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McLaren F, Mercado M, Montalva N, Watkins L, Antipichun A, Cheristil J, Rocha-Jiménez T. Ethics in Mental Health Research with Haitian Migrants: Lessons from a Community-Based Study in Santiago, Chile. Ethics Hum Res 2024; 46:16-25. [PMID: 38629226 DOI: 10.1002/eahr.500209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Migration research poses several unique challenges and opportunities. Conducting ethical global health practice, especially when studying migrant mental health, is of particular concern. This article explores seven challenges and lessons learned in our mixed-methods study conducted to assess the impact of the migration experience on Haitian migrants' mental health in Santiago, Chile. The primary challenges were recruiting in a highly mobile population, building trust and community participation, overcoming language barriers, safety considerations during the Covid-19 pandemic, mitigating potential negative impacts of research on the community, providing psychological support, and finding meaningful ways to benefit the community. We propose moving toward a better and more ethical migrant research practice by ensuring language accessibility, hiring community members for the study team, working with local institutions and nongovernmental organizations, and maintaining sustainable connections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mercedes Mercado
- PhD student in psychology at the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Montalva
- Associate professor at the Society and Health Research Center (CISS) at the School of Psychology of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty, Universidad Mayor, Santiago de Chile, a principal investigator of the Millennium Nucleus in Sociomedicine (SocioMed), Santiago de Chile, and a guest researcher at BirthRites Lise Meitner Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany
| | - Loreto Watkins
- Researcher at the Universidad Diego Portales and at the Millennium Nucleus in Sociomedicine (SocioMed), Santiago, Chile
| | - Andy Antipichun
- Student in training of the Millennium Nucleus in Sociomedicine (SocioMed), Santiago, Chile
| | - Judeline Cheristil
- Member of the Haitian community and the field coordinator of the mentioned project affiliated with the ANID 11200486 project
| | - Teresita Rocha-Jiménez
- Associate professor at the Society and Health Research Center (CISS) at the School of Psychology of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Universidad Mayor, Santiago de Chile and a principal investigator of the Millennium Nucleus in Sociomedicine (SocioMed), Santiago de Chile
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Ugalde PC, Joly D, Latorre C, Gayo EM, Labarca R, Simunovic M, McRostie V, Holliday VT, Quade J, Santoro CM. The first peoples of the Atacama Desert lived among the trees: A 11,600- to 11,200-year-old grove and congregation site. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320506121. [PMID: 38648488 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320506121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In deserts, water has been singled out as the most important factor for choosing where to settle, but trees were likely an important part of the landscape for hunter-gatherers beyond merely constituting an economic resource. Yet, this critical aspect has not been considered archaeologically. Here, we present the results of mapping and radiocarbon dating of a truly unique archaeological record. Over 150 preserved stumps around five Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene archaeological campsites (12,800 to 11,200 cal BP) show that trees were key features in the creation of everyday habitats for the first inhabitants of the Atacama Desert. At two of these sites, QM12 and QM35, the spatial and chronological correlation between trees and hearths reveals that people located their homes under the tree canopy. At residential site QM35, artifact distribution coincides with a grove dated to ~11,600 to 11,200 cal BP. A third residential area (QM32) occurred along the grove margins ~12,000 to 11,200 cal BP. Based on the distinct cultural material of these two camps, we propose that two different groups intermittently shared this rich wetland-grove environment. The tree taxa suggest a preference for the native Schinus molle, a tree scarcely present on the landscape today, over the endemic, nitrogen-fixing Strombocarpa tamarugo, both for toolmaking and firewood and even though the S. tamarugo was locally more abundant. Together with the spatial and chronological coincidence of campsites, hearths, and trees, we propose that people spared the most abundant and resilient species to create their homes, in turn promoting fertility oases amid the Atacama's hyperaridity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C Ugalde
- Departamento de Antropología, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago 8340536, Chile
- Núcleo Milenio de Ecología Histórica Aplicada para los Bosques Áridos (AFOREST), Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Delphine Joly
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1001236, Chile
| | - Claudio Latorre
- Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Eugenia M Gayo
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Santiago 7800003, Chile
- Departamento de Geografía, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - Rafael Labarca
- Departamento de Antropología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Mikhaela Simunovic
- Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Virginia McRostie
- Núcleo Milenio de Ecología Histórica Aplicada para los Bosques Áridos (AFOREST), Santiago 7820436, Chile
- Departamento de Antropología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Vance T Holliday
- School of Anthropology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Jay Quade
- Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Calogero M Santoro
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1001236, Chile
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Maldifassi MC, Guerra-Fernández MJ, Ponce D, Alfonso-Bueno S, Maripillán J, Vielma AH, Báez-Matus X, Marengo FD, Acuña-Castillo C, Sáez JC, Martínez AD, Cárdenas AM. Autocrine activation of P2X7 receptors mediates catecholamine secretion in chromaffin cells. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38679932 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE ATP is highly accumulated in secretory vesicles and secreted upon exocytosis from neurons and endocrine cells. In adrenal chromaffin granules, intraluminal ATP reaches concentrations over 100 mM. However, how these large amounts of ATP contribute to exocytosis has not been investigated. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Exocytotic events in bovine and mouse adrenal chromaffin cells were measured with single cell amperometry. Cytosolic Ca2+ measurements were carried out in Fluo-4 loaded cells. Submembrane Ca2+ was examined in PC12 cells transfected with a membrane-tethered Ca2+ indicator Lck-GCaMP3. ATP release was measured using the luciferin/luciferase assay. Knockdown of P2X7 receptors was induced with short interfering RNA (siRNA). Direct Ca2+ influx through this receptor was measured using a P2X7 receptor-GCamp6 construct. KEY RESULTS ATP induced exocytosis in chromaffin cells, whereas the ectonucleotidase apyrase reduced the release events induced by the nicotinic agonist dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), high KCl, or ionomycin. The purinergic agonist BzATP also promoted a secretory response that was dependent on extracellular Ca2+. A740003, a P2X7 receptor antagonist, abolished secretory responses of these secretagogues. Exocytosis was also diminished in chromaffin cells when P2X7 receptors were silenced using siRNAs and in cells of P2X7 receptor knockout mice. In PC12 cells, DMPP induced ATP release, triggering Ca2+ influx through P2X7 receptors. Furthermore, BzATP, DMPP, and KCl allowed the formation of submembrane Ca2+ microdomains inhibited by A740003. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Autocrine activation of P2X7 receptors constitutes a crucial feedback system that amplifies the secretion of catecholamines in chromaffin cells by favouring submembrane Ca2+ microdomains.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Constanza Maldifassi
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - María José Guerra-Fernández
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Daniela Ponce
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Samuel Alfonso-Bueno
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. CONICET. Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Maripillán
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Alex H Vielma
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ximena Báez-Matus
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Fernando D Marengo
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. CONICET. Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Acuña-Castillo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan C Sáez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Agustín D Martínez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ana M Cárdenas
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Bernal-Durán V, Donoso D, Piñones A, Jonsson PR, Benestan L, Landaeta MF, Naretto J, Gerard K, Haye PA, Gonzalez-Wevar C, Poulin E, Segovia NI. Combining population genomics and biophysical modelling to assess connectivity patterns in an Antarctic fish. Mol Ecol 2024:e17360. [PMID: 38656687 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Connectivity is a fundamental process of population dynamics in marine ecosystems. In the last decade, with the emergence of new methods, combining different approaches to understand the patterns of connectivity among populations and their regulation has become increasingly feasible. The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is characterized by complex oceanographic dynamics, where local conditions could act as barriers to population connectivity. Here, the notothenioid fish Harpagifer antarcticus, a demersal species with a complex life cycle (adults with poor swim capabilities and pelagic larvae), was used to assess connectivity along the WAP by combining biophysical modelling and population genomics methods. Both approaches showed congruent patterns. Areas of larvae retention and low potential connectivity, observed in the biophysical model output, coincide with four genetic groups within the WAP: (1) South Shetland Islands, (2) Bransfield Strait, (3) the central and (4) the southern area of WAP (Marguerite Bay). These genetic groups exhibited limited gene flow between them, consistent with local oceanographic conditions, which would represent barriers to larval dispersal. The joint effect of geographic distance and larval dispersal by ocean currents had a greater influence on the observed population structure than each variable evaluated separately. The combined effect of geographic distance and a complex oceanographic dynamic would be generating limited levels of population connectivity in the fish H. antarcticus along the WAP. Based on this, population connectivity estimations and priority areas for conservation were discussed, considering the marine protected area proposed for this threatened region of the Southern Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bernal-Durán
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Instituto Milenio de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - David Donoso
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Andrea Piñones
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas (ICML) y Centro FONDAP IDEAL, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Centro COPAS COASTAL, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Per R Jonsson
- Department of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Laura Benestan
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Centre du Pacifique, Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | - Mauricio F Landaeta
- Laboratorio de Ictiología e Interacciones Biofísicas (LABITI), Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Centro de Observación Marino para Estudios de Riesgos del Ambiente Costero (COSTA-R), Universidad de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | | | - Karin Gerard
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Pilar A Haye
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-ecología Costera (SECOS), Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultadde Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Claudio Gonzalez-Wevar
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas (ICML) y Centro FONDAP IDEAL, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Elie Poulin
- Instituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y subAntárticos (MIBASE), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Instituto Milenio de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás I Segovia
- Instituto Milenio en Socio-ecología Costera (SECOS), Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultadde Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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Tapia R, Brito B, Saavedra M, Mena J, García-Salum T, Rathnasinghe R, Barriga G, Tapia K, García V, Bucarey S, Jang Y, Wentworth D, Torremorell M, Neira V, Medina RA. Novel influenza A viruses in pigs with zoonotic potential, Chile. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0218123. [PMID: 38446039 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02181-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel H1N2 and H3N2 swine influenza A viruses (IAVs) have recently been identified in Chile. The objective of this study was to evaluate their zoonotic potential. We perform phylogenetic analyses to determine the genetic origin and evolution of these viruses, and a serological analysis to determine the level of cross-protective antibodies in the human population. Eight genotypes were identified, all with pandemic H1N1 2009-like internal genes. H1N1 and H1N2 were the subtypes more commonly detected. Swine H1N2 and H3N2 IAVs had hemagglutinin and neuraminidase lineages genetically divergent from IAVs reported worldwide, including human vaccine strains. These genes originated from human seasonal viruses were introduced into the swine population since the mid-1980s. Serological data indicate that the general population is susceptible to the H3N2 virus and that elderly and young children also lack protective antibodies against the H1N2 strains, suggesting that these viruses could be potential zoonotic threats. Continuous IAV surveillance and monitoring of the swine and human populations is strongly recommended.IMPORTANCEIn the global context, where swine serve as crucial intermediate hosts for influenza A viruses (IAVs), this study addresses the pressing concern of the zoonotic potential of novel reassortant strains. Conducted on a large scale in Chile, it presents a comprehensive account of swine influenza A virus diversity, covering 93.8% of the country's industrialized swine farms. The findings reveal eight distinct swine IAV genotypes, all carrying a complete internal gene cassette of pandemic H1N1 2009 origin, emphasizing potential increased replication and transmission fitness. Genetic divergence of H1N2 and H3N2 IAVs from globally reported strains raises alarms, with evidence suggesting introductions from human seasonal viruses since the mid-1980s. A detailed serological analysis underscores the zoonotic threat, indicating susceptibility in the general population to swine H3N2 and a lack of protective antibodies in vulnerable demographics. These data highlight the importance of continuous surveillance, providing crucial insights for global health organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bárbara Brito
- Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marco Saavedra
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Mena
- Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tamara García-Salum
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raveen Rathnasinghe
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Barriga
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karla Tapia
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Yunho Jang
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Wentworth
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | - Rafael A Medina
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Asunción-Alvarez D, Palacios J, Ybañez-Julca RO, Rodriguez-Silva CN, Nwokocha C, Cifuentes F, Greensmith DJ. Calcium signaling in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells: sex differences and the influence of estrogens and androgens. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H950-H970. [PMID: 38334967 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00600.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Calcium signaling in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is essential for the regulation of vascular tone. However, the changes to intracellular Ca2+ concentrations are often influenced by sex differences. Furthermore, a large body of evidence shows that sex hormone imbalance leads to dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling and this is a key factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, the effects of estrogens and androgens on vascular calcium-handling proteins are discussed, with emphasis on the associated genomic or nongenomic molecular mechanisms. The experimental models from which data were collected were also considered. The review highlights 1) in female ECs, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) and mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) enhance Ca2+-dependent nitric oxide (NO) generation. In males, only transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3) plays a fundamental role in this effect. 2) Female VSMCs have lower cytosolic Ca2+ levels than males due to differences in the activity and expression of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 (Orai1), calcium voltage-gated channel subunit-α1C (CaV1.2), Na+-K+-2Cl- symporter (NKCC1), and the Na+/K+-ATPase. 3) When compared with androgens, the influence of estrogens on Ca2+ homeostasis, vascular tone, and incidence of vascular disease is better documented. 4) Many studies use supraphysiological concentrations of sex hormones, which may limit the physiological relevance of outcomes. 5) Sex-dependent differences in Ca2+ signaling mean both sexes ought to be included in experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Asunción-Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Aplicada, Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Javier Palacios
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Aplicada, Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Roberto O Ybañez-Julca
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú
| | - Cristhian N Rodriguez-Silva
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú
| | - Chukwuemeka Nwokocha
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences Physiology Section, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Fredi Cifuentes
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental (EphyL), Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - David J Greensmith
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
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Vera E, Cornejo I, Henao JC, Tribiños F, Burgos J, Sepúlveda FV, Cid LP. Normal vision and development in mice with low functional expression of Kir7.1 in heterozygosis for a blindness-producing mutation inactivating the channel. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C1178-C1192. [PMID: 38406825 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00597.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
K+ channel Kir7.1 expressed at the apical membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays an essential role in retinal function. An isoleucine-to-threonine mutation at position 120 of the protein is responsible for blindness-causing vitreo-retinal dystrophy. We have studied the molecular mechanism of action of Kir7.1-I120T in vitro by heterologous expression and in vivo in CRISPR-generated knockin mice. Full-size Kir7.1-I120T reaches the plasma membrane but lacks any activity. Analysis of Kir7.1 and the I120T mutant in mixed transfection experiments, and that of tandem tetrameric constructs made by combining wild type (WT) and mutant protomers, leads us to conclude that they do not form heterotetramers in vitro. Homozygous I120T/I120T mice show cleft palate and tracheomalacia and do not survive beyond P0, whereas heterozygous WT/I120T develop normally. Membrane conductance of RPE cells isolated from WT/WT and heterozygous WT/I120T mice is dominated by Kir7.1 current. Using Rb+ as a charge carrier, we demonstrate that the Kir7.1 current of WT/I120T RPE cells corresponds to approximately 50% of that in cells from WT/WT animals, in direct proportion to WT gene dosage. This suggests a lack of compensatory effects or interference from the mutated allele product, an interpretation consistent with results obtained using WT/- hemizygous mouse. Electroretinography and behavioral tests also show normal vision in WT/I120T animals. The hypomorphic ion channel phenotype of heterozygous Kir7.1-I120T mutants is therefore compatible with normal development and retinal function. The lack of detrimental effect of this degree of functional deficit might explain the recessive nature of Kir7.1 mutations causing human eye disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Human retinal pigment epithelium K+ channel Kir7.1 is affected by generally recessive mutations leading to blindness. We investigate one such mutation, isoleucine-to-threonine at position 120, both in vitro and in vivo in knockin mice. The mutated channel is inactive and in heterozygosis gives a hypomorphic phenotype with normal retinal function. Mutant channels do not interfere with wild-type Kir7.1 channels which are expressed concomitantly without hindrance, providing an explanation for the recessive nature of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin Vera
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Valdivia, Chile
- Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Isabel Cornejo
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Valdivia, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias para el Cuidado de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Henao
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Valdivia, Chile
- Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | | | - Francisco V Sepúlveda
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Valdivia, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
| | - L Pablo Cid
- Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Valdivia, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
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Román L, Melis-Arcos F, Pröschle T, Saa PA, Garrido D. Genome-scale metabolic modeling of the human milk oligosaccharide utilization by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0071523. [PMID: 38363147 PMCID: PMC10949479 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00715-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is a representative and dominant species in the infant gut and is considered a beneficial microbe. This organism displays multiple adaptations to thrive in the infant gut, regarded as a model for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) utilization. These carbohydrates are abundant in breast milk and include different molecules based on lactose. They contain fucose, sialic acid, and N-acetylglucosamine. Bifidobacterium metabolism is complex, and a systems view of relevant metabolic pathways and exchange metabolites during HMO consumption is missing. To address this limitation, a refined genome-scale network reconstruction of this bacterium is presented using a previous reconstruction of B. infantis ATCC 15967 as a template. The latter was expanded based on an extensive revision of genome annotations, current literature, and transcriptomic data integration. The metabolic reconstruction (iLR578) accounted for 578 genes, 1,047 reactions, and 924 metabolites. Starting from this reconstruction, we built context-specific genome-scale metabolic models using RNA-seq data from cultures growing in lactose and three HMOs. The models revealed notable differences in HMO metabolism depending on the functional characteristics of the substrates. Particularly, fucosyl-lactose showed a divergent metabolism due to a fucose moiety. High yields of lactate and acetate were predicted under growth rate maximization in all conditions, whereas formate, ethanol, and 1,2-propanediol were substantially lower. Similar results were also obtained under near-optimal growth on each substrate when varying the empirically observed acetate-to-lactate production ratio. Model predictions displayed reasonable agreement between central carbon metabolism fluxes and expression data across all conditions. Flux coupling analysis revealed additional connections between succinate exchange and arginine and sulfate metabolism and a strong coupling between central carbon reactions and adenine metabolism. More importantly, specific networks of coupled reactions under each carbon source were derived and analyzed. Overall, the presented network reconstruction constitutes a valuable platform for probing the metabolism of this prominent infant gut bifidobacteria.IMPORTANCEThis work presents a detailed reconstruction of the metabolism of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, a prominent member of the infant gut microbiome, providing a systems view of its metabolism of human milk oligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreto Román
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Melis-Arcos
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomás Pröschle
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro A. Saa
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Institute for Mathematical and Computational Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Garrido
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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9
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Cavieres-Lepe J, Amini E, Zabel M, Nässel DR, Stanewsky R, Wegener C, Ewer J. Timed receptor tyrosine kinase signaling couples the central and a peripheral circadian clock in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308067121. [PMID: 38442160 PMCID: PMC10945756 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308067121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks impose daily periodicities to behavior, physiology, and metabolism. This control is mediated by a central clock and by peripheral clocks, which are synchronized to provide the organism with a unified time through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Here, we characterized in Drosophila the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in coupling the central clock and the peripheral clock located in the prothoracic gland (PG), which together control the circadian rhythm of emergence of adult flies. The time signal from central clock neurons is transmitted via small neuropeptide F (sNPF) to neurons that produce the neuropeptide Prothoracicotropic Hormone (PTTH), which is then translated into daily oscillations of Ca2+ concentration and PTTH levels. PTTH signaling is required at the end of metamorphosis and transmits time information to the PG through changes in the expression of the PTTH receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), TORSO, and of ERK phosphorylation, a key component of PTTH transduction. In addition to PTTH, we demonstrate that signaling mediated by other RTKs contributes to the rhythmicity of emergence. Interestingly, the ligand to one of these receptors (Pvf2) plays an autocrine role in the PG, which may explain why both central brain and PG clocks are required for the circadian gating of emergence. Our findings show that the coupling between the central and the PG clock is unexpectedly complex and involves several RTKs that act in concert and could serve as a paradigm to understand how circadian clocks are coordinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cavieres-Lepe
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2360102, Chile
| | - Emad Amini
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Biocenter, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Neurobiology and Genetics, Am Hubland, Würzburg97074, Germany
| | - Maia Zabel
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2360102, Chile
| | - Dick R. Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ralf Stanewsky
- Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Multiscale Imaging Centre, University of Münster, 48149Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Wegener
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Biocenter, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Neurobiology and Genetics, Am Hubland, Würzburg97074, Germany
| | - John Ewer
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2360102, Chile
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2360102, Chile
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10
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Rain-Franco A, Peter H, Pavan de Moraes G, Beier S. The cost of adaptability: resource availability constrains functional stability under pulsed disturbances. mSphere 2024; 9:e0072723. [PMID: 38206053 PMCID: PMC10900906 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00727-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Global change exposes ecosystems to changes in the frequency, magnitude, and concomitancy of disturbances, which impact the composition and functioning of these systems. Here, we experimentally evaluate the effects of salinity disturbances and eutrophication on bacterial communities from coastal ecosystems. The functional stability of these communities is critically important for maintaining water quality, productivity, and ecosystem services, such as fishery yields. Microbial functional stability can be maintained via resistance and resilience, which are reflected in genomic traits such as genome size and codon usage bias and may be linked to metabolic costs. However, little is known about the mechanisms that select these traits under varying nutrient regimes. To study the impact of pulsed disturbances on community assembly and functioning depending on metabolic costs, we performed a 41-day pulse disturbance experiment across two levels of resource availability. Our setup triggered stochastic community re-assembly processes in all treatments. In contrast, we observed consistent and resource availability-dependent patterns of superordinate community functioning and structural patterns, such as functional resistance in response to disturbances, genomic trait distributions, and species diversity. Predicted genomic traits reflected the selection for taxa possessing resistant- and resilience-related traits, particularly under high nutrient availability. Our findings are a step toward unraveling the compositional and genomic underpinnings of functional resistance in microbial communities after exposure to consecutive pulse disturbances. Our work demonstrates how resource availability alleviates metabolic constraints on resistance and resilience, and this has important consequences for predicting water quality and ecosystem productivity of environments exposed to global change. IMPORTANCE Understanding the communities' responses to disturbances is a prerequisite to predicting ecosystem dynamics and, thus, highly relevant considering global change. Microbial communities play key roles in numerous ecosystem functions and services, and the large diversity, rapid growth, and phenotypic plasticity of microorganisms are thought to allow high resistance and resilience. While potential metabolic costs associated with adaptations to fluctuating environments have been debated, little evidence supports trade-offs between resource availability, resistance, and resilience. Here, we experimentally assessed the compositional and functional responses of an aquatic microbial model community to disturbances and systematically manipulated resource availability. Our results demonstrate that the capacity to tolerate environmental fluctuations is constrained by resource availability and reflected in the selection of genomic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Rain-Franco
- UMR 7621 Laboratoire d’Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Guilherme Pavan de Moraes
- UMR 7621 Laboratoire d’Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Botany, Graduate Program in Ecology and Natural Resources (PPGERN), Laboratory of Phycology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Sara Beier
- UMR 7621 Laboratoire d’Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
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11
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Millán JD. "My Opponent Prof. W.": The debate between Wilhelm Wundt and Adolf Horwicz in the beginning of physiological psychology (1872-1879). Hist Psychol 2024; 27:24-53. [PMID: 37917472 DOI: 10.1037/hop0000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Adolf Horwicz (1831-1894) was the main public critic of Wilhelm Wundt's election for the chair of philosophy at the Universität Leipzig in 1875. Horwicz's book titled Psychologische Analysen auf physiologischer Grundlage published in 1872 had a great impact on his contemporaries. Two years later, Wundt published Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie (1874) and with Horwicz's books were recognized as the most representative books of the emerging physiological psychology. Finally, Horwicz and Wundt had a debate published in Vierteljahrsschrift für wissenschaftliche Philosophie during 1879-1880 in where Wundt affirmed that many of Horwicz's research results were deduced from preconceived ideas without using a clear method. For that reason, Horwicz considered that Wundt's criticisms were aimed at destroying his scientific reputation. The debate is the materialization of a long professional struggle that took place between professional philosophers and physiologists who began to occupy chairs of philosophy in the early 1870s. The debate can be summarized in the following questions: (a) Should psychology have as its main objective the search for a single physical-biological process to which all other psychical processes are reduced? (b) Should psychological research use an inductivist reasoning? (c) What should be the relationship between philosophy and the psychological psychology? (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Villarreal P, O'Donnell S, Agier N, Muñoz-Guzman F, Benavides-Parra J, Urbina K, Peña TA, Solomon M, Nespolo RF, Fischer G, Varela C, Cubillos FA. Domestication signatures in the non-conventional yeast Lachancea cidri. mSystems 2024; 9:e0105823. [PMID: 38085042 PMCID: PMC10805023 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01058-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Evaluating domestication signatures beyond model organisms is essential for a thorough understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationship in wild and human-related environments. Structural variations (SVs) can significantly impact phenotypes playing an important role in the physiological adaptation of species to different niches, including during domestication. A detailed characterization of the fitness consequences of these genomic rearrangements, however, is still limited in non-model systems, largely due to the paucity of direct comparisons between domesticated and wild isolates. Here, we used a combination of sequencing strategies to explore major genomic rearrangements in a Lachancea cidri yeast strain isolated from cider (CBS2950) and compared them to those in eight wild isolates from primary forests. Genomic analysis revealed dozens of SVs, including a large reciprocal translocation (~16 kb and 500 kb) present in the cider strain, but absent from all wild strains. Interestingly, the number of SVs was higher relative to single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the cider strain, suggesting a significant role in the strain's phenotypic variation. The set of SVs identified directly impacts dozens of genes and likely underpins the greater fermentation performance in the L. cidri CBS2950. In addition, the large reciprocal translocation affects a proline permease (PUT4) regulatory region, resulting in higher PUT4 transcript levels, which agrees with higher ethanol tolerance, improved cell growth when using proline, and higher amino acid consumption during fermentation. These results suggest that SVs are responsible for the rapid physiological adaptation of yeast to a human-related environment and demonstrate the key contribution of SVs in adaptive fermentative traits in non-model species.IMPORTANCEThe exploration of domestication signatures associated with human-related environments has predominantly focused on studies conducted on model organisms, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, overlooking the potential for comparisons across other non-Saccharomyces species. In our research, employing a combination of long- and short-read data, we found domestication signatures in Lachancea cidri, a non-model species recently isolated from fermentative environments in cider in France. The significance of our study lies in the identification of large array of major genomic rearrangements in a cider strain compared to wild isolates, which underly several fermentative traits. These domestication signatures result from structural variants, which are likely responsible for the phenotypic differences between strains, providing a rapid path of adaptation to human-related environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Villarreal
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Samuel O'Donnell
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Agier
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Felipe Muñoz-Guzman
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Jose Benavides-Parra
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Kami Urbina
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomas A. Peña
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Mark Solomon
- The Australian Wine Research Institute, Glen Osmond, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Roberto F. Nespolo
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gilles Fischer
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Cristian Varela
- The Australian Wine Research Institute, Glen Osmond, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Francisco A. Cubillos
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Santiago, Chile
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Hurtado L, Urtubia R, Concha C, Rodríguez S, Barja JL, Rojas R. Draft genome sequence of Vibrio lentus VLO8, recovered from the larval culture of the Chilean scallop ( Argopecten purpuratus). Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0045823. [PMID: 37975664 PMCID: PMC10720560 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00458-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This announcement reports the genome of Vibrio lentus VLO8 recovered from the larval culture of Chilean scallop. The genomes of strain VLO8 have two contigs with a total length of 5,499,980 bp, an average G + C content of 44.22%, a total number of protein-coding genes of 6,439, and 170 RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Hurtado
- Departamento de Acuicultura, Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Rocío Urtubia
- Programa Doctorado en Acuicultura, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | | | - Sergio Rodríguez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, CIBUS-Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan L. Barja
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, CIBUS-Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Rojas
- Departamento de Acuicultura, Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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14
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Pavez VB, Pacheco N, Castro-Severyn J, Pardo-Esté C, Álvarez J, Zepeda P, Krüger G, Gallardo K, Melo F, Vernal R, Aranda C, Remonsellez F, Saavedra CP. Characterization of biofilm formation by Exiguobacterium strains in response to arsenic exposure. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0265723. [PMID: 37819075 PMCID: PMC10714750 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02657-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In this work, we characterized the composition, structure, and functional potential for biofilm formation of Exiguobacterium strains isolated from the Salar de Huasco in Chile in the presence of arsenic, an abundant metalloid in the Salar that exists in different oxidation states. Our results showed that the Exiguobacterium strains tested exhibit a significant capacity to form biofilms when exposed to arsenic, which would contribute to their resistance to the metalloid. The results highlight the importance of biofilm formation and the presence of specific resistance mechanisms in the ability of microorganisms to survive and thrive under adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina B. Pavez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Pacheco
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Castro-Severyn
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Coral Pardo-Esté
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular y Microbiología Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Javiera Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory of Allergic Inflammation, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Phillippi Zepeda
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriel Krüger
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karem Gallardo
- Centro de Investigación Tecnológica del Agua en el Desierto (CEITSAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Francisco Melo
- Laboratorio de Física no Lineal, Departamento de Física, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rolando Vernal
- Laboratorio de Biología Periodontal, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Aranda
- Laboratorio de Microscopía Avanzada, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile
| | - Francisco Remonsellez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
- Centro de Investigación Tecnológica del Agua en el Desierto (CEITSAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Claudia P. Saavedra
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
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Degli Esposti M, Guerrero G, Rogel MA, Issotta F, Rojas-Villalobos C, Quatrini R, Martinez-Romero E. The phylogeny of Acetobacteraceae: photosynthetic traits and deranged respiratory enzymes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0057523. [PMID: 37975678 PMCID: PMC10715153 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00575-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Acetobacteraceae are one of the best known and most extensively studied groups of bacteria, which nowadays encompasses a variety of taxa that are very different from the vinegar-producing species defining the family. Our paper presents the most detailed phylogeny of all current taxa classified as Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose a taxonomic revision. Several of such taxa inhabit some of the most extreme environments on the planet, from the deserts of Antarctica to the Sinai desert, as well as acidic niches in volcanic sites like the one we have been studying in Patagonia. Our work documents the progressive variation of the respiratory chain in early branching Acetobacteraceae into the different respiratory chains of acidophilic taxa such as Acidocella and acetous taxa such as Acetobacter. Remarkably, several genomes retain remnants of ancestral photosynthetic traits and functional bc 1 complexes. Thus, we propose that the common ancestor of Acetobacteraceae was photosynthetic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Degli Esposti
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Guerrero
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Marco A. Rogel
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Francisco Issotta
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
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Sepulveda P, Stegger M, Monti G, Canales N, Mella A, Butaye P, Müller A. Draft genomes of 16 Bartonella henselae strains from cats in Valdivia, Chile. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0064823. [PMID: 37847065 PMCID: PMC10652885 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00648-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bartonella henselae is a primary zoonotic agent, having cats as asymptomatic reservoirs. In humans, it causes cat scratch disease. Here, we report the whole genome sequences of 16 strains isolated from cats in Valdivia city, Southern Chile. Strains showed little variability in the multilocus sequence typing profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Sepulveda
- Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Gustavo Monti
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nivia Canales
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Armin Mella
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Patrick Butaye
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Ananda Müller
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinaria, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Martínez F, Tobar C, Taramasco C. Effects of internet-based telemonitoring platforms on the quality of life of oncologic patients: A systematic literature review protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293948. [PMID: 37939125 PMCID: PMC10631686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telemonitoring involves the transmission of clinical information through digital means, including internet-connected devices such as smartphones, health tracking apps and video conferencing platforms. This strategy could provide a viable alternative to facilitate follow-up in several conditions, including cancer. OBJECTIVES To synthesise the available evidence on the effectiveness of internet-based telemonitoring platforms amongst oncological patients. Relevant endpoints include overall quality of life, the ability to detect postoperative complications, severe toxicity reactions attributable to chemotherapy, reducing the frequency of hospitalisations, emergency department visits and mortality. METHODS A systematic review of published and unpublished randomised and controlled studies will be carried out. Iterative searches in PubMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Epistemonikos, LILACS, and Cochrane CENTRAL repositories from January 2000 to January 2023 will be conducted. Grey literature repositories, such as Clinicaltrials, BioRxiv and MedRxiv will be searched as well. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used to assess the quality of the eligible studies. If possible, a meta-analysis based on the random-effects model will be conducted to evaluate changes in any of the aforementioned outcomes. Heterogeneity will be assessed with Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics. Its exploration will be carried out using subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Relevant subgroups include the proportion of elderly patients in each study, characteristics of each platform, study type, type of funding and moment of conduction (i.e. before or after the COVID-19 pandemic). Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. REGISTRATION This systematic review protocol is registered in PROSPERO. Its registration number is CRD42023412705.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Martínez
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
- Concentra Educación e Investigación Biomédica, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Catalina Tobar
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
- Concentra Educación e Investigación Biomédica, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Servicio de Medicina, Hospital Gustavo Fricke, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Carla Taramasco
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
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Sánchez-Fuenzalida N, van Gaal S, Fleming SM, Haaf JM, Fahrenfort JJ. Predictions and rewards affect decision-making but not subjective experience. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220749120. [PMID: 37878723 PMCID: PMC10622870 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220749120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
To survive, organisms constantly make decisions to avoid danger and maximize rewards in information-rich environments. As a result, decisions about sensory input are not only driven by sensory information but also by other factors, such as the expected rewards of a decision (known as the payoff matrix) or by information about temporal regularities in the environment (known as cognitive priors or predictions). However, it is unknown to what extent these different types of information affect subjective experience or whether they merely result in nonperceptual response criterion shifts. To investigate this question, we used three carefully matched manipulations that typically result in behavioral shifts in decision criteria: a visual illusion (Müller-Lyer condition), a punishment scheme (payoff condition), and a change in the ratio of relevant stimuli (base rate condition). To gauge shifts in subjective experience, we introduce a task in which participants not only make decisions about what they have just seen but are also asked to reproduce their experience of a target stimulus. Using Bayesian ordinal modeling, we show that each of these three manipulations affects the decision criterion as intended but that the visual illusion uniquely affects sensory experience as measured by reproduction. In a series of follow-up experiments, we use computational modeling to show that although the visual illusion results in a distinct drift-diffusion (DDM) parameter profile relative to nonsensory manipulations, reliance on DDM parameter estimates alone is not sufficient to ascertain whether a given manipulation is perceptual or nonperceptual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Sánchez-Fuenzalida
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen M. Fleming
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, LondonWC1N 3AR, United Kingdom
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, LondonWC1H 0AP, United Kingdom
- Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, LondonWC1B 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Julia M. Haaf
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes J. Fahrenfort
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1001NK, The Netherlands
- Department of Applied and Experimental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, The Netherlands
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, The Netherlands
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Jiménez NE, Acuña V, Cortés MP, Eveillard D, Maass AE. Unveiling abundance-dependent metabolic phenotypes of microbial communities. mSystems 2023; 8:e0049223. [PMID: 37668446 PMCID: PMC10654064 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00492-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In nature, organisms live in communities and not as isolated species, and their interactions provide a source of resilience to environmental disturbances. Despite their importance in ecology, human health, and industry, understanding how organisms interact in different environments remains an open question. In this work, we provide a novel approach that, only using genomic information, studies the metabolic phenotype exhibited by communities, where the exploration of suboptimal growth flux distributions and the composition of a community allows to unveil its capacity to respond to environmental changes, shedding light of the degrees of metabolic plasticity inherent to the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia E. Jiménez
- Center for Mathematical Modeling, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Genome Regulation, Millennium Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vicente Acuña
- Center for Mathematical Modeling, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Genome Regulation, Millennium Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Cortés
- Center for Mathematical Modeling, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Alejandro Eduardo Maass
- Center for Mathematical Modeling, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Genome Regulation, Millennium Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Mathematical Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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20
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Barbosa C, Tamayo-Leiva J, Alcorta J, Salgado O, Daniele L, Morata D, Díez B. Effects of hydrogeochemistry on the microbial ecology of terrestrial hot springs. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0024923. [PMID: 37754764 PMCID: PMC10581198 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00249-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature, pH, and hydrochemistry of terrestrial hot springs play a critical role in shaping thermal microbial communities. However, the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors at this terrestrial-aquatic interface are still not well understood on a global scale, and the question of how underground events influence microbial communities remains open. To answer this, 11 new samples obtained from the El Tatio geothermal field were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V4 region), along with 191 samples from previous publications obtained from the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, and the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, with their temperature, pH, and major ion concentration. Microbial alpha diversity was lower in acid-sulfate waters, and no significant correlations were found with temperature. However, moderate correlations were observed between chemical parameters such as pH (mostly constrained to temperatures below 70°C), SO4 2- and abundances of members of the phyla Armatimonadota, Deinococcota, Chloroflexota, Campilobacterota, and Thermoplasmatota. pH and SO4 2- gradients were explained by phase separation of sulfur-rich hydrothermal fluids and oxidation of reduced sulfur in the steam phase, which were identified as key processes shaping these communities. Ordination and permutational analysis of variance showed that temperature, pH, and major element hydrochemistry explain only 24% of the microbial community structure. Therefore, most of the variance remained unexplained, suggesting that other environmental or biotic factors are also involved and highlighting the environmental complexity of the ecosystem and its great potential to test niche theory ecological associated questions. IMPORTANCE This is the first approach to investigate whether geothermal processes could have an influence on the ecology of thermal microbial communities on a global scale. In addition to temperature and pH, microbial communities are structured by sulfate concentrations, which depends on the tectono-magmatic settings (such as the depth of magmatic chambers) and the local settings (such as the availability of a confining layer separating NaCl waters from steam after phase separation) and the possibility of mixing with more diluted fluids. Comparison of microbial communities from different geothermal areas by homogeneous sequence processing showed that no significant geographic distance decay was detected on the microbial communities according to Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, unweighted, and weighted Unifrac similarity/dissimilarity indices. Instead, an ancient potential divergence in the same taxonomic groups is suggested between globally distant thermal zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Barbosa
- Department of Geology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA-Fondap), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javier Tamayo-Leiva
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center of Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime Alcorta
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center of Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Oscar Salgado
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Adventista de Chile, Chillán, Chile
| | - Linda Daniele
- Department of Geology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA-Fondap), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Morata
- Department of Geology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA-Fondap), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Beatríz Díez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center of Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
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21
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Veloso M, Arros P, Acosta J, Rojas R, Berríos-Pastén C, Varas M, Araya P, Hormazábal JC, Allende ML, Chávez FP, Lagos R, Marcoleta AE. Antimicrobial resistance, pathogenic potential, and genomic features of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in Chile: high-risk ST25 clones and novel mobile elements. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0039923. [PMID: 37707451 PMCID: PMC10581085 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00399-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug- and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) are critical threats to global health and key traffickers of resistance genes to other pathogens. Despite the sustained increase in CR-Kp infections in Chile, few strains have been described at the genomic level, lacking details of their resistance and virulence determinants and the mobile elements mediating their dissemination. In this work, we studied the antimicrobial susceptibility and performed a comparative genomic analysis of 10 CR-Kp isolates from the Chilean surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. High resistance was observed among the isolates (five ST25, three ST11, one ST45, and one ST505), which harbored 44 plasmids, most carrying genes for conjugation and resistance to several antibiotics and biocides. Ten plasmids encoding carbapenemases were characterized, including novel plasmids or variants with additional resistance genes, a novel genetic environment for blaKPC-2, and plasmids widely disseminated in South America. ST25 K2 isolates belonging to CG10224, a clone traced back to 2012 in Chile, which recently acquired blaNDM-1, blaNDM-7, or blaKPC-2 plasmids stood out as high-risk clones. Moreover, this corresponds to the first report of ST25 and ST45 Kp producing NDM-7 in South America and ST505 CR-Kp producing both NDM-7 and KPC-2 worldwide. Also, we characterized a variety of genomic islands carrying virulence and fitness factors. These results provide baseline knowledge for a detailed understanding of molecular and genetic determinants behind antibiotic resistance and virulence of CR-Kp in Chile and South America. IMPORTANCE In the ongoing antimicrobial resistance crisis, carbapenem-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are critical threats to public health. Besides globally disseminated clones, the burden of local problem clones remains substantial. Although genomic analysis is a powerful tool for improving pathogen and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, it is still restricted in low- to middle-income countries, including Chile, causing them to be underrepresented in genomic databases and epidemiology surveys. This study provided the first 10 complete genomes of the Chilean surveillance for carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae in healthcare settings, unveiling their resistance and virulence determinants and the mobile genetic elements mediating their dissemination, placed in the South American and global K. pneumoniae epidemiological context. We found ST25 with K2 capsule as an emerging high-risk clone, along with other lineages producing two carbapenemases and several other resistance and virulence genes encoded in novel plasmids and genomic islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Veloso
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joaquin Acosta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto Rojas
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Macarena Varas
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Miguel L. Allende
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco P. Chávez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés E. Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Vásquez-Ponce F, Bispo J, Becerra J, Fontana H, Pariona JGM, Esposito F, Fuga B, Oliveira FA, Brunetti F, Power P, Gutkind G, Schreiber AZ, Lincopan N. Emergence of KPC-113 and KPC-114 variants in ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae belonging to high-risk clones ST11 and ST16 in South America. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0037423. [PMID: 37671877 PMCID: PMC10580961 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00374-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Two novel variants of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) associated with resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) and designated as KPC-113 and KPC-114 by NCBI were identified in 2020, in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Brazil. While K. pneumoniae of ST16 harbored the blaKPC-113 variant on an IncFII-IncFIB plasmid, K. pneumoniae of ST11 carried the blaKPC-114 variant on an IncN plasmid. Both isolates displayed resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins, β-lactam inhibitors, and ertapenem and doripenem, whereas K. pneumoniae producing KPC-114 showed susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem. Whole-genome sequencing and in silico analysis revealed that KPC-113 presented a Gly insertion between Ambler positions 264 and 265 (R264_A265insG), whereas KPC-114 displayed two amino acid insertions (Ser-Ser) between Ambler positions 181 and 182 (S181_P182insSS) in KPC-2, responsible for CZA resistance profiles. Our results confirm the emergence of novel KPC variants associated with resistance to CZA in international clones of K. pneumoniae circulating in South America. IMPORTANCE KPC-2 carbapenemases are endemic in Latin America. In this regard, in 2018, ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) was authorized for clinical use in Brazil due to its significant activity against KPC-2 producers. In recent years, reports of resistance to CZA have increased in this country, limiting its clinical application. In this study, we report the emergence of two novel KPC-2 variants, named KPC-113 and KPC-114, associated with CZA resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains belonging to high-risk clones ST11 and ST16. Our finding suggests that novel mutations in KPC-2 are increasing in South America, which is a critical issue deserving active surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Vásquez-Ponce
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jessica Bispo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Johana Becerra
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Herrison Fontana
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jesus G. M. Pariona
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Esposito
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Fuga
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flavio A. Oliveira
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Florencia Brunetti
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriologia y Virología Molecular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Power
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriologia y Virología Molecular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Gutkind
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriologia y Virología Molecular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Nilton Lincopan
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- One Health Brazilian Resistance Project (OneBR), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Montenegro-Montero A, Goity A, Canessa PF, Larrondo LF. Identification of a common secondary mutation in the Neurospora crassa knockout collection conferring a cell fusion-defective phenotype. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0208723. [PMID: 37623742 PMCID: PMC10580951 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02087-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-deletion mutants represent a powerful tool to study gene function. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a well-established model organism, and features a comprehensive gene knockout strain collection. While these mutant strains have been used in numerous studies, resulting in the functional annotation of many Neurospora genes, direct confirmation of gene-phenotype relationships is often lacking, which is particularly relevant given the possibility of background mutations, sample contamination, and/or strain mislabeling. Indeed, spontaneous mutations resulting in phenotypes resembling many cell fusion mutants have long been known to occur at relatively high frequency in N. crassa, and these secondary mutations are common in the Neurospora deletion collection. The identity of these mutations, however, is largely unknown. Here, we report that the Δada-3 strain from the N. crassa knockout collection, which exhibits a cell fusion defect, harbors a secondary mutation responsible for this phenotype. Through whole-genome sequencing and genetic analyses, we found a ~30-Kb deletion in this strain affecting a known cell fusion-related gene, so/ham-1, and show that it is the absence of this gene-and not of ada-3-that underlies its cell fusion defect. We additionally found three other knockout strains harboring the same deletion, suggesting that this mutation may be common in the collection and could have impacted previous studies. Our findings provide a cautionary note and highlight the importance of proper functional validation of strains from mutant collections. We discuss our results in the context of the spread of cell fusion-defective cheater variants in N. crassa cultures. IMPORTANCE This study emphasizes the need for careful and detailed characterization of strains from mutant collections. Specifically, we found a common deletion in various strains from the Neurospora crassa gene knockout collection that results in a cell fusion-defective phenotype. This is noteworthy because this collection is known to contain background mutations-of a largely unclear nature-that produce cell fusion-defective phenotypes. Our results describe an example of such mutations, and highlight how this common genetic defect could have impacted previous studies that have used the affected strains. Furthermore, they provide a cautionary note about the use of Neurospora strains with similar phenotypes. Lastly, these findings offer additional details relevant to our understanding of the origin and spread of cell fusion-defective cheater variants in N. crassa cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Montenegro-Montero
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Goity
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulo F. Canessa
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis F. Larrondo
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology, Santiago, Chile
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Olivares-Yañez C, Alessandri MP, Salas L, Larrondo LF. Methylxanthines Modulate Circadian Period Length Independently of the Action of Phosphodiesterase. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0372722. [PMID: 37272789 PMCID: PMC10434132 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03727-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In Neurospora crassa, caffeine and other methylxanthines are known to inhibit phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, leading to augmented cAMP levels. In this organism, it has also been shown that the addition of these drugs significantly lengthens the circadian period, as seen by conidiation rhythms. Utilizing in vivo bioluminescence reporters, pharmacological inhibitors, and cAMP analogs, we revisited the effect of methylxanthines and the role of cAMP signaling in the Neurospora clockworks. We observed that caffeine, like all tested methylxanthines, led to significant period lengthening, visualized with both core-clock transcriptional and translational reporters. Remarkably, this phenotype is still observed when phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity is genetically or chemically (via 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) abrogated. Likewise, methylxanthines still exert a period effect in several cAMP signaling pathway mutants, including adenylate cyclase (cr-1) and protein kinase A (PKA) (Δpkac-1) mutants, suggesting that these drugs lead to circadian phenotypes through mechanisms different from the canonical PDE-cAMP-PKA signaling axis. Thus, this study highlights the strong impact of methylxanthines on circadian period in Neurospora, albeit the exact mechanisms somehow remain elusive. IMPORTANCE Evidence from diverse organisms show that caffeine causes changes in the circadian clock, causing period lengthening. The fungus Neurospora crassa is no exception; here, several methylxanthines such as caffeine, theophylline, and aminophylline cause period lengthening in a concentration-dependent manner. Although methylxanthines are expected to inhibit phosphodiesterase activity, we were able to show by genetic and pharmacological means that these drugs exert their effects through a different mechanism. Moreover, our results indicate that increases in cAMP levels and changes in PKA activity do not impact the circadian period and therefore are not part of underlying effects of methylxanthine. These results set the stage for future analyses dissecting the molecular mechanisms by which these drugs dramatically modify the circadian period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Olivares-Yañez
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - María P. Alessandri
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Loreto Salas
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis F. Larrondo
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Martínez JRW, Planet PJ, Spencer-Sandino M, Rivas L, Díaz L, Moustafa AM, Quesille-Villalobos A, Riquelme-Neira R, Alcalde-Rico M, Hanson B, Carvajal LP, Rincón S, Reyes J, Lam M, Calderon JF, Araos R, García P, Arias CA, Munita JM. Dynamics of the MRSA Population in a Chilean Hospital: a Phylogenomic Analysis (2000-2016). Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0535122. [PMID: 37338398 PMCID: PMC10433796 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05351-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The global dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with the emergence and establishment of clones in specific geographic areas. The Chilean-Cordobes clone (ChC) (ST5-SCCmecI) has been the predominant MRSA clone in Chile since its first description in 1998, despite the report of other emerging MRSA clones in recent years. Here, we characterize the evolutionary history of MRSA from 2000 to 2016 in a Chilean tertiary health care center using phylogenomic analyses. We sequenced 469 MRSA isolates collected between 2000 and 2016. We evaluated the temporal trends of the circulating clones and performed a phylogenomic reconstruction to characterize the clonal dynamics. We found a significant increase in the diversity and richness of sequence types (STs; Spearman r = 0.8748, P < 0.0001) with a Shannon diversity index increasing from 0.221 in the year 2000 to 1.33 in 2016, and an effective diversity (Hill number; q = 2) increasing from 1.12 to 2.71. The temporal trend analysis revealed that in the period 2000 to 2003 most of the isolates (94.2%; n = 98) belonged to the ChC clone. However, since then, the frequency of the ChC clone has decreased over time, accounting for 52% of the collection in the 2013 to 2016 period. This decline was accompanied by the rise of two emerging MRSA lineages, ST105-SCCmecII and ST72-SCCmecVI. In conclusion, the ChC clone remains the most frequent MRSA lineage, but this lineage is gradually being replaced by several emerging clones, the most important of which is clone ST105-SCCmecII. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study of MRSA clonal dynamics performed in South America. IMPORTANCE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major public health pathogen that disseminates through the emergence of successful dominant clones in specific geographic regions. Knowledge of the dissemination and molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Latin America is scarce and is largely based on small studies or more limited typing techniques that lack the resolution to represent an accurate description of the genomic landscape. We used whole-genome sequencing to study 469 MRSA isolates collected between 2000 and 2016 in Chile providing the largest and most detailed study of clonal dynamics of MRSA in South America to date. We found a significant increase in the diversity of MRSA clones circulating over the 17-year study period. Additionally, we describe the emergence of two novel clones (ST105-SCCmecII and ST72-SCCmecVI), which have been gradually increasing in frequency over time. Our results drastically improve our understanding of the dissemination and update our knowledge about MRSA in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- José R. W. Martínez
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul J. Planet
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria Spencer-Sandino
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Lina Rivas
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Díaz
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ahmed M. Moustafa
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ana Quesille-Villalobos
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto Riquelme-Neira
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Manuel Alcalde-Rico
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Grupo de Resistencia a los Antibióticos en Bacterias Patógenas y Ambientales (GRABPA), Pontificia Univ. Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Blake Hanson
- Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics, Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lina P. Carvajal
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sandra Rincón
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jinnethe Reyes
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marusella Lam
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan F. Calderon
- Centro de Genética y Genómica Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana Universidad Del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rafael Araos
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia García
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - César A. Arias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Research Institution, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - José M. Munita
- Genomics & Resistant Microbes (GeRM), ICIM, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Multidisciplinary Initiative for Collaborative Research On Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Hospital Padre Hurtado, Santiago, Chile
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Mira JP, Arenas-M A, Calderini DF, Canales J. Integrated Transcriptome Analysis Identified Key Expansin Genes Associated with Wheat Cell Wall, Grain Weight and Yield. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:2868. [PMID: 37571021 PMCID: PMC10421294 DOI: 10.3390/plants12152868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
This research elucidates the dynamic expression of expansin genes during the wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L.) development process using comprehensive meta-analysis and experimental validation. We leveraged RNA-seq data from multiple public databases, applying stringent criteria for selection, and identified 60,852 differentially expressed genes across developmental stages. From this pool, 28,558 DEGs were found to exhibit significant temporal regulation in at least two different datasets and were enriched for processes integral to grain development such as carbohydrate metabolism and cell wall organization. Notably, 30% of the 241 known expansin genes showed differential expression during grain growth. Hierarchical clustering and expression level analysis revealed temporal regulation and distinct contributions of expansin subfamilies during the early stages of grain development. Further analysis using co-expression networks underscored the significance of expansin genes, revealing their substantial co-expression with genes involved in cell wall modification. Finally, qPCR validation and grain morphological analysis under field conditions indicated a significant negative correlation between the expression of select expansin genes, and grain size and weight. This study illuminates the potential role of expansin genes in wheat grain development and provides new avenues for targeted genetic improvements in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P. Mira
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5110566, Chile; (J.P.M.); (A.A.-M.)
| | - Anita Arenas-M
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5110566, Chile; (J.P.M.); (A.A.-M.)
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program-Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Daniel F. Calderini
- Plant Production and Plant Protection Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5110566, Chile
| | - Javier Canales
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5110566, Chile; (J.P.M.); (A.A.-M.)
- ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program-Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago 8331150, Chile
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Güiza J, Solís F, Valenzuela B, Arancibia D, Zamorano P, González J, Saavedra J, Neely A, Salgado M, Martínez AD, Sáez JC, Vega JL. Unnexin is a protein subunit of a large-pore channel expressed by unicellular organisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307898120. [PMID: 37487087 PMCID: PMC10400985 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307898120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms express proteins specialized in membrane channel-based cell-cell communication that are absent in unicellular organisms. We recently described the prediction of some members of the large-pore channel family in kinetoplastids, consisting of proteins called unnexins, which share several structural features with innexin and pannexin proteins. Here, we demonstrated that the unnexin1 protein (Unx1) is delivered to the cell membrane, displaying a topology consisting of four transmembrane domains with C and N termini on the cytoplasmic side and form large-pore channels that are permeable to small molecules. Low extracellular Ca2+/Mg2+ levels or extracellular alkalinization, but not mechanical stretching, increases channel activity. The Unx1 channel mediates the influx of Ca2+ and does not form intercellular dye coupling between HeLa Unx1 transfected cells. Unx1 channel function was further evidenced by its ability to mediate ionic currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Downregulation of Unx1 mRNA with morpholine contains Trypanosoma cruzi invasion. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of Unx1 homologs in other protozoan parasites, suggesting a conserved function for these channel parasites in other protists. Our data demonstrate that Unx1 forms large-pore membrane channels, which may serve as a diffusional pathway for ions and small molecules that are likely to be metabolic substrates or waste products, and signaling autocrine and paracrine molecules that could be involved in cell invasion. As morpholinos-induced downregulation of Unx1 reduces the infectivity of trypomastigotes, the Unx1 channels might be an attractive target for developing trypanocide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Güiza
- Laboratory of Gap Junction Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Francisco Solís
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Bernardita Valenzuela
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Duxan Arancibia
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Pedro Zamorano
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Unidad de Parasitología Molecular, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Jonathan Saavedra
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Alan Neely
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Magdiel Salgado
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Agustín D. Martínez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - José L. Vega
- Laboratory of Gap Junction Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
- Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
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28
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Morales-León F, Matus-Köhler M, Araya-Vega P, Aguilera F, Torres I, Vera R, Ibarra C, Venegas S, Bello-Toledo H, González-Rocha G, Opazo-Capurro A. Molecular Characterization of the Convergent Carbapenem-Resistant and Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain K1-ST23, Collected in Chile during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0054023. [PMID: 37191539 PMCID: PMC10269581 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00540-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic features of a carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKp) isolate (K-2157) collected in Chile. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and hybrid assembly were performed, using data generated on the Illumina and Nanopore platforms. The mucoid phenotype was analyzed using both the string test and sedimentation profile. The genomic features of K-2157 (e.g., sequence type, K locus, and mobile genetic elements) were retrieved using different bioinformatic tools. Strain K-2157 exhibited resistance to carbapenems and was identified as a high-risk virulent clone belonging to capsular serotype K1 and sequence type 23 (ST23). Strikingly, K-2157 displayed a resistome composed of β-lactam resistance genes (blaSHV-190, blaTEM-1, blaOXA-9, and blaKPC-2), the fosfomycin resistance gene fosA, and the fluoroquinolones resistance genes oqxA and oqxB. Moreover, several genes involved in siderophore biosynthesis (ybt, iro, and iuc), bacteriocins (clb), and capsule hyperproduction (plasmid-borne rmpA [prmpA] and prmpA2) were found, which is congruent with the positive string test displayed by K-2157. In addition, K-2157 harbored two plasmids: one of 113,644 bp (KPC+) and another of 230,602 bp, containing virulence genes, in addition to an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) embedded on its chromosome, revealing that the presence of these mobile genetic elements mediates the convergence between virulence and antibiotic resistance. Our report is the first genomic characterization of a hypervirulent and highly resistant K. pneumoniae isolate in Chile, which was collected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Due to their global dissemination and public health impact, genomic surveillance of the spread of convergent high-risk K1-ST23 K. pneumoniae clones should be highly prioritized. IMPORTANCE Klebsiella pneumoniae is a resistant pathogen involved primarily in hospital-acquired infections. This pathogen is characterized by its notorious resistance to last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems. Moreover, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) isolates, first identified in Southeast Asia, have emerged globally and are able to cause infections in healthy people. Alarmingly, isolates displaying a convergence phenotype of carbapenem resistance and hypervirulence have been detected in several countries, representing a serious threat to public health. In this work, we analyzed the genomic characteristics of a carbapenem-resistant hvKp isolate recovered in 2022 from a patient with COVID-19 in Chile, representing the first analysis of this type in the country. Our results will provide a baseline for the study of these isolates in Chile, which will support the adoption of local measures aimed at controlling their dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Morales-León
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Maximiliano Matus-Köhler
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Araya-Vega
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Felipe Aguilera
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ignacio Torres
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Vera
- Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia Pública, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Camila Ibarra
- Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia Pública, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Helia Bello-Toledo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Gerardo González-Rocha
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Andrés Opazo-Capurro
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Agentes Antibacterianos, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Wilcken R, Nishida J, Triana JF, John-Herpin A, Altug H, Sharma S, Herrera F, Raschke MB. Antenna-coupled infrared nanospectroscopy of intramolecular vibrational interaction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220852120. [PMID: 37155895 PMCID: PMC10193936 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220852120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Many photonic and electronic molecular properties, as well as chemical and biochemical reactivities are controlled by fast intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR). This fundamental ultrafast process limits coherence time in applications from photochemistry to single quantum level control. While time-resolved multidimensional IR-spectroscopy can resolve the underlying vibrational interaction dynamics, as a nonlinear optical technique it has been challenging to extend its sensitivity to probe small molecular ensembles, achieve nanoscale spatial resolution, and control intramolecular dynamics. Here, we demonstrate a concept how mode-selective coupling of vibrational resonances to IR nanoantennas can reveal intramolecular vibrational energy transfer. In time-resolved infrared vibrational nanospectroscopy, we measure the Purcell-enhanced decrease of vibrational lifetimes of molecular vibrations while tuning the IR nanoantenna across coupled vibrations. At the example of a Re-carbonyl complex monolayer, we derive an IVR rate of (25±8) cm-1 corresponding to (450±150) fs, as is typical for the fast initial equilibration between symmetric and antisymmetric carbonyl vibrations. We model the enhancement of the cross-vibrational relaxation based on intrinsic intramolecular coupling and extrinsic antenna-enhanced vibrational energy relaxation. The model further suggests an anti-Purcell effect based on antenna and laser-field-driven vibrational mode interference which can counteract IVR-induced relaxation. Nanooptical spectroscopy of antenna-coupled vibrational dynamics thus provides for an approach to probe intramolecular vibrational dynamics with a perspective for vibrational coherent control of small molecular ensembles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Wilcken
- Department of Physics, and JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Jun Nishida
- Department of Physics, and JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Johan F. Triana
- Department of Physics, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Estación Central917022, Chile
| | - Aurelian John-Herpin
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Lausanne1015, Switzerland
| | - Hatice Altug
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Lausanne1015, Switzerland
| | - Sandeep Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Felipe Herrera
- Department of Physics, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Estación Central917022, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Research in Optics, Concepción4030000, Chile
| | - Markus B. Raschke
- Department of Physics, and JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO80309
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Gonzalez C, Morawska A, Haslam DM. The role of health behavior theories in parents' initial engagement with parenting interventions. J Consult Clin Psychol 2023:2023-68602-001. [PMID: 37141031 DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between health belief model (HBM; i.e., perceived threat, benefits, costs, and self-efficacy) and theory of planned behavior (TPB; i.e., attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control) constructs and parents' intention to participate and initial engagement (i.e., recruitment, enrollment, and first attendance) with a parenting intervention. METHOD Participants were parents (n = 699, mean age = 38.29 years, 90.4% mothers) of 2-12-year-old children. The study conducted secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected for an experimental study of engagement strategies. Participants provided self-report data on HBM constructs, TPB constructs, and intention to participate. Measures of initial parent engagement were also collected (i.e., recruitment, enrollment, and first attendance). Logistic regressions evaluated the impact of HBM and TPB constructs, and their combination, on intention to participate and initial parent engagement. RESULTS Analyses indicated that all HBM constructs increased the odds of parents' intention to participate and enrollment. In terms of TPB, parents' attitudes and subjective norms, but not perceived behavioral control, were significant predictors of intention to participate and enrollment. When combined in one model, parents' perceived costs, self-efficacy, attitudes, and subjective norms predicted intention to participate, whereas perceived threat, costs, attitudes, and subjective norms increased odds of enrolling in the intervention. Regression models for first attendance were not significant and those for recruitment could not be conducted due to lack of variance. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate the relevance of using both HBM and TPB constructs when enhancing parent intention to participate and enrollment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Gonzalez
- School of Psychology, Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland
| | - Alina Morawska
- School of Psychology, Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland
| | - Divna M Haslam
- School of Psychology, Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland
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31
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Larrondo LF. Circadian entrainment of in vitro reactions, in real time, and around the clock. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303566120. [PMID: 37094142 PMCID: PMC10161006 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303566120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. Larrondo
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150Santiago, Chile
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology, 7500565Santiago, Chile
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32
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Urrutia PJ, González-Billault C. A Role for Second Messengers in Axodendritic Neuronal Polarity. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2037-2052. [PMID: 36948585 PMCID: PMC10039749 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1065-19.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal polarization is a complex molecular process regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Nerve cells integrate multiple extracellular cues to generate intracellular messengers that ultimately control cell morphology, metabolism, and gene expression. Therefore, second messengers' local concentration and temporal regulation are crucial elements for acquiring a polarized morphology in neurons. This review article summarizes the main findings and current understanding of how Ca2+, IP3, cAMP, cGMP, and hydrogen peroxide control different aspects of neuronal polarization, and highlights questions that still need to be resolved to fully understand the fascinating cellular processes involved in axodendritic polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Urrutia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile 7800003
- School of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine and Science, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile 7510157
| | - Christian González-Billault
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile 7800003
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile 8380453
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile 7800003
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California 94945
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Serebrinsky-Duek K, Barra M, Danino T, Garrido D. Engineered Bacteria for Short-Chain-Fatty-Acid-Repressed Expression of Biotherapeutic Molecules. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0004923. [PMID: 36939337 PMCID: PMC10101121 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00049-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as propionate and butyrate are critical metabolites produced by the gut microbiota. Microbiome dysbiosis resulting in altered SCFA profiles is associated with certain diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), characterized by a reduction in butyrate concentration and active intestinal inflammation. There is an increasing interest in the use of engineered bacteria as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for gut diseases. In this study, we developed genetic circuits capable of sensing SCFA concentrations to build biosensors that express a response protein (superfolder green fluorescent protein [sfGFP]) in amounts inversely proportional to the SCFA concentration. We also built biotherapeutics expressing the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) using the same logic. The propionate biotherapeutic expressed larger amounts of mouse GM-CSF in the absence of propionate. The butyrate biotherapeutics presented the expected behavior only at the beginning of the kinetics and an accelerated response in the absence of butyrate. Overall, these genetic systems may function as complementary diagnostic tools for measuring SCFAs and as delivery vehicles for biotherapeutic molecules. IMPORTANCE Short-chain fatty acids are key molecules produced by the gut microbiome. Their concentrations are altered in certain diseases. Here, we created molecular biosensors that quantify the absence of propionate and butyrate, using logic "NOT" gates and bacterial promoters. Finally, we show that these genetic systems could be useful for the delivery of therapeutic molecules in the gut, in the absence of these acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kineret Serebrinsky-Duek
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Barra
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tal Danino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel Garrido
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Castro SA, Rojas P, Vila I, Jaksic FM. Covariation of taxonomic and functional facets of β-diversity in Chilean freshwater fish assemblages: Implications for current and future processes of biotic homogenization. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281483. [PMID: 36757920 PMCID: PMC9910725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The biodiversity of assemblages that experience the introduction and extinction of species may lead to responses in two important facets: The taxonomic and functional diversity. The way in which these facets are associated may reveal important implications and consequences for the conservation of those assemblages. Considering the critical situation of freshwater fishes in continental Chile (30° - 56° S), we analyzed how the taxonomic (TDβ) and functional (FDβ) facets of β-diversity, and their components of turnover and nestedness, are associated. We evaluated changes in β-diversity (ΔTDβ and ΔFDβ), turnover (ΔTDtur and ΔFDtur), and nestedness (ΔTDnes and ΔFDnes) in 20 fish assemblages from their historical (pre-European) to current composition. We also simulated future trends of these changes, assuming that native species with conservation issues would become extinct. Our results show that the fish assemblages studied are in a process of loss of β-diversity, both in taxonomic and functional facets (ΔTDβ = -3.9%; ΔFDβ = -30.4%); also, that these facets are positively correlated in the assemblages studied (r = 0.617; P < 0.05). Both components showed by loss in nestedness (ΔTDnes = -36.9%; ΔFDnes = -60.9%) but gain in turnover (ΔTDtur = 9.2%; ΔFDtur = 12.3%). The functional β-diversity decreased more than the taxonomic (ΔFDβ > ΔTDβ), which was caused chiefly by six exotic species of Salmonidae, whose geographical spread was wider and that at the same time shared several morpho-functional traits. Our forecasts, assuming an intensification in the extinction of Endangered and Vulnerable native species, indicate that the process of homogenization will continue, though at a lower rate. Our study shows that the freshwater ichthyofauna of continental Chile is undergoing biotic homogenization, and that this process involves the facets of taxonomic and functional β-diversity, which are show high correlation between historical and current compositions. Both facets show that process is influenced by nestedness, and while turnover contributes to differentiation (both taxonomic and functional), its importance is overshadowed by nestedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A. Castro
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail:
| | - Pablo Rojas
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Irma Vila
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fabian M. Jaksic
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Vásquez-Ponce F, Dantas K, Becerra J, Melocco G, Esposito F, Cardoso B, Rodrigues L, Lima K, de Lima AV, Sellera FP, Mattos R, Trevisoli L, Vianello MA, Sincero T, Di Conza J, Vespero E, Gutkind G, Sampaio J, Lincopan N. Detecting KPC-2 and NDM-1 Coexpression in Klebsiella pneumoniae Complex from Human and Animal Hosts in South America. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0115922. [PMID: 35980188 PMCID: PMC9604071 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01159-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports of Gram-negative bacteria harboring multiple carbapenemase genes have increased in South America, leading to an urgent need for appropriate microbiological diagnosis. We evaluated phenotypic methods for detecting Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase 2 (KPC-2) and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) coexpression in members of the K. pneumoniae complex (i.e., K. pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae, and K. variicola) isolated from human and animal hosts, based on inhibition of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) and aztreonam (ATM) by dipicolinic acid (DPA), EDTA, or avibactam (AVI). While the presence of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 genes was confirmed by whole-genome sequencing, PCR, and/or GeneXpert, coexpression was successfully detected based on the following: (i) a ≥5-mm increase in the zone diameter of ATM (30 µg) disks plus AVI (4 or 20 µg) and ≥4-mm and ≥10-mm increases in the zone diameters for "CZA 50" (30 µg ceftazidime [CAZ] and 20 µg AVI) and "CZA 14" (10 µg CAZ and 4 µg AVI) disks, respectively, when we added DPA (1 mg/disk) or EDTA (5 mM) in a combined disk test (CDT); (ii) a positive ghost zone (synergism) between ATM (30 µg) and CZA 50 disks and between CZA 50 and DPA (1 mg) disks, using the double-disk synergy test (DDST) at a disk-disk distance of 2.5 cm; (iii) ≥3-fold MIC reductions of ATM and CZA in the presence of AVI (4 µg/mL), DPA (500 µg/mL), or EDTA (320 µg/mL); and (iv) immunochromatography. Although our results demonstrated that inhibition by AVI, DPA, and EDTA may provide simple and inexpensive methods for the presumptive detection of coexpression of KPC-2 and NDM-1 in members of the K. pneumoniae complex, additional studies are necessary to confirm the accuracy of these methodologies by testing other Gram-negative bacterial species and other KPC and NDM variants coexpressed by WHO critical priority pathogens detected worldwide. IMPORTANCE Alerts regarding the emergence and increase of combinations of carbapenemases in Enterobacterales in Latin America and the Caribbean have recently been issued by PAHO and WHO, emphasizing the importance of appropriate microbiological diagnosis and the effective and articulated implementation of infection prevention and control programs. In this study, we evaluated methods based on inhibition of ceftazidime (CAZ), ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), and aztreonam (ATM) by dipicolinic acid (DPA), EDTA, and avibactam (AVI) inhibitors for the identification of KPC-2- and NDM-1-coexpression in members of the K. pneumoniae complex recovered from human and animal hosts. Our results demonstrate that inhibition by AVI, DPA, and EDTA may provide simple and inexpensive methods for the presumptive detection of coexpression of KPC-2 and NDM-1 in members of the K. pneumoniae complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Vásquez-Ponce
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karine Dantas
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Johana Becerra
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gregory Melocco
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Esposito
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Brenda Cardoso
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa Rodrigues
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keila Lima
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline V. de Lima
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio P. Sellera
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Thais Sincero
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Jose Di Conza
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriologia y Virología Molecular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eliana Vespero
- Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Health Sciences Center, University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Gutkind
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriologia y Virología Molecular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge Sampaio
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Fleury Medicine and Health, Microbiology Section, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nilton Lincopan
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Guzmán E, Fernández MP, Alcalde JA, Contreras S, Raumonen P, Picco L, Montalba C, Tejos C. Phyllotaxis transition over the lifespan of a palm tree using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS): the case of Jubaea chilensis. Plant Methods 2022; 18:88. [PMID: 35752854 PMCID: PMC9233369 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-022-00920-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Jubaea chilensis (Molina) Baillon, is a uniquely large palm species endemic to Chile. It is under threatened status despite its use as an ornamental species throughout the world. This research seeks to identify the phyllotaxis of the species based on an original combination of non-destructive data acquisition technologies, namely Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in saplings and young individuals and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in standing specimens, and a novel analysis methodology. RESULTS Two phyllotaxis parameters, parastichy pairs and divergence angle, were determined by analyzing specimens at different developmental stages. Spiral phyllotaxis patterns of J. chilensis progressed in complexity from parastichy pairs (3,2) and (3,5) in juvenile specimens and (5,3), (8,5) and (8,13) for adult specimens. Divergence angle was invariable and averaged 136.9°, close to the golden angle. Phyllotactic pattern changes associated with establishment phase, the adult vegetative and the adult reproductive phases were observed. Both technologies, MRI and TLS proved to be adequate for the proposed analysis. CONCLUSIONS Understanding phyllotactic transitions may assist identification of developmental stages of wild J. chilensis specimens. The proposed methodology may also be useful for the study of other palm species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Guzmán
- Master Program in Natural Resources, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Paulina Fernández
- Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Nacional de Excelencia para la Industria de la Madera (CENAMAD), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro UC de Innovación en Madera, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José-Antonio Alcalde
- Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Samuel Contreras
- Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pasi Raumonen
- Computing Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Lorenzo Picco
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Cristián Montalba
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Macul, Santiago, Chile
- Radiology Department, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago Centro, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristián Tejos
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Macul, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Macul, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH), Santiago, Chile
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Vera-Mansilla J, Sánchez P, Silva-Valenzuela CA, Molina-Quiroz RC. Isolation and Characterization of Novel Lytic Phages Infecting Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0167821. [PMID: 35171030 PMCID: PMC8849078 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01678-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most frequent bacterial infections worldwide, with Escherichia coli being the main causative agent. The increase of antibiotic-resistance determinants among isolates from clinical samples, including UTIs, makes the development of novel therapeutic strategies a necessity. In this context, the use of bacteriophages as a therapeutic alternative has been proposed, due to their ability to efficiently kill bacteria. In this work, we isolated and characterized three novel bacteriophages, microbes laboratory phage 1 (MLP1), MLP2, and MLP3, belonging to the Chaseviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae families, respectively. These phages efficiently infect and kill laboratory reference strains and multidrug-resistant clinical E. coli isolates from patients with diagnosed UTIs. Interestingly, these phages are also able to infect intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, such as enteroaggregative E. coli and diffusely adherent E. coli. Our data show that the MLP phages recognize different regions of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule, an important virulence factor in bacteria that is also highly variable among different E. coli strains. Altogether, our results suggest that these phages may represent an interesting alternative for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant E. coli. IMPORTANCE Urinary tract infections affect approximately 150 million people annually. The current antibiotic resistance crisis demands the development of novel therapeutic alternatives. Our results show that three novel phages, MLP1, MLP2, and MLP3 are able to infect both laboratory and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. Since these phages (i) efficiently kill antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), (ii) recognize different portions of the LPS molecule, and (iii) are able to efficiently infect intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli hosts, we believe that these novel phages are good candidates to be used as a therapeutic alternative to treat antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains generating urinary tract and/or intestinal infections.
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Pelgrim TAD, Bossong MG, Cuiza A, Alliende LM, Mena C, Tepper A, Ramirez-Mahaluf JP, Iruretagoyena B, Ornstein C, Fritsch R, Cruz JP, Tejos C, Repetto G, Crossley N. Abnormal nodal and global network organization in resting state functional MRI from subjects with the 22q11 deletion syndrome. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21623. [PMID: 34732759 PMCID: PMC8566599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00873-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The 22q11 deletion syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with a high risk of developing psychosis, and is therefore considered a neurodevelopmental model for studying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Studies have shown that localized abnormal functional brain connectivity is present in 22q11 deletion syndrome like in schizophrenia. However, it is less clear whether these abnormal cortical interactions lead to global or regional network disorganization as seen in schizophrenia. We analyzed from a graph-theory perspective fMRI data from 40 22q11 deletion syndrome patients and 67 healthy controls, and reconstructed functional networks from 105 brain regions. Between-group differences were examined by evaluating edge-wise strength and graph theoretical metrics of local (weighted degree, nodal efficiency, nodal local efficiency) and global topological properties (modularity, local and global efficiency). Connectivity strength was globally reduced in patients, driven by a large network comprising 147 reduced connections. The 22q11 deletion syndrome network presented with abnormal local topological properties, with decreased local efficiency and reductions in weighted degree particularly in hub nodes. We found evidence for abnormal integration but intact segregation of the 22q11 deletion syndrome network. Results suggest that 22q11 deletion syndrome patients present with similar aberrant local network organization as seen in schizophrenia, and this network configuration might represent a vulnerability factor to psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teuntje A D Pelgrim
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Analía Cuiza
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luz María Alliende
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Mena
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Angeles Tepper
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Claudia Ornstein
- Departamento de Psiquiatria y Salud Mental, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosemarie Fritsch
- Departamento de Psiquiatria y Salud Mental, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Cruz
- Department of Radiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristian Tejos
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriela Repetto
- Genetic and Genomic Center, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas Crossley
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Millennium Nucleus for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Santiago, Chile.
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Diagonal Paraguay 362, Santiago, Chile.
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Pasten C, Herrera-Luna Y, Lozano M, Rocco J, Alvarado C, Liberona J, Michea L, Irarrázabal CE. Glutathione S-Transferase and Clusterin, New Players in the Ischemic Preconditioning Renal Protection in a Murine Model of Ischemia and Reperfusion. Cell Physiol Biochem 2021; 55:635-650. [PMID: 34705356 DOI: 10.33594/000000442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Renal ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) involves oxidative stress, disruption of microvasculature due to endothelial cell damage, loss of epithelial cell polarity secondary to cytoskeletal alterations, inflammation, and the subsequent transition into a mesenchymal phenotype. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy to avoid/ameliorate the IRI. Since previous results showed that IPC could have differential effects in kidney cortex vs. kidney medulla, in the present study we analyzed the effectiveness and molecular mechanisms implicated in IPC in both kidney regions. METHODS We evaluated 3 experimental groups of BALB/c male mice: control (sham surgery); renal ischemia (30 min) by bilateral occlusion of the renal pedicle and reperfusion (48 hours) (I/R); and renal IPC (two cycles of 5 min of ischemia and 5 min of reperfusion) applied just before I/R. Acute kidney injury was evaluated by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) blood level, and histologic analysis. Oxidative stress was studied measurement the Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activity, GSH/GSSG ratio, and lipoperoxidation levels. Inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, Foxp3, and IL-10) were quantified by qRT-PCR. The endothelial (PECAM-1), epithelial (AQP-1), mesenchymal (Vimentin, Fascin, and Hsp47), iNOS, clusterin, and Hsp27 expression were evaluated (qRT-PCR and/or Western blot). RESULTS The IPC protocol prevented the decrease of GFR, reduced the plasma NGAL, and ameliorated morphological damage in the kidney cortex after I/R. The IPC also prevented the downregulation of GST activity, lipoperoxidation and ameliorated the oxidized glutathione. In addition, IPC prevented the upregulation of vimentin, fascin, and Hsp47, which was associated with the prevention of the downregulation of AQP1 after I/R. The protective effect of IPC was associated with the upregulation of Hsp27, Foxp3, and IL-10 expression in the renal cortex. However, the upregulation of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and clusterin by I/R were not modified by IPC. CONCLUSION IPC conferred better protection in the kidney cortex as compared to the kidney medulla. The protective effect of IPC was associated with amelioration of oxidative stress, tubular damage, and the induction of markers of Treg lymphocytes activity in the cortical region. Further studies are needed to evaluate if lower tubular cell stress/damage after I/R may explain the preferential induction of Treg response in the kidney cortex induced by IPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Pasten
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Integrativa y Molecular, Programa de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yeimi Herrera-Luna
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Integrativa y Molecular, Programa de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Lozano
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Integrativa y Molecular, Programa de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jocelyn Rocco
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Integrativa y Molecular, Programa de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristobal Alvarado
- Clinical Research Unit, Hospital Las Higueras, Talcahuano, Chile
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jéssica Liberona
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Michea
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos E Irarrázabal
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Integrativa y Molecular, Programa de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile,
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
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Díaz-Siefer P, Tapia-Gatica J, Martínez-Harms J, Bergmann J, Celis-Diez JL. A larval aggregation pheromone as foraging cue for insectivorous birds. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210360. [PMID: 34582735 PMCID: PMC8478522 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although birds have traditionally been considered anosmic, increasing evidence indicates that olfaction plays an important role in the foraging behaviours of insectivorous birds. Recent studies have shown that birds can exploit herbivore-induced plant volatiles and sexual pheromones of adult insects to locate their prey. Many insectivorous birds prey on immature insects, providing relevant ecosystem services as pest regulators in natural and agricultural ecosystems. We asked whether birds could rely on chemical cues emitted by the immature stages of insects to prey on them. To address this question, we performed field experiments to evaluate if insectivorous birds can detect the aggregation pheromone produced by the larvae of the carpenter worm, Chilecomadia valdiviana. Groups of five artificial larvae were placed in branches of 72 adult trees in a remnant fragment of a sclerophyllous forest in central Chile. Each grouping of larvae contained a rubber septum loaded with either larval pheromone as treatment or solvent alone as control. We found that the number of larvae damaged by bird pecks was significantly higher in groups with dispensers containing the larval extract than in control groups. Our results show that birds can rely on immature insect-derived chemical cues used for larvae aggregation to prey on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Díaz-Siefer
- Centro Regional de Investigación e Innovación para la Sostenibilidad de la Agricultura y los Territorios Rurales, CERES, Quillota, Chile
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
| | - Jaime Tapia-Gatica
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
| | | | - Jan Bergmann
- Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Juan L. Celis-Diez
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
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Torres-Olave B, Bravo González P. Facing neoliberalism through dialogic spaces as sites of hope in science education: experiences of two self-organised communities. Cult Stud Sci Educ 2021; 16:1047-1067. [PMID: 34226842 PMCID: PMC8246126 DOI: 10.1007/s11422-021-10042-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss the role of dialogue in two layers; first, in relation to two self-organised communities of science teachers in which we participated and, second, our process of coming together during our PhDs to analyse these communities, a dialogue about the dialogue. Regarding the first layer, there is much to learn from science teachers and science teacher educators when they are organised in sites of learning that can be spaces of hope, beginnings, and becoming, as is illustrated in the case of these two self-organised communities. Regarding the second layer, we discuss the value of dialogue and the possibilities it offers to develop ideas for science education in a way that might be democratising, emancipatory, and offering counter-narratives in a neoliberal Chile. By engaging in this dialogue revisiting the practices of our communities, we gained a sense of agency within the field of science education. However, we realised that we need to move towards a critical view within our communities, and more contextual and transformative science education by translating these sites of hope to our educational praxis today. For us, this relates both to developing a collective view of how to make science education provide pedagogical conditions and experiences for critical and engaged citizenship and thinking how we can act and engage with different settings in solidarity. One way of moving towards this is by developing a political knowledge of our disciplines through a collective scientific conscientisation. Our communities are the departure points to achieve this.
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Foerster C, Ríos-Gajardo G, Gómez P, Muñoz K, Cortés S, Maldonado C, Ferreccio C. Assessment of Mycotoxin Exposure in a Rural County of Chile by Urinary Biomarker Determination. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:439. [PMID: 34202116 PMCID: PMC8309762 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), and deoxynivalenol (DON) are frequent mycotoxins that may cause carcinogenic, mutagenic, estrogenic, or gastrointestinal effects. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to and risk from AFB1, OTA, ZEN, and DON in 172 participants of the Maule Cohort (MAUCO) by a biomarker analysis in urine and to associate their exposure with food consumption and occupation. Mycotoxins in the first morning urine were analyzed by solid-phase extraction and quantified by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a mass-mass detector. Participants' information regarding food consumption, occupation, and other characteristics was obtained from a baseline and 2-year follow-up survey of the cohort. The prevalence and mean levels of mycotoxins in the urine were as follows: DON 63%, 60.7 (±78.7) ng/mL; AFB1 8%, 0.3 (±0.3) ng/mL; α-zearalenol (α-ZEL) 4.1%, 41.8 (±115) ng/mL; β-ZEL 3.5%, 17.4 (±16.1) ng/mL; AFM1 2%, 1.8 (±1.0) ng/mL; OTA 0.6% (1/172), 1.3 ng/mL; and ZEN 0.6%, 1.1 ng/mL. These results were translated into exposures of DON, ZEN, and aflatoxins of public health concern. Participants who consumed coffee and pepper the day before had a significantly greater presence of DON (OR: 2.3, CI95 1.17-4.96) and total ZEL (OR: 14.7, CI95 3.1-81.0), respectively, in their urine. Additionally, we observed associations between the habitual consumption of beer and DON (OR: 2.89, CI95 1.39-6.42). Regarding the levels of mycotoxins and the amount of food consumed, we found correlations between DON and nuts (p = 0.003), total ZEL and cereals (p = 0.01), and aflatoxins with capsicum powder (p = 0.03) and walnuts (p = 0.03). Occupation did not show an association with the presence of mycotoxins in urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Foerster
- Institute of Agri-Food, Animal and Environmental Sciences (ICA3), University of O’Higgins, San Fernando 3070000, Chile;
| | - Gisela Ríos-Gajardo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile; (G.R.-G.); (P.G.)
| | - Patricia Gómez
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile; (G.R.-G.); (P.G.)
| | - Katherine Muñoz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany;
| | - Sandra Cortés
- Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable (CEDEUS), Santiago 8320000, Chile;
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile;
| | - Carlos Maldonado
- Institute of Agri-Food, Animal and Environmental Sciences (ICA3), University of O’Higgins, San Fernando 3070000, Chile;
| | - Catterina Ferreccio
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile;
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Bernal L, Sotelo-Hitschfeld P, König C, Sinica V, Wyatt A, Winter Z, Hein A, Touska F, Reinhardt S, Tragl A, Kusuda R, Wartenberg P, Sclaroff A, Pfeifer JD, Ectors F, Dahl A, Freichel M, Vlachova V, Brauchi S, Roza C, Boehm U, Clapham DE, Lennerz JK, Zimmermann K. Odontoblast TRPC5 channels signal cold pain in teeth. Sci Adv 2021; 7:7/13/eabf5567. [PMID: 33771873 PMCID: PMC7997515 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf5567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Teeth are composed of many tissues, covered by an inflexible and obdurate enamel. Unlike most other tissues, teeth become extremely cold sensitive when inflamed. The mechanisms of this cold sensation are not understood. Here, we clarify the molecular and cellular components of the dental cold sensing system and show that sensory transduction of cold stimuli in teeth requires odontoblasts. TRPC5 is a cold sensor in healthy teeth and, with TRPA1, is sufficient for cold sensing. The odontoblast appears as the direct site of TRPC5 cold transduction and provides a mechanism for prolonged cold sensing via TRPC5's relative sensitivity to intracellular calcium and lack of desensitization. Our data provide concrete functional evidence that equipping odontoblasts with the cold-sensor TRPC5 expands traditional odontoblast functions and renders it a previously unknown integral cellular component of the dental cold sensing system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bernal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pamela Sotelo-Hitschfeld
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Christine König
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Viktor Sinica
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Amanda Wyatt
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Zoltan Winter
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Hein
- HHMI, Cardiovascular Division, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filip Touska
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Susanne Reinhardt
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Aaron Tragl
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ricardo Kusuda
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Philipp Wartenberg
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Allen Sclaroff
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - John D Pfeifer
- Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fabien Ectors
- FARAH Mammalian Transgenics Platform, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Freichel
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Viktorie Vlachova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sebastian Brauchi
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channel-associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Roza
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - David E Clapham
- HHMI, Cardiovascular Division, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jochen K Lennerz
- Center for Integrated Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Katharina Zimmermann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
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Valenzuela-Riffo F, Zúñiga PE, Morales-Quintana L, Lolas M, Cáceres M, Figueroa CR. Priming of Defense Systems and Upregulation of MYC2 and JAZ1 Genes after Botrytis cinerea Inoculation in Methyl Jasmonate-Treated Strawberry Fruits. Plants (Basel) 2020; 9:E447. [PMID: 32252456 PMCID: PMC7238239 DOI: 10.3390/plants9040447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Several attempts have been made to study the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on plants in the past years. However, the comparative effects of the number and phenological time of MeJA applications on the activation of defense systems is currently unknown in strawberries. In the present research, we performed three field treatments during strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa 'Camarosa') fruit development and ripening which consisted of differential MeJA applications at flowering (M3), and the large green (M2 and M3) and red ripe (M1, M2, and M3) fruit stages. We also checked changes in gene expression related to plant defense against Botrytis cinerea inoculation post-harvest. In M3 treatment, we observed an upregulation of the anthocyanin and lignin contents and the defense-related genes, encoding for chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases and polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins, after harvest (0 hpi), along with the jasmonate signaling-related genes FaMYC2 and FaJAZ1 at 48 h after B. cinerea inoculation (48 hpi) during postharvest storage. Although we did not find differences in gray mold incidence between the MeJA treatments and control, these results suggest that preharvest MeJA treatment from the flowering stage onwards (M3) primes defense responses mediated by the upregulation of different defense-related genes and retains the upregulation of MYC2 and JAZ1 at 48 hpi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Talca, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3465548, Chile; (F.V.-R.); (P.E.Z.)
| | - Paz E. Zúñiga
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Talca, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3465548, Chile; (F.V.-R.); (P.E.Z.)
| | - Luis Morales-Quintana
- Multidisciplinary Agroindustry Research Laboratory, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3467987, Chile;
| | - Mauricio Lolas
- Fruit Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Campus Talca, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3465548, Chile; (M.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Marcela Cáceres
- Fruit Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Campus Talca, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3465548, Chile; (M.L.); (M.C.)
| | - Carlos R. Figueroa
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Talca, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3465548, Chile; (F.V.-R.); (P.E.Z.)
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