Phylogeny and chromosomal diversification in the <i>Dichroplus elongatus</i> species group (Orthoptera, Melanoplinae)

In an attempt to track the chromosomal differentiation in the Dichroplus elongatus species group, we analyzed the karyotypes of four species with classical cytogenetic and mapping several multigene families through fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We improved the taxon sampling of the D. elongatus species group adding new molecular data to infer the phylogeny of the genus and reconstruct the karyotype evolution. Our molecular analyses recovered a fully resolved tree with no evidence for the monophyly of Dichroplus. However, we recovered several stable clades within the genus, including the D. elongatus species group, under the different strategies of tree analyses (Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood). The chromosomal data revealed minor variation in the D. elongatus species group's karyotypes caused by chromosome rearrangements compared to the phylogenetically related D. maculipennis species group. The karyotypes of D. intermedius and D. exilis described herein showed the standard characteristics found in most Dichroplini, 2n = 23/24, X0♂ XX♀, Fundamental number (FN) = 23/24. However, we noticed two established pericentric inversions in D. intermedius karyotype, raising the FN to 27♂/28♀. A strong variation in the heterochromatic blocks distribution was evidenced at interespecific level. The multigene families' mapping revealed significant variation, mainly in rDNA clusters. These variations are probably caused by micro chromosomal changes, such as movement of transposable elements (TEs) and ectopic recombination. These observations suggest a high genomic dynamism for these repetitive DNA sequences in related species. The reconstruction of the chromosome character "variation in the FN" posits the FN = 23/24 as the ancestral state, and it is hypothesized that variations due to pericentric inversions has arisen independently three times in the evolutionary history of Dichroplus. One of these independent events occurred in the D. elongatus species group, where D. intermedius is the unique case with the highest FN described in the tribe Dichroplini.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Phylogeny and chromosomal diversification in the <i>Dichroplus elongatus</i> species group (Orthoptera, Melanoplinae)

In an attempt to track the chromosomal differentiation in the Dichroplus elongatus species group, we analyzed the karyotypes of four species with classical cytogenetic and mapping several multigene families through fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We improved the taxon sampling of the D. elongatus species group adding new molecular data to infer the phylogeny of the genus and reconstruct the karyotype evolution. Our molecular analyses recovered a fully resolved tree with no evidence for the monophyly of Dichroplus. However, we recovered several stable clades within the genus, including the D. elongatus species group, under the different strategies of tree analyses (Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood). The chromosomal data revealed minor variation in the D. elongatus species group's karyotypes caused by chromosome rearrangements compared to the phylogenetically related D. maculipennis species group. The karyotypes of D. intermedius and D. exilis described herein showed the standard characteristics found in most Dichroplini, 2n = 23/24, X0♂ XX♀, Fundamental number (FN) = 23/24. However, we noticed two established pericentric inversions in D. intermedius karyotype, raising the FN to 27♂/28♀. A strong variation in the heterochromatic blocks distribution was evidenced at interespecific level. The multigene families' mapping revealed significant variation, mainly in rDNA clusters. These variations are probably caused by micro chromosomal changes, such as movement of transposable elements (TEs) and ectopic recombination. These observations suggest a high genomic dynamism for these repetitive DNA sequences in related species. The reconstruction of the chromosome character "variation in the FN" posits the FN = 23/24 as the ancestral state, and it is hypothesized that variations due to pericentric inversions has arisen independently three times in the evolutionary history of Dichroplus. One of these independent events occurred in the D. elongatus species group, where D. intermedius is the unique case with the highest FN described in the tribe Dichroplini.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

ß-lactamasas AmpC plasmídicas tipo CMY-2 emergentes en Tucumán, Argentina

En los últimos años, algunas enterobacterias como Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis y Escherichia coli adquirieron resistencia a las cefalosporinas de tercera generación (C3G) por la adquisición de ß-lactamasas de tipo AmpC plasmídicas, mecanismo que se está comunicando cada vez con mayor frecuencia en el mundo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue detectar la emergencia de ß-lactamasas AmpC plasmídicas en Tucumán e identificar sus tipos predominantes. Se estudió la sensibilidad a diferentes antimicrobianos de 733 aislamientos clínicos consecutivos de enterobacterias obtenidos en el período marzo-julio de 2009 en tres centros asistenciales de nuestra provincia. Se realizaron pruebas de sensibilidad por difusión y se seleccionaron tres aislamientos de E. coli y uno de P. mirabilis resistentes a C3G y a cefoxitina. En estos aislamientos se determinó la CIM por E-test y se evaluó el mecanismo enzimático de resistencia mediante sinergia con discos de ácido aminofenilborónico y ensayo microbiológico de Masuda. Se realizó PCR usando cebadores dirigidos al grupo CIT de las AmpC plasmídicas. Se obtuvo un amplicón de 462 pb que fue secuenciado; presentó un 100% de identidad con blaCMY-2 en los cuatro aislamientos. En conclusión, las ß-lactamasas AmpC tipo CMY-2 emergieron en nuestro medio, de modo que es importante implementar una vigilancia sistemática de estas resistencias para evitar potenciales consecuencias clínicas y epidemiológicas.CMY-2-type plasmid-mediated AmpC B-Lactamases emerging in Tucumán, Argentina. In the last years, Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli, have acquired resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (C3G) because of the presence of plasmid-mediated AmpC B-lactamases. The aim of this work was to detect plasmid AmpC enzymes and to investigate the predominant types in our region. Between March and July 2009, 733 consecutive isolates of Enterobacteriaceae derived from hospitals and outpatient centers were studied. Susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion; one P. mirabilis and three E. coli strains showed resistance to cephamycins (cefoxitin) and C3G. An E-test to determine MIC and a synergy test by aminophenylboronic disks were performed. Enzymatic activity against cefoxitin was confirmed by a microbiological assay. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of plasmid-mediated ampC genes of different groups was performed and a 462-bp amplicon was obtained when using primers directed against the CIT group; the obtained sequences were compared to blaCMY-2 sequences, showing 100% identity. The emergence of CMY-2-type plasmid-mediated AmpC B-lactamases indicated the importance of implementing systematic monitoring of these resistances to avoid potential clinical and epidemiological consequences.Fil: Jure, Maria Angela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología "Luis Verna". Cátedra de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Presti, Constanza. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología "Luis Verna". Cátedra de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Cudmani, Norma M.. Hospital Avellaneda. Laboratorio de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Grellet, Lidia M.. Pcia. de Tucumán. Hospital de Concepción; ArgentinaFil: López, Carolina. Centro de Microbiología Médica. Laboratorio de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Musa, Eduardo H.. Centro de Microbiologia. Red WHONET, San Miguel de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Aulet, Olga C.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología "Luis Verna". Cátedra de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Nieto Peñalver, Carlos Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología "Luis Verna". Cátedra de Bacteriología; ArgentinaFil: Saavedra, Maria Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: de Castillo, Marta Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Microbiología "Luis Verna". Cátedra de Bacteriología; Argentin

Phylogeny and chromosomal diversification in the <i>Dichroplus elongatus</i> species group (Orthoptera, Melanoplinae)

In an attempt to track the chromosomal differentiation in the Dichroplus elongatus species group, we analyzed the karyotypes of four species with classical cytogenetic and mapping several multigene families through fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We improved the taxon sampling of the D. elongatus species group adding new molecular data to infer the phylogeny of the genus and reconstruct the karyotype evolution. Our molecular analyses recovered a fully resolved tree with no evidence for the monophyly of Dichroplus. However, we recovered several stable clades within the genus, including the D. elongatus species group, under the different strategies of tree analyses (Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood). The chromosomal data revealed minor variation in the D. elongatus species group's karyotypes caused by chromosome rearrangements compared to the phylogenetically related D. maculipennis species group. The karyotypes of D. intermedius and D. exilis described herein showed the standard characteristics found in most Dichroplini, 2n = 23/24, X0♂ XX♀, Fundamental number (FN) = 23/24. However, we noticed two established pericentric inversions in D. intermedius karyotype, raising the FN to 27♂/28♀. A strong variation in the heterochromatic blocks distribution was evidenced at interespecific level. The multigene families' mapping revealed significant variation, mainly in rDNA clusters. These variations are probably caused by micro chromosomal changes, such as movement of transposable elements (TEs) and ectopic recombination. These observations suggest a high genomic dynamism for these repetitive DNA sequences in related species. The reconstruction of the chromosome character "variation in the FN" posits the FN = 23/24 as the ancestral state, and it is hypothesized that variations due to pericentric inversions has arisen independently three times in the evolutionary history of Dichroplus. One of these independent events occurred in the D. elongatus species group, where D. intermedius is the unique case with the highest FN described in the tribe Dichroplini.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Differential association between S100A4 levels and insulin resistance in prepubertal children and adult subjects with clinically severe obesity

Objectives: S100A4 has been recently identified as an adipokine associated with insulin resistance (IR) in adult subjects with obesity. However, no data about its levels in children with obesity and only a few approaches regarding its potential mechanism of action have been reported. To obtain a deeper understanding of the role of S100A4 in obesity, (a) S100A4 levels were measured in prepubertal children and adult subjects with and without obesity and studied the relationship with IR and (b) the effects of S100A4 in cultured human adipocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were determined. Methods: Sixty-five children (50 with obesity, age 9.0 ±1.1 years and 15 normal weight, age 8.4 ±0.8 years) and fifty-nine adults (43 with severe obesity, age 46 ±11 years and 16 normal weight, age 45 ±9 years) were included. Blood from children and adults and adipose tissue samples from adults were obtained and analysed. Human adipocytes and VSMC were incubated with S100A4 to evaluate their response to this adipokine. Results: Circulating S100A4 levels were increased in both children (P =.002) and adults (P <.001) with obesity compared with their normal-weight controls. In subjects with obesity, S100A4 levels were associated with homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in adults (βstd =.42, P =.008) but not in children (βstd =.12, P =.356). Human adipocytes were not sensitive to S100A4, while incubation with this adipokine significantly reduced inflammatory markers in VSMC. Conclusions: Our human data demonstrate that higher S100A4 levels are a marker of IR in adults with obesity but not in prepubertal children. Furthermore, the in vitro results suggest that S100A4 might exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Further studies will be necessary to determine whether S100A4 can be a therapeutic target for obesity

miR-873-5p targets mitochondrial GNMT-Complex II interface contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatly liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex pathology in which several dysfunctions, including alterations in metabolic pathways, mitochondrial functionality and unbalanced lipid import/export, lead to lipid accumulation and progression to inflammation and fibrosis. The enzyme glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), the most important enzyme implicated in S-adenosylmethionine catabolism in the liver, is downregulated during NAFLD progression. We have studied the mechanism involved in GNMT downregulation by its repressor microRNA miR-873-5p and the metabolic pathways affected in NAFLD as well as the benefit of recovery GNMT expression. Methods: miR-873-5p and GNMT expression were evaluated in liver biopsies of NAFLD/NASH patients. Different in vitro and in vivo NAFLD murine models were used to assess miR-873-5p/GNMT involvement in fatty liver progression through targeting of the miR-873-5p as NAFLD therapy. Results: We describe a new function of GNMT as an essential regulator of Complex II activity in the electron transport chain in the mitochondria. In NAFLD, GNMT expression is controlled by miR-873-5p in the hepatocytes, leading to disruptions in mitochondria! functionality in a preclinical murine non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. Upregulation of miR-873-5p is shown in the liver of NAFLD/NASH patients, correlating with hepatic GNMT depletion. Importantly, NASH therapies based on anti-miR-873-5p resolve lipid accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis by enhancing fatty acid beta-oxidation in the mitochondria. Therefore, miR-873-5p inhibitor emerges as a potential tool for NASH treatment. Conclusion: GNMT participates in the regulation of metabolic pathways and mitochondria! functionality through the regulation of Complex II activity in the electron transport chain. In NAFLD, GNMT is repressed by miR-873-5p and its targeting arises as a valuable therapeutic option for treatment. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.This work was supported by grants from NIH (US Department of Health and Human services)-R01AT001576 (to S.C.L., J.M.M., and M.L.M.-C.), Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad: SAF2017-87301-R (to M.L.M.-C.), SAF2015-64352-R (to P.A.), Gobierno Vasco-Departamento de Salud 2013111114 (to M.L.M.-C.), Gobierno Vasco-Departamento de Educacion IT-336-10 (to PA), BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and Health Research: EiTB Maratoia BIO15/CA/016/BD (M.L.M.-C.), ELKARTEK 2016, Departamento de Industria del Gobierno Vasco (to M.L.M.-C), Asociacion Espanola contra el Cancer (to T.C.D., P.F.-T. and M.L.M.-C.), Mitotherapeutix (to M.L.M.-C.), Daniel Alagille award from EASL (to T.C.D), Fundacion Cientifica de la Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer (AECC Scientific Foundation) Rare Tumor Calls 2017 (to M.L.M.-C.), La Caixa Foundation Program (to M.L.M.-C.), Ayudas Fundacion BBVA a Equipos de Investigacion Cientifica 2019 (to M.L.M.-C.). Ciberehd_ISCIII_MINECO is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. We thank this work produced with the support of a 2017 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation (to M.V.R.). This work was supported by Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (C12/BM/3975937, FL/997/7-1, Inter "HepmiRSTAT", to I.B. and F.L.). We thank MINECO for the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation (SEV2016-0644)

PM₁₀-bound trace elements in pan-European urban atmosphere

Although many studies have discussed the impact of Europe's air quality, very limited research focused on the detailed phenomenology of ambient trace elements (TEs) in PM10 in urban atmosphere. This study compiled long-term (2013–2022) measurements of speciation of ambient urban PM10 from 55 sites of 7 countries (Switzerland, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK), aiming to elucidate the phenomenology of 20 TEs in PM10 in urban Europe. The monitoring sites comprised urban background (UB, n = 26), traffic (TR, n = 10), industrial (IN, n = 5), suburban background (SUB, n = 7), and rural background (RB, n = 7) types. The sampling campaigns were conducted using standardized protocols to ensure data comparability. In each country, PM10 samples were collected over a fixed period using high-volume air samplers. The analysis encompassed the spatio-temporal distribution of TEs, and relationships between TEs at each site. Results indicated an annual average for the sum of 20 TEs of 90 ± 65 ng/m3, with TR and IN sites exhibiting the highest concentrations (130 ± 66 and 131 ± 80 ng/m3, respectively). Seasonal variability in TEs concentrations, influenced by emission sources and meteorology, revealed significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) across all monitoring sites. Estimation of TE concentrations highlighted distinct ratios between non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic metals, with Zn (40 ± 49 ng/m3), Ti (21 ± 29 ng/m3), and Cu (23 ± 35 ng/m3) dominating non-carcinogenic TEs, while Cr (5 ± 7 ng/m3), and Ni (2 ± 6 ng/m3) were prominent among carcinogenic ones. Correlations between TEs across diverse locations and seasons varied, in agreement with differences in emission sources and meteorological conditions. This study provides valuable insights into TEs in pan-European urban atmosphere, contributing to a comprehensive dataset for future environmental protection policies