Revisiting the metabolic capabilities of Bifidobacterium longum susbp. longum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis from a glycoside hydrolase perspective

Bifidobacteria are among the most abundant microorganisms inhabiting the intestine of humans and many animals. Within the genus Bifidobacterium, several beneficial effects have been attributed to strains belonging to the subspecies Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, which are often found in infants and adults. The increasing numbers of sequenced genomes belonging to these two subspecies, and the availability of novel computational tools focused on predicting glycolytic abilities, with the aim of understanding the capabilities of degrading specific carbohydrates, allowed us to depict the potential glycoside hydrolases (GH) of these bacteria, with a focus on those GH profiles that differ in the two subspecies. We performed an in silico examination of 188 sequenced B. longum genomes and depicted the commonly present and strain-specific GHs and GH families among representatives of this species. Additionally, GH profiling, genome-based and 16S rRNA-based clustering analyses showed that the subspecies assignment of some strains does not properly match with their genetic background. Furthermore, the analysis of the potential GH component allowed the distinction of clear GH patterns. Some of the GH activities, and their link with the two subspecies under study, are further discussed. Overall, our in silico analysis poses some questions about the suitability of considering the GH activities of B. longum subsp. longum and B. longum subsp. infantis to gain insight into the characterization and classification of these two subspecies with probiotic interest.The research included in the present work was funded by the grants AGL2016-78311-R (funded by AEI/FEDER, UE), RTI2018-095021-J-I00 (funded by MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE), and IDI/2018/000236 (funded by PCTI Gobierno del Principado de Asturias/FEDER, UE). This study was supported by the Consellería de Educación, Universidades e Formación Profesional (Xunta de Galicia) under the scope of the strategic funding of ED431C2018/55-GRC Competitive Reference Group, the “Centro singular de investigación de Galicia” (accreditation 2019-2022) and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund—ERDF)-Ref. ED431G2019/06, and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Applicability of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images for the detection and delineation of crisis information in the scope of Copernicus EMS services

[EN] This study shows the inclusion of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images in the workflows to obtain of crisis information of different types of events and their applicability in the detection and monitoring of those events. Sentinel is an Earth Observation (EO) program that is currently being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the scope of the Copernicus program operative since April 2012, formerly known as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES). This program comprises six missions, out of which three are active, Sentinel-1 that provides radar images, Sentinel-.2 providing High Resolution optical images and Sentinel-3 developed to support GMES ocean, land, atmospheric, emergency, security and cryospheric applications. The present paper describes the use of Sentinel-1 radar to detect and delineate flooded areas, and the MultiTemporal Coherence (MTC) analysis applied with pre and post-event images to delimit and monitor burnt areas and lava flows. With respect to Sentinel-2, its high spectral resolution bands allowed the delineation of burnt areas by calculating differences of vegetation and burnt indices using pre and postevent images. Results using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data were compared with results using higher spatial resolution images, both optical and radar. In all cases, the usability of Sentinel images was proven.[ES] El principal objetivo de este trabajo ha consistido en analizar la aplicabilidad de la incorporación de imágenes Sentinel-1 y Sentinel-2 en los flujos de trabajo para obtener información de crisis de diferente naturaleza, así como su aplicación en la detección y monitorización de dichos eventos. Sentinel es un programa de observación de la tierra que está siendo desarrollado por la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) en el marco del programa Copernicus operativo desde abril de 2012, previamente denominado Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES). Consta de seis misiones, de las cuales en estos momentos están activas tres, Sentinel-1 que proporciona imágenes radar, Sentinel-2 que proporciona imágenes ópticas de Alta Resolución y Sentinel-3, que proporciona servicios globales de vigilancia terrestre, atmosférica, de gestión de emergencias y seguridad y de la criosfera. En el presente artículo, se muestra la aplicación práctica de los datos radar Sentinel-1 en la detección de zonas inundadas y su uso para la detección de cambios por medio de análisis MultiTemporal de Coherencia (MTC) de imágenes radar para la delimitación de incendios y monitorización de flujos de lava. Respecto a Sentinel-2, se explotan las capacidades que proporciona su alta resolución espectral para la delimitación de incendios mediante el cálculo de diferencias de índices de vegetación entre las imágenes pre- y post-evento. Los resultados usando Sentinel-1 y Sentinel-2 se han comparado, en todos los casos, con resultados obtenidos a partir de imágenes de mayor resolución espacial, tanto ópticas como radar. Los buenos resultados de estas comparaciones demuestran la utilidad de imágenes Sentinel para los 3 casos estudiados.Donezar-Hoyos, U.; Larrañaga Urien, A.; Tamés-Noriega, A.; Sánchez-Gil, C.; Albizua-Huarte, L.; Ciriza-Labiano, R.; Del Barrio-Arellano, F. (2017). Aplicación de imágenes Sentinel-1 y Sentinel-2 en la detección y delineación de información de crisis de desastres naturales en el marco de los servicios Copernicus EMS. Revista de Teledetección. (50):49-57. doi:10.4995/raet.2017.8896SWORD495750Altman, D.G. (1991). Practical statistics for medical research. New York. Chapman and Hall.Henry, J. ‐B., Chastanet, P., Fellah, K., & Desnos, Y. ‐L. (2006). Envisat multi‐polarized ASAR data for flood mapping. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 27(10), 1921-1929. doi:10.1080/0143116050048672

Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L

This paper presents information on all aspects of the biology of Cyperus esculentus L. (yellow nutsedge) and deals with its taxonomy, morphology, genetic diversity, distribution, habitat requirements, ecology and life cycle, with special emphasis on uses and cultivation, history of introduction, impact and management in Europe. C. esculentus is a tuber geophyte and most likely originates from the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. It is a variable plant and four wild-type varieties are presently recognized, in addition to a cultivated form. C. esculentus reproduces primarily by its underground tubers, although abundant seeds are produced. In temperate climates, tubers usually sprout in late spring and the plant withers at the beginning of the winter. C. esculentus is only cultivated in the València region in Spain. Invasion foci emerged across Europe at the beginning of the 1980s and at present, C. esculentus is most abundant on arable land and in ruderal habitats, followed by riverine vegetation. In heavily infested regions of Europe, C. esculentus causes substantial yield losses in field crops and although different management strategies are available, C. esculentus remains difficult to control.Follak, S.; Belz, R.; Bohren, C.; Castro, OD.; Guacchio, ED.; Pascual-Seva, N.; Schwarz, M.... (2016). Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 23:33-51. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2016.09.003S33512

Changes in phenolic compounds during the germination of seeds of Cicer arietinum L

Estudio del contenido de derivados fenólicos e identificación de los mismos, en la germinación de semillas de Cicer arietinum

Microbiota-derived β-amyloid-like peptides trigger alzheimer’s disease-related pathways in the sh-sy5y neural cell line

Here, we present the first in silico and in vitro evidence of Aβ-like peptides released from meaningful members of the gut microbiome (mostly from the Clostridiales order). Two peptides with high homology to the human Aβ peptide domain were synthesized and tested in vitro in a neuron cell-line model. Gene expression profile analysis showed that one of them induced whole gene pathways related to AD, opening the way to translational approaches to assess whether gut microbiota-derived peptides might be implicated in the neurodegenerative processes related to AD. This exploratory work opens the path to new approaches for understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome and the triggering of potential molecular events leading to AD. As microbiota can be modified using diet, tools for precise nutritional intervention or targeted microbiota modification in animal models might help us to understand the individual roles of gut bacteria releasing Aβ-like peptides and therefore their contribution to this progressive disease.This work was supported by the Spanish “Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad” through the projects AGL2013-44039R (MINECO, FEDER, UE) and RTI2018-096339-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE); by the “Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” by means of the project “Obtención de péptidos bioactivos contra el Cáncer Colo-Rectal a partir de secuencias genéticas de microbiomas intestinalis” (grant PS-2016); and by the Asturias Regional Plan I+D+i for research groups (FYCYT-IDI/2018/000236). H.T. acknowledges his “Severo Ochoa” predoctoral grant (BP17-55) to the Government of “Principado de Asturias”