Ecological divergence combined with ancient allopatry in lizard populations from a small volcanic island

Population divergence and speciation are often explained by geographical isolation, but may also be possible under high gene flow due to strong ecology-related differences in selection pressures. This study combines coalescent analyses of genetic data (11 microsatellite loci and 1 Kbp of mtDNA) and ecological modelling to examine the relative contributions of isolation and ecology to incipient speciation in the scincid lizard Chalcides sexlineatus within the volcanic island of Gran Canaria. Bayesian multispecies coalescent dating of within-island genetic divergence of northern and southern populations showed correspondence with the timing of volcanic activity in the north of the island 1.5–3.0 Ma ago. Coalescent estimates of demographic changes reveal historical size increases in northern populations, consistent with expansions from a volcanic refuge. Nevertheless, ecological divergence is also supported. First, the two morphs showed non-equivalence of ecological niches and species distribution modelling associated the northern morph with mesic habitat types and the southern morph with xeric habitat types. It seems likely that the colour morphs are associated with different antipredator strategies in the different habitats. Second, coalescent estimation of gene copy migration (based on microsatellites and mtDNA) suggest high rates from northern to southern morphs demonstrating the strength of ecology-mediated selection pressures that maintain the divergent southern morph. Together, these findings underline the complexity of the speciation process by providing evidence for the combined effects of ecological divergence and ancient divergence in allopatry

Genetic characterisation of the majorera goat from Fuerteventura with microsatellites

The economy of the Fuerteventura Island (Canary Islands, Spain) is based in the caprine exploitation, fundamentally the Majorera goat. There are two different ways of management: 1) an intensive or semiextensive production system and 2) an extensive production where the animals have not owner. The last one is a feral goat denominated Guanil or de Costa goat. The Majorera goat is very important due to its high productivity associated to rusticity and adaptability to the dessert environment characteristic of the Fuerteventura Island. In this work the main goal is to do the genetic characterisation of the Majorera goat existing in Fuerteventura Island, including the Guanil goat. It have been studied 96 animals with 22 microsatellites. Ovine and bovine microsatellites recommended by FAO, ISAG and other authors in the bibliography have been used. These markers were amplified by mean of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique and to get the size separation of the obtained fragments we have developed electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel in an automatic sequencer ABI 377XL (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA).Fuerteventura es una isla, por su pasado, presente y tendencias de futuro, fundamentada en la explotación caprina. Básicamente hay dos tipos de gestión: 1) dirigido a una producción económica y 2) basado en perpetuar el uso tradicional de una cabra salvaje por medio de su manejo en batidas por zonas en lo que denominan los ganaderos: apañadas, para ser posteriormente liberadas. Esta dinámica de gestión ha generado la existencia de un tipo de cabra de intensivo o semiextensivo y la denominada de costa o guanil en caso de no tener propietario. La cabra majorera, que puebla esta isla, es de elevada relevancia debido a su alta productividad asociada a la rusticidad y adaptabilidad a un medio tan desértico. En el presente trabajo se aborda la caracterización genética de la población caprina de la isla de Fuerteventura incluyendo de forma inédita la caracterización de la cabra de costa. Se han estudiado 96 animales de la raza majorera, mediante 22 marcadores microsatélites. Se han empleado microsatélites de ovino y de bovino recomendados por la FAO, por la ISAG (International Society of Animal Genetics) y por otros autores en la bibliografía para este tipo de estudios. Los microsatélites se han amplificado mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y los fragmentos amplificados se han separado mediante electroforesis en un secuenciador automático ABI 377XL

Cobomarsen, an oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-155, slows DLBCL tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo

MicroRNA-155, is an oncogenic miRNA, highly expressed in B-cell malignancies, particularly in the non-Germinal Center B-cell or activated B-cell subtype of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (non-GCB/ABC-DLBCL), where it is considered a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Thus, miR-155 inhibition represents an important therapeutic strategy for B-cell lymphomas. In this study, we tested the efficacy and pharmacodynamic activity of an oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-155, cobomarsen, in ABC-DLBCL cell lines and in corresponding xenograft mouse models. In addition, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy and safety of cobomarsen in a patient diagnosed with aggressive ABC-DLBCL

Art, environment, sustainability. Use of lithic waste from carbonated groundwater

Se han localizado, analizado y aplicado creativamente residuos minerales que depositan las aguas subterráneas, sobresaturadas en CO2, extraídas mediante galerías/minas. El análisis documental abarca el archipiélago canario; la recogida de muestras y el desarrollo experimental se ha realizado principalmente en galerías y conducciones de Tenerife. Las rocas-residuo de mayor resistencia han demostrado ser magníficos materiales para esculturas labradas en formato medio. Los restos fragmentados y las rocas de menor consistencia, tipo toba, pueden encontrar utilidad en fabricación de cales-morteros compatibles con la restauración de obras patrimoniales. Debido a la capacidad petrificadora de estas aguas, se abren múltiples posibilidades en creación tridimensional mediante moldes y/o madreformas, tanto en escultura (obra única) como en actividades artesanales que requieren repetición sucesiva de elementos de similares características. La recopilación exhaustiva de datos y los análisis efectuados evidencian la necesidad de una investigación básica multidisciplinar que ofrezca, en relación con el tratamiento de las aguas subterráneas y las salmueras de rechazo, alternativas de reutilización compatibles con la sostenibilidad medioambiental.Mineral residues deposited in groundwater have been identified, analyzed and creatively applied. These residues are oversaturated in CO2 and are extracted by means of galleries/ mines. The documentary analysis covers the Canary Archipelago; the collection of samples and experimental development has been carried out mainly in galleries and conducts in Tenerife. The most resistant waste-rocks have proved to be magnificent materials for medium format sculpture. The fragmented remains and the rocks of lesser consistency, such as tufa, can be useful in the manufacture of lime-mortars compatible with the restoration of heritage works. Due to the petrifying capacity of these waters, multiple possibilities are opened in three-dimensional creation by means of molds and/or mother forms, both in sculpture (unique work) and in artisan activities that require successive repetition of elements of similar characteristics. The exhaustive collection of data and the analyses carried out show the need for basic multidisciplinary research that offers, in relation to the treatment of groundwater and reject brine, alternatives for reuse that are compatible with environmental sustainability

Aprovechamiento de residuos líticos provenientes de aguas subterráneas carbonatadas.

Póster en Día Mundial del Agua. Debates y charlas para la ciudadanía, del 22 de febrero al 22 de marzo. Organiza: Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife, 2019

Testing mutual exclusivity of ETS rearranged prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a clinically heterogeneous and multifocal disease. More than 80% of patients with prostate cancer harbor multiple geographically discrete cancer foci at the time of diagnosis. Emerging data suggest that these foci are molecularly distinct consistent with the hypothesis that they arise as independent clones. One of the strongest arguments is the heterogeneity observed in the status of E26 transformation specific (ETS) rearrangements between discrete tumor foci. The clonal evolution of individual prostate cancer foci based on recent studies demonstrates intertumoral heterogeneity with intratumoral homogeneity. The issue of multifocality and interfocal heterogeneity is important and has not been fully elucidated due to lack of the systematic evaluation of ETS rearrangements in multiple tumor sites. The current study investigates the frequency of multiple gene rearrangements within the same focus and between different cancer foci. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were designed to detect the four most common recurrent ETS gene rearrangements. In a cohort of 88 men with localized prostate cancer, we found ERG, ETV1, and ETV5 rearrangements in 51% (44/86), 6% (5/85), and 1% (1/86), respectively. None of the cases demonstrated ETV4 rearrangements. Mutual exclusiveness of ETS rearrangements was observed in the majority of cases; however, in six cases, we discovered multiple ETS or 5′ fusion partner rearrangements within the same tumor focus. In conclusion, we provide further evidence for prostate cancer tumor heterogeneity with the identification of multiple concurrent gene rearrangements

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Geographical structuring of mitochondrial DNA in Chalcides sexlineatus within the island of Gran Canaria

The skink Chalcides sexlineatus shows clear north-south ecology-correlated variation in morphology within the island of Gran Canaria. Detailed study of this variation previously supported the hypothesis of in situ differentiation arising through climate-mediated variation in selection pressures. The more recent discovery of substantial within-island mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence divergence suggested an alternative historical vicariance scenario. This paper provides a detailed analysis of geographical structuring in mtDNA, based on a fragment amplified from the 12S rRNA region in 96 individuals. A very clear phylogeographic pattern was detected: three 'deep' lineages were evident corresponding to northern, south-eastern and south-western parts of Gran Canaria with generally low levels of mtDNA introgression. The pattern of among-site differentiation was highly concordant with the pattern of morphological variation. It also provided a close fit to a simple microevolutionary model based on population vicariance during volcanic eruptions known to have occurred during the past 2.8 million years in the north of the island. The minimum number of historical migration events required to explain the mtDNA tree was calculated and a novel randomization test used to show that there were a lower number of putative migrations across the morphology transition zone, relative to migrations within northern and southern zones. Differential adaptation to the two major habitat types and selection against hybrids may explain why the morphology transition zone coincides with the main ecotone and is relatively narrow, respectively