Lucilia sericata strain from Colombia: Experimental Colonization, Life Tables and Evaluation of Two Artifcial Diets of the Blowfy Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Bogotá, Colombia Strain

The objective of this work was to establish, under experimental laboratory conditions, a colony of Lucilia sericata, Bogotá-Colombia strain, to build life tables and evaluate two artifcial diets. This blowfy is frequently used in postmortem interval studies and in injury treatment. The parental adult insects collected in Bogotá were maintained in cages at 22°C±1 average temperature, 60%±5 relative humidity and 12 h photoperiodicity. The blowfies were fed on two artifcial diets that were evaluated over seven continuous generations. Reproductive and population parameters were assessed. The life cycle of the species was expressed in the number of days of the different stages: egg = 0.8±0.1, larvae I = 1.1±0.02, larvae II = 1.94±0.16, larvae III = 3.5±0.54, pupae = 6.55±0.47, male adult = 28.7±0.83 and female adult = 33.5±1.0. Total survival from egg stage to adult stage was 91.2% for diet 1, while for diet 2 this parameter was 40.5%. The lifetime reproductive output was 184.51±11.2 eggs per female. The population parameters, as well as the reproductive output of the blowfies that were assessed, showed relatively high values, giving evidence of the continuous increase of the strain over the different generations and making possible its maintenance as a stable colony that has lasted for more than two years

On norm-attainment in (symmetric) tensor products

In this paper, we introduce a concept of norm-attainment in the projective symmetric tensor product of a Banach space X, which turns out to be naturally related to the classical norm-attainment of N -homogeneous polynomials on X. Due to this relation, we can prove that there exist symmetric tensors that do not attain their norms, which allows us to study the problem of when the set of norm-attaining elements in is dense. We show that the set of all normattaining symmetric tensors is dense in for a large set of Banach spaces such as Lp-spaces, isometric L1-predual spaces or Banach spaces with monotone Schauder basis, among others. Next, we prove that if X* satisfies the Radon-Nikodým and approximation properties, then the set of all norm-attaining symmetric tensors in is dense. From these techniques, we can present new examples of Banach spaces X and Y such that the set of all norm-attaining tensors in the projective tensor product is dense, answering positively an open question from the paperThe authors would like to thank Daniel Carando and Jorge Tomás Rodríguez for fruitful conversations on the topic of the paper. The first author was supported by the project OPVVV CAAS CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16 019/0000778 and by the Estonian Research Council grant PRG877. The second author is supported in part by the grants MTM2017-83262-C2-2-P and Fundación Séneca Región de Murcia 20906/PI/18. The third author was supported by NRF (NRF-2019R1A2C1003857). The fourth author was supported by Juan de la Cierva-Formación fellowship FJC2019-039973, by MTM2017- 86182-P (Government of Spain, AEI/FEDER, EU), by MICINN (Spain) Grant PGC2018- 093794-B-I00 (MCIU, AEI, FEDER, UE), by Fundación Séneca, ACyT Región de Murcia grant 20797/PI/18, by Junta de Andalucía Grant A-FQM-484-UGR18 and by Junta de Andalucía Grant FQM-0185

Deep-water sponge fauna from the mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz (North Atlantic, Spain)

En prensa1,02

Exploring diversity and distribution of demersal fish species from the Northern Alboran Sea and Gulf of Vera (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The Alboran Sea is a transition region between the Mediterranean basin and the Atlantic Ocean containing a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic species. The Strait of Gibraltar, at the west end of the Alboran Sea, connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf of Vera also occupies a strategic location in the Western Mediterranean, representing a transition zone between the Alboran Sea and the rest of the basins with a more distinctive Mediterranean character. The Alboran Sea is one of the most productive areas of the Mediterranean, in contrast to the Gulf of Vera that displays a more oligotrophic character. Despite of the interest of the study area the information about the distribution of demersal fishes is scarce. In the present study, the main aim is to analyse diversity and distribution of demersal fish species of circalittoral and bathyal soft bottoms of the Alboran Sea (with a higher Atlantic influence and primary production) and the Gulf of Vera (with a higher Mediterranean influence and lower primary production). Sampling was carried out in the scientific trawl survey MEDITS (International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean) between 30 and 800 m depth. All samples were taken from Estepona and Cabo de Palos between 1994-2015 in the Alboran Sea and between 1995-2008 and 2014-2015 in the Gulf of Vera. (Figure 1). A total of 818 samples (687 from Alboran and 131 from Vera) were considered for this study. For each haul, the abundance and weight of individuals per fish species were standardised to 1 hour towing in order to calculate both species abundance (number of individuals per 1 hour towing) (ind•h−1) and biomass (g•h−1). In order to identify fish assemblages, ordination and classification multivariate methods using fish species abundance and biomass per haul matrices were applied. Prior to analyses, all data were logarithmically transformed using log(x + 1) to minimise the weighting of extreme abundance or biomass values of certain species. An analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) was carried out for statistical comparisons of groups of samples according to the different factors considered (depth, Alboran vs. Vera). Species rarefaction curves were used to compare the species richness values of each fish assemblage. In addition, for each group, Shannon-Wiener (H’) and Taxonomic distinctness (Δ*) diversity indices were calculated. For comparisons of the mean values of the considered variables (abundance, biomass and diversity indices) across the identified assemblages and years, we used a non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test. A total of 231 fish species have been identified considering all samples, with 215 spp. collected from Alboran (3 classes, 25 orders and 75 families) and 160 spp.. from Vera (2 classes, 21 orders and 67 families), probably because the number of samples in the latter were lower. The number of occasional species, considering those that were captured only in 1 or 2 samples, were 56 in Alboran and 44 in Vera. The multivariate analyses (nMDS) indicated that depth is the main factor that determines the distribution of species in both areas, with four groups of samples displaying significant differences between them (ANOSIM-Alboran: R=0.85, p=0.001; ANOSIM-Vera: R=0.81, p=0.001). These groups were similar in both areas: Inner continental shelf (30-100 m), Outer continental shelf (101-200 m), Upper continental slope (201-500 m) and Middle continental slope (501-800 m) (Figures 2 and 3). Regarding the faunistic comparison between Alboran and Vera, the most acute differences were found between those samples from the Middle continental slope. These differences were evident for abundance (ANOSIM: R=0.81, p=0.001), biomass (ANOSIM: R=0.78, p=0.001) and species composition (presence-absence data) (ANOSIM: R=0.61, p=0.001). The trends for species rarefaction curves with depth was similar in both areas, with similar curves for the Inner and Outer continental shelf , a decrease of the species number for the Upper slope and finally the lowest number of species for the Middle slope. Likewise, the mean values of abundance, Shannon and Taxonomic indices also showed a similar pattern in both areas. Mean abundances differed significantly between assemblages increasing from the Inner shelf to Outer shelf and decreasing abruptly to the Upper and Lower slope (.minimum values). The Shannon diversity index showed significant differences in Alboran, but not in Vera, with minima in the Outer shelf in both areas. The taxonomic index also displayed significant differences in Alboran and Vera, with low values in the Inner shelf that increased abruptly to the Outer shelf and Upper slope, with a further acute increase in the Middle slope. Unlike for the other indexes, trends for mean the biomass values with depth were different in both areas. In Alboran biomass decreased from the Inner shelf to the Upper slope and increased to the Middle slope. Nevertheless, in Vera the biomass decreased with depth, with significant differences. In two sectors were evident significant differences. Regarding the interannual changes, the differences between years in Alboran were significant respect to species richness, abundance, biomass and Shannon diversity index. No clear increase or decrease trend was detected interannually. Unlike Alboran, in Vera, no significant interannual differences were detected. In conclusion: 1) Four main fish assemblages were detected on the continental shelf and slope in both areas that seem to be strongly linked to the depth gradient. 2) The middle slope showed the higher differences between both areas for abundance, biomass and presence-abundance data. 3) The species rarefaction curves, abundance, Shannon and Taxonomic diversity indices showed similar patterns with depth in both areas. Biomass index showed a different pattern, with maximum values in the Middle slope in Alboran and minimum ones in Vera

First record of the sea cucumber Parastichopus tremulus Gunnerus, 1767 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) in the Mediterranean Sea (Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean)

The holothurian Parastichopus tremulus, a species only know from the north-eastern Atlantic, is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. Five individuals of the species were collected in the vicinity of the Seco de los Olivos sea mount in May 2017 from a bottom trawl sample carried out during the MEDITS trawl survey. Scanning Electron Microscope images of body wall ossicles are supplied to support species identification. Connectivity between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of P. tremulus is suggested due to the existence of a nearby Atlantic population in the Gulf of Cádiz and the documented presence of abundant holothuroid larvae in the anticyclonic gyre which originates in the Atlantic current entering the Mediterranean, near the Strait of GibraltarPremier signalement du concombre de mer Parastichopus tremulus (Gunnerus, 1767) (Echinodermata : Aspidochirotida) en Méditerranée (Mer d’Alboran, Méditerranée occidentale). L’holothurie Parastichopus tremulus, une espèce connue seulement du nord-est Atlantique, est signalée pour la première fois en Mer Méditerranée. Cinq individus de l’espèce ont été récoltés près du mont sous-marin Seco de los Olivos en mai 2017 d’un échantillon de chalut de fond effectué pendant la campagne de recherche avec chalut MEDITS. Des photographies au microscope électronique à balayage d’osselets de la paroi du corps sont fournies pour valider l’identification de l’espèce. La connectivité entre les populations atlantiques et méditerranéennes de P. tremulus est suggérée en raison de la proximité d’une population atlantique dans le Golfe de Cádiz et de la présence documentée de larves d’holothurie abondantes dans le vortex anticyclonique originaire du courant atlantique entrant en Méditerranée, près du Détroit de GibraltarVersión del edito

The role of platelets and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in sepsis: A comprehensive literature review

Sepsis is defined as "an organic dysfunction secondary to the dysregulated response of the patient to an infection." This concept only reveals the tip of the iceberg, the clinical expression of organic failures, without understanding their basis, which is currently explained by cellular and molecular phenomena. Neutrophils are crucial pillars of early innate immune responses, and their fundamental function is phagocytosis. Additionally, neutrophils can degranulate upon activation, releasing various antimicrobial enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), whose purpose is to trap pathogens by releasing their "sticky" nuclear content; the presence of activated platelets amplifies this phenomenon. NETosis is a beneficial process; however, deregulated, it can be detrimental, inducing "immunothrombosis" and compromising the microcirculation, thereby increasing the clinical severity of sepsis. The purpose of this review is to clearly describe the pathophysiological role therapeutic target of NETs, their interaction with platelets in sepsis, and their potential as therapeutic targets, since it has been shown that a therapeutic approach aimed at curbing NETs would be beneficial

Seasonality and trophic diversity in molluscan assemblages from the Bay of Tunis (southern Mediterranean Sea)

Soft bottom molluscan assemblages from the Bay of Tunis have been studied in order to analyse their seasonality and trophic diversity in relation to environmental variables. A total of 147 species of molluscs was identified, with gastropods displaying the highest species richness and bivalves the highest abundances, and including five non-indigenous species such as the dominant bryozoan grazer Polycerella emertoni. Carnivorous and scavenger gastropods were among the most frequent species, reflecting a diverse benthic community. Seasonal changes were significant, being more acute at 3-4 m than at 10-15 m depth, and were correlated mainly with seawater temperature and percentage of organic matter in the sediment. The high affluence of tourists in summer was coincident with high decreases in species richness and abundance of molluscs, together with a strong siltation of the sediment. Nevertheless, most trophic groups persisted and the trophic diversity was relatively high. Significant relationships were found between the index of trophic diversity and Shannon-Wiener diversity and evenness indices, suggesting that the identity of the species with its particular trophic trait, together with the balanced distribution of the individuals among the species would be the drivers for the maintenance of the molluscan food web under environmental stress. The abundance of P. emertoni altered the trophic structure of the molluscan assemblage, bringing the ectoparasite trophic group to an unusual peak of dominance. Soft bottom molluscan assemblages of the Bay of Tunis should be taken into account in monitoring programs for anthropogenic impacts and for non-indigenous species trends throughout the Mediterranean basin.Versión del editor0,568

Gene Expression in Trypanosomatid Parasites

The parasites Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma brucei, and Trypanosoma cruzi are the trypanosomatid protozoa that cause the deadly human diseases leishmaniasis, African sleeping sickness, and Chagas disease, respectively. These organisms possess unique mechanisms for gene expression such as constitutive polycistronic transcription of protein-coding genes and trans-splicing. Little is known about either the DNA sequences or the proteins that are involved in the initiation and termination of transcription in trypanosomatids. In silico analyses of the genome databases of these parasites led to the identification of a small number of proteins involved in gene expression. However, functional studies have revealed that trypanosomatids have more general transcription factors than originally estimated. Many posttranslational histone modifications, histone variants, and chromatin modifying enzymes have been identified in trypanosomatids, and recent genome-wide studies showed that epigenetic regulation might play a very important role in gene expression in this group of parasites. Here, we review and comment on the most recent findings related to transcription initiation and termination in trypanosomatid protozoa