Hypergravity induces changes in physiology, gene expression and epigenetics in zebrafish

All living organisms that inhabit Earth have evolved under a common value of gravity, which amounts to an acceleration of 9.81 m/s2 at mean sea level. Changes on it could cause important alterations that affect vital biological functions. The crescent interest in spatial exploration has opened the question of how exactly these changes in gravity would affect Earth life forms on space environments. This work is the result of a collaborative co-supervision of a master thesis between experts in the area of space sciences and biology, and it can serve as a case study for training experts in such interdisciplinary environments. In particular, we focus on the effect of gravity as a pressure factor in the development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in the larval stage as a model organism using up-to-date (genomic and epigenetic) techniques. Given the high cost of any experiment in true low gravity (which would require a space launch), we performed an initial experiment in hypergravity to develop the methodologies and identify good (epi)genetic markers of the effect of gravity in our model organism. Previous studies in zebrafish have shown how alteration in gravity effects the development and the gene expression of important regulatory genes. For this study, we firstly customized a small laboratory scale centrifuge to study changes in fish physiology together with changes at molecular levels. We exposed zebrafish larvae from 0 to 6 days post fertilization to the simulated hypergravity (SHG) (100 rpm 3g). After 6 days of hypergravity exposition the larvae showed changes in their swimming and flotation patterns, and presented corporal alterations. Then, we assessed gene expression of genes implicated in important biological processes, (e.g., epigenetics), and an upregulation were observed when compared to the control. Taken together, these preliminary findings show how gravity alterations could affect some basic biological responses, and illustrate the potential of developing new science cases to be developed by students at postgraduate level (MSc and beyond) in a multidisciplinary environmen

El conflicto entre Rusia y Ucrania y sus efectos sobre los sistemas agroalimentarios

El conflicto armado entre Rusia y Ucrania ha desencadenado el cierre de puertos y prácticamente la paralización de actividades económicas en Ucrania, así como sanciones económicas internacionales a Rusia, entre las que se encuentran restricciones al comercio y exclusión parcial de bancos rusos del sistema de transacciones financieras SWIFT, junto con la pandemia del Covid-19, ha generado que los productos y servicios tengan una inflación alrededor del mundo. Por esto el comercio agroalimentario de América Latina y el Caribe se verá poco afectado, al menos directamente. La interrupción de las exportaciones de Rusia puede provocar el redireccionamiento del comercio y abrir una oportunidad de exportación principalmente para países exportadores de productos de la molinería, cereales, grasas y aceites y semillas oleaginosas. Se han generado 4 canales de transmisión; el primero es el de las restricciones al comercio agroalimentario, el segundo canal o vía de transmisión de los efectos de la crisis es el comercio y los precios de los fertilizantes, el tercer canal de transmisión de la crisis es la aceleración de los aumentos en los precios internacionales de productos básicos y por último el cuarto canal de transmisión de la crisis corresponde a los aumentos en los precios de la energía

Una estrategia lúdico-pedagógica para mejorar el pensamiento lògico-matemático en los estudiantes de los grados preescolar y primero de la institución educativa liceo Antioqueño del municipio de Bello

El desarrollo del pensamiento lógico-matemático facilita el progreso de los niños y las niñas en todos sus aspectos. Por esta razón, los aprendizajes que parten de dicho contenido son básicos para la comprensión y manejo de la realidad en que estos viven y tiene una importancia central en sus primeros años de vida; las matemáticas pueden aplicarse a numerosas situaciones de la vida diaria de los infantes, contribuyendo con ello a su desarrollo a través de la experiencia propia. Además, el hecho de que puedan trasladar a su vida cotidiana conceptos que aprenden en el aula convierte la educación en algo dinámico y estimulante para ellos. Por otra parte, la importancia del uso de la lúdica como herramienta didáctica resulta innegable; bien sabemos que es el juego la base de todas las actividades de enseñanza-aprendizaje en la educación en los primeros años escolares. Este método didáctico ayuda a los estudiantes a desarrollar sus capacidades y a estimular su interés por descubrir las cosas, ya que se trata de una actividad que les divierte y de la que, por lo tanto, no quieren prescindir. Estas son las razones por las que a través de este proyecto, pretendemos elaborar una propuesta lúdica para fomentar el desarrollo del pensamiento lógico-matemático en los estudiantes de preescolar y primero de la Institución Educativa Liceo Antioqueño y elaborar una serie de actividades enfocadas a trabajar el tema en cuestión utilizando como recurso principal la lúdica para potenciar dichas habilidades

Caracterización anatomohisto-patológica de la placenta y correlación clínica en la enfermedad hipertensiva inducida por el embarazo en pacientes de Barranquilla (Colombia)

Resumen La enfermedad hipertensiva inducida por el embarazo (EHIE) es una de las causas más frecuentes de morbimortalidad materno-fetal. Se presenta en todas las poblaciones, con una incidencia general que varía entre el 5 y 7%. Este trabajo corresponde a un estudio descriptivo exploratorio de casos, aplicado a un grupo de pacientes que asistió a los servicios de maternidad de hospitales de Barranquilla en el período comprendido entre diciembre de 2003-junio de 2004, en el cual fue realizado un estudio de carácter clínico-anatomohistopatológico que comparó placentas de gestantes con diagnóstico clínico de preeclampsia con placentas controles. Las placentas fueron descritas en el hospital macroscópicamente siguiendo el protocolo de Bernischke y Driscol. Se realizaron 4 cortes de la placa corial, uno de la decidua, uno del rollo de membranas y uno del cordón umbilical, se fijaron en formol al 10%, incluidos en parafina y cortados a 6 micras y luego coloreados con hematoxilina-eosina, para su posterior análisis microscópico. Se concluyó que las alteraciones vasculares deciduales, el aumento del número de nódulos sinciciales, infartos, hemorragias, lesiones del circuito vascular-fetal, traducidas por necrosis hialina de la media de los vasos y presencia de células xantomatosas1 (aterosis aguda), son las alteraciones más sugestivas de la enfermedad hipertensiva del embarazo. Comprobando así lo descrito en la literatura. Palabras claves: Enfermedad hipertensiva inducida por el embarazo (EHIE), placenta, preeclampsia, embarazo. Abstract The hypertensive disease induced by the pregnancy (HDIP), is one of the most frequent causes of morbimortality materno-fetal. It presents displays on all the populations with a general in- cidence between 5 and 7 %. This work corresponds to an exploratory descriptive study of cases, applied to a group of patients that attended the services of maternity of hospitals in the period between December 2003 - June 2004, in which was made a analysis of character clinic-anatomohistopatologic which compare placentas of women with clinic diagnose of preeclampsia with placentas controls. The placents were described in hospital macroscopic following the protocol of Bernischke and Driscol next, they went including in formol to 10%. Cuts of plate corial, the decidua, the membrane roll were made and of the umbilical cord, they paid attention to formol to 10%, including in paraffin and cut to 6 microns and soon colored with hematoxilin-eosin, for its later analysis microscopic. This study demostrated alterations in the maternal fetal circuit, translated by hyaline necrosis of the average of the vases and the presence of xantomatosas cells (uteruses aged). Was observed proliferation of nodules sinciciales. The presence of fibrin of nitabuchi, deposits fibrinoides, infiltrated mononuclear, calcifications, thrombosis, necrosis fibrinode hyaline and hemorrhage endovascular profit to be observed as much in the placents cases as the controls but these were more significant in the cases. Injuries vascular cause hypoxia, which triggers events fisiopatolog- ics responsible for picture clinic. Key words: The hypertensive disease induced by the pregnancy (HDIP), placentas, preeclampsia, pregnancy

Delivery de comida saludable “Power Food”

En el presente trabajo de investigación se propone implementar un modelo de negocio de venta de comida saludable a través del delivery, deseamos tener un impacto positivo en nuestros consumidores, contribuyendo a su bienestar para que puedan ahorrar el tiempo que invierten en acudir a un restaurante para poder utilizarlo, por ejemplo, con sus familiares, amigos, seres queridos, en general. Nace POWER FOOD como un emprendimiento que pretende contribuir dentro lo que son los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible propuestos por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) en materia tanto de salud y bienestar, como de producción y consumo responsable. En POWERFOOD se ofrece comida saludable y fresca. El presente trabajo muestra la situación y contexto actual analizando distintos factores que influyen en su creación y desarrollo, realizando el respectivo estudio de mercado, donde se analiza y se proponen estrategias con un plan de marketing para la captación de clientes. Finalmente, se realiza un análisis financiero en el cual se busca demostrar la viabilidad del proyecto correspondiente a la necesidad de recursos, costos de producción, implementación entre otros. Asimismo, se menciona el análisis de sensibilidad donde se sustenta el retorno de la inversión del proyecto y demostrar la rentabilidad de este a los inversionistas.In this research work it is proposed to implement a business model for the sale of healthy food through delivery, we want to have a positive impact on our consumers, contributing to their well-being so that they can save the time they invest in going to a restaurant to be able to use it, for example, with your family, friends, loved ones, in general. POWER FOOD is born, an undertaking that aims to contribute to the sustainable development objectives proposed by the United Nations (UN) in terms of both health and well-being, as well as responsible production and consumption. Healthy and fresh food is offered at POWERFOOD. This work shows the current situation and context by analyzing different factors that influence its creation and development, going through the respective market study, where strategies are analyzed and proposed, as well as a marketing plan to attract customers. Finally, a financial analysis is carried out, in which it is sought to demonstrate the viability of the project in terms of resources, production costs, implementation costs, among others. Likewise, sensitivity analyzes are mentioned where the return on investment of the project is supported and the profitability of the project is demonstrated to investors.Trabajo de investigació

Disentangling the mechanisms shaping the surface ocean microbiota

BACKGROUND: The ocean microbiota modulates global biogeochemical cycles and changes in its configuration may have large-scale consequences. Yet, the underlying ecological mechanisms structuring it are unclear. Here, we investigate how fundamental ecological mechanisms (selection, dispersal and ecological drift) shape the smallest members of the tropical and subtropical surface-ocean microbiota: prokaryotes and minute eukaryotes (picoeukaryotes). Furthermore, we investigate the agents exerting abiotic selection on this assemblage as well as the spatial patterns emerging from the action of ecological mechanisms. To explore this, we analysed the composition of surface-ocean prokaryotic and picoeukaryotic communities using DNA-sequence data (16S- and 18S-rRNA genes) collected during the circumglobal expeditions Malaspina-2010 and TARA-Oceans. RESULTS: We found that the two main components of the tropical and subtropical surface-ocean microbiota, prokaryotes and picoeukaryotes, appear to be structured by different ecological mechanisms. Picoeukaryotic communities were predominantly structured by dispersal-limitation, while prokaryotic counterparts appeared to be shaped by the combined action of dispersal-limitation, selection and drift. Temperature-driven selection appeared as a major factor, out of a few selected factors, influencing species co-occurrence networks in prokaryotes but not in picoeukaryotes, indicating that association patterns may contribute to understand ocean microbiota structure and response to selection. Other measured abiotic variables seemed to have limited selective effects on community structure in the tropical and subtropical ocean. Picoeukaryotes displayed a higher spatial differentiation between communities and a higher distance decay when compared to prokaryotes, consistent with a scenario of higher dispersal limitation in the former after considering environmental heterogeneity. Lastly, random dynamics or drift seemed to have a more important role in structuring prokaryotic communities than picoeukaryotic counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The differential action of ecological mechanisms seems to cause contrasting biogeography, in the tropical and subtropical ocean, among the smallest surface plankton, prokaryotes and picoeukaryotes. This suggests that the idiosyncrasy of the main constituents of the ocean microbiota should be considered in order to understand its current and future configuration, which is especially relevant in a context of global change, where the reaction of surface ocean plankton to temperature increase is still unclear. Video Abstract

A MYB/ZML complex regulates wound-induced lignin genes in maize

Lignin is an essential polymer in vascular plants that plays key structural roles in vessels and fibers. Lignification is induced by external inputs such as wounding, but the molecular mechanisms that link this stress to lignification remain largely unknown. In this work, we provide evidence that three maize (Zea mays) lignin repressors, MYB11, MYB31, and MYB42, participate in wound-induced lignification by interacting with ZML2, a protein belonging to the TIFY family. We determined that the three R2R3-MYB factors and ZML2 bind in vivo to AC-rich and GAT(A/C) cis-elements, respectively, present in a set of lignin genes. In particular, we show that MYB11 and ZML2 bind simultaneously to the AC-rich and GAT(A/C) cis-elements present in the promoter of the caffeic acid O-methyl transferase (comt) gene. We show that, like the R2R3-MYB factors, ZML2 also acts as a transcriptional repressor. We found that upon wounding and methyl jasmonate treatments, MYB11 and ZML2 proteins are degraded and comt transcription is induced. Based on these results, we propose a molecular regulatory mechanism involving a MYB/ZML complex in which wound-induced lignification can be achieved by the derepression of a set of lignin genes.Research in D.C.-R.'s laboratory was supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (AGL2011-30545-C02-01), the “Xarxa de Referència de Biotecnologia” (XarBa) from the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO program (CSD2007-00036) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the SGR programs (SGR2009-GRC703). Research in M.P.'s laboratory was supported by two grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (BIO2009-13044-C02-01 and BIO2012-31860), the framework of the XarBa, and the SGR programs (SGR2009-GRC626) from the Autonomous Government of Catalonia. Research in R.S.'s laboratory was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Innovation to R.S. (BIO2013-44407). M.P. and R.S. received financial support from the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO program (CSD2007-00057-B) from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Research in the W.S. laboratory is supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Academia Sinica. Research in phenylpropanoid gene regulation in the laboratories of E.G. and J.G. was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (IOS-1125620). I.-C.V.-B. was supported by a Spanish FPI Fellowship (BES-2007-17316). J.E.S.-H. was supported by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise of the Generalitatde Catalunya, the European Social Fund FI Fellowship (AGAUR: FI-2006, Resolució EDU/3600/2006; FI-2008, Resolució IUE/2658/2007 and BE-DGR2010), and CRAG.Peer reviewe

Cambios en la microbiota intestinal y el metaboloma fecal en función del daño de la mucosa intestinal

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la 16ª Reunión de la Red Española de Bacterias Lácticas (RedBAL), celebrada en Madrid los días 11 y 12 de mayo de 2023.RTI2018-098288-B-I00, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, “Una manera de hacer Europa”; AYUD/2021/50981, Principado de Asturias; S.R.-S., contrato predoctoral Severo Ochoa (2021- BP20-012), Principado de Asturias; S.A., contrato postdoctoral del ISPA; N.S., contrato RYC2021-033521-I, MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 y European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.N

Pirfenidone Accelerates Wound Healing in Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Background. Diabetic foot ulcers are one disabling complication of diabetes mellitus. Pirfenidone (PFD) is a potent modulator of extracellular matrix. Modified diallyl disulfide oxide (M-DDO) is an antimicrobial and antiseptic agent. Aim. To evaluate efficacy of topical PFD + M-DDO in a randomized, double-blind trial versus ketanserin in the treatment of noninfected chronic DFU. Methods. Patients received PFD + M-DDO or ketanserin for 6 months. Relative ulcer volume (RUV) was measured every month; biopsies were taken at baseline and months 1 and 2 for histopathology and gene expression analysis for COL-1α, COL-4, KGF, VEGF, ACTA2 (α-SMA), elastin, fibronectin, TGF-β1, TGF-β3, HIF-1α, and HIF-1β. Results. Reduction of median RUV in the PFD + M-DDO group was 62%, 89.8%, and 99.7% at months 1–3 and 100% from months 4 to 6. Ketanserin reduced RUV in 38.4%, 56%, 60.8%, 94%, 94.8%, and 100% from the first to the sixth month, respectively. Healing score improved 4.5 points with PFD + M-DDO and 1.5 points with ketanserin compared to basal value. Histology analysis revealed few inflammatory cells and organized/ordered collagen fiber bundles in PFD + M-DDO. Expression of most genes was increased with PFD + M-DDO; 43.8% of ulcers were resolved using PFD + M-DDO and 23.5% with ketanserin. Conclusion. PFD + M-DDO was more effective than ketanserin in RUV reduction

Full-Exon Pyrosequencing Screening of BRCA Germline Mutations in Mexican Women with Inherited Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Hereditary breast cancer comprises 10% of all breast cancers. The most prevalent genes causing this pathology are BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer early onset 1 and 2), which also predispose to other cancers. Despite the outstanding relevance of genetic screening of BRCA deleterious variants in patients with a history of familial cancer, this practice is not common in Latin American public institutions. In this work we assessed mutations in the entire exonic and splice-site regions of BRCA in 39 patients with breast and ovarian cancer and with familial history of breast cancer or with clinical features suggestive for BRCA mutations by massive parallel pyrosequencing. First we evaluated the method with controls and found 41–485 reads per sequence in BRCA pathogenic mutations. Negative controls did not show deleterious variants, confirming the suitability of the approach. In patients diagnosed with cancer we found 4 novel deleterious mutations (c.2805_2808delAGAT and c.3124_3133delAGCAATATTA in BRCA1; c.2639_2640delTG and c.5114_5117delTAAA in BRCA2). The prevalence of BRCA mutations in these patients was 10.2%. Moreover, we discovered 16 variants with unknown clinical significance (11 in exons and 5 in introns); 4 were predicted as possibly pathogenic by in silico analyses, and 3 have not been described previously. This study illustrates how massive pyrosequencing technology can be applied to screen for BRCA mutations in the whole exonic and splice regions in patients with suspected BRCA-related cancers. This is the first effort to analyse the mutational status of BRCA genes on a Mexican-mestizo population by means of pyrosequencing