142 research outputs found

    La "rimaya". Tiro con arco en el mundo árabe-islámico medieval

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    30 p. -- Bibliogr.: p. 29-30Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado muestra un análisis del origen y el desarrollo del tiro con arco en el mundo árabe-islámico, también conocido como la rimaya, en época medieval. Nos centraremos en analizar los datos recuperados a través de la bibliografía encontrada sobre el tema y de varios documentos escritos datados más o menos en la época que tratamos, para así estudiar la importancia y el significado de este deporte para la comunidad islámica así como la técnica empleada. En principio no parece haber gran interés sobre ello en comparación a otros aspectos de la historiografía. No obstante, aunque en principio puede mostrarse como un tema puramente técnico, esconde muchas cuestiones interesantes con las que podemos examinar diferentes aspectos de la cultura, el ámbito militar, la religión y la economía de una sociedad, además del tiro con arco per se. Trataremos de dar respuesta a varias cuestiones hablando sobre el origen de la rimaya y de su desarrollo, centrándonos en descubrir quiénes eran los grandes maestros del tiro con arco árabe y quiénes fueron aquellos expertos que hablaron y escribieron sobre ello en su época. Trataremos también acerca del entrenamiento de los jóvenes arqueros y de las técnicas empleadas haciendo una comparación con las utilizadas en Europa occidental. A continuación, hablaremos sobre los distintos tipos de arcos utilizados en la época medieval, el equipamiento necesario por los expertos y las técnicas aplicadas dependiendo del contexto y objetivo del tiro, ya fuera militar o destinado al entretenimiento. Será importante detenernos a evaluar cuál es el valor simbólico o ritual que pudo llegar a tener el tiro con arco en su día y la relación que pudieron tener y tienen las mujeres con la práctica del deporte en cuestión. Para finalizar, concluiremos con el caso de al-Andalus y en qué manera se parecía o distaba del resto de territorios bajo el dominio musulmán. Lo que se pretende así es destacar y estudiar la importancia del tiro con arco en la comunidad islámica, estudiando en qué aspectos afectaba a la sociedad, la economía y la vida religiosa a partir de las fuentes consultadas

    Egg Production in Poultry Farming Is Improved by Probiotic Bacteria

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    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious threats for human health in the near future. Livestock has played an important role in the appearance of antibioticresistant bacteria, intestinal dysbiosis in farming animals, or the spread of AMR among pathogenic bacteria of human concern. The development of alternatives like probiotics is focused on maintaining or improving production levels while diminishing these negative effects of antibiotics. To this end, we supplied the potential probiotic Enterococcus faecalis UGRA10 in the diet of laying hens at a final concentration of 108 Colony Forming Units per gram (CFU/g) of fodder. Its effects have been analyzed by: (i) investigating the response of the ileum and caecum microbiome; and (ii) analyzing the outcome on eggs production. During the second half of the experimental period (40 to 76 days), hens fed E. faecalis UGRA10 maintained egg production, while control animals dropped egg production. Supplementation diet with E. faecalis UGRA10 significantly increased ileum and caecum bacterial diversity (higher bacterial operational taxonomic unit richness and Faith’s diversity index) of laying hens, with animals fed the same diet showing a higher similarity in microbial composition. These results point out to the beneficial effects of E. faecalis UGRA10 in egg production. Future experiments are necessary to unveil the underlying mechanisms that mediate the positive response of animals to this treatment.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (Junta de Andalucía), the University of Granada- CEI BioTic (Project No. P-BS-37), and the INTERCONECTA program (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). JP-S was funded by Junta de Andalucia (Proyectos de Excelencia 2011- RNM-8147)

    LAB Bacteriocins Controlling the Food Isolated (Drug-Resistant) Staphylococci

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    Staphylococci are a group of microorganisms that can be often found in processed food and theymight pose a risk for human health. In this study we have determined the content of staphylococci in 7 different fresh goat-milk cheeses. These bacteria were present in all of them, ranging from 103 to 106 CFU/g based on growth on selective media. Thus, a set of 97 colonies was randomly picked for phenotypic and genotypic identification. They could be clustered by RAPD-PCR in 10 genotypes, which were assigned by 16S rDNA sequencing to four Staphylococcus species: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, S. simulans, and S. xylosus. Representative strains of these species (n = 25) were tested for antibiotic sensitivity, and 11 of them were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics tested, including erythromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and oxacillin. We also tested two bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), namely the circular bacteriocin AS-48 and the lantibiotic nisin. These peptides have different mechanism of action at the membrane level. Nevertheless, both were able to inhibit staphylococci growth at low concentrations ranging between 0.16–0.73μM for AS-48 and 0.02–0.23μM for nisin, including the strains that displayed antibiotic resistance. The combined effect of these bacteriocins were tested and the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was calculated. Remarkably, upon combination, they were active at the low micromolar range with a significant reduction of the minimal inhibitory concentration. Our data confirms synergistic effect, either total or partial, between AS-48 and nisin for the control of staphylococci and including antibiotic resistant strains. Collectively, these results indicate that the combined use of AS-48 and nisin could help controlling (pathogenic) staphylococci in food processing and preventing antibiotic-resistant strains reaching the consumer in the final products.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2013-48971-C2-1-R project), including funds from the European Regional Development Fundings (ERDF) and the Research Group General (BIO160, UGR

    Circular and L50-like leaderless enterocins share a common ABC-transporter immunity gene

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    Microbes live within complex communities of interacting populations, either free-living in waters and soils or symbionts of animals and plants. Their interactions include the production of antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) to antagonize competitors, and these producers must carry their own immunity gene for self-protection. Whether other coexisting populations are sensitive or resistant to the bacteriocin producer will be key for the population dynamics within the microbial community. The immunity gene frequently consists of an ABC transporter to repel its own bacteriocin but rarely protects against a nonrelated bacteriocin. A case where this cross-resistance occurs mediated by a shared ABC transporter has been shown between enterocins MR10A/B and AS-48. The first is an L50-like leaderless enterocin, while AS-48 is a circular enterocin. In addition, L50-like enterocins such as MR10A/B have been found in E. faecalis and E. faecium, but AS-48 appears only in E. faecalis. Thus, using the ABC transporter of the enterocin MR10A/B gene cluster of Enterococcus faecalis MRR10-3 as a cross-resistance model, we aimed to unravel to what extent a particular ABC transporter can be shared across multiple bacteriocinogenic bacterial populations. To this end, we screened the MR10A/B-ABC transporters in available microbial genomes and analyzed their sequence homologies and distribution. Overall, our main findings are as follows: (i) the MR10A/B-ABC transporter is associated with multiple enterocin gene clusters; (ii) the different enterocins associated with this transporter have a saposin-like fold in common; (iii) the Mr10E component of the transporter is more conserved within its associated enterocin, while the Mr10FGH components are more conserved within the carrying species. This is the least known component of the transporter, but it has shown the greatest specificity to its corresponding enterocin. Bacteriocins are now being investigated as an alternative to antibiotics; hence, the wider or narrower distribution of the particular immunity gene should be taken into account for clinical applications to avoid the selection of resistant strains. Further research will be needed to investigate the mechanistic interactions between the Mr10E transporter component and the bacteriocin as well as the specific ecological and evolutionary mechanisms involved in the spread of the immunity transporter across multiple bacteriocins.Junta de Andalucía A-BIO-083-UGR18, BIO 309Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PEJ2018-003019-

    Influencia de las estrategias de distribución en el posicionamiento de la marca Virutex en la ciudad de Estelí durante el segundo Semestre del año 2022

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    Los mercados están en constantes movimientos y cambios donde es de gran importancia realizar investigaciones y análisis, sobre marca, estrategias y posicionamiento. En este caso nuestro objeto de estudio es la influencia de estrategias de distribución en el posicionamiento de la marca Virutex en la cuidad de Estelí en el primer semestre en el año 2022. La marca Virutex es una marca chilena que distribuye materiales de limpieza para el hogar, en Nicaragua el encargado de distribución es comercial franklin López S, A. La siguiente investigación contiene introducción, antecedentes de investigaciones relacionadas tanto nacionales como internacionales , planteamiento del problema en el cual la marca Virutex tiene una baja participación en el mercado debido a que no está presente en todos los canales de distribución, y justificación de la investigación donde su importancia radica en que es una guía para la toma de decisiones empresariales brindando información sobre su participación en el mercado, todo esto con el objetivo de centrar las bases del trabajo de investigación. En él se establecieron los objetivos propuestos a alcanzar con la indagación en la información de la marca y consta de un marco teórico el cual enriquece de información y conceptos bases para la investigación. Se aplicaron instrumentos como encuesta y entrevista para una mayor recopilación de información y datos Los resultados que se obtuvieron en esta investigación son los siguientes, la marca es reconocida por la amplia gama de productos y la calidad de ellos, factores que influyen en la decisión de compra

    IRG and GBP host resistance factors target aberrant, ‘‘Non-self’’ vacuoles characterized by the missing of ‘‘Self’’ IRGM proteins

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    Interferon-inducible GTPases of the Immunity Related GTPase (IRG) and Guanylate Binding Protein (GBP) families provide resistance to intracellular pathogenic microbes. IRGs and GBPs stably associate with pathogen-containing vacuoles (PVs) and elicit immune pathways directed at the targeted vacuoles. Targeting of Interferon-inducible GTPases to PVs requires the formation of higher-order protein oligomers, a process negatively regulated by a subclass of IRG proteins called IRGMs. We found that the paralogous IRGM proteins Irgm1 and Irgm3 fail to robustly associate with ‘‘non-self’’ PVs containing either the bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis or the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Instead, Irgm1 and Irgm3 reside on ‘‘self’’ organelles including lipid droplets (LDs). Whereas IRGM-positive LDs are guarded against the stable association with other IRGs and GBPs, we demonstrate that IRGM-stripped LDs become high affinity binding substrates for IRG and GBP proteins. These data reveal that intracellular immune recognition of organelle-like structures by IRG and GBP proteins is partly dictated by the missing of ‘‘self’’ IRGM proteins from these structures.Fil: Haldar, Arun K.. University Of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Saka, Hector Alex. University Of Duke; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Piro, Anthony S.. University Of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Dunn, Joe Dan. University Of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Henry, Stanley C.. University Of Duke; Estados Unidos. Veteran Affairs Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Taylor, Gregory A.. University Of Duke; Estados Unidos. Veteran Affairs Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Frickel, Eva M.. National Institute for Medical Research; Reino UnidoFil: Valdivia, Raphael H.. University Of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Coers, Jörn. University Of Duke; Estados Unido

    Special structures of hoopoe eggshells enhance the adhesion of symbionts-carrying uropygial secretion to prevent embryo infection

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    This is the pre-peer-reviewed version of the following article: Martín-Vivaldi, M.; et al. Special structures of hoopoe eggshells enhance the adhesion of symbionts-carrying uropygial secretion to prevent embryo infection. Journal of Animal Ecology, (2014). which has been published in final form at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.12243/abstract1. Animals live in a bacterial world, and detecting and exploring adaptations favouring mutualistic relationships with antibiotic-producing bacteria as a strategy to fight pathogens are of prime importance for evolutionary ecologists. 2. Uropygial secretion of European hoopoes (Upupa epops, Linnaeus) contains antimicrobials from mutualistic bacteria that may be used to prevent embryo infection. Here, we investigated the microscopic structure of hoopoe eggshells looking for special features favouring the adhesion of antimicrobial uropygial secretions. 3. We impeded female access to the uropygial gland and compared microscopic characteristics of eggshells, bacterial loads of eggs and of uropygial secretion, and hatching success of experimental and control females. Then, we explored the link between microbiological characteristics of uropygial secretion and these of eggs of hoopoes, as well as possible fitness benefits. 4. The microscopic study revealed special structures in hoopoes' eggshells (crypts). The experimental prevention of females' gland access demonstrated that crypts are filled with uropygial secretion and that symbiotic enterococci bacteria on the eggshells come, at least partially, from those in the female's uropygial gland. Moreover, the experiment resulted in a higher permeability of eggshells by several groups of bacteria and in elimination of the positive relationships detected for control nests between hatching success and density of symbiotic bacteria, either in the uropygial secretion of females or on the eggshell. 5. The findings of specialized crypts on the eggshells of hoopoes, and of video-recorded females smearing secretion containing symbiotic bacteria at a high density onto the eggshells strongly support a link between secretion and bacteria on eggs. Moreover, the detected associations between bacteria and hatching success suggest that crypts enhancing the adhesion of symbiont-carrying uropygial secretion likely protect embryos against infections.Support by funding was provided by Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, European funds (FEDER) (CGL2009-14006, CGL2010-19233-C03-01 and CGL2010-19233-C03-03) and Junta de Andalucía (P09-RNM-4557)

    Seasonal and Sexual Differences in the Microbiota of the Hoopoe Uropygial Secretion

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    The uropygial gland of hoopoe nestlings and nesting females hosts bacterial symbionts that cause changes in the characteristics of its secretion, including an increase of its antimicrobial activity. These changes occur only in nesting individuals during the breeding season, possibly associated with the high infection risk experienced during the stay in the hole-nests. However, the knowledge on hoopoes uropygial gland microbial community dynamics is quite limited and based so far on culture-dependent and molecular fingerprinting studies. In this work, we sampled wild and captive hoopoes of different sex, age, and reproductive status, and studied their microbiota using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and pyrosequencing. Surprisingly, we found a complex bacterial community in all individuals (including non-nesting ones) during the breeding season. Nevertheless, dark secretions from nesting hoopoes harbored significantly higher bacterial density than white secretions from breeding males and both sexes in winter. We hypothesize that bacterial proliferation may be host-regulated in phases of high infection risk (i.e., nesting). We also highlight the importance of specific antimicrobial-producing bacteria present only in dark secretions that may be key in this defensive symbiosis. Finally, we discuss the possible role of environmental conditions in shaping the uropygial microbiota, based on differences found between wild and captive hoopoes.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European (FEDER) funds (CGL2013-48193-C3-1-P/BOS, CGL2013-48193-C3-2-P/BOS, CGL2017-83103-P), and the Junta de Andalucía (RNM 339, RNM 340). S. M. Rodríguez-Ruano received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (FPI program)

    Beneficial Shifts in the Gut Bacterial Community of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles Supplemented with Allium-Derived Compound Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO)

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    This study analyzes the potential use of an Allium-derived compound, propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), as a functional feed additive in aquaculture. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles had their diet supplemented with this Allium-derived compound (150 mg/kg of PTSO) and were compared with control fish. The effects of this organosulfur compound were tested by measuring the body weight and analyzing the gut microbiota after 12 weeks. The relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio and Pseudomonas in the foregut and hindgut of supplemented fish significantly decreased, while potentially beneficial Lactobacillus increased compared to in the control fish. Shannon’s alpha diversity index significantly increased in both gut regions of fish fed with a PTSO-supplemented diet. Regarding beta diversity, significant differences between treatments only appeared in the hindgut when minority ASVs were taken into account. No differences occurred in body weight during the experiment. These results indicate that supplementing the diet with Allium-derived PTSO produced beneficial changes in the intestinal microbiota while maintaining the productive parameters of gilthead seabream juveniles.AQUAHEALTH project (Operational Programme Smart Growth 2014-2020) IDI-20170032FEDER-INNTERCONECTA-CDTI 2018, Centro para el Desarrollo Industrial, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness ITC-20181099Programa Operativo de Empleo Juvenil (Fondo Social Europeo, Junta de Andalucia) 612

    Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum

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    The misuse of antibiotics has led several countries to ban their use as prophylactics against bacterial diseases or as growth promoters in livestock and poultry. Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the alternatives, due to their antimicrobial activity and its modulation of the gut microbiota and the improvement of productive properties. Garlic and onion extracts, rich in antimicrobial compounds, are of the most promising alternative to antibiotics. We supplemented a garlic- and onion-based product in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life. The group supplied with this product produced in one month more eggs and with bigger size. This increase in production was accompanied by changes in the bacterial community of the gut. These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility, as the most important changes produced by these compounds occur in the most distal parts of the gut. The relative abundance of beneficial Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased in the experimental group. Both genera are known to have beneficial effects on host. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on thSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (Junta de Andalucía)University of Granada-CEI BioTic (Project No. P-BS-37)INTERCONECTA program (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
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