A new endophytic species of Microthecium (Melanosporales, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota) from Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) / Una nueva especie endofítica de Microthecium (Melanosporales, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota) de Mallorca (Islas Baleares, España)

Background The genus Microthecium contains 31 species worldwide distributed. Most of them are saprobic on soil and plant debris, but a few have been reported as mycoparasites on hypocrealean fungi. By contrast, this genus has never been reported as phytopathogenic, nor endophytic. Aims To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from Mediterranean herbaceous plants and trees in order to contribute to the knowledge of the hosts and their geographical location. The present work has been focused on the study of endophytic fungi of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Methods The following steps were taken: i, isolation of the fungal strain from living stems of C. monogyna; ii, cultural and micro-morphological study, and iii, sequence comparison of different genetic markers by BLAST search with sequences deposited in GenBank. Results At the present work we describe a new species of the genus, Microthecium pleomorphosporum, isolated from living stems of C. monogyna in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). This fungus is characterized by the production of non-ostiolate perithecia and two sorts of ascospores (some smooth-walled, others delicately reticulated) bearing a germ pore at each end which are frequently ornamented by a surrounding donut-like structures, and a phialidic asexual morph and bulbils. The morphologically closest related species is Microthecium tenuissimum, which has bigger ascospores and lacks asexual reproduction. Phylogenetically, M pleomorphosporum is close-related to other species of the genus, although no genetic marker that discriminates this new species from other phylogenetically closer ones could be elucidated as a gold standard. Conclusions M. pleomorphosporum, order Melanosporales, is reported here as the first endophytic species of C. monogyna. (AU)

Antecedentes El género Microthecium incluye 31 especies de distribución cosmopolita. La gran mayoría de ellas son saprobias en el suelo y se encuentran sobre detritos vegetales, y tan solo unas pocas se han descrito como micoparásitas de hongos hipocreales. Por el contrario, nunca se había descrito a este género como fitopatógeno ni endofítico. Objetivos Aislar e identificar hongos endófitos de plantas herbáceas y árboles mediterráneos con el fin de contribuir al conocimiento de los hospederos y su situación geográfica. El presente trabajo se ha centrado en el estudio de los hongos endófitos del espino albar (Crataegus monogyna). Métodos Se incluyeron diferentes procesos: (1) aislamiento de la cepa fúngica a partir de tallos vivos de Crataegus monogyna; (2) estudio cultural y micromorfológico y (3) comparación de las secuencias nucleotídicas de diferentes marcadores filogenéticamente informativos con secuencias de taxones conocidos depositadas en el GenBank mediante búsqueda BLAST. Resultados En el presente trabajo describimos una nueva especie para el género, Microthecium pleomorphosporum, aislada de tallos vivos de C. monogyna en Mallorca (Islas Baleares, España). Este hongo se caracteriza por la producción de peritecios no ostiolados y de dos tipos de ascosporas (unas con paredes lisas y otras con paredes delicadamente reticuladas), con un poro germinativo en cada extremo frecuentemente ornamentado por estructuras circundantes en forma de rosquilla, y un estado asexual que produce conidios fialídicos y bulbillos. La especie morfológicamente más cercana es Microthecium tenuissimum, que tiene ascosporas más grandes y carece de multiplicación asexual. Filogenéticamente, Microthecium pleomorphosporum está estrechamente emparentada con otras especies del género y no se ha podido establecer ningún marcador genético de referencia (gold standard) para discriminar esta nueva especie de otras filogenéticamente más próximas. Conclusiones ... (AU)

Aspectos logísticos y sanitarios de la atención a migrantes. La experiencia española en la operación EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA / Logistic and sanitary aspects of attention to migrants. The Spanish experience in the EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA operation

Actualmente, somos testigos en Europa del mayor número de desplazamientos de los que se tienen constancia en la historia, a consecuencia de la persecución, los conflictos armados, la violencia o la inestabilidad económica y social reinante en Oriente Medio y en numerosos países africanos y de Asia Meridional. Estos hechos junto a la proximidad a las costas europeas han hecho que en los últimos tiempos la ruta del Mediterráneo Central se haya convertido en la más utilizada por los migrantes para alcanzar Europa. La magnitud en cifras de este fenómeno ha llegado a ser tan elevada junto con el importante número de vidas que se han perdido en la mar han hecho que la comunidad internacional ha reaccionado de forma contundente poniendo en marcha la OPERACIÓN EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA. El objetivo del presente artículo es proporcionar conocimientos sobre esta realidad que supone la inmigración a través de rutas marítimas, los aspectos logísticos y médicos relacionados con la atención y asistencia a migrantes a bordo de los buques de la Armada Española y revisar la bibliografía publicada sobre el tema

Currently, we are witnesses in Europe of the greatest number of displacements recorded in history, as a result of persecution, armed conflicts, violence or the economic and social instability prevailing in the Middle East and in many African countries and South Asia. These facts, together with the proximity to the European coasts have meant that in recent times the Central Mediterranean route has become the most used by migrants to reach Europe. The magnitude of this phenomenon has become so high, that together with the important number of lives that have been lost at sea, have caused that the international community reacts mightly launching the OPERATION EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA. The objective of this article is to provide knowledge on this reality that involves immigration through maritime routes, logistics and medical aspects related to the care and assistance to migrants on board of the Spanish Navy vessels, and review the published literature on the theme

¿Existe déficit de vitamina D en los niños de una ciudad soleada del Mediterráneo? / Is there vitamin D deficiency in children in a sunny Mediterranean city?

INTRODUCCIÓN: A pesar del creciente interés por las funciones de la vitamina D, siguen documentándose casos deficitarios en regiones soleadas donde se presuponen niveles adecuados. El objetivo del estudio es determinar los niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D en menores de 2 años ingresados en un hospital terciario de Valencia por enfermedades agudas leves y su relación con factores que puedan estar asociados con su deficiencia. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo y descriptivo de un año de duración en niños, entre uno y 24 meses, ingresados por enfermedades agudas leves. Se han estudiado los niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D, junto con una anamnesis y exploración clínica estructuradas. Se dividió la muestra en 2 grupos, dependiendo de los niveles de vitamina D (punto de corte 30ng/ml). RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 169 niños, edad media de 9 meses, predominio etnia caucásica (75,7%) y menores de un año (79,3%). El 24,3% de los niños presentaba valores <30ng/ml, agrupándose en invierno/primavera y caracterizándose por fototipos cutáneos oscuros (p < 0,01). Los factores asociados con niveles >30ng/ml fueron: administración de profilaxis, ser hijo de madre caucásica y que no usara hiyab. No existieron diferencias en el tipo de lactancia recibida (p = 0,65). Solamente al 47% de los menores de un año amamantados se administró profilaxis. CONCLUSIONES: En Valencia, a pesar de la radiación solar suficiente, un cuarto de los niños <2 años tiene niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D <30ng/ml. Nuestros resultados deberían sensibilizar sobre la importancia de la suplementación vitamínica durante el primer año de vida, incluso en las regiones soleadas del Mediterráneo

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increasing interest in vitamin D functions, new cases of deficiency have been reported in sunny regions where optimal levels are expected. The aim of this study was to analyze 25-hydroxivitamin D levels in children younger than 2 years admitted for acute mild diseases in a tertiary hospital in Valencia and its relationship with factors that can be associated with its deficiency. METHODS: This one year prospective and observational study was conducted on 169 children admitted for acute mild diseases. 25-hydroxivitamin D levels were analyzed. A standardized physical examination and structured interviews to the parents were performed. Children were classified into two groups, according to 25-hydroxivitamin D levels (cut-off 30ng/mL). RESULTS: A total of 169 children were included, with a median age of 9 months, being more prevalent Caucasians (75.7%) and youger than one year old (79.3%). Almost one quarter (24.3%) of the children had 25-hydroxivitamin D levels <30ng/mL, more frequently in winter/spring, and in children with higher skin phototypes (P<.01). Levels >30ng/mL were associated with vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year, in children of a Caucasian mother, and those who did not wear a hijab. No statistical differences were found in diet characteristics (P=.65). Prophylaxis was given to 47% of the breastfed children younger than one year. CONCLUSIONS: In Valencia, Spain, 25-hydroxivitamin D levels lower than 30ng/mL were found in a quarter of the children younger than two years. Our results emphasize the importance of vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year of life, even in sunny Mediterranean regions

Percepción social de la importancia, el impacto y los beneficios esperados de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos de Tarragona en 2017 / Social perceptions of the importance, impact and expected benefits of the mediterranean games to be held in Tarragona in 2017 / Percepção social da importância, impacto e benefícios expectáveis da celebração dos jogos mediterrâneos de tarragona em 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyse the evolution between 2009 and 2010 of residents of Tarragona’s perceptions of the importance, impact and expected benefits of hosting the 2017 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona. A questionnaire was administered to two random samples of residents of Tarragona one year apart. The results showed high percentages of people who felt that this sporting event is either quite important or very important from an economic, social and sporting perspective and that it also has a high local and regional impact, albeit not so much at a national or international level. The residents felt that hosting the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona would be quite a benefit to almost all areas that are influential in a city’s development (infrastructure, tourism, the economy, employment, sports and sports facilities), in addition to the advantages for political groups, athletes, and the organizing committee. The evolution of the two samples was negative for most aspects included in the survey. Lower means and percentages were observed in the ‘quite’ and ‘a lot’ categories for the 2010 sample. The results of this study are useful for events organizers in developing strategies to improve citizens’ involvement, participation and identification with events

La finalidad de este estudio fue analizar la evolución entre los años 2009 y 2010 en la percepción de los tarraconenses sobre el grado de importancia, el impacto y los beneficios esperados de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos de Tarragona en 2017. Se recogieron dos muestras de ciudadanos con un año de diferencia. Los resultados mostraron porcentajes elevados de personas que consideraban que este evento deportivo tiene bastante o mucha importancia económica, social y deportiva, así como una elevada repercusión a nivel local y autonómico, aunque no tan relevante a nivel estatal e internacional. Los tarraconenses consideraron que casi todas las áreas o sectores que influyen en el desarrollo de la ciudad (infraestructuras, turismo, economía, ocupación, práctica deportiva e instalaciones deportivas), los grupos políticos, los deportistas y el comité organizador se beneficiarían bastante o mucho de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos en su ciudad. Asimismo la evolución entre las dos muestras fue negativa para la mayoría de aspectos consultados, observándose medias y porcentajes inferiores en las categorías de bastante y mucho para la muestra de 2010. Los resultados de este estudio son útiles a los organizadores del evento para desarrollar estrategias que permitan mejorar la implicación, participación e identificación de los ciudadanos con el evento

A finalidade deste estudo foi analisar a evolução entre os anos 2009 e 2010 na percepção dos tarraconenses sobre o grau de importância, impacto e benefícios expectáveis da celebração dos Jogos Mediterrâneos de Tarragona em 2017. Foram recolhidas duas amostras de cidadãos com um ano de diferença. Os resultados revelaram percentagens elevadas de pessoas que consideravam que este evento desportivo tem bastante ou muita importância económica, social e desportiva, assim como uma elevada repercussão a nível local e na comunidade autónoma, embora não tão relevante a nível estatal e internacional. Os tarraconenses consideraram quase todas as áreas ou sectores que influem no desenvolvimento da cidade (infraestruturas, turismo, economia, ocupação, prática desportiva e instalações desportivas), os grupos políticos, os desportistas e o comité organizador beneficiariam bastante ou muito da celebração dos Jogos Mediterrâneos na sua cidade. Contudo, a evolução entre as duas amostras foi negativa para a maioria dos aspectos analisados, observando-se médias e percentagens inferiores nas categorias bastante e muito para a amostra de 2010. Os resultados deste estudo são úteis aos organizadores do evento para que possam desenvolver estratégias que permitam melhorar a implicação, participação e identificação dos cidadãos com o evento

Metal and antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from the Baltic Sea

The resistance of 49 strains of bacteria isolated from surface Baltic Sea waters to 11 antibiotics was analyzed and the resistance of selected strains to three metal ions (Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+) was tested. Most isolates belonged to Gammaproteobacteria (78 %), while Alphaproteobacteria (8 %), Actinobacteria (10 %), and Bacteroidetes (4 %) were less abundant. Even though previous reports suggested relationships between resistance and the presence of plasmids or the ability to produce pigments, no compelling evidence for such relationships was obtained for the strains isolated in this work. In particular, strains resistant to multiple antibiotics did not carry plasmids more frequently than sensitive strains. A relation between resistance and the four aminoglycosides tested (gentamycin, kanamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin), but not to spectinomycin, was demonstrated. This observation is of interest given that spectinomycin is not always classified as an aminoglycoside because it lacks a traditional sugar moiety. Statistical analysis indicated relationships between resistance to some antibiotics (ampicillin and erythromycin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline, erythromycin and tetracycline), suggesting the linkage of resistance genes for antibiotics belonging to different classes. The effects of NiSO4, ZnCl2 and MnCl2 on various media suggested that the composition of Marine Broth might result in low concentrations of Mn2+ due to chemical interactions that potentially lead to precipitation (AU)

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El "novedoso paradigma" de la recuperación o el descubrimiento del Mediterráneo / No disponible

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High intragenomic heterogeneity of 16S rRNAgenes in a subset of Vibrio vulnificus strains from the western Mediterranean coast

Heterogeneity among ribosomal operons in Vibrio vulnificus is purported as a probabilistic indicator of strain virulence and classifies V. vulnificus strains as 16S rRNA genes type A and B. In this study, 16S rRNA genes typing of V. vulnificus strains isolated from the Valencia city coast, in the western Mediterranean, showed that 24 out of 30 isolates were type A, one was type B and five could not be typed. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of this gene region revealed complex patterns indicative of intragenomic ribosomal operon sequence heterogeneity. The 16S rRNA genes of three untypeable isolates C27, C30, and C34, along with type A (ATCC 27562) and B (C7184) reference strains, were amplified, cloned and sequenced. The number of unique 16S rRNA gene sequences was 4, 3, and 4 for the environmental isolates. The type strain of the species (ATCC 27562) presented only two 16S rRNA gene types, while the reference isolate C7184 of clinical origin had only one 16S rRNA gene type. Sequences differed from five to 35 bp (99.6% to 97.6% sequence similarity). Areas of variability concentrated in helices 10, 18, and 37 and included variants with short intervening sequences in helix 10. Most of the substitutions showed compensatory mutations suggesting ancient sequence divergence generated by lateral gene transfer (AU)

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Phylogenetic diversity and temporal variation in the Spirochaeta populations from two Mediterranean microbial mats

Spirochetes are among the bacterial groups often observed in hydrogen-sulfide-rich layers of coastal microbial mats. However, relatively few spirochetes from these microbial mats have been described and characterized. We used 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis to investigate the spirochetal diversity of microbial mats from two locations in the western Mediterranean (Ebro Delta, Spain, and Camargue, France). Samples from each location were monitored in the spring and winter over a period of 1 to 2 years. In the sequence analysis of 332 clones derived from samples of both locations, 42 novel phylotypes of not-yet-cultivated spirochetes belonging to the genus Spirochaeta were detected. None of the phylotypes were identified as known culturable species of Spirochaeta or previously identified phylotypes cloned from other hypersaline microbial mat such as Guerrero Negro, Mexico. Eight of the phylotypes were common to Ebro and Camargue mats, and two (IF058 and LL066) were present both in spring and winter. Some phylotypes appeared to show seasonal variation, i.e., they were found only in the spring, but not in the winter. Ebro and Camargue phylotypes, like phylotypes from Guerrero Negro, grouped according to the vertical gradient of oxygen and sulfide in the mat. Some phylotypes, such as LH073, IE028, LH042, or LG013 were harbored in low H2S or H2S-O2 interface zone. In contrast, major phylotypes were detected in deeper layers and they were likely strict anaerobes and high tolerant to H2S. The presence of spirochetes in differently located microbial mats suggests that they constitute very diverse and stable populations involved in a well-integrated metabolic symbiosis (i.e., permanent physiological cooperation) with other guild populations in the mats, where they maintain a coordinated functional and stable community (AU)

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Economías de escala en las explotaciones de engorde de dorada (Sparus Aurata) en jaulas flotantes en el Mediterráneo / Economies of scale for ongrowing gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) on off shore cages in the Mediterranean Sea

En los últimos años se ha confi rmado el dinamismo y la expansión del sector de la acuicultura marina en generaly de la establecida en el mediterráneo en particular, destacando la producción de determinadas especies queaún no han llegado a saturar el mercado (García García et al., 2001). En el caso de las explotaciones de engordeen jaulas en mar abierto de dorada en el mediterráneo, en la dirección apuntada de su continuo y sostenido crecimientorespecto a la capacidad productiva, existen escasos trabajos que expliquen esta tendencia justifi cando laexistencia de economías de escala (Gasca-Leyva et al., 2001); en esta dirección este trabajo pretende describir loscostes asociados a varios tamaños de explotación y analizar su evolución e infl uencia sobre los costes medios

Sea aquaculture is confi rmed as a dynamic and expansive industry both in general, and particularly in theMediterranean Sea, where it can be pointed out certain species that have not still fl ooded the market (GarcíaGarcía, 2001). Gilthead seabream ongrowing farms in the Mediterranean on offshore cages have also a continuousand sustained growth of their productive capability. There is a scarcity of papers explaining this tendencyand justifying the existence of scales of economy (Gasca-Leyva et al., 2001). This paper contributes to thedescription of the associated costs to different farm sizes, and the analysis of their evolution and infl uence on the average costs