14 research outputs found
De novo transcriptome characterization of Ulva lacinulata under in situ emersion/immersion cyclic conditions.
The green algal genus Ulva Linnaeus (Ulvaceae, Ulvales, Chlorophyta) displays a worldwide
distribution in marine, freshwater and brackish ecosystems, and are really well adapted to
fluctuating natural environments. Despite increasing interest on the analysis of the
ecophysiological responses showed by organisms to face environmental shifts, knowledge of
the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying those responses are still scarce. These
responses determine the survival of organisms under pressure of different environmental
stresses and the regular ecosystem behaviour. In order to disentangle the genetic networks that
might regulate the adaptation mechanisms of these organisms in a changing environment, the
characterization of the de novo transcriptome from Ulva lacinulata derived from a coastal
ecosystems of southern Spain under in situ cyclic conditions of emersion/immersion by using
Next Generation Sequencing technologies was carried out. Transcriptome sequencing and
transcript-level expression analysis were performed by Illumina®NextSeq® 550 system
platform. A total of 100,251 unigenes were expressed during emersion/immersion process.
Based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), genes associated with different
biosynthetic metabolic pathways were annotated according to Gene Ontology and Kyoto
Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Orthology (KEGG). These findings shed light on the
molecular mechanisms underlying rapid and successful ecophysiological response of marine
macroalgae in cyclic tidal conditions.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
Cambios estacionales en la fotosíntesis y composición bioquímica en macroalgas árticas.
El aumento de temperatura en el Ártico tiene consecuencias en la fisiología de algas formadoras de
bosques marinos, cuya dinámica estacional se desconoce. En este estudio, se ha caracterizado la
respuesta fotosintética (mediante fluorescencia de la clorofila a, evolución de O2 y fijación de 14C) y la
composición bioquímica (pigmentos, carbohidratos solubles, proteínas solubles, lípidos y C y N totales)
de cinco especies comunes de Kongsfjorden (Svalbard).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
Intensive pharmacological immunosuppression allows for repetitive liver gene transfer with recombinant adenovirus in nonhuman primates
Repeated administration of gene therapies is hampered by host immunity toward vectors and transgenes. Attempts to circumvent antivector immunity include pharmacological immunosuppression or alternating different vectors and vector serotypes with the same transgene. Our studies show that B-cell depletion with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and concomitant T-cell inhibition with clinically available drugs permits repeated liver gene transfer to a limited number of nonhuman primates with recombinant adenovirus. Adenoviral vector–mediated transfer of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene was visualized in vivo with a semiquantitative transgene-specific positron emission tomography (PET) technique, liver immunohistochemistry, and immunoblot for the reporter transgene in needle biopsies. Neutralizing antibody and T cell–mediated responses toward the viral capsids were sequentially monitored and found to be repressed by the drug combinations tested. Repeated liver transfer of the HSV1-tk reporter gene with the same recombinant adenoviral vector was achieved in macaques undergoing a clinically feasible immunosuppressive treatment that ablated humoral and cellular immune responses. This strategy allows measurable gene retransfer to the liver as late as 15 months following the first adenoviral exposure in a macaque, which has undergone a total of four treatments with the same adenoviral vector
Seasonal changes in photosynthesis and biochemical composition in Arctic macroalgae undergoing a climatic transition.
Seasonal physiology of algal community in Kongsfjorden ecosystem is expected to be affected by Global Climate Change. We characterized the photosynthetic performance and biochemical composition of five common macroalgal species of Kongsfjorden, from early autumn 2016 to late summer 2017. The studied species were the ochrophytes Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta, the rhodophytes Phycodrys rubens and Ptilota gunneri, and the chlorophyte Monostroma aff. arcticum.
Fluorescence results endorsed higher values of maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and electron transport rates (ETRmax) in brown and green species. Decrease in ETRmax and saturation irradiance in brown and green algae in summer suggest more sensitivity to continuous radiation than in rhodophytes. Photosynthetic parameters from O2 measurements showed a better photosynthetic performance of ochrophytes in March, under increasing light conditions, while red and green species did in September. In general, 14C fixation at saturating light was higher in September, except for A. esculenta that was in March. The loss of photosynthetic capacity of macroalgae in summer could be attributed to a decrease in pigment concentration, except for M. arcticum. In August, brown and green species accumulated more soluble carbohydrates, while rhodophytes did in early autumn. In most species lipids presented minimum values in March and proteins did not show a clear pattern. In general, higher N and C contents in March and August, respectively, reveal a seasonal pattern in elemental composition, related to nutrient and light availability along the year. Seasonal responses are species-specific and likely related to their particular adaptive features to Arctic environment.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
Residues involved in the antigenic sites of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus S glycoprotein
The S glycoprotein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) has been shown to contain four major antigenic sites (A, B, C, and D). Site A is the main inducer of neutralizing antibodies and has been previously subdivided into the three subsites Aa, Ab, and Ac. The residues that contribute to these sites were localized by sequence analysis of 21 mutants that escaped neutralization or binding by TGEV-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and by epitope scanning (PEPSCAN). Site A contains the residues 538, 591, and 543, which are essential in the formation of subsites Aa, Ab, and Ac, respectively. In addition, mar mutant 1B.H6 with residue 586 changed had partially altered both subsite Aa and Ab, indicating that these subsites overlap in residue 586; i.e. this residue also is part of site A. The peptide 537-MKSGYGQPIA-547 represents, at least partially, subsite Ac which is highly conserved among coronaviruses. This site is relevant for diagnosis and could be of interest for protection. Other residues contribute to site B (residues 97 and 144), site C (residues 50 and 51), and site D (residue 385). The location of site D is in agreement with PEPSCAN results. Site C can be represented by the peptide 48-P-P/S-N-S-D/E-52 but is not exposed on the surface of native virus. Its accessibility can be modulated by treatment at pH >11 (at 4°) and temperatures >45°. Sites A and B are fully dependent on glycosylation for proper folding, while sites C and D are fully or partially independent of glycosylation, respectively. Once the S glycoprotein has been assembled into the virion, the carbohydrate moiety is not essential for the antigenic sites
Residues involved in the antigenic sites of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus S glycoprotein
The S glycoprotein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) has been shown to contain four major antigenic sites (A, B, C, and D). Site A is the main inducer of neutralizing antibodies and has been previously subdivided into the three subsites Aa, Ab, and Ac. The residues that contribute to these sites were localized by sequence analysis of 21 mutants that escaped neutralization or binding by TGEV-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and by epitope scanning (PEPSCAN). Site A contains the residues 538, 591, and 543, which are essential in the formation of subsites Aa, Ab, and Ac, respectively. In addition, mar mutant 1B.H6 with residue 586 changed had partially altered both subsite Aa and Ab, indicating that these subsites overlap in residue 586; i.e. this residue also is part of site A. The peptide 537-MKSGYGQPIA-547 represents, at least partially, subsite Ac which is highly conserved among coronaviruses. This site is relevant for diagnosis and could be of interest for protection. Other residues contribute to site B (residues 97 and 144), site C (residues 50 and 51), and site D (residue 385). The location of site D is in agreement with PEPSCAN results. Site C can be represented by the peptide 48-P-P/S-N-S-D/E-52 but is not exposed on the surface of native virus. Its accessibility can be modulated by treatment at pH >11 (at 4°) and temperatures >45°. Sites A and B are fully dependent on glycosylation for proper folding, while sites C and D are fully or partially independent of glycosylation, respectively. Once the S glycoprotein has been assembled into the virion, the carbohydrate moiety is not essential for the antigenic sites
Kongsfjorden Ecosystem - a Nitrogen Sink during the Arctic Summer.
Kongsfjorden nitrogen budget is dominated by exchanges of nitrate with the sea.
The fjord is a nitrogen and carbon sink during summer.
The C:N molar ratio of the Source-Sink term is 7.3, which is close to the expected Redfield ratio (6.6).
Negative nutrient and carbon sink indicate autotrophic metabolism.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
JNK3 Overexpression in the Entorhinal Cortex Impacts on the Hippocampus and Induces Cognitive Deficiencies and Tau Misfolding
c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are a family of protein kinases activated by a myriad of stimuli consequently modulating a vast range of biological processes. In human postmortem brain samples affected with Alzheimer's disease (AD), JNK overactivation has been described; however, its role in AD onset and progression is still under debate. One of the earliest affected areas in the pathology is the entorhinal cortex (EC). Noteworthy, the deterioration of the projection from EC to hippocampus (Hp) point toward the idea that the connection between EC and Hp is lost in AD. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to address if JNK3 overexpression in the EC could impact on the hippocampus, inducing cognitive deficits. Data obtained in the present work suggest that JNK3 overexpression in the EC influences the Hp leading to cognitive impairment. Moreover, proinflammatory cytokine expression and Tau immunoreactivity were increased both in the EC and in the Hp. Therefore, activation of inflammatory signaling and induction of Tau aberrant misfolding caused by JNK3 could be responsible for the observed cognitive impairment. Altogether, JNK3 overexpression in the EC may impact on the Hp inducing cognitive dysfunction and underlie the alterations observed in AD
JNK3 overexpression in the entorhinal cortex impacts on the hippocampus and induces cognitive deficiencies and Tau misfolding
c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are a family of proteinkinasesactivated by a myriad of stimuli consequently modulating a vast rangeof biological processes. In human postmortem brain samples affectedwith Alzheimer ' s disease (AD), JNK overactivation has beendescribed; however, its role in AD onset and progression is stillunder debate. One of the earliest affected areas in the pathologyis the entorhinal cortex (EC). Noteworthy, the deterioration of theprojection from EC to hippocampus (Hp) point toward the idea thatthe connection between EC and Hp is lost in AD. Thus, the main objectiveof the present work is to address if JNK3 overexpression in the ECcould impact on the hippocampus, inducing cognitive deficits. Dataobtained in the present work suggest that JNK3 overexpression in theEC influences the Hp leading to cognitive impairment. Moreover, proinflammatorycytokine expression and Tau immunoreactivity were increased both inthe EC and in the Hp. Therefore, activation of inflammatory signalingand induction of Tau aberrant misfolding caused by JNK3 could be responsiblefor the observed cognitive impairment. Altogether, JNK3 overexpressionin the EC may impact on the Hp inducing cognitive dysfunction andunderlie the alterations observed in AD