Comparative pan-genome analysis of Piscirickettsia salmonis reveals genomic divergences within genogroups

Indexación: Scopus.Piscirickettsia salmonis is the etiological agent of salmonid rickettsial septicemia, a disease that seriously affects the salmonid industry. Despite efforts to genomically characterize P. salmonis, functional information on the life cycle, pathogenesis mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and control of this fish pathogen remain lacking. To address this knowledge gap, the present study conducted an in silico pan-genome analysis of 19 P. salmonis strains from distinct geographic locations and genogroups. Results revealed an expected open pan-genome of 3,463 genes and a core-genome of 1,732 genes. Two marked genogroups were identified, as confirmed by phylogenetic and phylogenomic relationships to the LF-89 and EM-90 reference strains, as well as by assessments of genomic structures. Different structural configurations were found for the six identified copies of the ribosomal operon in the P. salmonis genome, indicating translocation throughout the genetic material. Chromosomal divergences in genomic localization and quantity of genetic cassettes were also found for the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system. To determine divergences between core-genomes, additional pan-genome descriptions were compiled for the so-termed LF and EM genogroups. Open pan-genomes composed of 2,924 and 2,778 genes and core-genomes composed of 2,170 and 2,228 genes were respectively found for the LF and EM genogroups. The core-genomes were functionally annotated using the Gene Ontology, KEGG, and Virulence Factor databases, revealing the presence of several shared groups of genes related to basic function of intracellular survival and bacterial pathogenesis. Additionally, the specific pan-genomes for the LF and EM genogroups were defined, resulting in the identification of 148 and 273 exclusive proteins, respectively. Notably, specific virulence factors linked to adherence, colonization, invasion factors, and endotoxins were established. The obtained data suggest that these genes could be directly associated with inter-genogroup differences in pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions, information that could be useful in designing novel strategies for diagnosing and controlling P. salmonis infection. © 2017 Nourdin-Galindo, Sánchez, Molina, Espinoza-Rojas, Oliver, Ruiz, Vargas-Chacoff, Cárcamo, Figueroa, Mancilla, Maracaja-Coutinho and Yañez.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00459/ful

HP INC., Las Fuentes

A lo largo de este Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional trabajé con la empresa HP Inc. apoyándolos operativamente en el área de Strategy and Planning para la organización de Sales Operations LATAM. El proyecto consistió en monitorear y crear reportes de las métricas que la empresa había definido previamente con el fin de garantizar el cumplimiento de sus objetivos globales; dichos reportes fueron de suma importancia para tomar decisiones y para la creación de planes de acción. Para su realización fue empleada la metodología cascada con entregables cada dos y tres meses, cuyas fechas fueron establecidas por el líder de proyecto desde que se inició a trabajar. Algunas de las herramientas utilizas para el reporteo fueron: Excel, PowerPoint, Medallia y PowerBI. Todo el trabajo fue realizado vía remoto y gracias a esto pude trabajar en conjunto con personas localizadas geográficamente en Colombia, Argentina, Brasil, Costa Rica y otras ciudades de México. El papel del líder de proyecto como un facilitador y el respeto fueron dos de los factores más importantes para que este proyecto culminara con éxito y para lograr un trabajo colaborativo entre los colaboradores de los diferentes países. El término de este Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional simboliza la finalización de una de las etapas más importantes de mi vida y sin duda ha definido sustancialmente mi desarrollo en el mercado laboral, proporcionándome aprendizajes tanto profesionales como éticos, sociales y personales, que sin duda alguna serán indispensables para mis próximos proyectos profesionales dentro y fuera de HP.ITESO, A.C

Blast Wave Characteristics and TNT Equivalent of Improvised Explosive Device at Small scaled Distances

A significant number of airblast test have been carried out with the purpose to characterise and analyse the properties of improvised explosive device (IED) with non-conventional explosives in terms of knowing the effects on people and/or structures. Small devices with 1.5 kg of explosive, initiated with a detonating cord have been studied. Seven different mixtures have been tested with two types of ammonium nitrate AN (technical and fertilizer) in different forms like prills or powder. In some cases, the ammonium nitrate has been mixed with fuel oil while in others, it has been mixed with aluminum. The TNT equivalent based on pressure, impulse, arrival time, positive phase duration and shock front velocity have been calculated and analysed for each mixture. Comparing the field test data obtained with respect to the representation of the UFC 3-340-02 values, it can be seen that the parameters measured are consistent. The IEDs with fertilizer ammonium nitrate do not detonate with the present charge conditions so the shockwave generated is only due to the detonating cord. When using the technical ammonium nitrate, ANFO can partially detonate and generate a potentially dangerous shockwave. Finally, the IED with AN and aluminum produces a TNT equivalent close to one when the technical AN is used

Interactive effects of temperature and salinity on the growth and cytotoxicity of the fish-killing microalgal species Heterosigma akashiwo and Pseudochattonella verruculosa

Fish-killing blooms of Heterosigma akashiwo and Pseudochattonella verruculosa have been devastating for the farmed salmon industry, but in Southern Chile the conditions that promote the growth and toxicity of these microalgae are poorly understood. This study examined the effects of different combinations of temperature (12, 15, 18 °C) and salinity (10, 20, 30 psu) on the growth of Chilean strains of these two species. The results showed that the optimal growth conditions for H. akashiwo and P. verruculosa differed, with a maximum rate of 0.99 day−1 obtained at 15 °C and a salinity of 20 psu for H. akashiwo, and a maximum rate of 1.06 day−1 obtained at 18 °C and a salinity of 30 psu for P. verruculosa. Cytotoxic assays (2 × 101 – 2 × 105 cell mL−1; cells, filtrates, and cell lysates) performed at salinities of 20 and 30 psu showed a 100% reduction in the viability of embryonic fish cells exposed to intact cells of H. akashiwo and a 39% reduction following exposure to culture filtrates of P. verruculosa. Differences in the fish-killing mechanisms (direct cell contact vs. extracellular substances) and physiological traits of H. akashiwo and P. verruculosa explain the recent occurrence of very large blooms under contrasting (cold-brackish vs. hot-salty) extreme climate conditions in Chile.Postprint2,35

Box counting dimension of red blood cells samples when filtered with wavelet transform

Automatic recognizing of different populations of several millions of red blood cells (RBCs) is a useful tool in Hematology and Clinical Diagnosis. In this work we studied samples of several millions of RBCs: on one hand healthy control RBCs and on the other hand control RBCs incubated with Trichinella spiralis larval parasites. The alteration on the cells membrane with the parasite can be studied with box-counting dimension on both samples. Previously we applied wavelet transform to all the samples in order to improve the results. The procedure to remove noise from an image is based on the decomposition of the observed signal in a set of wavelets and taking threshold values to select the appropriate coefficients through which the signal can be reconstructed. In our work we compared the results obtained when analyzing the raw signals and the ones obtained after applying wavelet transform, and the results were different and more clearly characterized when the signal were treated with wavelet transform. Finally, the present method using wavelet transform is suitable to optimize the characterization of the RBCs damage when incubated with the larval parasites.Publicado en: Mecánica Computacional vol. XXXV, no. 43Facultad de Ingenierí

Ruptura del septum ventricular como complicación de un evento coronario agudo

ResumenLa ruptura del septum ventricular (RSV) es una complicación mecánica infrecuente del infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM). Los principales factores de riesgo descritos son la edad avanzada, el género femenino, un primer episodio de IAM y la presencia de enfermedad coronaria. Se sospecha de esta patología cuando clínicamente se evidencia un deterioro inexplicable del estado hemodinámico posterior al infarto. Los estudios imagenológicos (ecocardiograma y Doppler color) ayudan a confirmar el diagnóstico de RSV. Respecto al manejo, la corrección quirúrgica continúa siendo el pilar del tratamiento, ya que posee menor mortalidad en comparación con el abordaje médico no quirúrgico. Se presentan dos casos de ruptura del septum ventricular; el primero corresponde a una paciente femenina adulta mayor, con múltiples comorbilidades, quien desarrolló un síndrome coronario agudo tipo infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST a nivel anteroseptal. Se le realizó angioplastia primaria con evidencia de ruptura del septum ventricular, que fue corregida mediante cirugía de forma temprana. Pasadas veinticuatro horas, presentó ruptura de la pared libre del ventrículo izquierdo, hecho que precipitó su deceso. El segundo caso es una paciente femenina adulta mayor, quien presentó síndrome coronario agudo tipo infarto agudo de miocardio sin elevación del ST en cara lateral. Siete días después se documentó la existencia de la ruptura del septum ventricular, la cual fue corregida de manera tardía, en el día octavo, sin complicaciones asociadas.AbstractVentricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The main risk factors described are advanced age, female gender, a first episode of AMI and presence of coronary disease. There is suspicion for this condition when clinical evidence shows unexplained deterioration of hemodynamic status following infarction. Imaging studies (echocardiogram and colour Doppler) help confirm the diagnosis of ventricular septal rupture. Regarding management, surgical correction continues to be the mainstay of treatment, as it poses lower mortality in comparison to nonsurgical medical approach. Two cases of VSR are presented, the first one is a female adult patient with multiple comorbidities who developed an acute coronary syndrome of a acute myocardial infarction with an anteroseptal ST segment elevation. Primary angioplasty was performed that evidenced ventricular septal rupture, which was surgically corrected at an early stage. After 24hours, patient showed left ventricular free wall rupture, which precipitated her death. Second case is a female old patient who presented acute acute coronary syndrome of a acute myocardial infarction without lateral ST segment elevation. Seven days later a ventricular septal rupture was documented, which was corrected at a later stage on the eighth day without associated complications

Perinatal asphyxia: CNS development and deficits with delayed onset

Perinatal asphyxia constitutes a prototype of obstetric complications occurring when pulmonary oxygenation is delayed or interrupted. The primary insult relates to the duration of the period lacking oxygenation, leading to death if not re-established. Re-oxygenation leads to a secondary insult, related to a cascade of biochemical events required for restoring proper function. Perinatal asphyxia interferes with neonatal development, resulting in long-term deficits associated to mental and neurological diseases with delayed clinical onset, by mechanisms not yet clarified. In the experimental scenario, the effects observed long after perinatal asphyxia have been explained by over expression of sentinel proteins, such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), competing for NAD+ during re-oxygenation, leading to the idea that sentinel protein inhibition constitutes a suitable therapeutic strategy. Asphyxia induces transcriptional activation of proinflammatory factors, in tandem with PARP-1 overactivation, and pharmacologically induced PARP-1 inhibition also down-regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Nicotinamide has been proposed as a suitable PARP-1 inhibitor. Its effect has been studied in an experimental model of global hypoxia in rats. In that model, the insult is induced by immersing rat foetuses into a water bath for various periods of time. Following asphyxia, the pups are delivered, treated, and nursed by surrogate dams, pending further experiments. Nicotinamide rapidly distributes into the brain following systemic administration, reaching steady state concentrations sufficient to inhibit PARP-1 activity for several hours, preventing several of the long-term consequences of perinatal asphyxia, supporting the idea that it constitutes a lead for exploring compounds with similar or better pharmacological profiles

The Crust beneath Morocco: From the surface topography to the upper mantle a 700 km long seismic section across Morocco.

The most characteristic topographic features of Morocco are the Atlas Mountains and the Rif Coordillera. These two orogenic belts are the response of different geodynamic processes acting at lithospheric scale caused by a complex plate interaction. Both are located within the diffuse plate boundary zone separating Africa and Europe. The boundary zone is characterized by a relatively broad zone of deformation that includes mountain chains in southern Iberia, the Betics and in Morocco, the Rif Cordillera, separated by the Alboran basin. The zone delineates an arcuate arc system known as the Gibraltar arc. The area is characterized by a relatively large amount of earthquake activity at various depths and with a broad spectra of focal mechanisms. Within the last decade a large international effort have been devoted to the area. The topic has fostered a strong collaborations between Spanish and international research teams form Europe and USA. Key multi-seismic projects have been developed that aim to constrain the structure, composition and tectonic scenario from south of the Atlas to the Betics, across the Rif cordillera and the Alboran basin. The multidisciplinary research program included: natural source (earthquakes) recording with temporal deployments of broad band (BB) instrumentation and, controlled source seismic acquisition experiments where, spatially dense recording of wide-angle seismic reflection shot gathers were acquired. The natural source experiments consisted on a transect from Merzouga across the Gibraltar Arc and into the Iberian Peninsula (until south of Toledo) and, a nearly regular grid of BB. The controlled source data-sets were able to constrain the crustal structure and provide seismic P-wave propagation velocity models from the coast across the Rif and the Atlas. From south to north the crust features a relatively moderate crustal root beneath the Middle Atlas which can reach 40 km clearly differing from the 35 km thickness value observed at both sides of this root. Travel time inversion results position the crustal root just south of the High Atlas defining a thrusted mantle wedge and, also a limited crustal imbrication is suggested in the Middle Atlas. The most surprising feature is a prominent and unexpected crustal root (over 50 km) located beneath the external Rif and identified by both the wide-angle data and receiver function studies. To the east of this feature the crust thins rapidly by 20 km across the Nekkor fault zone, suggested to be related to the sharp change in crustal thickness. On shore-offshore recording of marine shots reveal further complexities in the transition to the Alboran basin. The low values of the Bouguer gravity anomalies beneath the Rif Cordillera are consistent with the crustal models derived from the new seismic data. The detailed knowledge on the crustal structure achieved by this high resolution imaging geophysical techniques is an asset to evaluate the earthquake and potential tsunami hazard for the coasts of North Africa and western Europe.This work has been primarily funded by the Spanish MEC project CGL2007–63889. Additional funding was provided by projects CGL2010–15416, CSD2006-00041, and CGL2009–09727 (Spain), CGL2008–03474-E, 07- TOPO_EUROPE_FP-006 (ESF Eurocores) and EAR-0808939 (US, NSF).Peer Reviewe

Base-modified UDP-sugars reduce cell surface levels of P-selectin glycoprotein 1 (PSGL-1) on IL-1β-stimulated human monocytes

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1, CD162) is a cell-surface glycoprotein that is expressed, either constitutively or inducibly, on all myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages. PSGL-1 is implicated in cell–cell interactions between platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells, and a key mediator of inflammatory cell recruitment and transmigration into tissues. Here, we have investigated the effects of the β-1,4-galactosyltransferase inhibitor 5-(5-formylthien-2-yl) UDP-Gal (5-FT UDP-Gal, compound 1) and two close derivatives on the cell surface levels of PSGL-1 on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). PSGL-1 levels were studied both under basal conditions, and upon stimulation of hPBMCs with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Between 1 and 24 hours after IL-1β stimulation, we observed initial PSGL-1 shedding, followed by an increase in PSGL-1 levels on the cell surface, with a maximal window between IL-1β-induced and basal levels after 72 h. All three inhibitors reduce PSGL-1 levels on IL-1β-stimulated cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but show no such effect in resting cells. Compound 1 also affects the cell surface levels of adhesion molecule CD11b in IL-1β-stimulated hPBMCs, but not of glycoproteins CD14 and CCR2. This activity profile may be linked to the inhibition of global Sialyl Lewis presentation on hPBMCs by compound 1, which we have also observed. Although this mechanistic explanation remains hypothetical at present, our results show, for the first time, that small molecules can discriminate between IL-1β-induced and basal levels of cell surface PSGL-1. These findings open new avenues for intervention with PSGL-1 presentation on the cell surface of primed hPBMCs and may have implications for anti-inflammatory drug development