Towards the design of universal immunosurfaces for SPR-based assays: A review

Surface biofunctionalization, including chemical activation and attachment of the bioreceptor, is an essential step to provide reliable detection of biomolecular binding events monitored by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), the most employed optical biosensor, and other biosensor techniques. Recent progress in the area of immobilization procedures are aimed at producing reproducible interfacial surfaces that enable the sensitive and specific recognition of the analyte. Antibodies are still the most employed bioreceptors for SPR assays. A wide range of strategies have been proposed to maximize the SPR immunosensor performance by controlling the stability and orientation of the immobilized antibody. This article reviews the most recent advancements in random and oriented antibody immobilization approaches for SPR biosensing applications, with a special focus on the research that have been done to find universal linkers, which can allow the use of the same functionalized surface for different applications.S

Ectomicorrizas presentes en la plantación trufera “Los Quejigares” (Soria)

En este trabajo se describen las ectomicorrizas presentes en 16 plantas de Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. de 22 años, de la finca de 600 ha que gestiona AROTZ-CATESA en el término municipal de Villaciervos (Soria). Además se presentan los porcentajes de micorrización de las ectomicorrizas más interesantes. Este estudio se incluye dentro del proyecto LIFE 99 ENV/E/000356 “Revalorización de bosques productores de trufa: un ejemplo de gestión sostenible”. SUMMARY: This study describes the ectomycorrhiza occurring in 16 twenty-two years old seedlings of Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp., in the plot of 600 ha that AROTZ-CATESA manages in of Villaciervos (Soria). Mycorrhization percentages of the most interesting ectomycorrhiza are also reported. This study is included in the project LIFE 99 ENV/E/000356 "Truffled Mediterranean forest improvement: an example of sustanaible management”

New records of recently described chemosymbiotic bivalves for mud volcanoes within the European waters (Gulf of Cádiz)

Chemosymbiotic bivalves are important members of cold seep communities and information on their distribution in theEuropean waters is still quite scarce. This study reports the presence of living populations and shell remains of some recently described bivalves such as Lucinoma asapheus, Solemya elarraichensis and Acharax gadirae as well as Bathymodiolus sp. in the mud volcanoes of the Spanish Atlantic waters. Living populations of these species were thus far only found in Anastasya, Aveiro and Almazán mud volcanoes, together with other chemosymbiotic metazoa (Siboglinum spp.), suggesting the presence of moderate seepage activity. In other mud volcanoes (Albolote, Gazul), the benthic communities are dominated by sessile filter feeders on authigenic carbonates (chimneys, slabs) and only the shell remains of some chemosymbiotic bivalves were found, indicating earlier or very low seepage conditions. The present study elaborates on the known distribution of L. asapheus and S. elarraichensis to the European waters of the Gulf of Cádiz

Amniotic membrane transplantation with fibrin glue as treatment of refractory conjunctivochalasis

Case report: A 63-year-old man with bilateral conjunctivochalasis presented with tearing, irritation, foreign body sensation and a delayed fluorescein clearance test. After no symptomatic improvement with topical treatment, surgery was carried out, with amniotic membrane transplantation and fibrin sealant. Discussion: Conjunctivochalasis is a frequent disorder that shares symptoms with dry eye syndrome. When there is no response to topical treatment, surgical treatment is needed. The surgical technique described by Tseng, and based on amniotic membrane transplantation without suture, resulted in a very useful response, due to less inflammation and a rapid resolution and improvement of symptom

Ectomycorrhizal status of a mature productive black truffle plantation

The truffle-plantation «Los Quejigares» was planted in 1971 by AROTZ-CATESA company. It is a 600 ha plot of Quercus ilexmycorrhizated with Tuber melanosporum at 1,250 m a.s.l. on calcareous soil. This plantation is the largest of the world and one of the eldest truffle-plantations of Spain and it is in full production. Knowledge of the mycorrhizal status of a mature black truffle plantation is significant for the improvement of truffle cultivation. Ectomycorrhizae were studied for knowing T. melanosporum persistence and diversity and abundance of other ectomycorrhizal types. Roots of 16 holmoaks were sampled, 12 trees produce truffle sporocarps and four did not. It was found a mean of about 35% of T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizae in the studied trees, being this significantly higher in the productive trees. Also, 105 more different ectomycorrhizal types were found. In spite of the high number of morphotypes found, it seems that they do not replace T. melanosporum, showing that there is a coexistence between species in the fungal community associated to the roots

Caracterización de ectomicorrizas en encinares productores de trufa negra del noreste de Soria

Black truffle sporocarp production is determined, amongst many other factors, by an optimum mycorrhization degree in the roots of the host-tree. This process is triggered in balance with other fungal species that does not inhibit its sporocarp production. So, there is an ectomycorrhizal fungal community associated with the black truffle sporocarp productive host-trees that runs as any other living beings community, producing a certain fungal biodiversity and establishing connections in dynamic balance that will evolve. The absence of black truffle sporocarps production in some host-trees will be determined by its ectomycorrhiza absence, or because between the fungal community there are one or more species that inhibit this process or displace it. With the aim of study those topics, the ectomycorrhizae present in 23 adult holmoak trees (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) of seven Tuber melanosporum Vittad. productive areas in the North-West of Soria (inner Spain) are characterized and quantified. During the spring and the autumn of 1999 and 2000, black truffle productive and non-productive holmoaks were studied following the global method (Verlhac et al., 1990, La truffe guide pratique). Ectomycorrhizal types were characterized following the guidelines of Agerer (1999). Tuber melanosporum, T. aestivum Vittad., T. brumale Vittad., Cenococcum geophylum Fr., Pisolithus arrhizus (Scop.) Rauscher, Cantharellus tubaeformis (Bull.) Fr., Hebeloma cf. sinapizans (Fr.) Sacc., Tomentella galzinii Bourdot, AD type, Cortinarius sp., Hebeloma sp. and Scleroderma sp. and many others Telephorales, Tuberales and Boletales ectomycorrhizal types were found. Tuber melanosporum mycorrhizae are present both in productive and non-productive hosttrees, as it happens for T. aestivum, while T. brumale ectomycorrhizae are only present in nonproductive holmoaks. The rest of identified ectomycorrhizal types are present in productive and non-productive host-trees

RIP2 plays a role in cardiac Ca2+ mishandling prompted by chronic kidney disease

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