Membrane composition and dynamics: A target of bioactive virgin olive oil constituents

The endogenous synthesis of lipids, which requires suitable dietary raw materials, is critical for the formation of membrane bilayers. In eukaryotic cells, phospholipids are the predominant membrane lipids and consist of hydrophobic acyl chains attached to a hydrophilic head group. The relative balance between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated acyl chains is required for the organization and normal function of membranes. Virgin olive oil is the richest natural dietary source of the monounsaturated lipid oleic acid and is one of the key components of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Virgin olive oil also contains a unique constellation of many other lipophilic and amphipathic constituents whose health benefits are still being discovered. The focus of this review is the latest evidence regarding the impact of oleic acid and the minor constituents of virgin olive oil on the arrangement and behavior of lipid bilayers. We highlight the relevance of these interactions to the potential use of virgin olive oil in preserving the functional properties of membranes to maintain health and in modulating membrane functions that can be altered in several pathologies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Structure and Function: Relevance in the Cell's Physiology, Pathology and Therapy. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.We thank to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) and the European Commission (EC) for financial support (AGL2011-29008 and Marie Curie PERG07-GA-2010-268413). S.L. and B.B. acknowledge financial support from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)/JAE-Doc Program, a contract cofounded by the European Social Fund (ESF). S.M. has the benefit of a FPI fellowship (BES-2012-056104) of MICINN.Peer Reviewe

Efecto de los ácidos grasos y lipoproteínas de la dieta sobre la progresión de la degeneración macular relacionada con la edad

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a medical condition of central loss vision and blindness. Numerous studies have revealed that changes on certain dietary fatty acids (FAs) could have useful for AMD management. This review summarizes the effects of dietary omega-3 long-chain PUFAs, MUFAs, and SFAs, and lipoproteins on AMD. Findings are consistent with the beneficial role of dietary omega-3 long-chain PUFAs, while the effects of dietary MUFAs and SFAs appeared to be ambiguous with respect to the possible protection from MUFAs and to the possible adverse impact from SFAs on AMD. Some of the pathological mechanisms associated with lipoproteins on AMD share those observed previously in cardiovascular diseases. It was also noticed that the effects of FAs in the diet and lipoprotein on AMD could be modulated by genetic variants. From a population health perspective, the findings of this review are in favour of omega-3 long-chain FAs recommendations in a preventive and therapeutic regimen to attain lower AMD occurrence and progression rates. Additional long-term and short-term nutrigenomic studies are required to clearly establish the role and the relevance of interaction of dietary FAs, lipoproteins, and genes in the genesis and progression of AMD.La degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE) es una condición patológica caracterizada por pérdida de visión central y ceguera. Numerosos estudios han revelado que ciertos cambios en los ácidos grasos de la dieta podrían tener efectos beneficiosos en el manejo de la DMAE. En esta revisión se recogen los efectos de los ácidos grasos de la dieta poliinsaturados omega-3, monoinsaturados y saturados, y de las lipoproteínas en la DMAE. La literatura es consistente en el papel beneficioso de los ácidos grasos polinsaturados omega-3 de cadena larga, mientras que se muestra ambigua con los efectos de los ácidos grasos monoinsaturados y saturados de la dieta, respecto al posible papel protector de los ácidos grasos monoinsaturados como al posible efecto adverso de los ácidos grasos saturados en la DMAE. Además algunos mecanismos patológicos que asocian las lipoproteínas con la DMAE son los mismos observados previamente en las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Hacen falta estudios nutrigenómicos a corto y largo plazo para establecer el papel y la importancia de los ácidos grasos de la dieta, y las lipoproteínas en la aparición y progresión de la DMAE

Multiclasificadores basados en aprendizaje automático como herramienta para la evaluación del perfil neurotóxico de líquidos iónicos

Los líquidos iónicos poseen un perfil fisicoquímico único, el cual los provee de un amplio rango de aplicaciones. Su variabilidad estructural casi ilimitada permite su diseño para tareas específicas. Sin embargo, su sustentabilidad, específicamente su seguridad desde el punto de vista toxicológico, ha sido frecuentemente cuestionada. Este último aspecto limita significativamente el cumplimiento de las regulaciones establecidas por la Unión Europea para el registro, evaluación, autorización y restricción de compuestosquímicos (REACH), así como su aplicación final. Debido a que la mayoría de los líquidos iónicos no han sido sintetizados, se hace evidente la importancia del desarrollo de herramientas quimioinformáticas que, de forma eficiente, permitan evaluar el potencial toxicológico de estos compuestos. En este sentido, el uso combinado de múltiples clasificadores ha demostrado superar las limitaciones de desempeño asociadas al uso de clasificadores individuales. En el presente trabajo fueron evaluadas varias estrategias alternativas de multiclasificadores basados en técnicas de aprendizaje automático supervisado, como herramientas para la evaluación del perfil neurotóxico de líquidos iónicos basado en la inhibición de la enzima acetilcolinesterasa, como indicador de neurotoxicidad. Se obtuvieron dos multiclasificadores con una alta capacidad predictiva sobre un conjunto de validación externa (no utilizado en el proceso de aprendizaje de los modelos). De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos el 96% de un conjunto de nuevos líquidos iónicos podrá ser correctamente clasificado con la utilizaciónde estos multiclasificadores, los cuales constituyen herramientas de toma de decisión útiles en el campo del diseño y desarrollo de nuevos líquidos iónicos sustentables

Genomic Analysis of West Nile Virus Lineage 1 Detected in Mosquitoes during the 2020–2021 Outbreaks in Andalusia, Spain

Emerging infectious diseases are one of the most important global health challenges because of their impact on human and animal health. The vector-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted between birds by mosquitos, but it can also infect humans and horses causing disease. The local circulation of WNV in Spain has been known for decades, and since 2010, there have been regular outbreaks in horses, although only six cases were reported in humans until 2019. In 2020, Spain experienced a major outbreak with 77 human cases, which was followed by 6 additional cases in 2021, most of them in the Andalusian region (southern Spain). This study aimed to characterize the genomes of the WNV circulating in wild-trapped mosquitoes during 2020 and 2021 in Andalusia. We sequenced the WNV consensus genome from two mosquito pools and carried out the phylogenetic analyses. We also compared the obtained genomes with those sequenced from human samples obtained during the outbreak and the genomes obtained previously in Spain from birds (2007 and 2017), mosquitoes (2008) and horses (2010) to better understand the eco-epidemiology of WNV in Spain. As expected, the WNV genomes recovered from mosquito pools in 2020 were closely related to those recovered from humans of the same outbreak. In addition, the strain of WNV circulating in 2021 was highly related to the WNV strain that caused the 2020 outbreak, suggesting that WNV is overwintering in the area. Consequently, future outbreaks of the same strain may occur in in the future.This research was funded by the Research State Agency projects PGC2018-095704-B-I00 and PID2020-118921RJ-I00Instituto de Salud Carlos III Project PI19CIII_00014European Commission—NextGenerationEU (Regulation EU 2020/2094), through CSIC’s Global Health Platform (PTI Salud Global+)

Chikungunya virus infections among travellers returning to Spain, 2008 to 2014

Since the first documented autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus in the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in 2013, the infection has been reported within the Caribbean region as well as North, Central and South America. The risk of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus becoming established in Spain may be elevated due to the large numbers of travellers returning to Spain from countries affected by the 2013 epidemic in the Caribbean and South America, as well as the existence of the Aedes albopictus vector in certain parts of Spain. We retrospectively analysed the laboratory diagnostic database of the National Centre for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII) from 2008 to 2014. During the study period, 264 confirmed cases, of 1,371 suspected cases, were diagnosed at the CNM-ISCIII. In 2014 alone, there were 234 confirmed cases. The highest number of confirmed cases were reported from the Dominican Republic (n = 136), Venezuela (n = 30) and Haiti (n = 11). Six cases were viraemic in areas of Spain where the vector is present. This report highlights the need for integrated active case and vector surveillance in Spain and other parts of Europe where chikungunya virus may be introduced by returning travellers

North Atlantic CO2 sink variability revealed by the Go-Ship A25-OVIDE section

EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022.-- This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 LicenseAbout 30% of the carbon dioxide derived from human activities (CANTH) has been absorbed by the ocean (DeVries, 2014; Gruber et al., 2019; Friedlingstein et al., 2021), with the North Atlantic (NA) being one of the largest CANTH sinks per unit area (Khatiwala et al., 2013; Sabine et al., 2004). In the NA, oceanic CANTH uptake strongly relies on the meridional overturning circulation and the associated regional winter deep convection. In fact, the formation and deep spreading of Labrador Sea Water stands as a critical CANTH gateway to intermediate and abyssal depths. The NA CANTH uptake has fluctuated over the years according to changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation. Biennial observation of the marine carbonate system along the Go-Ship A25-OVIDE section has allowed us assessing the decadal and interannual variability of the CANTH storage in the subpolarNA from 2002 to 2021. In this study, we investigate 1) the trend of CANTH and 2) the relationship between the CANTH saturation, the apparent oxygen utilization, and the ventilation of the water masses between the A25-OVIDE section and the Greenland-Iceland-Scotland sills during 2002-2021. We divided the A25-OVIDE section into three main basins (Irminger, Iceland, and Eastern NA). Our results show that the Irminger Basin presents a more homogenous CANTH profile and higher CANTH saturation values at depth than the other two basins, which is related to the pronounced convective activity in the Irminger Basin. In contrast, the Eastern NA Basin has higher CANTH values at the surface due to its higher surface temperature, but its deep water masses show the lowest CANTH values since they are the less ventilated in the section. Our analysis also reveals that, overall, the NA CANTH storage has increased during 2002-2021, but varied according to the ventilation changes. While the Eastern NA water masses experienced a relatively constant, although shallower, average ventilation, the Irminger and Iceland Basins underwent a less steady CANTH uptake pattern characterized by alternating periods of strong and weak CANTH storageN

An effective all-atom potential for proteins

We describe and test an implicit solvent all-atom potential for simulations of protein folding and aggregation. The potential is developed through studies of structural and thermodynamic properties of 17 peptides with diverse secondary structure. Results obtained using the final form of the potential are presented for all these peptides. The same model, with unchanged parameters, is furthermore applied to a heterodimeric coiled-coil system, a mixed alpha/beta protein and a three-helix-bundle protein, with very good results. The computational efficiency of the potential makes it possible to investigate the free-energy landscape of these 49--67-residue systems with high statistical accuracy, using only modest computational resources by today's standards

Oleic acid—the main component of olive oil on postprandial metabolic processes

2 Tablas.-- 6 FigurasWhile virtually all-clinical studies for the evaluation of health status are conducted in individuals at fasting, the postprandium, that is, “the period that comprises and follows a meal,” remains as an interval of the day characterized by significant but silent metabolic disturbances that, although they are considered physiological, they may cease to be due to high amounts or quality of nutrients, and/or intrinsic factors that influence the metabolic response to such nutrients. In those cases, if repetitive, disproportionate, and long lasting, the postprandial metabolism can become a pathological condition involved in the genesis of multiple disorders, some of which may be potentially life threatening in the long term. After meals rich in fats and carbohydrates the postprandial increased levels of triglycerides and glucose can be accompanied by oxidative stress and, less well known, activation of blood clotting cascade, peripheral insulin resistance, and inflammation. The goal of this chapter is to provide an update of the information on the relevance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), notably oleic acid, in olive oil regarding saturated fatty acids (SFA) in dietary fats to influence postprandial metabolic processes related to blood coagulation, β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. Data are consistent with the view that the oleic-to-palmitic-acid ratio (MUFA/SFA) in olive oil may have a beneficial impact on postprandial levels of tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, with a restraint of postprandial hyperactivity of β-cells, insulin resistance, and proinflammatory response. We suggest that the Mediterranean diet can reduce cardiovascular events and disease in part due to the high oleic acid content in olive oil and its impact on postprandial hemostatic system and glucose and tissue homeostasis.This study was supported by grants from the MCYT and MEC (AGL2001-0584, AGL2004–04958, AGL2011–29008, and AGL2016–80852-R) and by a grant from the Fundación CEAS (Centro de Excelencia en Investigación sobre Aceite de Oliva y Salud). MAR acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Research Council (CSIC)/Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2017–33132).Peer reviewe

Prediction of peptide and protein propensity for amyloid formation

Understanding which peptides and proteins have the potential to undergo amyloid formation and what driving forces are responsible for amyloid-like fiber formation and stabilization remains limited. This is mainly because proteins that can undergo structural changes, which lead to amyloid formation, are quite diverse and share no obvious sequence or structural homology, despite the structural similarity found in the fibrils. To address these issues, a novel approach based on recursive feature selection and feed-forward neural networks was undertaken to identify key features highly correlated with the self-assembly problem. This approach allowed the identification of seven physicochemical and biochemical properties of the amino acids highly associated with the self-assembly of peptides and proteins into amyloid-like fibrils (normalized frequency of β-sheet, normalized frequency of β-sheet from LG, weights for β-sheet at the window position of 1, isoelectric point, atom-based hydrophobic moment, helix termination parameter at position j+1 and ΔGº values for peptides extrapolated in 0 M urea). Moreover, these features enabled the development of a new predictor (available at http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/appnn/index.html) capable of accurately and reliably predicting the amyloidogenic propensity from the polypeptide sequence alone with a prediction accuracy of 84.9 % against an external validation dataset of sequences with experimental in vitro, evidence of amyloid formation