Paleovegetación durante la Edad del Bronce en la Rioja alavesa: Análisis palinológico del yacimiento de Peña Parda ( Laguardia, Álava)

En este trabajo se presenta el estudio palinológico del yacimiento de Peña Parda (Laguardia, Álava). Los resultados obtenidos, en las 13 muestras estudiadas, han aportado interesantes datos sobre el paisaje vegetal existente en la vertiente sur de la Sierra de Cantabria durante la Edad del Bronce, así como sobre las evidencias de antropización

Formación de embriones somáticos en Glycine max variedad Incasoy-27

The soybean crop is a major source of vegetable oil and protein concentrate worldwide. The tissue culture techniques are a tool for genetic improvement in soybean, however, established methodologies have low efficiency and are specific to certain genotypes but not for Cuban varieties. Then, it is necessary to establish a methodology for plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis as a basis for genetic transformation programs. The aim of this study was to obtain embryos in variety Incasoy-27 from immature cotyledons. The effect of immature cotyledon size was determined and morphology of somatic embryos was evaluated. The embryos were obtained in MSD40 culture medium containing Murashige and Skoog salts, 40mg.l-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, vitamin B5, 3.0% sucrose, pH 7.0, and Gelrite 0.3%, from immature cotyledons of 2.0 to 4.0 mm long, in artificial light conditions. Embryos formation in soybean variety Incasoy-27 was achieved by direct somatic embryogenesis and with a high frequency in all treatments. The 77% of cotyledons of three to four millimetres formed somatic embryos.Key words: Somatic embryogenesis,Soybean,Tissue cultureEl cultivo de la soya representa una de las principales fuentes de aceite vegetal y concentrado proteico a nivel mundial. Las técnicas de cultivo de tejidos constituyen una herramienta para el mejoramiento genético en soya, sin embargo, las metodologías establecidas presentan baja eficiencia, son específicas para determinados genotipos y no existen para variedades cubanas. Por esta razón, se requiere establecer una metodología de regeneración de plantas vía embriogénesis somática que sirva de base para programas de transformación genética. El objetivo de este trabajo fue obtener embriones somáticos en la variedad Incasoy-27 a partir de cotiledones inmaduros. Para ello, se determinó el efecto de la longitud de los cotiledones inmaduros y se describió la morfología de los embriones somáticos. Los embriones somáticos se obtuvieron en medio de cultivo MSD40 compuesto por las sales de Murashige y Skoog, 40mg.l-1 de ácido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacético, vitaminas B5, 3.0% sacarosa, pH 7.0 y Gelrite 0.3% a partir de cotiledones inmaduros de 2.0 a 4.0 mm de longitud en condiciones de luz artificial. Fue posible formar embriones por embriogénesis somática directa y de alta frecuencia en soya variedad Incasoy-27 en todos los tratamientos. El 77% de los cotiledones de tres y cuatro milímetros formaron embriones somáticos.Palabras clave: cultivo de tejido, embriogénesis somática, soy

Effect of thermal and ultrasound treatments on denaturation and allergenic potential of Pru p 3 protein from peach

The effect of thermal and ultrasound treatments on denaturation and allergenicity of Pru p 3, the major peach allergenic protein, was determined. The degree of denaturation of Pru p 3 was estimated by sandwich ELISA using specific rabbit IgG, that was previously developed. Validation of ELISA test showed high sensitivity and specificity, and acceptable results of precision and robustness. Allergenicity of Pru p 3 was determined by immunofluorescent assay using three pools of sera from peach allergic individuals. Denaturation of Pru p 3 was dependent on the intensity of the thermal treatment applied and the treatment medium. Thus, the degree of denaturation of Pru p 3 treated at 95 °C for 40 min was about 60% and 95%, for the protein heated in peach extract and in buffer, respectively. Ultrasound treatments denatured Pru p 3 up to 60%, being dependent on amplitude and pressure. However, both heat and ultrasound treatments at the most severe conditions applied inhibited less than 10% the IgE-binding of Pru p 3. These results indicate that although heat and ultrasound treatments induce a considerable denaturation of Pru p 3, they are not effective in reducing its allergenicity

Use of residual diatomaceous earth as a silica source in geopolymer production

[EN] The use of binders as an alternative to Portland cement has gained importance in recent years. Among them, geopolymeric binders, developed by the reaction between an aluminosilicate precursor and a high alkalinity solution, have become one of the most promising alternatives. The activating solution generally comprises waterglass and sodium hydroxide. Since waterglass is the most expensive material and has a high environmental impact, using alternative silica sources will lead to more sustainable binders. Previous studies have successfully used rice husk ash (RHA) as a silica source. This research aims to assess the possibility of using diatomaceous earth (or diatomite) as an alternative silica source, like the previous studies with RHA. Diatomite is a sedimentary rock with a high amorphous silica content formed by fossilized diatom remains. In this work, the geopolymer was obtained using a fluid cracking catalyst residue as the precursor and six different activating solution types prepared with commercial products, residual diatomite (from beer and wine industries) and RHA. The results open a new possible route for the reuse and recovery of diatomaceous earth residue, although the compressive strength results of the mortars were slightly lower than those for mortars prepared with RHA or commercial reagents.This work has been financially supported by the Spanish education, culture and sport ministry through the project BIA 2015-70107-R. Thanks are given to Heineken, Bodegas Vicente Gandia, OMYA, Dacsa and JJ Minerals for providing the materials.Font-Pérez, A.; Soriano Martinez, L.; Reig, L.; Tashima, M.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2018). Use of residual diatomaceous earth as a silica source in geopolymer production. Materials Letters. 223:10-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.04.010S101322

A gemini cationic lipid with histidine residues as a novel lipid-based gene nanocarrier: a biophysical and biochemical study

This work reports the synthesis of a novel gemini cationic lipid that incorporates two histidine-type head groups (C3(C16His)2). Mixed with a helper lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero3-phosphatidyl ethanol amine (DOPE), it was used to transfect three different types of plasmid DNA: one encoding the green fluorescence protein (pEGFP-C3), one encoding a luciferase (pCMV-Luc), and a therapeutic anti-tumoral agent encoding interleukin-12 (pCMV-IL12). Complementary biophysical experiments (zeta potential, gel electrophoresis, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and fluorescence anisotropy) and biological studies (FACS, luminometry, and cytotoxicity) of these C3(C16His)2/DOPE-pDNA lipoplexes provided vast insight into their outcomes as gene carriers. They were found to efficiently compact and protect pDNA against DNase I degradation by forming nanoaggregates of 120–290 nm in size, which were further characterized as very fluidic lamellar structures based in a sandwich-type phase, with alternating layers of mixed lipids and an aqueous monolayer where the pDNA and counterions are located. The optimum formulations of these nanoaggregates were able to transfect the pDNAs into COS-7 and HeLa cells with high cell viability, comparable or superior to that of the standard Lipo2000*. The vast amount of information collected from the in vitro studies points to this histidine-based lipid nanocarrier as a potentially interesting candidate for future in vivo studies investigating specific gene therapies

Gamasina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with animal remains in the Mediterranean region of Navarra (northern Spain)

Mites should not be overlooked as a forensic tool, as many are commonly associated with decomposing animal matter and are closely associated with specific insect carriers and habitats. It is necessary to increase our understanding of the diversity of mites that are found in human and animal remains, their geographical distribution, and their population dynamics. This work is the first study of the role of mites in forensic science in the Mediterranean region of Navarra (northern Spain). Samples were taken using three types of traps (96 modified McPhail, 96 modified pitfall, and 32 carrion on surface) baited with pig carrion during the period between 11 April and 24 June, 2017. Insects were collected in 100% of the traps and only 27% of them contained mites. Information on 26 species of mites belonging to seven families, their ontogenetic phoretic stage/s, their abundance, and presence/absence during the spring season of the study is given. The most abundant species collected were Macrocheles merdarius, Poecilochirus austroasiaticus, and Poecilochirus subterraneus. We are contributing 16 new records for the Iberian Peninsula: seven species of Parasitidae, three species of Macrochelidae, four species of Eviphididae, one species of Halolaelapidae, and one species of Laelapidae

Risk factors for thrombotic microangiopathy in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell recipients receiving GVHD prophylaxis with tacrolimus plus MTX or sirolimus

Post-transplant complications.-- et al.Transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is a feared complication of allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) owing to its high mortality rate. The use of calcineurin inhibitors or sirolimus (SIR) for GVHD prophylaxis has been suggested as a potential risk factor. However, the impact of tacrolimus (TAC) and SIR combinations on the increased risk of TA-TMA is currently not well defined. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of TA-TMA in 102 allogeneic HSCT recipients who consecutively received TAC plus SIR (TAC/SIR) (n=68) or plus MTX (TAC/MTX)±ATG (n=34) for GVHD prophylaxis. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of TA-TMA between patients receiving TAC/SIR vs TAC/MTX±ATG (7.4% vs 8.8%, P=0.8). Only grade III-IV acute GVHD, previous HSCT and serum levels of TAC >25 ng/mL were associated with a greater risk of TA-TMA. Patients developing TA-TMA have significantly poorer survival (P<0.001); however, TA-TMA ceased to be an independent prognostic factor when it was included in a multivariate model. In conclusion, the combination of TAC/SIR does not appear to pose a higher risk of TA-TMA. By contrast, we identified three different risk groups for developing TA-TMA.Peer Reviewe