Phylogenetic prospecting for cryptic species of the genus Merluccius (Actinopterygii: Merlucciidae).

Hakes of the genus Merluccius include 11 valid species as well a number of rare morphotypes suspected to be “cryptic species”. Concatenated nucDNA ITS1-rDNA and mtDNA cyt b sequences plus nested ITS1Nes sequences allowed to ascribe 14 specimens of nine rare morphotypes from the South Pacific and the South Atlantic to the phylogenetic backbone of this genus. Bayesian analyses pointed to M. bilinearis and M. albidus as the oldest species of the genus and the New World cluster, respectively. The phylogenetic status of M. angustimanus from the upper Gulf of California suggests its hybrid origin between M. gayi and M. productus from about 0.25 MYA, although an ever since confinement of a subset of those species cannot be ruled out. The molecular phylodiagnostic test suggests a common origin of all rare morphotypes and the absence of cryptic hake species in the Southern Cone. The molecular background of the morphotypes distributed between the Western Pacific South of New Zealand and the western Atlantic South of Argentina is compatible with their hybrid origin between M. gayi and both, M. australis or M. hubbsi, respectively.This research was partially supported with the project LETSHAKE (AGL2013-4846-R) co-funded by MINECO (Ministerio Español de Economía y Competitividad) and EU-FEDER to M.P. as well as with grant (IN607B 2018/14) to M. P. from Xunta de Galicia-Axencia Galega de Innovación. This work was also partly funded with grants from “Consellería de Educación e Ordenación Universitaria Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government) cofunding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the Operational Program Galicia 2014–2020 (CIM-UVIGO), “A way to build Europe”.Versión del edito

Molecular Characterization of Heterologous HIV-1gp120 Gene Expression Disruption in Mycobacterium bovis BCG Host Strain: A Critical Issue for Engineering Mycobacterial Based-Vaccine Vectors

Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as a live vector of recombinant bacterial vaccine is a promising system to be used. In this study, we evaluate the disrupted expression of heterologous HIV-1gp120 gene in BCG Pasteur host strain using replicative vectors pMV261 and pJH222. pJH222 carries a lysine complementing gene in BCG lysine auxotrophs. The HIV-1 gp120 gene expression was regulated by BCG hsp60 promoter (in plasmid pMV261) and Mycobacteria spp. α-antigen promoter (in plasmid pJH222). Among 14 rBCG:HIV-1gp120 (pMV261) colonies screened, 12 showed a partial deletion and two showed a complete deletion. However, deletion was not observed in all 10 rBCG:HIV-1gp120 (pJH222) colonies screened. In this study, we demonstrated that E. coli/Mycobacterial expression vectors bearing a weak promoter and lysine complementing gene in a recombinant lysine auxotroph of BCG could prevent genetic rearrangements and disruption of HIV 1gp120 gene expression, a key issue for engineering Mycobacterial based vaccine vectors

Biogeographical affinities of fish associated to the shrimp trawl fishery in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexic

18 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables[EN] Fish by-catch of the Gulf of Tehuantepec shrimp fishery is mainly composed of several species that are discarded in their majority. Fish by-catch species composition, distribution and biogeographical affinities were analyzed through 15 cruises carried on the continental shelf at a depth of 12 to 70 m during 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2013. Fish by-catch was represented by 58 families, 129 genera and 242 species. The families Haemulidae, Sciaenidae, Paralichthyidae, Gerreidae and Carangidae accounted for >70% of the catch. Haemulopsis axillaris, Syacium ovale, Selene peruviana, Diapterus peruvianus, Larimus acclivins and Stellifer erycimba were the most frequent species at <40 m depth (inner shelf), and Prionotus stephanophrys, Scorpaena russula, Porichthys analis and Synodus scituliceps were dominant at 40−60 m depth (outer shelf). Analysis of biogeographical affinities showed that 36.1% of species had a wide distribution, from San Diego Province to the Panamic Province, while 13.2% had a restricted distribution in the Mexican and Panamic Provinces. The ichthyofaunal composition was markedly influenced by the local environment and seasonal conditions[ES] En la pesquería del camarón del Golfo de Tehuantepec un gran número de especies de peces se capturan como fauna de acompañamiento y son descartadas. La composición, distribución y afinidades biogeográficas de la ictiofauna acompañante del camarón fue analizada mediante 15 cruceros desarrollados en la plataforma continental entre 15-64 m de profundidad durante 2003, 2004, 2005 y 2013. La ictiofauna descartada estuvo representada por 58 familias, 129 géneros y 242 especies. Las familias, Haemulidae, Sciaenidae, Paralichthyidae, Gerreidae y Carangidae aportaron más del 70 % de la captura. Haemulopsis axillaris, Syacium ovale, Selene peruviana, Diapterus peruvianus, Larimus acclivins y Stellifer erycimba fueron las especies más frecuentes en profundidades menores de 40 m (plataforma interna), mientras que Prionotus stephanophrys, Scorpaena russula, Porichthys analis y Synodus scituliceps, fueron dominantes entre 40-60 m de profundidad 698 (plataforma externa). El análisis de las afinidades biogeográficas mostró que el 36.1 % de las especies son de amplia distribución desde la provincia de San Diego a la Panámica, mientras que el 13.2 %, presentó una distribución restringida entre la provincia Mexicana y la Panámica. La composición de la ictiofauna estuvo marcadamente influenciada por las condiciones ambientales locales y sus variaciones estacionalesThis study was partially supported by the Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (PAPIIT), Grant IN211214-2Peer Reviewe

Newborn Mice Vaccination with BCG.HIVA222 + MVA.HIVA Enhances HIV-1-Specific Immune Responses: Influence of Age and Immunization Routes

We have evaluated the influence of age and immunization routes for induction of HIV-1- and M. tuberculosis-specific immune responses after neonatal (7 days old) and adult (7 weeks old) BALB/c mice immunization with BCG.HIVA222 prime and MVA.HIVA boost. The specific HIV-1 cellular immune responses were analyzed in spleen cells. The body weight of the newborn mice was weekly recorded. The frequencies of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ were higher in adult mice vaccinated intradermally and lower in adult and newborn mice vaccinated subcutaneously. In all cases the IFN-γ production was significantly higher when mice were primed with BCG.HIVA222 compared with BCGwt. When the HIV-specific CTL activity was assessed, the frequencies of specific killing were higher in newborn mice than in adults. The prime-boost vaccination regimen which includes BCG.HIVA222 and MVA.HIVA was safe when inoculated to newborn mice. The administration of BCG.HIVA222 to newborn mice is safe and immunogenic and increased the HIV-specific responses induced by MVA.HIVA vaccine. It might be a good model for infant HIV and Tuberculosis bivalent vaccine

Repression of SOX6 transcriptional activity by SUMO modification

AbstractSOX6 plays key functions in several developmental processes, including neurogenesis and skeleton formation. In this report, we show that SOX6 is modified in vitro and in vivo by small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) on two distinct sites. Mutation of both sites abolished SOX6 sumoylation and increased SOX6 transcriptional activity. SUMO dependent repression of SOX6 transcription was promoted by UBC9 whereas siRNA to UBC9, cotransfection of inactive UBC9 or a SUMO protease increased SOX6 transcriptional activity. Furthermore, co-expression of SOX6 with SUMO2 results in the appearance of SOX6 in a punctate nuclear pattern that colocalized with promyelocytic leukemia protein, which was partially abolished by mutations in SOX6 sumoylation sites

Super-heavy fermion material as metallic refrigerant for adiabatic demagnetization cooling

Low-temperature refrigeration is of crucial importance in fundamental research of condensed matter physics, as the investigations of fascinating quantum phenomena, such as superconductivity, superfluidity and quantum criticality, often require refrigeration down to very low temperatures. Currently, cryogenic refrigerators with $^3$He gas are widely used for cooling below 1 Kelvin. However, usage of the gas is being increasingly difficult due to the current world-wide shortage. Therefore, it is important to consider alternative methods of refrigeration. Here, we show that a new type of refrigerant, super-heavy electron metal, YbCo$_2$Zn$_{20}$, can be used for adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration, which does not require 3He gas. A number of advantages includes much better metallic thermal conductivity compared to the conventional insulating refrigerants. We also demonstrate that the cooling performance is optimized in Yb$_{1-x}$Sc$_x$Co$_2$Zn$_{20}$ by partial Sc substitution with $x\sim$0.19. The substitution induces chemical pressure which drives the materials close to a zero-field quantum critical point. This leads to an additional enhancement of the magnetocaloric effect in low fields and low temperatures enabling final temperatures well below 100 mK. Such performance has up to now been restricted to insulators. Since nearly a century the same principle of using local magnetic moments has been applied for adiabatic demagnetization cooling. This study opens new possibilities of using itinerant magnetic moments for the cryogen-free refrigeration

100 años investigando el mar. El IEO en su centenario (1914-2014).

Se trata de un libro que pretende divulgar a la sociedad las principales investigaciones multidisciplinares llevadas a cabo por el Instituto Español de Oceanografía durante su primer siglo de vida, y dar a conocer la historia del organismo, de su Sede Central y de los nueve centros oceanográficos repartidos por los litorales mediterráneo y atlántico, en la península y archipiélagos.Kongsberg 20

Sobre la presencia de Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1852) (Osteichthyes, Zeidae) in el Mar Mediterráneo

5 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables[EN] On the occurrence of Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1852) (Osteichthyes, Zeidae) in the Mediterranean Sea.- The capture of four specimens of Silvery John Dory (Zenopsis conchifer), a species recorded in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in 2006, is reported from the Iberian coast (western Mediterranean). One of the specimens was caught near the Strait of Gibraltar and is probably a vagrant. Despite these catches, there is no evidence of a self- sustaining population, so this species should be considered as alien in the Mediterranean. © [2012] the authors licensee the journal[ES] Se informa de la captura de cuatro ejemplares de Zenopsis conchifer, especie cuya primera cita en el Mediterráneo data del año 2007, en las costas de la península Ibérica. Uno de los ejemplares fue capturado cerca del estrecho de Gibraltar, por lo que probablemente se trataría de un individuo errante. A pesar de estas capturas, no hay evidencia de la existencia de una población estable, por lo que la especie debe continuar siendo considerada como exótica en el MediterráneoPeer Reviewe

Circuito compresor de imágenes mediante la transformada discreta coseno utilizando el sistema numérico de residuos

Número de solicitud: 200101758Este dispositivo permite realizar la compresión de imágenes utilizando la Transformada Discreta Coseno, que es la transformada utilizada en los actuales estándares de comprensión de imágenes. Consiste en un dispositivo diseñado mediante la utilización de multiplicadores, sumadores y restadores. Está diseñado de forma que se pueda utilizar como bloque para la realización de la Transformada Discreta Coseno Unidimensional en los distintos métodos estánderes de compresión de imágenes como el JPEG para comprensión de imágenes fijas, el ITUT para aplicaciones de videoconferencia y el MPEG para comprensión de imágenes en movimiento. El sistema consta de una estructura que utiliza 14 tablas para realizar las multiplicaciones, 20 sumadores y 12 restadores conectados de una forma muy regular. La implementación de la Transformada Discreta Coseno (DCT) se realiza utilizando el Sistema Numérico de Residuos (RNS