Thiobacillus as a key player for biofilm formation in oligotrophic groundwaters of the Fennoscandian Shield

The authors thank the Swedish Research Council (2017-04422 and 2018-04311) and SKB for access to the Äspö HRL and the Sicada database. M.D. and M.L.-F. thank the Crafoord Foundation project 20180599. High-throughput sequencing was carried out at the National Genomics Infrastructure hosted by the Science for Life Laboratory. The computations were enabled by resources (SNIC 2022/22-743 and SNIC 2022/6-242) provided by the Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC) at UPPMAX at Uppsala University partially funded by the Swedish Research Council through grant agreement 2018-05973. The authors acknowledge Daniel Lundin for his advice and support for the bioinformatic analysis. Open access funding provided by Linnaeus University.The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-023-00408-1.Biofilm formation is a common adaptation for microbes in energy-limited conditions such as those prevalent in the vast deep terrestrial biosphere. However, due to the low biomass and the inaccessible nature of subsurface groundwaters, the microbial populations and genes involved in its formation are understudied. Here, a flow-cell system was designed to investigate biofilm formation under in situ conditions in two groundwaters of contrasting age and geochemistry at the aspo Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden. Metatranscriptomes showed Thiobacillus, Sideroxydans, and Desulforegula to be abundant and together accounted for 31% of the transcripts in the biofilm communities. Differential expression analysis highlighted Thiobacillus to have a principal role in biofilm formation in these oligotrophic groundwaters by being involved in relevant processes such as the formation of extracellular matrix, quorum sensing, and cell motility. The findings revealed an active biofilm community with sulfur cycling as a prominent mode of energy conservation in the deep biosphere.Swedish Research Council 2017-04422, 2018-04311, 2018-05973Crafoord Foundation 20180599Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing SNIC 2022/22-743, SNIC 2022/6-242Linnaeus Universit

Gallionella and Sulfuricella populations are dominant during the transition of boreal potential to actual acid sulfate soils

Acid sulfate soils release metal laden, acidic waters that affect the environment, buildings, and human health. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes all demonstrated distinct microbial communities and activities in the unoxidized potential acid sulfate soil, the overlying transition zone, and uppermost oxidized actual acid sulfate soil. Assembled genomes and mRNA transcripts also suggested abundant oxidized acid sulfate soil populations that aligned within the Gammaproteobacteria and Terracidiphilus. In contrast, potentially acid tolerant or moderately acidophilic iron oxidizing Gallionella and sulfur metabolizing Sulfuricella dominated the transition zone during catalysis of metal sulfide oxidation to form acid sulfate soil. Finally, anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to nitrate, sulfate, and ferric reduction were suggested to occur in the reduced parent sediments. In conclusion, despite comparable metal sulfide dissolution processes e.g., biomining, Gallionella and Sulfuricella dominated the community and activities during conversion of potential to actual acid sulfate soils.UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) DE-AC02-05CH11231 DE-AC05-76RL01830Nessling Foundation 201700273 201800502Svensk-OEsterbottniska Samfundet r.f. 18/0604European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg Botnia-Atlantica programSwedish Research Council Swedish Research Council Formas 2018-00760Geological Survey of Sweden 36-1878/2017Swedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission 2018-05973Swedish Research Council infrastructure project Biodiversity Atlas Sweden (VR) 2017-00688 Swedish Research Council Forma

Student-Generated Videos to Promote Understanding of Chemical Reactions

Published as part of the Journal of Chemical Education virtual special issue “Teaching Changes and Insights Gained in the Time after COVID-19”.[Abstract] Students were tasked with the creation of videos of ordinary reactions to promote significant learning of complex concepts underlying chemical transformations. Interactive infographics were used to deliver instructions. Afterward, students planned the experimental setup for the reaction execution and video recording using their mobile phones. The videos and an online questionnaire, also created by the students, were shared with other class members using the visual platform Padlet. The reasoning required to elaborate the questions contributed to a better understanding of the principles underpinning the chemical equation. An exit survey showed that planning and performing the activity were not time-consuming for the students. Marks attained by the students in questions related to chemical reactions improved after completing the activity

Utilización de sensores de bajo costo para el desarrollo de prácticas de laboratorio en tecnología: Análisis y evaluación del ruido mediante el uso de aplicaciones móviles

Recoger observaciones de los fenómenos físicos en el desarrollo de prácticas de laboratorio de tecnología implica el despliegue de instrumentación con los sensores adecuados cuyo coste de implantación y mantenimiento podría ser muy alto para los Centros de Enseñanza. Por otro lado, los dispositivos móviles como los smartphones incorporan numerosos sensores como acelerómetros, giróscopos, GPS, etc. Este conjunto de sensores convierte a los smartphones en el núcleo protagonista de los laboratorios de tecnología no solo por las potenciales aplicaciones de los mismos sino porque cada smartphone se convierte en un dispositivo de medición que cualquier alumno puede llevar en su bolsillo.Máster en Profesor de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idioma

Microbial interaction with and tolerance of radionuclides: underlying mechanisms and biotechnological applications

Radionuclides (RNs) generated by nuclear and civil industries are released in natural ecosystems and may have a hazardous impact on human health and the environment. RN-polluted environments harbour different microbial species that become highly tolerant of these elements through mechanisms including biosorption, biotransformation, biomineralization and intracellular accumulation. Such microbial–RN interaction processes hold biotechnological potential for the design of bioremediation strategies to deal with several contamination problems. This paper, with its multidisciplinary approach, provides a state-of-theart review of most research endeavours aimed to elucidate how microbes deal with radionuclides and how they tolerate ionizing radiations. In addition, the most recent findings related to new biotechnological applications of microbes in the bioremediation of radionuclides and in the long-term disposal of nuclear wastes are described and discussed.European Union (EU) Spanish Government RTI2018-101548-B-I0

Las nuevas tecnologías de la información como factor de competitividad en el sector turístico

RESUMEN. El escenario en el que se mueve el turismo está evolucionando hacia una nueva era en la que el logro de la competitividad es esencial. La información -intangible- se ha convertido en un recurso estratégico cuya utilización eficaz tiene importantes implicaciones sobre la ventaja ccimpetitiva del negocio turístico. Los sistemas de información basados en conocimiento y comunicados a través de redes de ordenadores, presentan características de flexibilidad y ubicuidad que generan nuevas expectativas de aplicación a problemas que requieren soluciones globales.ABSTRACT. The scene in which tourism is moving right now is evolving into a new era in which it is essential to be competitive. lnformation, being an intangible active, has become a strategic resource whose effective use has important implications in the competitive advantage of tourist business. lnformation systems based on knowledge and bassed on through computer networks show features of flexibility as well as ubiquity that generate new expectations of being applied to problems that require global solutions

The biological function of the proto-oncogene Cot/tpl-2

Capítulo 2.-- Editor: Pedro A. Lazo.Cot, as well as its murine homologue tpl-2, was discovered in a COOH–terminal truncated form that unmasks the transformation capacity of the protein. The COOH-terminal domain of wt Cot contains an amino acid sequence that is a recognition signal for degradation via proteasome, besides, this domain of wt Cot is also an autoinhibitory domain of the specific activity of the wild type form. These data explain the transformation capacity of trunc-Cot/tpl-2, that when overexpressed is capable of activating several MAP kinases pathways as well as AP-1, NFAT, and NF-κB2 transcriptional activities. Earlier sobreexpression experiments lead to the proposal that Cot/tpl-2 could be involved in proliferative signalling, but the use of new technologies such as genetically modifies mice and interference RNA end up with the already accepted hypothesis that Cot/tpl-2 is involved in immune innate and adaptive processes. Cot/tpl-2 is activated in response to the activation of the TLR/IL-1 receptor superfamily as well as in response to the activation of some receptors of the TNF family. Independently of the cell system it is accepted that in resting cells Cot/tpl-2 forms a stable and inactive complex with p105 NF-κB among other proteins to protect it from degradation, adequate TLR/IL-1R stimulation induces the activation of the IKK complex that targets p105 NF-κB to be rapidly degraded by the proteasome pathway to p50 NF-κB, a subunit of the NF-κB transcription factor. Consequently Cot/tpl-2 is released from the complex and susceptible to transduce the activatory signal, leading to the activation of the MEK1-Erk1/Erk2 pathway. However, actually it is not completely understood all the requests that Cot/tpl-2 needs to be fully active and to this end it is also accepted that Cot/tpl2 requires to be phosphorylated. In addition the possibility that the requirements vary from cell system to cell system cannot be excluded. Physiologically, Cot/tpl-2 is involved in provoking innate immunity to establish adaptive immunity. In fact it is the unique MAP3K that activates Erk1/Erk2 when the TLRs/IL-1 receptors are activated and mediates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα, IL-1, or IL-6. More recently it has been shown that Cot/tpl-2 has the capacity to regulate the balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines. All these data indicate that, although mutations in Cot gene result in the expression of a protein linked with cell malignancies, physiologically wt Cot/tpl-2 is involved in innate and adaptive immunity.Our research is supported by the Plan Nacional (SAF 2008-00819) and Mutua Madrileña.Peer Reviewe

Golgi structural stability and biogenesis depend on associated PKA activity

The mammalian Golgi complex consists of stacks of cisternae linked laterally into a continuous perinuclear ribbon structure. Protein kinase A is stably associated with the Golgi complex during interphase. To analyze its role in Golgi structural maintenance cells were depleted of protein kinase A regulatory subunits using small interfering RNAs. Under these conditions, the catalytic subunits redistributed to the cytosol and the entire Golgi complex underwent disassembly into multiple juxtanuclear fragments. A similar effect took place following pharmacological inhibition or redistribution of the complete holoenzyme to the cytosol. Golgi fragments maintained their polarization and competence for anterograde protein trafficking. By electron microscopy, they were identified as whorl-like structures composed of concentrically arrayed cisternae. To test a possible role of protein kinase A in Golgi biogenesis we analyzed its involvement during Golgi reassembly from the endoplasmic reticulum. In cells incubated with protein kinase A inhibitors, Golgi reconstruction was arrested at a late step of the reassembly process. This is consistent with the stage of enzyme recruitment from cytosol to emerging Golgi membranes during the reassembly process. We conclude that protein kinase A activity plays a relevant role in the assembly and maintenance of a continuous Golgi ribbon from separated membrane stacks

Actividad biológica de fracciones de la esponja marina Iotrochota birotulata en células de mamíferos

ABSTRACT: Marine sponges are considered an important source of substances with pharmacological potential. They play a key role in the intensive investigation of promising new compounds to treat cancer and other diseases. Objective: To evaluate in CHOK1 and Jurkat cell lines, the cytotoxic, genotoxic and antiproliferative effects of two fractions of I. birotulata sponge from Colombian Caribbean. Methods: The cell viability (cytotoxic effect) was determined by Trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays. Genotoxicity was assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis, the antiproliferative effect was monitored with clonogenic test, sister chromatid exchange proliferative kinetic, and accumulation function. Data was analyzed with lineal regression, oneway ANOVA, and Bonferroni tests. Results: Both cytotoxic assays showed a similar dose dependent effect for the CHOK1 and Jurkat cell lines treated with both fractions (F5 y F6) of I. birotulata. They also revealed an effect on the cell membrane and mitochondrial activity of both cell lines. Fraction F5 exhibited a greater genotoxic effect on both cell lines, which is consistent with the antiproliferation results obtained by the clonogenic assay. These results are also consistent with the inhibitory effect on the cell cycle, which was evaluated with SCE, proliferative kinetic, and the accumulation function tests. Consequently, the results showed differential sensitivity to the treatment of the Jurkat cells compared to the CHOK1 cell line. Conclusions: Together, the results show a differential effect of the two assessed fractions on cell membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and antiproliferative effect on both mammalian cell lines.RESUMEN: Las esponjas marinas son una fuente importante de compuestos con propiedades farmacológicas potenciales. Desempeñan una función esencial en la intensa en la búsqueda de nuevas y prometedores compuestos que brinden tratamiento para el cáncer y otras enfermedades. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos citotóxico, genotóxico y antiproliferativo en las líneas celulares CHOK1 y Jurkat de dos fracciones de la esponja Iotrochota birotulata del Caribe colombiano. Métodos: La viabilidad celular (efecto citotóxico) se determinó mediante ensayos de azul de Tripano y MTT. La genotoxicidad se evaluó mediante la electroforesis en gel de células individuales y el efecto antiproliferativo se monitoreó con pruebas clonogénica, cinética proliferativa por intercambio de cromátides hermanas y la función de acumulación. Los datos se analizaron mediante regresión lineal, ANOVA de una vía, y la prueba de Bonferroni. Resultados: Ambas pruebas citotóxicas mostraron un efecto similar dependiente de la dosis en las líneas celulares CHOK1 y Jurkat tratadas con dos fracciones (F5 y F6) de I. birotulata. Las pruebas citotóxicas también revelaron efectos en la membrana celular y en la actividad mitocondrial en ambas líneas celulares. La fracción F5 mostró mayor efecto genotóxico en las dos líneas celulares, consistente con los resultados de antiproliferación del ensayo clonogénico y con el efecto inhibitorio en el ciclo celular evaluado por las pruebas de intercambio de cromátides hermanas, cinética proliferativa y función de acumulación. Por consiguiente, los resultados revelaron mayor sensibilidad diferencial al tratamiento en las células Jurkat comparada con la línea celular CHOK1. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos demuestran el efecto diferencial de las fracciones F5 y F6, en la integridad de la membrana celular, la actividad mitocondrial y el efecto antiproliferativo en las dos líneas celulares de mamíferos evaluadas