Método para mejorar la tolerancia a la salinidad

Método para mejorar la tolerancia a la salinidad. La presente invención se refiere a un método específico para mejorar la tolerancia a la salinidad de organismos vivos y eliminar el sodio (Na+) de aguas, suelos, lodos y cualquier otro medio que contenga este elemento, basado en el empleo de la secuencia aislada de un ácido nucleico que codifica para la fitoquelatina sintasa de Nicotiana glauca.Peer reviewedUniversidad Politécnica de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)A1 Solicitud de patentes con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Biochemical and genetic aspects of the tolerance and accumulation of heavy metals in plants

Durante los últimos años se ha producido un considerable avance en la Biotecnología del campo de la ciencia que se dedica a remediar lugares o medios contaminados mediante el uso de plantas y organismos relacionados, denominada Fitorremediación. Es especialmente significativo el desarrollo que se ha conseguido en la descontaminación de metales pesados. El presente trabajo trata desgranar cuales son los elementos clave que la genética molecular de plantas hace participar en la tolerancia y acumulación de metales pesados. Se repasan los avances más importantes en el campo y el intrincado equilibrio que se mantiene en el interior de las células para hacer efectivo el sistema de acumulación. Se describe además el funcionamiento del interior de la célula vegetal cuando una planta se somete a unas concentraciones elevadas de metales pesados. Es razonable pensar que si se comprende dicho funcionamiento es sólo una cuestión temporal diseñar y obtener soluciones adecuadas a todos los problemas derivados de la contaminación por metales pesados.In recent years a considerable advance in the biotechnology of the remediation of sites or contaminated materials by the use of plants and related organisms, denominated phytoremediation, has occurred. The development is especially significant in the decontamination of heavy metal-contaminated sites. The present work discusses the key aspects of plant molecular genetics involved in heavy metal tolerance and accumulation. The most important advances in the field and the intracellular balance needed to make the accumulation system effective are reviewed. The functioning within the cells when a plant is exposed to elevated heavy metal concentrations is described. It is reasonable to think that, if this system is understood, the achievement of solutions to all the problems derived from heavy metal contamination is only a question of time

Tissue kinetics of heavy metal and boron accumulation, in the recovery of industrial sewage sludge by superplants

The overall pollution in the planet is reaching unbearable limits for humanity. Never before mankind had come to adopt measures agreed between countries in the magnitude of current ones. Among the measures taken to alleviate the problem are increasing green alternatives. This paper aims reporting how green alternative using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which have proven over last decade to be by far the best overall tool for combating pollution, operate in more detail. A kinetic study of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg) and B accumulation by plants grown in sludge collected from a treatment plant of industrial sewage is carried out. Summarizing:  the results investigated in this work confirm again the capacity and usefulness of this tool as a solution to global pollution problems, studying another specific case which is particularly interesting since provides a real solution for a common problem: industrial water sludge. In this manner, substantiating the strategy designed in a scientific project (triggered by Doñana's disaster) granted by UE funds in 2000, and presented in Hanover’s Universal Exposition. Glossing and discussing its positive implementation during years to check out the so called superplants against pollution

An engineered plant that accumulates higher levels of heavy metals than Thlaspi caerulescens, with yields of 100 times more biomass in mine soils

8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables.Nicotiana glauca transformed with TaPCS1 was tested for its application in phytoremediation. When plantlets were grown in mine soils containing Cu, Zn, and Pb (42, 2600, and 1500 mg kg−1) the plant showed high levels of accumulation especially of Zn and Pb. Adult plants growing in mine soils containing different heavy metal concentrations showed a greater accumulation as well as an extension to a wider range of elements, including Cd, Ni and B. The overexpressed gene confers up to 9 and 36 times more Cd and Pb accumulation in the shoots under hydroponic conditions, and a 3- and 6-fold increase in mining soils. When the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens was compared, the results were higher values of heavy metal and Boron accumulation, with a yield of 100 times more biomass. Thlaspi was unable to survive in mining soils containing either a level higher than 11 000 mg kg−1 of Pb and 4500 mg kg−1 of Zn, while engineered plants yielded an average of 0.5 kg per plant.This research was supported by FEDER project IFD97 1469-C04-03, for which the authors are deeply indebted.Navarro-Aviñó was financed by ‘‘Social European Funds’’.Peer reviewe

A plant genetically modified that accumulates Pb is especially promising for phytoremediation

6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table.From a number of wild plant species growing on soils highly contaminated by heavy metals in Eastern Spain, Nicotiana glauca R. Graham (shrub tobacco) was selected for biotechnological modification, because it showed the most appropriate properties for phytoremediation. This plant has a wide geographic distribution, is fast-growing with a high biomass, and is repulsive to herbivores. Following Agrobacterium mediated transformation, the induction and overexpression of a wheat gene encoding phytochelatin synthase (TaPCS1) in this particular plant greatly increased its tolerance to metals such as Pb and Cd, developing seedling roots 160% longer than wild type plants. In addition, seedlings of transformed plants grown in mining soils containing high levels of Pb (1572 ppm) accumulated double concentration of this heavy metal than wild type. These results indicate that the transformed N. glauca represents a highly promising new tool for use in phytoremediation efforts.This work has been carried out in collaboration with Spanish private companies COPUZOL and CAJA RURAL VALENCIA. Funds were provided by the European Union (F.E.D.E.R., 1FD97-1469-C04-01) and Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.Peer reviewe

Tolerance and accumulation of heavy metals by Brassicaceae species grown in contaminated soils from Mediterranean regions of Spain

9 pages, 2 figures, 7 tables.Cultivation of crops in or close to contaminated sites may result in both growth inhibition and tissue accumulation of heavy metals, with resulting possible risks to humans or livestock health if these tissues are ingested. In this work, growth inhibition and accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn for three Brassica crop species (B. oleracea L., B. carinata A. Br. and B. juncea (L.) Czern.) and the autochthonous Cu-accumulating species Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagrèze-Fossat were studied, in two contaminated soils from the Murcia region of Spain and one from Valencia, over a 80-day period (40 days for H. incana) in pot experiments. Growth parameters indicated a tolerance index averaged for the two contaminated soils (relative to non-contaminated substrate) of the Brassica species in the order: B. juncea (mean value 97.6%) > B. carinata cv. 117 (74.2%) > B. carinata cv. 2920 (66.5%) ≈ B. oleracea (65.6%), with an average of 72% for H. incana. Above-ground tissue metal concentrations indicated a possible risk to human and livestock health from Cd and Pb for B. oleracea and H. incana. H. incana did not show a marked shoot accumulation of Cu, possibly due to inhibition of Cu uptake by the high soil levels of Zn and Pb. Its shoot tissue concentrations of Pb and Zn were related more closely to the total soil metal concentrations than to the DTPA-extractable, concentrations of these elements.This work was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the EU through FEDER funds (refs: 1FD97-1469-C04-01 and -02).Peer reviewe

Programa Lluna: talleres de sexo y consumo más seguro en el medio penitenciario (1995-2001)

En el trabajo se expone someramente un programa educativo para la prevención del VIH/Sida consistente en una oferta anual de talleres sobre sexo y consumo de drogas que ha ido evolucionando con buenos resultados y en donde, se basan distintos grupos de autoayuda según características de practica sexual parejas, hombres/mujeres solos. hetero/homosexuales). En este programa intervienen distintos colaboradores profesionales. voluntarios. y los mediadores surgidos y formados en el mismo medio penitenciario, estos últimos de probada eficacia. Los cambios de actitudes en las relaciones humanas y las medidas profilácticas básicas, son la base del mismo. Se exponen los contenidos de los talleres, técnicas de evaluación y seguimiento, la evolución del proyecto y sus líneas prospectivas

Using phytoremediation technologies to upgrade waste water treatment in Europe.

International audienceGOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: One of the burning problems of our industrial society is the high consumption of water and the high demand for clean drinking water. Numerous approaches have been taken to reduce water consumption, but in the long run it seems only possible to recycle waste water into high quality water. It seems timely to discuss alternative water remediation technologies that are fit for industrial as well as less developed countries to ensure a high quality of drinking water throughout Europe. MAIN FEATURES: The present paper discusses a range of phytoremediation technologies to be applied in a modular approach to integrate and improve the performance of existing wastewater treatment, especially towards the emerging micro pollutants, i.e. organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This topic is of global relevance for the EU. RESULTS: Existing technologies for waste water treatment do not sufficiently address increasing pollution situation, especially with the growing use of organic pollutants in the private household and health sector. Although some crude chemical approaches exist, such as advanced oxidation steps, most waste water treatment plants will not be able to adopt them. The same is true for membrane technologies. DISCUSSION: Incredible progress has been made during recent years, thus providing us with membranes of longevity and stability and, at the same time, high filtration capacity. However, these systems are expensive and delicate in operation, so that the majority of communities will not be able to afford them. Combinations of different phytoremediation technologies seem to be most promising to solve this burning problem. CONCLUSIONS: To quantify the occurrence and the distribution of micropollutants, to evaluate their effects, and to prevent them from passing through wastewater collection and treatment systems into rivers, lakes and ground water bodies represents an urgent task for applied environmental sciences in the coming years. RECOMMENDATIONS: Public acceptance of green technologies is generally higher than that of industrial processes. The EU should stimulate research to upgrade existing waste water treatment by implementing phytoremediation modules and demonstrating their reliability to the public