Meropenem heteroresistance in clinical isolates of OXA-48–producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

OXA-48–producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates often show growth of colonies within inhibition zones in carbapenem diffusion assays. The nature of these colonies was investigated in a series of clinical isolates of OXA-48–producing K. pneumoniae obtained in the context of a hospital outbreak, and they were found to be persistent colonies that reproduced again the same phenotype when they were collected and tested in diffusion assays again. The frequency of mutations conferring resistance to meropenem (8 µg/mL) was determined for the same isolates. The average mutation frequency was 5.47·10-6 (range: 2.59·10-8–5.87·10-5), and the analysis of several resistant mutants showed that all of them had mutations in the ompK36 porin gene. Heteroresistance was investigated using population analysis profiling. The profiles were compatible with mutation frequency assays, and all the colonies analyzed were resistant mutants. In OXA-48–producing K. pneumoniae, the growth of persisters seems to be specific of diffusion assays

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of Chaetoceros muelleri Schütt (Chaetocerotales: Chaetocerotaceae) and Isochrysis sp. (Isochrysidales: isochrysidaceae) grown outdoors for the larval development of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

The biomass, proximal composition and fatty acid profile of Isochrysis sp., Chaetoceros muelleri and their mixture, grown under greenhouse conditions, were evaluated. The nutritional value of both species supplied as the monoalgal (Chaetoceros muelleri: Diet I, and Isochrysis sp. Diet II) and mixed diet (Diet III) for larval Litopenaeus vannamei was also assessed on the basis of the development and biochemical composition of the larvae. The highest protein levels were obtained in Diets I and II (40% and 35%, respectively). No significant differences in larval survival were found among the diets; however, larvae fed on Diet II had the lowest mean larval length

In vivo activity of plant-based interleukin-12 in the lung of Balb/c mouse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the last years, plants are being used for the production of a wide variety of biopharmaceuticals, including cytokines, and have the potential to serve as vehicles for mucosal administration of these molecules. We had previously reported the expression of a cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12), in transgenic tomato plants and had demonstrated that it retained its biologic activity <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In this work, we administered crude extracts of IL-12-containing tomato fruits to mice through the intratracheal route, measuring endogenous IL-12 and determining biologic activity by quantification of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in lungs and by histological analysis. IFN-γ expression in lungs, as well as histological analysis, indicate that tomato-expressed IL-12 retains its biologic activity and, most importantly, its effects are restricted to the site of administration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that the functional activity of tomato-expressed IL-12 is comparable to that of commercial recombinant IL-12 when given via the mucosal route. This opens the possibility of using crude extracts prepared from tomatoes expressing IL-12 for certain immunotherapies.</p

Lack of Galactose or Galacturonic Acid in <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> USDA 110 Exopolysaccharide Leads to Different Symbiotic Responses in Soybean

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Bradyrhizobium japonicum are important for infection and nodulation of soybean (Glycine max), although their roles are not completely understood. To better understand this, we constructed mutants in B. japonicum USDA 110 impaired in galactose or galacturonic acid incorporation into the EPS without affecting the LPS. The derivative LP 3010 had a deletion of lspL-ugdH and produced EPS without galacturonic acid whereas LP 3013, with an insertion in exoB, produced EPS without galactose. In addition, the strain LP 3017, with both mutations, had EPS devoid of both galactosides. The missing galactosides were not replaced by other sugars. The defects in EPS had different consequences. LP 3010 formed biofilms and nodulated but was defective in competitiveness for nodulation; and, inside nodules, the peribacteroid membranes tended to fuse, leading to the merging of symbiosomes. Meanwhile, LP 3013 and LP 3017 were unable to form biofilms and produced empty pseudonodules but exoB suppressor mutants were obtained when LP 3013 plant inoculation was supplemented with wild-type EPS. Similar phenotypes were observed with all these mutants in G. soja. Therefore, the lack of each galactoside in the EPS has a different functional effect on the B. japonicum-soybean symbiosis.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Campaña de sensibilización para el proyecto Ciudad Amigable con los Mayores en Guadalajara, Jalisco. Equipo de Producción y Posicionamiento

Este reporte explica la forma en que se ha trabajado en el proyecto “Alter Código” durante el periodo escolar otoño 2018. El objetivo del proyecto se enfoca en generar una imagen digna de la vejez y la forma en la cual se vive. Durante el proceso se trabajó con investigación etnográfica y visitas de campo enriqueciendo nuestros aprendizajes durante el proceso. Así mismo, dimos seguimiento a la campaña de sensibilización “Los años cuentan”, la campaña de redes para el posicionamiento del PAP en el entorno académico y generamos nuevos contenidos y eventos relaciones con dichas campañas con el propósito de impactar en la sociedad y transformar la visión que se tiene en torno a este tema.ITESO, A.C

Ayotzinapa y la crisis del estado neoliberal mexicano

¿Qué pasó en Ayotzinapa? Es la pregunta que surgió el 26 de septiembre de 2014, que no encuentra una respuesta satisfactoria pese a la intervención de actores de distintas instancias, niveles y nacionalidades, y al esbozo de múltiples hipótesis sobre los enfrentamientos registrados en Iguala, Guerrero, que derivaron en la muerte de varias personas y la desaparición de 43 estudiantes de la Normal Rural “Isidro Burgos”, en una tragedia que evidenció la crisis que atraviesa el estado mexicano y que afecta a todo el país. A partir de lo acontecido en Ayotzinapa y con base en la teoría general de los campos de Pierre Bourdieu y su propuesta de análisis teórico metodológico sobre el estado, en esta obra se realiza un análisis de la práctica sistemática y generalizada de las desapariciones forzadas en México, con el fin de ofrecer otra manera de comprender el entretejido político–económico–social que hace posible este grave fenómeno, que desgarra tanto a familias como a la comunidad. La herida abierta por Ayotzinapa sangra y el objetivo último de este libro es contribuir a evitar que se cierre en tanto no se responda la interrogante de qué pasó ahí y que crímenes de lesa humanidad como este sigan aconteciendo en México.ITESO, A.C

Quantum walks: a comprehensive review

Quantum walks, the quantum mechanical counterpart of classical random walks, is an advanced tool for building quantum algorithms that has been recently shown to constitute a universal model of quantum computation. Quantum walks is now a solid field of research of quantum computation full of exciting open problems for physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians and engineers. In this paper we review theoretical advances on the foundations of both discrete- and continuous-time quantum walks, together with the role that randomness plays in quantum walks, the connections between the mathematical models of coined discrete quantum walks and continuous quantum walks, the quantumness of quantum walks, a summary of papers published on discrete quantum walks and entanglement as well as a succinct review of experimental proposals and realizations of discrete-time quantum walks. Furthermore, we have reviewed several algorithms based on both discrete- and continuous-time quantum walks as well as a most important result: the computational universality of both continuous- and discrete- time quantum walks.Comment: Paper accepted for publication in Quantum Information Processing Journa

Extraordinary room-temperature photoluminescence in WS2 monolayers

Individual monolayers of metal dichalcogenides are atomically thin two-dimensional crystals with attractive physical properties different from their bulk layered counterpart. Here we describe the direct synthesis of WS2 monolayers with triangular morphologies and strong room-temperature photoluminescence (PL). Bulk WS2 does not present PL due to its indirect band gap nature. The edges of these monolayers exhibit PL signals with extraordinary intensity, around 25 times stronger than the platelets center. The structure and composition of the platelet edges appear to be critical for the PL enhancement effect. Electron diffraction revealed that platelets present zigzag edges, while first-principles calculations indicate that sulfur-rich zigzag WS2 edges possess metallic edge states, which might tailor the optical response reported here. These novel 2D nanoscale light sources could find diverse applications including the fabrication of flexible/transparent/low-energy optoelectronic devices