Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Blue Mussel Mytilus chilensis Reveals Molecular Signatures Facing the Marine Environment

The blue mussel Mytilus chilensis is an endemic and key socioeconomic species inhabiting the southern coast of Chile. This bivalve species supports a booming aquaculture industry, which entirely relies on artificially collected seeds from natural beds that are translocated to diverse physical–chemical ocean farming conditions. Furthermore, mussel production is threatened by a broad range of microorganisms, pollution, and environmental stressors that eventually impact its survival and growth. Herein, understanding the genomic basis of the local adaption is pivotal to developing sustainable shellfish aquaculture. We present a high-quality reference genome of M. chilensis, which is the first chromosome-level genome for a Mytilidae member in South America. The assembled genome size was 1.93 Gb, with a contig N50 of 134 Mb. Through Hi-C proximity ligation, 11,868 contigs were clustered, ordered, and assembled into 14 chromosomes in congruence with the karyological evidence. The M. chilensis genome comprises 34,530 genes and 4795 non-coding RNAs. A total of 57% of the genome contains repetitive sequences with predominancy of LTR-retrotransposons and unknown elements. Comparative genome analysis of M. chilensis and M. coruscus was conducted, revealing genic rearrangements distributed into the whole genome. Notably, transposable Steamer-like elements associated with horizontal transmissible cancer were explored in reference genomes, suggesting putative relationships at the chromosome level in Bivalvia. Genome expression analysis was also conducted, showing putative genomic differences between two ecologically different mussel populations. The evidence suggests that local genome adaptation and physiological plasticity can be analyzed to develop sustainable mussel production. The genome of M. chilensis provides pivotal molecular knowledge for the Mytilus complex

Authors’ Reply to Letter to the Editor: Continued improvement to genetic diversity indicator for CBD

International audienc

SEN1990 is a predicted winged helix-turn-helix protein involved in the pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and the expression of the gene oafB in the SPI-17

Excisable genomic islands (EGIs) are horizontally acquired genetic elements that harbor an array of genes with diverse functions. ROD21 is an EGI found integrated in the chromosome of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella ser. Enteritidis). While this island is known to be involved in the capacity of Salmonella ser. Enteritidis to cross the epithelial barrier and colonize sterile organs, the role of most ROD21 genes remains unknown, and thus, the identification of their function is fundamental to understanding the impact of this EGI on bacterium pathogenicity. Therefore, in this study, we used a bioinformatical approach to evaluate the function of ROD21-encoded genes and delve into the characterization of SEN1990, a gene encoding a putative DNA-binding protein. We characterized the predicted structure of SEN1990, finding that this protein contains a three-stranded winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) DNA-binding domain. Additionally, we identified homologs of SEN1990 among other members of the EARL EGIs. Furthermore, we deleted SEN1990 in Salmonella ser. Enteritidis, finding no differences in the replication or maintenance of the excised ROD21, contrary to what the previous Refseq annotation of the protein suggests. High-throughput RNA sequencing was carried out to evaluate the effect of the absence of SEN1990 on the bacterium’s global transcription. We found a downregulated expression of oafB, an SPI-17-encoded acetyltransferase involved in O-antigen modification, which was restored when the deletion mutant was complemented ectopically. Additionally, we found that strains lacking SEN1990 had a reduced capacity to colonize sterile organs in mice. Our findings suggest that SEN1990 encodes a wHTH domain-containing protein that modulates the transcription of oafB from the SPI-17, implying a crosstalk between these pathogenicity islands and a possible new role of ROD21 in the pathogenesis of Salmonella ser. Enteritidis

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Measuring the strategic business and IT alignment in a digitally revolutionized economy

The competitive environment of Information Technologies (IT) burst with a never seen intensity, transforming industries, business models, organizational culture and processes. The mutual understanding between the functional areas of the organization with the IT unit is critical for the strategic alignment. Even though significant efforts have been made to understand the relationship of the factors that influence an effective alignment between business and IT, the instruments that measure the maturity achieved between Business and IT present a delay in its evolution. This paper criticizes the available models and proposes an update for measuring the level of maturity achieved in this critical strategic topic. The model was operationalized with constructs and a survey applied to a pilot sample of executives from mostly large Chilean companies. The proposed update includes new factors, which are considered as relevant in this new digital scenario, which, according to the results of the research, are a real contribution to measuring the degree of alignment between the business and the IT function

Posibles impactos en el sector salud por el ingreso de Chile al NAFTA

Tesis (Ingeniería Comercial)Chile durante los últimos años ha desarrollado una estrategia de apertura comercial unilateral, sin embargo, recientemente se han presentado oportunidades que apuntan hacia la incorporación a acuerdos multilaterales. Es así, como los países de América del Norte, miembros de la mayor área de libre comercio en el mundo (357,25 millones de personas), han invitado a Chile para que se incorpore a este acuerdo comercial. Esta invitación trae consigo, implícitamente, un largo período de negociaciones que no será del todo fácil, pero que posiblemente puede traer para nuestro país grandes beneficios en todos o casi todos los sectores productivos de nuestra economía y que, por lo tanto, se podría ver reflejado en el bienestar de la población y crecimiento económico. A la vez, la incorporación al acuerdo presentará ciertas dificultades y desafios a superar, tales como ajustes a las normativas exigidas en el NAFTA y mejoras en la competitividad de las empresas nacionales. Es por esta razón que en el presente seminario analizaremos los posibles impactos que un acuerdo de esta naturaleza tendría sobre el Sector Salud, en especial por la desorganización que ha denotado durante los últimos años, así como la falta de visión por parte de la autoridad para llegar a una solución eficiente en la administración del sector y la utilización de los recursos disponibles. Además éste, por distintas razones, ha estado en tela de juicio y ha sido causa de discusión nacional y dudas respecto del real avance alcanzado por nuestro país. Así resulta obvio preguntarse, ¿ Qué podría aportar la adhesión al Acuerdo de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (NAFTA), en materia de salud, que el crecimiento económico alcanzado por nuestro país no haya logrado incluir hasta este momento?; pregunta que trataremos de dilucidar en el presente trabajo. Además creemos importante analizar las repercusiones en la salud, puesto que ésta ya no es sólo uno de los fines últimos del crecimiento económico, sino que a pasado a ser una condición esencial de éste y, a la vez, un elemento indispensable para la sociedad. La entrega de salud constituye uno de los mecanismos más importantes y significativos de la redistribución del ingreso, factor que se podría beneficiar con la adhesión al tratado

sj-docx-2-spo-10.1177_17479541231207254 - Supplemental material for The pre-match talk: A multiple-method examination of youth-elite football coaches’ motivational content

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-spo-10.1177_17479541231207254 for The pre-match talk: A multiple-method examination of youth-elite football coaches’ motivational content by Pablo E Raya-Castellano, Tomás García-Calvo, Miguel A López-Gajardo, Joaquín Martín Marzano-Felisatti and Juan J Pulido in International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching</p

sj-docx-1-spo-10.1177_17479541231207254 - Supplemental material for The pre-match talk: A multiple-method examination of youth-elite football coaches’ motivational content

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-spo-10.1177_17479541231207254 for The pre-match talk: A multiple-method examination of youth-elite football coaches’ motivational content by Pablo E Raya-Castellano, Tomás García-Calvo, Miguel A López-Gajardo, Joaquín Martín Marzano-Felisatti and Juan J Pulido in International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching</p