Material docente audiovisual para prácticas de Microbiología (II)

Una nueva colección de videos cortos donde se detalla la ejecución de algunas de las prácticas de Microbiología incluidas en los programas de varias asignaturas impartidas por el Departamento de Microbiología en los grados de Biología, Farmacia, Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos y Odontología de la Universidad de Granada.Unidad de Calidad, Innovación Docente y Prospectiva de la Universidad de Granada. Plan FIDO UGR. Proyecto de Innovación Docente Básico II. 21-1

Material Docente Audiovisual para Prácticas de Microbiología

Colección de videos cortos donde se detalla la ejecución de técnicas básicas de Microbiología y Virología incluidas en los programas de docencia práctica de asignaturas impartidas por el Departamento de Microbiología en distintos grados de la Universidad de Granada.Plan FIDO UGR (2020-2022), Unidad de Calidad, Innovación Docente y Prospectiva. Universidad de Granada

Effect of cell dedifferentiation and genetic p53 profile in the expression of Bcl-2 family members in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-treated liver cancer cells

Motivation: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of liver cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer‐related death worldwide [1]. The recommended first‐line treatment for patients with locally advanced disease and well-preserved liver function is Sorafenib with a mean overall survival of 11 months [2]. Other drugs have been developed to increase the therapeutic arsenal of treatments such as Lenvatinib [3], Regorafenib [4]  and Cabozantinib [5]. The Bcl-2 protein family plays a central part in the control of apoptosis [6]. Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1 are antiapoptotic members Bax, Bak, Bid, and Bim are proapoptotic members. The cytoprotective function of Bcl-2 proteins stems from their ability to antagonize Bax and Bak, and thus prevent apoptosis. [7]. The aim of the present study was the comparative analysis of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cell death and proliferation, and the expression of Bcl-2 family members according to the differentiation degrees and p53 genetic profile in liver cancer cells. Methods: Sorafenib, Regorafenib, Cabozantinib, and Lenvatinib were obtained commercially from Carbosynth Limited. Parameters were assessed in differentiated cells: HepG2 (ATCC/LGC Standards, SLU, Barcelona, Spain) and Huh7 (Apath LLC, Brooklyn, USA), and dedifferentiated cells: JHH2 and JHH4 cell lines obtained from the Japanese Collection of Research Bioresources Cell Bank (Tokyo, Japan). Cells were negative for mycoplasma contamination. HCC cell lines were maintained in supplemented Minimum Essential Medium with Earle's Balanced Salts at 37°C in a humidified incubator with 5 % CO2. Cells were seeded at a density of 10^5 cells/cm2 in 2D culture. Different parameters related to cell death and proliferation were associated with the expression of Bcl-2 family members assessed by Western-blot analysis. Results: The administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors induced cell death and reduced cell proliferation. This effect was associated with an upregulation of tBid and Bim expression in differentiated liver cancer cells (HepG2 and Huh7) compared to dedifferentiated cells (JHH2 and JHH4, respectively). In addition, the lack of p53 in liver cancer cells (Huh7 and JHH4) had a lower degree in the expression compared to their p53 wild type counterpart (HepG2 and JHH). Conclusions: The dedifferentiation of cancer cells and mutated p53 reduce the upregulaupregulation of Bim and Bid induced by Sorafenib and Regorafenib in liver cancer cells

Modelling, performance analysis and design of WPAN systems

This paper covers the main issues that must be solved in order to design and analyse the performance of Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) with the aid of simulation tools. We review state-of-the-art channel models to account for small- and large-scale propagation conditions in waveform- and system-level simulations. When dealing with waveform simulations, we also look at Montecarlo and importance sampling techniques that allow efficient estimation of error probabilities. Additionally, discrete channel models are introduced to efficiently link both waveform- and system-level approaches and we point out some methods to obtain the model parameters that are suitable for the wireless environment. The discussion of these techniques is complemented with two application examples that show the use of the different simulation levels for system design and performance study. With the paradigm of Bluetooth piconets we illustrate the usefulness of discrete channel models and we consider the design of an OFDM-based WPAN system to exemplify simulation from a waveform-level point of view.This work has been partially funded by European Commission (IST-2001–34157), Spanish Government (TIC2002–03498) and Madrid Community (UC3M-TEC-05–027).Publicad

Polarized light microscopy guarantees the use of autochthonous wheat in the production of flour for the Protected Geographical Indication ‘Galician Bread’

‘Galician Bread’ is a traditional baked product and a national benchmark that has recently been granted the European mark of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which requires at least 25% of the flour to be produced from autochthonous varieties such as ‘Caaveiro’. The objective of this work was to find a method that guarantees the presence and the percentage of ‘Caaveiro’ wheat in blended flours by using microscopy techniques. Using optical microscopy, including bright-field and polarizing microscopy, autochthonous and foreign flours were analyzed and compared. ‘Caaveiro’ starch presented a different birefringence pattern (associated with a higher amount of amylose) with respect to other cultivars used to produce flours, a feature used to make a computation of the two starch granule types in the mixtures of ‘Caaveiro’ with foreign flours. Repetitions with different mixture percentages allowed us to develop a mathematical model to estimate the percentage of ‘Caaveiro’ flour present in the mixture. Firstly, the most effective method for preparing samples was determined by ensuring the homogeneity of the samples and, subsequently, a validation was carried out with blind samples. Starch birefringence properties allowed the detection of ‘Caaveiro’ wheat flour in mixtures with foreign/Castilian wheat flours and to determine the percentages used in the flour mixtures applying a calibration line (R2 = 0.9577). Deviations were due to the difficulty in obtaining precise mixtures of the blended flours, as happened with other Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR)-based methods used in the same samples. This is a novel method for detecting contraventions/infractions of the percentage of ‘Caaveiro’ used in wheat flours, which is simple, effective and inexpensiveThis research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2021-2023 (PID2021-123905OB-I00). We would like to thank Da Cunha Group for the samples and their support of the ‘Cátedra do Pan e do Cereal’. Nerea Fernández-Canto is grateful to Xunta de Galicia for her predoctoral research fellowship (ED481A-2019/263)S

Towards Energy Demand Reduction in Social Housing Buildings: Envelope System Optimization Strategies

This work evaluates the potential for the reduction of energy demand in residential buildings by acting on the exterior envelope, both in newly constructed buildings and in the retrofitting of existing stock. It focuses on analysing social housing buildings in Mediterranean areas and on quantifying the scope of that reduction in the application of different envelope design strategies, with the purpose of prioritizing their application based on their energy efficiency. The analyses and quantifications were made by means of the generation of energy models with the TRNSYS tool for simple or combined solutions, identifying possible potentials for reduction of the energy demand from 20% to 25%, basically by acting on the windows. The case study was a newly built social housing building of a closed block type located in Seville (Spain). Its constructive techniques and the insulation level of its envelope are standardized for current buildings widespread across Mediterranean Europe

Amyloid beta and diabetic pathology cooperatively stimulate cytokine expression in an Alzheimer's mouse model

Background Diabetes is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the mechanism by which diabetes can promote AD pathology remains unknown. Diabetes results in diverse molecular changes in the brain, including dysregulation of glucose metabolism and loss of cerebrovascular homeostasis. Although these changes have been associated with increased A beta pathology and increased expression of glial activation markers in APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice, there has been limited characterization, to date, of the neuroinflammatory changes associated with diabetic conditions. Methods To more fully elucidate neuroinflammatory changes associated with diabetes that may drive AD pathology, we combined the APP/PS1 mouse model with either high-fat diet (HFD, a model of pre-diabetes), the genetic db/db model of type 2 diabetes, or the streptozotocin (STZ) model of type 1 diabetes. We then used a multiplexed immunoassay to quantify cortical changes in cytokine proteins. Results Our analysis revealed that pathology associated with either db/db, HFD, or STZ models yielded upregulation of a broad profile of cytokines, including chemokines (e.g., MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, and MCP-1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-3. Moreover, multivariate partial least squares regression analysis showed that combined diabetic-APP/PS1 models yielded cooperatively enhanced expression of the cytokine profile associated with each diabetic model alone. Finally, in APP/PS1xdb/db mice, we found that circulating levels of A beta 1-40, A beta 1-42, glucose, and insulin all correlated with cytokine expression in the brain, suggesting a strong relationship between peripheral changes and brain pathology. Conclusions Altogether, our multiplexed analysis of cytokines shows that Alzheimer's and diabetic pathologies cooperate to enhance profiles of cytokines reported to be involved in both diseases. Moreover, since many of the identified cytokines promote neuronal injury, A beta and tau pathology, and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, our data suggest that neuroinflammation may mediate the effects of diabetes on AD pathogenesis. Therefore, strategies targeting neuroinflammatory signaling, as well as metabolic control, may provide a promising strategy for intervening in the development of diabetes-associated AD

Grupos de ayuda mutua en personas con problemas severos de salud mental en el modelo de la recuperación. La inclusión del cuerpo.

El modelo de la recuperación se basa en la incorporación de las propias personas con trastornos mentales de naturaleza psicótica a su proceso de mejoría. Trabajando en este paradigma surge una experiencia denominada plataforma terapéutica que se desarrolla en un dispositivo de salud mental comunitaria pública y que incluye intervenciones múltiples, multidisciplinares e integradas con la intención de fomentar el uso de los recursos sanos de todas las dimensiones identificadas. Los factores referidos cristalizan en una propuesta desde los propios integrantes para iniciar una actividad grupal de baile liderada por uno de ellos en un contexto extra-sanitario con la intención de fomentar los aspectos sanos sociales y normalizar las actividades al margen de la vivencia de la experiencia psicótica. Se señalan las dificultades desde la institución y la propia clínica psicótica para llevar a cabo actividades en el paradigma de la recuperación en encuadres comunitarios y desde la sanidad pública.Recovery model is based on the implication of the people who suffer psychosis in their own improvement process. We propose a therapeutical experience in a Community Mental Health. Team in the Andalusian Health Service. It includes integrated interventions from different professional roles (Social worker, nursery and psychiatrist) to increase healthy areas. This article exposes a 3-year evolution including a self-promoted movement from the users. It includes bodily aspects and mutual self-help. This experience is set in a non-medical environment to promote healthy social aspects and increase experience out from the psychosis. We also remark institutional and clinical difficulties to develop recovery activities in comunnity environment from public health settings

Traceability of the local cultivar ‘Caaveiro’ in flour mixtures used to produce Galician bread by simple sequence repeats and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction technology

The analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and of bulk ground samples by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was investigated as an alternative to individual kernel testing for assessing the presence of local cultivars in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varietal blends. The recent Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of ‘Pan Galego’ (Galician bread) requires that the flour comprise a minimum 25% local wheat cultivars. As a test for compliance with this minimum level, wheat flours were prepared by mixing commercial flours with 0%, 5%, 20%, 25% and 30% ‘Caaveiro’ and 100% ‘Caaveiro’ and 100% commercial flours were used as controls. A second analysis was performed with a second set of wheat flours with 5% and 25% ‘Caaveiro’. These were mixed with two different commercial flours to assess the potential ability of five SSRs to identify the percentage of ‘Caaveiro’, constituting the first reference of the use of SSRs in the traceability of specific autochthonous cultivars in flour blends. ddPCR using the QX200 system platform was used to the targeted proportions across the simulated range with two out of five SSRs, indicating that they can be used in the traceability of ‘Caaveiro’ in mixed flours and breadsS

Monitoreo microbiológico en vísceras de pollos parrilleros

La explotación avícola nacional constituye un sector productivo en expansión, tanto para la producción de carne aviar como de huevos. El crecimiento ininterrumpido registrado desde 2013 permite vislumbrar una actividad dinámica, proveedora de alimentos tanto para el mercado local como para el internacional. El consumo de carne aviar ha mostrado un fuerte incremento, desde 18,4 kg/hab/año (2003) hasta los 40,4 kg/hab/año (2014), con una proyección de 44 kg/hab/año para el 2017 (SAGPYA, 2011; MAGyP, 2014). Las aves presentan una flora microbiana intestinal constituida principalmente por bacterias entéricas las cuales, en su mayoría, son eliminadas con las heces. Los microorganismos patógenos aislados por Feldman y col. (2000) en pollos parrilleros fueron Escherichia coli, Shigella spp. y Salmonella spp. La inocuidad es un factor de calidad de importancia preponderante en las carcasas de pollos. En la mayoría de los alimentos de origen animal se encuentran muchas de las bacterias responsables de toxiinfecciones alimentarias. Algunas de ellas están presentes en los animales vivos, pudiendo permanecer viables en la carne cruda si las condiciones higiénicas y de almacenamiento son inadecuadas (Roberts,1990). Las enfermedades zoonóticas más importantes transmitidas por pollos son la salmonelosis y la colibacilosis, entre otras (Gaskin, 2001). Las aves portadoras de salmonelas constituyen una fuente de contaminación de relevante importancia. Por otro lado, las operaciones de sacrificio y evisceración contribuyen a aumentar la frecuencia de las mismas en el producto final (Cunningham, 1982). El objetivo de este trabajo fue cuantificar y determinar la presencia de microorganismos en vísceras de pollos.Fil: Arenaz, Francisco. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Cuppari, Selva Yanet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Salerno, Carmen Matilde. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Amela, María Inés. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Hebe. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez Ganduglia Héctor. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Muscillo, Bereniz. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentin