Exchange of functional domains between a bacterial conjugative relaxase and the integrase of the human adeno-associated virus

Endonucleases of the HUH family are specialized in processing single-stranded DNA in a variety of evolutionarily highly conserved biological processes related to mobile genetic elements. They share a structurally defined catalytic domain for site-specific nicking and strand-transfer reactions, which is often linked to the activities of additional functional domains, contributing to their overall versatility. To assess if these HUH domains could be interchanged, we created a chimeric protein from two distantly related HUH endonucleases, containing the N-terminal HUH domain of the bacterial conjugative relaxase TrwC and the C-terminal DNA helicase domain of the human adeno-associated virus (AAV) replicase and site-specific integrase. The purified chimeric protein retained oligomerization properties and DNA helicase activities similar to Rep68, while its DNA binding specificity and cleaving-joining activity at oriT was similar to TrwC. Interestingly, the chimeric protein could catalyse site-specific integration in bacteria with an efficiency comparable to that of TrwC, while the HUH domain of TrwC alone was unable to catalyze this reaction, implying that the Rep68 C-terminal helicase domain is complementing the TrwC HUH domain to achieve site-specific integration into TrwC targets in bacteria. Our results illustrate how HUH domains could have acquired through evolution other domains in order to attain new roles, contributing to the functional flexibility observed in this protein superfamily.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) grant MR/N022890/1 to EH and grant 1001764 to RML; National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RO1-GM09285 to CRE; Spanish Ministry of Economy and competitiveness (MINECO) grant BIO2013-46414-P to ML and AFM is supported by a Doc.Mobility fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Proteases of haematophagous arthropod vectors are involved in blood-feeding, yolk formation and immunity : a review

Ticks, triatomines, mosquitoes and sand flies comprise a large number of haematophagous arthropods considered vectors of human infectious diseases. While consuming blood to obtain the nutrients necessary to carry on life functions, these insects can transmit pathogenic microorganisms to the vertebrate host. Among the molecules related to the blood-feeding habit, proteases play an essential role. In this review, we provide a panorama of proteases from arthropod vectors involved in haematophagy, in digestion, in egg development and in immunity. As these molecules act in central biological processes, proteases from haematophagous vectors of infectious diseases may influence vector competence to transmit pathogens to their prey, and thus could be valuable targets for vectorial control

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Body Composition and Characterization of Skinfold Thicknesses from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotypes. A Preliminar Case-Control Study

To describe whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes vary in their body composition and skinfold (SKF) thicknesses and if they differ from women without PCOS, a preiminar case-control study was performed. A total of 117 cases were diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria. Gynecological examinations and transvaginal ultrasound were performed in all women (266 women). Anthropometric measurements including SKF thickness were taken according to the restricted profile protocol of the international standards for the anthropometric evaluation according to the International Society of the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Women with PCOS had higher body mass index and percentage of fat mass with respect to controls. The endomorphy component was also significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls. Each PCOS phenotype displayed a different representation in the somatochart respect to the others phenotypes and also compared to controls. Women with PCOS had significantly higher ∑7 SKF (p = 0.013), ∑appendicular SKF (p = 0.017) and ∑arm SKF (p = 0.019) than controls. H-O-POM phenotype had higher 7∑ SKF (p = 0.003), ∑appendicular SKF (p = 0.01), ∑arm SKF (0.005), ∑leg SKF, and ∑trunk SKF (0.008) and also a higher fast mass percentage than controls (p = 0.011). In conclusion, body composition evaluated by ISAK protocol is different in women with PCOS, especially in the complete phenotype (H-O-POM). This could have relevant implications in terms of clinical evaluation and follow-up of these women, although more researches in this field are needed

Analysis and Reliability of Anthropometric Measurements during Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study in 208 Pregnant Women

Anthropometric assessment during pregnancy is a widely used, low-technology procedure that has not been rigorously evaluated. Our objective is to investigate fat mass distribution during pregnancy by examining changes in anthropometrics measures, in order to evaluate the reliability of these measures. An observational, longitudinal, prospective cohort study was performed in 208 pregnant women. Anthropometric measurements were taken following the ISAK protocol during the three trimesters and a generalized linear model for repeated measures was used to evaluate differences. Variability was assessed using the coefficient of variation, and Propagated Error (PE) was used to sum of skinfold thicknesses (SFT). SFT showed a general increase in fat mass during the three trimesters of pregnancy (∑SFT7 p = 0.003), and was observed in specific anatomical locations as well: arms (∑Arm SFT, p = 0.046), trunk (∑Trunk SFT, p = 0.019), legs (∑Leg SFT, p = 0.001) and appendicular (∑Appendicular SFT, p = 0.001). Anthropometric measures for skinfold thickness were taken individually during pregnancy and were reliable and reproducible during the three trimesters, which could help to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes

Anales de Edafología y Agrobiología Tomo 24 Número 3-4

Estudio mineralógico y granulométrico de· algunas muestras de arena recogídas en el Delta del Ebro, por E. Sáinz-Arnor y M. Font-Altaba.-- Estudio de la fracción fina de las areniscas de Villamayor (Salamanca), por F. Arrese, T. Martín Patiño, A. Lozano y J.Rodríguez.-- Análisis espectroquímico y complexométrico de oligoelementos en aguas mineromedicinales. III Aplicación del sector escalonado, por Fernando Burriel Martí y Carmen Alvarez Herrero.-- Nuevas orientaciones en los tratamientos curativos de la deficiencia de hierro, por Octavio Carpena Artés, Angel Ortuño Martínez y Santiago Llorente.-- Estudio de la nutrición mineral en viñedos de Ciudad Real, por V. Hernando y J. Mendiola.-- Evolución anual de nutrientes en hojas de frutales. III. Peral, por F. G. Fernández, M. G. Guillén y F. Santa Cruz.-- Evoluciones de los niveles de fósforo ·en órganos de Citrus durante la floración primaveral, por Angel Ortuño Martinez, Maria Parra Gilaber y Carlos Alcaraz Molina.-- Valor biológico de las proteínas de los alimentos utilizados en nutrición animal, por K. Schíller.—Notas. Congresos, reuniones y becas.-- Invitaciones a profesores extranjeros. -- Nombramientos.-- Creaciones.-- Comisión de Nomenclatura Científica.-- Conferencia del Prof P. E. Pilet.-- Confrencia del Prof. De Leenheer.-- Reuriión de la Assinsel.-- Estación Biológica Doñana.-- Centro de Bioiogía Pirenaica de Jaca.—Conferencia sobre Edafología.-- Simposio de Genética.-- Seminario de Biología y Ciencias Agrobiológicas.-- V Reunión de la Sociedad Española para el Estudio de Pastos.-- Nombramiento de personal científico.-- Reunión sobre el Cámbrico-Precámbrico.-- Un Museo de la Ciencia y la Técnica.-- Curso sobre los Silicatos .y sus Aplicaciones.—Bibliografía.-- Agrochimia, por el Prof. David Dvidescu.-- Estudio edafológico y agrobiológico de la Huerta de Murcia, por Octavio Carpena ArtésPeer reviewe