Stigmatella aurantiaca, un mixobacteri amb aspecte de mixomicet, trobat al Parc de Collserola (Catalunya)

Stigmatella allrantiaca, un mixobacteri amb aspecte de mixomicet, trobat al Parc de Collserola (Catalunya). Stigmatella aurantiaca ha estat trobada sobre restes vegetals recol·lectades a Collserola, prop de Barcelona (Catalunya). Es tracta d'un mixobacteri que rarament es pot veure formant cossos fructífers a la natura i es pot confondre fàcilment amb un mixomicet immadur. Forma grups de cossos fructífers molt petits, de color taronja, portats per pedicels blancs.Stigmatella allrantiaca, a myxomycete-looking myxobacterium, found in Collserola Park (Catalonia). Stigmatella aurantiaca has been found on plant debris collected in ColIserola, near Barcelona (Catalonia). It belongs to myxobacteria, a group of procariotes rarely found fonuing fruiting bodies in the nature, where it may easily be confused with an immature myxomycete. It forms clusters of tiny fruiting bodies, orange coloured, on white stalks.Stigmatella aurantiaca, una mixobacteria con aspecto de mixomicete, hallada en el Parque de Collserola (Cataluña). Stigmatella aurantiaca ha sido encontrada sobre restos vegetales recolectados en Collserola, cerca de Barcelona (Cataluña). Se trata de una mixobacteria que raramente se puede ver formando cuerpos fructíferos en la naturaleza y que fácilmente se puede confundir con algún mixomicete inmaduro. Forma grupos de diminutos cuerpos fructíferos de color naranja, sostenidos por pedicelos blancos

Stigmatella aurantiaca, un mixobacteri amb aspecte de mixomicet, trobat al Parc de Collserola (Catalunya)

Stigmatella allrantiaca, un mixobacteri amb aspecte de mixomicet, trobat al Parc de Collserola (Catalunya). Stigmatella aurantiaca ha estat trobada sobre restes vegetals recol·lectades a Collserola, prop de Barcelona (Catalunya). Es tracta d'un mixobacteri que rarament es pot veure formant cossos fructífers a la natura i es pot confondre fàcilment amb un mixomicet immadur. Forma grups de cossos fructífers molt petits, de color taronja, portats per pedicels blancs.Stigmatella aurantiaca, una mixobacteria con aspecto de mixomicete, hallada en el Parque de Collserola (Cataluña). Stigmatella aurantiaca ha sido encontrada sobre restos vegetales recolectados en Collserola, cerca de Barcelona (Cataluña). Se trata de una mixobacteria que raramente se puede ver formando cuerpos fructíferos en la naturaleza y que fácilmente se puede confundir con algún mixomicete inmaduro. Forma grupos de diminutos cuerpos fructíferos de color naranja, sostenidos por pedicelos blancos.Stigmatella allrantiaca, a myxomycete-looking myxobacterium, found in Collserola Park (Catalonia). Stigmatella aurantiaca has been found on plant debris collected in ColIserola, near Barcelona (Catalonia). It belongs to myxobacteria, a group of procariotes rarely found fonuing fruiting bodies in the nature, where it may easily be confused with an immature myxomycete. It forms clusters of tiny fruiting bodies, orange coloured, on white stalks

In vivo chromatin targets of the transcription factor Yin Yang 2 in trophoblast stem cells

Background: Yin Yang 2 (YY2) is a zinc finger protein closely related to the well-characterized Yin Yang 1 (YY1). YY1 is a DNA-binding transcription factor, with defined functions in multiple developmental processes, such as implantation, cell differentiation, X inactivation, imprinting and organogenesis. Yy2 has been treated as a largely immaterial duplication of Yy1, as they share high homology in the Zinc Finger-region and similar if not identical in vitro binding sites. In contrast to these similarities, gene expression alterations in HeLa cells with attenuated levels of either Yy1 or Yy2 were to some extent gene-specific. Moreover, the chromatin binding sites for YY2, except for its association with transposable retroviral elements (RE) and Endogenous Retroviral Elements (ERVs), remain to be identified. As a first step towards defining potential Yy2 functions matching or complementary to Yy1, we considered in vivo DNA binding sites of YY2 in trophoblast stem (TS) cells. Results: We report the presence of YY2 protein in mouse-derived embryonic stem (ES) and TS cell lines. Following up on our previous report on ERV binding by YY2 in TS cells, we investigated the tissue-specificity of REX1 and YY2 binding and confirm binding to RE/ERV targets in both ES cells and TS cells. Because of the higher levels of expression, we chose TS cells to understand the role of Yy2 in gene and chromatin regulation. We used in vivo YY2 association as a measure to identify potential target genes. Sequencing of chromatin obtained in chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays carried out with aYY2 serum allowed us to identify a limited number of chromatin targets for YY2. Some putative binding sites were validated in regular ChIP assays and gene expression of genes nearby was altered in the absence of Yy2. Conclusions: YY2 binding to ERVs is not confined to TS cells. In vivo binding sites share the presence of a consensus binding motif. Selected sites were uniquely bound by YY2 as opposed to YY1, suggesting that YY2 exerts unique contributions to gene regulation. YY2 binding was not generally associated with gene promoters. However, several YY2 binding sites are linked to long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes and we show that the expression levels of a few of those are Yy2-dependent

Proposal of a production and management index (PMI) for tilapia farms

Tilapia is one of the most important species in aquaculture; however, there is no available index to show the performance of a production unit. It is desirable to assess the productivity using indexes, such as the production and management index for shrimps and the European production efficacy factor for broilers. These indexes are based on data production: growth, survival, and feed conversion of a full production cycle. Taking into account these parameters, we propose a production and management index (PMI) for tilapia that is applicable for a specific period of the production cycle. For the construction and validation of the PMI we have used production data from 8, 614 monthly records of 2 tilapia farms in Huila Department (Colombia), and because of the complexity of tilapia management, different anomalous situations have been detected and then defined as exceptions. As a result, 419 records were considered extreme values because 1 or more exceptions were met. The value of the PMI varies from 0 (the worst situation) to 3.55, which reflects high variability. We have constructed a PMI for tilapia as the product of 3 elements to obtain a positive value index. Instead of classic parameters, we had to calculate an adapted version of them: the relative average daily growth, the survival (as a complementary value of the estimated monthly mortality), and a feed conversion ratio index. To assess the utility of the PMI, some comparisons were performed using records from black and red tilapia. We observed significant differences depending on tilapia strain (PMIblack = 1.0248 vs. PMIred = 1.1661; P < 0.001), age (better values for small fish), and season (PMIrainy = 1.0847 vs. PMIdry = 1.1011; P = 0.026). According to these results, we can conclude that the PMI could be a useful tool for tilapia farmers, despite the complexity of the calculation

A dysregulation in CES1, APOE and other lipid metabolism-related genes is associated to cardiovascular risk factors linked to obesity

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the differential expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in subcutaneous adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome features in lean and obese subjects with habitual high fat intake. METHODS: Microarray and RT-PCR analysis were used to analyze and validate differential gene expression in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue samples from lean and obese phenotype subjects. RESULTS: Several genes and transcripts involved in lipolysis were down-regulated, such as AKAP1, PRKAR2B, Gi and CIDEA, whereas NPY1R and CES1 were up-regulated, when comparing obese to lean subjects. Similarly, transcripts associated with cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism showed a differential expression, with APOE and ABCA being decreased and VLDLR being increased in obese versus lean subjects. In addition, positive correlations were found between different markers of the metabolic syndrome and CES1 and NPY1R mRNA expressions, while APOE showed an inverse association with some of them. CONCLUSION: Different expression patterns in transcripts encoding for proteins involved in lipolysis and lipoprotein metabolism were found between lean and obese subjects. Moreover, the dysregulation of genes such as CES1 and APOE seems to be associated with some physiopathological markers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in obesity

Characterizing RecA-Independent Induction of Shiga toxin2-Encoding Phages by EDTA Treatment

Background: The bacteriophage life cycle has an important role in Shiga toxin (Stx) expression. The induction of Shiga toxin-encoding phages (Stx phages) increases toxin production as a result of replication of the phage genome, and phage lysis of the host cell also provides a means of Stx toxin to exit the cell. Previous studies suggested that prophage induction might also occur in the absence of SOS response, independently of RecA. Methodology/Principal Findings: The influence of EDTA on RecA-independent Stx2 phage induction was assessed, in laboratory lysogens and in EHEC strains carrying Stx2 phages in their genome, by Real-Time PCR. RecA-independent mechanisms described for phage l induction (RcsA and DsrA) were not involved in Stx2 phage induction. In addition, mutations in the pathway for the stress response of the bacterial envelope to EDTA did not contribute to Stx2 phage induction. The effect of EDTA on Stx phage induction is due to its chelating properties, which was also confirmed by the use of citrate, another chelating agent. Our results indicate that EDTA affects Stx2 phage induction by disruption of the bacterial outer membrane due to chelation of Mg 2+. In all the conditions evaluated, the pH value had a decisive role in Stx2 phage induction. Conclusions/Significance: Chelating agents, such as EDTA and citrate, induce Stx phages, which raises concerns due to their frequent use in food and pharmaceutical products. This study contributes to our understanding of the phenomenon o

Prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus in autoimmune BXSB mice by a transgene encoding I-E alpha chain.

Males from the BXSB murine strain (H-2b) spontaneously develop an autoimmune syndrome with features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which results in part from the action of a mutant gene (Yaa) located on the Y chromosome. Like other H-2b mice, the BXSB strain does not express the class II major histocompatibility complex antigen, I-E. Here we report that the expression of I-E (E alpha dE beta b) in BXSB males bearing an E alpha d transgene prevents hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibody production, and subsequent autoimmune glomerulonephritis. These transgenic mice bear on the majority of their B cells not only I-E molecules, but also an I-E alpha chain-derived peptide presented by a higher number of I-Ab molecules, as recognized by the Y-Ae monoclonal antibody. The I-E+ B cells appear less activated in vivo than the I-E- B cells, a minor population. This limited activation of the I-E+ B cells does not reflect a functional deficiency of this cell population, since it can be stimulated to IgM production in vitro by lipopolysaccharides at an even higher level than the I-E- B cell population. The development of the autoimmune syndrome in the transgenic and nontransgenic bone marrow chimeric mice argues against the possibility that the induction of regulatory T cells or clonal deletion of potential autoreactive T cells as a result of I-E expression is a mechanism of the protection conferred by the E alpha d transgene. We propose a novel mechanism by which the E alpha d transgene protects BXSB mice against SLE: overexpression of I-E alpha chains results in the generation of excessive amounts of a peptide displaying a high affinity to the I-Ab molecule, thereby competing with pathogenic autoantigen-derived peptides for presentation by B lymphocytes and preventing their excessive stimulation

Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Bacteriophage DNA Fraction of Environmental Samples

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing global problem resulting from the pressure of antibiotic usage, greater mobility of the population, and industrialization. Many antibiotic resistance genes are believed to have originated in microorganisms in the environment, and to have been transferred to other bacteria through mobile genetic elements. Among others, β-lactam antibiotics show clinical efficacy and low toxicity, and they are thus widely used as antimicrobials. Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics is conferred by β-lactamase genes and penicillin-binding proteins, which are chromosomal- or plasmid-encoded, although there is little information available on the contribution of other mobile genetic elements, such as phages. This study is focused on three genes that confer resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, namely two β-lactamase genes (blaTEM and blaCTX-M9) and one encoding a penicillin-binding protein (mecA) in bacteriophage DNA isolated from environmental water samples. The three genes were quantified in the DNA isolated from bacteriophages collected from 30 urban sewage and river water samples, using quantitative PCR amplification. All three genes were detected in the DNA of phages from all the samples tested, in some cases reaching 104 gene copies (GC) of blaTEM or 102 GC of blaCTX-M and mecA. These values are consistent with the amount of fecal pollution in the sample, except for mecA, which showed a higher number of copies in river water samples than in urban sewage. The bla genes from phage DNA were transferred by electroporation to sensitive host bacteria, which became resistant to ampicillin. blaTEM and blaCTX were detected in the DNA of the resistant clones after transfection. This study indicates that phages are reservoirs of resistance genes in the environment

Perspectiva de Género en la Inserción Laboral de los Deportistas Olímpicos Españoles

La exigencia del deporte de alta competición en la actualidad es muy grande y puede suponer privar al deportista del tiempo para su desarrollo académico. Este hecho repercute sobre las oportunidades laborales posteriores. El objetivo general del presente estudio fue analizar los niveles de inserción laboral de los deportistas olímpicos españoles que participaron en los Juegos Olímpicos de Barcelona en 1992 en función del género así como algunos de los factores facilitadores de la inserción laboral identificados en la literatura. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo cuantitativo mediante encuestas, utilizándose el cuestionario por correo como técnica de recogida de datos. 117 exdeportistas (64 varones y 53 de mujeres) respondieron a dicho cuestionario. Los resultados mostraron que los exdeportistas olímpicos de los JJOO de Barcelona´92 lograron niveles de estudios y de situación económico-laboral superiores a la población general. Las diferencias encontradas entre hombres y mujeres siguen el mismo patrón que el existente en la población general, por lo que la carrera deportiva no puede asociarse a las diferencias salariales encontradas

Riesgos geológicos en el entorno del embalse de Montearagón

El embalse de Montearagón, situado en la provincia de Huesca, se encuentra paralizado en su primera etapa de llenado. A lo largo de su construcción y en la actualidad ha sufrido numerosas paralizaciones y cambios en el proyecto de obra debido a los riesgos geológicos originados en su entorno. A lo largo de este trabajo se pretende estudiar la peligrosidad que presentan estos riesgos y la vulnerabilidad del embalse a los mismos, tanto mediante el trabajo de campo y el reconocimiento de los procesos activos in situ, como a través de modelos digitales generados para conocer la estabilidad de sus laderas.<br /