Environmental epigenomics: Current approaches to assess epigenetic effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC's) on human health

Environmental Epigenomics is a developing field to study the epigenetic effect on human health from exposure to environmental factors. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been detected primarily in pharmaceutical drugs, personal care products, food additives, and food containers. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been associated with a high incidence and prevalence of many endocrine-related disorders in humans. Nevertheless, further evidence is needed to establish a correlation between exposure to EDC and human disorders. Conventional detection of EDCs is based on chemical structure and concentration sample analysis. However, substantial evidence has emerged, suggesting that cell exposure to EDCs leads to epigenetic changes, independently of its chemical structure with non-monotonic low-dose responses. Consequently, a paradigm shift in toxicology assessment of EDCs is proposed based on a comprehensive review of analytical techniques used to evaluate the epigenetic effects. Fundamental insights reported elsewhere are compared in order to establish DNA methylation analysis as a viable method for assessing endocrine disruptors beyond the conventional study approach of chemical structure and concentration analysis

An AGAMOUS-related MADS-box gene, XAL1 (AGL12), regulates root meristem cell proliferation and flowering transition in Arabidopsis

11 pages, 5 figures, 1 table.-- PMID: 18203871 [PubMed].-- PMCID: PMC2259045.-- Supplementary information available at: http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content/full/pp.107.108647/DC1MADS-box genes are key components of the networks that control the transition to flowering and flower development, but their role in vegetative development is poorly understood. This article shows that the sister gene of the AGAMOUS (AG) clade, AGL12, has an important role in root development as well as in flowering transition. We isolated three mutant alleles for AGL12, which is renamed here as XAANTAL1 (XAL1): Two alleles, xal1-1 and xal1-2, are in Columbia ecotype and xal1-3 is in Landsberg erecta ecotype. All alleles have a short-root phenotype with a smaller meristem, lower rate of cell production, and abnormal root apical meristem organization. Interestingly, we also encountered a significantly longer cell cycle in the strongest xal1 alleles with respect to wild-type plants. Expression analyses confirmed the presence of XAL1 transcripts in roots, particularly in the phloem. Moreover, XAL1beta-glucuronidase expression was specifically up-regulated by auxins in this tissue. In addition, mRNA in situ hybridization showed that XAL1 transcripts were also found in leaves and floral meristems of wild-type plants. This expression correlates with the late-flowering phenotypes of the xal1 mutants grown under long days. Transcript expression analysis suggests that XAL1 is an upstream regulator of SOC, FLOWERING LOCUS T, and LFY. We propose that XAL1 may have similar roles in both root and aerial meristems that could explain the xal1 late-flowering phenotype.This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), México (grant nos. CO1.41848/A–1, CO1.0538/A–1, and CO1.0435.B–1); Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico (DGAPA)-Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM; grant nos. IN230002 and IX207104); and the University of California-MEXUS ECO IE 271 to E.R.A.-B. R.T.-L. was a recipient of CONACYT and DGAPA-PAPIIT-UNAM fellowships (no. IX225304). J.G.D. was supported by DGAPA-PAPIIT-UNAM (grant nos. IN210202 and IN225906) and CONACYT (grant no. 49267).Peer reviewe

Impacto de la gestión ambiental en la cultura ambiental de la UAZ

La Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas UAZ., en el Plan Desarrollo (2012-2016), realizó un proceso de consulta identificando principales demandas y retos de la UAZ dentro de los que se deberá trabajar en el equilibrio ambiental, social y económico. Esto representa un desafío para los universitarios para desarrollar la propuesta que involucra la cultura ambiental. La sostenibilidad en la UAZ, Zacatecas. La UAZ continuamente ha tenido un compromiso con la naturaleza, en su último proceso de reforma en 1999, reitero el camino de la protección a la naturaleza, en 2006 en la reunión de Programas Ambientales Institucionales (PAIs ANUIES-CECADESU-SEMARNAT) presentó su proyecto de cultura ambiental en el cual se ha trabajado estos años recibiendo apoyo de PRODERIC-ZAC 2007 y del PIFI 2010, 2011,2012 y 2013, para acciones de ambientalización de las currículas y gestión ambiental (3,5).Trabajo publicado en Acta Bioquímica Clínica Latinoamericana; no. 52, supl. 2, parte II, diciembre de 2018.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

A new genus of oak gall wasp, Striatoandricus Pujade-Villar (Hyenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) from Americ with descriptions of two new Mexican species

A new genus of cynipid oak gall wasp, Striatoandricus Pujade-Villar (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), is described. Striatoandricus gen. nov. includes four previously described species, Andricus nievesaldreyi n. comb., A. georgei n. comb., A. maesi n. comb., and A. barriosi n. comb., which induce pubescent leaves or twig galls on Quercus belonging to Quercus section. Two new species from México are also described: S. cuixarti Pujade-Villar n. sp. and S. sanchezi Pujade-Villar n. sp. in Quercus section. Descriptions of the genus and diagnostic characters, including DNA sequence data, are presented. This new genus is supported by both morphological and molecular data

Weaker HLA footprints on HIV in the unique and highly genetically admixed host population of Mexico

HIV circumvents HLA class I-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses through selection of escape mutations that leave characteristic mutational “footprints,” also known as HLA-associated polymorphisms (HAPs), on HIV sequences at the population level. While many HLA footprints are universal across HIV subtypes and human populations, others can be region specific as a result of the unique immunogenetic background of each host population. Using a published probabilistic phylogenetically informed model, we compared HAPs in HIV Gag and Pol (PR-RT) in 1,612 subtype B-infected, antiretroviral treatment-naive individuals from Mexico and 1,641 individuals from Canada/United States. A total of 252 HLA class I allele subtypes were represented, including 140 observed in both cohorts, 67 unique to Mexico, and 45 unique to Canada/United States. At the predefined statistical threshold of a q value of <0.2, 358 HAPs (201 in Gag, 157 in PR-RT) were identified in Mexico, while 905 (534 in Gag and 371 in PR-RT) were identified in Canada/United States. HAPs identified in Mexico included both canonical HLA-associated escape pathways and novel associations, in particular with HLA alleles enriched in Amerindian and mestizo populations. Remarkably, HLA footprints on HIV in Mexico were not only fewer but also, on average, significantly weaker than those in Canada/United States, although some exceptions were noted. Moreover, exploratory analyses suggested that the weaker HLA footprint on HIV in Mexico may be due, at least in part, to weaker and/or less reproducible HLA-mediated immune pressures on HIV in this population. The implications of these differences for natural and vaccine-induced anti-HIV immunity merit further investigation

Panorámica del impacto ambiental, sanitario, social ante la pandemia del covid-19

El 31 de diciembre de 2019, ante el reporte de cuadros respiratorios en Wuhan (China), nunca la humanidad se imaginó que cambiaría su curso, en marzo se declaro la pandemia de COVID-19 por la OMS, desencadenando en muchos países del mundo crisis sanitarias, como ejemplo en Italia siendo importante el número de adultos mayores que fallecieron, y en marzo ya se encontraba en América, y estableciendo el confinamiento como medida de mitigación contra la dispersión del SARCOV-2, teniendo esto un impacto en lo económico, social, cambiando las actividades de la humanidad, continuaron las funciones esenciales como la producción de alimentos, los servicios, los bancos, y cerrando los espacios de diversión cines, conciertos, teatros, instituciones de educación, muchos países cerraron sus fronteras. Iniciando la vida a distancia en múltiples sectores, sin embargo, ante ese confinamiento se agudizo la gran desigualdad que existe en el mundo, y se incrementó la vulnerabilidad de la violencia a las mujeres, niñas, adultos mayores, y teniendo un gran impacto en la economía de los más pobres. En el ambiente se mejoró las condiciones, disminución de los efectos de gases invernaderos, mejoraron las condiciones de la naturaleza, sin embargo no fue igual en todo el planeta, dejando desafortunadamente la muerte de millones de personas, y ante esto la comunidad científica se unió y pudo poner a disposición de la humanidad vacunas para mitigar la pandemia del COVID-19, y donde nuevamente observamos la desigualdad en la distribución de las mismas, hay países que iniciara el proceso de inmunización hasta el 2022, el reto de la pandemia agudizo los problemas de la humanidad, avanzo la ciencia de una manera impresionante, sin embargo seguimos teniendo poblaciones vulnerables, crisis económica, social, ambiental y sanitaria, hay mucho trabajo por hacer, la humanidad necesita empatía, trabajar de una manera conjunta, y no parar su lucha para el cuidado de la naturaleza. Siendo fundamental el papel de las instituciones de educación desde nivel kínder a posgrado, para ser ejes rectores en todos los campos disciplinarios.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Visión educativa ambiental, en la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 2006-2020 y su impacto en el cambio climático y salud

La Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, desde su fundación en 1832 y hasta la actualidad ha estado comprometida con la sociedad y el medio ambiente. En el año de 2006 presentó su proyecto de Cultura Ambiental ante CECADESU-SEMARNAT y ANUIES, este proyecto es transversal a todas las actividades sustantivas (docencia, investigación, extensión, divulgación) y adjetivas (recursos humanos, infraestructura y economía) de la institución, acorde con su modelo académico UAZ siglo XXI, que inició en 2005 y está centrado en el alumno. Actualmente cuenta con una población de 40.504 alumnos (785 de secundaria, 12.255 de bachillerato, 25.559 de licenciatura, 1.876 de posgrado y 79 de educación técnica; 2.895 profesores y 1.985 trabajadores administrativos). Siendo fundamental el trabajo en el conocimiento de la salud, la educación y cambio climático, para la salud del hombre, animales, plantas y el planeta. Objetivo: Implementar la cultura ambiental en toda la comunidad UAZ y trasversal a todas sus actividades sustantivas (docencia, investigación, extensión, divulgación, vinculación) y adjetivas (recursos de infraestructura, humanos y financieros).Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Nitrogen uptake and internal recycling in Zostera marina exposed to oyster farming: eelgrass potential as a natural biofilter

Oyster farming in estuaries and coastal lagoons frequently overlaps with the distribution of seagrass meadows, yet there are few studies on how this aquaculture practice affects seagrass physiology. We compared in situ nitrogen uptake and the productivity of Zostera marina shoots growing near off-bottom longlines and at a site not affected by oyster farming in San Quintin Bay, a coastal lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. We used benthic chambers to measure leaf NH4 (+) uptake capacities by pulse labeling with (NH4)-N-15 (+) and plant photosynthesis and respiration. The internal N-15 resorption/recycling was measured in shoots 2 weeks after incubations. The natural isotopic composition of eelgrass tissues and vegetative descriptors were also examined. Plants growing at the oyster farming site showed a higher leaf NH4 (+) uptake rate (33.1 mmol NH4 (+) m(-2) day(-1)) relative to those not exposed to oyster cultures (25.6 mmol NH4 (+) m(-2) day(-1)). We calculated that an eelgrass meadow of 15-16 ha (which represents only about 3-4 % of the subtidal eelgrass meadow cover in the western arm of the lagoon) can potentially incorporate the total amount of NH4 (+) excreted by oysters (similar to 5.2 x 10(6) mmol NH4 (+) day(-1)). This highlights the potential of eelgrass to act as a natural biofilter for the NH4 (+) produced by oyster farming. Shoots exposed to oysters were more efficient in re-utilizing the internal N-15 into the growth of new leaf tissues or to translocate it to belowground tissues. Photosynthetic rates were greater in shoots exposed to oysters, which is consistent with higher NH4 (+) uptake and less negative delta C-13 values. Vegetative production (shoot size, leaf growth) was also higher in these shoots. Aboveground/belowground biomass ratio was lower in eelgrass beds not directly influenced by oyster farms, likely related to the higher investment in belowground biomass to incorporate sedimentary nutrients