Revision by experts as a strategy for the improvement and validation of LAMS units

After concluding the design of our didactic unit “My First International Congress” in LAMS format and putting it into practice with our students, we intended to improve its didactic possibilities through the execution of an analysis by experts on language teaching. The collection of data on the assessment and perception of the experts of our unit, the analysis of these data and the results confirmed that tools such as LAMS can be quite useful in the teaching of Foreign Languages. However, it also showed that LAMS should provide teachers with devices with which students could work synchronic speaking interaction

Impact of rare yeasts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine fermentation performance: Population prevalence and growth phenotype of Cyberlindnera fabianii, Kazachstania unispora, and Naganishia globosa

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a highly fermentative species able to complete the wine fermentation. However, the interaction with other non-Saccharomyces yeasts can determine the fermentation performance of S. cerevisiae. We have characterised three rare non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Cyberlindnera fabianii, Kazachstania unispora and Naganishia globosa), studying their impact on S. cerevisiae fitness and wine fermentation performance. Using a wide meta-taxonomic dataset of wine samples, analysed through ITS amplicon sequencing, we show that about a 65.07% of wine samples contains Naganishia spp., a 27.21% contains Kazachstania spp., and only a 4.41% contains Cyberlindnera spp; in all cases with average relative abundances lower than 1% of total fungal populations. Although the studied N. globosa strain showed a limited growth capacity in wine, both K. unispora and C. fabianii showed a similar growth phenotype to that of S. cerevisiae in different fermentation conditions, highlighting the outstanding growth rate values of K. unispora. In mixed fermentations with S. cerevisiae, the three yeast species affected co-culture growth parameters and wine chemical profile (volatile compounds, polysaccharides and proteins). K. unispora DN201 strain presents an outstanding capacity to compete with S. cerevisiae strains during the first stage of wine fermentation, causing stuck fermentations in both synthetic and natural grape musts

Automatic Discrimination of Species within the Enterobacter cloacae Complex Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and Supervised Algorithms

The Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) encompasses heterogeneous clusters of species that have been associated with nosocomial outbreaks. These species may have different acquired antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms, and their identification is challenging. This study aims to develop predictive models based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) profiles and machine learning for species-level identification. A total of 219 ECC and 118 Klebsiella aerogenes clinical isolates from three hospitals were included. The capability of the proposed method to differentiate the most common ECC species (Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter kobei, Enterobacter hormaechei, Enterobacter roggenkampii, Enterobacter ludwigii, and Enterobacter bugandensis) and K. aerogenes was demonstrated by applying unsupervised hierarchical clustering with principal-component analysis (PCA) preprocessing. We observed a distinctive clustering of E. hormaechei and K. aerogenes and a clear trend for the rest of the ECC species to be differentiated over the development data set. Thus, we developed supervised, nonlinear predictive models (support vector machine with radial basis function and random forest). The external validation of these models with protein spectra from two participating hospitals yielded 100% correct species-level assignment for E. asburiae, E. kobei, and E. roggenkampii and between 91.2% and 98.0% for the remaining ECC species; with data analyzed in the three participating centers, the accuracy was close to 100%. Similar results were obtained with the Mass Spectrometric Identification (MSI) database developed recently (https://msi.happy-dev.fr) except in the case of E. hormaechei, which was more accurately identified with the random forest algorithm. In short, MALDI-TOF MS combined with machine learning was demonstrated to be a rapid and accurate method for the differentiation of ECC species

Identification of the transcriptome and TCR repertoire against SARS-CoV-2 immunodominant peptides from long-term convalescent COVID-19 patients

Resumen del póster presentado a las II Jornadas Científicas PTI + Salud Global, celebradas los días 5 y 6 de octubre de 2022 en el Auditorio Santiago Grisolía de Valencia (España).N

Quality traits and tissue anatomy of pepper fruits as influenced by the variety and ripening

Comunicación oral presentada en: III congreso CAOS, Granada EEZ, España. 4 mayo 2023This research was supported by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)-cofinanced grants from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-103924GB-I00, PID2020-113324GB-I00 and TED2021-130015B-C22) and by the Junta de Andalucía (P18-FR-1359), Spain.

Deficient neutralizing antibody response and specific lack of RBD-responsive B cells in elderly long-term convalescent patients from severe COVID-19

Resumen del póster presentado a las III Jornadas Científicas PTI+ Salud Global, celebradas en el Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales (CCHS), CSIC (Madrid) del 20 al 22 de noviembre de 2023.[Background] Severe COVID-19 is defined by admission to intensive care units with respiratory support. This condition increases with age. To investigate in the possible mechanisms by which severe COVID-19 occurs, we compared the response of specific antibodies against the viral antigens RBD, Spike (S), nuclear (N), and membrane (Mpro) and the neutralizing titers in plasma of elderly patients convalescent from severe COVID-19 with convalescent patients from mild disease.[Methods] Plasma was collected from cohort 1: 20 healthy donors (vaccinated and unvaccinated), cohort 2: 40 elderly long-term convalescent patients from severe COVID-19 (mean: 73 years old, 60/40 ratio men/women, and 10 months after infection), and cohort 3: 60 convalescent from mild COVID-19 patients, who were vaccinated (mean: 42 years old, 30/70 ration men/women, 8 months after mild infection, and 5.7 months after last vaccination shoot). To compare reactivity against native S protein, we used a sensitive method to measure specific IgG1 and IgA in plasma by flow cytometry. We assessed the neutralization titers in plasma by infection assays in HEK-293T cells or Vero cells expression ACE-2, using S- and GFP-expressing pseudotyped viruses, and quantified IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies against RBD, S, N, and mPro antigens using the Multiplex Serological SARS-CoV-2 assay (Immunostep). To evaluate the presence of specific T and B cells specific for S and RBD antigens, we used kits from Miltenyi Biotech and analyzed the expression of activation antigens after cell stimulation with these antigens by flow cytometry.[Results] Significant levels of IgG and IgA against S protein were found in the plasma of convalescent patients from cohorts 2 and 3, with no differences in total anti-S antibody response between the two cohorts. Interestingly, anti-RBD IgG levels were found to be extremely low in plasma samples from cohort 2, but not in plasma samples from cohort 3. In accordance with these results, the neutralizing titers (IC50) found were very low in the plasma samples from cohort 2, compared to those from cohort 3. Analysis of the presence of RBD- and S-specific B cells present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these cohorts revealed significantly lower levels of RBD-specific B cells, but of not S-specific B lymphocytes, in the PBMCs from cohort 2 cells but not in those from cohort 3. Furthermore, lower B cell activation, as demonstrated by CD25 expression, was observed in PBMCs from cohort 2 compared to those from cohort 3 after their stimulation with RBD, but not with S, N or Mpro proteins. These results together indicate the specific lack of RBD-specific B cells in cohort 2 patients.[Conclusions] The low neutralizing capacity observed in the plasma of elderly long-term convalescent patients, who recovered from severe COVID-19 (cohort 2) correlates with low specific levels of anti-RBD antibodies and reduced levels of RBD-responsive B cells. These results could help explain the severity of COVID-19 in patients from cohort 2 compared to those from cohort 3, who had a mild disease. Future experiments will evaluate the presence of neutralizing antibodies in cohort 2 patients after vaccination.Peer reviewe

Role of small-sized phytoplankton in triggering an ecosystem disruptive algal bloom in a Mediterranean hypersaline coastal lagoon

Preprint2,35

Protection of Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) against Bluetongue Virus Serotypes 1 and 8 in a Subclinical Experimental Infection

Many wild ruminants such as Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) are susceptible to Bluetongue virus (BTV) infection, which causes disease mainly in domestic sheep and cattle. Outbreaks involving either BTV serotypes 1 (BTV-1) and 8 (BTV-8) are currently challenging Europe. Inclusion of wildlife vaccination among BTV control measures should be considered in certain species. In the present study, four out of fifteen seronegative Spanish ibexes were immunized with a single dose of inactivated vaccine against BTV-1, four against BTV-8 and seven ibexes were non vaccinated controls. Seven ibexes (four vaccinated and three controls) were inoculated with each BTV serotype. Antibody and IFN-gamma responses were evaluated until 28 days after inoculation (dpi). The vaccinated ibexes showed significant (P<0.05) neutralizing antibody levels after vaccination compared to non vaccinated ibexes. The non vaccinated ibexes remained seronegative until challenge and showed neutralizing antibodies from 7 dpi. BTV RNA was detected in the blood of non vaccinated ibexes from 2 to the end of the study (28 dpi) and in target tissue samples obtained at necropsy (8 and 28 dpi). BTV-1 was successfully isolated on cell culture from blood and target tissues of non vaccinated ibexes. Clinical signs were unapparent and no gross lesions were found at necropsy. Our results show for the first time that Spanish ibex is susceptible and asymptomatic to BTV infection and also that a single dose of vaccine prevents viraemia against BTV-1 and BTV-8 replication

Stay off the motorway: Resolving the pre-recruitment life history dynamics of the European anchovy in the SW Mediterranean through a spatially-explicit individual-based model (SEIBM)

We explore the underlying mechanisms of the early life history dynamics of the European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, in the SW Mediterranean. By using a 3D ROMS hydrodynamic model coupled to an individual-based model (IBM) of the larval stages of the European anchovy, we tested the following hypotheses: (1) the plausible effective spawning zones (those generating late larvae to the known nursery grounds) are mainly found in the vicinity of Malaga Bay, as suggested by published empirical data; (2) the observed, back-calculated growth of larvae sampled in the nursery grounds can be reasonably simulated by a simple temperature-dependent growth model; and (3) the inclusion of biological behavior in the IBM significantly improves the match between the observed and modeled late-larval recruitment and/or growth patterns. We performed simulations for the peak spawning season in 2008, for which survey data were available, and an average climatological run. Hypothesis 1 was accepted, whereas hypothesis 2 resulted in a good imitation of anchovy growth only after 10 days post-hatch. The inclusion of an empirically derived equation for egg buoyancy in the model (hypothesis 3) resulted in a slight improvement of the model of late-larval recruitment patterns. Finally, our model was used to explore possible retention-based nursery areas in the whole Alboran Sea. Our simulations showed to agree well with the existing data both in the European and in the African coast and confer the physics a dominant role in shaping the spatial dynamics of early life stages of anchovy in the area.Peer Reviewe

Prospective associations between a priori dietary patterns adherence and kidney function in an elderly Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.

PURPOSE: To assess the association between three different a priori dietary patterns adherence (17-item energy reduced-Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), Trichopoulou-MedDiet and Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH)), as well as the Protein Diet Score and kidney function decline after one year of follow-up in elderly individuals with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: We prospectively analyzed 5675 participants (55-75 years) from the PREDIMED-Plus study. At baseline and at one year, we evaluated the creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and food-frequency questionnaires-derived dietary scores. Associations between four categories (decrease/maintenance and tertiles of increase) of each dietary pattern and changes in eGFR (ml/min/1.73m2) or ≥ 10% eGFR decline were assessed by fitting multivariable linear or logistic regression models, as appropriate. RESULTS: Participants in the highest tertile of increase in 17-item erMedDiet Score showed higher upward changes in eGFR (β: 1.87 ml/min/1.73m2; 95% CI: 1.00-2.73) and had lower odds of ≥ 10% eGFR decline (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.47-0.82) compared to individuals in the decrease/maintenance category, while Trichopoulou-MedDiet and DASH Scores were not associated with any renal outcomes. Those in the highest tertile of increase in Protein Diet Score had greater downward changes in eGFR (β: - 0.87 ml/min/1.73m2; 95% CI: - 1.73 to - 0.01) and 32% higher odds of eGFR decline (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.00-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly individuals with overweight/obesity and MetS, only higher upward change in the 17-item erMedDiet score adherence was associated with better kidney function after one year. However, increasing Protein Diet Score appeared to have an adverse impact on kidney health. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN89898870 (Data of registration: 2014)