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Virus particles consist of a protein coat that protects their genetic material and delivers it to the host cell for self-replication. Understanding the interplay between virus structure and function is a requirement for understanding critical processes in the infectious cycle such as entry, uncoating, genome metabolism, capsid assembly, maturation, and propagation. Together with well-established techniques in cell and molecular biology, physical virology has emerged as a rapidly developing field, providing detailed, novel information on the basic principles of virus assembly, disassembly, and dynamics. The Spanish research community contains a good number of groups that apply their knowledge on biology, physics, or chemistry to the study of viruses. Some of these groups got together in 2010 under the umbrella of the Spanish Interdisciplinary Network on Virus Biophysics (BioFiViNet). Thirteen years later, the network remains a fertile ground for interdisciplinary collaborations geared to reveal new aspects on the physical properties of virus particles, their role in regulating the infectious cycle, and their exploitation for the development of virus-based nanotechnology tools. Here, we highlight some achievements of Spanish groups in the field of physical virology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding tactics, body condition and size structure of two populations of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus from Cabañeros National Park (Guadiana River basin, central Spain) were compared to provide insight into the ecological requirements favouring levels of success/failure in relation to human intervention. Habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates and pumpkinseed were quantified in Bullaque (regulated flow, affected by agricultural activities) and Estena (natural conditions) rivers, from May to September of 2005 and 2006. Significant differences were found in the limnological characteristics between the two rivers. Spatial and temporal variations in diet composition were likely related to opportunistic feeding and high foraging plasticity. Diet diversity was higher in Bullaque River. Electivity of benthic prey showed variation between sized individuals and populations. The body condition of pumpkinseed was better in Bullaque River. Current results show that this invasive species is favoured by human intervention in Bullaque River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Reproductive traits were studied in seven wild populations of resident brown trout in Spain. We examined whether growth, and certain environmental conditions such as water temperature or food abundance, could explain interpopulation variation in the reproductive characters. 2. The results indicated that nearby populations subjected to a wide variation in environmental conditions exhibited a similar reproductive performance. 3. Age distributions and sex ratios were not significantly different among populations. Age ranged from 0+ to 4+ years but the populations were dominated by the 0+ to 2+ groups. In all rivers females matured at age 2+ as opposed to age 1+ and 2+ for males. Mean length at the end of the growth period differed significantly among populations. However, annual growth rate was similar among rivers and was not significantly correlated with either biomass of the benthos or water temperature during the growth season. 4. Reproductive effort, body condition, fecundity and egg size did not correlate significantly with either the abundance of benthic invertebrates or water temperature. Once the effect of body length on both egg size and number was removed, a significant negative correlation was found between these two traits among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are promising gene therapy vectors, but challenges arise when treating patients with preexisting neutralizing antibodies. Worldwide seroprevalence studies provide snapshots of existing immunity in diverse populations. Owing to the uniqueness of the Basque socio-geographical landscape, we investigated the seroprevalence of eight AAV serotypes in residents of the Basque Country. We found the highest seroprevalence of AAV3, and the lowest seroprevalence of AAV9. Additionally, less than 50% of the Basque population has neutralizing antibodies against AAV4, AAV6, and AAV9. Our findings provide insight into AAV infections in the Basque region, public health, and the development of AAV-based therapeutics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Implementation of an intensive, multidisciplinary weight loss program in patients with morbid obesity is reported. This program is based on behavioral changes, lifestyle intervention, medication, and group therapy sessions. Our objective is to show that the results achieved with this two-year weight loss program will be at least similar to those achieved with bariatric surgery in patients with morbid obesity. We also intend to show that this multidisciplinary treatment induces an improvement in the comorbidity rate associated to smaller costs for our national health system., (Copyright © 2010 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Spatial variation in growth of stream-dwelling brown trout Salmo trutta was explored in 13 populations using a long-term study (1993-2004) in the Bay of Biscay drainage, northern Spain. The high variability in fork length (L(F)) of S. trutta in the study area was similar to the body-size range found in the entire European distribution of the species. Mean L(F) at age varied: 0+ years, 57.4-100.7 mm; 1+ years, 111.6-176.0 mm; 2+ years, 155.6-248.4 mm and 3+ years, 194.3-290.9 mm. Average L(F) at age was higher in main courses and lower reaches compared with small tributaries and upper reaches. Annual specific growth rates (G(L)) were: 0+ to 1+ years, 0.634-0.825 mm mm(-1) year(-1); 1+ to 2+ years, 0.243-0.342 mm mm(-1) year(-1); 2+ to 3+ years, 0.166-0.222 mm mm(-1) year(-1), showing a great homogeneity. Regression models showed that water temperature and altitude were the major determinants of L(F) at age variability within the study area. A broader spatial analysis using available data from stream-dwelling S. trutta populations throughout Europe indicated a negative relationship between latitude and L(F) of individuals and a negative interaction between latitude and altitude. These findings support previous evidence of the pervasive role of water temperature on the L(F) of this species. Altitude appeared as the overall factor that includes the local variation of other variables, such as water temperature or food availability. At a larger scale, latitude was the factor that encompassed these environmental gradients and explained the differences in L(F) of S. trutta. In summary, L(F) at age in stream-dwelling S. trutta decreases with latitude in Europe, the converse of Bergmann's rule.