A novel validated assay to support the discovery of new anti-malarial gametocytocidal agents

Additional file 1. Graphical representation of the expression of 12 selected genes throughout the 30 days of gametocytogenesis. Y-axis shows the gene expression represented as (Ctgene−Ct18S rRNA)Ttime × −(Ctgene−Ct18S rRNA)T0, considering the time 0 as the basal expression. Although only the gametocytogenesis during 30 days is presented, similar results were obtained from day 0 to day 15 in both assays

Alliance free and alliance cover sets

A \emph{defensive} (\emph{offensive}) $k$-\emph{alliance} in $\Gamma=(V,E)$ is a set $S\subseteq V$ such that every $v$ in $S$ (in the boundary of $S$) has at least $k$ more neighbors in $S$ than it has in $V\setminus S$. A set $X\subseteq V$ is \emph{defensive} (\emph{offensive}) $k$-\emph{alliance free,} if for all defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance $S$, $S\setminus X\neq\emptyset$, i.e., $X$ does not contain any defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance as a subset. A set $Y \subseteq V$ is a \emph{defensive} (\emph{offensive}) $k$-\emph{alliance cover}, if for all defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance $S$, $S\cap Y\neq\emptyset$, i.e., $Y$ contains at least one vertex from each defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance of $\Gamma$. In this paper we show several mathematical properties of defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance free sets and defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance cover sets, including tight bounds on the cardinality of defensive (offensive) $k$-alliance free (cover) sets

Where does the peanut smut pathogen, Thecaphora frezii, fit in the spectrum of smut diseases?

Smut fungi, such as Ustilago maydis, have been studied extensively as a model for plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes. However, little attention has been paid to smut diseases of agronomic importance that are caused by species of the genus Thecaphora, probably due to their more localized distribution. Peanut smut incited by Thecaphora frezii has been reported only in South America, and Argentina is the only country where this disease has been noted in commercial peanut production. In this work, important advances in deciphering T. frezii specific biology/pathobiology in relation to potato (T. solani), wheat (U. tritici), and barley (U. nuda) smuts are presented. We summarize the state of knowledge of fungal effectors, functionally characterized to date in U. maydis and most recently in T. thlaspeos, as well as the potential to be present in other Thecaphora species involved in dicot-host interactions like T. frezii-peanut. We also discuss applicability and limitations of currently available methods for identification of smut fungi in different situations and management strategies to reduce their impact on agri-food quality. We conclude by describing some of the challenges in elucidating T. frezii strategies that allow it to infect the host and tolerate or evade plant immune defense mechanisms, and assessing other aspects related to pest control and their implications for human health.Fil: Arias, Silvina Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. University of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Mary, Verónica Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Velez, Pilar Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, María G.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Otaiza González, Santiago Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Theumer, Martín Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentin

Senescence-associated proteolysis induced by abiotic and biotic stresses in barley leaves

Leaf senescence is a recycling process characterized by a massive degradation of macromolecules to relocalize nutrients from leaves to growing or storage tissues. Our aim is to identify and analyze the C1A Cysteine ‐Protease (CysProt) family members from barley (35 cathepsin L‐,3B‐,1Hand3F‐like) involved in leaf senescence, to study their modulation by their specific inhibitors (cystatins) and to determine their roles mediated by abiotic (darkness and N starvation) and biotic (pathogens and pest) stresses

Levels of phytosterol oxides in enriched and nonenriched spreads: application of a thin-layer chromatography-gas chromatography methodology

The content of phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) in enriched and nonenriched commercial spreads was evaluated by thin-layer chromatography-gas chromatography (TLC-GC). Oxides of beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol were produced by thermo-oxidation (7-hydroxy, 7-keto, and epoxy derivatives) and chemical synthesis (triol derivatives), which were then separated and identified by TLC-GC. Their identification was further confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total amounts of phytosterols found were 6.07 and 0.33 g/100 g of sample in phytosterol-enriched and nonenriched spread, respectively, whereas the total POPs contents were 45.60 and 13.31 mg/kg of sample in the enriched and nonenriched products. The main POPs found were the 7-keto derivatives of all phytosterols analyzed; 7-ketositosterol was the most abundant one (14.96 and 5.93 mg/kg of sample in phytosterol-enriched and nonenriched spread). No beta-epoxy and triol derivatives were detected in both types of samples. The enriched spread presented a lower phytosterol oxidation rate (0.07%) than the nonenriched one (0.41%)

Implementación de políticas de conciliación trabajo-vida en pequeñas y medianas empresas: un estudio de casos múltiples en la industria del software

La literatura sobre políticas de conciliación trabajo-vida ha crecido significativamente en los últimos años. No obstante, pocos estudios han indagado acerca de su implementación en pequeñas y medianas empresas y, particularmente, en sectores altamente dinámicos de la economía, donde la retención del talento constituye una fuente de ventajas competitivas. A través de un diseño cualitativo de casos múltiples, este trabajo examina las políticas de conciliación trabajo-vida implementadas en cuatro pequeñas y medianas empresas de software en Argentina. Los resultados muestran la existencia de dos modalidades de implementación: beneficios estandarizados de amplio alcance y beneficios individualizados negociados por cada empleado. Adicionalmente, se identifican una serie de factores organizacionales y características individuales que condicionan el acceso de los empleados a dichos beneficios

Análisis de sentiminetos de un corpus de redes sociales.

El análisis de sentimientos de textos en las redes sociales se ha convertido en un área de investigación cada vez más relevante debido a la influencia que las opiniones expresadas tienen en potenciales usuarios. De acuerdo con una clasificación conceptual de sentimientos y basándonos en un corpus de diversos dominios comerciales, hemos trabajado en la confección de reglas que permitan la clasificación de dichos textos según el sentimiento expresado con respecto a una marca, empresa o producto. Con la ayuda de una base de datos de colocaciones (Badele3000) y un gestor de corpus (Calíope) se han creado 200 reglas en español que han puesto de manifiesto algunas consideraciones a tener en cuenta en la siguiente fase del trabajo

Lactic acid bacteria biofilms and their ability to mitigate Escherichia coli O157:H7 surface colonization

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exert antagonistic activities against diversemicroorganisms, including pathogens. In this work, we aimed to investigatethe ability of LAB strains isolated from food to produce biofilms and to inhibitgrowth and surface colonization of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) O157:H7 at 10°C. The ability of 100 isolated LAB to inhibit EHECO157:H7 NCTC12900 growth was evaluated in agar diffusion assays. ThirtysevenLAB strains showed strong growth inhibitory effect on EHEC. Thehighest inhibitory activities corresponded to LAB strains belonging toLactiplantibacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcuspentosaceus species. Eighteen out of the 37 strains that showed growthinhibitory effects on EHEC also had the ability to form biofilms on polystyrenesurfaces at 10°C and 30°C. Pre-established biofilms on polystyrene of four ofthese LAB strains were able to reduce significantly surface colonization byEHEC at low temperature (10°C). Among these four strains, Lact. plantarumCRL 1075 not only inhibited EHEC but also was able to grow in the presenceof the enteric pathogen. Therefore, this strain proved to be a good candidatefor further technological studies oriented to its application in food-processingenvironments to mitigate undesirable surface contaminations of E. coli.Fil: Cisneros, Monica Lucia del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Cattelan, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina. University of Aberdeen; Reino UnidoFil: Villalba, María Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Serra, Diego Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Yantorno, Osvaldo Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Fadda, Silvina G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Id2 leaves the chromatin of the E2F4-p130-controlled c-myc promoter during hepatocyte priming for liver regeneration

The Id (inhibitor of DNA binding or inhibitor of differentiation) helix-loop-helix proteins are involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and cancer. The fact that the molecular mechanisms of liver regeneration are not completely understood prompted us to study the fate of Id2 in proliferating liver. Id2 increases in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, following the early induction of its gene. Co-immunoprecipitation shows that Id2 forms a complex with E2F4, p130 and mSin3A in quiescent liver and all these components are present at the c-myc promoter as shown using ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation). Activation of c-myc during hepatocyte priming (G0-G1 transition) correlates with the dissociation of Id2 and HDAC (histone deacetylase), albeit p130 remains bound at least until 6 h. Moreover, as the G0-G1 transition progresses, Id2 and HDAC again bind the c-myc promoter concomitantly with the repression of this gene. The time course of c-myc binding to the Id2 promoter, as determined by ChIP assays is compatible with a role of the oncoprotein as a transcriptional inducer of Id2 in liver regeneration. Immunohistochemical analysis shows that Id2 also increases in proliferating hepatocytes after bile duct ligation. In this case, the pattern of Id2 presence in the c-myc promoter parallels that found in regenerating liver. Our results may suggest a control role for Id2 in hepatocyte priming, through a p130 dissociation-independent regulation of c-my