Zebrafish prox1b Mutants Develop a Lymphatic Vasculature, and prox1b Does Not Specifically Mark Lymphatic Endothelial Cells

Background: The expression of the Prospero homeodomain transcription factor (Prox1) in a subset of cardinal venous cells specifies the lymphatic lineage in mice. Prox1 is also indispensible for the maintenance of lymphatic cell fate, and is therefore considered a master control gene for lymphangiogenesis in mammals. In zebrafish, there are two prox1 paralogues, the previously described prox1 (also known as prox1a) and the newly identified prox1b. Principal Findings: To investigate the role of the prox1b gene in zebrafish lymphangiogenesis, we knocked-down prox1b and found that depletion of prox1b mRNA did not cause lymphatic defects. We also generated two different prox1b mutant alleles, and maternal-zygotic homozygous mutant embryos were viable and did not show any lymphatic defects. Furthermore, the expression of prox1b was not restricted to lymphatic vessels during zebrafish development. Conclusion: We conclude that Prox1b activity is not essential for embryonic lymphatic development in zebrafish

Diapause as escape strategy to exposure to toxicants: response of Brachionus calyciforus to arsenic

Invertebrate organisms commonly respond to environmental fluctuation by entering diapause. Production of diapause in monogonont rotifers involves a previous switch from asexual to partial sexual reproduction. Although zooplankton have been used in ecotoxicological assays, often their true vulnerability to toxicants is underestimated by not incorporating the sexual phase. We experimentally analyzed traits involved in sexual reproduction and diapause in the cyclically parthenogenetic freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, exposed to arsenic, a metalloid naturally found in high concentrations in desert zones, focusing on the effectiveness of diapause as an escape response in the face of an adverse condition. Addition of sublethal concentrations of arsenic modified the pattern of diapause observed in the rotifer: investment in diapause with arsenic addition peaked earlier and higher than in non-toxicant conditions, which suggests that sexual investment could be enhanced in highly stressed environmental conditions by increased responsiveness to stimulation. Nevertheless, eggs produced in large amount with arsenic, were mostly low quality, and healthy-looking eggs had lower hatching success, therefore it is unclear whether this pattern is optimum in an environment with arsenic, or if rather arsenic presence in water bodies disturbs the optimal allocation of offspring entering diapause. We observed high accumulation of arsenic in organisms exposed to constant concentration after several generations, which suggests that arsenic may be accumulated transgenerationally. The sexual phase in rotifers may be more sensitive to environmental conditions than the asexual one, therefore diapause attributes should be considered in ecotoxicological assessment because of its ecological and evolutionary implications on lakes biodiversity

Risk factors in the development of stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy holds the promise to treat degenerative diseases, cancer and repair of damaged tissues for which there are currently no or limited therapeutic options. The potential of stem cell therapies has long been recognised and the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has boosted the stem cell field leading to increasing development and scientific knowledge. Despite the clinical potential of stem cell based medicinal products there are also potential and unanticipated risks. These risks deserve a thorough discussion within the perspective of current scientific knowledge and experience. Evaluation of potential risks should be a prerequisite step before clinical use of stem cell based medicinal products

Innovation districts as turbines of smart strategy policies in US and EU. Boston and barcelona experience

Across US the most intriguing interpretation of ‘Smart Strategies’ and the emerging model that embodies the idea of recreating an innovative urban ecosystem is well represented by the concept of ‘Innovation District’, a ‘geographic area where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators’. The city of Boston represents a paradigmatic case of flexible integration between urban economic redevelopment initiatives, changeable partnership architecture and exploitation of the potential of social innovation-related regeneration. The inspiration model of the ‘Innovation District’ of South Boston Seaport is referred to the 22@ Barcelona project, an initiative conceived in 2000 for regenerating an abandoned industrial site - ‘El Poblenou’- with new thriving mixed use urban activities. This can be considered controversial and almost paradoxical given the fact that the Europe 2020 official Agenda is deeply committed in applying the Smart Specialisation Strategy for creating virtuous ecosystem in European urban regions following the US policy models and innovation clusters. The major challenge for an effective Smart Strategy style interpretation is related to the potential ‘territorialisation’ of urban redevelopment visions. The ‘consciousness of places’ with their local cultures can become a key-driver for embedded innovation. The ‘place-based’ approach allows to build virtuous regeneration projects including the potential of territorial ‘dna’ related to the local communities for identifying, recovering and increasing the values of local cultural specificities

Innovation districts as turbines of smart strategy policies in US and EU. Boston and barcelona experience

Across US the most intriguing interpretation of ‘Smart Strategies’ and the emerging model that embodies the idea of recreating an innovative urban ecosystem is well represented by the concept of ‘Innovation District’, a ‘geographic area where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators’. The city of Boston represents a paradigmatic case of flexible integration between urban economic redevelopment initiatives, changeable partnership architecture and exploitation of the potential of social innovation-related regeneration. The inspiration model of the ‘Innovation District’ of South Boston Seaport is referred to the 22@ Barcelona project, an initiative conceived in 2000 for regenerating an abandoned industrial site - ‘El Poblenou’- with new thriving mixed use urban activities. This can be considered controversial and almost paradoxical given the fact that the Europe 2020 official Agenda is deeply committed in applying the Smart Specialisation Strategy for creating virtuous ecosystem in European urban regions following the US policy models and innovation clusters. The major challenge for an effective Smart Strategy style interpretation is related to the potential ‘territorialisation’ of urban redevelopment visions. The ‘consciousness of places’ with their local cultures can become a key-driver for embedded innovation. The ‘place-based’ approach allows to build virtuous regeneration projects including the potential of territorial ‘dna’ related to the local communities for identifying, recovering and increasing the values of local cultural specificities