Distinct ecotypes within a natural haloarchaeal population enable adaptation to changing environmental conditions without causing population sweeps

Microbial communities thriving in hypersaline brines of solar salterns are highly resistant and resilient to environmental changes, and salinity is a major factor that deterministically influences community structure. Here, we demonstrate that this resilience occurs even after rapid osmotic shocks caused by a threefold change in salinity (a reduction from 34 to 12% salts) leading to massive amounts of archaeal cell lysis. Specifically, our temporal metagenomic datasets identified two co-occurring ecotypes within the most dominant archaeal population of the brines Haloquadratum walsbyi that exhibited different salt concentration preferences. The dominant ecotype was generally more abundant and occurred in high-salt conditions (34%); the low abundance ecotype always co-occurred but was enriched at salinities around 20% or lower and carried unique gene content related to solute transport and gene regulation. Despite their apparent distinct ecological preferences, the ecotypes did not outcompete each other presumably due to weak functional differentiation between them. Further, the osmotic shock selected for a temporal increase in taxonomic and functional diversity at both the Hqr. walsbyi population and whole-community levels supporting the specialization-disturbance hypothesis, that is, the expectation that disturbance favors generalists. Altogether, our results provide new insights into how intraspecies diversity is maintained in light of substantial gene-content differences and major environmental perturbations

Mapa bioclimático de Navarra

Por primera vez se han estudiado los Bioclimas de Navarra, basados en los datos de 121 estaciones metereológicas. Se han reconocido en nuestro territorio dos Macrobioclimas, tres Bioclimas y una variante bioclimática, cuya distribución se recoge en un mapa

MRI and CFS oligoclonal bands after autologus hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in MS

To analyze the MRI and CSF oligoclonal bands (OB) changes in patients with MS who underwent an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Background: AHSCT is evaluated as an alternative therapy in severe MS. In previous series of AHSCT for MS, data on MRI or OB outcome were limited or not provided. Methods: five patients with a median Kurtzke's EDSS score of 6.5, more than two attacks, and confirmed worsening of the EDSS in the previous year received an AHSCT. Hematopoietic stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (5 microg/kg/d). The graft was T cell depleted by positive CD 34+ selection. Conditioning regimen included BCNU (300 mg/m(2)), cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg in 3 days), and antithymocyte globulin (60 mg/kg in 4 days). MRI scans were scheduled at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and OB analysis at baseline and 3 and 12 months post-AHSCT. Results: four patients had a stable or improved EDSS after a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 12 to 24 months). The fifth patient's condition deteriorated during AHSCT. She partially improved and remained stable after month 3 after AHSCT. The baseline CSF OB persisted 1 year after AHSCT. MRI studies after AHSCT showed no enhanced T1 lesions and no new or enlarging T2 lesions. The median percentage change of T2 lesion load was -11.8% (range, -26.6 to -4.0%). All patients had a decrease of corpus callosum area at 1 year (median, 12.4%; range, 7.8% to 20.5%) that did not progress in the two patients evaluated at 2 years after AHSCT. Conclusions: although the persistence of CSF OB suggests the lymphocytes were not eliminated from the CNS, the follow-up MRI studies showed no enhanced T1 brain lesions and a reduction in the T2 lesion load that correlated with the clinical stabilization of MS after AHSCT

14-3-3 protein in the CSF as prognostic marker in early multiple sclerosis

Axonal damage probably occurs early in the evolution of MS. Five of 38 (13%) patients had a positive assay for the neuronal 14-3-3 protein in the CSF obtained at the first clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of MS. A positive 14-3-3 assay was the only independent predictor for a shorter time to conversion to clinical definite MS (risk ratio 4.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 15) and to reach an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) > or =2 at the end of follow-up (odds ratio 14.8; 95% CI 2.86 to 76.8). The detection of the 14-3-3 protein in the CSF at the first neurologic event suggestive of MS may be a useful predictor of short-term evolution

Novel, technical advance: a new grapevine transpiration prototype for grape berries and whole bunch based on relative humidity sensors

Grape berry transpiration is considered an important process during maturation, but scientific evidence is scarce. In the literature, there is only one report showing reduced maturation when bunch transpiration is artificially slowed down. Traditionally, grape berry transpiration has been measured by weighing grape berries on scale for a given time, correctly assuming that the weight reduction is due to water lost. Commercially available instruments adequate to measure gas exchange in small fruits are not suitable for whole grape berry bunch. Here, we present an open differential chamber system that can be used with isolated grape berries or alternatively with a whole grape berry bunch for measuring grape berry/bunch transpiration based on the use of relative humidity sensors from Vaisala. When used with isolated grape berries, open differential chamber system validation was made by using Tempranillo grape berries collected at different phenological stages. For the whole bunch transpiration prototype, two different validations were made. Firstly, measurements were made inserting inside the chamber an increasing number of Eppendorf tubes filled with water. Secondly, transpiration was measured in whole Tempranillo bunches sampled at different phenological stages. An important output of this work is that the fact of detaching the bunch from the plant did not change the bunch gas exchange rates at least for several hours

Breoghania corrubedonensis gen. nov. sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from a Galician beach (NW Spain) after the Prestige fuel oil spill, and emended description of the family Cohaesibacteraceae and the species Cohaesibacter gelatinilyticus

A Gram-negative bacterium designated UBF-P1T was isolated from an enrichment culture established in nutrient supplemented artificial sea water with pyrene as a carbon source, and inoculated with a marine fuel oil-degrading consortium obtained from a sand sample collected from the beach of Corrubedo (A Coruña, Galicia, Spain) after the Prestige accidental oil spill. Phylogenetic analysis based on the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence affiliated strain UBF-P1T with the family Cohaesibacteraceae, Cohaesibacter gelatinilyticus (DSM 18289T) being the closest relative species with 92% sequence similarity. Cells were irregular rods, motile, strictly aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive. Ubiquinone 10 was the major respiratory lipoquinone. The major polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine (PME), and phosphatidylcholine (PC). The major fatty acids detected were C18:1ω7c, C19:0 cycloω8c, and C16:0. The G+C content of strain UBF-P1T was 63.9mol%. The taxonomic comparison with the closest relative based on genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics supported that strain UBF-P1T could be classified as a novel genus and species, for which the name Breoghania corrubedonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this new taxon is UBF-P1T (CECT 7622, LMG 25482, DSM 23382). © 2010 Elsevier GmbH.The authors acknowledge the help of Jean Euzéby for the etymology and protologue improvements. This research was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (VEM2004-08-556, CGL2007-64199/BOS).Peer Reviewe

Breoghania corrubedonensis gen. nov. sp. nov., a novel alphaproteobacterium isolated from a Galician beach (NW Spain) after the Prestige fuel oil spill, and emended description of the family Cohaesibacteraceae and the species Cohaesibacter gelatinilyticus

A Gram-negative bacterium designated UBF-P1T was isolated from an enrichment culture established in nutrient supplemented artificial sea water with pyrene as a carbon source, and inoculated with a marine fuel oil-degrading consortium obtained from a sand sample collected from the beach of Corrubedo (A Coruña, Galicia, Spain) after the Prestige accidental oil spill. Phylogenetic analysis based on the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence affiliated strain UBF-P1T with the family Cohaesibacteraceae, Cohaesibacter gelatinilyticus (DSM 18289T) being the closest relative species with 92% sequence similarity. Cells were irregular rods, motile, strictly aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive. Ubiquinone 10 was the major respiratory lipoquinone. The major polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine (PME), and phosphatidylcholine (PC). The major fatty acids detected were C18:1ω7c, C19:0 cycloω8c, and C16:0. The G+C content of strain UBF-P1T was 63.9mol%. The taxonomic comparison with the closest relative based on genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics supported that strain UBF-P1T could be classified as a novel genus and species, for which the name Breoghania corrubedonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this new taxon is UBF-P1T (CECT 7622, LMG 25482, DSM 23382). © 2010 Elsevier GmbH.The authors acknowledge the help of Jean Euzéby for the etymology and protologue improvements. This research was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (VEM2004-08-556, CGL2007-64199/BOS).Peer Reviewe

Mapa bioclimático de Navarra

Por primera vez se han estudiado los Bioclimas de Navarra, basados en los datos de 121 estaciones metereológicas. Se han reconocido en nuestro territorio dos Macrobioclimas, tres Bioclimas y una variante bioclimática, cuya distribución se recoge en un mapa

Methodological advances: Using greenhouses to simulate climate change scenarios

11 Pags.- 1 Tabl.- 10 Figs. Available online 29 March 2014.Human activities are increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature. Related to this global warming, periods of low water availability are also expected to increase. Thus, CO2 concentration, temperature and water availability are three of the main factors related to climate change that potentially may influence crops and ecosystems. In this report, we describe the use of growth chamber – greenhouses (GCG) and temperature gradient greenhouses (TGG) to simulate climate change scenarios and to investigate possible plant responses. In the GCG, CO2 concentration, temperature and water availability are set to act simultaneously, enabling comparison of a current situation with a future one. Other characteristics of the GCG are a relative large space of work, fine control of the relative humidity, plant fertirrigation and the possibility of light supplementation, within the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) region and/or with ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light. In the TGG, the three above-mentioned factors can act independently or in interaction, enabling more mechanistic studies aimed to elucidate the limiting factor(s) responsible for a given plant response. Examples of experiments, including some aimed to study photosynthetic acclimation, a phenomenon that leads to decreased photosynthetic capacity under long-term exposures to elevated CO2, using GCG and TGG are reported.Authors thank Genoma España (within a collaborative agreement with Genome Canada (Grapegen Project)), the Innovine Project (Combining innovation in vineyard management and genetic diversity for a sustainable European viticulture (Call FP7-KBBE-2012–6, Proposal N° 311775-INNOVINE)), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [grant number BFU2008-01405/BFI and BFU2011-26989], Fundación Universitaria de Navarra (Plan de Investigación de la Universidad de Navarra), Caja Navarra and Gobierno de Aragón (A03 research group) for financial support, Asociación de Amigos de la Universidad de Navarra for PhD Thesis grants.Peer reviewe