Matrix metalloproteinase 14 regulates HSV-1 infection in neuroblastoma cells

Growing evidence supports that chronic or latent infection of the central nervous system might be implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among them, Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has emerged as a major factor in the etiology of the disease. Our group is devoted to the study of the relationship among HSV-1, oxidative stress (OS) and neurodegeneration. We have found that HSV-1 induces the main neuropathological hallmarks of AD, including the accumulation of intracellular amyloid beta (Aβ), hyperphosphorylated tau protein and autophagic vesicles, that OS exacerbates these effects, and that matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP-14) participates in the alterations induced by OS. In this work, we focused on the role of MMP-14 in the degenerative markers raised by HSV-1 infection. Interestingly, we found that MMP-14 blockage is a potent inhibitor of HSV-1 infection efficiency, that also reduces the degeneration markers, accumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau, induced by the virus. Our results point to MMP-14 as a potent antiviral target to control HSV-1 infection and its associated neurodegenerative effectsThis work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (SAF2017-85747-R

Functional characterization of P2Y1 and P2X4 receptors in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells

Nucleotides are important signalling molecules in both the peripheral and central nervous system. However, the in vitro study of their receptors can be hampered by the heterogeneity of primary neuronal cultures. The use of clonal neuroblastoma cell lines allows to circumvent this difficulty, so these lines are often used as a model to analyze the properties, regulation and physiological role of nucleotide receptors in neural tissues. Expression studies indicated the presence of P2Y1, P2Y6, P2Y11, P2Y13, P2X1, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6 and P2X7 proteins in SK-N-MC cells. Functional analyses showed transient [Ca2+]i increases upon application of ADP, 2-MeSADP or ADPβS. Responses to these agonists seem to be mediated by a P2Y1 receptor, as demonstrated by the almost complete blockade exerted by the P2Y1-selective antagonist MRS2179. ATP was also able to induce [Ca2+]i increases in SK-N-MC cells. Responses to ATP were partially blocked by MRS2179 and the P2X antagonist TNP-ATP, thus suggesting that ATP can interact with two different P2 receptors: a P2Y1 receptor, inhibited by MRS2179, and a TNP-ATP sensitive P2X receptor. To characterize the P2X receptor responsible for the MRS2179-resistant component of the ATP response, we analyze the effect of several P2X agonists on [Ca2+]i. Cells did not show responses to either α,β-meATP or BzATP, although [Ca2+]i increases could be observed when cells were challenged with CTP. Both the response to CTP and the MRS2179-resistant component of ATP response were potentiated by ivermectin. Such pharmacological profile is consistent with the presence of a functional P2X4 receptor in SK-N-MC cell lineLos nucleótidos son importantes moléculas señalizadoras en el sistema nervioso. El estudio in vitro de sus receptores puede verse obstaculizado por la heterogeneidad de los cultivos neuronales. El uso de líneas celulares de neuroblastoma permite eludir esta dificultad y dichas líneas se utilizan frecuentemente como un modelo con el que analizar las propiedades, regulación y función de los receptores de nucleótidos en tejidos neurales. Estudios de expresión indicaron la presencia de proteínas P2Y1, P2Y6, P2Y11, P2Y13, P2X1, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6 y P2X7 en las células SK-N-MC. Análisis funcionales mostraron incrementos transitorios de [Ca2+]i tras la aplicación de ADP, 2- MeSADP o ADPβS, respuestas que parecen estar mediadas a través un receptor P2Y1, como se pone de manifiesto por el bloqueo casi total ejercido por el antagonista selectivo P2Y1, MRS2179. El ATP también indujo incrementos de [Ca2+]i en las células SK-N-MC, siendo su respuesta parcialmente bloqueada por MRS2179 y por el antagonista P2X TNP-ATP, lo que sugiere que el ATP puede interactuar con dos receptores P2 diferentes: un receptor P2Y1, inhibido por MRS2179, y un receptor P2X sensible a TNP-ATP. Se caracterizó el receptor P2X analizando el efecto de varios agonistas en la [Ca2+]i. Ninguna célula mostró respuestas a αβ- meATP o BzATP, aunque se observaron incrementos de [Ca2+]i cuando las células fueron estimuladas con CTP. Tanto la respuesta a CTP como el componente de la respuesta a ATP resistente a MRS2179, se potenciaron en presencia de ivermectina. Todos estos datos sugieren la presencia de un receptor P2X4 funcional en las células SK-N-MCThis work was supported by research grants from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (BFU2014-53654-P) and Comunidad de Madrid (S2013/ICE-2958 BRADECM

Vegetation water use based on a thermal and optical remote sensing model in the mediterranean region of Doñana

Terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) is a central process in the climate system, is a major component in the terrestrial water budget, and is responsible for the distribution of water and energy on land surfaces especially in arid and semiarid areas. In order to inform water management decisions especially in scarce water environments, it is important to assess ET vegetation use by differentiating irrigated socio-economic areas and natural ecosystems. The global remote sensing ET product MOD16 has proven to underestimate ET in semiarid regions where ET is very sensitive to soil moisture. The objective of this research was to test whether a modified version of the remote sensing ET model PT-JPL, proven to perform well in drylands at Eddy Covariance flux sites using the land surface temperature as a proxy to the surface moisture status (PT-JPL-thermal), could be up-scaled at regional levels introducing also a new formulation for net radiation from various MODIS products. We applied three methods to track the spatial and temporal characteristics of ET in the World Heritage UNESCO Doñana region: (i) a locally calibrated hydrological model (WATEN), (ii) the PT-JPL-thermal, and (iii) the global remote sensing ET product MOD16. The PT-JPL-thermal showed strong agreement with the WATEN ET in-situ calibrated estimates (ρ = 0.78, ρ1month-lag = 0.94) even though the MOD16 product did not (ρ = 0.48). The PT-JPL-thermal approach has proven to be a robust remote sensing model for detecting ET at a regional level in Mediterranean environments and it requires only air temperature and incoming solar radiation from climatic databases apart from freely available satellite products

Herramientas para la recuperación de la información: Los términos MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)

ResumenLos Medical Subject Headings o MeSH son el vocabulario controlado que emplean Medline y otras bases de datos biomédicas para organizar la información que se almacena en cada una de ellas. Cuando se realiza una búsqueda por estos descriptores, se obtienen resultados más precisos, y se circunscribe el número de trabajos a los intereses de los usuarios. Es el propósito del presente trabajo desarrollar una guía para crear en los lectores las habilidades en la búsqueda de información en la base de datos Medline, a partir del MESH. pASO I: Determinación del tema palabras o frases significativas, y sus equivalencias en inglés. Paso II: Elaboración del mapa de búsqueda. paso III: Ejecución de la búsqueda. paso IV: Perfilar y refinar la estrategia y constatar resultados. Evaluación crítica. Las bases de datos bibliográficas constituyen una de las principales fuentes de información sobre las publicaciones. La utilización de modernas herramientas de trabajo para la recuperación de información por parte de los profesionales de la salud, determina la creación de una cultura especial vinculada con su uso y con la participación interactiva y autónoma para explotarlas. Por tal motivo, creemos que es necesario estimularlos y promover su capacitación en esa dirección.[Camps D, Recuero Y, Avila RE, Samar ME. Herramientas para la recuperación de la información: Los términos MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). MedUNAB 2006; 9:58-62].Palabras clave: Herramienta, Tesauro, Guía, Recuperación de la información, Bases de datos, Bibliometrí

Molluscs collected with otter trawl in the northern Alboran Sea: main assemblages, spatial distribution and environmental linkage

Molluscan assemblages of circalittoral and bathyal soft bottoms of the northern Alboran Sea were studied using an experimental otter trawl. Samples of fauna were collected from 190 hauls during four MEDITS surveys carried out in spring between 2012 and 2015 at depths ranging from 30 to 800 m. Measurements of water column variables (temperature and salinity) and sediment samples were taken in the same locations where faunistic sampling was carried out. A total of 101 species grouped in 55 families were recorded. Cephalopods were the most abundant group, with Abralia veranyi dominating in abundance, Octopus vulgaris in biomass and Illex coindetii and Todarodes sagittatus being the most frequently collected species. Multivariate analyses carried out separately with abundance data of demersal species, benthic species, bivalves, gastropods and cephalopods as well as of all molluscs, generally resulted in three main molluscan assemblages corresponding to a shelf assemblage (30-200 m depth), an upper slope assemblage (201-350 m depth), and a middle slope assemblage (351-800 m depth). PERMANOVA test revealed that significant differences of different groups of molluscs in relation to depth were more acute than to geographical sectors of the Alboran Sea (eastern, central, eastern and insular sectors). Abundance, biomass and species richness decreased with depth with a clear dominance of cephalopods in the slope. Significant geographical differences were mainly detected for demersal and benthic species as well as for gastropods and cephalopods between the insular sector (Alboran Island) and the western and eastern continental sectors. Both depth and temperature were the most influencing variables in the different CCA analyses using datasets of molluscs with different life styles and from different classes, but sedimentological variables displayed a more acute significant relationship with the benthic molluscs than with the demersal ones

Aplicación de índices de vegetación para evaluar la falta de producción de pastos y montaneras en dehesas.

El ganado porcino ibérico aprovecha los recursos naturales de la dehesa mediante montanera, principalmente la bellota y los pastos existentes. La línea 133 de los seguros agrarios españoles recoge el seguro de compensación por pérdida de pastos, solo para bovino reproductor y de lidia, ovino, caprino y equino, no incluyen los cerdos en montanera. Emplea un Índice de Vegetación de la Diferencia Normalizada (NDVI) medido por satélite sobre pastos desarbolados. El objetivo es comprobar si se puede utilizar un índice de vegetación para estimar la producción de pasto y bellota. Se han tomado datos del aforo de montaneras desde 1999 al 2005, y del pasto en dehesas de Salamanca (Vitigudino), Cáceres (Trujillo) y Córdoba (Pozoblanco) durante 2010 al 2012. Con los datos de 2010 y 2011 se estableció una función de producción del pasto fresco en función del NDVI, mostrando un coeficiente de correlación de 0,975, altamente significativa. Los datos obtenidos en 2012 se utilizaron para validar la función de producción de pasto fresco. La comparación entre los valores observados y simulados para 2012 ha mostrado un coeficiente de correlación de 0,734. Como conclusión, el NDVI puede ser un buen estimador de la cantidad de pasto fresco en dehesas españolas

Application of Vegetation Indices to Estimate Acorn Production at Iberian

The Iberian pig valued natural resources of the pasture when fattened in mountain. The variability of acorn production is not contained in any line of Spanish agricultural insurance. However, the production of arable pasture is covered by line insurance number 133 for loss of pasture compensation. This scenario is only contemplated for breeding cows and brave bulls, sheep, goats and horses, although pigs are not included. This insurance is established by monitoring ten-day composites Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measured by satellite over treeless pastures, using MODIS TERRA satellite. The aim of this work is to check if we can use a satellite vegetation index to estimate the production of acorns

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala xenobiotica : a case report

We report a case of phaeohyphomycosis that affected the leg of a 45-year-old Brazilian man, car mechanic and renal transplanted. The direct mycological examination evidenced dematiaceous septated hyphae. The pathogenic fungal species was identified as Exophiala xenobiotica. Antifungal activity in vitro revealed terbinafine as the best antifungal. For treatment, it was chosen surgical excision of the entire lesion and used systemic itraconazole. Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala xenobiotica is extremely rare and is closely related to transplant patients

Photonic Label-Free Biosensors for Fast and Multiplex Detection of Swine Viral Diseases

[EN] In this paper we present the development of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) biosensors for the label-free detection of six emerging and endemic swine viruses, namely: African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PPRSV), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV), Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2), and Swine Influenza Virus A (SIV). The optical biosensors are based on evanescent wave technology and, in particular, on Resonant Rings (RRs) fabricated in silicon nitride. The novel biosensors were packaged in an integrated sensing cartridge that included a microfluidic channel for buffer/sample delivery and an optical fiber array for the optical operation of the PICs. Antibodies were used as molecular recognition elements (MREs) and were selected based on western blotting and ELISA experiments to ensure the high sensitivity and specificity of the novel sensors. MREs were immobilized on RR surfaces to capture viral antigens. Antibody-antigen interactions were transduced via the RRs to a measurable resonant shift. Cell culture supernatants for all of the targeted viruses were used to validate the biosensors. Resonant shift responses were dose-dependent. The results were obtained within the framework of the SWINOSTICS project, contributing to cover the need of the novel diagnostic tools to tackle swine viral diseases.This work was funded by the EU-2020 program under grant agreement Nº 771649-SWINOSTICS project.Gómez-Gómez, MI.; Sánchez, C.; Peransi, S.; Zurita, D.; Bellieres, L.; Recuero, S.; Rodrigo, M.... (2022). Photonic Label-Free Biosensors for Fast and Multiplex Detection of Swine Viral Diseases. Sensors. 22(3):1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/s2203070811422

Influence of 4f filling on electronic and magnetic properties of rare earth-Au surface compounds

Altres ajuts: This work was supported in part by the Basque Government Project IT-1255-19, and University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) grant GIU18/138 and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the program Interreg V-A España-Francia-Andorra (Contract No. EFA 194/16 TNSI).One-atom-thick rare-earth/noble metal (RE-NM) compounds are attractive materials to investigate two-dimensional magnetism, since they are easy to synthesize into a common RE-NM2 structure with high crystal perfection. Here we perform a comparative study of the GdAu2, HoAu2, and YbAu2 monolayer compounds grown on Au(111). We find the same atomic lattice quality and moiré superlattice periodicity in the three cases, but different electronic properties and magnetism. The YbAu2 monolayer reveals the characteristic electronic signatures of a mixed-valence configuration in the Yb atom. In contrast, GdAu2 and HoAu2 show the trivalent character of the rare-earth and ferromagnetic transitions below 22 K. Yet, the GdAu2 monolayer has an in-plane magnetic easy-axis, versus the out-of-plane one in HoAu2. The electronic bands of the two trivalent compounds are very similar, while the divalent YbAu2 monolayer exhibits different band features. In the latter, a strong 4f-5d hybridization is manifested in neatly resolved avoided crossings near the Fermi level. First principles theory points to a residual presence of empty 4f states, explaining the fluctuating valence of Yb in the YbAu2 monolayer