Identification of a novel 82 kDa proMMP-9 species associated with the surface of leukaemic cells

MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase 9) plays a critical role in tumour progression. Although the biochemical properties of the secreted form of proMMP-9 are well characterized, little is known about the function and activity of cell surface-associated proMMP-9. We purified a novel 82 kDa species of proMMP-9 from the plasma membrane of THP-1 leukaemic cells, which has substantial differences from the secreted 94 kDa proMMP-9. The 82 kDa form was not detected in the medium even upon stimulation with a phorbol ester. It is truncated by nine amino acid residues at its N-terminus, lacks O-linked oligosaccharides present in the 94 kDa proMMP-9, but retains N-linked carbohydrates. Incubation of 94 kDa proMMP-9 with MMP-3 generated the well-known 82 kDa active form, but the 82 kDa proMMP-9was converted into an active species of 35 kDa, which was also produced by autocatalytic processing in the absence of activating enzymes. The activated 35 kDa MMP-9 efficiently degraded gelatins, native collagen type IV and fibronectin. The enzyme was less sensitive to TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1) inhibition with IC50 values of 82 nM compared with 1 nMfor the 82 kDa active MMP-9. The synthetic MMP inhibitor GM6001 blocked the activity of both enzymes, with similar IC50 values below 1 nM. The 82 kDa proMMP-9 is also produced in HL-60 and NB4 leukaemic cell lines as well as ex vivo leukaemic blast cells. It is, however, absent from neutrophils and mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy individuals. Thus, the 82 kDa proMMP-9 expressed on the surface of malignant cells may escape inhibition by natural TIMP-1, thereby facilitating cellular invasion in vivo

Desarrollo de competencias a través de la generación y desarrollo de una idea empresarial

[EN] This paper aims to describe the conditions and learning outcomes of a teaching and learning activity in the degree BSc in Engineering and Management in the university center EDEM – Business School. All students enrolled in this degree during 2017/18 participated in this initiative. The activity was presented as a multidisciplinary competition based in the generation and development of business ideas. Agile Project management methodologies and Lean Canvas techniques were applied in this activity. Once the competition finished, students scored how the activity had contributed to the development of generic competencies inherent to the degree. Our findings show that the activity provided an adequate learning environment for the application of knowledge, decisión – making, teamwork and oral communication. These results represent a valuable experience for students, as well as for the university center ans professors. Meanwhile, this activity can be applied to other degrees including cross – sectional projects in the study plans.[ES] El presente trabajo describe el planteamiento y resultados de una actividad de enseñanza – aprendizaje en el título Grado en Ingeniería en Gestión Empresarial del centro univeresitario EDEM – Escuela de empresarios. Todos los estudiantes matriculados en el título durante el curso 2017/18 participaron en esta iniciativa. La actividad se planteó como una competición multidisciplinar de generación y desarrollo de ideas de negocio. En esta actividad se aplicaron metodologías ágiles de proyectos y técnicas de Lean Canvas. Tras finalizar la competición, los estudiantes valoraron cuantitativamente cómo la actividad había contribuído a adquirir cada una de las competencias genéricas del título. Los resultados muestran que la actividad resultó un entorno de trabajo ideal para aplicar conocimientos, tomar decisiones, trabajar en equipo y comunicación oral. Los aprendizajes adquiridos en este actividad supone una valiosa experiencia para los estudiantes, pero también para el centro y los profesores implicados en su organización. Del mismo modo, es susceptible de adaptación en otros grados de futura implantación, que incluyen proyectos transversales a nivel curricular en sus planes académicos.Conchado Peiró, A.; Pérez Lacasa, V.; Fernández Aguilar, E.; Egea Ronda, L. (2018). Desarrollo de competencias a través de la generación y desarrollo de una idea empresarial. En IN-RED 2018. IV Congreso Nacional de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1320-1329. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2018.2018.8854OCS1320132

A depth study of changed bacterial structure from soil under different cropping systems by co-occurrence network approach

[SPA] Debido al desgaste de los suelos por el uso indiscriminado de pesticidas y herbicidas, la búsqueda de alternativas a la agricultura convencional ha ido ganando interés alrededor del mundo. En este sentido, los microorganismos son importantes, ya que están incluidos en muchas funciones indispensables en los suelos, como la fijación de nitrógeno. En este trabajo se estudiaron 3 tipos de agricultura diferentes i) convencional, ii) ecológica con estiércol y iii) ecológica con compost, con el objetivo de estudiar los cambios ocurridos en las comunidades bacterianas, así como su funcionalidad, las parcelas estaban ubicadas en Cartagena (España). Para estudiar estas funciones, se utilizó el gen 16S obtenido a través de la secuenciación masiva y seguidamente se realizaron aproximaciones matemáticas a través de PICRUSt para predecir la función de esos microorganismos en el suelo. Por otro lado, se realizó un análisis de redes ecológicas moleculares (MENA) para estudiar las interacciones entre esas bacterias. Los resultados de esta investigación mostraron como el compost puede incrementar algunas rutas metabólicas y puede influir en la organización bacteriana, favoreciendo la modulación y las conexiones entre los nodos. [ENG] Due to soil degradation caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides and herbicides, search for sustainable alternatives to conventional agriculture has taken interest around the world. In this sense, microorganisms are important since they are involved in many indispensable functions on soils such a nitrogen fixation. In this work, three different cropping systems were studied i) conventional ii) organic with manure and iii) organic with compost, with the aim to study changes occurred on bacterial communities as well as their functionality. Experimental plots were located in Cartagena (Spain). To study these functions, 16S gen obtain through high-throughput then a mathematical approximations using PICRUST algorithm were used to predict functionality on soils. On the other hand, a molecular ecological network analysis (MENA) was made to study the interactions among these bacteria. Results of this research showed how compost can enhance some metabolic pathways and can influence the bacterial organization favoring modulation and connections among nodes.Este proyecto está financiado por la Unión Europea a través del proyecto del Programa Horizonte 2020 Diverfarming (GA 728003)

Changes in bacterial and fungal soil communities in long-term organic cropping systems

Long-term organic farming aims to reduce synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use in order to sustainably produce and improve soil quality. To do this, there is a need for more information about the soil microbial community, which plays a key role in a sustainable agriculture. In this paper, we assessed the long-term effects of two organic and one conventional cropping systems on the soil microbial community structure using high-throughput sequencing analysis, as well as the link between these communities and the changes in the soil properties and crop yield. The results showed that the crop yield was similar among the three cropping systems. The microbial community changed according to cropping system. Organic cultivation with manure compost and compost tea (Org_C) showed a change in the bacterial community associated with an improved soil carbon and nutrient content. A linear discriminant analysis effect size showed different bacteria and fungi as key microorganisms for each of the three different cropping systems, for conventional systems (Conv), different microorganisms such as Nesterenkonia, Galbibacter, Gramella, Limnobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Pantoe, and Sporobolomyces were associated with pesticides, while for Org_C and organic cultivation with manure (Org_M), other types of microorganisms were associated with organic amendments with different functions, which, in some cases, reduce soil borne pathogens. However, further investigations such as functional approaches or network analyses are need to better understand the mechanisms behind this behavior.Raúl Zornoza acknowledges the financial support received from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the “Ramón y Cajal” Program (RYC-2015-18758). We would like to thank Ansley Evans for providing English corrections

TLR4-pathway impairs synaptic number and cerebrovascular functions through astrocyte activation following traumatic brain injury

Background and purpose: Activation of astrocytes contributes to synaptic remodelling, tissue repair and neuronal survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The mechanisms by which these cells interact to resident/infiltrated inflammatory cells to rewire neuronal networks and repair brain functions remain poorly understood. Here, we explored how TLR4-induced astrocyte activation modified synapses and cerebrovascular integrity following TBI. Experimental approach: To determine how functional astrocyte alterations induced by activation of TLR4 pathway in inflammatory cells regulate synapses and neurovascular integrity after TBI, we used pharmacology, genetic approaches, live calcium imaging, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity assessment and molecular and behavioural methods. Key results: Shortly after a TBI, there is a recruitment of excitable and reactive astrocytes mediated by TLR4 pathway activation with detrimental effects on post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95)/vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) synaptic puncta, BBB integrity and neurological outcome. Pharmacological blockage of the TLR4 pathway with resatorvid (TAK-242) partially reversed many of the observed effects. Synapses and BBB recovery after resatorvid administration were not observed in IP3 R2-/- mice, indicating that effects of TLR4 inhibition depend on the subsequent astrocyte activation. In addition, TBI increased the astrocytic-protein thrombospondin-1 necessary to induce a synaptic recovery in a sub-acute phase. Conclusions and implications: Our data demonstrate that TLR4-mediated signalling, most probably through microglia and/or infiltrated monocyte-astrocyte communication, plays a crucial role in the TBI pathophysiology and that its inhibition prevents synaptic loss and BBB damage accelerating tissue recovery/repair, which might represent a therapeutic potential in CNS injuries and disorders.This work was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (Programa Miguel Servet II Grants CPII19/00005;PI16/00735; PI19/00082 to JE; and PI18/00357 to DC, partiallyfunded by FEDER - European Union ‘Una manera de hacer Europa’) and Fundación Mutua Madrileña to JE; European Union's Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under the H2020 MarieSkłodowska-Curie Actions grant agreement no. 794926 and StopFuga de Cerebros Roche Pharma to JMR; and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación RTI2018-094887-B-I00 and RYC-2016-20414 to MN andRYC2019-026870-I to JMR. DC, MCO, VVS and EFL are hired bySESCAM

TLR4-pathway impairs synaptic number and cerebrovascular functions through astrocyte activation following traumatic brain injury.

Background and purpose: Activation of astrocytes contributes to synaptic remodelling, tissue repair and neuronal survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The mechanisms by which these cells interact to resident/infiltrated inflammatory cells to rewire neuronal networks and repair brain functions remain poorly understood. Here, we explored how TLR4-induced astrocyte activation modified synapses and cerebrovascular integrity following TBI. Experimental approach: To determine how functional astrocyte alterations induced by activation of TLR4 pathway in inflammatory cells regulate synapses and neurovascular integrity after TBI, we used pharmacology, genetic approaches, live calcium imaging, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity assessment and molecular and behavioural methods. Key results: Shortly after a TBI, there is a recruitment of excitable and reactive astrocytes mediated by TLR4 pathway activation with detrimental effects on post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95)/vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) synaptic puncta, BBB integrity and neurological outcome. Pharmacological blockage of the TLR4 pathway with resatorvid (TAK-242) partially reversed many of the observed effects. Synapses and BBB recovery after resatorvid administration were not observed in IP3 R2-/- mice, indicating that effects of TLR4 inhibition depend on the subsequent astrocyte activation. In addition, TBI increased the astrocytic-protein thrombospondin-1 necessary to induce a synaptic recovery in a sub-acute phase. Conclusions and implications: Our data demonstrate that TLR4-mediated signalling, most probably through microglia and/or infiltrated monocyte-astrocyte communication, plays a crucial role in the TBI pathophysiology and that its inhibition prevents synaptic loss and BBB damage accelerating tissue recovery/repair, which might represent a therapeutic potential in CNS injuries and disorders.This work was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (Programa Miguel Servet II Grants CPII19/00005;PI16/00735; PI19/00082 to JE; and PI18/00357 to DC, partiallyfunded by FEDER - European Union ‘Una manera de hacer Europa’) and Fundación Mutua Madrileña to JE; European Union's Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under the H2020 MarieSkłodowska-Curie Actions grant agreement no. 794926 and StopFuga de Cerebros Roche Pharma to JMR; and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación RTI2018-094887-B-I00 and RYC-2016-20414 to MN andRYC2019-026870-I to JMR. DC, MCO, VVS and EFL are hired bySESCAM

Estudio del contenido en proteína en diferentes accesiones de caupí bajo distintas condiciones de cultivo

[ESP] Con el fin de recuperar variedades autóctonas españolas y portuguesas de caupí, se evaluaron 19 accesiones en dos ensayos comparando su contenido de proteína en semilla. En el primer ensayo se evaluaron 16 accesiones autóctonas españolas frente a una variedad mejorada de Nigeria (IT97K-499-35). En el siguiente ensayo dos accesiones autóctonas portuguesas se sometieron a tres tipos de manejo de cultivo: monocultivo, rotación convencional y rotación ecológica. Los resultados indican que entre las distintas accesiones hay diferencias significativas en la cantidad de proteína, pero que los tres tipos de manejo de cultivo no influyeron en esta. [ENG] In order to recover local Spanish and Portuguese varieties of cowpea, 19 accessions were evaluated in two trials comparing their seed protein content. In the first survey, 16 Spanish accessions versus one improved from Nigeria (IT97K-499-35) were analysed. In the next trial, we used two Portuguese accessions under three growth conditions: monoculture, conventional rotation and organic rotation. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the protein content of the different accessions, but the growth conditions didn’t affect that.Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial (ETSII), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura y Edificación (ETSAE), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas (ETSICCPIM), Facultad de Ciencias de la Empresa (FCCE), Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo (PTFA), Vicerrectorado de Estudiantes y Extensión de la UPCT, Vicerrectorado de Investigación e Innovación de la UPCT, y Vicerrectorado de Internacionalización y Cooperación al Desarrollo de la UPCT

Long-term adoption of reduced tillage and green manure improves soil physicochemical properties and increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria in a Mediterranean rainfed almond orchard

Soil health and function is one of the most important components for sustainable management of woody orchards. Intensive use of machinery and tillage creates heavy pressure on agroecosystems by altering the soil physicochemical and biological characteristics. In this study we aimed to assess the changes in soil physicochemical properties and the soil bacterial community structure, as well as the main drivers involved in shifts in the microbial community following 10 years implementing reduced tillage and reduced tillage plus green manure in a rainfed Mediterranean almond orchard. The treatments were: i) conventional tillage (CT); ii) reduced tillage (RT); and iii) reduced tillage and diversification with Avena sativa and Vicia sativa (RTD). After ten years, the results showed that the different managements had no significant effect on almond yields. RTD significantly increased total organic carbon (TOC), with an average content of 19.5 g kg−1 compared to 17.1 g kg−1 in CT. RTD also contributed to an increase in the fraction of soil macro-aggregates. Both RT and RTD significantly increased soil total nitrogen (NT) and particulate organic carbon (POC). However, other physical and chemical variables such as exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, bioavailable Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, wilting point and field capacity were not significantly affected by the management. The bacterial community significantly changed with management: RTD showed a higher relative abundance of the family Solirubrobacteraceae and the genera Streptomyces and Solirubrobacter. The bacterial community structure was explained by changes in TOC, POC, pH, and NT values. Thus, a combination of reduced tillage and green manure could represent an appropriate sustainable management for rainfed almond orchards in very fragile environmental conditions, due to an increase in soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and the higher presence of beneficial bacteria related to soil productivity.This work was supported by the European Commission Horizon 2020 project Diverfarming [grant agreement 728003]. We acknowledge the owners of the farm “Los Alhagüeces”, Antonio and Pepe Escámez, for generously letting us work in their farm for the last 12 years

Factores Pedagógicos que Favorecen el Éxito Escolar en Estudiantes de Enseñanza Postobligatoria

El foco del presente estudio ha sido el éxito escolar: la continuidad, la permanencia en el sistema educativo, lo cual implica transitar de forma adecuada por sus diversas etapas y modalidades formativas. En particular, hemos buscado conocer qué factores pedagógicos -vinculados a los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje y a la relación profesor/a-alumno/a- constituyen condiciones favorables para el éxito y la continuidad escolar de chicas y de chicos de enseñanza secundaria postobligatoria (Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos). Hemos tratado de visibilizar el éxito escolar de chicos y de chicas en la educación secundaria, de analizar las experiencias y las trayectorias de estudiantes que, más allá del periodo obligatorio, dan continuidad a su vida escolar con éxito académico, de prestar atención a las diferencias entre estudiantes de Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos y, por último, de analizar de forma diferenciada la experiencia de las chicas y de los chicos, indagando en los elementos de la construcción de la subjetividad en ambos sexos. Para ello, hemos trabajado con una muestra intencional de 26 estudiantes (12 chicas y 14 chicos), 16 de Bachillerato y 10 de Ciclos Formativos, seleccionados por sus docentes, en 12 centros urbanos y semiurbanos de Málaga, Sevilla, Granada, Cádiz y Almería. Los datos han sido recogidos a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, con el apoyo de la técnica de foto-lenguaje y un cuestionario de contexto.Fundación Centro de Estudios Andaluces - [PRY031/11