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Aphids and mites are important agricultural pests. Spores of Bacillus thuringiensis have been used as biological insecticides. Micro-immersion and spray bioassays were applied with supernatant of f...

Public sequence data represents a major opportunity for viral discovery, but its exploration has been inhibited by a lack of efficient methods for searching this corpus, which is currently at the petabase scale and growing exponentially. To address the ongoing pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and expand the known sequence diversity of viruses, we aligned pangenomes for coronaviruses (CoV) and other viral families to 5.6 petabases of public sequencing data from 3.8 million biologically diverse samples. To implement this strategy, we developed a cloud computing architecture, Serratus, tailored for ultra-high throughput sequence alignment at the petabase scale. From this search, we identified and assembled thousands of CoV and CoV-like genomes and genome fragments ranging from known strains to putatively novel genera. We generalise this strategy to other viral families, identifying several novel deltaviruses and huge bacteriophages. To catalyse a new era of viral discovery we made millions of viral alignments and family identifications freely available to the research community. Expanding the known diversity and zoonotic reservoirs of CoV and other emerging pathogens can accelerate vaccine and therapeutic developments for the current pandemic, and help us anticipate and mitigate future ones.

Seminal plasma proteins have important roles in sperm functionality, and different mechanisms including micro-vesicle transport of proteins are involved in the regulation of sperm biology. Due to the role of seminal plasma, we hypothesized that specific proteins present in seminal plasma may be used as discriminant variables with potential to identify stallions producing different quality ejaculates; 10 fertile stallions, with different motility and velocity values (although within normal ranges) were used in this study. Motilities and velocities were studied using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), while protein composition of the seminal plasma was studied using UHPLC-MS/MS. Specific proteins were more abundant in samples with poorer percentages of total motility, average path velocity and circular velocity, and were: Secreted phosphoprotein 1, Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (p = 1,95E-09; q = 0.0005) and Malate dehydrogenase 1 (p = 1,41E-11; q = 0.002), to the contrary samples with better straight-line velocity values were enriched in Glutathione peroxidase (p=0.00013; q=0.04) and Triosephosphate isomerase (p=0.00015; q=0.04).

Increased pressures from human activities may cause cumulative ecological effects on marine ecosystems. Increasingly, the study of ecosystem services is applied in the marine environment to assess the full effects of human activities on the ecosystem and on the benefits it provides. However, in the marine environment, such integrated studies have yet to move from qualitative and scorebased to fully quantitative assessments. To bridge this gap, this study proposed a 4-tiered method for summarizing available knowledge and modelling tools to aid in quantitative assessments of ecosystem services supply. First, the ecosystem functioning mechanisms underlying the supply of services are conceptually mapped. Second, the impacts of the human activity of interest are summarized and linked to the first conceptual model in a case-specific model of ecosystem services supply. Third, indicators are selected that would best represent changes in the most important parameters of the conceptual model in a quantitative manner. Fourth, the knowledge gained in the previous steps is used to select models that are most useful to quantify changes in ecosystem services supply under the human pressure of interest. This approach was applied to the case study of offshore wind energy in the Belgian part of the North Sea, which is one of the most rapidly expanding industries in the marine environment globally. This study provides a useful tool to proceed towards quantification of marine ecosystem services, highlighting the need for a fully integrated approach to developing environmental impact assessment tools.

International audience; Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease endemic in Eurasia. The virus is mainly transmitted to humans via ticks and occasionally via the consumption of unpasteurized milk products. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported an increase in TBE incidence over the past years in Europe as well as the emergence of the disease in new areas. To better understand this phenomenon, we investigated the drivers of TBE emergence and increase in incidence in humans through an expert knowledge elicitation. We listed 59 possible drivers grouped in eight domains and elicited forty European experts to: (i) allocate a score per driver, (ii) weight this score within each domain, and (iii) weight the different domains and attribute an uncertainty level per domain. An overall weighted score per driver was calculated, and drivers with comparable scores were grouped into three terminal nodes using a regression tree analysis. The drivers with the highest scores were: (i) changes in human behavior/activities; (ii) changes in eating habits or consumer demand; (iii) changes in the landscape; (iv) influence of humidity on the survival and transmission of the pathogen; (v) difficulty to control reservoir(s) and/or vector(s); (vi) influence of temperature on virus survival and transmission; (vii) number of wildlife compartments/groups acting as reservoirs or amplifying hosts; (viii) increase of autochthonous wild mammals; and (ix) number of tick species vectors and their distribution. Our results support researchers in prioritizing studies targeting the most relevant drivers of emergence and increasing TBE incidence.

The inappropriate and widespread use of conventional antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases has resulted in the emergence of resistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms, and this, in turn, has promoted the search for antibacterial metabolites with new mechanisms of action. The use of antivirulence agents, which focus on attenuating bacterial pathogenicity rather than affecting cell viability, represents an alternate and interesting approach for treating bacterial infections. Quorum sensing is one of the main targets of antivirulence agents, since it plays a fundamental role in the expression of virulence and resistance factors during the infection process. Considering that natural products represent a potentially important source of antivirulence agents, this review describes secondary metabolites from plants and microorganisms reported to inhibit quorum sensing, particularly over the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the most problematic human pathogens and one that, because of its intrinsic resistance to antibiotics, has been adopted as a model for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents.

Ferulic acid is a natural occurring compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive properties, and recently was proposed as a new alternative growth promoter in meat-producing animals without changing meat quality parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two doses of ferulic acid (FA) on the feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat quality in commercial heifers. Ninety heifers (3/4 Bos taurus; n = 270; body weight = 480 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (30 days): Control, fed with a basal diet; FA250 or FA500 offered the same diet further supplemented with FA at 250 or 500 mg kgFA supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) by 21%, hot carcass weight by 1.8% and cold carcass weight by 1.6% with respect to the control (P 0.05). FA500 treatment caused a decrease (P 0.05) in some carcass traits. However, carcass characteristics of economic importance, such as cold carcass dressing and LT muscle area, were improved by FA250 supplementation (P 0.05), causing a possible growth promoter effect. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat were not altered by FA supplementation (P 0.05).Ferulic acid has the potential for use as a growth promoter additive in finishing heifers without negatively affecting the meat quality, as occurs with some synthetic growth promotants compounds used in animal production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an intracellular process involved in the breakdown of macromolecules and organelles. Recent studies have shown that PKD2/PC2/TRPP2 (polycystin 2, transient receptor potential cation channel), a nonselective cation channel permeable to Ca2+ that belongs to the family of transient receptor potential channels, is required for autophagy in multiple cell types by a mechanism that remains unclear. Here, we report that PKD2 forms a protein complex with BECN1 (beclin 1), a key protein required for the formation of autophagic vacuoles, by acting as a scaffold that interacts with several co-modulators via its coiled-coil domain (CCD). Our data identified a physical and functional interaction between PKD2 and BECN1, which depends on one out of two CCD domains (CC1), located in the carboxy-terminal tail of PKD2. In addition, depletion of intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA-AM not only blunted starvation-induced autophagy but also disrupted the PKD2-BECN1 complex. Consistently, PKD2 overexpression triggered autophagy by increasing its interaction with BECN1, while overexpression of PKD2D509V, a Ca2+ channel activity-deficient mutant, did not induce autophagy and manifested diminished interaction with BECN1. Our findings show that the PKD2-BECN1 complex is required for the induction of autophagy, and its formation depends on the presence of the CC1 domain of PKD2 and on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by PKD2. These results provide new insights regarding the molecular mechanisms by which PKD2 controls autophagy.Abbreviations: ADPKD: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ATG: autophagy-related; ATG14/ATG14L: autophagy related 14; Baf A1: bafilomycin A1; BCL2/Bcl-2: BCL2 apoptosis regulator; BCL2L1/BCL-XL: BCL2 like 1; BECN1: beclin 1; CCD: coiled-coil domain; EBSS: Earle's balanced salt solution; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GOLGA2/GM130: golgin A2; GST: glutathione s-transferase; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; NBR1: NBR1 autophagy cargo receptor; PIK3C3/VPS34: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; PKD2/PC2: polycystin 2, transient receptor potential cation channel; RTN4/NOGO: reticulon 4; RUBCN/RUBICON: rubicon autophagy regulator; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; UVRAG: UV radiation resistance associated; WIPI2: WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2. ispartof: AUTOPHAGY vol:17 issue:7 pages:1714-1728 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Up to 15% of human cancers maintain their telomeres through a telomerase-independent mechanism, termed “alternative lengthening of telomeres” (ALT) that relies on homologous recombination between telomeric sequences. Emerging evidence suggests that the recombinogenic nature of ALT telomeres results from the formation of RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) between telomeric DNA and the long-noncoding telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA). Here, we show that the mismatch repair protein MutSβ, a heterodimer of MSH2 and MSH3 subunits, is enriched at telomeres in ALT cancer cells, where it prevents the accumulation of telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) structures and R-loops. Cells depleted of MSH3 display increased incidence of R-loop-dependent telomere fragility and accumulation of telomeric C-circles. We also demonstrate that purified MutSβ recognizes and destabilizes G4 structures in vitro. These data suggest that MutSβ destabilizes G4 structures in ALT telomeres to regulate TERRA R-loops, which is a prerequisite for maintenance of telomere integrity during ALT., J.P.D. was supported by the Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF-4004-00117), the Danish Cancer Society (R72-A4181-13-S2), the Nordea Foundation, Agnes and Poul Friis Fond, and Magda Sofie and Aase Lutz Mindelegat. P.J. was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (310030_184716) and Czech Science Foundation (19-07674S). J.B. was supported by the Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF-7016-00313), the Danish Cancer Society (R204-A12617), the Novo Nordisk Foundation (200C0060590), the Czech Science Foundation (project 19-21325S), the Swedish Research Council (VR-MH 2014-46602-117891-30), and the Swedish CancerFonden (no. 170176) and A.A. by the European Research Council (ERC2014 AdG669898 TARLOOP), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-104270GB-I00/BMC), and the European Union (FEDER).

Ricinus communis yields oilseeds of great commercial importance to industry. The aim of this study was to generate morphometric information on seed size and shape of wild castor bean accessions collected in the Durango State's arid zone, Mexico. Bivariate scatter plots were used to identify possible relationships between seed morphometric attributes. Principal component analysis allowed the identification of three seed groups that are highly dependent on shape attributes and volume. One group involves seeds with high volume, low eccentricity, high roundness and medium flatness. Another group includes seeds with medium volume, high eccentricity, medium roundness and high flatness. The last group involves seeds with small volume, eccentricity, roundness, and flatness with high dispersion. Relationships between seed area or volume with the axes of the seeds suggest that their shapes are complex. Knowledge of seed sizes and shapes can be helpful to design technical innovation for R. communis seed handling and storage in natural ecosystems and agricultural farms.

Background Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of chromosomal aneuploidies based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of fetal DNA in maternal plasma is well established, but testing for autosomal recessive disorders remains challenging. NGS libraries prepared by probe capture facilitate the analysis of the short DNA fragments plasma. This system has been applied to the β-hemoglobinopathies to reduce the risk to the fetus. Method Our probe panel captures >4 kb of the HBB region and 435 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) used to estimate fetal fraction. Contrived mixtures of DNA samples, plasma, and whole blood samples from 7 pregnant women with β-thalassemia or sickle cell anemia mutations and samples from the father, sibling, and baby or chorionic villus were analyzed. The fetal genotypes, including point mutations and deletions, were inferred by comparing the observed and expected plasma sequence read ratios, based on fetal fraction, at the mutation site and linked SNPs. Accuracy was increased by removing PCR duplicates and by in silico size selection of plasma sequence reads. A probability was assigned to each of the potential fetal genotypes using a statistical model for the experimental variation, and thresholds were established for assigning clinical status. Results Using in silico size selection of plasma sequence files, the predicted clinical fetal genotype assignments were correct in 9 of 10 plasma libraries with maternal point mutations, with 1 inconclusive result. For 2 additional plasmas with deletions, the most probable fetal genotype was correct. The β-globin haplotype determined from linked SNPs, when available, was used to infer the fetal genotype at the mutation site. Conclusion This probe capture NGS assay demonstrates the potential of NIPT for β-hemoglobinopathies.

Bacillus thuringiensis is the major bioinsecticide worldwide produced due to the Cry protein activity. Several studies have been done to improve the cost–productivity relation. The neutral protease A (NprA) is the major extracellular protein massively produced during the stationary phase by this bacterium, contributing to the Cry proteins' degradation. Also, the deletion of aprA and nprA genes enhanced the yield of Cry protein, stabilizing it. Therefore, to increase Cry production, one possibility is to degrade the NprA protease in the culture media. In the present study, proteinase K was used to hydrolyze the NprA to increase Cry production. Proteinase K was added during the exponential growth of B. thuringiensis culture. The bacilli and endospores were measured along all culture, while the Cry protein was measured at the end of the culture. The addition of PK affects the bacilli and spore kinetics positively but negatively to the Cry protein (there is no Cry protein detection). Therefore, the gene expression of the cry1Ac, nprX, nprA, and spo0A was measured. The expression of each gene was followed along all culture. Results demonstrated that PK alters both the transcriptional levels and the expression order of the genes.

Geographical distribution and abundance of the pupae of six blackfly species of medical and veterinary concern were studied in eastern Spain according to three different sets of explanatory variables including in-stream variables, both (i) abiotic (i.e., physicochemical) and (ii) biotic (i.e., richness and abundance of either taxonomically or ecologically close related taxa), as well as (iii) meteorological and landscape variables. The results showed specific habitat requirements for pupation in Simulium (Boophthora) erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) and Simulium (Wilhelmia) equinum (Linnaeus, 1758), two of the six species studied regarding elevation and temperature. While the rest of the species showed a certain degree of ecological overlap, co-occurrence was in general low, which suggested that antagonistic biotic factors may be important in structuring blackfly assemblages. In effect, biotic predictors explained a high proportion (50%-70%) of the variability in the abundance of the pupae of the most generalist blackfly species, although further studies are needed to disentangle the sign of interspecific interactions. At the landscape level, S. (W.) equinum and S. (W.) pseudequinum Séguy, 1921 breeding habitats were associated with the presence of pig farms, and S. (Simulium) reptans (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. (B.) erythrocephalum with the presence of cattle.

David Corredor-Orlandelli,1,* Santiago Sambracos-Parrado,1,* Santiago Mantilla-García,1 Josué Tovar-Tirado,1 Valentina Vega-Ramírez,1 Santiago David Mendoza-Ayús,1 Laura Catalina Peña,1 María Fernanda Leal,1 Juliana Rodríguez-Carrillo,1 Juanita León-Torres,1 Juan Mauricio Pardo-Oviedo,2 Katherine Parra Abaunza,3 Nora Contreras Contreras Bravo,1 Oscar Ortega-Recalde,1 Dora Janeth Fonseca Mendoza1 1Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics – CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; 2School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; 3Hospital Universitario Mayor – Méderi, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dora Janeth Fonseca MendozaCenter for Research in Genetics and Genomics (CIGGUR), GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Cra 24 # 63C69, Bogotá, 112111, ColombiaTel/Fax +57 12920200Email dora.fonseca@urosario.edu.coBackground: Paraoxonase-1 (PON1), a glycoprotein associated with serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), has a central role in metabolizing lipid peroxides, exhibiting antiatherogenic properties. The polymorphism p.Q192R has been previously associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility and clopidogrel response.Purpose: We aimed at investigating the association of PON1 p.Q192R with CAD and clopidogrel response in Colombian population.Patients and Methods: The study was conducted among 163 patients diagnosed with CAD and treated with clopidogrel. The allele frequencies for the PON1 192Q and 192R alleles were determined in cases and Latin-American controls obtained from the public database gnomAD (n = 17,711). Response to clopidogrel was determined by assessing the platelet function using the INNOVANCE PFA-200 System. We determined the association between PON1 p.Q192R polymorphism, increased susceptibility to CAD and high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) by using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) on four genetic models.Results: The allele frequencies for the PON1 192Q and 192R alleles were 0.60 and 0.40, respectively. The allele distribution was found to be statistically different from the control group and other ethnic groups. The allele 192R was positively associated with decreased susceptibility to CAD under a dominant model (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42– 0.8; P < 0.01). We found no association between the polymorphism and HPR.Conclusion: We propose that PON1 p.Q192R is a potentially useful marker for CAD susceptibility in the Colombian population and lacks association with HPR under clopidogrel treatment.Keywords: PON1, genetic risk, cardiovascular disease susceptibility, platelet reactivity, clopidogrel

This research aims to find the characteristics of motor control at the level of body stability in skateboarding athletes from the city of Bogota through a Romberg test with eyes open and eyes closed. The present study is of a descriptive cross-sectional type and the sample selection for the development of this research was for convenience, for which a direct invitation was performed at different skateboarding clubs in the city and the league skating Bogota who supports the sport. The sample population corresponds to 30 people with an age between 22.86 +/- 7.88 years. Participants developed Romberg test with a duration of 30 s and under the modalities eyes open and closed on a platform of plantar pressure and stabilometry BTS P-Walk. Significant changes were found in comparison of the open and closed eyes tests in the lateral flexion of the spine (LSF) with p=0.018, body center of gravity with p=0.043, left center of gravity with p=0.018, showing improvements in body stability evaluation with eyes closed. It is evident that skateboarding athletes due to the dynamics and sports development on an unstable base present a high level of stability represented in mediolateral and anteroposterior stability and variability radii close to zero, additionally it is observed that work at eye level closed generates a better sports adaptation from the vestibular and peripheral system for motor control and balance.

Contains fulltext : 243955.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) PURPOSE: Pathogenic variants in SETD1B have been associated with a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder including intellectual disability, language delay, and seizures. To date, clinical features have been described for 11 patients with (likely) pathogenic SETD1B sequence variants. This study aims to further delineate the spectrum of the SETD1B-related syndrome based on characterizing an expanded patient cohort. METHODS: We perform an in-depth clinical characterization of a cohort of 36 unpublished individuals with SETD1B sequence variants, describing their molecular and phenotypic spectrum. Selected variants were functionally tested using in vitro and genome-wide methylation assays. RESULTS: Our data present evidence for a loss-of-function mechanism of SETD1B variants, resulting in a core clinical phenotype of global developmental delay, language delay including regression, intellectual disability, autism and other behavioral issues, and variable epilepsy phenotypes. Developmental delay appeared to precede seizure onset, suggesting SETD1B dysfunction impacts physiological neurodevelopment even in the absence of epileptic activity. Males are significantly overrepresented and more severely affected, and we speculate that sex-linked traits could affect susceptibility to penetrance and the clinical spectrum of SETD1B variants. CONCLUSION: Insights from this extensive cohort will facilitate the counseling regarding the molecular and phenotypic landscape of newly diagnosed patients with the SETD1B-related syndrome.

Background and Aim: Momordica charantia is mainly characterized by its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The current study aimed to evaluate the healing activity of gel and cream formulations based on M. charantia on induced wounds in mice. Materials and Methods: Acetonic extract of M. charantia was prepared and incorporated into gel and cream formulations. Mus musculus Balb/c (n=30) with induced injury were distributed into five groups: Group I (control – day 7), Group II (control – day 14), Group III (1% gel – day 7), and Group IV (1% gel – day 14) to which 1% M. charantia gel was dermally applied daily for 7 and 14 days, respectively, Group V (1% cream – day 7) and Group VI (1% cream – day 14) to which of M. charantia 1% cream were dermally applied daily for 7 and 14 days, respectively. Time of wound closure was determined during the experimentation; rats were euthanized with sodium pentobarbital 60 mg/kg/pc v.ip. for obtaining skin samples for histopathological analysis. Results: Groups IV and VI showed a higher percentage of wound closure on day 14, and in histopathological analysis, effect was greater in Group VI with the presence of fibroblasts and abundant collagen and elastic fibers. Conclusion: M. charantia gel and cream showed wound healing activity on induced wounded mice; the most effective treatment was M. charantia 1% cream formulation.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of house-screening (HS) on indoor Ae. aegypti infestation, abundance and arboviral infection in Merida, Mexico. Methods In 2019, we performed a cluster randomized controlled trial (6 control and 6 intervention areas: 100 households/area). Intervention clusters received permanently fixed fiberglass HS on all windows and doors. The study included two cross-sectional entomologic surveys, one baseline (dry season in May 2019) and one post-intervention (PI, rainy season between September-October 2019). The presence and number of indoor Aedes females and blood-fed females (indoor mosquito infestation) as well as arboviral infections with dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses were evaluated in a subsample of 30 houses within each cluster. Results HS houses had significatively lower risk for having Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes (odds ratio [OR]=0.56, 95% C. I. 0.33-0.97, P=0.04) and blood-fed females (OR=0.53, 95% C. I. 0.28-0.97, P=0.04) than unscreened households from the control arm. Compared to control houses, HS houses had significantly lower indoor Ae. aegypti abundance (rate ratio [RR]=0.50, 95% C. I. 0.30-0.83, P=0.01), blood-fed Ae. aegypti females (RR=0.48, 95% C. I. 0.27-0.85, P=0.01) and female Ae. aegypti positive for arboviruses (OR=0.29, 95% CI 0.10-0.86, P=0.02). The estimated intervention efficacy in reducing Ae. aegypti arbovirus infection was 71%. Conclusions These results provide evidence supporting the use of HS as an effective pesticide-free method to control house infestations with Aedes aegypti and reduce the transmission of Aedes-transmitted viruses such as DENV, chikungunya (CHIKV), and ZIKV.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in major neutralizing antibody-binding sites can affect humoral immunity induced by infection or vaccination(1–6). We analysed the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody and T cell responses in previously infected (recovered) or uninfected (naive) individuals that received mRNA vaccines to SARS-CoV-2. While previously infected individuals sustained higher antibody titers than uninfected individuals post-vaccination, the latter reached comparable levels of neutralization responses to the ancestral strain after the second vaccine dose. T cell activation markers measured upon spike or nucleocapsid peptide in vitro stimulation showed a progressive increase after vaccination. Comprehensive analysis of plasma neutralization using 16 authentic isolates of distinct locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants revealed a range of reduction in the neutralization capacity associated with specific mutations in the spike gene: lineages with E484K and N501Y/T (e.g., B.1.351 and P.1) had the greatest reduction, followed by lineages with L452R (e.g., B.1.617.2). While both groups retained neutralization capacity against all variants, plasma from previously infected vaccinated individuals displayed overall better neutralization capacity when compared to plasma from uninfected individuals that also received two vaccine doses, pointing to vaccine boosters as a relevant future strategy to alleviate the impact of emerging variants on antibody neutralizing activity.

Central pattern generators (CPG) are neural circuits that generate robust sequences of coordinated neural activity to control motor rhythms. We have recently revealed the presence of dynamical invariants in the relationships between specific intervals that build the CPG sequence and the instantaneous period of the rhythm in the pyloric CPG of crustacean. In this paper, we analyze the variability of the intervals comprising the rhythm in a model of a mollusk feeding CPG. We measured the cycle-by-cycle time intervals of the CPG rhythm under distinct single neuron stimulation. We characterized interval variability and report dynamical invariants found only for specific time intervals building the sequence of the feeding CPG. Together with our previous findings, the results reported in this paper indicate that dynamical invariants can be a universal feature of any sequence generating circuit.

Recent studies on marine heat waves describe water temperature anomalies causing changes in food web structure, bloom dynamics, biodiversity loss, and increased plant and animal mortality. However, little information is available on how water temperature anomalies impact prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) inhabiting ocean waters. This is a nontrivial omission given their integral roles in driving major biogeochemical fluxes that influence ocean productivity and the climate system. Here we present a time-resolved study on the impact of a large-scale warm water surface anomaly in the northeast subarctic Pacific Ocean, colloquially known as the Blob, on prokaryotic community compositions. Multivariate statistical analyses identified significant depth- and season-dependent trends that were accentuated during the Blob. Moreover, network and indicator analyses identified shifts in specific prokaryotic assemblages from typically particle-associated before the Blob to taxa considered free-living and chemoautotrophic during the Blob, with potential implications for primary production and organic carbon conversion and export., Traving et al. use small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to examine spatial and temporal trends in bacterial and archaeal community structure during a large marine warm water surface anomaly, the Blob. Their findings suggest that community structure shifted during the Blob, with taxa considered free-living and chemoautotrophic prevailing under these unusual conditions.

Departamento de ​Mejora Genética Animal (INIA), Aim of study: To evaluate the consequences for pork quality traits of replacing soybean meal with Narbon vetch in pig diets. Area of study: Castilla-Leon, Spain. Material and methods: 48 Duroc × Iberian barrows were fed diets with 0% (V0), 5% (V5), 10% (V10) and 20% (V20) inclusion of Narbon vetch. Pork quality traits investigated were 1) intramuscular fat, protein and moisture content of fresh loin, 2) fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat, and 3) sensory attributes (Triangle test and a Simple Difference Test with a non-trained taste panel) of cured loin. Main results: Inclusion of Narbon vetch in the diet showed no significant effect on intramuscular fat, protein and moisture in fresh loin samples. Stearic acid was higher in subcutaneous fat of V5 than in V0 and V10 (p < 0.05), and oleic acid was higher in V10 than in V0, V5 and V20 (p < 0.05); no other differences in fatty acid composition were observed. Taste panelists tended to be able to distinguish V10 from V0 cured loins (p < 0.10), and were able to distinguish V20 from V0 loins (p < 0.05), in particular due to a perceived difference in taste, texture and marbling. No differences in intensity of the texture, marbling, aroma and color of cured loins were found between V0 and V5. Research highlights: Inclusion of Narbon vetch in pig diets did not significantly affect fresh loin composition or fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat. Consumers perceived a difference in sensory characteristics of cured loin with replacement of soybean meal with Narbon Vetch, but they did not characterize this as more favorable., SusAn ERA‐Net project “Sustainability of pig production through improved feed efficiency”, an ERA‐Net cofunded under European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Project AGL2016‐75942‐R, 10 Pág.

Leaf scald caused by Xanthomonas albilineans in sugarcane is one of the most important diseases around the world since it causes severe losses in both agricultural and industrial yields. In Cuba, resistance to this disease is considered a major selection criterion within the breeding program. The aim of this work was to detect sugarcane cultivars with stable reaction to X. albilineans by using both additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and linear general models. For this, 16 cultivars planted simultaneously in 2015, 2016, and 2017 in two locations: Jovellanos (Matanzas) and Florida (Camaguey) in Cuba were mechanically inoculated with a bacterial isolate previously characterized by sequencing its DNA fragment. Disease severity was recorded in plant cane and first ratoon, and results were consistent in both analyses and revealed that L55-5 and C323-68 were the most susceptible cultivars and C1051-73 was the most resistant; however, C1051-73, C275-80, C86-12, C88-382, C89-147, My5514, and Ty86-28 were the most stable across the years and localities evaluated. Results will allow adapting the methodology for the evaluation of the reaction to leaf scald of new sugarcane cultivars.

El cultivo de chile poblano sembrado en suelo en el Alto Atoyac en Puebla se ha visto afectado por la presencia de enfermedades causadas por hongos, bacterias y nematodos, generando pérdidas en el rendimiento y reducción de la superficie de siembra. La producción bajo invernadero e hidroponía constituye una alternativa de solución a esta problemática, pues permite el desarrollo de cultivos en un ambiente controlado utilizando sustratos inertes, asegurando en mayor porcentaje la producción. El objetivo fue evaluar el crecimiento, rendimiento y calidad de fruto de dos variedades locales de chile poblano (Tlacotepec y Tlalancaleca) y una variedad comercial (San Luis), abastecidas nutrimentalmente mediante tres concentraciones de la solución nutritiva Steiner bajo invernadero e hidroponía con la finalidad de conocer su comportamiento agronómico y productivo. Se consideró un diseño de tratamientos factorial 3 x 3 en un diseño experimental completamente al azar. Las variables evaluadas fueron: altura de planta, grosor de tallo, número de hojas, número de bifurcaciones, número de flores, rendimiento y calidad de fruto. Los resultados mostraron que la variedad San Luis alcanzó el mayor rendimiento y calidad de fruto. En cuanto a las tres concentraciones de solución nutritiva, no se presentó efecto significativo en el rendimiento y el comportamiento agronómico de las variedades criollas en el sistema de sustrato, invernadero e hidroponía puede ser una opción para la producción de chile poblano en la región del Alto Atoyac.

Cupiennin 1a is an antimicrobial peptide found in the venom of the spider Cupiennius salei. A highly cationic peptide, its cell lysis activity has been found to vary between neutral and charged membranes. In this study, Hamiltonian replica-exchange molecular dynamics (HREMD) was used to determine the conformational ensemble of the peptide in both charged (pH 3) and neutral (pH 11) states. The obtained free energy landscapes demonstrated the conformational diversity of the neutral peptide. At high pH, the peptide was found to adopt helix-hinge-helix and disordered structures. At pH 3, the peptide is structured with a high propensity toward α-helices. The presence of these α-helices seems to assist the peptide in recognizing membrane surfaces. These results highlight the importance of the charged residues in the stabilization of the peptide structure and the subsequent effects of pH on the peptide's conformational diversity and membrane activity. These findings may provide insights into the antimicrobial activity of Cupiennin 1a and other amphipathic linear peptides toward different cell membranes.

Patient-derived in vivo models of human cancer have become a reality, yet their turnaround time is inadequate for clinical applications. Therefore, tailored ex vivo models that faithfully recapitulate in vivo tumour biology are urgently needed. These may especially benefit the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), where therapy failure has been ascribed to its high cancer stem cell (CSC) content and high density of stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, these features are only partially reproduced ex vivo using organoid and sphere cultures. We have now developed a more comprehensive and highly tuneable ex vivo model of PDAC based on the 3D co-assembly of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) with custom ECM components (PA-ECM). These cultures maintain patient-specific transcriptional profiles and exhibit CSC functionality, including strong in vivo tumourigenicity. User-defined modification of the system enables control over niche-dependent phenotypes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and matrix deposition. Indeed, proteomic analysis of these cultures reveals improved matrisome recapitulation compared to organoids. Most importantly, patient-specific in vivo drug responses are better reproduced in self-assembled cultures than in other models. These findings support the use of tuneable self-assembling platforms in cancer research and pave the way for future precision medicine approaches., Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; LIDo Grant; Medical Research Council; UK Regenerative Medicine Platform Acellular/Smart Materials-3D Architecture; Fondazione Italiana Malattie Pancreas; Italian Ministry of Health; Fondazione Cariverona: Oncology Biobank Project “Antonio Schiavi”; European Union (EU); Horizon 2020; European Community Seventh Framework Programme; FP7/2007-2013; CAM-PaC Consortium; BIOMORPH; Marie Curie Integration Grant; STROFUNSCAFF; ERC Starting Grant; Associazione Italiana Ricerca Cancro; Barts Cancer Institute Catalyst; IMPETUS Awards

The potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a pest of solanaceous crops (order Solanales), including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomato (S. lycopersicum L.). Feeding by high populations of nymphs causes psyllid yellows while adults and nymphs are vectors of the plant pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. Foliar symptoms that were consistent with either ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection or psyllid yellows were observed in 2019 on tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.; family Solanaceae) grown within an experimental plot located near Saltillo, Mexico. This study had three primary objectives: 9i) determine whether the foliar symptoms observed on tomatillo were associated with ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection, (ii) identify the haplotypes of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ and potato psyllids present in the symptomatic plot, and (iii) use gut content analysis to infer the plant sources of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-infected psyllids. Results confirmed that 71% of symptomatic plants and 71% of psyllids collected from the plants were infected with ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. The detection of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ in plants and psyllids and the lack of nymphal populations associated with psyllid yellows strongly suggests that the observed foliar symptoms were caused by ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection. All infected plants and insects harbored the more virulent ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotype B but one psyllid was also coinfected with haplotype A. The potato psyllids were predominantly of the central haplotype but one psyllid was identified as the western haplotype. Molecular gut content analysis of psyllids confirmed the movement of psyllids between noncrop habitats and tomatillo and indicated that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection of psyllids was associated with increased plant diversity in their diet.

The Eastern Pacific green turtle (EPGT) has been differentiating from the green turtle and is currently being considered a separate population. In this study, values for hematology and biochemistry of 85 green turtles captured from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed. These animals correspond to a resident foraging population at Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. All of them underwent a physical examination and were deemed apparently healthy. Hematological analyses were done using manual methods, while seric metabolites were determined with automated and semi-automated spectrophotometry. According to the curved carapace length (CCL) measurements, the subadult individuals were the most frequent (n = 74). The predominant cells were heterophils, followed by lymphocytes. Basophils were observed in 75% of the slides and in a proportion as high as 43%. Up to 80 samples were analyzed for the following seric parameters: total protein (2.6–6.2 g/dL), albumin (1–2.7 g/dL), globulin (1.2–4.1 g/dL), glucose (54–145 mg/dL), cholesterol (58–336 mg/dL), ureic nitrogen (0–12 g/dL), creatinine (0.1–0.7 mg/dl), phosphorus (3.4–17 mg/dl), calcium (4.9–10.2 mg/dl), magnesium (5.2–12.8 mg/dl), uric acid (0.1–2.8 mg/dL), triglycerides (14–743 mg/dl), alanine aminotransferase (0–13 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (82–289 U/L) and seric alkaline phosphatase (41–1263 U/L). These data can aid health status and conservation programs for the EPGT in this and nearby, similar locations.

The histological structure, histochemical features, and enzymatic activity of the digestive tract of juvenile Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) are described to provide information during the cultivation of this species. Serial histological sections were stained with either hematoxylin-eosin, alcian blue-PAS, toluidine blue, Sudan black, Masson's trichome, and ninhydrin-Schiff to describe the general features and the presence of glycogen, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, muscle layers, and proteins, respectively. The enterocytes height and the mucosal villi height in the esophagus and intestines were measured. Additionally, the digestive enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were recorded. The esophagus showed two distinctive regions, the anterior with numerous mucous cells secreting acid mucins and the posterior with longitudinal folds and no mucous cells. The intestine was differentiated into three regions. The anterior showed goblet cells secreting acid and neutral mucins, while the middle and posterior regions presented goblet cells secreting only acid mucins. The activity of aminopeptidase, chymotrypsin, and amylase showed low levels, while the trypsin and acid phosphatase activity levels were intermediate. Lipase and alkaline phosphatase showed the highest activities. The results point that juvenile H. ingens presents a digestive structure similar to other teleost species. The high levels of lipase suggest that juvenile H. ingens have high requirements for lipids during this stage.

This study aims to evaluate whether sous-vide cooking better preserves the (poly)phenol content and profile of red and white cardoon stalks versus traditional boiling, both before and after simulated oral-gastro-intestinal digestion. Thirty one (poly)phenols were quantified in red and white cardoon by HPLC-MS/MS, phenolic acids being >95%, and 5-caffeoylquinic and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids the major ones. Although both varieties showed a similar profile, raw red cardoon had 1.7-fold higher (poly)phenol content than raw white cardoon. Culinary treatments decreased (poly)phenol content, but sous-vide cooked cardoon had a greater content than the boiled one, suggesting a protective effect. After gastrointestinal digestion, (poly)phenol bioaccessibility of boiled and sous-vide cooked cardoon (52.6-90.5%) was higher than that of raw samples (0.2-0.7%), although sous-vide system no longer played a protective effect compared to boiling. In summary, red cardoon was a richer source of bioaccessible (poly)phenols than white cardoon, even sous-vide cooked or boiled.

Livestock production extension in Amazon has caused deforestation and soil degradation, with negative consequences on diversity and environmental services. Recently, rubber crops have been established in deteriorated soils of the Colombian Amazon as an option to restore hectares of unproductive degraded pastures. Bioindicator insects, such as termites, have been used to assess soil quality and fertility restoration. This study evaluated differences in termite abundance, species richness, and community composition in three different rubber crop systems as an indirect way of evaluating soil diversity restoring. Three rubber crop systems were sampled: clonal fields (rubber monocultures with different rubber clones), traditional commercial rubber plantations (rubber monocultures with just one rubber clone), and mixed plantations (rubber fields intercropped with copoazu fruit trees). Additionally, pastures in use for livestock production and natural forest relicts were compared to rubber crop systems, to serve as reference habitats. Termites were sampled using a 105-m transect method. Alpha diversity and beta diversity were estimated and compared between rubber crops and reference habitats. A total of 80 termite species belonging to two families were collected. Mixed plantations and pastures presented the lowest diversity rates. Species richness in rubber crop systems was 39% higher than that in pastures and included 72% of the termite species found in natural forests. Indicator species analysis associated soil-feeding termites with less diverse habitats and wood-feeding termites with high diverse habitats. Our results demonstrate that termite recovery will depend on the farming system selected and the agricultural practices implemented in the field, with some rubber crop systems, like commercial rubber plantations and clonal fields, recovering termite diversity better than others, such as mixed plantations.

Background: Sunlight stress and drought affect plants by inducing various biochemical and physiological responses, which reduce growth. Seasonal changes in light and water availability that occur in forest canopies, where epiphytes occur, are extreme. Questions: What are the seasonal changes in photosynthesis for an abundant epiphytic bromeliad in contrasting microenvironments? Is Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) an important feature of photoprotection for this epiphyte? Studied species: Tillandsia brachycaulos Schltdl. (Bromeliaceae) Study site and dates: Canopy of the tropical dry deciduous forest of Dzibilchaltún National Park, Yucatan, Mexico during the rainy season 2008 and dry season 2009. Methods: Diurnal measurements of photosystem II efficiency, titratable acidity, leaf water potential, and photosynthetic pigment concentration were measured during the dry and rainy seasons in adult plants of T. brachycaulos in shaded and exposed microenvironments. The prevailing environmental conditions (photon flux density, precipitation, air temperature and relative humidity) were also seasonally characterized. Results: The highest irradiance occurred during the dry season caused photo-inactivation, a decrease of the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and a reduction in CAM activity of about 40 % in leaves of exposed plants of T. brachycaulos. During the rainy season, the leaf water potential of exposed and shaded plants of T. brachycaulos was lower at midday than at predawn, indicating water loss during the day. Conclusions: Individuals of T. brachycaulos reduced CAM activity during the dry season; and, during the rainy season, increased carbon gain by stomata opening during phase II and IV of CAM.

A new species of Magnolia from the southern Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico, is described and illustrated, providing information about its habitat distribution, ecology, biogeography and conservation status. After 12 fieldwork expeditions near the border of the states of Hidalgo and Puebla, we have developed morphological, ecological and biogeographic data to support recognition of populations from Acaxochitlán, Hidalgo and Pahuatlán, Puebla as a distinct species of Magnolia sect. Macrophylla. A key to species of this section and a distribution map for Mexican taxa are provided. The species was assessed as critically endangered (CR).

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and its bioactive compounds are associated with beneficial health effects, which might be enabled, at least in part, through miRNA regulation, despite recent controversial studies suggesting that exogenous dietary miRNAs may reach host circulation and target cells to regulate gene expression. Here, a computational analysis was performed to explore the processes and pathways associated with genes targeted either by (1) host-expressed miRNAs (endogenous) modulated by the bioactive compounds in broccoli or (2) miRNAs derived from broccoli (exogenous). In addition, the stability of exogenous miRNAs from broccoli was assessed after broccoli was subjected to the usual processing methods and in vitro digestion-simulating gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. Overall, bioinformatic results show that the anticarcinogenic and cancer-preventive properties attributed to cruciferous vegetables might be mediated, at least in part, through miRNA-related mechanisms. Moreover, results show that broccoli-derived miRNAs can survive common food-processing conditions and GI digestion.