Mecanismos de entrada y de organización del complejo de replicación del virus de la fiebre aftosa: estudio comparativo con el virus de la enfermedad vesicular del cerdo y el virus de la estomatitits vesicular

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Molecular. Fecha de lectura: 29-05-0

Presupuestos e implicaciones antropológicas y éticas del pensamiento de Charles Taylor

Charles Taylor es uno de los pensadores contemporáneos cuya propuesta filosófica, sobre todo en lo concerniente su reflexión ética, articulada a partir de una antropología concreta, supone un referente significativo en el debate actual. Uno de los aspectos característicos de su proceder es la actualización de asuntos clásicos como la cuestión del bien, del sentido y la vida buena para el hombre. Su ambicioso proyecto tiene como finalidad elaborar una antropología filosófica que subsane los errores que heredamos de la propuesta cartesiana y de la modernidad en general, y que siguen presentes en las actitudes naturalistas de muchos filósofos. A través de los cinco capítulos que vertebran esta tesis doctoral, y al hilo de sus reflexiones, nos proponemos el objetivo de sacar a la luz los presupuestos antropológicos y éticos del pensamiento de Charles Taylor, así como las implicaciones que se derivan de ellos. Para ello nos apoyamos en los textos más fundamentales en los que el propio autor sienta las bases de su propuesta, atendiendo al modo en que su propia posición se gesta al entrar en contacto con la fenomenología de Merleau-Ponty y la filosofía de Heidegger, entre otros. Así mismo, su proyecto antropológico gira en torno a una interpretación del ser humano que combina, además, elementos de la ética aristotélica, como la noción de la phronêsis, y de la hermenéutica gadameriana..

Reconciling west nile virus with the autophagic pathway

© 2015, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for recurrent outbreaks of meningitis and encephalitis. Several studies analyzing the interactions of this pathogen with the autophagic pathway have reported opposite results with evidence for and against the upregulation of autophagy in infected cells. In this regard, we have recently reported that minimal genetic changes (single amino acid substitutions) in nonstructural proteins of WNV can modify the ability of the virus to induce autophagic features such as LC3 modification and aggregation in infected cells. We think that these results could help explain some of the previously reported discrepancies. These findings could also aid in deciphering the interactions of this pathogen with the autophagic pathway at the molecular level aimed to develop feasible antiviral strategies to combat this pathogen, and other related flaviviruses.INIA (RTA2011-0036 and E-RTA2013-00013-C01) and the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid PLATESA (P2013/ABI-2906)Peer Reviewe

Plasma Membrane Phosphatidylinositol 4,5 Bisphosphate Is Required for Internalization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, PI(4,5)P 2, is a phospholipid which plays important roles in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. To investigate the possible role of this lipid on viral entry, two viruses important for animal health were selected: the enveloped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) - which uses a well characterized clathrin mediated endocytic route - and two different variants of the non-enveloped foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) with distinct receptor specificities. The expression of a dominant negative dynamin, a PI(4,5)P 2 effector protein, inhibited the internalization and infection of VSV and both FMDV isolates. Depletion of PI(4,5)P 2 from plasma membrane using ionomycin or an inducible system, and inhibition of its de novo synthesis with 1-butanol revealed that VSV as well as FMDV C-S8c1, which uses integrins as receptor, displayed a high dependence on PI(4,5)P 2 for internalization. Expression of a kinase dead mutant (KD) of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase Iα (PIP5K-Iα), an enzyme responsible for PI(4,5)P 2 synthesis that regulates clathrin-dependent endocytosis, also impaired entry and infection of VSV and FMDV C-S8c1. Interestingly FMDV MARLS variant that uses receptors other than integrins for cell entry was less sensitive to PI(4,5)P 2 depletion, and was not inhibited by the expression of the KD PIP5K-Iα mutant suggesting the involvement of endocytic routes other than the clathrin-mediated on its entry. These results highlight the role of PI(4,5)P 2 and PIP5K-Iα on clathrin-mediated viral entry. © 2012 Vázquez-Calvo et al.BIO2008-0447-C03-01 and BIO2011-24351; Fundación Ramón ArecesPeer Reviewe

Synapse Loss in Olfactory Local Interneurons Modifies Perception

Synapse loss correlates with cognitive decline in aging and most neurological pathologies. Sensory perception changes often represent subtle dysfunctions that precede the onset of a neurodegenerative disease. However, a cause–effect relationship between synapse loss and sensory perception deficits is difficult to prove and quantify due to functional and structural adaptation of neural systems. Here we modified a PI3K/AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway to reduce the number of synapses—without affecting the number of cells—in five subsets of local interneurons of the Drosophila olfactory glomeruli and measured the behavioral effects on olfactory perception. The neuron subsets were chosen under the criteria of GABA or ChAT expression. The reduction of one subset of synapses, mostly inhibitory, converted the responses to all odorants and concentrations tested as repulsive, while the reduction of another subset, mostly excitatory, led to a shift toward attraction. However, the simultaneous reduction of both synapse subsets restored normal perception. One group of local interneurons proved unaffected by the induced synapse loss in the perception of some odorants, indicating a functional specialization of these cells. Using genetic tools for space and temporal control of synapse number decrease, we show that the perception effects are specific to the local interneurons, rather than the mushroom bodies, and are not based on major structural changes elicited during development. These findings demonstrate that synapse loss cause sensory perception changes and suggest that normal perception is based on a balance between excitation and inhibition.Peer reviewe

“What is proper to man”. Notes on the anthropology of Ratzinger

En las reflexiones recogidas en este artículo deseamos esbozar los elementos del misterio del hombre presente en el corazón y la teología de Joseph Ratzinger. Se mostrará que el amor es una de las claves que permite al hombre conocerse y comprenderse a sí mismo con relación a otros y a Dios. Desde esta categoría, Ratzinger ilumina la esencia del hombre y presenta una perspectiva más profunda de su realidad.In the reflections collected in this article we want to outline the elements of the mystery of man present in the heart and theology of Joseph Ratzinger. It will be shown that love is one of the keys that allows man to know and understand himself in relation to others and to God. From this category, Ratzinger illuminates the essence of man and presents a deeper perspective of his reality.peerReviewe

Understanding responses to perceived complexity by internal stakeholders. Case study of a publicly-funded R&D project of an industrial SME.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge on how to manage the perceived complexity by project participants. For this we carried out a case study approach and we chose an R&D project carried out by an SME, which was partly co-financed by a public entity. We use a qualitative approach for our research. In addition, we conducted semi-structured interviews, at the beginning of the co-financed part of the project and at the end, using the Complexity Assessment Tool (CAT) as a scheme. The results showed the usefulness of the CAT to guide the responses to the perceived complexity and the use of social capital and human capital as a source that is used by the participants in the project to develop the responses. Our work extends knowledge about the importance of developing responses to complexity and the sources from which they arise.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

How public funding affects complexity in R&D projects. An analysis of team project perceptions

Producción CientíficaIn this paper, we apply a case study approach to advance current understanding of what effects public co-funding of R&D projects have on project team members’ perceived complexity. We chose an R&D project carried out by an industrial SME in northern Spain. The chosen research strategy was a qualitative approach, and sixteen employees participated in the project. We held in-depth semi-structured interviews at the beginning and end of the co-funded part of the project. NVivo data analysis software was used for qualitative data analysis. Results showed a substantial increase in perceived complexity. We observed that this was due to unresolved tension between the requirements of the project’s co-financing entity and normal SME working procedures. New working procedures needed to be developed in order to comply with the co-financing entity’s requirements. However, overall perceived complexity significantly decreased once the co-financed part of the project was completed.Junta de Castilla y León y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (grant VA180P20