COMPARISON OF TWO PARASITOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTESTINAL PARASITES IN A POPULATION OF IBERIAN IBEX (CAPRA PYRENAICA SCHINZ, 1838) IN THE SIERRA DE GUADARRAMA NATIONAL PARK (SPAIN)

Twenty samples of Iberian ibex collected in October 2014 in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain) were analyzed to evaluate detectability of intestinal parasites by two concentration techniques: Ritchie (1948) and Anécimo et al. (2012) and also to analyze and compare the parasite catalogue of each technique. There has been a decrease in the diversity of species found and an increase in prevalence data with respect to previous studies carried out in the same area, possibly due to the increase in Iberian ibex density in the area. A nematode species (Nematodirus filicollis) that has not previously been found in the population under study and which typically parasites cattle, has also been identified. This suggests an exchange of parasites between wild ungulates population and domestic livestock in this area.There were no significant differences between the results obtained by the two techniques used so that, the improvement in the working conditions of the analysts that involves the use of the Anécimo technique by not using hazardous solvents to health, can serve as a guideline to change the protocol of action

Zoología. Un modelo para la enseñanza no presencial

Memoria Proyecto de innovación nº 238 curso 2020/2

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Hirudíneos

Miguel Álvarez Cobelas y Salvador Sánchez Carrillo (eds.); Biblioteca de Ciencias nº 49; 648 pp.El territorio madrileño —a pesar de su pequeñez— presenta unas características ambientales interesantes: gradiente altitudinal, litología compleja, lugares naturales de mucho interés y otros apenas conocidos, muchos ambientes artificiales, intensos impactos antrópicos... Un mundo limnológico pequeño, pero muy variado. El libro describe qué cosas se saben y cuáles no sobre la ecología acuática en la Comunidad de Madrid. Por lo tanto, tiene en cuenta el ambiente abiótico, los organismos y los procesos ecológicos, además de los aspectos aplicados. Respecto a los seres vivos, un rasgo fundamental es la riqueza de especies, a la que presta atención especial para inventariar lo conocido y sugerir qué habríamos de conocer. Los acelerados cambios que están generando las técnicas moleculares aplicadas a la taxonomía harán que las especies y su nomenclatura muten en poco tiempo, lo cual supondrá una novedad radical en los conocimientos sobre la diversidad de organismos en pocas décadas. Obviamente también, las nuevas técnicas ecológicas y los nuevos conceptos y teorías harán que la disciplina ecológica cambie y aumente en un futuro próximo. Este texto es fruto del trabajo de una generación de investigadores, buena parte de los cuales iniciaron sus estudios en la década de 1980. Algunos de ellos ya se han jubilado, y bastantes más están a punto de hacerlo. El libro ofrece, por tanto, un aspecto generacional que da cuenta, asimismo, de una manera de abordar la investigación

Experiencia práctica de bases de datos educativas en el campo de la parasitología

En la presente comunicación se describe la creación y aplicación de una base de datos educativa en el campo de la parasitología, en la Facultad de Biología de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. El material depositado en las colecciones de parasitología del departamento de zoología y antropología física de la UCM fue fotografiado en su totalidad y con las imágenes resultantes se creó una base de datos (banco de imágenes). El aprovechamiento de estas imágenes, como recurso educativo, se aplicó en tres vertientes: 1. la creación de un museo virtual que será asequible desde Internet; 2. la edición de materiales docentes en el marco de los proyectos de innovación y mejora de la calidad docente de la UCM y 3. el desarrollo de una asignatura telemática, impartida exclusivamente a través de un campus virtual.This communication describes the creation and application of an educational data base in the field of Parasitology in the Faculty of Biology at the Complutense University at Madrid. The material deposited in the Parasitology collections of the Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology of the (CUM) was completely photographed and the images used to create a data base (base of images). The use of these images as an educational resource was applied in three aspects: 1. the creation of a virtual museum which will be attainable through the Internet; 2. the edition of teaching material within the framework of the innovation projects and improvement of the teaching quality at the CUM, and 3. the development of a telematic course taught exclusively through a virtual campus.BalearesUniversitat de les Illes Balears. Redined Balears; Edifici Guillem Cifre de Colonya. Ctra. de Valldemossa, Km 7,5; 07122 Palma de Mallorca; +34971172792; +34971173190;ES

Innovación educativa en zoología : interpretación de modelos arquitectónicos

A partir del banco de imágenes originado con el material de los laboratorios de nuestras universidades, se ha desarrollado un sistema educativo que está disponible a través de Internet. Los modelos arquitectónicos básicos de los animales están representados de forma didáctica y simple lo que favorece un tipo de enseñanza en la que los estudiantes toman parte activa y responsable en su proceso de formación. La colaboración entre profesores de universidades de distintos países para la elaboración de un único servidor educativo es una de las grandes ventajas de esta experiencia innovadora. Además, en un futuro próximo, los materiales docentes se dispondrán en versión inglesa, lo que ampliará su difusión y utilización.With the use of an image bank formed with the material available in our universities, an educational system was developed and made available through the Internet. The basic animal architectural models are represented in a simple and didactic manner which favors a type of teaching in which students undertake an active and responsible role in their formation process. The collaboration between professors of several countries in the development of a single educational server is one of the greatest advantages of this innovative experience. Furthermore, in the near future the material will be available in an English version which will amplify its diffusion and use.BalearesUniversitat de les Illes Balears. Redined Balears; Edifici Guillem Cifre de Colonya. Ctra. de Valldemossa, Km 7,5; 07122 Palma de Mallorca; +34971172792; +34971173190;ES

Innovación educativa e investigación : las bases de datos de los oligoquetos

La innovación educativa y la aplicación de las nuevas tecnologías de la comunicación también deben aplicarse en el campo de la investigación. La formación de nuevos investigadores debería aprovechar todos los recursos disponibles y basarse en las concepciones más modernas de la enseñanza. En esta comunicación se presenta un proyecto innovador para la formación de jóvenes investigadores en el campo de la biodiversidad de las lombrices de tierra (Oligoquetos), a partir del material científico procedente de proyectos de investigación y depositado en colecciones. El proyecto consiste en la edición de una página web en la que conviven los datos científicos y cursos de formación para jóvenes investigadores.Innovative education and the application of new communication technologies should also be applied to the field of research. The formation of new researchers should take advantage of all available resources and be based on the most modern educational concepts. This communication presents an innovative project for the formation of young researchers in the field of earthworm (oligochaete) biodiversity. Scientific material obtained from research projects and deposited in collections was employed. The project consists of the edition of a web page in which scientific data coexist with formation courses for young researchers.BalearesUniversitat de les Illes Balears. Redined Balears; Edifici Guillem Cifre de Colonya. Ctra. de Valldemossa, Km 7,5; 07122 Palma de Mallorca; +34971172792; +34971173190;ES