What Does Influence the Neonatal Microbiome?

: This editorial aims to provide a concise summary of the factors involved in the dynamics of microbiome establishment and maturation. At the same time, it briefly updates the current knowledge and opens new questions in this regard. Many factors act as drivers of the microbiota's development at both pre- and post-natal levels (e.g., maternal factors, antibiotic usage, type of delivery, dietary pattern, post-natal feeding type, etc.). However, it is interesting to research into its real impact, the relationship between these external modulators, and how to modulate them. The are great opportunities for new research in the field

Estudi de tècniques immunològiques a través de “Podcasts” elaborats pels estudiants

Projecte: 2013-PID-UB/10La realització de “podcasts” o sessions formatives audiovisuals per part d’estudiants de postgrau permet treballar diferents competències transversals, entre elles habilitats comunicatives útils per al desenvolupament del seu futur exercici professional (2013-PID-UB/10). Els estudiants han elaborat un guió que posteriorment han convertit en “podcast”. Cada estudiant ha valorat els “podcasts” dels companys i el seu propi mitjançant una rúbrica dissenyada amb aquest objectiu.Programa de Millora i innovació docent,PMID: 2013-PID-UB/1

Desenvolupament i maduració dels limfòcits de l'epiteli i la làmina pròpia de l'intestí de rosegadors durant les primeres etapes de vida

[cat] El sistema immunitari associat a l'intestí o GALT constitueix el teixit defensiu més extens de l'organisme, fet que reflecteix la seva importància funcional. Forma part del sistema immunitari associat a mucoses, caracteritzat per la seva capacitat de sintetitzar i secretar immunoglobulines, i pel tràfic de cèl·lules immunocompetents entre les diferents mucoses, el que confereix un paper protector general a nivell mucosal. El GALT presenta característiques anatòmiques i funcionals particulars que el distingeixen del sistema immunitari sistèmic. Dins d'aquest teixit limfoide existeixen uns compartiments efectors, constituïts pels limfócits de l'epiteli i de la làmina propia, que contenen tipus cel·lulars únics, amb un fenotip activat permanentrnent, alguns deis quals tenen encara un origen i una funció desconeguts. El desenvolupament del GALT té lloc durant la vida fetal i la seva activació s'inicia a partir del naixement i durant els primers dies de vida, coincidint amb la ingesta dels primers aliments i la instauració de la flora microbiana. Aquests estímuls antigènics tenen un important paper fisiòlogic en la maduració del GALT. A més a més d'aquests factors exògens, altres factors endógens com el nivell d'eficiència de presentació antigènica, la formació del complex antigen-receptor dels limfócits T o d'altres també podrien estar implicats en el desenvolupament de les poblacions efectores del GALT. Amb aquests plantejaments, l'objectiu d'aquesta tesi ha consistit en establir el desenvolupament del teixit limfoide associat a intestí prim durant les primeres etapes de vida. Per assolir aquest objectiu, s'han establert tres objectius específtcs. El primer objectiu plantejat ha estat el determinar el desenvolupament fenotípic de les principals poblacions efectores -limfócits intraepitelials i de làmina propia- de la mucosa intestinal. Aquesta anàlisi s'ha portat a terme en rates neonates des del dia del naixement i durant tot el periode de lactancia. El segon objectiu ha consistit en establir la maduració de la capacitat secretora d'immunoglobulines de la mucosa intestinal a partir del dia de naixement. Aquest estudi també s'ha realitzat en rates lactants. El tercer objectiu s'ha centrat en esbrinar l'origen i el desenvolupament d'una subpoblació limfocítica específica del compartiment mucosal, els limfócits intraepitelials CD8alfa-alfa+TCRalfa.beta+, i la seva relació amb els processos de selecció tímica i presentació antigènica. En aquest cas, s'han utilitzat models de ratolins transgènics i s'ha desenvolupat una nova línia doble transgènica. Aquesta part de la tesi s'ha desenvolupat al Center of lmmunology, University of California, lrvine

Editorial: Sustained Effects of Early Nutrition on Immune Development and Microbiome-Immune Crosstalk

Non-communicable diseases associated with immune system dysfunction are an increasing challenge for twenty-first century medicine. There is growing evidence that predisposition to many such conditions originate during early-life "programming events." This term refers to critical points of developmental plasticity where changes in environmental factors have long-term effects on physiological development, including the development of the immune system. From birth, the neonatal immune system develops rapidly in response to external stimuli, primarily from the intestinal microbiota and nutrition, and this pattern of development is essential in adult immune functionality and competence. Nutritional components of the early diet including antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, and other vitamins can directly influence immunity. This is by shifting the structure and/or functions of different immune cell populations and hematopoietic organs, and also by modulating gene expression and various signaling pathways in immune cells that contribute to homeostasis. Non-digestible oligosaccharides and their metabolites can also drive differential immune development indirectly through modification of both the composition and the metabolic activity of the gut microbiota. While current literature indicates the existence of a dynamic interplay between the immune system, nutrition and the intestinal microbiota, the molecular interactions and pathways involved in this cross-talk are complex and poorly characterized

“Cocoa and Chocolate: Science and Gastronomy”—The Second Annual Workshop of the Research Institute on Nutrition and Food Security (INSA): 9 November 2016

The Research Institute on Nutrition and Food Security at the University of Barcelona (INSA-UB) was founded in 2005 by twenty-two research groups from the Faculties of Pharmacy and Food Science; Biology; Chemistry; and Geography and History, as well as other UB-affiliated centers and hospitals. Most of the groups at the Institute are, or at least are part of, the research groups established by the Government of Catalonia. INSA-UB was founded to meet the current societal need for research, training and service provision in the sectors related to the agro-alimentary industry. Researchers at the Institute are experts in different fields of nutrition; food analysis and control; food safety and the study of the social and economic impact of food. The main objectives of the institute are to promote research in the fields in which it works; to encourage collaboration between researchers and the establishment of multidisciplinary teams; to promote participation in research programs and institutional administration, particularly in European research projects; to encourage the development of joint projects with companies in the sectors related to its scope; to make available all the social potential of the UB in this area, especially the training of technicians and specialists and provision of services; to promote the transfer of knowledge and the dissemination of research results between society and government; and to advise consumers, businesses and public authorities on nutrition, food safety and quality..

Implicación del estudiante de postgrado en el proceso de evaluación de su aprendizaje

Podeu consultar la Vuitena trobada de professorat de Ciències de la Salut completa a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/66524La asignatura "Fonaments d’Immunología" del Máster Oficial Interuniversitario URV-UB en Nutrición y Metabolismo es cursada anualmente por unos 20-30 estudiantes. El hecho de tratarse de un grupo reducido permite implementar metodologías que ayuden a promover un aprendizaje más significativo y, entre ellas, la implicación del estudiante en el proceso de evaluación de los conocimientos adquiridos. El objetivo de la presente innovación consistió precisamente en implicar al estudiante en el diseño de una de las propias pruebas de evaluación así como de valorar los trabajos de sus compañeros y el suyo propio. Concretamente, los estudiantes del curso 2014/15 tenían que escoger una técnica inmunológica, lo que les permitía aplicar los conocimientos impartidos en el curso, y desarrollarla en parejas en forma de presentación. Además se les solicitó que elaboraran preguntas test sobre el contenido trabajado. La puntuación de la prueba de evaluación consistió en la valoración de la presentación y en una prueba escrita tipo test sobre todas las exposiciones realizadas. Para calificar las presentaciones, cada estudiante valoró las de los compañeros (corrección por iguales) y la suya propia (autoevaluación) mediante una rúbrica de tres categorías, idéntica a la que utilizó el profesor. Por otra parte, el equipo docente seleccionó varias preguntas de los estudiantes. Las mejores fueron utilizadas para la prueba tipo test, mientras que las de menor claridad, fueron comentadas en clase para aprender de sus errores o problemas de ambigüedad. Se obtuvieron indicadores cualitativos sobre la estrategia docente mediante una encuesta de opinión. Éstos indican que los estudiantes han adquirido consciencia de la importancia de las rúbricas para una evaluación objetiva y de la dificultad en la elaboración de preguntas test, así como del aprendizaje adquirido durante su preparación. Por otra parte, los estudiantes se han mostrado muy satisfechos con la utilidad e interés suscitado, así como de la experiencia globalmente (puntuaciones superiores a 8,5 sobre 10 en todos los casos)

Flavonoids affect host-microbiota crosstalk through TLR modulation

Interaction between host cells and microbes is known as crosstalk. Among other mechanisms, this takes place when certain molecules of the micro-organisms are recognized by the toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the body cells, mainly in the intestinal epithelial cells and in the immune cells. TLRs belong to the pattern-recognition receptors and represent the first line of defense against pathogens, playing a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Dysregulation in the activity of such receptors can lead to the development of chronic and severe inflammation as well as immunological disorders. Among components present in the diet, flavonoids have been suggested as antioxidant dietary factors able to modulate TLR-mediated signaling pathways. This review focuses on the molecular targets involved in the modulatory action of flavonoids on TLR-mediated signaling pathways, providing an overview of the mechanisms involved in such action. Particular flavonoids have been able to modify the composition of the microbiota, to modulate TLR gene and protein expression, and to regulate the downstream signaling molecules involved in the TLR pathway. These synergistic mechanisms suggest the role of some flavonoids in the preventive effect on certain chronic diseases

Cocoa and cocoa fibre differentially modulate IgA and IgM production at mucosal sites

Previous studies have shown that a 10% cocoa (C10) diet, containing polyphenols and fibre among others, modifies intestinal and systemic Ig production. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact of C10 on IgA and IgM production in the intestinal and extra-intestinal mucosal compartments, establishing the involvement of cocoa fibre (CF) in such effects. Mechanisms by which C10 intake may affect IgA synthesis in the salivary glands were also studied. To this effect, rats were fed either a standard diet, a diet containing C10, CF or inulin. Intestinal (the gut wash (GW), Peyer's patches (PP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN)) and extra-intestinal (salivary glands) mucosal tissues and blood samples were collected for IgA and IgM quantification. The gene expressions of IgA production-and homing-related molecules were studied in the salivary glands. The C10 diet decreased intestinal IgA and IgM production. Although the CF diet decreased the GW IgA concentration, it increased PP, MLN and serum IgA concentrations. Both the C10 and the CF diets produced a down-regulatory effect on IgA secretion in the extra-intestinal tissues. The C10 diet interacted with the mechanisms involved in IgA synthesis, whereas the CF showed particular effects on the homing and transcytosis of IgA across the salivary glands. Overall, CF was able to up-regulate IgA production in the intestinal-inductor compartments, whereas it down-regulated its production at the mucosal-effector ones. Further studies must be directed to ascertain the mechanisms involved in the effect of particular cocoa components on gut-associated lymphoid tissue

Dietary Consumption of Polyphenols in University Students Relationship with Their Health-Related Habits

Polyphenols are compounds derived from plants found in foods with potential health benefits due to their antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to establish the consumption of polyphenols in university students and the relationship between the amount of polyphenols consumed and their health-related habits. For this, 270 university students answered a validated food consumption frequency questionnaire (FFQ), a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), and a health and lifestyle questionnaire. From the FFQ, the daily consumption of classes and subclasses of polyphenols was calculated. Then, the population was classified in terciles according to the polyphenol consumption, and the physical activity, smoking habits, and the prevalence of allergy and obesity in each tercile was established. The consumption of polyphenols was about 1.5 g/day, being flavonoids and phenolic acids the most consumed. The main sources of polyphenol consumption were cocoa, coffee, and to a lesser extent, fruits. There were no significant differences in consumption according to sex, BMI, health status, or physical activity. The smoking habit was related to a high consumption of polyphenols, mainly those that came from coffee and cocoa. Students who smoke had a higher consumption of polyphenols with respect to nonsmokers, especially those derived from coffee