Reversion of late progeny in mutants with reduced fertility in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The detailed study of fertility is an eminent objective due to its involvement in the human population. Interestingly, research in relation to dietary restriction in different species have related this circumstance to an increase in longevity and delay in fertility. The evolutionarily conserved insulin / insulin-like growth factor-1 pathway is directly related to this phenomenon. Caenorhabditis elegans is an animal model widely used for the study of, for which, and in relation to this pathway, the transcription factor DAF-16 (homologous to human FOXO) plays an especially important role. Mutants for the insulin pathway, which in some extent mimic a dietary restriction situation, have also shown to have reduced fertility. Based on this, previous studies corroborated that suppression by interfering RNA (iRNA) of DAF-16 in mutants with impaired fertility reverses this phenotype.The phenomenon of late progeny is that individuals appear to have offspring later in life than wild-type ones, not being described solidly in the literature; that is why the purposes of this project consist of its evaluation and the verification of a possible reversion. Two thermosensitive mutants of C. elegans have been selected for study, for which a reduction in fertility was observed: mutant daf-2 (e1370), receptor tyrosine kinase, and mutant age-1 (mg305), subunit of the PI3 Kinase. There is not much data regarding this second mutant.First, it has been necessary to establish a parameter to discern between what will be considered late progeny or not. To carry it out, its laying behavior has been observed after being incubated at different temperatures in its fertile period. The obtained results corroborate that the late progeny is a real and measurable phenomenon, reflecting a significant difference of the mutants with respect to the wild ones at a temperature of 22.5ºC; having established the fifth day of the fertile period as a margin to differentiate its existence. Subsequently, experiments are planned to observe a possible reversal of the condition through the administration of 4-5 iRNA for specific genes that have been previously identified through genetic screening, and that seem to intervene in some way in this route by suppressing the reduced fertility phenotype. If this is the case, these genes would be described as being involved in the phenomenon of late progeny, establishing a mechanical correlation between reduction of fertility and the phenomenon of late progeny

Optimization in the production of fat for the obtainment of biodiesel from sludge from treatment plants wastewater

Motivation: Most of the energy sources currently used is derived from fossil fuels, whose reserves are limited. On the other hand, millions of tonnes of waste are generated worldwide from urban water treatment. Sewerage water is treated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and passed through a depuration process that generates a waste in form of sludge. In an attempt to solve those two problems we are using a strategy which involve the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans is a free-living nematode used as a model organism for basic biological research. Its successful as model organism for biomedical research relay in several features: it is easy to manipulate, it has a small size, a fast life cycle, a small genome and a simple anatomy. Among other traits, the ability of generating and accumulating fat and the wide range of bacteria in its diet are remarkable for this project. The general aim of this research project is to optimize the production of nematode fat useful for biodiesel, using the sludge from water depuration plant as medium to growth the nematodes. During the develop of this project, three fundamental bottlenecks have been detected: first, the sludge is not completely assimilated by the nematodes. Second, each sludge sample is diverse and generates diverse nematode production and third, In regular medium is necessary to add seven fundamental components (NaCl, KH2PO4, cholesterol, Potassium citrate, Trace Metals, CaCl2, MgSO4) to have an optimal growth of C. elegans, which is an important economical-cost.Methods: To overcome those problems, we have studied the effect of applying to the sludge a pretreatment and we are analyzing which of the components can be eliminated without affecting population growth. We also will analyze the amount of fat produced by the nematode with the Soxhlet method.Results: The following results were obtained: Microwave pretreatment increase the number of the nematode in the sludge. Addition of NaCl, KH2PO4 and Potassium citrate generates a similar nematode growth than the addition of seven components.Conclusions: We observed that it is necessary the addition of the NaCl, KH2PO4 and Potassium citrate to get an optimal growth of C.elegans in the sludge and microwave treatment generate an increase of nematode production in the sludge

Métodos de aprendizaje colaborativos, creativos e interdisciplinarios en petrología

Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasFALSEsubmitte

Including transcription factor information in the superparamagnetic clustering of microarray data

"In this work, we modify the superparamagnetic clustering algorithm (SPC) by adding an extra weight to the interaction formula that considers which genes are regulated by the same transcription factor. With this modified algorithm that we call SPCTF, we analyze Spellman et al. microarray data for cell cycle genes in yeast, and find clusters with a higher number of elements compared with those obtained with the SPC algorithm. Some of the incorporated genes by using SPCFT were not detected at first by Spellman et al. but were later identified by other studies, whereas several genes still remain unclassified. The clusters composed by unidentified genes were analyzed with MUSA, the motif finding using an unsupervised approach algorithm, and this allow us to select the clusters whose elements contain cell cycle transcription factor binding sites as clusters worth of further experimental studies because they would probably lead to new cell cycle genes. Finally, our idea of introducing available infor-mation about transcription factors to optimize the gene classification could be implemented for other distance-based clustering algorithms.

Comportamento da posição do côndilo mandibular com o aumento da dimensão vertical oclusal em pacientes tratados com ortodontia

Associating the procedure of alteration in the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD), to problems of muscle pain, symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, headache and bruxism, the behavior of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is evaluated, with an increase in OVD in patients with orthodontics, a Scoping Review is performed, with Medline (Pubmed), Scopus, Science Direct and BVS databases; an also search terms: "Temporomandibular Joint". Bibliography research: selected articles, additional publications and specific search; from 3667 articles, 41 were preselected and 9 were analyzed. Scientific evidence on dependent condylar position changes, use of lifting techniques leading to augmentation, and answering the question about TMJ behavior, with increasing occlusal vertical dimension is searched. Most used diagnostic aid for evaluation of condylar position consisted of: cone beam computed tomography. No statistically significant changes were found in anteroposterior and vertical condylar position, relationship and centric occlusion, or in condylar volume. Two articles, case reports record statistically significant changes: condylar position in joint space, and index. Reported effects of the increase OVD on TJM, are mainly based on case reports and descriptive observational studies, overcoming controlled clinical trials. There is insufficient evidence on the effects of increased OVD on TMJ. With weak evidence available, indicating rapid TMJ adaptation capacity to moderate changes in OVD. TMJ changes and condylar position are not indicated due to permanent alteration of OVD; further studies are required. KEY WORDS: Mandibular condyle, vertical dimensión, temporomandibular Joint, dental occlusion y orthodontics    Asociando el procedimiento de alteración en dimensión vertical oclusal (DVO), a problemas de dolor muscular, síntomas de trastornos temporomandibulares, dolor de cabeza y bruxismo, se evalúa el comportamiento de la articulación temporomandibular (ATM), con aumento de la DVO en pacientes con ortodoncia: efectuando un Scoping Review, con bases de datos Medline (Pubmed), Scopus, Science Direct y BVS; Términos de búsqueda: “Temporomandibular Joint", "Vertical Dimension", "Dental Occlusion" y "Orthodontics". los artículos seleccionados, publicaciones adicionales y búsqueda manual; fueron 3667 artículos, 41 preseleccionados, y 9 analizados. Se busco evidencia científica en cambios de posición condilar, uso técnicas de levante, y respuesta a la pregunta sobre comportamiento de la ATM con el aumento de DVO. La ayuda diagnostica más utilizada para evaluación de posición condilar fue la tomografía computarizada de haz cónico.  La literatura encontrada no reporto cambios estadísticamente significativos de posición condilar en sentido anteroposterior y vertical, ni en relación y oclusión céntrica, ni en volumen condilar. Dos reportes de casos registraron cambios estadísticamente significativos en la posición condilar en el espacio articular, Efectos del aumento DVO sobre la ATM, se basaron principalmente en reportes de caso y estudios de observación descriptiva, superando ensayos clínicos controlados. No se reportó evidencia suficiente sobre efectos del aumento de la DVO en la ATM con una débil evidencia disponible, indicando rápida capacidad en adaptación de ATM a cambios moderados en DVO. No se indicaron cambios en ATM y posición condilar por alteración permanente de DVO. PALABRAS CLAVES: Cóndilo mandibular, dimensión vertical oclusal, articulación temporomandibular, oclusión dental y ortodoncia.  Associando o procedimento de alteração da dimensão oclusal vertical (DVO), a problemas de dores mus-culares, sintomas de disfunção temporomandibular, cefaleia e bruxismo, avalia-se o comportamento da articulação temporomandibular (ATM), com aumento da DVO em pacientes com ortodontia: realizando uma Scoping Review, com as bases de dados Medline (Pubmed), Scopus, Science Direct e BVS; Termos de busca: “Articulação Temporomandibular”, “Dimensão Vertical”, “Oclusão Dentária” e “Ortodontia”. Os artigos sele-cionados, publicações adicionais e busca manual, foram 3667 artigos, 41 pré-selecionados e 9 analisados. Procurou-se evidência científica nas mudanças de posição condilar, uso de técnicas de levantamento e res-posta à pergunta sobre o comportamento da ATM com DVO aumentada. O auxílio diagnóstico mais utilizado para avaliação da posição condilar foi a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico. A literatura encontrada não relatou alterações estatisticamente significativas mudanças na posição condilar nas direções anteropos-terior e vertical, nem em relação cêntrica e oclusão, nem no volume condilar Dois relatos de casos registraram mudanças estatisticamente significativas na posição condilar no espaço articular. estudos de observação descritiva, superando os ensaios clínicos c controlada. Evidências insuficientes foram relatadas sobre os efei-tos do aumento da OVD na ATM, com fraca evidência disponível, indicando rápida capacidade de adaptação da ATM a mudanças moderadas na OVD. Não foram indicadas alterações na ATM e na posição condilar devido à alteração permanente do OVD

¿Qué es el hábitat?: las preguntas por el hábitat

Reune una cinco ensayos que buscan responder a la pregunta ¨Qué es el hábitat? desde diferentes enfoques disciplinares: "Hábitat: concepto, campo y trama de vida", "Hábitat urbano y derecho a la ciudad: una aproximación desde el concepto de topofilia", "El hábitat no es una cosa", "Entre objetos y sistemas: hábitat una propuesta disciplinar", "La ciudad, medio ambiente y hábitat y el problema moral del conocimiento y la acción

Selección masal por peso y coloración en tilapia roja

Para evaluar la efectividad de la selección masal por color y peso se analizaron dos generaciones (G1 y G2) de alevinos de tilapia roja Oreochromis sp. De 40.000 larvas a la sexta semana se eliminaron los alevinos manchados y blancos y a las 14 semanas se separaron por sexos. Se midió el peso (g), la longitud total (cm), la altura (cm) y el ancho (cm) de 150 individuos a las 6, 14 y 24 semanas de edad. En la semana 24 se escogieron 150 machos y 450 hembras con las coloraciones deseables y mayor peso. La selección resultó efectiva para coloración en G2, puesto que la proporción de individuos rojos se incrementó en 15% con respecto a los testigos. Entre generaciones (G1 y G2) el efecto de la selección fue positivo, debido a que la proporción de rojos se incrementó de 64% a 84% y se redujo la de manchados de 31% a 13%. En ambas generaciones los machos fueron significativamente más pesados que las hembras. Se encontraron notables diferencias entre generaciones para peso y talla, puesto que los selectos superaron al control en 27% y 8% (G1) y en 22% y 11% (G2) para el peso y la talla, respectivamente

Effect of compost on Retama seeds germination

Comunicación oral presentada en: III congreso CAOS, Granada EEZ, España. 4 mayo 202

Genetic and Phenotypic Characterization of the Etiological Agent of Canine Orchiepididymitis Smooth Brucella sp. BCCN84.3

Members of the genus Brucella cluster in two phylogenetic groups: classical and non-classical species. The former group is composed of Brucella species that cause disease in mammals, including humans. A Brucella species, labeled as Brucella sp. BCCN84.3, was isolated from the testes of a Saint Bernard dog suffering orchiepididymitis, in Costa Rica. Following standard microbiological methods, the bacterium was first defined as "Brucella melitensis biovar 2." Further molecular typing, identified the strain as an atypical "Brucella suis." Distinctive Brucella sp. BCCN84.3 markers, absent in other Brucella species and strains, were revealed by fatty acid methyl ester analysis, high resolution melting PCR and omp25 and omp2a/omp2b gene diversity. Analysis of multiple loci variable number of tandem repeats and whole genome sequencing demonstrated that this isolate was different from the currently described Brucella species. The smooth Brucella sp. BCCN84.3 clusters together with the classical Brucella Glade and displays all the genes required for virulence. Brucella sp. BCCN84.3 is a species nova taxonomical entity displaying pathogenicity; therefore, relevant for differential diagnoses in the context of brucellosis. Considering the debate on the Brucella species concept, there is a need to describe the extant taxonomical entities of these pathogens in order to understand the dispersion and evolution

SARS-CoV-2 mutant spectra reveal differences between COVID-19 severity categories

Trabajo presentado en el XVI Congreso Nacional de Virología, celebrado en Málaga (España) del 06 al 09 de septiembre de 2022.RNA virus populations are composed of complex mixtures of genomes that are termed mutant spectra. SARS-CoV-2 replicates as a viral quasispecies, and mutations that are detected at low frequencies in a host can be dominant in subsequent variants. We have studied mutant spectrum complexities of SARS-CoV-2 populations derived from thirty nasopharyngeal swabs of patients infected during the first wave (April 2020) in the Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz. The patients were classified according to the COVID-19 severity in mild (non-hospitalized), moderate (hospitalized) and exitus (hospitalized with ICU admission and who passed away due to COVID-19). Using ultra-deep sequencing technologies (MiSeq, Illumina), we have examined four amplicons of the nsp12 (polymerase)-coding region and two amplicons of the spike-coding region. Ultra-deep sequencing data were analyzed with different cut-off frequency for mutation detection. Average number of different point mutations, mutations per haplotype and several diversity indices were significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients who developed mild disease. A feature that we noted in the SARS-CoV-2 mutant spectra from diagnostic samples is the remarkable absence of mutations at intermediate frequencies, and an overwhelming abundance of mutations at frequencies lower than 10%. Thus, the decrease of the cut-off frequency for mutation detection from 0.5% to 0.1% revealed an increasement (50- to 100 fold) in the number of different mutations. The significantly higher frequency of mutations in virus from patients displaying mild than moderate or severe disease was maintained with the 0.1% cut- off frequency. To evaluate whether the frequency repertoire of amino acid substitutions differed between SARS-CoV-2 and the well characterized hepatitis C virus (HCV), we performed a comparative study of mutant spectra from infected patients using the same bioinformatics pipelines. HCV did not show the deficit of intermediate frequency substitutions that was observed with SARS-CoV-2. This difference was maintained when two functionally equivalent proteins, the corresponding viral polymerases, were compared. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 mutant spectra are rich reservoirs of mutants, whose complexity is not uniform among clinical isolates. Virus from patients who developed mild disease may be a source of new variants that may acquire epidemiological relevance.This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and In-novation (COVID-19 Research Call COV20/00181), and co-financed by European Development Regional Fund ‘A way to achieve Europe’. The work was also supported by grants CSIC-COV19-014 from Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), project 525/C/2021 from Fundació La Marató de TV3, PID2020-113888RB-I00 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, BFU2017-91384-EXP from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), PI18/00210 and PI21/00139 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and S2018/BAA-4370 (PLATESA2 from Comunidad de Madrid/FEDER). C.P., M.C., and P.M. are supported by the Miguel Servet programme of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CPII19/00001, CPII17/00006, and CP16/00116, respectively) co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). CIBERehd (Centro de Investi-gación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas) is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Institutional grants from the Fundación Ramón Areces and Banco Santander to the CBMSO are also acknowledged. The team at CBMSO belongs to the Global Virus Network (GVN). B.M.-G. is supported by predoctoral contract PFIS FI19/00119 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo) cofinanced by Fondo Social Europeo (FSE). R.L.-V. is supported by predoctoral contract PEJD-2019-PRE/BMD-16414 from Comunidad de Madrid. C.G.-C. is sup-ported by predoctoral contract PRE2018-083422 from MCIU. BS was supported by a predoctoral research fellowship (Doctorados Industriales, DI-17-09134) from Spanish MINECO