Voltziales y pinales (= coniferales) de la formación Cortaderita (Triásico medio), Argentina, y su implicancia en la reconstrucción de las coníferas triásicas

Fil: Bodnar, Josefina. División Paleobotánica. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, Daniela Paula. División Paleobotánica. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Artabe, Analía Emilia Eva. División Paleobotánica. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La PlataFil: Morel, Eduardo Manuel. División Paleobotánica. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgenrinaFil: Ganuza, Daniel Gustavo. División Paleobotánica. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Voltziales and pinales (=coniferales) from Cortaderita formation (Middle Triassic), Argentina, and their implication in the reconstruction of triassic conifers

Neste trabalho são descritos lenhos, folhas e ramos para a subclasse Pinidae (Voltziales e Pinales) da Formação Cortaderita (Triássico Médio). Os materiais foram encontrados nas quebradas La Cortaderita e La Tinta, na área de Barreal, bacia de Barreal-Calingasta, precordillera de San Juan, Argentina. Foram reconhecidas folhas correspondentes a três espécies do gênero Heidiphyllum (Voltziales), ramos folhosos atribuídos a Elatocladus planus (Pinales) e lenhos permineralizados designados como Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. (Pinales). As duas últimas espécies têm características que permitem atribuí-los para a família Cupressaceae sensu lato. Por isso, neste estudo mostra-se que correspondem a mesma entidade biológica. Assim é descrito com o nome da nova espécie de Cupressinoxylon. Esta reconstrução é baseada em critérios de reforço mútuo e de ocorrência afins, além de características morfológicas e anatômicas. Desta forma, Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. é interpretada como uma árvore de aproximadamente 13 m de altura, muito ramificada, com ramos da penúltima ordem com folhas escamiformes, e ramos de última ordem alternados, com folhas sésseis, uninerveadas, lineares a aciculares distribuídas helicoidalmente. Esses registros confirmam a presença de Cupressaceae sensu lato, desde o Triássico no Gondwana desde o Triássico.In this work, fossil wood, leaves, and branches designated to the subclass Pinidae (Voltziales and Pinales) are described from Cortaderita Formation (Middle Triassic). Fossil materials were collected at Cortaderita and La Tinta creeks, at Barreal area from Barreal-Calingasta basin, Pre-Andean region of San Juan, Argentina. Leaves corresponding to three species of Heidiphyllum (order Voltziales), leafy twigs assigned to Elatocladus planus (Pinales) and permineralized trunks and branches ascribed to Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. (Pinales), were recognized. The last two species exhibit characters that allow designating them to family Cupressaceae sensu lato. At the same time, it is demonstrated that they belong to the same plant, which is named as the new species of Cupressinoxylon here described. This reconstruction is based on kindred reinforcement and mutual occurrence criteria, besides morphological and anatomical characters. Thus, Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. is interpreted as a tree 13 m tall, highly branched, with penultimate order shoots with scale-like leaves and last order shoots with alternate, sessile, single-veined, linear to acicular leaves distributed helically. These records confi rm the presence of Cupressaceae sensu lato since the Triassic in Gondwana.En este trabajo se presenta el hallazgo de leños, hojas y ramas asignables a la subclase Pinidae (órdenes Voltziales y Pinales), provenientes de la Formación Cortaderita, se discute su afi nidad sistemática, y las posibles reconstrucciones de las plantas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Voltziales and pinales (=coniferales) from Cortaderita formation (Middle Triassic), Argentina, and their implication in the reconstruction of triassic conifers

Neste trabalho são descritos lenhos, folhas e ramos para a subclasse Pinidae (Voltziales e Pinales) da Formação Cortaderita (Triássico Médio). Os materiais foram encontrados nas quebradas La Cortaderita e La Tinta, na área de Barreal, bacia de Barreal-Calingasta, precordillera de San Juan, Argentina. Foram reconhecidas folhas correspondentes a três espécies do gênero Heidiphyllum (Voltziales), ramos folhosos atribuídos a Elatocladus planus (Pinales) e lenhos permineralizados designados como Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. (Pinales). As duas últimas espécies têm características que permitem atribuí-los para a família Cupressaceae sensu lato. Por isso, neste estudo mostra-se que correspondem a mesma entidade biológica. Assim é descrito com o nome da nova espécie de Cupressinoxylon. Esta reconstrução é baseada em critérios de reforço mútuo e de ocorrência afins, além de características morfológicas e anatômicas. Desta forma, Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. é interpretada como uma árvore de aproximadamente 13 m de altura, muito ramificada, com ramos da penúltima ordem com folhas escamiformes, e ramos de última ordem alternados, com folhas sésseis, uninerveadas, lineares a aciculares distribuídas helicoidalmente. Esses registros confirmam a presença de Cupressaceae sensu lato, desde o Triássico no Gondwana desde o Triássico.In this work, fossil wood, leaves, and branches designated to the subclass Pinidae (Voltziales and Pinales) are described from Cortaderita Formation (Middle Triassic). Fossil materials were collected at Cortaderita and La Tinta creeks, at Barreal area from Barreal-Calingasta basin, Pre-Andean region of San Juan, Argentina. Leaves corresponding to three species of Heidiphyllum (order Voltziales), leafy twigs assigned to Elatocladus planus (Pinales) and permineralized trunks and branches ascribed to Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. (Pinales), were recognized. The last two species exhibit characters that allow designating them to family Cupressaceae sensu lato. At the same time, it is demonstrated that they belong to the same plant, which is named as the new species of Cupressinoxylon here described. This reconstruction is based on kindred reinforcement and mutual occurrence criteria, besides morphological and anatomical characters. Thus, Cupressinoxylon zamunerae sp. nov. is interpreted as a tree 13 m tall, highly branched, with penultimate order shoots with scale-like leaves and last order shoots with alternate, sessile, single-veined, linear to acicular leaves distributed helically. These records confi rm the presence of Cupressaceae sensu lato since the Triassic in Gondwana.En este trabajo se presenta el hallazgo de leños, hojas y ramas asignables a la subclase Pinidae (órdenes Voltziales y Pinales), provenientes de la Formación Cortaderita, se discute su afi nidad sistemática, y las posibles reconstrucciones de las plantas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Scoping review of the methodology of large health surveys conducted in Spain early on in the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe use of health surveys has been key in the scientific community to promptly communicate results about the health impact of COVID-19. But what information was collected, where, when and how, and who was the study population?ObjectiveTo describe the methodological characteristics used in large health surveys conducted in Spain early on in the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsScoping review. Inclusion criteria: observational studies published between January 2020 and December 2021, with sample sizes of over 2,000 persons resident in Spain. Databases consulted: PubMed, CINAHL, Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en CC de la Salud, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, Sociological Abstracts, Dialnet and Web of Science Core Collection. We analyzed the characteristics of the literature references, methodologies and information gathered in the surveys selected. Fifty five studies were included.ResultsSixty percentage of the studies included had mental health as their main topic and 75% were conducted on the general adult population. Thirteen percentage had a longitudinal design, 93% used the internet to gather information and the same percentage used non-probability sampling. Thirty percentage made some type of sampling correction to reduce coverage or non-response biases, but not selection biases. Sixty seven percentage did not state the availability of their data.ConclusionsConsistent with the extensive use of non-probability sampling without any bias correction in the extraordinary setting created by COVID-19, quality population frameworks are required so that probability and representative samples can be extracted quickly to promptly address other health crises, as well as to reduce potential coverage, non-response and particularly selection biases by utilizing reweighting techniques. The low data accessibility despite the huge opportunity that COVID-19 provided for Open Science-based research is striking

Sex-specific pathways in early cardiac response to pressure overload in mice

Pressure overload (PO) first causes cardiac hypertrophy and then heart failure (HF), which are associated with sex differences in cardiac morphology and function. We aimed to identify genes that may cause HF-related sex differences. We used a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model leading to hypertrophy without sex differences in cardiac function after 2 weeks, but with sex differences in hypertrophy 6 and 9 weeks after TAC. Cardiac gene expression was analyzed 2 weeks after surgery. Deregulated genes were classified into functional gene ontology (GO) categories and used for pathway analysis. Classical marker genes of hypertrophy were similarly upregulated in both sexes (α-actin, ANP, BNP, CTGF). Thirty-five genes controlling mitochondrial function (PGC-1, cytochrome oxidase, carnitine palmitoyl transferase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase) had lower expression in males compared to females after TAC. Genes encoding ribosomal proteins and genes associated with extracellular matrix remodeling exhibited relative higher expression in males (collagen 3, matrix metalloproteinase 2, TIMP2, and TGFβ2, all about twofold) after TAC. We confirmed 87% of the gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction. By GO classification, female-specific genes were related to mitochondria and metabolism and males to matrix and biosynthesis. Promoter studies confirmed the upregulation of PGC-1 by E2. Less downregulation of metabolic genes in female hearts and increased protein synthesis capacity and deregulation of matrix remodeling in male hearts characterize the sex-specific early response to PO. These differences could contribute to subsequent sex differences in cardiac function and HF

CSF1R inhibitor JNJ-40346527 attenuates microglial proliferation and neurodegeneration in P301S mice.

Neuroinflammation and microglial activation are significant processes in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Recent genome-wide association studies have highlighted multiple immune-related genes in association with Alzheimer's disease, and experimental data have demonstrated microglial proliferation as a significant component of the neuropathology. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the selective CSF1R inhibitor JNJ-40346527 (JNJ-527) in the P301S mouse tauopathy model. We first demonstrated the anti-proliferative effects of JNJ-527 on microglia in the ME7 prion model, and its impact on the inflammatory profile, and provided potential CNS biomarkers for clinical investigation with the compound, including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics and efficacy assessment by TSPO autoradiography and CSF proteomics. Then, we showed for the first time that blockade of microglial proliferation and modification of microglial phenotype leads to an attenuation of tau-induced neurodegeneration and results in functional improvement in P301S mice. Overall, this work strongly supports the potential for inhibition of CSF1R as a target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other tau-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.Funded by a grant from the Wellcome Trust (Grant number: 104025/Z/14/Z), and by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre

Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains

Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, et al. Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(4): e18551.Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

Deciphering the quality of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response associated with disease severity, immune memory and heterologous response

SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response has been associated with disease severity, immune memory and heterologous response to endemic coronaviruses. However, an integrative approach combining a comprehensive analysis of the quality of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response with antibody levels in these three scenarios is needed. In the present study, we found that, in acute infection, while mild disease was associated with high T-cell polyfunctionality biased to IL-2 production and inversely correlated with anti-S IgG levels, combinations only including IFN-γ with the absence of perforin production predominated in severe disease. Seven months after infection, both non-hospitalised and previously hospitalised patients presented robust anti-S IgG levels and SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response. In addition, only previously hospitalised patients showed a T-cell exhaustion profile. Finally, combinations including IL-2 in response to S protein of endemic coronaviruses were the ones associated with SARS-CoV-2 S-specific T-cell response in pre-COVID-19 healthy donors’ samples. These results could have implications for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and recurrent COVID-19 and may help for the design of new prototypes and boosting vaccine strategies.NIH (contract to AS, DW), Grant/AwardNumber: 75N9301900065; “Contratación de Personal Investigador Doctor”supported by the European Social Fund and Junta de Andalucía (PAIDIDOCTOR- Convocatoria 2019-2020 toFJO, SB); Instituto de Salud Carlos III,Fondos FEDER. ERM was supported bythe Spanish Research Council (CSIC);Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades Junta de Andalucía (research project to ERM), Grant/AwardNumber: CV20-85418; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en SIDA, whichis included in the Acción Estratégica en Salud, Plan Nacional de InvestigaciónCientífica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica, 2008 to 2011 and 2013 to 2016,Grant/Award Numbers: RD16/0025/0020,RD16/0025/0026; Consejeria de Salud Junta de Andalucia (Research contract toJV), Grant/Award Number:RH-0037-2020; Instituto de Salud CarlosIII (PI19/01127 to ERM, CP19/00159 toAGV, FI17/00186 to MRJL, FI19/00083 toCGC, CM20/00243 to APG andCOV20/00698 to support COHVID-GS)Peer reviewe

Description of SARS-CoV-2 T-cell polyfunctionality features

SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response has been associated with disease severity, immune memory and heterologous response to endemic coronaviruses. However, an integrative approach combining a comprehensive analysis of the quality of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response with antibody levels in these three scenarios is needed. In the present study we found that, in acute infection, while mild disease was associated with high T-cell polyfunctionality biased to IL-2 production and inversely correlated with anti-S IgG levels, combinations only including IFN-gamma; with absence of perforin production predominated in severe disease. Seven months after infection, both non-hospitalized and previously hospitalized patients presented robust anti-S IgG levels and SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response. In addition, only previously hospitalized patients showed a T-cell exhaustion profile. Finally, combinations including IL-2 in response to S protein of endemic coronaviruses, were the ones associated with SARS-CoV-2 S-specific T-cell response in pre-COVID-19 samples from healthy donors. These results have implications for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and recurrent COVID-19 and may help for the design of new prototypes and boosting vaccine strategies.Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades Junta de Andalucia (research Project CV20-85418) (ERM) NIH contract 75N9301900065 (AS, DW) Consejeria de Salud Junta de Andalucia (Research Contract RH-0037-2020 to JV) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CP19/00159 to AGV, FI17/00186 to MRJL, FI19/00083 to CGC, CM20/00243 to APG and COV20/00698 to support COHVID-GS) Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en SIDA (RD16/0025/0020; RD16/0025/0026), which is included in the Acción Estratégica en Salud, Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica, 2008 to 2011 and 2013 to 2016 Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondos FEDER. ERM was supported by the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). “Contratación de Personal Investigador Doctor” supported by the European Social Fund and Junta de Andalucía (PAIDI DOCTOR- Convocatoria 2019-2020). (FJO, SB).N