Physiological stress responses to nonmimetic model brood parasite eggs : Leukocyte profiles and heat-shock protein Hsp70 levels

Obligate avian brood parasites lay their eggs in the nest of other bird species, known as hosts. Brood parasitism often imposes severe fitness costs on hosts, selecting for the evolution of effective antiparasitic defences, such as recognition and rejection of brood parasite eggs. Glucocorticoids have been recently found to mediate host physiological and behavioral adjustments in response to brood parasite eggs; however, it remains unclear whether brood parasitism triggers a general response involving multiple physiological elements. In this study, we experimentally investigated whether a salient brood parasitic stimulus (the presence of a nonmimetic model egg in the nest) causes physiological adjustments in adult Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) at immune (leukocyte profiles) and cellular (heat-shock protein Hsp70 synthesis) level. Also, we explored whether these physiological changes are mediated by variations in corticosterone (CORT) levels. We found that experimental brood parasitism caused an increase in heterophils and a decrease in lymphocytes, leading to higher heterophils and lymphocytes ratios in parasitized birds. Nevertheless, we did not find tradeoffs between immune function and CORT levels. Hsp70 synthesis was not affected by our experimental manipulation. Our findings provide evidence that brood parasite eggs trigger a general stress response in egg-rejecter hosts, including changes in cellular immune profiles.Peer reviewe

Anclaje y distribución de nanopartículas de oro sobre una monocapa de octanoditiol

II Encuentro sobre nanociencia y nanotecnología de investigadores y tecnólogos de la Universidad de Córdoba. NANOUC

An Immunochemical Approach to Detect the Quorum Sensing-Regulated Virulence Factor 2-Heptyl-4-Quinoline N-Oxide (HQNO) Produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Quorum sensing; VirulencePseudomonas aeruginosa; Detecció de quòrum; VirulènciaPseudomonas aeruginosa; Detección de quórum; VirulenciaUnderstanding quorum sensing (QS) and its role in the development of pathogenesis may provide new avenues for diagnosing, surveillance, and treatment of infectious diseases. For this purpose, the availability of reliable and efficient analytical diagnostic tools suitable to specifically detect and quantify these essential QS small molecules and QS regulated virulence factors is crucial. Here, we reported the development and evaluation of antibodies and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HQNO (2-heptyl-4-quinoline N-oxide), a QS product of the PqsR system, which has been found to act as a major virulence factor that interferes with the growth of other microorganisms. Despite the nonimmunogenic character of HQNO, the antibodies produced showed high avidity and the microplate-based ELISA developed could detect HQNO in the low nM range. Hence, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.60 ± 0.13 nM had been reached in Müeller Hinton (MH) broth, which was below previously reported levels using sophisticated equipment based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The HQNO profile of release of different Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates analyzed using this ELISA showed significant differences depending on whether the clinical isolates belonged to patients with acute or chronic infections. These data point to the possibility of using HQNO as a specific biomarker to diagnose P. aeruginosa infections and for patient surveillance. Considering the role of HQNO in inhibiting the growth of coinfecting bacteria, the present ELISA will allow the investigation of these complex bacterial interactions underlying infections. IMPORTANCE Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) as a communication mechanism that releases small signaling molecules which allow synchronizing a series of activities involved in the pathogenesis, such as the biosynthesis of virulence factors or the regulation of growth of other bacterial species. HQNO is a metabolite of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific QS signaling molecule PQS (Pseudomonas quinolone signal). In this work, the development of highly specific antibodies and an immunochemical diagnostic technology (ELISA) for the detection and quantification of HQNO was reported. The ELISA allowed profiling of the release of HQNO by clinical bacterial isolates, showing its potential value for diagnosing and surveillance of P. aeruginosa infections. Moreover, the antibodies and the ELISA reported here may contribute to the knowledge of other underlying conditions related to the pathology, such as the role of the interactions with other bacteria of a particular microbiota environment.This work has been funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2015-67476-R and RTI2018-096278-B-C21) and Fundación Marató de TV3 (TV32018-201825-30-31). The Nb4D group is a consolidated research group (Grup de Recerca) of the Generalitat de Catalunya and has support from the Departament d’Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació de la Generalitat de Catalunya (expedient: 2017 SGR 1441). CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation from 2013 to 2016, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, and CIBER Actions were financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund. Enrique J. Montagut and Juan Raya wish to thank the FPI fellowship (BES-2016-076496 and PRE2019-087542, respectively) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The Custom Antibody Service (CAbS) is acknowledged for its assistance and support in the production of HQNO antibodies

Efeito do NO2 atmosférico em Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae/Papilionoideae) no Campus do Vale da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

The vehicles are responsible for significant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Among them, NO2 has a huge importance in the formation of the atmospherics’ reactions that cause the photochemical smog, and can become hazard to the health, agriculture and materials in general, when they are in high concentrations. The objective of present work was to investigate the effect produced by the environmental concentrations of NO2 in Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Iraí, through the possible relation between the activity of the Nitrate Reductase (NR) enzyme and the atmospherical concentrations of NO2. The plants were exposed in three sample places, located at increasing distances of a very intense urban traffic way. The concentration of NO2 in the air was determined by the Griess-Saltzman method. The nearest point to the avenue presented the highest concentration (40.3g m-3). In the 20, 50 and 70 days of exposition, the plants were analyzed by the activity of their NR enzyme, total biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic activity (A/Ci response) and chlorophyll a and total. The concentrations of atmospheric NO2 found did not present a significant effect over the analyzed parameters.Os veículos automotores são responsáveis por emissões significativas de óxidos de nitrogênio (NOx). Dentre estes, o NO2 tem um papel importante na formação de reações na atmosfera causadoras de smog fotoquímico, podendo ser prejudicial à saúde, agricultura e materiais, quando em concentrações elevadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o efeito produzido pelas concentrações ambientais de NO2 em Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Iraí, por meio da possível relação entre a atividade da enzima Nitrato Redutase (NR) e as concentrações atmosféricas do NO2. As plantas foram expostas em três locais de amostragem, situados a distâncias crescentes de uma via de tráfego urbano intenso. A concentração de NO2 no ar foi determinada através do método de Griess-Saltzman. O ponto mais próximo da avenida apresentou a concentração mais elevada (40,3g m-3). Aos 20, 50 e 70 dias de exposição, as plantas foram analisadas quanto à atividade da enzima NR, biomassa total, área foliar, atividade fotossintética (curva de resposta à pressão parcial de CO2) e clorofila a e total. As concentrações encontradas de NO2 atmosférico não apresentaram efeito significativo sobre os parâmetros analisados

Survey on External Work Placements and the Bachelor’s Final Project in Social Work-2012

En el marco del Congreso de Escuelas de Trabajo Social celebrado en febrero de 2012 en Jaén, la Conferencia de Decanos/as y Directores/as de Facultades y Escuelas de Trabajo Social (CDTS) plantea la necesidad de conocer la situación de las Universidades respecto a las Prácticas externas del Grado y al Trabajo Fin de Grado, por lo que se propone la realización de un estudio, a través de encuesta, dirigido a las universidades que imparten el título. El informe de resultados se presenta en la reunión celebrada por la Conferencia en Santiago de Compostela el 1 de junio de 2012, donde se decide elaborar los estándares de Calidad relativos a las Prácticas Externas y a la Supervisión de dichas prácticas.At the last Congress of the Spanish Schools of Social Work organized in February 2012 in Jaen, the Board of Deans and Directors of Social Work (CDTS) suggested the need to know more about the current situation regarding the organization of Work Placements and the Final Degree Project at each University. The proposal was to send a questionnaire to each University in order to obtain the main data. The results of this study were presented at the Board’s meeting which took place in Santiago de Compostela on the 1st of June 2012. At this meeting it was decided to create a list of Quality Standards for work placements and for the supervision of these placements

Positive and negative motor signs of head motion in cerebral palsy: assessment of impairment and task performance

This paper analyzes the presence of positive and negative motor signs in people with cerebral palsy (CP). Positive motor signs are those that lead to involuntarily increased frequency or magnitude of muscle activity. Negative motor signs describe insufficient muscle activity or insufficient control of muscle activity. In this paper, a head-mounted alternative computer interface based on inertial technology was used to assess motor signs in seven users with CP. Task performance and control of posture was related to the impairment. There are no significant differences between users with CP and healthy control participants in the frequency domain of the head movement. Results suggest that this kind of motor disorders is not related to positive motor signs. Moreover, a control mode based on posture more than on movements is not optimum; an alternative control mode must be specially designed for users with poor postural control

Complementary Functions of Plant AP Endonucleases and AP Lyases during DNA Repair of Abasic Sites Arising from C:G Base Pairs

Abasic (apurinic/apyrimidinic, AP) sites are ubiquitous DNA lesions arising from spontaneous base loss and excision of damaged bases. They may be processed either by AP endonucleases or AP lyases, but the relative roles of these two classes of enzymes are not well understood. We hypothesized that endonucleases and lyases may be differentially influenced by the sequence surrounding the AP site and/or the identity of the orphan base. To test this idea, we analysed the activity of plant and human AP endonucleases and AP lyases on DNA substrates containing an abasic site opposite either G or C in different sequence contexts. AP sites opposite G are common intermediates during the repair of deaminated cytosines, whereas AP sites opposite C frequently arise from oxidized guanines. We found that the major Arabidopsis AP endonuclease (ARP) exhibited a higher efficiency on AP sites opposite G. In contrast, the main plant AP lyase (FPG) showed a greater preference for AP sites opposite C. The major human AP endonuclease (APE1) preferred G as the orphan base, but only in some sequence contexts. We propose that plant AP endonucleases and AP lyases play complementary DNA repair functions on abasic sites arising at C:G pairs, neutralizing the potential mutagenic consequences of C deamination and G oxidation, respectively

Circulating nitrate-nitrite reduces oxygen uptake for improving resistance exercise performance after rest time in well-trained CrossFit athletes

This study aimed to determine the effects of circulating nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) concentrations on resistance exercise performance, VO2 and biomarkers of muscle damage. Eleven well-trained male CrossFit athletes (29.2 ± 3.7 years, 78.9 ± 5.4 kg, 175.1 ± 6.3 cm) carried out a resistance exercise test after drinking 140 mL of beetroot juice (BJ) or placebo. The test consisted of repeating the same resistance exercise routine twice: wall ball shots plus full back squat with 3-min rest (1st routine) or without rest (2nd routine) between the two exercises. Higher NOx plasma levels were verified after BJ than placebo in the pretest and post-test (p < 0.001). A higher number of repetitions was observed after BJ intake compared to placebo in the full back squat exercise during the first routine (p = 0.004). A significantly reduced VO2 was detected after BJ intake compared to placebo during rest and full back squat execution in the first routine (p < 0.05). Plasma myoglobin concentrations were significantly increased with BJ compared to placebo (p = 0.036). These results showed that plasma NOx levels reduced VO2 after BJ intake during rest time. These reduced VO2 was a key factor for improving full back squat performance during the first routine