population size and environmental mismatch, but also on genetic variation. Away from their native range, invasive species confronted with novel selective pressures may display different levels of neutral versus functional genetic variation. However, the majority of invasion studies have only examined genetic variation at neutral markers, which may reveal little about how invaders adapt to novel environments. Salmonids are good model systems to examine adaptation to novel pressures because they have been translocated all over the world and represent major threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Southern Hemisphere, where they have become invasive. We examined patterns of genetic differentiation at seven putatively neutral (microsatellites) loci and one immune-related major histocompatibility complex (MHC class II-β) locus among introduced rainbow trout living in captivity (farmed) or under natural conditions (naturalized) in Chilean Patagonia. A significant positive association was found between differentiation at neutral and functional markers, highlighting the role of neutral evolutionary forces in shaping genetic variation at immune-related genes in salmonids. However, functional (MHC) genetic diversity (but not microsatellite diversity) decreased with time spent in the wild since introduction, suggesting that there was selection against alleles associated with captive rearing of donor populations that do not provide an advantage in the wild. Thus, although high genetic diversity may initially enhance fitness in translocated populations, it does not necessarily reflect invasion success, as adaptation to novel conditions may result in rapid loss of functional MHC diversity

    Detection and mapping of mtDNA SNPs in Atlantic salmon using high throughput DNA sequencing

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    BACKGROUND: Approximately half of the mitochondrial genome inherent within 546 individual Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) derived from across the species' North Atlantic range, was selectively amplified with a novel combination of standard PCR and pyro-sequencing in a single run using 454 Titanium FLX technology (Roche, 454 Life Sciences). A unique combination of barcoded primers and a partitioned sequencing plate was employed to designate each sequence read to its original sample. The sequence reads were aligned according to the S. salar mitochondrial reference sequence (NC_001960.1), with the objective of identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). They were validated if they met with the following three stringent criteria: (i) sequence reads were produced from both DNA strands; (ii) SNPs were confirmed in a minimum of 90% of replicate sequence reads; and (iii) SNPs occurred in more than one individual. RESULTS: Pyrosequencing generated a total of 179,826,884 bp of data, and 10,765 of the total 10,920 S. salar sequences (98.6%) were assigned back to their original samples. The approach taken resulted in a total of 216 SNPs and 2 indels, which were validated and mapped onto the S. salar mitochondrial genome, including 107 SNPs and one indel not previously reported. An average of 27.3 sequence reads with a standard deviation of 11.7 supported each SNP per individual. CONCLUSION: The study generated a mitochondrial SNP panel from a large sample group across a broad geographical area, reducing the potential for ascertainment bias, which has hampered previous studies. The SNPs identified here validate those identified in previous studies, and also contribute additional potentially informative loci for the future study of phylogeography and evolution in the Atlantic salmon. The overall success experienced with this novel application of HT sequencing of targeted regions suggests that the same approach could be successfully applied for SNP mining in other species

    Bacilos Gram negativos entéricos y no fermentadores de la glucosa en pacientes con enfermedad periimplante

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    Introduction. Implants can be colonized by microorganisms from oral biofilms and may affect peri-implant tissues health. Among these bacteria, pathogens typically associated with periodontitis can be found, such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, as well as Gram negative enteric bacilli not typically associated with periodontal diseases.Objective. Superinfecting bacteria were characterized from peri-implant lesions in patients with history of periodontitis.Materials and methods. Sixty-eight implants were studied in 55 patients; the average patient age was 56 years. Forty-nine implants had peri-implant lesions and 19 were considered stable. Subgingival samples were obtained in affected and stable implants. The samples were streaked on Mac-Conkey agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The colonies were identified with the kit-BD BBL Crystal E/NF®.Results. Superinfecting organisms were detected in 20 patients--they were seen more frequently at diseased implants (n=15) than at healthy implants (n=5). The prevalence of superinfecting bacteria on the selected implants was 33.8% (n=23/68). These bacteria were more prevalent among affected implants (n=17 or 25%) than those with stable implants n=6 (8.8%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent Gram negative rod detected (n=12).Conclusions. One-third of the implants had superinfecting organisms. Implants with a peri-implant lesion had a higher frequency of superinfecting bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common superinfecting organism isolated. A multiple infection caused by superinfecting bacteria was present only at diseased implants. These microbial agents potentially affect implant stability.Introducción. Los implantes pueden ser colonizados por microorganismos de la biopelícula oral y así afectarse su salud. Entre los patógenos encontrados están los típicamente relacionados con periodontitis, como Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans y Porphyromonas gingivalis, así como bacilos Gram negativos entéricos, los cuales no son clásicos de la enfermedad periodontal.Objetivo. Determinar el perfil de las bacterias sobreinfecciosas en lesiones periimplante (mucositis o periimplantitis), en pacientes con historia de periodontitis.Materiales y métodos. Se estudiaron 68 implantes en 55 pacientes; 49 implantes tuvieron lesión periimplante19 se consideraron estables. Se obtuvieron muestras subgingivales de implantes afectados y estables; éstas fueron sembradas en Agar MacConkey e incubadas a 37 °C por 24 horas. Las colonias aisladas fueron identificadas con el estuche BD BBL-Cristal E/NF®.Resultados. En 20 de los pacientes estudiados se detectaron bacterias sobreinfecciosas, pero, con mayor frecuencia en pacientes con implantes afectados (n=15) que en portadores de implantes sanos (n=5). La prevalencia de bacterias sobreinfecciosas en todos los implantes fue de 33,8 % (n=23/68), y también fue más frecuente su aislamiento en implantes afectados (n=17) (25%), que en estables (n=6) (8,8%). Klebsiella pneumoniae fue el microorganismo que se aisló con mayor frecuencia en todos los implantes (n=12).Conclusiones. Un tercio de los implantes estudiados presentaron organismos sobreinfecciosos. Los implantes con lesiones periimplante presentan una mayor frecuencia de bacterias sobreinfecciosas. K. pneumoniae es la especie sobreinfecciosa más frecuente en los implantes estudiados. Se presentó infección múltiple con dichas bacterias en los implantes afectados. Estos microorganismos pueden afectar la estabilidad de los implantes

    Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

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    Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) are increasingly being used as cleaner fish to control parasitic sea lice, one of the most important threats to salmon farming. However, lumpfish cannot survive feeding solely on sea lice, and their mortality in salmon net pens can be high, which has welfare, ethical and economic implications. The industry is under increasing pressure to improve the welfare of lumpfish, but little guidance exists on how this can be achieved. We undertook a knowledge gap and prioritisa tion exercise using a Delphi approach with participants from the fish farming sector, animal welfare, academia and regulators to assess consensus on the main challenges and potential solutions for improving lumpfish welfare. Consensus among participants on the utility of 5 behavioural and 12 physical welfare indicators was high (87–89%), reliable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79, 95CI = 0.69–0.92) and independent of participant background. Participants highlighted fin erosion and body damage as the most use ful and practical operational welfare indicators, and blood parameters and behav ioural indicators as the least practical. Species profiling revealed profound differences between Atlantic salmon and lumpfish in relation to behaviour, habitat preferences, nutritional needs and response to stress, suggesting that applying a common set of welfare standards to both species cohabiting in salmon net-pens may not work well for lumpfish. Our study offers 16 practical solutions for improving the welfare of lumpfish and illustrates the merits of the Delphi approach for achieving consensus among stakeholders on welfare needs, targeting research where is most needed and generating workable solutions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Preclinical Investigation in Neuroprotective Effects of the GPR55 Ligand VCE-006.1 in Experimental Models of Parkinson’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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    Cannabinoids act as pleiotropic compounds exerting, among others, a broad-spectrum of neuroprotective effects. These effects have been investigated in the last years in different preclinical models of neurodegeneration, with the cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) receptors concen- trating an important part of this research. However, the issue has also been extended to additional targets that are also active for cannabinoids, such as the orphan G-protein receptor 55 (GPR55). In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of VCE-006.1, a chromenopyrazole derivative with biased orthosteric and positive allosteric modulator activity at GPR55, in murine models of two neurodegenerative diseases. First, we proved that VCE-006.1 alone could induce ERK1/2 activation and calcium mobilization, as well as increase cAMP response but only in the presence of lysophosphatidyl inositol. Next, we investigated this compound administered chronically in two neurotoxin-based models of Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as in some cell-based models. VCE-006.1 was active in reversing the motor defects caused by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the pole and the cylinder rearing tests, as well as the losses in tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons and the elevated glial reactivity detected in the substantia nigra. Similar cytoprotective effects were found in vitro in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 6-OHDA. We also investigated VCE-006.1 in LPS-lesioned mice with similar beneficial effects, except against glial reactivity and associated inflammatory events, which remained unaltered, a fact confirmed in BV2 cells treated with LPS and VCE-006.1. We also analyzed GPR55 in these in vivo models with no changes in its gene expression, although GPR55 was down-regulated in BV2 cells treated with LPS, which may explain the lack of efficacy of VCE-006.1 in such an assay. Furthermore, we investigated VCE-006.1 in two genetic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), mutant SOD1, or TDP-43 transgenic mice. Neither the neurological decline nor the deteriorated rotarod performance were prevented with this compound, and the same happened with the elevated microglial and astroglial reactivities, albeit modest spinal motor neuron preservation was achieved in both models. We also analyzed GPR55 in these in vivo models and found no changes in both TDP-43 transgenic and mSOD1 mice. Therefore, our findings support the view that targeting the GPR55 may afford neuroprotection in experimental PD, but not n ALS, thus stressing the specificities for the development of cannabinoid-based therapies in the different neurodegenerative disorders.This work has been supported by grants from CIBERNED (CB06/05/0089), MICIU (RTI- 2018-098885-B-100), ELA-Madrid-CM (B2017/BMD-3813), and Emerald Health Biotechnology-Spain. These agencies had no further role in study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publicatioPeer reviewe

    Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

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    Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) are increasingly being used as cleaner fish to control parasitic sea lice, one of most important threats to salmon farming. However, lumpfish cannot survive feeding solely on sea lice, and their mortality in salmon net-pens can be high, which has welfare, ethical and economic implications. The industry is under increasing pressure to improve the welfare of lumpfish, but little guidance exists on how this can be achieved. We undertook a knowledge gap and prioritization exercise using a Delphi approach with participants from the fish farming sector, animal welfare, academia, and regulators to assess consensus on the main challenges and potential solutions for improving lumpfish welfare. Consensus among participants on the utility of 5 behavioural and 12 physical welfare indicators was high (87-89%), reliable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79, 95CI = 0.69-0.92), and independent of participant background. Participants highlighted fin erosion and body damage as the most useful and practical operational welfare indicators, and blood parameters and behavioural indicators as the least practical. Species profiling revealed profound differences between Atlantic salmon and lumpfish in relation to behaviour, habitat preferences, nutritional needs and response to stress, suggesting that applying a common set of welfare standards to both species cohabiting in salmon net-pens may not work well for lumpfish. Our study offers 16 practical solutions for improving the welfare of lumpfish, and illustrates the merits of the Delphi approach for achieving consensus among stakeholders on welfare needs, targeting research where is most needed, and generating workable solutions.Additional authors: P.T.J. Deacon, B.T. Jennings, A. Deakin, A.I. Moore, D. Phillips, G. Bardera, M.F. Castanheira, M. Scolamacchia, N. Clarke, O. Parker, J. Avizienius, M. Johnstone & M. Pavlidi

    Narcissism and the strategic pursuit of short-term mating : universal links across 11 world regions of the International Sexuality Description Project-2.

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    Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate partner violence, and sexual aggression) and sex-related personality traits (e.g., higher extraversion and openness to experience). Whereas some features of personality (e.g., subjective well-being) were universally associated with socially adaptive facets of Narcissism (e.g., self-sufficiency), most indicators of short-term mating (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality and marital infidelity) were universally associated with the socially maladaptive facets of narcissism (e.g., exploitativeness). Discussion addresses limitations of these cross-culturally universal findings and presents suggestions for future research into revealing the precise psychological features of narcissism that facilitate the strategic pursuit of short-term mating

    Generations UNAB No.4

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    Esta cuarta edición de la revista Generaciones UNAB, gira en torno a la celebración de los 40 años de inicio de labores de la Facultad de Derecho, cuyo primeros 25 graduados obtuvieron su título en 1978; así como a la celebración de los primeros 30 años de inicio de labores de la Facultad de Comunicación Social que graduó a sus primeros 17 estudiantes en 1987. Hoy, cuatro y tres décadas después del inicio de labores respectivamente, y atendiendo al compromiso institucional con la región, ña Universidad ha permitido que Santander, Colombia y el mundo cuenten con 3.104 abogados y 1.647 comunicadores sociales que se destacan por su compromiso con la sociedad, su trabajo en equipo, ética y valores en el ejercicio profesional.Editorial; Por Marcela Peralta Bautista…03 Columnista invitado, Facultades bien dirigidas; Por Alfonso Gómez Gómez…06 40 años de la Facultad de Derecho…08 Cuatro décadas formando futuro; Por José Manuel Arias Carrizosa…09 Una facultad de libertadores; Por Jaime Gutiérrez Rivero…10 Defendiendo la libertad del conocimiento; Por Sergio Rangel Consuegra…11 La cara humana del derecho; Por Jorge González Aranda…13 La decanatura marcó mi vida; Por Gabriel Burgos Mantilla…14 La unión hace la fuerza; Por Jorge Castillo Rugeles…16 Mis estudiantes son lo más importante; Por Rodolfo Mantilla Jácome…18 La hermenéutica jurídica como sello diferenciador; Por Juan Carlos Acuña Gutiérrez...20 Equipo de trabajo y apoyo directivo; Por Jorge Eduardo Lamo Gómez…22 30 años de la Facultad de Comunicación Social…25 Haciendo el sueño realidad; Por Carlos H. Gómez…26 Un compromiso de vida; Por Maria Isabel León Carreño…28 Construir debatiendo; Por Rodrigo Velasco Ortiz…30 La importancia de potenciar capacidades; Por Luz Amalia Camacho Velásquez...32 Una propuesta académica única; Por Iván Darío Montoya Osorio…34 Graduados Destacando…37 Docente en la Facultad de Derecho UNAB…38 Comunicación Social-Periodista de la UNAB; Por Sonia Díaz…39 Emprendedores UNAB “Apps.com”; Por Marcela Peralta Bautista…40 Instigación “Trata de personas”; Por Lya Fernández de Mantilla, Johana Marcela Reyes…42 Encuentros…45This fourth edition of the magazine Generaciones UNAB, revolves around the celebration of 40 years of beginning of work of the Faculty of Law, whose first 25 graduates obtained their degree in 1978; as well as the celebration of the first 30 years of beginning of work of the Faculty of Social Communication that graduated its first 17 students in 1987. Today, four and three decades after the start of work respectively, and in response to the institutional commitment to the region, ña University has allowed Santander, Colombia and the world to have 3,104 lawyers and 1,647 social communicators who stand out for their commitment to society , their teamwork, ethics and values ​​in professional practice

    Narcisismo y búsqueda estratégica del emparejamiento a corto plazo a través de las culturas: Enlaces omnipresentes a través de 11 regiones mundiales del Proyecto de la descripción de la sexualidad internacional 2

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    Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate partner violence, and sexual aggression) and sex-related personality traits (e.g., higher extraversion and openness to experience). Whereas some features of personality (e.g., subjective well-being) were universally associated with socially adaptive facets of Narcissism (e.g., self-sufficiency), most indicators of short-term mating (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality and marital infidelity) were universally associated with the socially maladaptive facets of narcissism (e.g., exploitativeness). Discussion addresses limitations of these cross-culturally universal findings and presents suggestions for future research into revealing the precise psychological features of narcissism that facilitate the strategic pursuit of short-term mating.Estudios previos, en primer lugar a través de las muestras de culturas occidentales, han documentado asociaciones sistemáticas del narcisismo subclínico con múltiples indicadores de estrategias del emparejamiento a corto plazo (p. ej. sociosexualidad ilimitada, infidelidad, caza de pareja). En este estudio se han usado respuestas de la encuesta transcultural de 30.470 personas de 53 naciones de 11 regiones mundiales (América del Norte, América del Sur/América Central, Europa del Norte, Europa del Oeste, Europa del Este, Europa del Sur, Oriente Próximo, África, Asia del Sur/Sudoeste de Asia, Asia del Este y Oceanía) para evaluar si el narcisismo (medido por el Inventario de Personalidad Narcisista; NPI) se asocia panuniversalmente con los indicadores del emparejamiento a corto plazo, tanto en la dirección, como en la intensidad. Los resultados sugieren que el narcisismo (incluidos muchos aspectos suyos medidos por el NPI) tiene las mismas asociaciones básicas con los rasgos de personalidad relacionados con el sexo (p. ej. extraversión alta) y con los resultados sexuales claves (p. ej. búsqueda más activa de las estrategias del emparejamiento a corto plazo) a través de las 11 mayores regiones mundiales del PDSI 2. La discusión se enfoca en las implicaciones y limitaciones del estudio actual

    Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions

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    Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics
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