Llibre d’actes de la I Conferència Internacional de Recerca en Educació. Educació 2019: reptes, tendències i compromisos

I Conferència Internacional de Recerca en Educació. Educació 2019: reptes, tendències i compromisos. (4 i 5 de novembre de 2019, Universitat de Barcelona). Institut de Recerca en Educació (IRE-UB) Universitat de Barcelona.Presentem el llibre d’actes de la I Conferència Internacional de Recerca en Educació – “Educació 2019: reptes, tendències i compromisos” (IRED’19), celebrada a Barcelona, el 4 i 5 de novembre de 2019, a la Universitat de Barcelona. IRED’19 és una iniciativa promoguda per l’Institut de Recerca en Educació (IRE), de la Universitat de Barcelona, amb l’objectiu d’incentivar l’intercanvi, la discussió i la reflexió al volant de tres eixos: reptes que es plantegen al sistema educatiu durant els propers anys; tendències cap a on s’orienten les polítiques institucionals actuals, i compromisos als quals cal arribar en els propers anys. Durant la conferència tots tres eixos es van abordar des de tres perspectives: Recerca i societat; Grups de recerca, i Instituts de recerca. En les taules rodones al voltant de grups de recerca, la finalitat era vincular els grups de recerca participants amb discursos innovadors, reflexius, crítics i/o sobre temàtiques transversals de la recerca en el context del nostre temps i la nostra societat. En les sessions dels instituts de recerca es va tractar sobre els processos d’agrupació i cohesió de grups, les noves estratègies en presentació de projectes, i la visibilitat, rellevància i avaluació de la recerca. Les comunicacions que conformen el llibre d’actes van ser presentades en les sessions de Recerca i societat, amb la finalitat de fomentar la discussió entre els participants entorn els reptes que actualment es plantegen en l’àmbit educatiu. La sessió pretenia convertir-se en un espai de trobada on exposar i analitzar els últims avenços en investigació educativa i algunes propostes innovadores que indiquessin les tendències de transformació i millora predominants en l’àmbit educatiu. Esperem que us resultin profitoses

Synergy of DNA intercalation and catalytic activity of a copper complex towards improved polymerase inhibition and cancer cell cytotoxicity

Improving the binding of metal complexes to DNA to boost cancer cell cytotoxicity requires fine tuning of their structural and chemical properties. Copper has been used as a metal center in compounds containing intercalating ligands due to its ability to catalytically generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals (OH˙). We envision the synergy of DNA binding and ROS generation in proximity to target DNA as a powerful chemotherapy treatment. Here, we explore the use of [Cu(2CP-Bz-SMe)]2+(2CP-Bz-SMe = 1,3-bis(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yloxy)-N-(4-(methylthio)benzylidene)propan-2-amine) for this purpose by characterizing its cytotoxicity, DNA binding, and ability to affect DNA replication through the polymerase chain reaction - PCR and nuclease assays. We determined the binding (Kb) and Stern-Volmer constants (KSV) for complex-DNA association of 5.8 ± 0.14 × 104and 1.64 (±0.08), respectively, through absorption titration and competitive fluorescence experiments. These values were superior to those of other Cu-complex intercalators. We hypothesize that the distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry of [Cu(2CP-Bz-SMe)]2+allows the phenanthroline fragments to be better accommodated into the DNA double helix. Moreover, the aromaticity of these fragments increases the local hydrophobicity thus increasing the affinity for the hydrophobic domains of DNA. Nuclease assays in the presence of common reducing agents ascorbic acid, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and glutathione showed the effective degradation of DNA due to thein situgeneration of OH˙. The [Cu(2CP-Bz-SMe)]2+complex showed cytotoxicity against the following human cancer cells lines A549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MG-63 with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 4.62 ± 0.48, 5.20 ± 0.76, 5.70 ± 0.42 and 2.88 ± 0.66 μM, respectively. These low values of IC50, which are promising if compared to that of cisplatin, are ascribed to the synergistic effect of ROS generation with the intercalation ability into the DNA minor grooves and blocking DNA replication. This study introduces new principles for synergizing the chemical and structural properties of intercalation compounds for improved drug-DNA interactions targeting cancer.Fil: Romo, Adolfo I. B.. University of Illinois. Urbana - Champaign; Estados Unidos. Universidade Federal do Ceara; BrasilFil: Carepo, Marta P.. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Levin, Pedro. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Nascimento, Otaciro R.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Díaz, Daniel E.. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Rodriguez Lopez, Joaquin. University of Illinois. Urbana - Champaign; Estados UnidosFil: Leon, Ignacio Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Bezerra, Lucas F.. Universidade Federal do Ceara; BrasilFil: Lemus, Luis A.. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Diógenes, Izaura C. N.. Universidade Federal do Ceara; Brasi

Genes related to cell-mediated cytotoxicity and interferon response are induced in the retina of European sea bass upon intravitreal infection with nodavirus

Viral diseases are responsible for high rates of mortality and subsequent economic losses in modern aquaculture. The nervous necrosis virus (NNV) produces viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), which affects the central nervous system, is considered one of the most serious viral diseases in marine aquaculture. Although some studies have localized NNV in the retina cells, none has dealt with immunity in the retina. Thus, for the first time, we intravitreally infected healthy specimens of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with NNV with the aim of characterizing the immune response in the retina. Ultrastructural analysis detected important retinal injuries and structure degradation, including pycnosis, hydropic degeneration and vacuolization in some cell layers as well as myelin sheaths in the optic nerve fibres. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that NNV re- plicated in the eyes. Regarding retinal immunity, NNV infection elicited the transcription of genes encoding proteins involved in the interferon (IFN) and cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) responses as well as B and T cell markers, demonstrating that viral replication influences innate and adaptive responses. Further studies are needed to understand the retina immunity and whether the main retinal function, vision, is affected by noda- virus.Versión del edito

Generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species is controlled by ATPase inhibitory factor 1 and regulates cognition.

The mitochondrial ATP synthase emerges as key hub of cellular functions controlling the production of ATP, cellular signaling, and fate. It is regulated by the ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1), which is highly abundant in neurons. Herein, we ablated or overexpressed IF1 in mouse neurons to show that IF1 dose defines the fraction of active/inactive enzyme in vivo, thereby controlling mitochondrial function and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses indicate that IF1 dose regulates mitochondrial metabolism, synaptic function, and cognition. Ablation of IF1 impairs memory, whereas synaptic transmission and learning are enhanced by IF1 overexpression. Mechanistically, quenching the IF1-mediated increase in mtROS production in mice overexpressing IF1 reduces the increased synaptic transmission and obliterates the learning advantage afforded by the higher IF1 content. Overall, IF1 plays a key role in neuronal function by regulating the fraction of ATP synthase responsible for mitohormetic mtROS signaling

Generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species is controlled by ATPase inhibitory factor 1 and regulates cognition.

The mitochondrial ATP synthase emerges as key hub of cellular functions controlling the production of ATP, cellular signaling, and fate. It is regulated by the ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1), which is highly abundant in neurons. Herein, we ablated or overexpressed IF1 in mouse neurons to show that IF1 dose defines the fraction of active/inactive enzyme in vivo, thereby controlling mitochondrial function and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses indicate that IF1 dose regulates mitochondrial metabolism, synaptic function, and cognition. Ablation of IF1 impairs memory, whereas synaptic transmission and learning are enhanced by IF1 overexpression. Mechanistically, quenching the IF1-mediated increase in mtROS production in mice overexpressing IF1 reduces the increased synaptic transmission and obliterates the learning advantage afforded by the higher IF1 content. Overall, IF1 plays a key role in neuronal function by regulating the fraction of ATP synthase responsible for mitohormetic mtROS signaling

Identification of an antigenic epitope for helper T lymphocytes from carcinoembryonic antigen

PURPOSE: The product of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene is an attractive candidate for T-cell-based immunotherapy because it is frequently expressed in epithelial solid carcinomas. Although many CEA peptide epitopes capable of stimulating CTLs have been identified, no MHC class II-restricted T helper epitope has yet been reported. Experimental Design: The amino acid sequence of CEA was examined for the presence of potential T helper epitopes, and candidate peptides were used to stimulate in vitro T-cell responses. RESULTS: We describe here that using an algorithm to identify promiscuous helper T-cell epitopes, a peptide of CEA occupying residue positions 653 to 667 (CEA(653-667)), was effective in inducing in vitro T helper responses in the context of the HLA-DR4, HLA-DR7, and HLA-DR 9 alleles. Most significantly, some of the peptide-reactive helper T lymphocytes were also capable of recognizing naturally processed antigen in the form of recombinant CEA protein or cell lysates from tumors that express CEA. Interestingly, the newly identified helper T-cell epitope was found to overlap with a previously described HLA-A24-restricted CTL epitope, CEA(652-660), which could facilitate the development of a therapeutic vaccine capable of eliciting both CTL and T helper responses in patients suffering from epithelial carcinomas. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that T helper lymphocytes are capable of recognizing CEA as a tumor antigen and that epitope CEA(653-667) could be used for immunotherapy against tumors expressing CEA

Food Safety

24 Páginas.-- 2 FigurasEmerging and re-emerging food safety risks are driven by climate change and other factors like globalization, water scarcity, population aging, and migration, among others. These factors affect the persistence and occurrence of conventional and emerging primary risks. Successful initiatives to manage emerging risks need to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential risks as well as to respond with sustainable strategies able to reduce the threatsPeer reviewe

Metabolites related to purine catabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes incidence; modifying effects of the TCF7L2-rs7903146 polymorphism.

Studies examining associations between purine metabolites and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited. We prospectively examined associations between plasma levels of purine metabolites with T2D risk and the modifying effects of transcription factor-7-like-2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146 polymorphism on these associations. This is a case-cohort design study within the PREDIMED study, with 251 incident T2D cases and a random sample of 694 participants (641 non-cases and 53 overlapping cases) without T2D at baseline (median follow-up: 3.8 years). Metabolites were semi-quantitatively profiled with LC-MS/MS. Cox regression analysis revealed that high plasma allantoin levels, including allantoin-to-uric acid ratio and high xanthine-to-hypoxanthine ratio were inversely and positively associated with T2D risk, respectively, independently of classical risk factors. Elevated plasma xanthine and inosine levels were associated with a higher T2D risk in homozygous carriers of the TCF7L2-rs7903146 T-allele. The potential mechanisms linking the aforementioned purine metabolites and T2D risk must be also further investigated