Cultivo larvario de atún rojo (Thunnus thynnus) en el Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia (IEO)

In the frame of the SELFDOTT project (From capture based to SELF-sustained aquaculture and Domestication Of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus) captive-reared Atlantic bluefin tuna housed in captivity for 4 years in El Gorguel (Cartagena, Spain) have produced massive spawning, during the natural spawning period for this species in the Mediterranean Sea (June-July) since 2009. Egg collection was accomplished by placing a special curtain around the perimeter of the cage and with collection taking place at night and at sunrise using nets from the surface of the water. Larval rearings were done using pseudogreenwater technique. The survival was of 73 days in 2009 and 110 days in 2010. In 2011 several thousand one month old fingerlings have been produced being transported to floating cages.Este trabajo ha sido llevado a cabo con el soporte financiero de la UE, Proyecto SELFDOTT. El Dr. Seoka participa en virtud de un Convenio firmado por la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia, la Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena y las entidades financieras Caja Mar, Caja Murcia, Caja Mediterráneo y la Caixa

Obtención de puestas masivas de huevos de atún rojo (Thunnus thynnus) en cautividad, durante 3 años consecutivos

Within the framework of the SELFDOTT project, captive-reared bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) maintained in captivity since 2007 in Cartagena (Spain) produced massive spawning during the natural period for this species in the Mediterranean Sea (June-July). The fish were induced with GnRHa implants in 2008 and 2009. In 2008 no spawnings were detected. From 2009, massive spawnings occurred being spontaneous (without hormone implants) in 2010 and 2011. The total egg collection was 140 million in 2009, 60 million in 2010 and 160 million in 2011.7º Programa Marco de la Unión Europea, “Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology" del Proyecto SELFDOTT (From capture based to SELF-sustained aquaculture and Domestication Of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus)” GA 212797

Effect of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors in the response to combined treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are related to the activation and inhibition of NK cells and may play an important role in the innate response against infection with viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined whether the different combinations of KIRs with their HLA class I ligands influenced the response to combined treatment (pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin) of patients infected by HCV. A total of 186 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection were analyzed. Seventy-seven patients exhibited HCV RNA levels at 6 months posttreatment and were called nonresponders (NR), while 109 cleared viral RNA and were named sustained viral responders (SVR). Patients were typed for HLA-B, HLA-Cw, KIR genes, and HCV genotype. In our study, the frequency of the KIR2DL2 allele was significantly increased in NR (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 1.95), as was the frequency of the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2 genotype (P < 0.005; OR = 2.52). In contrast, the frequencies of the KIR2DL3 genotype (P < 0.001) and KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3 genotype (P < 0.05; OR = 0.54) were significantly increased in the SVR. Different combinations of KIR2DL2 and KIR2DL3 alleles with their ligands were analyzed. The frequency of the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2-HLA-C1C2 genotype was significantly increased in the NR (P < 0.01; OR = 3.15). Additionally, we found a higher frequency of the KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3-HLA-C1C1 genotype in the SVR group (P < 0.05; OR = 0.33). These results were not affected by the HCV genotype. In conclusion, patients who carried the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2-HLA-C1C2 genotype were less prone to respond to treatment. However, the KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3-HLA-C1C1 genotype clearly correlated with a satisfactory response to treatment, defined by the clearance of HCV RNA

Diversity of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes and KIR2DL2/3 variants in HCV treatment outcome

The aim of this study was to analyse the distribution of KIR haplotypes and the KIR2DL2/3 alleles in chronic HCV-infected patients in order to establish the influence on the response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin classical treatment. The alleles study of previously associated KIR2DL2/3 showed that KIR2DL2*001 was more frequent in non-SVR (NSVR) (42.2% vs. 27.5%, p<0.05) and KIR2DL3*001 was associated with sustained viral response (SVR) (41.6% vs. 61.2%, p<0.005). The KIR2DL3*001-HLA-C1 association was also significant (24.5% vs. 45.7%, p<0.001). From the frequencies of KIR obtained, 35 genotypes were assigned on the basis of previous studies. The centromeric A/A genotype was more frequent in SVR (44.1% vs. 34.5%, p<0.005) and the centromeric B/B genotype was found to be significantly more frequent in NSVR (20.9% vs. 11.2%, p<0.001). The logic regression model showed the importance of KIR genes in predicting the response to combined treatment, since the positive predictive value (PPV) was improved (from 55.9% to 75.3%) when the analysis of KIR was included in addition to the IFNL3 rs12979860 polymorphism. The study of KIR receptors may be a powerful tool for predicting the combined treatment response in patients with chronic HCV infection in association with the determination of IFNL3 polymorphism

Effect of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors in the response to combined treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are related to the activation and inhibition of NK cells and may play an important role in the innate response against infection with viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined whether the different combinations of KIRs with their HLA class I ligands influenced the response to combined treatment (pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin) of patients infected by HCV. A total of 186 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection were analyzed. Seventy-seven patients exhibited HCV RNA levels at 6 months posttreatment and were called nonresponders (NR), while 109 cleared viral RNA and were named sustained viral responders (SVR). Patients were typed for HLA-B, HLA-Cw, KIR genes, and HCV genotype. In our study, the frequency of the KIR2DL2 allele was significantly increased in NR (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 1.95), as was the frequency of the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2 genotype (P < 0.005; OR = 2.52). In contrast, the frequencies of the KIR2DL3 genotype (P < 0.001) and KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3 genotype (P < 0.05; OR = 0.54) were significantly increased in the SVR. Different combinations of KIR2DL2 and KIR2DL3 alleles with their ligands were analyzed. The frequency of the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2-HLA-C1C2 genotype was significantly increased in the NR (P < 0.01; OR = 3.15). Additionally, we found a higher frequency of the KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3-HLA-C1C1 genotype in the SVR group (P < 0.05; OR = 0.33). These results were not affected by the HCV genotype. In conclusion, patients who carried the KIR2DL2/KIR2DL2-HLA-C1C2 genotype were less prone to respond to treatment. However, the KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3-HLA-C1C1 genotype clearly correlated with a satisfactory response to treatment, defined by the clearance of HCV RNA