A One-Week Laboratory Practice: Introducing the Students to the Study of Plant Biochemistry and Signal Transduction

This report describes a one-week laboratory practice for students. An approach to study a Calcium dependent protein kinase (CDPK) involved in signal transduction processes in potato plants, is undertaken. A number of basic biochemical techniques including the partial purification of a protein kinase, protein kinase activity assays, protein determination, SDS-PAGE analysis of phosphorylated proteins and Western blot assays are described.Fil: Ulloa, Rita Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Raices, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Tellez, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Финно-угорские народы в контексте российского федерализма

© 2017 Porte et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a new and revolutionary identification method for microorganisms and has recently been introduced into clinical microbiology in many industrialized countries in Europe and North America. Objectives Our study aimed to compare the performance and practicality of two commercial MALDITOF MS platforms in a head-to head manner at a routine laboratory in Chile. Methods During a five-month period in 2012-13, the diagnostic efficiency (correct identification rate) and agreement between Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek MS (bioMerieux) was compared in a parallel manner to conventional identification including genotypic analysis fo

La productividad en la empresa de la industria de la transformación

La productividad empresarial es uno de los factores claves para el éxito de un negocio. Cualquier empresa no importa su giro, su tamaño o su cometido, tiene como finalidad principal producir lo máximo y mejor posible. Esforzarse por lograr la máxima eficiencia y eficacia en cada uno de los procesos de la organización, debe ser una prioridad. La productividad es un indicador crucial, que debe medirse en forma objetiva y rigurosa y todas las empresas deberían de ser capaces de saber exactamente cómo es su productividad, en qué se basa esta y en qué fallan. El objetivo de la presente investigación expone la medición que se obtuvo de la productividad de una empresa mediana en el sector de la transformación, que desde hace un año presenta un grado considerable deficiente en la productividad lo que conlleva a otras dificultades con la producción, por ello resulto relévate utilizar los criterios básicos que las organizaciones necesitan para poder lograr la calidad y por ende la productividad. Atraves de los resultados obtenidos se realizo un análisis, por lo cual se pudo establecer un modelo metodológico de mejoramiento para la organización, con un enfoque sistémico, esto quiere decir que estarán involucradas todas las partes que conforman a la empresa, en la implantación de dicha propuesta, logrando con ello que su productividad sea la que verdaderamente debe alcanzar, con ello se ubicara en el nivel de competitividad que debe de tener según los recursos involucrados. Para lograr una buena productividad empresarial es imprescindible una buena gestión de los recurso de la misma, con ello tambien se engloba un conjunto de técnicas que se aplican al conjunto de una empresa, hay que tomar en cuenta que el objetivo de la gestión de los recursos es mejorar la productividad, sostenibilidad y competititividad. Un logro importante en la investigación fue integrar significativamente al personal de la organización en la cultura de la medición con su participación, y por lo cual se considera que este es un inicio relevante para la empresa estudiada

Effective antimicrobial materials based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles

La versión de editor/PDF no puede utilizarse. Debe enlazar a la versión de editor con DOI. Author's post-print must be released with a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License.[EN] Effective antimicrobial polymeric nanocomposites were prepared with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and zinc oxide nanoparticles by melt compounding. These nanoparticles (~17 nm) obtained by the sol¿gel method, were used both as-synthesized and modified organically with oleic acid (Mod-ZnO). Young¿s modulus increased ~15 and 18% for LDPE/ZnO and LDPE/Mod-ZnO, respectively, compared to neat LDPE. When these composites were irradiated with white light, they showed an increase with nanoparticle incorporation, and the antimicrobial properties against E. coli were ~96¿99%. The release of the Zn cations was related to the antimicrobial properties. These nanocomposites are attractive for use as food packaging without external irradiation.Financial support provided by the Innovation Found for Competitiveness of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) under Grant 13CEI2-21839 is gratefully acknowledged.Rojas, K.; Canales, D.; Amigo, N.; Montoille, L.; Cament, A.; Rivas, LM.; Gil-Castell, O.... (2019). Effective antimicrobial materials based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Composites Part B Engineering. 172:173-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.05.054S17317817

Community-acquired pneumonia in Chile: the clinical relevance in the detection of viruses and atypical bacteria

Background Adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a relevant worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality, however the aetiology often remains uncertain and the therapy is empirical. We applied conventional and molecular diagnostics to identify viruses and atypical bacteria associated with CAP in Chile.\ud \ud Methods We used sputum and blood cultures, IgG/IgM serology and molecular diagnostic techniques (PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR) for detection of classical and atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumoniae) and respiratory viruses (adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenzavirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus) in adults >18 years old presenting with CAP in Santiago from February 2005 to September 2007. Severity was qualified at admission by Fine's pneumonia severity index.\ud \ud Results Overall detection in 356 enrolled adults were 92 (26%) cases of a single bacterial pathogen, 80 (22%) cases of a single viral pathogen, 60 (17%) cases with mixed bacterial and viral infection and 124 (35%) cases with no identified pathogen. Streptococcus pneumoniae and RSV were the most common bacterial and viral pathogens identified. Infectious agent detection by PCR provided greater sensitivity than conventional techniques. To our surprise, no relationship was observed between clinical severity and sole or coinfections.\ud \ud Conclusions The use of molecular diagnostics expanded the detection of viruses and atypical bacteria in adults with CAP, as unique or coinfections. Clinical severity and outcome were independent of the aetiological agents detected.This work was supported by the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (FONDECYT) (grant number 1050734); and the Fondo Nacional de Investigación en Salud (FONIS) (grant number SA04 I 2084)

StCDPK1 is expressed in potato stolon tips and is induced by high sucrose concentration

StCDPK1 encodes a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) from Solanum tuberosum, which is transiently induced upon tuberization in swelling stolons. In situ hybridization determined that StCDPK1 mRNA is localized in the apical dome of tuberizing stolon tips, close to the region where sucrose was reported to accumulate. The expression of StCDPK1, and other tuber-specific genes was enhanced when in vitro-cultured potato plants were transferred to high sucrose or high sorbitol containing media. Glucose, fructose or a mixture of both showed no effect on CDPK expression. Okadaic acid blocked sucrose-inducible gene expression, suggesting that phosphatases from the PP1/PP2A family could also participate in the regulation of StCDPK1 and other tuberization-related genes.Fil: Raíces, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Ulloa, Rita Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: MacIntosh, Gustavo C.. Delaware Biotechnology Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Crespi, Martín. Institut des Sciences Vegetales; FranciaFil: Tellez, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Regulation of CDPK isoforms during tuber development

CDPK activities present during tuber development were analysed. A high CDPK activity was detected in the soluble fraction of early stolons and a lower one was detected in soluble and particulate fractions of induced stolons. The early and late CDPK activities displayed diverse specificity for in vitro substrates and different subcellular distribution. Western blot analysis revealed two CDPKs of 55 and 60 kDa that follow a precise spatial and temporal profile of expression. The 55 kDa protein was only detected in early-elongating stolons and the 60 kDa one was induced upon stolon swelling, correlating with early and late CDPK activities. A new member of the potato CDPK family, StCDPK3, was identified from a stolon cDNA library. Gene specific RT-PCR demonstrated that this gene is only expressed in early stolons, while the previously identified StCDPK1 is expressed upon stolon swelling. This expression profile suggests that StCDPK3 could correspond to the 55 kDa isoform while StCDPK1 could encode the 60 kDa isoform present in swelling stolons. StCDPK1 has myristoylation and palmitoylation consensus possibly involved in its dual intracellular localization. Transient expression studies with wild-type and mutated forms of StCDPK1 fused to GFP were used to show that subcellular localization of this isoform is controlled by myristoylation and palmitoylation. Altogether, our data suggest that sequential activation of StCDPK3 and StCDPK1 and the subcellular localisation of StCDPK1 might be critical regulatory steps of calcium signalling during potato tuber development.Fil: Raíces, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Gargantini, Pablo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Chinchilla, Delphine. Institut des Sciences Végétales; FranciaFil: Crespi, Martín. Institut des Sciences Végétales; FranciaFil: Tellez, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Ulloa, Rita Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Sucrose increases calcium-dependent protein kinase and phosphatase activities in potato plants

The effect of sucrose on tuber formation, calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and phosphatase activities was analysed using in vitro cultured potato plants. In short treatments, sucrose induced CDPK and phosphatase activities. In long treatments, sucrose induced tuber formation in the absence of other tuber inducing stimuli. Sorbitol caused a minor increase in CDPK activity and affected plant morphology but did not induce tuber development. The addition of the protein kinase inhibitor Staurosporine precluded sucrose-induced tuberization. Altogether, our results suggest that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events are involved in sucrose-induced tuber development.Fil: Raices, Marilina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: MacIntosh, G. C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Ulloa, Rita Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Gargantini, Pablo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Vozza, Nicolas Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Tellez, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Changes in lignin biosynthesis and monomer composition in response to benzothiadiazole and root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita infection in tomato

Benzothiadiazole (BTH) acts as a priming agent in plant defence leading to a reduction in penetration and development of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in susceptible tomato roots. Changes in lignin biosynthesis in the susceptible tomato cv. Roma following nematode infection and/or BTH treatment were investigated in comparison to the resistant cv. Rossol. Both untreated and BTH-treated susceptible infected roots (galls) showed an increased level of expression of lignin synthesis-related genes (PAL, C4H, HCT and F5H) at early times during infection (2-4 days post inoculation). Peroxidase (soluble and cell-wall bound, POX) enzyme activities increased after inoculation with M. incognita and the priming effect of BTH treatment was evident at later stages of infection (7 days post inoculation). As expected, the induction of PAL and POXs and lignin synthesis-related genes was faster and greater in resistant roots after infection. Histochemical analysis revealed accumulation of higher lignin levels at later infection stages in BTH-treated galls compared to untreated ones. Furthermore, the monomer composition of lignin indicated a different composition in guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units in BTH-treated galls compared to untreated galls. The increase in G units made G/S ratio similar to that in the resistant genotype. Overall, lignin played a critical role in tomato defence to M. incognita in response to BTH