Fisiología de la nutrición y del estrés en las primeras fases de vida del pulpo común (Octopus vulgaris). Resultados del proyecto OCTOPHYS

El cultivo del pulpo común (Oclopus vulgaris) está severamente limitado por las altas mortalidades que se producen durante su cultivo larvano, aunque en la actualidad, las causas especfficas de tan alta mortalidad siguen siendo desconocidas. Este proyecto pretende adquirir conocimientos básicos sobre la biología y fisiologia de las paralarvas a través de un enfoque multidisciplinarque incluye aspectos innovadores relacionados con la fisiologia de la nutrición y el estrés. Los objetivos propuestos están basados en un fuerte input zootécnico y prevén el uso de herramientas biométricas, bioquímicas, enzimáticas, moleculares y proteómicas, con el fin último de optimizar la condición y supervivencia de las paralarvas. Incluyen asimismo la búsqueda y selección de biomarcadores capaces de detectar y cuantíñcar el estrés nutricional.The culture oflhe common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is hindered by high mortalities encountered during its paralarval rearing, allhough at present, Ihe specific causes forlhe high mortalities observed remain unidentified. This project aims at galhering a beller understanding of Ihe basic biology and physiology ofthe paralarvae, through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach, which includes Ihe study oflhe physiology 01 nutrition and!he evaluation 01Ihe stress condition. The objectives proposed are basad on a strong zootechnical input and foresee Ihe use of biometric, biochemical, enzymatic, molecular biology and proteomic tools, pointing towards the ultimate optimisation of Ihe paralarval condition and survival. They also include Ihe study ofthe nutritionally-derived stress and Ihe selection ofbiomarkers capable of its detection and quantification

Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH)

BackgroundSelf-harm and depression are strong risk factors for repeat self-harm and suicide. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy (PSCBT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU in young people with repeat self-harm and depression.MethodsSingle-blind multi-centre RCT with an internal pilot, pre-set stop-go criteria and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Eligible participants (aged 16–30 years) were recruited from 9 adult or child and adolescent self-harm and crisis services; had ≥ 2 lifetime self-harm episodes, one in the preceding 96 h; and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score ≥ 17. Participants were randomised (1:1) to either TAU or TAU and 10–12 sessions of PSCBT delivered by mobile phone or video-calling.ResultsTwenty-two participants were recruited (11 in each arm), 10 (46%) completed follow-up at 6 months, 9 (82%) started the PSCBT and 4 (36%) completed it. The study did not meet three of its four stop-go criteria, reflecting considerable barriers to recruitment and retention. Participants had severe depression symptoms: with mean BDI-II 38.9 in the PSCBT and 37.2 in TAU groups, respectively. Three (14%) unblindings occurred for immediate safety concerns. Barriers to recruitment and retention included lack of agency for participants, severity of depression, recency of crisis with burden for participants and clinicians who diagnosed depression according to pervasiveness.ConclusionsRCTs of PSCBT for young people with depression and self-harm are not feasible using recruitment through mental health services that conduct assessments following self-harm presentations. Clinician assessment following self-harm presentation mainly identifies those with severe rather than mild-moderate depression

Parental contributions and growth rate in an atlantic x mediterranean cross of the clam ruditapes decussatus

Trabajo presentado en la International Conference & Exposition Aquaculture Europe, celebrada en Funchal, Maderia (Portugal) del 04 al 07 de octubre de 2021.The interest of the native European clam Ruditapes decussatus for aquaculture is increasing (da Costa et al., 2020). Spat of this species is usually utilized to restocking harvested natural populations (Borrell et al., 2014). A detailed knowledge of the performance in hatcheries and an adequate management of the species¿ genetic diversity are essential to develop a science-based management of clam fisheries and aquaculture. Adequate levels of genetic diversity in the hatchery stock depends on the contribution of a large number of parents, but this often is not the case in bivalves (Borrell et al., 2014). Moreover, R. decussatus is characterized by the existence of three races, which could be maintained by endogenous barriers to gene flow (Cordero et al, 2014; Arias-Pérez et al., 2016). Applying microsatellites as genetic markers to the progeny of a cross between clams of Atlantic and West Mediterranean races, we have studied three topics which are important for clam production and conservation of genetic resources: 1) male and female contributions to offspring after conditioning and spawning induction in the hatchery; 2) testing for genetic barriers between the two races; and 3) growth rate differences among families and populations.Financed through grants AGL2017-87745-C2-1-R and AGL2017-87745-C2-2-R. from (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE

Molecular identification, life cycle characterization, and hatchery seed production of dwarf oysters from the Ebro Delta (Spain)

Dwarf oysters in the Ebro Delta are only observed growing on local pen shells, Pinna nobilis L., currently under extinction risk. The species identification of these populations is uncertain, given recent genetic classifications of dwarf oysters of Ostrea stentina species complex. Hence, the first objective of this study was to confirm the identity of dwarf oysters associated to P. nobilis in the Ebro Delta. Then, we aimed to assess the viability of hatchery and nursery production of O. stentina for potential conservation programs using diets based on a mix of live microalgae species or the commercial Shellfish Diet 1800®. Our results showed that COI sequences obtained were specific to O. stentina. Significant differences in the growth and survival of larvae between diet treatments were observed in 3 days. For the live diet, the larval period lasted from 15 to 22 days (299.2 ± 4 µm) whereas it took up to 36 days using the Shellfish Diet 1800® (280 ± 7.2 µm), with an overall mortality of 72.3 vs. 99.3%, respectively for each diet. Besides, no seed survival was observed for the commercial diet after a 10-day-fixation attempt. In contrast, ca. 16% of the individuals on the live diet that were allowed to settle reached the juvenile stage and could be released to the environment. Histological examination of obtained seed did not present any sign of disease and showed gonadal development for both sexes at ca. 6 months of age (16.1–19.1 mm). The growth curve obtained was fitted to a Schnute-Richards growth model which returned ages of up to 10 years for maximum local sizes of 45 mm. We conclude that although the Shellfish Diet 1800® is not an adequate diet for O. stentina, its hatchery production is feasible and might provide support to future conservation actions.Authors are grateful to the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge for supporting the Pinna Spat and Recupera Pinna projects in the 2019 and 2020 calls for proposals. P. Prado was contracted under the INIA-CCAA cooperative research program for postdoctoral incorporation from the Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA)

Bonamia exitiosa (Haplosporidia) observed infecting the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis cultured on the Spanish Mediterranean coast

Bonamia exitiosa and Bonamia ostreae are parasites that reproduce within the haemocytes of several oyster species. In Europe, the host species is the flat oyster Ostrea edulis. The parasite B. ostreae has been responsible for mortalities since the late 1970s throughout the European Atlantic coast. B. exitiosa was first detected, in 2007, on this continent in flat oysters cultured in Galicia (NW Spain). Since then, the parasite has also been detected in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The bays of the Ebro Delta in the south of Catalonia represent the main bivalve culture area in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Previous information from the area includes reports of several flat oyster pathogens, including the notifiable parasite Marteilia refringens. However, the status with regard to Bonamia parasites was uncertain. In the present study, a Bonamia parasite was observed in flat oysters cultured in the Alfacs Bay of the Ebro Delta by histology and real-time PCR. PCR-RFLP and sequencing suggested the presence of B. exitiosa. Finally, phylogenetic analyses of the studied Bonamia isolates corroborated B. exitiosa infection. M. refringens was also observed in the same oyster batch, and co-infection with both parasites was also detected. This is the first detection of B. exitiosa, in Catalonia and the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The impact of the parasite on the Mediterranean flat oyster activity needs to be urgently addressed

A new generation of Melan-A/MART-1 peptides that fulfill both increased immunogenicity and high resistance to biodegradation: implication for molecular anti-melanoma immunotherapy

Intense efforts of research are made for developing antitumor vaccines that stimulate T cell-mediated immunity. Tumor cells specifically express at their surfaces antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I and recognized by CTL. Tumor antigenic peptides hold promise for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. However, peptide-based vaccines face two major limitations: the weak immunogenicity of tumor Ags and their low metabolic stability in biological fluids. These two hurdles, for which separate solutions exist, must, however, be solved simultaneously for developing improved vaccines. Unfortunately, attempts made to combine increased immunogenicity and stability of tumor Ags have failed until now. Here we report the successful design of synthetic derivatives of the human tumor Ag Melan-A/MART-1 that combine for the first time both higher immunogenicity and high peptidase resistance. A series of 36 nonnatural peptide derivatives was rationally designed on the basis of knowledge of the mechanism of degradation of Melan-A peptides in human serum and synthesized. Eight of them were efficiently protected against proteolysis and retained the antigenic properties of the parental peptide. Three of the eight analogs were twice as potent as the parental peptide in stimulating in vitro Melan-specific CTL responses in PBMC from normal donors. We isolated these CTL by tetramer-guided cell sorting and expanded them in vitro. The resulting CTL efficiently lysed tumor cells expressing Melan-A Ag. These Melan-A/MART-1 Ag derivatives should be considered as a new generation of potential immunogens in the development of molecular anti-melanoma vaccines

Resultados del proyecto OCTOPHYS: patrones de ácidos grasos de paralarvas cultivadas en condiciones estándar en tres laboratorios

Trabajo presentado en el XV Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura y el I Congreso Ibérico de Acuicultura, celebrados en Huelva (España) del 13 al 16 de octubre de 2015Peer reviewe