Heavy metal whole-cell biosensors using eukaryotic microorganisms: An updated critical review

This review analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using eukaryotic microorganisms to design whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) for monitoring environmental heavy metal pollution in soil or aquatic habitats. Basic considerations for designing a eukaryotic WCB are also shown. A comparative analysis of the promoter genes used to design WCBs is carried out, and the sensitivity and reproducibility of the main reporter genes used is also reviewed. Three main eukaryotic taxonomic groups are considered: yeasts, microalgae, and ciliated protozoa. Models that have been widely analyzed as potential WCBs are the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model among yeasts, the Tetrahymena thermophila model for ciliates and Chlamydomonas model for microalgae. The advantages and disadvantages of each microbial group are discussed, and a ranking of sensitivity to the same type of metal pollutant from reported eukaryotic WCBs is also shown. General conclusions and possible future developments of eukaryotic WCBs are reported

Dating Violence: A Bibliometric Review of the Literature in Web of Science and Scopus

FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades/Proyecto (P18-RT-1475).This study has the general purpose of improving the understanding and description of the field of violence in young couple relationships by means of a bibliometric analysis. A descriptive and transversal-retrospective methodology is used, the objective of which is to describe in a quantitative way the information obtained from the production of 842 references registered in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results show that during 2017 and 2018, the majority of publications were concentrated, highlighting that the United States is the country with the highest amount of scientific production on violence in intimate relationships. It is important to highlight that more and more countries are investigating this subject, highlighting an increase in production from 2015 onwards. The violence that occurs in the relationships of young couples is a global social and health problem that requires research to be able to deepen its knowledge and in the prevention of this social scourge.Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades/Proyecto P18-RT-147

Environmental Biosensors: A Microbiological View

In this mini-review, the potential of using microorganisms to design biosensors for detecting environmental pollutants is analyzed and discussed. A distinction is made between a classical biosensor (CB) and a whole-cell biosensor (WCB), emphasizing their structural components and the possibility of using whole microorganisms as their bioreceptor elements. The advantages and disadvantages of using prokaryotic microorganisms as opposed to eukaryotic microorganisms are described. Likewise, the advantages of using protozoa ciliates) over other eukaryotic microorganisms are also shown. We analyze the current bibliography on biosensors built on microorganisms as bioreceptors of pollutant molecules, such as inorganic (metal (loid)s) or organic (xenobiotics). New trends, such as the prokaryotic riboswitches, microbial two-component systems where the pollutant can be simultaneously detected and bioremediated, along with advances in synthetic biology, are shown as promising tools in the design of environmental biosensors

Social and Labour Inclusion of Gypsy Woman. Service-Learning as a Commitment to Educational Innovation

Financiación obtenida por el Vicerrectorado de Calidad, Innovación y Prospectiva de la Universidad de Granada. Convocatoria Proyectos de Innovación Docente. Código: 19-20. Título: Mujer gitana: cohesión e inclusión socioeducativa. Trabajo cooperativo desde la educación social y la pedagogía.El presente trabajo muestra las aportaciones fundamentales de un Proyecto de Innovación Docente financiado por la Universidad de Granada durante el curso académico 2019/2020. Su doble finalidad ha permitido trabajar la formación-inclusión social de la mujer gitana que reside en la Zona Norte de la ciudad de Granada y, por otro lado, desarrollar competencias profesionales en el alumnado que cursa los grados de educación social y pedagogía. Para ello se ha puesto en práctica un proceso de trabajo colaborativo en el que han participado mujeres gitanas junto a profesionales de la educación social y de la pedagogía, así como alumnado de esos grados. Para llevar a cabo este proyecto, se ha utilizado una metodología comunicativa y de tutoría entre iguales partiendo del aprendizaje-servicio. Se han diseñado e implementado, conjuntamente entre expertos, alumnado y mujer gitana, talleres destinados a trabajar la inserción laboral, las emociones y el estudio de los estereotipos y roles de género. Los resultados muestran la adquisición y desarrollo de competencias para la inclusión en el colectivo de mujeres gitanas, así como un aumento del nivel formativo, la motivación y el interés en el alumnado participante.This work shows the fundamental contributions of a Teaching Innovation Project funded by the University of Granada during the 2019/2020 academic year. Its dual purpose has made it possible to work on the training-social inclusion of gypsy women residing in the North Zone of the city of Granada and, on the other hand, to develop professional skills in students who are studying social education and pedagogy degrees. To this end, a collaborative work process has been put into practice in which gypsy women have participated together with professionals from social education and pedagogy, as well as students from those degrees. To carry out this project, a communication and peer tutoring methodology was used based on service-learning. Workshops have been designed, implemented and put into practice jointly between experts, students and gypsy women, aimed at working on labor insertion, emotions and the study of gender stereotypes and roles. The results show the acquisition and development of competences for inclusion in the group of Roma women, as well as an increase in the level of training, motivation and interest in the participating students.Vicerrectorado de Calidad, Innovación y Prospectiva de la Universidad de Granada Convocatoria Proyectos de Innovación Docente. Código: 19-2

Moxifloxacin versus Clindamycin/Ceftriaxone in the management of odontogenic maxillofacial infectious processes: a preliminary, intrahospital, controlled clinical trial

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the days of hospitalization length between patients treated with Moxifloxacin with that of patients treated with a Clindamycin/Ceftriaxone combination and additionally, to isolate and identify the oral pathogens involved in orofacial odontogenic infections. Material and Methods: A pilot-controlled-clinical-trial was carried out on hospitalized patients with cervicofacial odontogenic abscesses or cellulitis, who were randomly asigned to two study groups: 1) patients who received Moxifloxacin, and 2) patients receiving Clindamycin/Ceftriaxone combination. Infiltrate samples were collected through transdermic or transmucosal punction and later cultured on a media specific for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Mean hospitalization duration in days until hospital discharge and susceptibility assessment in rates were established. Results: Mean hospitalization time in days of patients treated with Moxifloxacin was 7.0 ± 1.6 days, while in the Clindamycin/Ceftriaxone group, this was 8.4 ± 1.8 days, although significant difference could not be demonstrated ( p =0.074). A total of 43 strains were isolated, all of these Gram-positive. These strains appeared to be highly sen - sitive to Moxifloxacin (97.5%) and Ceftriaxone (92.5%). Conclusions: Moxifloxacin and Ceftriaxone appear to be potential convenient and rational alternatives to traditional antibiotics, for treating severe odontogenic infections, in conjunction with surgical extraoral incision, debridement, and drainage

Women, Equality and Education A model of person and society in 1st century Christian writings

In the stories of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we find a model of human personal reality in the dynamism of its realisation as a continuous being-as-self that shows its overflowing as an educating reality, an open reality. In other accounts, women are shown as witnesses to the encounter with Jesus after his death, a testimony that is received by Jesus’ group and corroborated by the men of the community in order to reach beyond its borders. In the testimony received and the action shared, the foundations of a society that is built on equality are shown.En los relatos de María, la madre de Jesús, encontramos un modelo de la realidad personal humana en el dinamismo de su realización como un continuo estar-dando-de-sí que muestra su desbordamiento como realidad educanda, realidad abierta. En otros relatos se muestra a mujeres como testigos del encuentro con Jesús después de su muerte, un testimonio que es recibido por el grupo de Jesús y corroborado por los varones de la comunidad para hacerlo llegar más allá de sus fronteras. En el testimonio recibido y la acción compartida se muestran los cimientos de una sociedad que se construye en igualdad.Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Granada Programa de Apoyo y Fomento a la Investigación en Materia de Igualdad, Inclusión y Sostenibilidad Social, INV-IGU166-2021, “Investigación en Educación Sexual Integral

Hints for Metal-Preference Protein Sequence Determinants: Different Metal Binding Features of the Five Tetrahymena thermophila Metallothioneins

The metal binding preference of metallothioneins (MTs) groups them in two extreme subsets, the Zn/Cd- and the Cu-thioneins. Ciliates harbor the largest MT gene/protein family reported so far, in-cluding 5 paralogs that exhibit relatively low sequence similarity, excepting MTT2 and MTT4. In Tet-rahymena thermophila, three MTs (MTT1, MTT3 and MTT5) were considered Cd-thioneins and two (MTT2 and MTT4) Cu-thioneins, according to gene expression inducibility and phylogenetic analysis. In this study, the metal-binding abilities of the five MTT proteins were characterized, to obtain information about the folding and stability of their cognate- and non-cognate metal complexes, and to characterize the T. thermophila MT system at protein level. Hence, the five MTTs were recombinantly synthesized as Zn2+-, Cd2+- or Cu+-complexes, which were analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), circular dichroism (CD), and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Among the Cd-thioneins, MTT1 and MTT5 were optimal for Cd2+ coordination, yielding unique Cd17- and Cd8- complexes, respectively. When binding Zn2+, they rendered a mixture of Zn-species. Only MTT5 was capable to coordinate Cu+, although yielding heteronuclear Zn-, Cu-species or highly unstable Cu-homometallic species. MTT3 exhibited poor binding abilities both for Cd2+ and for Cu+, and although not optimally, it yielded the best result when coordinating Zn2+. The two Cu-thioneins, MTT2 and MTT4 isoforms formed homometallic Cu-complexes (major Cu20-MTT) upon synthesis in Cu-supplemented hosts. Contrarily, they were unable to fold into stable Cd-complexes, while Zn-MTT species were only recovered for MTT4 (major Zn10-MTT4). Thus, the metal binding preferences of the five T. thermophila MTs correlate well with their previous classification as Cd- and Cu-thioneins, and globally, they can be classified from Zn/Cd- to Cu-thioneins according to the gradation: MTT1>MTT5>MTT3>MTT4>MTT2. The main mechanisms underlying the evolution and specialization of the MTT metal binding preferences may have been in-ternal tandem duplications, presence of doublet and triplet Cys patterns in Zn/Cd-thioneins, and op-timization of site specific amino acid determinants (Lys for Zn/Cd- and Asn for Cu-coordination)

Autophagy and lipid droplets are a defense mechanism against toxic copper oxide nanotubes in the eukaryotic microbial model Tetrahymena thermophila

The widespread use of inorganic nanomaterials of anthropogenic origin has significantly increased in the last decade, being now considered as emerging pollutants. This makes it necessary to carry out studies to further understand their toxicity and interactions with cells. In the present work we analyzed the toxicity of CuO nanotubes (CuONT) in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, a eukaryotic unicellular model with animal biology. CuONT exposure rapidly induced ROS generation in the cell leading to oxidative stress and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), metal-chelating metallothioneins and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Comet assays and overexpression of genes involved in DNA repair confirmed oxidative DNA damage in CuONT-treated cells. Remarkably, both electron and fluorescent microscopy revealed numerous lipid droplets and autophagosomes containing CuONT aggregates and damaged mitochondria, indicating activation of macroautophagy, which was further confirmed by a dramatic upregulation of ATG (AuTophaGy related) genes. Treatment with autophagy inhibitors significantly increased CuONT toxicity, evidencing the protective role of autophagy towards CuONTinduced damage. Moreover, increased formation of lipid droplets appears as an additional mechanism of CuONT detoxification. Based on these results, we present a hypothetical scenario summarizing how T. thermophila responds to CuONT toxicity. This study corroborates the use of this ciliate as an excellent eukaryotic microbial model for analyzing the cellular response to stress caused by toxic metal nanoparticles

Guideline for pediatric and neonatal life support. Consensus for the project of training and research in life support. Cienfuegos, 2018

Foundation: cardio-respiratory failure in the child is considered a Health problem. The most important determinant for survival is the presence of a trained individual to performer cardio-pulmonary-cerebral resuscitation. In the framework of the project Training and research for life support in Emergencies and disasters, updating guidelines for teaching pediatric and neonatal life support may contribute to resuscitation success and quality survival.Objective: to update the guidelines and strategies for teaching pediatric and neonatal life support.Method: a National Workshop with ten experts and three key informers, during the 10th and 11th of July 2018 in Cienfuegos. Brain storming and nominal group were used as techniques and it was applied a semi-structured questionnaire with previous documentary review.Development: objectives, didactic aspects, teaching strategy, contents, scope, and skills to develop for teaching pediatric and neonatal life support. It was defined the structure a model course for teaching the topic and the main considerations for its execution.Conclusion: academic proposals for the course Advanced pediatric and neonatal life support allow approaching the pediatric patient in emergency situations by the assisting medical personnel.</p

Arsenate and arsenite differential toxicity in Tetrahymena thermophila

A comparative analysis of toxicities of both arsenic forms (arsenite and arsenate) in the model eukaryotic microorganism Tetrahymena thermophila (ciliate protozoa) has shown the presence of various detoxification mechanisms and cellular effects comparable to those of animal cells under arsenic stress. In the wild type strain SB1969 arsenate is almost 2.5 times more toxic than arsenite. According to the concentration addition model used in binary metallic mixtures their toxicities show an additive effect. Using fluorescent assays and flow cytometry, it has been detected that As(V) generates elevated levels of ROS/RNS compared to As(III). Both produce the same levels of superoxide anion, but As(V) also causes greater increases in hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. The mitochondrial membrane potential is affected by both As(V) and As(III), and electron microscopy has also revealed that mitochondria are the main target of both arsenic ionic forms. Fusion/fission and swelling mitochondrial and mitophagy, together with macroautophagy, vacuolization and mucocyst extruction are mainly associated to As(V) toxicity, while As(III) induces an extensive lipid metabolism dysfunction (adipotropic effect). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of some genes encoding antioxidant proteins or enzymes has shown that glutathione and thioredoxin metabolisms are involved in the response to arsenic stress. Likewise, the function of metallothioneins seems to be crucial in arsenic detoxification processes, after using both metallothionein knockout and knockdown strains and cells overexpressing metallothionein genes from this ciliate. The analysis of the differential toxicity of As(III) and As(V) shown in this study provides cytological and molecular tools to be used as biomarkers for each of the two arsenic ionic forms