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[ES] La Noche Europea de los Investigadores es un evento de divulgación científica de alcance europeo que muestra de forma divertida e inspiradora la diversidad de la ciencia y su repercusión en la vida cotidiana de los ciudadanos. El evento es una iniciativa de la Comisión Europea y se financia a través de las Acciones Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) del Programa Marco de Investigación e Innovación de la UE. La décima edición se celebró en 371 ciudades europeas, entre ellas las ocho capitales andaluzas el 24 de septiembre de 2021. En Andalucía, más de 80.000 personas participaron en 800 actividades desarrolladas por 2.700 investigadores. Este informe presenta datos significativos para medir el impacto de la Noche Europea de los Investigadores en Andalucía, así como la evaluación realizada por sus participantes: asistentes e investigadores., [EN] The European Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide scientific outreach event that displays the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives in fun, inspiring ways. The event is an initiative of the European Commission and is funded through the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) of the EU’s Framework-Programme for Research and Innovation The tenth edition was celebrated in 371 European cities, including the eight Andalusian capitals on September 24, 2021. In Andalusia, over 80,000 people participated in 800 activities carried out by 2,700 researchers. This report presents significant data to measure the impact of the European Researchers' Night in Andalusia, as well as the evaluation conducted by its participants: attendees and researchers.

Debido a la abundancia y toxicidad del arsénico, muchos organismos han desarrollado diferentes estrategias de interacción con este metaloide, i.e., mecanismos de resistencia/detoxificación y mecanismos metabólicos de estado rédox que utilizan el arsénico como aceptor final o fuente de electrones1. La beta-proteobacteria Aromatoleum sp. CIB es un bacilo anaerobio facultativo capaz de interaccionar con la raíz de ciertas plantas (e.g., arroz), y de resistir concentraciones moderadas de arsénico. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de un análisis genómico, transcriptómico y funcional de la bacteria CIB cultivada en presencia de arsénico, lo que nos ha permitido identificar el arsenoma de este microorganismo. Se ha caracterizado el cluster arsRCDAB relacionado con la resistencia a arsenito/arsenato y el cluster arx, responsable de la oxidación anaerobia de arsenito2. Además, el estudio genómico ha identificado los genes arsP, que codifica un presunto transportador de especies metiladas de arsénico, arsS, que codifica una enzima SAM-dependiente relacionada con la síntesis de arsenoazúcares3, y arsM, el cual se ha sobreexpresado y caracterizado como una SAM-metiltransferasa de arsenito que produce ácido dimetilarsínico (DMA(V)). Por otro lado, se ha caracterizado el regulador transcripcional ArsR que responde a arsenito como inductor y controla la expresión del operón arsRCDAB, si bien no parece estar implicado en la regulación de otros genes del arsenoma de la cepa CIB. Todo este nuevo conocimiento del arsenoma de CIB nos ha permitido definir el mapa de la respuesta molecular de Aromatoleum sp. CIB a la presencia de arsenito, explorar el uso de nuevas proteínas Ars para la construcción de biosensores específicos de arsenito, y plantear el uso de la cepa CIB como agente bioprotector de plantas de arroz en suelos contaminados con arsénico

[EN] This survey provides detailed information on the Spanish population’s attitudes toward immigration and immigrants, as well as a wide array of potential covariates such as sociodemographic characteristics, perceptions of economic and social context and political attitudes, among others. The survey was fielded in October of 2020, combining self-administered online interviews (CAWI) and telephone interviews (CATI), to a sample of Spanish nationals residing in Spain (N=2,344). This survey was part of the research project “Explaining Placid Attitudes toward Immigrants in Spain (EASIE)”, funded by MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ and by ERDF “A way of making Europe” (CSO2017-87364-R; Principal Investigator: Sebastian Rinken)., [ES] Esta encuesta proporciona información detallada sobre las actitudes de la población española hacia el hecho inmigratorio y las personas inmigradas, así como un amplio abanico de variables potencialmente relacionadas con ellas (rasgos sociodemográficos; percepciones del contexto económico y político; actitudes políticas; etc.). La encuesta fue ejecutada en octubre de 2020 mediante una combinación de entrevistas auto-administradas por internet (CAWI) y entrevistas telefónicas (CATI) dirigidas a una amplia muestra de la población residente en España y con nacionalidad española (N=2.344). La encuesta se realizó en el marco del proyecto de investigación “Explicando Actitudes Sosegadas hacia los Inmigrantes en España (EASIE)”, financiado por MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ y por FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa” (CSO2017-87364-R; investigador principal: Sebastian Rinken).

The demand of rare earth elements (REE) has grown over the past decades due to their importance in high technology devices such as wind turbines, superconductors, rechargeable batteries, autocatalytic converters, magnets, or LED lighting. The development of clean mining processes is gaining interest and the biomining of REE is mainly focused on monazite using phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. The members of the genus Burkholderia can dissolve phosphorous from inorganic rocks. Furthermore, several species of Burkholderia are able to produce biosurfactants named rhamnolipids. Nevertheless, rhamnolipid interactions with REE have been poorly investigated. The aim of the present work is the study of the solubilization of monazite and the recovery of REE using the bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis, and the influence of the rhamnolipids produced by the bacteria in the REE mobilization. B. thailandensis grown in nutrient broth with 1% monazite (w/v) reached 8.3 mg·l−1 REE after 15 days. To produce rhamnolipids, B. thailandensis was grown in medium supplemented with 10% glycerol and the biosurfactants were extracted. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined: 94.45 mg·l−1 for commercial rhamnolipids and 60.41 mg·l−1 for purified rhamnolipids. The maximum REE solubilization was obtained at CMC reaching 9.36 mg·l−1 with commercial rhamnolipids and 5.13 mg·l−1 with rhamnolipids produced by B. thailandensis E264.

[ES] La Noche Europea de los Investigadores es un proyecto de divulgación científica en el que los investigadores/as muestran su trabajo a los ciudadanos de una forma lúdica así como su repercusión en la vida cotidiana. Se trata de una acción Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA), dentro del Programa Marco de Investigación e Innovación de la UE Horizonte Europa (2021-2027). Este evento se celebra simultáneamente en casi 400 ciudades europeas de 30 países desde 2005. En las ocho capitales andaluzas han participado más de 80.000 personas en las actividades realizadas en 2022 por más de 3.000 investigadores de las universidades públicas andaluzas y de los institutos del CSIC ubicados en la región. La evaluación de la Noche Europea de los Investigadores en Andalucía se ha realizado a través de una encuesta dirigida tanto a investigadores como al público en general. En total, han valorado el evento 1.421 asistentes y 1.361 investigadores/as], [EN] The European Researchers' Night is a public science outreach event, which displays the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives in fun, inspiring ways. It is a Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) action, under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe (2021-2027). This event that takes place simultaneously in almost 400 European cities in 30 countries and has been held since 2005. In 2022, 80,000 visitors attended these events in the eight Andalusian cities. In addition, 3000 researchers from Andalusian public universities and CSIC institutes located in the region have participated. The evaluation of The European Researchers' Night in Andalusia was carried out through a survey addressed to both researchers and the general public. In total, 1,421 attendees and 1,361 researchers evaluated the event.

Metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) are widely used in many areas such as biomedicine, packaging, cosmetics, colourants, agriculture, antimicrobial agents, cleaning products, as components of electronic devices and nutritional supplements. In addition, some MeNPs exhibit quantum properties, making them suitable materials in the photonics, electronic and energy industries. Through the lens of technology, microbes can be considered nanofactories capable of producing enzymes, metabolites and capping materials involved in the synthesis, assembly and stabilization of MeNPs. This bioprocess is considered more ecofriendly and less energy intensive than the current chemical synthesis routes. However, microbial synthesis of MeNPs as an alternative method to the chemical synthesis of nanomaterials still faces some challenges that need to be solved. Some of these challenges are described in this Editorial.

Los lantánidos son un grupo de 15 elementos metálicos que, junto con el escandio y el itrio, se conocen comúnmente como "tierras raras" (REE). Los REE son elementos estratégicos para la industria relacionada con tecnologías verdes y de alta precisión. Las nanopartículas de lantánidos (LnNPs) presentan propiedades magnéticas, ópticas y catalíticas de alto interés, sin embargo, su síntesis por métodos físico-químicos es altamente contaminante y costosa. Además, la minería de REE es un proceso complejo y muy poco respetuoso con el medio ambiente. Por ello, el uso de microorganismos capaces de recuperar Ln de su matriz insoluble y de producir LnNPs se contempla como una alternativa de futuro a los procesos químicos tradicionales y que permitiría desarrollar procesos industriales sostenibles. La correcta selección del biocatalizador es uno de los factores esenciales a tener en cuenta para el desarrollo de un proceso viable. En este sentido, se hace necesaria la determinación de la resistencia a Ln que poseen los chasis bacterianos utilizados en biotecnología. En este trabajo se ha determinado por primera vez la resistencia que posee la bacteria modelo ambiental Pseudomonas putida KT2440 al lantano (0,5 mM) y al gadolinio (0,1 mM), indicando que se trata de un chasis bacteriano óptimo para realizar bioconversiones de Ln. Además, se han bioproducido LnNPs y, por primera vez, GdNPs, caracterizándose algunas de sus propiedades (forma, tamaño, estado de agregación, etc). Hay que resaltar que las GdNPs producidas por KT2440 poseen propiedades magnéticas, lo que aumenta su interés biotecnológico. Por otra parte, dado que la cepa KT2440 es capaz de solubilizar fosfato, se está explotando esta habilidad para la bioextracción de Ln y la producción de LnNPs directamente desde monacitas (minerales formados por fosfato de Ln y que son una de las principales fuentes naturales de Ln en nuestro planeta).

Background: Manganese (Mn) oxides play a key role in the oxidation of recalcitrant organic carbon, including lignin (1), and have also emerged as a potential material in a wide range of technological applications, e. g, energy storage or catalysis. A transcriptomic study aimed to identify lignin-induced genes in the environmental model bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 revealed pepA, encoding an animal-heme peroxidase-like enzyme homologous to certain Mn oxidases (2), as one of the main induced genes., Objectives: To characterise the mechanisms of secretion and action of PepA in P. putida KT2440., Methods: A collection of P. putida mutant strains was designed to unequivocally asses the function of pepA and that of the adjacent operon coding for a type-1 secretion system (T1SS). Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to confirm localization and processing of the mature enzyme. Transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy techniques were applied to detect and characterise manganese oxides nanoparticles (MnOx NPs). Superoxide generation by PepA was tested by making use of a chemoluminescent probe., Results: This work shows that PepA is an extracellular heme-dependent enzyme that oxidizes Mn(II) by generating superoxide. A specific T1SS encoded adjacent to pepA is involved in PepA transport and processing of the mature form. A PepA-overproducer P. putida strain allowed the characterisation of the extracellular MnOx NPs generated. These results expand the knowledge on bacterial manganese oxidases and their potential role in lignin depolymerization, and broaden the biotechnological utilities of the model P. putida KT2440 bacterial chassis.

Debido a la interacción constante con metales y metaloides, los microorganismos han desarrollado mecanismos de resistencia que les permiten crecer a concentraciones elevadas de estos compuestos tóxicos. Algunos de estos mecanismos producen nanopartículas semiconductoras (NS), formadas por elementos como el cadmio y el azufre (CdS)1. Estas nanopartículas tienen la capacidad de absorber luz y emitir fluorescencia en el espectro de luz visible que depende de su tamaño. Por otro lado, las NS son capaces de transferir electrones,siendo interesantes en la fabricación de placas solares o como fluoróforos inorgánicos 2,3.Recientemente, se ha planteado el uso de NS como agentes energizantes de biocatalizadores celulares, y se han desarrollado algunos sistemas híbridos microorganismo-nanopartícula en los que las SN convierten la energía solar en energía química (poder reductor) utilizada en la bioproducción de compuestos como el ácido siquímico o los bioplásticos 4,5,6. No obstante, existe la necesidad de mejorar las condiciones de producción para aumentar la eficiencia del proceso. En este trabajo se ha estudiado y demostrado por primera vez la producción acoplada al crecimiento bacteriano de NS de CdS en dos bacterias de interés industrial y ambiental, Cupriavidus necator H16 (crecimiento aeróbico) y Aromatoleum sp. CIB (crecimiento anaeróbico), monitorizando a lo largo del crecimiento la aparición de fluorescencia y evaluando la influencia de factores como la concentración de cisteína (fuente de azufre) y la fuente de carbono en su producción.

An efficient and cheap energization of microbial biocatalysts is essential in current biotechnological processes. A promising alternative to the use of common organic or inorganic electron donors are the semiconductor nanoparticles (SNs) that absorb light and transfer electrons (photoelectrons) behaving as artificial photosynthetic systems (biohybrid systems). Excited photoelectrons generated by illuminated SNs are highly reductive and readily accepted by membrane-bound proteins and electron shuttles to drive specific cell reduction processes and energy generation in microbes. However, the operational mechanisms of these hybrid systems are still poorly understood, specially at the material-microbe interface, and therefore the design and production of efficient biohybrids is challenging. Some major limitations/challenges and future prospects of SNs as microbial energization systems are discussed.

A new bacterial strain has been isolated from the microbiome of solar panels and classified as Arthrobacter sp. Helios according to its 16S rDNA, positioning it in the “Arthrobacter citreus group.” The isolated strain is highly tolerant to desiccation, UV radiation and to the presence of metals and metalloids, while it is motile and capable of growing in a variety of carbon sources. These characteristics, together with observation that Arthrobacter sp. Helios seems to be permanently prepared to handle the desiccation stress, make it very versatile and give it a great potential to use it as a biotechnological chassis. The new strain genome has been sequenced and its analysis revealed that it is extremely well poised to respond to environmental stresses. We have analyzed the transcriptional response of this strain to PEG6000-mediated arid stress to investigate the desiccation resistance mechanism. Most of the induced genes participate in cellular homeostasis such as ion and osmolyte transport and iron scavenging. Moreover, the greatest induction has been found in a gene cluster responsible for biogenic amine catabolism, suggesting their involvement in the desiccation resistance mechanism in this bacterium.

[ES] La encuesta CARE se realizó en Andalucía en febrero de 2018 en el marco de un proyecto de investigación más amplio sobre la toma de decisiones en el cuidado de las personas mayores del Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IESA-CSIC). La encuesta (N=744) aporta información sobre las múltiples percepciones y disposiciones de la población autóctona respecto a la toma de decisiones en el cuidado de las personas mayores, así como una amplia gama de factores explicativos. La recogida de datos se realizó principalmente mediante cuestionarios web autoadministrados, que se complementaron con entrevistas telefónicas para cubrir perfiles sociodemográficos menos proclives al uso de Internet., [EN] The CARE survey was conducted in Andalusia in February of 2018 in the framework of a broader research project on decision making in the care of the older people run by the Spanish Research Council’s Institute for Advanced Social Studies (IESA-CSIC). The survey (N=744) provides information on the multiple perceptions and dispositions of the native population regarding decision-making in the care of the older people, as well as a wide range of explanatory factors. Data were collected mainly by means of self-administered web questionnaires, which were complemented by telephone interviews to cover sociodemographic profiles less inclined to use the Internet.

Proficient crop production is needed to ensure the feeding of a growing global population. The association of bacteria with plants plays an important role in the health state of the plants contributing to the increase of agricultural production. Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in most plant species providing, in most cases, plant promotion properties. However, the knowledge on the genetic determinants involved in the colonization of plants by endophytic bacteria is still poorly understood. In this work we have used a genetic approach based on the construction of fliM, pilX and eps knockout mutants to show that the motility mediated by a functional flagellum and the pili type IV, and the adhesion modulated by exopolysaccarides are required for the efficient colonization of rice roots by the endophyte Azoarcus sp. CIB. Moreover, we have demonstrated that expression of an exogenous diguanylate cyclase or phophodiesterase, which causes either an increase or decrease of the intracellular levels of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), respectively, leads to a reduction of the ability of Azoarcus sp. CIB to colonize rice plants. Here we present results demonstrating the unprecedented role of the universal second messenger cyclic-di-GMP in plant colonization by an endophytic bacterium, Azoarcus sp. CIB. These studies pave the way to further strategies to modulate the interaction of endophytes with their target plant hosts.

In assisted ambulation, the user’s psychological comfort has a significant impact not only on acceptability of mobility aids but also on overall gait performance. Specifically, in the case of rollators, negative states such as distress may result in balance loss, inefficient manoeuvres, and an increased risk of falling. This paper presents a pilot study to investigate the effect of distress on rollator assisted navigation. To achieve this goal, a novel test protocol is proposed to assess distress while walking with a rollator, using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) questionnaire. First, the participant completes a standardised visual stress induction test and fills in a SAM questionnaire on the dimensions of arousal and valence, to establish personal benchmarks. Then, they complete a course consisting of four navigation tasks with different levels of difficulty that affect the rollator manoeuvrability, filling in a SAM questionnaire after each task. An experiment including 25 healthy volunteers has been completed. Our preliminary results show that stressors like uneven or sloping surfaces increase perceived stress, whereas the shape of the trajectory does not significantly affect stress. The ultimate purpose of this work is to validate a performance-oriented protocol to investigate the dynamics of stress response in assisted walk and to train automatic stress detection systems., The work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [RTI2018-096701-B-C22]; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [RTI2018-096701-B-C21 (SAVIA:]; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [RTI2018-096701-B-C21]; Universidad de Málaga [E3-PROYECTOS DE PRUEBA DE CONCEPTO (E3/02/18)]., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

A new bacterial strain has been isolated from the microbiome of solar panels and classified as Arthrobacter sp. Helios according to its 16S rDNA, positioning it in the “Arthrobacter citreus group.” The isolated strain is highly tolerant to desiccation, UV radiation and to the presence of metals and metalloids, while it is motile and capable of growing in a variety of carbon sources. These characteristics, together with observation that Arthrobacter sp. Helios seems to be permanently prepared to handle the desiccation stress, make it very versatile and give it a great potential to use it as a biotechnological chassis. The new strain genome has been sequenced and its analysis revealed that it is extremely well poised to respond to environmental stresses. We have analyzed the transcriptional response of this strain to PEG6000-mediated arid stress to investigate the desiccation resistance mechanism. Most of the induced genes participate in cellular homeostasis such as ion and osmolyte transport and iron scavenging. Moreover, the greatest induction has been found in a gene cluster responsible for biogenic amine catabolism, suggesting their involvement in the desiccation resistance mechanism in this bacterium., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Depto. de Química Analítica, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Background: Different bacteria have been reported so far that link selenite resistance to the production of metal‑ lic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Although SeNPs have many biotechnological applications in diverse areas, the molecular mechanisms involved in their microbial genesis are not fully understood. The Azoarcus genus is a physi‑ ologically versatile group of beta-proteobacteria of great environmental relevance. Azoarcus sp. CIB is a facultative anaerobe that combines the ability to degrade under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions a wide range of aromatic compounds, including some toxic hydrocarbons such as toluene and m-xylene, with an endophytic life style in the root of rice. We unravel here an additional physiological feature of the strain CIB that is related to its resistance to sele‑ nium oxyanions and the formation of SeNPs. Results: This work is the first report of a member of the Azoarcus genus that is able to anaerobically grow in the pres‑ ence of selenite. Electron microscopy preparations and X-ray spectroscopy analyses demonstrate the reduction of sel‑ enite to spherical electron-dense SeNPs whose average size was 123 ± 35 nm of diameter. Our data suggest that the main molecular mechanism of selenite resistance resides on an energy-dependent selenite exporter. Azoarcus cells trigger the synthesis of SeNPs when they reach the stationary-phase of growth, and either the exhaustion of electron donor or acceptor, both of which lead to starvation conditions, produce the reduction of selenite to red elemental selenium. Azoarcus becomes a promising biocatalyst, either as whole cells or cellular extracts, for the anaerobic and/or aerobic green synthesis of SeNPs. Conclusions: Azoarcus turns out to be a new eco-friendly system to reduce selenite and produce spherical SeNPs. Moreover, this is the first report of a rice endophyte able to produce SeNPs. Since Azoarcus is also able to degrade both aerobically and anaerobically toxic aromatic compounds of g, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub