53 research outputs found
Differences in Global Scientific Production Between New mRNA and Conventional Vaccines Against COVID-19
The search for effective vaccines to stop the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented amount of global scientific
production and activity. This study aimed to analyze global scientific production on the different vaccine types (mRNA and
conventional) that were validated for COVID-19 during the years 2020-2021. The scientific production generated on COVID-
19 vaccines during the period 2020-2021 totaled the enormous amount of 20,459 studies published. New mRNA vaccines
clearly showed higher production levels than conventional vaccines (viral and inactivated vectors), with 786 and 350 studies,
respectively. The USA is the undisputed leader in the global production on COVID-19 vaccines, with Israel and Italy also
playing an important role. Among the journals publishing works in this field, the New England Journal of Medicine, the
British Medical Journal, and Vaccines stand out from the rest as the most important. The keyword ‘immunogenicity’ and its
derivatives have been more researched for the new mRNA vaccines, while thrombosis has been more studied for conventional
vaccines. The massive scientific production generated on COVID-19 vaccines in only two years has shown the enormous
gravity of the pandemic and the extreme urgency to find a solution. This high scientific production and the main keywords
found for the mRNA vaccines indicate the great potential that these vaccines have against COVID-19 and future infectious
diseases. Moreover, this study provides valuable information for guiding future research lines and promoting international
collaboration for an effective solution
Bibliometric Analysis of International Scientific Production on Pharmacologic Treatments for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 During 2020
This work was supported by the PAIDI (Plan Andaluz de
Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación 2020) program (Junta de
Andalucía. Spain. HUM.777-EC3 Research Group).Background: COVID-19 is causing a grave global health and economic crisis and the
fight against the pandemic has led to unprecedented scientific activity. Bibliometrics
could be a useful tool for guiding future researches lines and promoting international
collaboration for an effective treatment. For this purpose, we have conducted a
bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on drugs and therapies used to treat
COVID-19 during 2020.
Methods: Data source: Web of Science. We gathered data on scientific production
relating to drugs used to treat COVID-19. We calculated impact factors and
analyzed production by institution, country, and journal, visualizing our results in
bibliometric networks.
Results: In 1 year, production relating to COVID-19 exceeded 100 000 publications, with
over 6,500 on Drugs and COVID-19. Research into hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine,
remdesivir, lopinavir and ritonavir, tocilizumab and convalescent plasma is particularly
noteworthy. Mean citations/study range from 11.9 to 15.4. Producer institutions fall
into three groups: one in the US and centered on Harvard Medical School; another in
Europe led by INSERS; and another in China led by Huazhong University of Science and
Technology. Production by journal is widespread but the Journal of Medical Virology,
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, and American Journal of Transplantation
are noteworthy.
Conclusions: The volume of research that is currently under way is comparable to
the magnitude of the pandemic itself. Such a high volume of studies is infrequent and
the impact they have achieved has no known precedent. The producing countries are
those with highest incidence of the pandemic and greatest scientific potential; moreover,
inter-agency and international collaboration has reached extraordinarily high levels.Junta de
Andalucía. Spain. HUM.777-EC3 Research Grou
Molecular Binding of EuIII/CmIII by Stenotrophomonas bentonitica and Its Impact on the Safety of Future Geodisposal of Radioactive Waste
Microbial communities occurring in reference materials for artificial barriers (e.g., bentonites) in future deep geological repositories of radioactive waste can influence the migration behavior of radionuclides such as curium (CmIII). This study investigates the molecular interactions between CmIII and its inactive analogue europium (EuIII) with the indigenous bentonite bacterium Stenotrophomonas bentonitica at environmentally relevant concentrations. Potentiometric studies showed a remarkably high concentration of phosphates at the bacterial cell wall compared to other bacteria, revealing the great potential of S. bentonitica for metal binding. Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the role of phosphates and carboxylate groups from the cell envelope in the bioassociation of EuIII. Additionally, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) identified phosphoryl and carboxyl groups from bacterial envelopes, among other released complexing agents, to be involved in the EuIII and CmIII coordination. The ability of this bacterium to form a biofilm at the surface of bentonites allows them to immobilize trivalent lanthanide and actinides in the environment
Stenotrophomonas bentonitica sp. nov., isolated from bentonite formations
A Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain, BII-R7T
, was isolated during a study targeting the culturedependent microbial diversity occurring in bentonite formations from southern Spain. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence
analysis showed that BII-R7T
represented a member of the genus Stenotrophomonas (class Gammaproteobacteria), and was
related most closely to Stenotrophomonas rhizophila e-p10T
(99.2 % sequence similarity), followed by Stenotrophomonas
pavanii ICB 89T
(98.5 %), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia IAM 12423T
, Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga LPM-5T
and
Stenotrophomonas tumulicola T5916-2-1bT
(all 98.3 %). Pairwise sequence similarities to all other type strains of species of
the genus Stenotrophomonas were below 98 %. Genome-based calculations (orthologous average nucleotide identity, original
average nucleotide identity, genome-to-genome distance and DNA G+C percentage) indicated clearly that the isolate
represents a novel species within this genus. Different phenotypic analyses, such as the detection of a quinone system
composed of the major compound ubiquinone Q-8 and a fatty acid profile with iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as major
components, supported this finding at the same time as contributing to a comprehensive characterization of BII-R7T
. Based
on this polyphasic approach comprising phenotypic and genotypic/molecular characterization, BII-R7T
can be differentiated
clearly from its phylogenetic neighbours, establishing a novel species for which the name Stenotrophomonas bentonitica sp.
nov. is proposed with BII-R7T
as the type strain (=LMG 29893T
=CECT 9180T
=DSM 103927T
)
Structural dynamics at the active site of the cancer‐associated flavoenzyme NQO1 probed by chemical modification with PMSF
A large conformational heterogeneity of human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), a flavoprotein associated with various human diseases,
has been observed to occur in the catalytic site of the enzyme. Here, we
report the X-ray structure of NQO1 with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride
(PMSF) at 1.6 A resolution. Activity assays confirmed that, despite being
covalently bound to the Tyr128 residue at the catalytic site, PMSF did not
abolish NQO1 activity. This may indicate that the PMSF molecule does not
reduce the high flexibility of Tyr128, thus allowing NADH and DCPIP substrates to bind to the enzyme. Our results show that targeting Tyr128, a key
residue in NQO1 function, with small covalently bound molecules could possibly not be a good drug discovery strategy to inhibit this enzyme
Exploring Antibacterial Activity and Bacterial-Mediated Allotropic Transition of Differentially Coated Selenium Nanoparticles
The use of metal nanoparticles (NPs) as antimicrobial agents has become a promising alternative to the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are well-known as one of the most universal biocide compounds. However, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) recently gained more attention as effective antimicrobial agents. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity of SeNPs with different surface coatings (BSA-coated, chitosan-coated, and undefined coating) on the Gram-negative Stenotrophomonas bentonitica and the Gram-positive Lysinibacillus sphaericus in comparison to AgNPs. The tested NPs had similar properties, including shape (spheres), structure (amorphous), and size (50–90 nm), but differed in their surface charge. Chitosan SeNPs exhibited a positive surface charge, while the remaining NPs assayed had a negative surface charge. We have found that cell growth and viability of both bacteria were negatively affected in the presence of the NPs, as indicated by microcalorimetry and flow cytometry. Specifically, undefined coating SeNPs displayed the highest percentage values of dead cells for both bacteria (85–91%). An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was also detected. Chitosan-coated and undefined SeNPs caused the highest amount of ROS (299.7 and 289% over untreated controls) for S. bentonitica and L. sphaericus, respectively. Based on DNA degradation levels, undefined-SeNPs were found to be the most hazardous, causing nearly 80% DNA degradation. Finally, electron microscopy revealed the ability of the cells to transform the different SeNP types (amorphous) to crystalline SeNPs (trigonal/monoclinical Se), which could have environmentally positive implications for bioremediation purposes and provide a novel green method for the formation of crystalline SeNPs. The results obtained herein demonstrate the promising potential of SeNPs for their use in medicine as antimicrobial agents, and we propose S. bentonitica and L. sphaericus as candidates for new bioremediation strategies and NP synthesis with potential applications in many fields
Unlocking the key role of bentonite fungal isolates in tellurium and selenium bioremediation and biorecovery: Implications in the safety of radioactive waste disposal
This work was supported by grant RTI2018.101548.B.I00 to M.L.M
awarded by Spain's Ministry of Science and Innovation. The authors
would like to thank the microscopy services of the University of Granada
(Centro de Instrumentación Científica, University of Granada, Spain). Finally, the authors acknowledge the
funding for the open access charge provided by Universidad de Granada/CBUA.Research on eco-friendly bioremediation strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of toxic metals has gained attention in the last years. Among all promising solutions, bentonite clays, to be used as artificial barriers to isolate radioactive wastes within the deep geological repository (DGR) concept, have emerged as effective reservoir of microorganisms with remarkable bioremediation potential. The present study aims to investigate the impact of bentonite fungi in the speciation and mobility of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te), as natural analogues 79Se and 132Te present in radioactive waste, to screen for those strains with bioremediation potential within the context of DGR. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary approach combining microbiology, biochemistry, and microscopy was performed. Notably, Aspergillus sp. 3A demonstrated a high tolerance to Te(IV) and Se(IV), as evidenced by minimal inhibitory concentrations of >16 and >32 mM, respectively, along with high tolerance indexes. The high metalloid tolerance of Aspergillus sp. 3A is mediated by its capability to reduce these mobile and toxic elements to their elemental less soluble forms [Te(0) and Se(0)], forming nanostructures of various morphologies. Advanced electron microscopy techniques revealed intracellular Te(0) manifesting as amorphous needle-like nanoparticles and extracellular Te(0) forming substantial microspheres and irregular accumulations, characterized by a trigonal crystalline phase. Similarly, Se(0) exhibited a diverse array of morphologies, including hexagonal, irregular, and needle-shaped structures, accompanied by a monoclinic crystalline phase. The formation of less mobile Te(0) and Se(0) nanostructures through novel and environmentally friendly processes by Aspergillus sp. 3A suggests it would be an excellent candidate for bioremediation in contaminated environments, such as the vicinity of deep geological repositories. It moreover holds immense potential for the recovery and synthesis of Te and Se nanostructures for use in numerous biotechnological and biomedical applications.Research on eco-friendly bioremediation strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of toxic metals has gained attention in the last years. Among all promising solutions, bentonite clays, to be used as artificial barriers to isolate radioactive wastes within the deep geological repository (DGR) concept, have emerged as effective reservoir of microorganisms with remarkable bioremediation potential. The present study aims to investigate the impact of bentonite fungi in the speciation and mobility of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te), as natural analogues 79Se and 132Te present in radioactive waste, to screen for those strains with bioremediation potential within the context of DGR. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary approach combining microbiology, biochemistry, and microscopy was performed. Notably, Aspergillus sp. 3A demonstrated a high tolerance to Te(IV) and Se(IV), as evidenced by minimal inhibitory concentrations of >16 and >32 mM, respectively, along with high tolerance indexes. The high metalloid tolerance of Aspergillus sp. 3A is mediated by its capability to reduce these mobile and toxic elements to their elemental less soluble forms [Te(0) and Se(0)], forming nanostructures of various morphologies. Advanced electron microscopy techniques revealed intracellular Te(0) manifesting as amorphous needle-like nanoparticles and extracellular Te(0) forming substantial microspheres and irregular accumulations, characterized by a trigonal crystalline phase. Similarly, Se(0) exhibited a diverse array of morphologies, including hexagonal, irregular, and needle-shaped structures, accompanied by a monoclinic crystalline phase. The formation of less mobile Te(0) and Se(0) nanostructures through novel and environmentally friendly processes by Aspergillus sp. 3A suggests it would be an excellent candidate for bioremediation in contaminated environments, such as the vicinity of deep geological repositories. It moreover holds immense potential for the recovery and synthesis of Te and Se nanostructures for use in numerous biotechnological and biomedical applications.Spain's Ministry of Science and Innovation RTI2018.101548.B.I00Universidad de Granada/CBU
International integration of the journals Ars Pharmaceutica
Objetivos: Ars Pharmaceutica ha ingresado en los Emerging Sources Citation Index de Web of Science.
Esta situación aconseja un seguimiento de su actividad de citas al que este trabajo pretende contribuir
mediante el análisis cuantitativo de sus comportamientos de citación.
Métodos: Para el estudio de las citas concedidas se utilizan las métricas de la base de datos SciELO.
Para las citas recibidas se han volcado los datos de los artículos citantes de Ars Pharmaceutica en Web of
Science: años de publicación; revistas; autores y países de firma; tipología documental y lengua.
Resultados: Las revistas más citadas por Ars Pharmaceutica son del primer cuartil de los Journal Citation
Reports, categoría Pharmacology & Pharmacy. Las citas recibidas, en crecimiento progresivo, proceden
mayoritariamente de revistas de Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Chemistry y Food Science Technology
con buenas posiciones en los Factores de Impacto. Los países e instituciones de firma de los autores
citantes está encabezada por España y la India, que sumados a los de Brasil y México suponen el 56%.
Los documentos citantes son mayoritariamente artículos de investigación publicados en lengua inglesa.
Conclusiones: Los citas emitidas reflejan una integración internacional de la literatura consumida. Las
citas recibidas indican una proyección internacional en ascenso, aunque no alcanza cifras de revistas
equiparables. La correlación autores, países, instituciones y lengua de los artículos indica que las citas
proceden, en buena medida, de autores españoles cuando publican en revistas de impacto editadas en
inglés. Este modelo sugiere que el consumo de la investigación publicada es básicamente nacional, no
siendo aún percibida internacionalmente salvo en Latinoamérica y en la India. Este aislamiento es una
de las asignaturas pendientes de las revistas españolas.Objectives: Ars Pharmaceutica has been indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index from Web of
Science. This allows tracking the citation activity of the journal. The main contribution of this paper is to
analyze quantitatively the citation patters of the journal.
Methods: In this study we use the citation metrics obtained from the SciELO database. To identify received
citations we have retrieved all citing documents from Web of Science and processed the following
data: publication year; journal; authors; countries; document type and language.
Results: The most cited journlas by Ars Pharmaceutica are positioned in the first quartile of the Journal
Citation Reports, in the Pharmacology & Pharmacy category. Received citations, which are progressively
increasing, belong mostly from journals indexed in the Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Chemistry and Food
Science Technology categories, well positioned according to their Journal Impact Factors. Citing countries
and institutions come mainly from Spain and India, which along with Brazil and Mexico, represent
56% of all citations. Citing documents are mostly research articles written in English language. Conclusions: By analyzing cited documents from Ars Pharmaceutica
we conclude that it is integrated on the consumption of
international literature. Received citations reflect an international
scope, although it still does not reach figures similar to other
journals. The relation between authors, countries, institutions and
language indicate that citations come from Spanish autors publishing
in impact journals written in English. This model suggests that
the consumption of published research is basically national, and
does not reach the international sphere with the exception of Latin
America and India. This isolation is still a pending challenge fro
Spanish journals
Bibliometric analysis of the global scientific production on machine learning applied to different cancer types
This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Curie grant agreement no. 860627 (CLARIFY Project), from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under project PID2019-105142RB-C22, and by FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades under the project P20_00286. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA.Cancer disease is one of the main causes of death in the world, with million annual cases in the last decades. The need to find a cure has stimulated the search for efficient treatments and diagnostic procedures. One of the most promising tools that has emerged against cancer in recent years is machine learning (ML), which has raised a huge number of scientific papers published in a relatively short period of time. The present study analyzes global scientific production on ML applied to the most relevant cancer types through various bibliometric indicators. We find that over 30,000 studies have been published so far and observe that cancers with the highest number of published studies using ML (breast, lung, and colon cancer) are those with the highest incidence, being the USA and China the main scientific producers on the subject. Interestingly, the role of China and Japan in stomach cancer is correlated with the number of cases of this cancer type in Asia (78% of the worldwide cases). Knowing the countries and institutions that most study each area can be of great help for improving international collaborations between research groups and countries. Our analysis shows that medical and computer science journals lead the number of publications on the subject and could be useful for researchers in the field. Finally, keyword co-occurrence analysis suggests that ML-cancer research trends are focused not only on the use of ML as an effective diagnostic method, but also for the improvement of radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-based treatments.Horizon 2020 European Union under the Marie Sklodowska Curie 860627Spanish Government
PID2019-105142RB-C22FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades
P20_00286Universidad de Granada/CBU
Allotropy of selenium nanoparticles: Colourful transition, synthesis, and biotechnological applications
Abstract
Elemental selenium (Se0) nanomaterials undergo allotropic transition from
thermodynamically-unstable
to more stable phases. This process is significantly
different when Se0 nanoparticles (NPs) are produced via physico-chemical
and biological pathways. While the allotropic transition of physico-chemically
synthesized Se0 is fast (minutes to hours), the biogenic Se0 takes months
to complete. The biopolymer layer covering biogenic Se0 NPs might be the
main factor controlling this retardation, but this still remains an open question.
Phylogenetically-diverse
bacteria reduce selenium oxyanions to red amorphous
Se0 allotrope, which has low market value. Then, red Se0 undergoes
allotropic transition to trigonal (metallic grey) allotrope, the end product having
important industrial applications (e.g. semiconductors, alloys). Is it not yet
clear whether biogenic Se0 presents any biological function, or it is mainly
a detoxification and respiratory by-product.
The better understanding of this
transition would benefit the recovery of Se0 NPs from secondary resources
and its targeted utilization with respect to each allotropic stage. This review
article presents and critically discusses the main physico-chemical
methods
and biosynthetic pathways of Se0 (bio)mineralization. In addition, the article
proposes a conceptual model for the resource recovery potential of trigonal
selenium nanomaterials in the context of circular economy.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Grant/
Award Number: RTI2018.101548.B.I00National Science Centre (NCN), Poland,
Grant/Award Number: 2017/26/D/
NZ1/0040
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