Relacions entre diverses espècies de Saxifraga dels Pirineus i de les muntanyes Catalanídiques

Vam seleccionar vuit espècies de la sèrie Pentadactyles, concretament, dues del Montseny-Guilleries (S. genesiana i S. vayredana), cinc de pirinenques (S. geranioides, S. moschata, S. intricata, S. pentadactylis i S. pubescens) i una (S. fragilis) de comuna als Pirineus i al sistema Catalanídic; com també alguns dels híbrids naturals entre aquestes. Per tal d'esbrinar-ne les relacions, ens hem centrat en quatre aspectes diferents: morfologia de l'aparell vegetatiu i de les flors; morfologia de detall i viabilitat del poŀlen i les llavors; quantificació del DNA nuclear i recomptes cromosòmics. Els resultats mostren que la quantitat de DNA discrimina bé els diferents tàxons entre ells i reflecteix adequadament la condició híbrida de les poblacions reputades com a tals. Els grans de poŀlen i les llavors també proporcionen caràcters discriminants. Pel que fa a la distinció entre S. geranioides i S. genesiana, el caràcter més decisori és l'ornamentació de les llavors, les d'aquella solament amb macropapiŀles, les de S. genesiana amb micropapiŀles i macropapiŀles. El nombre cromosòmic és el mateix en un i altre tàxon (2n = c. 44). Hi ha molts indicis que la planta del Montseny (S. genesiana) s'originà de poblacions de S. geranioides dels Pirineus orientals.Our study concerns eight species of the section Pentadactyles, namely two (S. genesiana and S. vayredana) endemic of the Montseny- Guilleries massif, five (S. geranioides, S. moschata, S. intricata, S. pentadactylis and S. pubescens) growing in the Pyrenees, and one (S. fragilis) existing in both mountain ranges (Pyrenees and Catalanidic); as well as several natural hybrids between some of these taxa. In order to know the relationships among all them, we take in account vegetative and floral parameters, pollen and seed morphology and viability, nuclear DNA amount and chromosome numbers. The results show DNA content to be conclusive to differentiate all taxa and to detect hybrid populations. Pollen grains and seeds give also discriminative characters. As regards the distinction between S. geranioides and S. genesiana, the sole important character is the seed ornamentation, consisting of micropapillae in the first taxon, while of mixed micropapillae and macropapillae in S. genesiana. The chromosomal number is the same (2n = c. 44) in both taxa. Results suggest that S. genesiana derived from a S. geranioides population of Eastern Pyrenee

Extra-intestinal malignancies in inflammatory bowel disease: Results of the 3rd ECCO Pathogenesis Scientific Workshop (III)

AbstractThe incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders (LD) is increasing in developed countries. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exposed to thiopurines are at additional risk of three specific forms of LD: Epstein-Barr-Virus-related post-transplant like LD, hepato-splenic T-cell lymphoma and post-mononucleosis lymphoproliferation. The risk of the two latter forms of LD can be reduced when considering specific immunosuppressive strategies in young males. It is still unclear whether the risk of uterine cervix abnormalities is increased in IBD women, irrespective of the use of immunosuppressants. Given the excess risk demonstrated in various other contexts of immunosuppression, it is currently recommended that all women with IBD, particularly those receiving immunosuppressants, strictly adhere to a screening program of cervical surveillance and undergo vaccination against HPV, when appropriate. Patients with IBD receiving immunosuppressants are at increased risk of skin cancers. The risk of non-melanoma skin cancer is notably increased in patients receiving thiopurines. Recent data suggest that the risk of melanoma is mildly increased in patients exposed to anti-TNF therapy. All IBD patients should adhere to a program of sun protection and dermatological surveillance, whose details should take into account the other non-IBD-related risk factors

Recent updates and developments to plant genome size databases

Two plant genome size databases have been recently updated and/or extended: the Plant DNA C-values database (http://data.kew.org/cvalues), and GSAD, the Genome Size in Asteraceae database (http://www.asteraceaegenomesize.com). While the first provides information on nuclear DNA contents across land plants and some algal groups, the second is focused on one of the largest and most economically important angiosperm families, Asteraceae. Genome size data have numerous applications: they can be used in comparative studies on genome evolution, or as a tool to appraise the cost of whole-genome sequencing programs. The growing interest in genome size and increasing rate of data accumulation has necessitated the continued update of these databases. Currently, the Plant DNA C-values database (Release 6.0, Dec. 2012) contains data for 8510 species, while GSAD has 1219 species (Release 2.0, June 2013), representing increases of 17 and 51%, respectively, in the number of species with genome size data, compared with previous releases. Here we provide overviews of the most recent releases of each database, and outline new features of GSAD. The latter include (i) a tool to visually compare genome size data between species, (ii) the option to export data and (iii) a webpage containing information about flow cytometry protocols

Descripció i quantificació de la microbiota intestinal associada al càncer colorectal

Colorectal Cancer is the main type of cancer in Spain. Up to 90% of the cases are sporadic in nature and its aetiology is still unclear. It is supposed to be a multi-factorial disease, where factors play an important role in the tumor onset and development, like microbiota. The main goal of this study was to describe and quantify the bacterial community of the intestinal mucosa associated to colorectal cancer patients. This work has revealed the existence of a bacterial dysbiosis in colorectal cancer patients, which is in agreement with previous research. Specific phylotypes previously descrived using stool samples and also new phylotypes were associated with this disease.Furthermore, streptococcal populations have been studied and also a case report from a patient who present an infection caused by E. faecalis at the same time of CRC diagnosed. Future research should focus on specific aspects of intestinal microbiota such as its interaction with the host, together with the mechanisms by which bacteria can affect on the onset of tumor in the colon.El càncer colorectal és el tipus de càncer més abundant a Espanya. Fins el 90% dels casos són d'origen espontani i la seva etiologia és desconeguda malgrat existeixen diversos factors que poden afectar en el desenvolupament tumoral, com la microbiota. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi ha estat analitzar la composició de la comunitat microbiana en mostres de mucosa intestinal quantitativa i qualitativament. Els resultats mostren una disbiosi en els malalts de càncer colorectal i una associació amb l'augment o disminució d'espècies bacterianes, així com l'augment de determinats filotips/gèneres. També s'ha analitzat les poblacions d'estreptococs i l'exposició d'un cas clínic d'un pacient amb càncer colorectal amb una infecció causada per E. faecalis. Estudis focalitzats en aspectes més específics de la relació hoste-microbiota, així com explorar nous mecanismes induïts per bacteris són necessaris per comprendre alguns aspectes de la carcinogènesis colorectal

Molecular and cytogenetic confirmation of the hybrid origin of Jacobaea ×mirabilis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), with nomenclatural notes on this name

5 p., fot., gráf.Jacobaea ×mirabilis is a hybrid taxon, formerly included in the genus Senecio, originating from J. adonidifolia and J. leucophylla as progenitors. It inhabits a few French mountain locations in the Pyrenees and in the Massif Central. In this paper, we characterize the hybrid and its parental taxa using molecular phylogenetic and cytogenetic (genome size) methods. These data are useful to confirm the hybrid status of the studied taxon. Additionally, we clarify nomenclatural issues connected with this species and fulfil the conditions for valid publication of its name in Jacobaea. The name of this hybrid is also lectotypified.Peer reviewe

Impact of dysploidy and polyploidy on the diversification of high mountain Artemisia (Asteraceae) and allies

14 p., tablas, gráficos, mapas -- Post-print del artículo publicado en Alpine Botany. Versión revisada y corregida.Molecular cytogenetics and the study of genome size have been used to understand evolutionary and systematic relationships in many species. However, this approach has seldom been applied to alpine plants. A group of dysploid–polyploid high mountain Artemisia species, distributed from the European Sierra Nevada to Central Asian mountains, through the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Caucasus, is a good model to consider changes at the genome and chromosome levels. These small perennial Artemisia, found frequently in isolated populations, present highly disjunct distributions. Some are considered rare or even endangered. Here, we show results for nine species and 31 populations, including genome size (2C-values), fluorochrome banding and fluorescent in situ hybridisation of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA). Significant intraspecific genome size variation is found in certain populations of A. eriantha and A. umbelliformis, but without taxonomic significance due to the absence of morphological or ecological differentiation. The number and position of GC-rich DNA bands is mostly coincidental with rDNA although there is an expansion of GC-rich heterochromatin in centromeres in some taxa. Ancestral character states have been reconstructed and x = 9 is inferred as the likely ancestral base number, while the dysploid x = 8 has appeared repeatedly during the evolution of Artemisia. On the basis of cytological observations, Robertsonian translocations are proposed for the appearance of dysploidy in the genus. A remarkable presence of x = 8-based species has been detected in the clade including high mountain species, which highlights the important role of dysploidy in the diversification of high mountain Artemisia. Conversely, polyploidy, though present in the alpine species, is more common in the rest of the genus, particularly in arctic species. Hypotheses on the mechanisms underpinning the relative abundance of dysploids and scarcity of polyploids in high mountain Artemisia are discussed.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competividad from the Government of Spain (CGL2010-22234-C02-01,02/BOS and CGL2013-49097-C2-2-P), the Generalitat de Catalunya, government of Catalonia (‘‘Ajuts a grups de recerca consolidats’’, 2009SGR0439 and 2014SGR514) and the IRBIO (Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat). GMdX benefited from an ADR grant from Universitat de Barcelona and SG from a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad from the Government of Spain.Peer reviewe

Relationships between several species of Saxifraga from the Pyrenees and the Catalanidic Mountains

[EN]Our study concerns eight species of the section Pentadactyles, namely two (S. genesiana and S. vayredana) endemic of the Montseny-Guilleries massif, five (S. geranioides, S. moschata, S. intricata, S. pentadactylis and S. pubescens) growing in the Pyrenees, and one (S.fragilis) existing in both mountain ranges (Pyrenees and Catalanidic); as well as several natural hybrids between some of these taxa. In order to know the relationships among all them, we take in account vegetative and floral parameters, pollen and seed morphology and viability, nuclear DNA amount and chromosome numbers. The results show DNA content to be conclusive to differentiate all taxa and to detect hybrid populations. Pollen grains and seeds give also discriminative characters. As regards the distinction between S. geranioides and S. genesiana, the sole important character is the seed ornamentation, consisting of micropapillae in the first taxon, while of mixed micropapillae and macropapillae in S. genesiana. The chromosomal number is the same (2n = c. 44) in both taxa. Results suggest that S. genesiana derived from a S. geranioides population of Eastern Pyrenees.Aquest estudi s’ha beneficiat d’un ajut a la recerca, concedit per la Secció de Ciències Biològiques de l’Institut d’Estudis Catalans; i d’una beca predoctoral de docència i recerca de la Universitat de Barcelona atorgada a un dels autors (G. M. de X.).Peer Reviewe

Phylogenetic and cytogenetic studies reveal hybrid speciation in Saxifraga subsect. Triplinervium (Saxifragaceae)

Hybridization has played an important role in Saxifraga evolution causing reticulation and a high number of described hybrids, but little is known about how hybrid speciation had occurred in the genus. We focus on a group of closely related Saxifraga species of the subsection Triplinervium from Pyrenees, the phylogenetic relationships of which remain unsolved. Trying to unmask cryptic (or ancient) hybridization processes, we analyze one nuclear (ITS) and three plastid regions (rpl32-trnL, trnS-trnG-trnG, and 3′trnV-ndhC), as well as nuclear DNA content. Pollen and seed morphology and viability studies were carried out to evaluate the status of spontaneous hybrids. DNA ploidy levels were also inferred for the two Madeiran taxa (of the same Saxifraga subsection), where recent hybridization processes are not expected. Molecular markers revealed multiple reticulation events, which, as suggested by DNA content and chromosome numbers, have occurred in homoploidy (without genome doubling after hybridization). In addition, autopolyploidy has occurred in some species or populations, especially in the Madeiran archipelago colonization. Chromosome number variation appears to be related to centric fission events, which also could lead to the formation of the B chromosomes inferred in some taxa. Spontaneous hybrids do not produce viable seeds and this could be due to differences in parental chromosome numbers. Hybrid speciation has probably been successful by chromosomal arrangements, which also generated new, more or less intermediate, chromosomal numbers in this group of taxa.This work was subsidized by MICINN (Spanish government; project CGL2010-22234-C02-01 and 02/BOS), AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya, project 2009SGR00439), and Secció de Ciències Biològiques (Institut d'Estudis Catalans). GMdX benefited from a predoctoral ADR grant (Universitat de Barcelona), AG-F benefited from a postdoctoral contract from CGL2010-22234-C02/BOS project.Peer Reviewe

Recent updates and developments to plant genome size databases

8 pág., gráf.Two plant genome size databases have been recently updated and/or extended: the Plant DNA C-values database (http://data.kew.org/cvalues), and GSAD, the Genome Size in Asteraceae database (http://www.asteraceaegenomesize.com). While the first provides information on nuclear DNA contents across land plants and some algal groups, the second is focused on one of the largest and most economically important angiosperm families, Asteraceae. Genome size data have numerous applications: they can be used in comparative studies on genome evolution, or as a tool to appraise the cost of whole-genome sequencing programs. The growing interest in genome size and increasing rate of data accumulation has necessitated the continued update of these databases. Currently, the Plant DNA C-values database (Release 6.0, Dec. 2012) contains data for 8510 species, while GSAD has 1219 species (Release 2.0, June 2013), representing increases of 17 and 51%, respectively, in the number of species with genome size data, compared with previous releases. Here we provide overviews of the most recent releases of each database, and outline new features of GSAD. The latter include (i) a tool to visually compare genome size data between species, (ii) the option to export data and (iii) a webpage containing information about flow cytometry protocols.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Research Council of Norway [196468/V40]; the Spanish government [CGL2010-22234-C02-01, -02/BOS]; Catalan government [2009SGR00439]; ‘Juan de la Cierva’ postdoctoral contracts [JCI-2011-10124 to S.G. and JCI-2010-9432 to O.H.]; A ‘Beatriu de Pino´ s’ postdoctoral contract [BP-2011-A-00292 to J.P.]; Universitat de Barcelona [ADR-2011-38 to G.M.]; Ministerio de Educacio´ n of the Spanish government [AP2008-03441 to D.V.]. Funding for open access charge: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; the Universitat de Barcelona [AO 161]; the Spanish government [CGL2010-22234-C02-01, -02/BOS] and the Catalan government [2009SGR00439].Peer reviewe